tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72968702012-01-28T00:57:17.663-08:00Stevio...LA LA Lovin' It?I'm British-born Chinese from Bristol, UK. I’m LA-based. I’m a hip hop aficionado. Back in the 80s I was a DJ. In the 90s I contributed to the world's first street style exhibition at London's Victoria & Albert Museum.
<br><br>
After 15 years in London I moved to LA to pursue a new career and outlook on life. Today, I’m keeping busy with music, art, photos and writing. LA lets me wear flip-flops year round and has given me an appreciation of Mexican food! Check my Hall/Fame.Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.comBlogger8861100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-73343536038760166852012-01-16T20:42:00.000-08:002012-01-16T20:46:24.910-08:00A b-boy salute to Jimmy Castor...R.I.P.Jimmy Castor (1947 - 2012) was one of the most sought after artists by b-boys. For me, it was realizing that his soundtrack was the beat in Flashdance. You know, the classic scene where Jennifer Beals and her friend bump into Mr. Freeze and Frosty Freeze from Rock Steady rocking in an alleyway.
Since then, Jimmy Castor's name has been sampled by pop, rap and dance acts across the Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-46649472772837552672011-12-26T08:00:00.000-08:002012-01-16T20:11:59.206-08:00Lady Pink's solo show in New YorkThis December I wanted to get myself to New York, but sadly $1,000 was too high a price to pay. This wasn't a shopping trip...this was a hip hop excursion.
As mentioned in an earlier post, Double Goose from Paris had set up its annual shop in New York in December. And then I heard that Lady Pink opened her solo gallery show at Woodward Gallery, LES, New York. That combination was enough to make Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-19140750258873425682011-12-22T00:02:00.000-08:002011-12-22T12:55:38.320-08:0015 years in the game...Stones ThrowCan you remember when Stones Throw Records first grabbed your attention? Was it for a J.Dilla release? Or a J.Rocc mixtape? May be it was a Rhettmatic joint?
After 15 years, Stones Throw has become a cornerstone of LA's vibrant hip hop scene and (nearly) as recognizable as Delicious Vinyl! And tomorrow night Stones Throw celebrates a decade and half of musical exploration by taking over the Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-39967505302378911952011-12-07T19:45:00.001-08:002011-12-23T14:31:23.772-08:00Double Goose, double the choiceThe timeless style of a leather goose down "buff" jacket has been the topic of several of my blog entries. I can't help it, I get into these buying sprees whenever I see my size (small.)
The v-stitching is my favorite. And I still wake in a cold sweat for not picking up one of the v-stitch sleeveless vests that were sold in a store in Soho, London in the 90s. So, prompted by some recent FacebookSteviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-2300193745958288052011-11-17T22:23:00.000-08:002011-11-17T22:25:22.131-08:00Hip Hop favorites: Roy Ayers and Pete Rock in LA!Last week, I entered a competition to win tix to see Roy Ayers and Pete Rock as part of the Homage series of gigs. Sadly I didn't win and that's why I'm sat at home blogging instead of at the gig ;)
"Homage is a music series that pays respect to the musical giants that have forever altered the way we listen, sample and love music."
The question was..."Name five rap artist who have sampled Roy Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-39343426240823497322011-11-13T10:47:00.000-08:002011-11-13T10:47:01.211-08:00Xmas 2011 shopping list #1I've gladly fallen off the consumer tip lately. (Check out the Spend Thrift for what I'm feeling.) But, this morning's email from HUF had me wondering what will I add to my Christmas list. (Certainly not an "Occupy Wall Street" t-shirt from Rocawear/Jay Z!)
HUF x Haze 2011 collaboration
If Haze looks familar it's cause he's the man behind so many hip hop icons...
"When Hip Hop commercial Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-73038598543168895062011-11-12T07:27:00.000-08:002011-11-25T17:01:03.204-08:00LA street graffiti vs. The Buff SquadHey there websters! Since June, I've been consumed with traveling and managing a new work project, but I'm back...Expect more posts on my favorite stuff as I backfill some of the events I didn't write about!
Here we go....Archive #1.
Driving around town in the summer I spotted these fellas out on the streets. "The Los Angeles Beautification Team" buffing some parking lot walls and street Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-70428736796813280562011-11-09T22:55:00.000-08:002011-11-13T09:50:04.628-08:00Mr. Big Stuff...R.I.P. Heavy DTonight, I heard a surprising sound on my local NPR radio as I approached the terminals at LAX in my car. KCRW was rocking Heavy D. That wasn't surprising in itself, but not just one tune, two tunes, then another, then two copies chopped up! It was LA's DJ J.Rocc mixing up.
Then I knew...Heavy D had passed!
I first visited the leafy suburbs of Mount Vernon on my first visit to New York in Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-74004869991418268432011-09-18T22:18:00.000-07:002011-12-21T23:35:10.293-08:003 Kings...past, but still noteworthyArchive #3.
During my hiatus, I got emails that Patti Astor had curated a show entitled "3 Kings" at Subliminal Projects featuring her long time artist friends Lee Quinones, Futura and Fab 5 Freddy. All New York, All old skool graffiti! Thanks Patti!
Patti Astor and Fab 5 Freddy (credit: Platinum Cheese)
"One of the very first people who believed in us in New York was a young lady by the Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-71565131564726041792011-06-12T19:38:00.000-07:002011-11-25T17:01:34.049-08:00The Live Mixtape comes to the Echoplex (J.Period & Black Thought)Archive story #2.
Back this summer I went to check out the J.Period Live Mixtape show live after downloading it from J.Period's blog. It's been getting love online - - find the link at the end of this post - but truth be told, although it's billed as a "one-of-a-kind, live, hip hop experience" the live show is essentially a DJ rocking two turntables and an M.C. rocking a microphone. Yep, true Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-64547289357015083412011-06-11T14:27:00.000-07:002011-06-11T15:17:52.981-07:00And the winner is...Red Bull EmSee Los Angeles 2011 freestyle battleOver in Echo Park this week Red Bull's 2nd annual EmSee National Tour fired its first round. This freestyle M.C. battle started in L.A. with eight contestants who battled their way to find the winner who will take one step closer to the finals in Atlanta later this year.
