Fantastic Flying Lotus' Latest Until The Quiet Comes

Experimental producer Steven Ellison, known as Flying Lotus has been known for exploring the wide array of musical genres be it hip hop, jazz, electronics, ... The Los Angeles native stemming from the Coltrane jazz musicians family has often been compared to Jay Dilla.

His debut album entitled 1983(2006) was followed by Los Angeles in 2008. Whereas his previous jazz inspired Grammy award winning(Dance/Electronica Album category ) Cosmogramma(2010) record sounded restless and hard to access, Until The Quiet Comes sounds quite the opposite. Although his busy tour schedule made it hard to find the right creativity enhancing mindset, he easily succeeded in producing an ambient fourth album.

The new course in the underground hip hop scene inspired him to create Until The Quiet Comes, a delightful cosmic journey towards unconscious dreamlike states. Enchanting female voices invite the tribal drum intoxicated listener to enter an atmospheric nocturnal universe. 

Dazing streamlined break beat hip hop, dreamy soul and down tempo electronics to loose yourself in and day-dream upon. 

Tracklist
1 - All In
02 - Getting There feat. Niki Randa
03 - Until the Colours Come
04 - Heave(n)
05 - Tiny Tortures
06 - All the Secrets
07 - Sultan's Request
08 - Putty Boy Strut
09 - See Thru to U feat. Erykah Badu
10 - Until the Quiet Comes
11 - DMT Song feat. Thundercat
12 - The Nightcaller
13 - Only if You Wanna
14 - Electric Candyman feat. Thom Yorke
15 - Hunger feat. Niki Randa
16 - Phantasm feat. Laura Darlington
17 - me Yesterday//Corded
18 - Dream to Me

First of a Living Breed Homeboy Sandman's fourth

New Yorker Homeboy Sandman(born Angel Del Villar II, 1980) released his fourth album "First of a Living Breed " on Stones Throw. 

Sandman deserved his solid non conformist reputation with debut full length album Nourishment(2007), second album Actual Factual Pterodactyl (2008) and The Good Sun(2010).

Former law student Sandman uses wit to convey thoughtful messages. He clearly wants to be a plausible role model, lectures about right and wrong as a true teacher. However the song lyrics of "For the Kids" might be perceived as tritely annoying.

Still... listen closely to Oddisee-produced "Watchu Want From Me?".

No-nonsense Homeboy Sandman is capable of writing clever rhymes, delivers them in a nice flow on soulful beats. Let's hope his entire next album will refrain from clichéd moral advice. 

Tracklist

1. Rain 
2. Watchu Want From Me 
3. Couple Bars (Honey, Sugar, Darling, Sweetie, Baby, Boo) 
4. Sputnik 
5. Illuminati 
6. 4 Corners 
7. For the Kids 
8. Cedar and Sedgwick 
9. Mine All Mine 
10. Not Really 
11. The Ancient 
12. Eclipsed 
13. First of a Living Breed 
14. Let's Get 'em

www.stonesthrow.com/homeboysandman 
http://newpro.homeboysandman.com/
www.homeboysandman.com

Talib Kweli and DJ Z-Trip Attack The Block mixtape

Talib Kweli's album Prisoner Of Conscious is on its way but the man is already enlightening us with a mix tape entitled Attack The Block, released on the third of September 2012. The old school MC collaborated with DJ Z-Trip on Don Cannon, Boi-1da and fabulous 9th Wonder beats.

The sensational sound, delightful beats and underground artists are bound to take you on cloud 9 .

