Chi chronicled the beginnings of the hip-hop movement, now a global phenomenon. In 1990, he began work at The Source, the definitive magazine of hip-hop culture. Through capturing images of the artists he was able to show them as real people, not one-dimensional celebrities.

From the ground floor, Modu developed relationships with the artists and gained access only dreamed of today. Through this access, Chi was able to observe and document the popular culture of the day and witness how trends the mainstream culture would soon follow were created.