Acclaimed Nigerian-American photographer Chi Modu has died at age 54. He’s best known for his iconic images of some of the greatest figures in hip hop in the 1990s such as Snoop Dogg, 2PAC & Nas.

Modu secured his first photography gig at the Harlem-based the New York Amsterdam News, and went on to become the director of photography for The Source, where he shot more than 30 covers. His work was also featured on album covers for artists like Snoop, Method Man, and Mobb Deep.