Keith Morris (Circle Jerks) with Bobby Vylan backstage at Coachella '25 - photographed by Ithaka Darin Pappas

Left to Right Bobby Vylan, Keith Morris, Bob Vyla,  Bobbie Vylan photographed backstage at Coachella 2025 by Ithaka Darin Pappas

Book: "Beyond South Central" legendary N.W.A. photographs by Ithaka Darin Pappas

Beyond South Central: Rap legends N.W.A. as seen thru the lens of Ithaka Darin Pappas (1988-1990) 

The second edition of the 2016 photography book Beyond South Central (Sweatlodge Publishing) is now available on amazon.com. The book is the result of the three years Ithaka Darin Pappas freelanced for Priority Records, capturing the primary imagery of N.W.A., documenting almost the entire lifespan of the group, from their obscure South Central beginnings to their meteoric rise to controversial super-stardom. This publication includes iconic images such as The Miracle Mile Shot, The Bleacher Shot, Backstage In Phoenix and also rarely seen candid images of Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, Eazy E, MC Ren, DJ Yella and The D.O.C.

Ithaka Darin Pappas began experimenting with his father's 35mm and medium-format film cameras as early as age 5. He started assisting professional photographers immediately after high school, and within a year, began publishing much of his own work. Perhaps the most published (and republished) commercial photographic works by IDP are his early archival images of the influential LA Gangsta rap group NWA. Pappas worked for the West Coast record label Priority Records between 1988 and 1991 and documented almost the entire lifespan of the group, from their obscure South Central beginnings to their meteoric rise to controversial super-stardom.