Tracklist: 

1.Attack The Block!!!
2.Letter From The Government (Prod by Vohn Beatz)
3.That’s Enough ft John Forte, Skyzoo, Posdnous, Rubix Fashawn (Prod by OhNo)
4.Numerology (Prod by Symbolic One)
5.Congregation ft Black Thought, Ab-Soul (Prod by J Rhodes)
6.Outstanding ft Ryan Leslie (Prod by Boi 1nda)
7.Earning Potential ft Mac Miller (Prod by Amadeus)
8.The Corner ft Jay Rock (Prod by Charlemagne)
9.Getting To The Money- Cory Mo ft Talib Kweli, Killa Mike (Prod by Don Cannon)
10.NY Shining ft Greg Nice, Styles P (Prod by Symbolic One)
11.Mack Maine ft Talib Kweli Lil Wayne – Celebrate
12.Make It Classy
13.So Fresh
14.To The Music ft Maino (Prod by 9th Wonder)
15.I Like It ft Das Racist (Prod by OhNo)
16.Mr. E ft Talib Kweli Ace Hood – Let Em In
17.Solid Gold ft Grafh and Planet Asia
18.Fly Away

Broken hearted hip hop preacher Lupe Fiasco says goodbye to hip hop by means of Food & Liquor 2: Great American Rap Album Pt. 1.

Fiasco's fourth and sequel to his debut album "Food & Liquor 2: Great American Rap Album Pt. 1." with additional vocals of Bilal, Guy Sebastian, Casey Benjamin and Poo Bear is available in the store.

Unfortunately the rapper announced that he will quit making commercial music after the release of part 2.  

This retirement was provoked by rapper Chief Keef, a gangster rapper who was recently offered a record deal and a Kanye West remix following his abusive and violent "I don't like" track.  

Both artists are inhabitants of Chicago, a city terrorized by an explosive number of homicides.  Sick of gangster rap's glorification of violence Lupe frankly shared his concern about Keef's representation of aggressive lifestyle: “Chief Keef scares me… Not him specifically, but just the culture that he represents…The murder rate in Chicago is skyrocketing and you see who’s doing it and perpetrating it, they all look like Chief Keef.”

“My first true love was literature, so I will return to that… Lupe Fiasco ends here…” he wrote after his attempt to spread peace.

Tracklist 
1. Ayesha Says (Intro)
2. Strange Fruition Ft. Casey Benjamin
3. ITAL (Roses)v4. Around My Way (Freedom Ain’t Free)
5. Audubon Ballroom
6. B*tch Bad
7. Lamborghini Angels
8. Put ‘Em Up
9. Heart Donor Ft. Poo Bear
10. How Dare You Ft. Bilal
11. Battle Scars ft Guy Sebastian
12. Brave Heart Ft. Poo Bear
13. Form Follows Function
14. Cold War Ft. Jane $$$
15. Unforgivable Youth Ft. Jason Evigian
16. Hood Now (Outro)
17. Things We Must Do For Others

Brother Ali Mourning In America and Dreaming In Color

Inspired by a recent trip to Mecca, American rapper Jason Newman(1977) decided to create his fifth full length album during a two-month exile. Brother Ali's Mourning in America and Dreaming in Color, produced by  Jack One( De La Soul, Snoop Dogg, ...), was released on September 18. 

Known for using music as a therapeutic expression of personal experiences and ideas, the MC raps about his son's mother(All You Need), drugs( Need a Knot), the music industry( Won More Hit), violence and murder( Mourning in America) and social issues as unemployment, poverty and the economic crisis ( Work Everyday and Only Life I know). 

This brother's philosophical record is all about cultural criticism, American consciousness, genuine hope and idealism. 

Tracklist:
1. Letter to My Countrymen (4:04) ft Dr. Cornel West
2. Only Life I Know (4:01)
3. Stop the Press (4:01)
4. Mourning in America (4:08)
5. Gather Round (4:39) ft Amir Sulaiman
6. Work Everyday (3:45)
7. Need a Knot (2:46)
8. Won More Hit (3:43)
9. Say Amen (2:59)
10. Fajr (3:51)
11. Namesake (2:10)
12. All You Need (3:14)
13. My Beloved (3:58) ft Choklate & Tone Trezure
14. Singing This Song (4:22)

http://brotherali.com

DMC World Champion

Master in Media Lady Aiko's soul stretches out into urban space

copyright Lady Aiko

Which aspects of urban art attracted you to hit the streets of NY after your successful studies in graphic design and filmmaking at Tokyo Zokei University and media studies at the New School?