The host for the night was Trill O.G. Bun B, UGK (Underground Kingz) whose solo album "Trill O.G."got a 5-Mic "Classic" ratingSteviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-69553218023740756682011-06-11T13:41:00.000-07:002011-06-11T15:17:22.739-07:00Hear for yourself...Red Bull EmSee Los Angeles 2011 M.C. freestyle battlesRed Bull EmSee Los Angeles 2011: 8 MCs, 3 judges...only 1 winner 7 battles later.
Read about the ferocious lyrical competition in my other post here.
7 Battles, only 1 left standing!
Red Bull EmSee Los Angeles 2011, round 1: Dirtbag Dan vs. Rheteric Ramirez by Stevio on Mixcloud
Red Bull EmSee Los Angeles 2011, round 2: Madness vs. A-Dog by Stevio on Mixcloud
Red Bull EmSee Los Angeles Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-4402417943822051142011-06-08T13:37:00.000-07:002011-06-10T14:35:20.772-07:00#Retna herds art fans into London's Old DairyToday is a great day for art. First it's Fab 5 Freddy's show tonight in New York, but 5 hours ahead of East Coast time is Retna's London show.
As part of Retna's "Hallelujah World Tour," he (and his backers) have moved his ultra-successful show from New York to London's The Old Dairy in Russell Square.
This huge 9,500 sq. ft. venue is set in the Bloomsbury neighborhood which is better known Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-9054411529051735162011-06-08T12:45:00.000-07:002011-06-10T14:36:51.415-07:00Fab-ulous new show Fab 5 Freddy @ Gallery 151, New York #ArtInTheStreetsTonight, legendary hip hop veteran Fab 5 Freddy invites art fans and critics alike to Gallery 151. Entitled "NEW YORK: NEW WORK," his first solo show for probably several decades is aptly anchored in New York's NoHo district.
For the background to this new show, here's the inside scoop. When I interviewed Fab for UNLeashed Magazine to celebrate MoCA's Art in the Streets we talked about his Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-376351361024279522011-05-31T14:50:00.000-07:002011-05-31T14:50:11.100-07:00Kenny Scharf: More, Newer, Better, Nower, Funner! #ArtInTheStreetsLast week at the premiere of "Outside In: Art in the Streets" the Kenny Scharf short film "More, Newer, Better, Nower, Funner!" was presented.
The film's title means a little more when you recognize that Kenny Scharf was the inventor of the name that stuck with Patti Astor's Fun Gallery! If you want to see Scharf's butt watch this film ;)
Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-52259116500502816442011-05-24T16:41:00.000-07:002011-05-31T14:44:01.047-07:00Levi's presents: OUTSIDE IN: The Story of Art in the Streets #ArtInTheStreets
Tonight is the premiere of Alex Stapleton's film, "Outside In: The Story of Art in the Streets," at The Egyptian Theater in Hollywood. As it says on the can, this Levi's-funded film gets behind the curtain and shows us the making of "Art in the Streets," the first major graffiti and street art exhibition supported by a museum.
RSVPs for the film have closed, but a little birdy tells me the Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-69037193540615263112011-05-14T07:17:00.000-07:002011-05-14T07:17:00.592-07:00Tags to Riches...Bristol's #graffiti documentaryI spotted this documentary on a tweet from Bristol's Art-El Gallery. It's hard to believe that's Goldie narrating...sounds kinda posh ;)
Tags to Riches, as the title suggests, follows the rise of the previously frowned upon graffiti street art. It delves into commercial art world and the criminality of graffiti through interviews and commentary from all sides of the argument.
"It's quite safe Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-34594936196091754552011-05-12T07:37:00.000-07:002011-05-15T08:58:45.026-07:00#UNleashed Magazine: "The Business of Street Art" #ArtInTheStreets
The Business of Art by Stephen Pang
(permission to republish kindly granted by UNleashed Magazine)
Space Girl and Bird, Banksy
Street art has its fans and detractors, but both were united in their amazement in 2007 when Bonhams, the British auction house, sold lot #299, an aerosol stencil painting on steel, for US$576,000. Of course, this was no ordinary street artist. This was Banksy and theSteviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-5306265243067160622011-05-10T07:32:00.000-07:002011-05-10T07:32:00.501-07:00Die Antwoord...#Zef to Def!You cannot ignore Die Antwoord...Love them or hate them, this is 21st Century hip hop! Globalization at its best!
Check it out
What is Zef? - 5:07
Zef Slang - 4:09
'Evil Boy' Reactions - 4:08Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-75610210259884379012011-05-08T07:22:00.000-07:002011-05-08T07:22:00.179-07:00Britain's (mothers) Got Talent...#bboys on UK national TV!Hip hop ya don't stop! It's Mother's Day here in the States, so I thought I'd share something all Mums should be proud of...their hip hop crazy sons! :)
A friend on Facebook hipped me to Razy Gogonea, an unemployed Romanian b-boy living in the UK. He auditioned for one of the UK's top talent shows, "Britain's Got Talent." Check out his Matrix body poppin' style! Hopefully he's got a job now!
Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-14198393910744757112011-05-06T07:08:00.000-07:002011-05-08T01:26:54.998-07:00#Rakim hits the UK...25th anniversary tourRakim, the microphone fiend, is in the UK!
And sources tell me he's hitting my hometown of Bristol this Saturday, May 7th, for his "Paid in Full" 25th anniversary concert (even though Eric B won't be on stage.) So if you're within 50 miles you have to reach and support. It's gonna be one hell of a show....Rahzel (of The Roots) and Rakim. Hot!
"In the history of Hip-Hop, few artists have had Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-23792799271875934502011-05-05T07:09:00.000-07:002011-05-06T07:28:29.264-07:00Zephyr's "Wild Style" title sequence #ArtInTheStreetsTo fans of hip hop, "Wild Style" is the ultimate embodiment of the culture: MCing, DJing, b-boying, graffiti-spraying!
The title sequence of the film is one of the most memorable and creative of any hip hop film and the animation celluloids are on display at MOCA as part of Charlie Ahearn's room at the "Art in the Streets" exhibition.
The Art of the Title Sequence website does does what it Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-70529429633142576192011-05-04T22:48:00.000-07:002011-05-05T13:03:26.672-07:00Happy birthday Keith (#Haring)Today is Keith Haring's birthday. The Keith Haring Foundation sent me an invite to save 10% by going shopping :)
Little tidbit, Haring set up his foundation after he was diagnosed with HIV/AIDS to promote awareness of the disease and create programs for kids.
