Sunny Bak grew up in New York City and began her career as a photographer while still a teenager on assignment for her school newspaper. Although she is recognized for her iconic photos of the Beastie Boys during their Licensed to Ill era she published her first celebrity interviews with The Supremes and then Carly Simon at the age of 12.

 

In the 1970’s as a teen paparazzi on Broadway, she shot everyone from Andy Warhol and Yoko Ono to Jackie O and Billie Jean King.

 

Some of her images can be seen in the 1987 Licensed to Ill tour book and the "Fight for Your Right To Party" music video which was filmed at her studio in Manhattan. Appearing in numerous publications worldwide these iconic images have been used to commemorate an important time in the legacy of American Hip Hop and the life of the late Adam Yauch aka MCA.