At college I was into documentary filmmaking. Urban art is similar to documentary film in some characteristics: both are non-fiction, rough and real. Urban art is performing arts, it is a spontaneous happening on the street, a communicative art form that is meant for everyone, for random people in random situations .
When following media studies, Canadian philosopher Marshall McLuhan once said "the medium is the message, an extension of our body".  Urban art became my medium and my large-scale murals and installations became extensions of my body. My stencils beautify the cityscape, leave prints of my positive soul here and there. I enjoy the feeling that the city becomes an extension of myself, allowing my body to become bigger and bolder.

You worked for Takashi Murakami, whose work is also inspired by Japanese pop culture, anime and manga imagery. What did you learn from this unforgettable co-operation?

When I was assisting Takashi Murakami, he wasn't the superstar artist he is now. Back then he rented a tiny space in Brooklyn to prepare for his solo exhibition at Marianne Boesky Gallery in Soho. Murakami and a few assistants worked at the one small table in the room, it was an intimate co- operation. 
This was right after my arrival in NY. I was very interested in the artist's life style, more than in what he created or in his artistic techniques. I was observing him, this middle aged Japanese artist beginning his world-wide career. 

What was your role in the artists' collective Faile?

My role was from A-Z, I was a creative part of Faile. 

As a solo artist you have been known to utilize a large scale of materials and techniques: acrylics, spray paint, collage, pigments, coffee stains, film, screen printing, stencils on spray cans, designing sculptures and toys, ...
Which are the main messages you are aiming to convey by means of your bright street and gallery work?

By experimenting with several techniques and materials I seek the beauty of human life. The world of today is filled with sad stories, therefore I want to focus on the positive moments of everyday life, on making things better ... The Japanese tragedy that took place last year filled me with concern. I also feel deeply for my heritage, I like talking about my roots in order to preserve our beautiful culture and tradition.

What's your view on the position of female artists in the male dominated art world?

It can be very difficult, but I enjoy my position as a very unique individual most of the time.

 Can you tell us more about your collaboration with Martha Cooper?

She's a very good friend of mine. We travel together, organize shows and mural events, lecture on the history of graffiti and street art. We simply inspire each other. It's really nice to work with a different generation's talent. 
Based on the photographs Martha took in Tokyo during the 1960's, a book called Tokyo Tattoo was published. The Tokyo Tattoo project consists of Martha's book publication, an art exhibition of images I designed, and a spray paint mural project in Europe and the US. 

Could you tell us more about your future projects?

Soon I will do a mural project in Las Vegas. This fall Martha Cooper and I will be working on the Tokyo Tattoo show in Soho NYC. In Japan I will be working on a new version of the Lady Butterfly sculpture, which is to be released this winter. A fashion project, new prints and a book will be out by the end of this year so please stay tuned on www.ladyaiko.com. 

Many thanks , Lady Aiko Nakagawa!

Martha Cooper

American documentary photographer Martha Cooper is best known for documenting the 1970-1980's NY graffiti scene. 

Her father was a photographer who went out on shooting adventures with his little girl. Later in life she earned degrees in art and anthropology.

In the 60's Cooper worked as a photography intern for National Geographic magazine.

In the 1970's she was a photojournalist for the New York Post. When she was photographing unsupervised children's play in the Lower East Side, a boy called HE3 showed her his sketchbook and asked her why she didn't photograph graffiti.  The boy introduced her to Dondi White, who was so interesting that she became obsessed with graffiti just because of him. Dondi was the first artist she accompanied on a writing tour. Later on she followed Lady Pink, Shy 147 and Seen UA on their lay ups, rewarding them with pictures of their masterpieces.

Subway graffiti perfectly combined her interests in art and anthropology. In the 80's Henry Chalfant and Martha Cooper published Subway Art, the classic groundbreaking book illustrating the graffiti subculture.  Their pictures show the pieces in different contexts.

