Vincent Desailly

Trap culture: the hip-hop of the American South, documented in scenes of everyday Atlanta by Vincent Desailly

Known for its ominous sound and gritty lyrics, "Trap" is the American South's brand of hip-hop, particularly associated with the city of Atlanta. "Trap" is also slang for the place where drug deals are made--as well as, of course, a snare. These multiple meanings collide in the latest photographic project from the French documentary, portrait and fashion photographer Vincent Desailly (born 1989), who sets out to capture the world behind the lyrics in Atlanta.

Desailly's pictures document the life and the atmosphere surrounding this music. His haunting portraits show dealers, musicians or simply residents of the city, as well as guns, crime scenes and tableaux of everyday life. The photographs possess an enchanting beauty and an elegance in their narration.