Slicker than your ABC's in 3D

Typography is something that a lot of artists lost intertest in. Seeing books like this keeps hope alive and thanks to Bluster passing this onto me, it automatically gets my nose open and makes me want to design. You can just imagine that projects like this take a lot of time but are also a lot of fun to create. This is a book from Marion Bataille published by Roaring Book Press.

Still Cool Like Dat?

Peep the video in case you forgot...










Back in 1993 jazz groves were the sound of the day in hip hop. One group that helped pushed that movement was a trio from the tri state with a real smooth sound. No I'm not talking about the Fugees I'm talking about those Brooklynites Doodlebug, Butterfly and Ladybug aka Digable Planets. Now let me preface this blog entry by admitting I've never heard a Digable Planets album in it's entirety. I've always liked their stuff and have been a lil partial to their material being that they use teachings of the 5 Percenters(my people) in their music. Their breakout hit Rebirth of Slick made them international superstars for a minute. However their second album was not received as well with the sales to reflect that. After being gone for a while and releasing solo projects the group was back together performing in their home of NYC at BB Kings Bar and Grill on Forty Deuce. The kid was on the set with the great photographer Shino Covant (she provided the pics in this entry). Digable put on a very nice show and had a good amount of energy. Doodlebug's family was in the house (he shouted out to his mom dukes). Butterfly went through some of his solo Cherrywine material which did not sound bad at all. The group was backed on stage by a DJ who's name escapes me as well as the congo drummer from San Diego (shout out to Pokez). The crowd was pretty thick once the group got on stage. Ladybug wasn't AS cute as I remember back when I was in high school but still a looker. Doodlebug still holds what I always felt as the leadership role of the group. When they did 9th Wonder the crowd went crazy. Those drums still knock. They ended the show on Rebirth of Slick and really used those horns to bring the crowd home. After a round of cheers Digable came back out for an encore and announced a new studio album to arrive in the near future. That show has me now at least interested in hearing what they have to say. Those kind of abstract lyrics with dope grooves are non existent in this day and time. Oh and they all can still flow, so yeah they're still cool like dat. Words provided by DashaunWorld Inc. Photos provided by Shino Covant

Freedom Calls

Freedom Calls

Roughs

Sye examining the face

Me working on the daggers

Almost completed

Our work here is done

With the elections coming up just around the corner we decided to link up and put together a "V for Vendetta" inspired wall. Just so you know that working with Sye he is an early rise & shine type of dude!! We were just experimenting a bit and doing faces with realistic shade values which is not my thing but with Sye's help we were able to pull it off. Tried to switch up the flow of a letter so in my eyes is looks a bit strange. None the less I am pleased with the overall outcome of the wall. Time to start brainstorming on a few other concepts for mini productions.

Blackout Music

Every once in a while I feel like I was born just about 20 yrs too late. Especially when it comes to music. As much as I love a lot of the stuff that I am hearing now, I have been slowly stumbling upon super funky dopealicious music from years gone by. The latest installment of BLACKOUT MUSIC to reach my Itunes library is Vitamin C by the group Can. This shit is so nervous I don't even know what to say. The videos are live footage of Can performing Vitamin C as well as some dude really blacking out in a supermarket. I tried to told you "BLACK OUT MUSIC"

Hellz-MG-Get Free Collabo

"I'm so flossy, bitch get off me"

This was a project that Blust and I worked on some time back. It is all done in pen and ink.We worked on 3 different graphics that have this same feel. One for Hellz-Bellz, In4mation and of course one for MG. The Hellz is the first to drop followed up by the In4mation graphic and then the Mothergreen due out next year.

Cereal Wall

Boo Berry

Franken Berry

Sugar Bear

Full Line as follows: Vins, Kemts, Serge, Serve, Joey TDS, Dose and Neo

Serve is a beast for this wall. Knowing how fast he paints is ridiculous!!! Just the thought of him pulling off his piece and doing all the characters at wall is another story. That just takes a lot of work. I unfortunately got there a bit later than everyone else but it was cool, just need to make sure there's always someone around to help out with color schemes.