This lady was one of the first to follow the intriguing secretive urban art scene. No wonder her work has been published in books, journals and magazines as Vibe, Smithsonian, National History and National Geographic magazine and have been exhibited in museums and galleries.

Specialized in art and anthropology, her photos breathe her passion....

Publications:

Subway Art, Martha Cooper and Henry Chalfant, 1984, Thames and Hudson London

Subway Art, the 25th anniversary edition, ISBN 13 978-050051452

RIP: New York Spray can Memorials, Thames and Hudson, 1994, 
ISBN 13 978-0500277768

Hip Hop files: photographs 1979-1984, From here to Fame, 2004, ISBN 3-937946055

Street Play, From Here to fame, 2005, ISBN 978-3937946160

We B*Girlz, Powerhouse cultural entertainment books, 2005, ISBN 13- 978-1576872697

Going Postal, Mark Batty Publisher, 2009, ISBN 13 978-0979966651

Name tagging, Mark Batty Publisher, 2010, ISBN 13 978-098190067

Tokyo Tattoo 1970, Dokument Press 2012, ISBN 13 978-9185639274

Links:

http://www.12ozprophet.com/index.php/martha_cooper/ 
http://www.bgirlz.com/ 
http://www.kodakgirl.com/ 
http://www.nycitysnaps.com/ 

Public Enemy releases 2 albums this year

To commemorate their anniversary, Public Enemy drops two albums this year. Their eleventh album entitled " Most of My Heroes still don't appear on no Stamp" was released in June 2012 with the help of Gary G-Wiz.  Follow-up "The Evil Empire of Everything" will be available from the 4th of September.

Chuck D described the albums as "two concise statements connected in the same breath". Those who are fond of that groovy 80's sound mixed with politically charged lyrics know what to listen to...

The Evil Empire of Everything:

1. The Evil Empire of
2. Don't give up the fight
3. 1(Peace)
4. 2(Respect)
5. Beyond Trayvon
6. Everything
7. Fame
8. Icebreaker
9. Notice(Know this)
10. Say it like it really is
11. Riot started
12. Broke Diva

www.publicenemy.com

Soul man d' Angelo is back

American neo-soul artist Michael Eugene Archer(1974), raised in a preacher family, experienced early influences of church and soul music. Belief remained an essential part of his life, physically uttered by verse four of psalm 23 tattooed on his arm.  

In the 90's insecure, glasses-wearing Archer met golden voice Angie Stone. She inspired him and made him feel better about himself with all her love and dedication. They started dating each other, had a son and helped each other produce thrilling tracks such as Everyday. They joined forces on Stone’s Black Diamond album(1999). 

D’Angelo collaborated with Ali Shaheed Muhammad of a Tribe called Quest on his debut Brown Sugar(1995, RCA Records). Stone was in charge of the backing vocals on this album, which earned platinum certification and drew attention to the 90's neo soul movement, along with debut albums by Lauryn Hill, Maxwell and Erykah Badu.  

Collaborations with J-Dilla(So Far to go, Tell me), Raphael Saadiq( You’re my lady; U should be here, Instant Vintage), Erykah Badu (Your Precious Love and Heaven), Mary J Blige (Would you), Lauryn Hill( Nothing even matters, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill) and DJ Premier(Devil's pie) add to his credits.

Following his debut album's success the singer-songwriter went into a four-and-a-half-year absence from the music scene.

Follow-up Voodoo(2000, Virgin Records) won two Grammy awards, for best R & B album and best male R&B vocal performance. 

Redman and Method Man featured on the album’s lead single Left and Right. However it was the second single How Does it feel, produced by Raphael Saadiq, that became an enormous hit. It's sensual video clip was both d’Angelo’s worldwide breakthrough and his downfall. 

Although these two neo-soul master pieces were cited as two of the most excellent R & B albums, his acquired sex symbol status wasn't exactly stimulating his way of living. His focus on the music turned into an obsession with sex, drugs and rock 'n roll. And then it suddenly went silent around him. Self-reflection finally started kicking in when he lost his friend James Yancey aka J- Dilla in 2006.