Art in the Streets When I was interviewing Futura for UNleashed Magazine special on MOCA's major street art exhibition he told me how Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-61491282650781906472011-05-03T08:15:00.000-07:002011-05-03T08:16:45.147-07:00Back in 2008 adidas paid homage to Double Goose Country #bboyA trip back to 2008...I had to write about these long past sneakers from adidas. No sign of them on eBay! :(
I'm not big on some of the mash-ups created by collabs fever, but this adidas x Double Goose mash-up had to be shared. I don't care if summer is approaching...a leather goose down jacket is dope. So, by association adidas sneakers made in a goose jacket's image are dope too!
Check out Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-59947756754785596982011-05-01T08:52:00.000-07:002011-06-10T13:39:42.366-07:00Grandmaster Flash in session...on BBC Radio 1Last weekend the legendary Grandmaster Flash was in the BBC Radio 1 studios in London talking to Rob Da Bank. And he flashed F-I-V-E mixes!! that capture his favorite music over past four decades for the UK fans to rock (and study!)
Rob Da Bank sums it up: "From back in the day to present day; old skool hip hop all the way through to dubstep!" You can see the tracklisting below for all 5 mixes. Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-16402400695743419812011-04-29T07:13:00.000-07:002011-04-29T10:14:12.017-07:00"Blurring the Lines" old skool #graffiti show...LAIt seems that 40,000 sq feet of street art isnt enough for Roger Gastman, co-curator of the MOCA "Art in the Streets" exhibition currently open in Los Angeles. He's spread its wings and curated an overspill show in Culver City in a more modest space.
Saturday night, Corey Helford Gallery opens its “Blurring the Lines" exhibition. This is the gallery’s first exhibition of "graffiti art masters.Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-41960186788678429902011-04-28T07:04:00.000-07:002011-05-03T13:39:37.146-07:00Controversy continues to follow MOCA's "Art in the streets" #ArtInTheStreetsEven before the "Art in the Streets" exhibition opened its doors at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA it was surrounded by controversy.
First, it was MOCA's self-censorship of Italian artist Blu's work. Was it truly an proactive act of sensitivity towards the museum's war veteran neighbors? Was it a publicity stunt by Deitch? Whatever it was, we were all talking about what happened.
Blu mural Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-27559168787464616932011-04-27T07:06:00.000-07:002011-04-28T08:36:34.366-07:00All City: LA's celebration of street art continues...This past weekend I passed by All City: LA Street Art show near the LA River. It was an apt setting since all the artists featured were strictly illegal street graffiti artists and for some, the first time their work had been hung on a wall! I was already familiar with Risk (one of the artists representing LA in the "Art in the Streets" at MOCA,) Vyal and Cache's work around the city.
The show Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-79786439387648075852011-04-26T09:02:00.000-07:002011-04-26T09:02:46.989-07:00Profound advice from your favorite rapperSteviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-42856532908616731762011-04-21T07:32:00.000-07:002011-04-22T10:13:49.654-07:00Tipster Chronicles...going back to '79-'82 New York #graffiti #ArtInTheStreets
Anita Rosenberg's "Tipster Chronicles"
When you think of hip hop graffiti documentarians props are rightly paid to the early photographers like Martha Cooper and Henry Chalfont. Their images of graffiti in public spaces and on trains eventually led them to the graffiti artists themselves who embraced these white, middle-class photographers from Manhattan into their clandestine world. And Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-30436453697663813392011-04-19T12:57:00.000-07:002011-04-19T12:57:00.377-07:00#Cinefamily represents #ArtInTheStreetsThis evening, Cinefamily in the Fairfax district of Los Angeles presents "Downtown '81," starring Jean Michel Basquiat and made in around the same year. Hope you can make it.
Last Friday, Cinefamily and Levi's hosted the first of a series of films to celebrate the "Art in the Streets" major exhibition of graffiti and street art presented by Los Angeles' MOCA.
The inaugural film had to be Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-63338063381049825302011-04-19T08:40:00.000-07:002011-04-19T08:40:00.415-07:00One year on...Guru of Gang StarrIt's been a year since Guru, aka Keith Elam, passed away before his time of cancer.
Over these 12 months I've seen so many posters, t-shirts and other tributes. It made me wonder if any of the companies that created and sold these items actually donated anything back to Guru's family or estate? Ask the question out loud and publicly if you're buying any of these products!
Guru's death may Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-31501265431061012112011-04-17T08:30:00.000-07:002011-04-17T11:20:50.390-07:00#UNleashed Magazine: "Before Art was Street" #ArtInTheStreets
"Before Art was Street"
by Stephen Pang (re-published with permission from UNleashed Magazine)
If you Google ‘street art’ you will find no end of references. On Amazon alone there are over 4,000 books to choose from or you could drown in over 45 million Google search results. But, despite its visibility, street art is a relatively new art phenomenon with no formal training or career path. HowSteviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-22469610048484389882011-04-17T00:28:00.000-07:002011-04-17T00:28:44.684-07:00Respect the forefathers: Cornbread and Taki 183 @ MOCA #ArtInTheStreetsSteviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-84447149535448483562011-04-17T00:15:00.000-07:002011-04-17T00:17:49.696-07:00Pics from press day @ MOCA #ArtInTheStreets
Jeffrey Deitch talking with Taki 183 and Cornbread
I just got back from the members' opening of "Art in the Streets." But, earlier this week I got an invite to the "Art in the streets" press day which I wanted to share. That in itself wasn't that interesting, after all we've been reading snippits of the press release and seeing the press office approved images for a few weeks now.
Artists in Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-1865929202406049902011-04-16T13:00:00.000-07:002011-04-17T13:14:15.065-07:00Save our vinyl - Record Store Day 2011Worldwide record stores celebrated the vinyl record for Record Store Day.
My latest purchase? From the back of J-Live's truck...his "Best Part" vinyl album. Not quite a store, but it still amounts to something. If you didn't swing by your local record store then head there soon and show some love. Buy some plastic or gift cards for friends. Support vinyl before it's too late!
To keep you fed,Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-32083516083928308672011-04-15T09:09:00.000-07:002011-04-16T08:02:34.071-07:00Behind the scenes @ MOCA #ArtInTheStreets
I got a privileged look behind the scenes at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA installation of the "Art in the Streets" show last week.