Wolves Like Us

Tunde Adebimpe laying it down

Get Down w/the Down
Fon Lin of Dragons of Zynth

By now you've probably heard of TV On The Radio. If you're 1 step ahead you know that the version of "Satellite" from their Live Session Itunes Ep is super funky fresh. If you're 2 steps ahead you agree that "Return to Cookie Mountain" is the best album of 2006. If you're 3 steps ahead then you've put "Love Dog" on repeat on you ipod/iphone and never got bored of listening. If you've been touched by the hand of God then you were at the Brooklyn Masonic Temple on Thursday night to bare witness to their last night of a 3 day stint in BK. After a eye opening performance by Dragons Of Zynth (keep your eyes out for them) TV On The Radio spun a dirtywhirlwind of songs from their catalogue which kept the crowd jumping and screaming for the length of the show. (Side Note: Drink water, not beer if you plan to sing along all night. My voice is still hoarse.) Peace

CREATIVE HEIGHTS

Crystal Clarity and Fly Lady Di Flexing their brush stroke

Crowd Shot

Crystal Clarity once again

Clarity's piece

Cactuz Tree....?13 (Wheat Bread Life Crew) reppin

Ichiban pieces (left) & Jen One pieces (right)

Deitrich (creative heights fam), standing by a callabo piece by Ibrahim, Yaqut and Fly Lady Di

Close up of Lady Di working

another group shot of Cactuz Tree...?13 doing their thing

Kris showing some of her works

Dashaun and Sara

Minna and Maryjane Brooklyn

So unless you've been living under a rock here in NY you know there's an artistic explosion going on. Specifically in the borough of Brooklyn there is evidence all over of resident artists making their presence known. Nowhere is this more apparent than the artist co-op known as Creative Heights (770 ST MARKS Ave.) On this past Saturday 10/11 painters, musicians, poets and other artists of all types converged on one block in Crown Heights, Brooklyn to celebrate expression. Now Creative Heights is a converted apartment building which is home to some of the illest painters, singers, rappers, photographers and other artisans in the city. Saturday was the opening for the in house studio. Now what studio opening would be complete without food, beverage and art to adorn the walls. All of the above was in effect on this beautiful day (you know the kid had his bike out). The day was filled with performances mixed with everything from rocking out singers like Cactuz Tree and his band to groups like Investigative Reports with the Afro Punk crew repping on the scene as well(Creative Heights is home to members of the band Game Rebellion). This event put together by Ms. Sara Hart pulled together the usual suspects of the Brooklyn Arts scene (cats like Michael July, The CDTBK crew, Concept, Richard Louissaint...etc) A beautiful mural was painted by two of the most beautiful artists in the city Fly Lady Di and Crystal Clarity (see pics). My good friend Kris had some very nice pieces hanging in the gallery as well. All in all this was a great launch for another positive movement in the community. Take some time and go down to St. Marks bet. New York and Nostrand for an fine art experience right up the block.

DOWNTOWN CALLING

Now, when we say "A TESTAMENT TO THE NEW YORK OF YESTERDAY", this is what the F*** we are talking about. The wealth of history compiled into this documentary is simply astonishing. Digging in the vaults of NY youth culture, circa late 70's early 80's, "FOUNDATIONS" which is now named "Downtown Calling" the ultimate history lesson. We will surely post the date & time of next screening so you folks can catch it live and in the flesh. STOP, LOOK & LISTEN.

Super Fame City Bros.

the beginning stages

this background was no joke!!!

time to start to working on the pieces

adding some final touches

Sye x Vins - Fame City

It's been a minute since I've painted and it felt great!! You don't realize how much you miss doing something until you do it again. I had the opportunity to rock this small 2 man production with Sye. For the time that we put into this wall I just got to laugh, we both were happy with the turn around time.