In 2008 Archer was asked asked to sing on Q- tip's Believe track.(The Renaissance album)

This year the man's comeback tour throughout Europe proved incredulous critics that he remains a neo-soul icon. Accompanied by a sublime band, he is once again showing his multi-instrumentalist abilities(guitar and piano) in a superior show. 

His Ghent Jazz festival jam made mouths gape, hips move, eyes shine and minds feel like making love. 

Nowadays one is often disillusioned by live neo-soul or hip hop performances but this man isn't one of those delusional want-to-be-seen studio artists, he is the true human representation of pure funkiness.

In the words of former partner Angie Stone:  « D'Angelo will always be d'Angelo. «  Respect the talent of the Marvin Gaye of this day.

D'Angelo's 2012 tour band:

Jermaine Holmes

Kendra Foster

Cleo Sample

Rob Lumzy(backing vocals)

Isaiah Sharkey(rhythm guitar)

Jesse Johnson( guitar)

Pino Palladino(bass)

Raymond Angry(keyboard)

Chris Dave(drum)

Studio albums

Brown Sugar 1995

Voodoo 2000

Live albums

Live at the jazz café 1998

Compilations

The Best so far 2008

Remix album

Voodoo DJ Soul Essentials 2000

Oddissee's People hear what they see

Underground old school MC and producer Oddissee grew up in Maryland. Although he planned to enroll in a visual art school, he started focusing on hip hop. 


Whilst working at A Touch of Jazz Studios his music career really kicked off with the Musik Lounge production on Jazzy Jeff's Magnificent album(2002). 


Oddissee joined the low budget crew( with Kev Brown, Cy Young and Kenn Starr) and released the Foot in the Door EP( 2006, Halftooth Records), mixed by Jazzy Jeff. 


In 2008 the producer signed with Mello Music Group. Heavy bass line productions and tracks such as 101, Mental Liberation, Everything changed nothing, Odd Reasons and Traveling Man followed.


Furthermore he created the hip hop group Diamond District and had the chance to work together with hip hop icons J-Live, Talib Kweli, Little Brother and Apollo Brown.


People hear what they see, Amir Oddissee Mohamed's proper debut album(Mello Music Group) took some time to compile but then that's logical as it represents his personal path towards self-actualization.


With lyrics tackling serious matters as materialism, the economic crisis(American Greed, Set you free) and real-life relationship experiences(The need superficial, Thinking Maybes), this self-reflective album is worth an attentive listen.


Tracklist:

1. Ready to rock
2. Do it all( with partners XO and yU)
3. That real
4. Let it go
5. American Greed
6. The Need Superficial
7. Way in way out
8. Thinking Maybes
9. Another's grind
10. Set you free
11. You know who you are
12. Think of things

Halftooth records:
Instrumental Mixtape Volume one 2005
The Remixture Volume 1 2006
Foot in the door 2006
Instrumental Mixtape Volume 2 2006


Oddissee Music:
Odd Summer 2009
Odd Autumn 2009
Odd Winter 2010
Odd Spring 2010


Mello Music Group:
101 2008
Good Tree EP 2008
Mental Liberation 2009
New Money
Traveling Man 2010
Odd Reasons 2011
Rock Crek Park 2011
People hear what they see 2012

Jill Scott's Crates Remix Fundamentals

Hidden Beach Label released the first volume of Scott's Crates Remix fundamentals Spring Summer Feeling, an eleven -track album of highly dance-able productions. 
Producers and DJ's such as Ca$e Boogie, Bruce Walker, Jacques Richmond, Kyle West, Mr Mig, Ron Trent, Teddie Vee and all time favorite funky DJ Jazzy Jeff delivered their versions of Scott's songs. 
Volume 2 will be available on the 31st of July.