AMAZING! I'm been sitting on these pics until now so I didn't give the game away! The artists and MOCA folks put a lot of work into this show. Yesterday I was invited to the press event and got a load of pics of the finished installation that I'll share on the Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-334953902339245402011-04-14T23:54:00.000-07:002011-04-14T23:54:38.828-07:00UNleashed Magazine is out! #ArtInTheStreets editionThe magazine is fresh off of the press. And it's a weighty, 124 page tome with full color images of amazing street art.
Copies of the magazine have been circulating since last night's launch party in honor of Fab 5 Freddy who I interviewed for the magazine. Other interviews include Patti Astor, Nick Walker, Futura, TATS Cru, Kenny Scharf, The London Police and Logan Hicks.
And each page is Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-44081267220150428992011-04-13T06:37:00.000-07:002011-04-13T08:22:12.401-07:00Martha Cooper redux #ArtInTheStreets
Martha Cooper (credit: Hypebeast)
For next week's "Art in the Streets" exhibition at MOCA Martha Cooper is reunited with her Subway Art cohort, Henry Chalfont (albeit in separate rooms.) Although, this museum show is a major achievement, what could be considered a more ambitious project involving her work is happening in 'midtown' LA.
"Martha Cooper: Remix" is a mixed media show of her photos Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-1309465935216392622011-04-12T12:56:00.000-07:002011-04-12T15:36:18.110-07:00Edition One Hundred pop-up store, April 13-14th #ArtInTheStreetsEdition One Hundred is an online art store that sells one thing very well - high quality, limited edition art prints. Only 100 of these exclusive art prints are ever printed and each one is authenticated by a certificate.
Founded in June 2010 by Los Angeles resident, Cat Jimenez, Edition One Hundred’s mission is combine art and charity “to restore the economic power to the artists and the Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-40014820129048606422011-04-11T21:20:00.000-07:002011-04-13T08:20:21.279-07:00Try Obey if you can't wait for "Art in the Streets" #ArtInTheStreetsThis week is the run up to the luge (large x huge) "Art in the Streets" exhibition at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA in LA. If you can't wait, as a warm up you can still see Obey's show on the other side of town.
The exhibition entitled, "REVOLUTIONS - The Album Cover Art of Shepard Fairey," kicked off in March and runs until April 23, 2011 briefly overlapping with the MOCA show.
The show isSteviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-18930020815028609102011-04-02T15:28:00.000-07:002011-04-12T22:37:16.071-07:00Quiet storm...my street art articlesIt arrived in the post...a members' invite to the Museum of Contemporary Art show, "Art in the Streets."
It's been quiet on my blog over these past few weeks. I've been busy working on meeting my deadlines for a series of street art articles that will be published in UNleashed Magazine, a Los Angeles/New York-based lifestyle magazine. Hopefully you get to see it as it's relaunching this spring Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-24182394059560439622011-03-14T07:01:00.000-07:002011-03-14T07:01:00.762-07:00Insa's return of the Swap Shop
Insa's lastest art project is inspired by the ground-breaking '70's BBC TV show, Swap Shop! Check out the video clip from 1981...Adam's comments on the music biz sound like they could've been uttered yesterday!
BBC's Swap Shop 1976-82
Here is the deal:
Insa has 20 of these rare t-shirts, never available in stores to giveaway.
Insa will swap one shirt per person.
Insa will consider Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-59456763510195325672011-03-11T21:01:00.000-08:002011-03-12T08:52:24.279-08:00Normski...UK old school hip hop royalty
UK b-boys
If you were in the UK around the late '80s and '90s you know Normski, aka Norman Anderson, is! I knew him as the hip hop photographer and first worked with him for the Victoria & Albert Museum "Street Style" exhibition in 1994.
His photos captured the burgeoning UK hip hop scene and the first wave of touring US mega rap acts (Beastie Boys, L.L. Cool J., Run DMC, Public Enemy.) Read Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-63623601265966821632011-03-10T07:14:00.000-08:002011-03-10T07:58:00.707-08:00Chuck D still hittin' hard...Arizona!A Los Angeles-based collective has created a politically motivated canvas with rap hard hitter, Chuck D, of Public Enemy.
"By the Time I Got to Arizona"
What's up? The Arizona immigration law that kicked in in 2010 sent huge waves through the country and the world. The "problem" is that America is home to over 22 million illegal immigrants and the majority are of Hispanic origin. Although Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-18618198900051502722011-03-06T20:56:00.000-08:002011-03-07T01:10:17.749-08:00The Wikileaks of the rap worldEveryone loves some gossip! But, imagine having 40 years' of untold gossip about your favorite rap artists at your fingertips?! We're talking about 50 Cent, Run-DMC, Jay Z and more!
Wikileaks of rap Author and rap insider, Dan Charnas, has revealed the inside track on the hip hop world in his highly acclaimed book, "The Big Payback: The History of the Business of Hip-Hop," that's currently Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-83094930952717110992011-02-22T07:50:00.000-08:002011-03-01T10:38:11.880-08:00Banksy nominated for an OscarAfter the Grammys, the second red carpet event of February is coming up! On Sunday, the 83rd Academy Awards kicks off. Better known as the Oscars!
As a taster, the second annual Oscar Docs! event is being held in Beverly Hills tomorrow and Banksy's "Exit Through the Gift Shop" is up for the documentary feature prize!
The evening's event will include clips from each of the nominated Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-80606961204689051022011-02-21T08:06:00.000-08:002011-04-03T10:51:23.207-07:00#EXCLUSIVE interview with #FLX, author of "Children of the Can" #graffiti book"Children of the Can" is an ambitious project by veteran Bristol graffiti artist and an old friend of mine, Felix "FLX" Braun. The book documents 25 years' of Bristol graffiti history...That's from the 1980s until, well...you can count. It serves as a study of Bristol street art, its key players and its influences. It's like a masters degree in Bristol street art!
The world's most famous Bristol Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-21170302607854290632011-02-17T10:21:00.000-08:002011-02-17T12:12:19.995-08:00L.A.'s Grammy Museum gives props to hip hip!
The Grammys award ceremony in Los Angeles might be over, but the you can still share the vibe at the Grammy Museum in downtown.
A major hip hop exhibition, entitled "Hip Hop: A Cultural Odyssey," opened this month ahead of the Grammys and runs until May 4th with various educational programs running in parallel. And, it's just in time since ABC News noticed that in this year's Grammys "hip hopSteviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-73112569357180509132011-02-14T08:31:00.000-08:002011-02-14T08:31:00.951-08:00Happy Valentine's...Say it with sneakers!London's Crooked Tongues sneaker emporium has come through with a novel take on Valentine's Day. No less commercial, but certainly more desirable in my household than a box of chocs!
