Sunday, April 20, 2008

NAPOLI

I was in NAPOLI (Naples, Italy) in 2005 with Ali from the band CASINO ROYALE and Deemo doing an assignment for Italian ROLLING STONE magazine. They were writing an article about CO'SANG, a local hip-hop band.

Our main focus was SCAMPIA, an area of Naples run by CAMORRA, the Napolitan mafia (also known as THE SYSTEM). Scampia is off limits to police, who usually don't go there without armoured vehicles and machine guns. The guys from CO'SANG grew up a couple of blocks away, and had connections that gain us access. The guys told me I was the first photographer allowed on the rooftop ...

Right before we came to Naples, there was a feud between two families that resulted in over 100 killings.

But it's not all so bad over there - - I ATE THE BEST PIZZA IN THE WORLD, at the legendary Pizzeria de Michele. Simply amazing. Also, the best ESPRESSO EVER.

Oh yeah, we stayed at the HOTEL BOLERO, near Scampia; I can't say it was the worst accommodation ever cause it was worse when I went to Caracas last year, but it was quite bad (ALL ALI'S FAULT). It was one of those 'by-the-hour' places with holes in the walls and ceilings and a weird guy at the reception ...

Bullet holes in the project buildings in Scampia.


These buildings are all occupied but elevators have been out of order for 15 years.




CO'SANG


View from the rooftop in Scampia.




There is a ditch in Scampia where heroin addicts go to shoot up, covered with tens of thousands (maybe millions, no idea) of used syringes. You need tough shoes if you want to go down and shoot.




POLICE ENEMY NUMBER ONE


Alioscia , Luca, ME, Antonio, Deemo. Yep, we look like MINOR THREAT.

6 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

hehehe and somebody also told ya: "now you know Serb what I mean when I say good pizza" (or something) ;)
btw MICHELE RULES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ms Larsen

April 21, 2008 at 9:25 AM  
Blogger - said...

and I said, IF I EVER HAVE A SON I MIGHT NAME HIM MICHELE ---> but no way, MICHELE MILIVOJEVICH, sounds weird. Michele has the dopest pizza in the world - and I mean it

April 21, 2008 at 9:45 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

uaaaaaaaa!!! nahhhh!! well... when you pronounced Michele for the first time I said "you ate where?????", cuz you said something which sounded like: MEGHEELE!!
you weirdo!!
Ms Larsen

April 21, 2008 at 10:18 AM  
Blogger Sarah Goldberg said...

keep on with the storytelling, thanks for sharing

April 21, 2008 at 1:13 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Really good work.

dry

May 5, 2008 at 3:55 PM  
Blogger Troy said...

excellent photo

October 14, 2008 at 7:25 PM  

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