Photographer Manny Hernandez has documented Miami's cultural evolution through decades of candid images, showcasing the city's celebrity-driven prominence in the 1990s and its multicultural embrace. Starting as a part-time job during college, Hernandez's passion evolved into a profession, capturing icons for major publications like Vanity Fair and Vogue.

Throughout the last 34 years, Manny Hernandez has captured the city's essence in arts, fashion, and celebrities, culminating in "CANDIDS Miami 2," a sequel to his 2018 release, offering a nostalgic reflection on South Florida's vibrant '90s scene before social media. Born and raised in Miami, Hernandez's candid approach, documented in 100+ images shot on 35mm negative film, unveils the significance of his hard work during those glorious years.

In January, Hernandez launched CANDIDS 2 at Art of Hip Hop at an event that featured a conversation with legendary film director and controversial media personality Billy Corben who reminisced with Hernandez about the candid photos of polarizing Hip Hop stars and more. Photos of a young Jay-Z, show how the glitz and glam of Miami drew Hip Hop stars in for wild beach concerts, music video shoots on Star Island, and more.

Hernandez claims that his photo of Big Pun seen in the book was taken during Big Pun's one and only trip to Miami. Big Pun was a Puerto Rican-American rapper and one of the pioneers of Latino hip-hop.  Big Pun gained fame in the late 1990s with his debut album "Capital Punishment," which included the hit single "Still Not a Player." His career unfortunately ended prematurely with his death in 2000 at the age of 28 due to a heart attack. Despite his untimely passing, Big Pun's impact on hip-hop and his legacy continue to be celebrated.