Crooked Tongues...say it with sneakers!
"10 years ago, looking for information on the latest releases, or hunting for sneakers to buy online was more of a fragmented mission than merely Googling a model name. Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-34726771818776423042011-02-10T08:28:00.000-08:002011-02-10T11:49:45.045-08:00"The Grassroots of Urban Aerosol Art" short films, Harlem New York, February 12thOld skool writer, Lava 1 & 2, is presenting "The Grassroots of Urban Aerosol Art" with old skool graffiti artists Dose, Clyde, Bama, Slave, Rozone TC5, Stay High 149 and many more legends, as part of Black History Month.
Maysles Cinema in Harlem, New York is screening a series of short films including "New York Art Cypher" and "Tuff City Art Styles" followed by a panel discussion and an art Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-20157721846212608522011-02-09T08:34:00.000-08:002011-02-09T08:34:00.082-08:00Retna kicks off his "Hallelujah World Tour" Feb 10th in New York City
L.A.'s graffiti artist Retna is following up his sold out "Silver Lining" solo show at Miami Basel with a world tour of 35 new pieces!
The "Retna Hallelujah World Tour" opens February 10th in a 16,000 square foot exhibition space in a warehouse district near New York's SoHo (560 Washington Street between West Houston and Spring Street.)
Read the credits The plane tickets and paint have been Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-35082734638887694162011-02-08T12:06:00.000-08:002011-02-13T21:39:21.777-08:00King Fantastic x Kristina Rose "Why? Where? What?"INSA recently painted a mural in Los Angeles and got pornstar Kristina Rose to ride around in a bikini as part of his photo shoot?! To see the art click here.
This King Fantastic video (LA-based rappers Killer Reese One and Troublemaker I was corrected: Killer Reese One is the rapper, Troublemaker is the beatman! Thansk J.C!) stars Kristina as a maid-gone-rogue...and it's a tamer version of whatSteviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-35452255724407022302011-02-08T08:32:00.000-08:002011-02-08T12:27:10.149-08:00#INSA in San Francisco (and Los Angeles and London)INSA, London's pervy graffiti artist, is in California!
He opened his first solo show in San Francisco last week. "MORE" will run at Upper Playground's FIFTY24SF Gallery until February 28th, 2011.
INSA's new work still has his signature saucy imagery of women, feet and heels, all realistically painted and adorned with strategic paint drips. But he's added classic hip hop gold chains, wax-like Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-5175533803983479522011-02-06T11:10:00.000-08:002011-02-06T11:10:35.234-08:00Retna mural spotted in Los Angeles, Dec 2010
Retna hoarding, LA 2010
Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-10518705149426567692011-02-06T10:26:00.000-08:002011-02-06T10:30:46.640-08:00Kofie - Week #1 of "Edifice Cache" @ MoronoKiang Gallery, Los AngelesLos Angeles based artist, Kofie, was the inaugural artist in MoronoKiang Gallery's group show "Edifice Cache," curated by Shervin Shahbazi.
I'm late with this as the show opened on January 22, but it runs until February 19, 2011. "Edifice Cache" is described as an 'evolving installation' it features four other artists (Mike Russek, John Carr, Favianna Rodriguez and Yuri Shimojo.)
"The Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-58964402548860425112011-02-05T16:08:00.000-08:002011-02-05T18:29:09.973-08:00#Chinkyeyed hosted LMNO and L.A.'s rap talentIt's Super Bowl weekend, but the only thing that mattered was the Chinkyeyed gig in Pasadena this past Friday.
I went for the beat battle where 16x producers go head to head. That's grimy. But, Cali's rap fans were there for LMNO, aka Leave My Name Out. This ex-Visioniaries crew member was headlining the night and after at least eight releases he had plenty of tunes to perform.
Jukebox Here'sSteviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-16135510774633382062011-02-01T02:15:00.000-08:002011-02-08T12:32:19.027-08:00DJ Kool Herc highlights the problem with the US healthcare systemA wave of tweets this weekend hightlighted the plight of D.J. Kool Herc, the Father of Hip-Hop, and his struggle with large medical bills for procedures to remove kidney stones. I'm just glad it wasn't something more serious!
Bill Alder, ex-PR for Def Jam captured the reality of many hip hop legends: “This is just a disgrace that Kool Herc has to negotiate over the details of his health care. Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-78759651930766752022011-01-30T18:51:00.000-08:002011-02-06T12:43:20.455-08:00A walking tour of Bristol's street art scene #graffiti #banksyI was in Bristol this past Christmas and documented my walking tour of the new (to me) street art centers. Weapon of Choice in St. Michael's Hill; King of Paint in the Bear Pit under the coach station; and Peoples' Republic of Stokes Croft (home to at least two Banksy murals) and some other parts of Bristol.
The Bristol street art scene has exploded in recent years and is even getting some local Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-42446711752264747722010-12-31T20:28:00.000-08:002011-01-01T10:09:52.625-08:00Happy New Year - Times Square...the sleaziest block in America!!!Happy New Year!!!
Here is the history of the rejuvenation of Times Square in the 1980s. Without this no one would be spending hours waiting for the ball to drop in Times Square. I remember my first trip to New York in 1988. 42nd street around Port Authority was still a bit grimy and the peep shows were still there.
I love Charlie Ahearn's home videos of the chaos and anarchy on the streets. ISteviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-72120348596267548982010-12-28T08:00:00.000-08:002010-12-28T08:00:05.392-08:00#Puma reps old skool...never fades [#oldskool #hiphop ]Searching for info on Def Jam I stumble upon this series of videos sponsored by Puma.
Remember back in 2007-8 when Puma released a whole series of old skool hip hop shoes and garms? I got myself a Puma MTV hooded sweatshirt and the second release (grey on white) of the Vaughn Bode "Cheech Wizard" Clydes (but stayed away from the horrific sweatshirt!?)
These five video interviews by Fab 5 FreddySteviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-65801324364300721052010-12-26T08:06:00.000-08:002010-12-26T08:06:00.263-08:00Want a peek at #Pharrell Williams' yard?My friend Kiki tweeted about The Selby's inside look at Pharrell's home. And not a Christmas tree in sight! But it does look like a white Christmas! :)
Pharrell's Miami home (credit: The Selby)
Pharrell's restrained Miami house is no super-producer Scott Storch mansion and it comes off a little cold and empty. I was never a big fan of Kaws and seeing his work here doesn't change that opinion.Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-51520765499554944392010-12-25T10:53:00.000-08:002010-12-25T10:53:42.086-08:00HO, HO, HO...Merry Christmas everyone!