Tracklist Volume 1:
1. Can't explain
2. Bedda at home
3. Talk to me
4. Whatever
5. Spring Summer feeling( tribute to Minnie Ripperton)
6. Come see me
7. Slowly Surely
8. Golden
9. Brotha
10. A long walk( A Jazzy Jeff redux)
11. Love Rain

J Dilla's The Rebirth of Detroit

The Rebirth of Detroit is the first release of Maureen Yancey's new Ruff Draft Records label. J-Dilla's mum asked various artists from the Detroit hip hop scene to perform on unreleased J Dilla beats.


Tracklist:

1. The new installment
2. Detroit Madness( Phat Kat)
3. Big Thangs(Esham)
4. Ride with it( Tha Almighty Dreadnaughtz)
5. Say my name(La Peace, Moe Dirdee, Seven the General
6. Detroit Game( Chuck Inglish and Boldy James)
7. Feel this(  Ketch Phrase)
8. City of Boom(Loe Louis and Beej)
9. Let's pray together( Amp Fiddler)
10. Requiem( Alllan Barnes)
11. Do it right( Fat Ray, Vstylez, Soulman)
12. My victory( Boldy James)
13. Rebirth is necessary(Tone Plummer and Mr Wrong)
14. Dillatroit(Supa Emcee, Nick Speed, Guilty Simpson)
15. Center of the movement(5ELA, Pierre Anthony)
16. Pitfalls(Fat Ray, La Peace, Loe Louis)
17. Do it for Dilla Dawg(Illa J and Frank Nits)
18. Jay Dee's Revenge( Dannny Brown and DJ Dez)
19. Motor City Sparks( Corey Sparks and Beej)
20. House shoes was spinnin( Quelle Chris)
21. The best that ever did it(Jon C and Allan Barnes)

Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde: Expanded edition

The Pharcyde reissued their 1992 debut album with bonus instrumentals and remixes. This 20th anniversary edition consists of three discs.

DFace - aPOPcalypse

D* face, a multimedia artist who isn't afraid of experimenting with the possibilities of new techniques, grew up in London named Dean Stockton. He developed an early interest in graffiti, comics, cartoons and animation. 80's skate influences such as Jim Philips and Vernon Johnson inspired him in that extent that he dreamt of becoming a skateboard photographer. The book Subway Art and Spray can art created such an immense impact on him that it finally changed his life.

After attending an animation course he worked as a freelance illustrator and graphic designer. Out of sheer boredom he started doodling little characters, the beginning of his 90's vinyl sticker crusade. His omnipresent adhesive characters appeared on traffic lights, lorries and walls throughout London, still his playground up to this day. 


Driven by sharing his outlet in urban space, he continued exploring street art's possibilities. There's no technique the artist doesn't use: stenciling, screen-printing, spray, stickers, posters, painting, sculptures, canvas and installations.  


This pop art lover refers to his work as aPOPcalyptic subverting consumption imagery. Recurring elements in his work are the winged balloon D* Dog, wing icons, celebrities, cartoon characters and super heroes, all symbols he reworks to make them relevant to today's society and our popular culture. According to him altering advertising is the most direct way to make people think objectively about our media-saturated environment. 


His winged versions of Marilyn Monroe, Che Guevara( CliChé), Kurt Cobain and Queen Elizabeth II with exposed skulls criticize society's fixation with fame and celebrity. 


For his "Her Royal Hideous" campaign he designed £ 1O notes to criticize the queen's authority as he doesn't believe she represents good value for money.


D*face dropped four oversized Concrete Cans(2008 ) in Hyde Park, Covent garden, Trafalgar Square and outside the Victoria and Albert museum.

Shocking, subversive, nihilistic pieces: we still prefer seeing them in the street instead of some gallery where it simply does not make any sense.


www.dface.co.uk

Wordsworth: The Photo Album

Underground freestyle talent Wordsworth's The Photo Album contains eighteen lyrics-driven tracks.
He previously appeared on albums of Blackstar and A Tribe called Quest's and released his solo debut Mirror Music in 2004. 