Thanks to Christie Z.Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-34838443511812623702010-12-24T08:50:00.000-08:002010-12-24T08:50:00.201-08:00Get inside #graffiti artist #Insa's London studioAs I was packing to head back to England for Christmas, I found this U.K. story on Juxtapoz online. It's a rare visit to graffiti artist, Insa's, London studio.
Merry Christmas...I hope you get to spend it with your loved ones!
"His Southeast London studio views more like the workshop of sexy elves than the creative base of a highly sought after contemporary artist. Coffee cups litter a Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-35275651073036962452010-12-22T08:54:00.000-08:002010-12-22T08:54:01.045-08:00Need ideas for #Christmas pressies? #adidas Originals, baby!I wandered past the adidas Originals store on Melrose. Trouble in the making. I found a pair of Jeremy Scott three-tongue Attitude sneaker. A cool $220 and not even in my size. But I tried them on! ;)
I first saw them a year ago in the adidas concept store in West Soho, London. And here they are again. Were they really 150 quid back then? I guess so. But converted into U.S. dollars makes it seemSteviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-38775365350986455432010-12-19T08:59:00.000-08:002010-12-19T08:59:01.083-08:00TAR R.I.P. #graffiti tribute, Los Angeles
TAR R.I.P. - La Brea Ave @ Highland Ave, Los Angeles, CA
Buds, RISK, MSK
Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-69943612647532337252010-12-15T23:37:00.000-08:002010-12-15T23:39:14.311-08:00The #LXD "Secrets of Ra" finale on #Hulu
The LXD
The finale of the latest The Legion of Extraordinary Dancers, or The LXD, "Secrets of Ra" story is available on Hulu.
Each story is under 15 minutes long and tells a dramatic story that incorporates breaking, popping and other street dance styles. You've seen nothing like this. And it's been on Hulu every Wednesday advertising-free for weeks now.
Check part one and two out as soon Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-68109871296001066702010-12-15T08:00:00.000-08:002010-12-15T08:00:04.728-08:00Tribute to "Style Wars" 1983 #graffiti documentary
"School project at Spinneriet, Malmo, Sweden November-2010. Remake of the Style Wars a documentary produced by Tony Silver and Henry Chalfant in New York City in 1983. Featuring Dez, Kase, Bernie Jacobs."
Thanks: Juxtapoz Magazine and TWBESteviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-69116037556238341712010-12-12T08:50:00.000-08:002010-12-12T08:50:00.248-08:00#Banksy's identity finally revealed!
"From the people that brought you Wallace & Gromit, Aardman Animations, comes this new video inspired by the man that doesn’t have a face, Banksy. It was produced for Bristol’s Encounters International Film Festival, and directed by Chopsy, and staring a clay-mation Banksy." Big up, Bristol! Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-24424725134419802982010-12-11T08:07:00.000-08:002010-12-11T08:07:00.322-08:00LA's Beat Swap Meet is happening Sunday [#hiphop #DTLA]If you're in Los Angeles you need to check this out. The Beat Swap Meet happens again..."over 35 record vendors and collectors from all over California and the surrounding states."
VIMBY - LA Beat Swap Meet
If you're not buying you can still get a treat from Beat Swap Meet resident D.J.s - Abel (Fakshuns), AC The PD (Hip Hop http://Philosophy.com Radio), Analog (Beat Hackerz), Charlie Rock (Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-6530033195538448072010-12-10T14:32:00.000-08:002010-12-10T14:32:08.539-08:00#Banksy x Keith #Haring "Choose Your Weapon"Here's another soon to be classic from Banksy and Pictures on Walls in London that's released this weekend.
But it's not as striking as some of his other images. I'm not a fan of appropriating Keith Haring's barking dog. Banksy's wittier than that.
What's he trying to say? Is he making a comment on the thugs with Dobermans, Rottweillers and the like?!
Will I try to get a print...probably...Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-53813150332376053402010-12-10T12:58:00.000-08:002010-12-10T12:58:00.747-08:00Belly of the Beats beat battle...last of the season tonight in #DTLABELLY OF THE BEATZ Friday Night December 10th.
I went a couple of years ago and it was fire! Check out my YouTube video...
Last Battle Of The Season
Opening Acts:
Defiant Giants
Kapital J
Wasted Talent
Brown Lucci
Visionz
Fale 714
Mic Nice
Just Added: dirtRAID (Rocking a beat set)
Hosted By: AreEezy (IZRL Recs) and Dj SuperJay (Fatbeats LA)
Doors open @ 8pm - 2am - 18+
21+ to drink w/ID (Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-78568088700039236292010-12-10T08:37:00.000-08:002010-12-14T09:57:25.883-08:00Catch Inkie's solo #graffiti show in #Bristol, ends January 9th
Inkie piece (credit: Strokeface)
Bristol-born, London-based graffiti artist, Inkie, has opened his first solo show in his home town. The Bank of Stokes Croft has a selection of his illustrative style graffiti canvases on show until Sunday and the show has been extended due to "popular demand" into the new year.
"Due to the outstanding public demand we will be restocking the 25 Years of InkSteviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-726597434119913492010-12-08T07:32:00.000-08:002010-12-08T13:24:08.737-08:00#Vintage Def Jam jacket for $1500 [#defjam #oldskool #hiphop]How much would you pay for some hip hop memorabilia? $1500 or $80 for the same garment?
Of course, I'm talking about eBay! Over the years I've hunted down authentic Double Goose Country leather 3/4 length jackets (and less original versions too,) but my search for a burghandy or black colored Def Jam record label baseball jacket has been tough!
Even though I know how rare these collector's Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-16027972613508843962010-12-04T08:16:00.000-08:002010-12-07T10:58:09.654-08:00#EXCLUSIVE: Win a DVD of #graffiti film #Wholetrain and the soundtrack courtesy of director, Florian GaagGraff film "Wholetrain" was released on DVD last month at these worldwide stores, but if you didn't get it on Black Friday or Cyber Monday there's still a chance now. And for free!
Florian Gaag, the director of "Wholetrain," has offered up *two* free prizes for you hip hop fans to win: a copy of the "Wholetrain" DVD and also the fresh "Wholetrain" soundtrack CD! Now that's love!
How to win JustSteviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-60723362875348392772010-12-03T11:04:00.000-08:002010-12-03T21:02:57.810-08:00#Talib Kweli @ Roxy last week - old news, but still fresh!On Thanksgiving Eve I lined up with a couple of hundred Talib fans in the chilly (by L.A. standards) night outside The Roxy club for a free launch party and performance for Talib's "Gutter Rainbows." Thanks MySpace Music!
The event helped raise awareness for homeless folks this winter as each free party-goer had to bring a hat, scarf or gloves. But some brought canned goods too. But seriously Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-87743666885134150252010-11-27T08:01:00.000-08:002010-11-28T12:15:48.405-08:00#Rap and #Yale University Press - The Anthology of RapA new book charting the rise of rap music has been released by Yale University Press. "The Anthology of Rap" was written by Andrew Bradley and Andrew DuBois two Professors of English at the University of Colorado and the University of Toronto.
Type bookstore, Canada
Why is rap so interesting to these academics of the English language? NPR recently interviewed Professor Andrew Bradley, one of Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-63557338630197561392010-11-25T08:08:00.000-08:002010-11-25T08:08:00.309-08:00Happy Thanksgiving...a old Hip Hop Kidz Macy's Parade videoSteviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-5269788259030260072010-11-24T07:25:00.000-08:002010-11-24T13:54:20.333-08:00Delicious Vinyl and Digital Gravel bring us some legendary t-shirtsJust in time for the holiday season two Los Angeles' finest, hip hop record label, Delicious Vinyl, and online clothing retailer, Digital Gravel, have come together to bring us some old skool hip hop classics.
Delicious Vinyl hits all get love: Young M.C.'s "Bust a Move," The Pharcyde's "Passin Me By" and Tone Loc's "Wild Thang." A limited run of 50 shirts of each design have been made availableSteviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-71735352514312528852010-11-20T08:51:00.000-08:002010-11-20T08:51:00.529-08:00#EXCLUSIVE: Inteview with Florian Gaag, writer/director of #graffiti film, "Wholetrain" [ #hiphop #wholetrain]The award-winning graffiti film, "Wholetrain," is being released on DVD this Tuesday, so I managed to track down Florian Gaag, the writer/director, to get under the skin of the film, the film-making process and his next project.
Backstory "Wholetrain" is a German film production that took several years to complete because Gaag wanted to capture some of the essence and drive of illegal Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-69566032763147747192010-11-18T08:14:00.000-08:002010-11-18T10:32:47.028-08:00Planet Rock tribute t-shirts [#planetrock #hiphop #oldskool #koolherc]Hip hop fashion comes and goes, but some things are eternal. And when a company calls itself Sedgwick and Cedar, named as a tribute to D.J. Kool Herc and the foundations of hip hop, we expect great things.
This season it has launched a range of t-shirts (for New York Fall?! ;) ) to celebrate the Soul Sonic Force hip hop anthem, "Planet Rock." Not only are there four fresh t-shirt designs from Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-65660215054486677572010-11-15T08:57:00.000-08:002010-11-15T09:07:36.971-08:00The history of the #boombox [#hiphop #oldschool]From one iconic retired hip hop product (see my earlier post about the Technics SL-1200) to another. This time I'm writing about the battery-hungry boombox.
You already know that I have a love of old skool, but somehow November feels like hip hop history month. This NPR video someone sent me celebrates the launch of a book by award-winning photographer, Lyle Owerko, which features the history Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-45440608660957283812010-11-12T10:55:00.000-08:002010-11-12T22:44:23.920-08:00R.I.P. Technics?
Like many, I saw the news that Panasonic, the maker of the legendary Technics SL-1200 range of turntables, was ceasing production. To be clear - the analog turntable is dead, but the brand is very much alive! A conversation last night with DJ/producer Burt Blackarach sparked this post.
Panasonic has seen a 95% drop in sales over the past decade. That's shocking. But, why do you think that is? Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-16597125358988218212010-11-11T08:33:00.000-08:002010-11-11T13:13:28.477-08:0010.Deep opens pop-up store tomorrow @ Hall of Fame, Los AngelesThe 10.DEEP crew have traveled from their Washington D.C. base to open a pop-up store in Los Angeles tomorrow at Hall of Fame (449 North Fairfax Avenue.)
If you're in the area, the store will open at 7pm on Friday, November 12th and showcase "the global premiere" of its Holiday 2010 collection as well as some exclusive garms only Hall of Fame will carry.
10.Deep says it has some other Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-72230149037971402832010-11-10T20:48:00.000-08:002010-11-10T20:48:31.883-08:00Drake = Commercial #Sellout [#wack #rap #kodak]When a rapper goes out of his way to sell you something other than his music, you have to wonder what's going on?!
So Kodak?! So waaaack!
"This week, I’ve had the privilege of sharing some of the “behind-the-scenes” images, observations and general commentary from the filming of the various commercials that comprise the new “So Kodak” campaign. Launching in the Fall of 2010, the “So Kodak”Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-49343862014545758012010-11-08T08:32:00.000-08:002010-11-10T20:49:18.308-08:00"Wholetrain"...arriving on platform DVD! Catch it Nov. 23rd [#wholetrain #graffiti]The graffiti film "Wholetrain" has been described by Charlie Ahern (director of "Wild Style") as "...an impressive piece of work. It´s the only Graffiti-Movie that can follow in the footsteps of 'Wild Style'."
If you didn't catch it during its international film festival run, wait no more! It's finally being released on DVD in the U.S. later this month. You can pre-order before it ships Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-64628547132264851652010-11-05T07:18:00.000-07:002010-11-05T07:18:00.664-07:00UK's DJ Switch (DMC World Supremacy 2010) on BBC's Blue Peter
The UK's DJ Switch won the DMC World Supremacy 2010 last month, beating DJ Getback from France. I've sat on this news for a few weeks, but I had to dust it off! UK has to be celebrated!
There are two solo DMC DJ championship titles which is confusing...here's what I learnt the DMC World Supremacy champion wins via a head-to-head, multi-round battle! Whilst the DMC World DJ champion wins in a Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-13148280569371310802010-11-02T07:09:00.000-07:002010-11-02T19:15:40.016-07:001980's New York graffiti re-lived: Subway Art history projectFlashback! Ed Koch was Mayor of New York City for nearly a decade during the height of graffiti in the city, 1978-1989. His battle against graffiti on the subway was immortalized in the film "Style Wars," produced by L.A.'s Tony Silver (R.I.P.) and Henry Chalfont.