Tracklist:


1. Destiny
2. Until I win
3. Betrayed
4. Mirror Mirror
5. Coloring Book
6. Vendetta
7. Knock on my door
8. Don't settle
9. Joy & pain
10. Start over
11. Big dreamer
12. 911
13. The oldest
14. Feel me
15. All I knew
16. Vanish
Bonus tracks
17. Reach
18. No need to explain

Look up... pointing up... Above

Above( 1981) often sticks his work high up in prominent positions overlooking the streets.


He started painting his name ABOVE on Californian trains but soon realized that the trains were moving too fast to instantly grab the viewer's attention. That's why he shifted from conventional letters to the easily understood symbol of an arrow, in the form of stickers, colorful stencils, wooden sculptures, mobiles, installations or spray paint.


At the age of nineteen he painted his trademark arrow pointing above in Paris. Since 2001 the adventurous artist has undertaken self financed annual tours. 
Whilst living in Paris, he attached more than 4000 wooden arrows to walls. When he moved to California(2003), he hung wooden arrow mobiles from high -voltage wires,  allowing them to twist and turn and interact with passers-by. This worldwide crusade was continued with a 2004 USA tour, a 2005 European tour and a 2007 south central American tour, accompanied by fellow artist RIPO and documented by Rodrigo Lopez.


His painted wordplays enlarged, more social and political stencils were being spread, such as the "giving to the poor "(2008) campaign on homelessness and the "first love "(2009) stencil. The naked truth video shows his street art installation of a shower in Copenhagen. His 2010 "Help the neighbor" video tackled the social issues of the Haitian disaster.


Blek le Rat invited him to take part in an indoor gallery show at the White Walls in San Francisco. Luckily Above’s focus remained in public space, placing celebrity arrow mobiles in the Hollywood district( Hollywood video) and modifying the  Banksy piece "Because I'm worthless" into "Because now I'm worth it ". 


In 2011 it was time to tour Down Under, where his first Australian solo show "Here today, Gone tomorrow " featured celebrity icons as Marilyn Monroe, Bruce Lee, Bob Marley and Princess Diana. 


A globetrotter having lots of fun along the way...


Above’s book entitled Passport: 
ISBN 978-1-937222-03-1

Kool Keith's Love & Danger

Underground lyrical flow pioneer Keith Matthew Thornton uttered that this brand new fifteen track album is to be his last. ( cfr the album's last track Goodbye Rap). 

It might be more plausible to believe some new alter ego will stand up...

Tracklist:

1. The dangerous liaisons

2. You love that

3. Cow-boy Howdy

4. New York

5. Vacation spot

6. Supremacy

7. Impressions

8. The game is free

9. Who's the man

10. Pull your hat down

11. Extra thoughts

12. Something special

13. I never hurt you

14. Lovin' me

15. Goodbye rap

www.koolkeith.co.uk

The London Police

The London Police

The London Police , an Amsterdam based male collective composed of two British(Bob and Chaz) and one American(Garrett), fully exploit the possibilities open urban space offers. Their smiley faced figures are as much an Amsterdam feature as coffee shops and tulips. 


Their multiple headed friendly Lads, which Chaz had previously drawn on flyers, first started to appear in 1998. Clean white papered surfaces were perfect spots to display his hand black marker pen drawn The Lads, often bearing numbers on their feet or bodies. Their bold black and white style, perfect curves and clean lines nicely contrast with the surrounding settings. 


In 1999 photographers Bob and Chaz started working together.
When Garrett, who arrived from San Francisco in 2000, met Chaz drawing one of these characters, they quickly became friends. A couple of months later G was invited to join the crew. Members have come and gone, Chaz has often run the project on his own. The TLP crew regularly collaborates with graphic design magazines, happenings and street artist D* face.


After visiting NY the guys went larger, producing giant lads on walls.
Be it hand drawn or on posters, the lads get up wherever and whenever, from Berlin via New York to Tokyo.

www.thelondonpolice.com

Crossing Thundercut's mind

 Thundercut Walker

Pedestrian crossing signals in New York are being highlighted by Thundercut(1974). 


Thundercut draws attention to these traffic lights by giving the figures detailed outfits and suitable accessories made of hand-cut adhesive vinyl.
The colorful cut out pieces show tiny holes for the dots of light, adding an urban style and a specific personality to the omnipresent walk symbols.