Stuck in time Two decades later, I read in the New York Times a retro graffiti movement has been spotted near the Prospect Park Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-67183365715954541272010-10-31T12:05:00.000-07:002010-10-31T12:05:05.045-07:00Happy Hallowe'en...graffiti style...Galo, Los Angeles
Gruesome Galo'ween 2010
Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-90879570543486886492010-10-31T08:04:00.000-07:002010-10-31T12:05:43.326-07:00Graffiti legends hit the MTA....one more week
DirtyPilot.com is exhibiting its new graffiti show, "Map Quest", online until November 7th...You have one more week to check out artwork from REVOLT, T-KID, COPE2, EWOK 5MH, GHOST, CRIME79, CES ONE, PART ONE, KR. ONE, YES2.
Map Quest is the closest these old skool graffiti greats will get to hitting the MTA (aka New York City subway!) In this collective show each artist has used a NYC Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-6389703617359486462010-10-28T07:44:00.000-07:002010-10-28T20:15:20.661-07:00Snoop Dogg gets into comedy - Gibson Ampitheater, Los Angeles
Mike Epps and Snoop Dogg, Imagine That!
Snoop Dogg is used to being up on stage, but his Imagine That! show takes things in a new direction.
Collaborating with comedian Mike Epps Snoop's created a multimedia comedy stage show about two night club performers who get arrested, sent to prison and then attempt to break out. Now, I'm not a fan of Epp's style of comedy, but I hear the show blends Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-29523000570649960832010-10-25T08:05:00.000-07:002010-10-25T08:05:00.289-07:00Bristol's finest graffiti artists showing offIn west London this week, Bristol's self-proclaimed finest graffiti artists are exhibiting their talents at Graffik gallery in west London's Notting Hill area.
This is a rare event for Bristol talent to have a collective exhibition in London. Hopefully it ruffles the feathers of a few established painters and helps put the Bristol boys on the map.
Graffik is no stranger to graffiti since it Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-71386278368229089332010-10-23T00:13:00.000-07:002010-10-23T00:28:45.657-07:00Inkie represents in London...Kanye
Inkie and Kanye, Jezebel, London. Pic by bigbadbanshee
This blog isn't about star-spotting, but I saw a picture of my mate, Inkie, hugging Kanye West in London it had to be shared....
Earlier tonight Kanye tweeted: "JUST TO LONDON!!! YOU KNOW I HAD TO PUT MY CAPS ON! I DON'T TYPE IN CAPS CAUSE I'M MAD I TYPE CAUSE I'M LAZY" Then he turns up in these Twitter pics at Jade Jagger's joint.
Small Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-55045377552558163982010-10-22T11:11:00.000-07:002010-10-23T00:01:59.145-07:00Stephen Forbes interviews Warren Buffet and Jay ZAnother story that's been lingering in my Inbox. Sorry it's late.
Forbes special edition cover, Oct 2010
I was surprised as the next guy to see Jay-Z on the cover of Forbes magazine with Warren Buffet. But not because Jay's black, a rapper, or an entrepreneur (aka ex-drug dealer.) No, it was seeing Jay-Z in a suit! Has anyone seen Jay-Z so uncomfortable as in the video below?
Why the cover Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-67631399710703479152010-10-21T22:06:00.000-07:002010-10-21T22:06:56.832-07:00L.A.'s Retna goes old skool with one-off monotype prints
Rivera & Rivera has shown Retna's work in the recent past in its downtown Los Angeles gallery. But, this time it has stepped up the game with something unique and limited.
Imagine Retna's lettering and brushwork painted onto glass and then "pressed" to paper. This is monotyping which dates back to the 17th century! With monotyping only a single print - a monotype - is produced because most of Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-12280638094474624282010-10-20T10:31:00.000-07:002010-10-20T15:46:45.966-07:00Risk collaborates with Wild OnesL.A. graffiti legend, Risk, has collaborated with The Wild Ones to create a two-piece limited edition t-shirt set.
My favourite shirt is a print of a dope full-color graff piece RISK painted for The Wild Ones. The back features his "The Wild Ones" tag. Did I say I heard these t-shirts are very limited.
See the video below where Risk talks about his graffiti journey including influential L.A. Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-82141018735776580542010-10-18T08:06:00.000-07:002010-10-18T08:06:00.535-07:00Star-spotting in West Hollywood...Die AntwoordI was out getting my phone fixed and on Third Street wandering down the street were Ninja and Yo-Landi Vi$$er (no sign of DJ Hi-Tech) of Die Antwoord, Cape Town's export to the electro/rap world.
I was a bit in awe even though they didn't want a picture taken by the world-famous Stevio ;) They were in town for a show last night at Henry Fonda Music Box which I didn't check out. But I found this Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-70096071515139847872010-10-15T14:05:00.000-07:002010-10-16T18:19:41.782-07:00TONIGHT: Breakestra and Music Man Miles, San FranciscoIf you've heard (or seen) Breakestra you'll know how funky this band is! It's worth a trip across town.
And if you're in San Fran tonight, Breakestra is playing including Afrodyete the "African Goddess of Soul & Love." Rhythm section will be held down by "funk drumming god" Pete McNeal and "turntable percussion" will be dropped by none other than Mix Master Wolf!
NEW PARISH
579 18th Street
Steviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-58230210224209994442010-10-15T13:26:00.000-07:002010-10-15T14:20:00.023-07:00Saber interviewed by Frank 151video platformvideo managementvideo solutionsvideo player
This video interview is part of the Frank 151 "Chapter 41" issue released this summer dedicated to the infamous The Seventh Letter graffiti crew (which can be downloaded here.)
"The Seventh Letter was founded in 2000 by the rumored leader of the infamous West Coast graffiti crews AWR MSK to act as a platform for crew members to showcaseSteviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296870.post-25185271691902564502010-10-14T07:43:00.000-07:002010-10-14T12:07:30.319-07:00Support Blog Action Day on the 15th OctoberThere's an important online event I'm taking part in on October 15th, called Blog Action Day. It's nothing to do with hip hop, but this is a great grassroots movement.
Each year bloggers from more than 100 countries come together and blog about a single important issue, and this year'sSteviohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16033532535574742954noreply@blogger.com0