Linked to the specific area the pieces include a posh shopping girl in Soho, a baseball player at the Yankee Stadium, a hip hop man, a Rasta man, ...


A playful, simple idea as this showcases the power of street art to enliven the city.


www.thundercut.com

Kwes Meantime

Twenty-four year old Kwes is an all-round artist: a painter, producer, writer and photographer. At the age of four he started playing an organ, followed by sound recording at the age of ten.


His debut EP No Need to Run(Young Turks/XL) was released in 201O.


The timid London native previously collaborated with Speech Debelle, Micachu, Romy Madley( The xx), ... Last year Kwes, Damon Albarn and a group of British producers participated in Warp's and Oxfam's DRC Music-project.


This still-rising producer's second four track EP Meantime( Warp/V2 records) contains sensitive electronic love songs floating on melancholic distorted synths. (Bashful, Honey, Igoyh, ...)


Who doesn't appreciate a courtly man who's in touch with his emotions?

True love is hard to find, just let it find you Reflections on love

Love... the deepest emotion in life, laying warm foundations for the richest form of human relationships. That beautiful mental and physical connection, that much sought after utter unity. That genuine joy in life putting a smile on your face...


Until recently authors, poets and philosophers wrote about love, depicting romantic love as a whirlwind of emotions, passion, fear and jealousy. An exact definition of love is very hard to accomplish. 

The simplest definition could be Robert Heinlein's in the cult classic Stranger in a strange land: love is the condition in which the other's happiness is essential to your own.

Scientific research on the subject has grown tremendously over the last decades. It revealed the importance of love in child development and adult health. The first relationship with the mother is a blueprint for the following ones. Severely psychologically or emotionally damaged people are unable to experience healthy, independent love. 

Psychologists and scientists study the subject of love pragmatically, defining it as an intense affection or preference for someone, so strong that it colors one's perception and conduct. 


According to psychologist Elaine Hatfield love can be divided into two basic types: compassionate and passionate love. 
The compassionate type is characterized by attachment, affection and trust. Usually developed out of feelings of mutual respect and understanding, this type assures an enduring relationship whereas the intense emotions, anxiety and sexual attraction of passionate love are transitory, usually lasting between six and thirty months. 


A good, lively relationship is based on trust and intimacy. 
Genuine loving intimacy depends on the personal ideas on love and the notion that love develops. Intimacy is characterized by the elements of 
care, share, trust, commitment, honesty, empathy and tenderness. 

Reciprocal care or the intensity of positive feelings towards each other is only to be found when two people openly share positive and negative feelings, thoughts, desires and needs with each other and interact. This frankness in sharing is essential for intimacy's growth in a warm enduring relationship. Trust, honesty and empathy are indispensable ingredients in this process of self revelation. 
Caring, sharing and trust lead to commitment. Verbal and physical expressions of tenderness are the most neglected aspects of intimacy.

Masters & Johnson (on sex and human loving 1982) explained that respect enables us to appreciate the other's identity, essential for the long duration of a relationship. Sexuality is another important factor to keep a relationship lively and fascinating. 

In The art of loving(1956) Erich Fromm wrote that love is the only sane and satisfactory answer to the problem of human existence. 
Love is an art, just as living is. It requires effort and knowledge.
Fromm believed that self-realization is a necessary condition to attain meaningful love. He defined mature love as a union of two individuals keeping their integrity and individuality. 

Why do we love? 
Because love makes sense. 
Because it brings out the best in us. 


That's love..
Article written by Ann Timmermans

Blek Le Rat filling our modern world's emptiness

Copyright Blek Le Rat 

This revered street artist is best known for his iconic black rat (anagram of art) silhouettes, symbols of the urban environment and of the fear those invasive marginalized animals provoke. 


Blek's style is often compared to Banksy's. Only difference is that Le Rat was stenciling walls while Banksy was still a kid.


While others were doing political graffiti in the 80's, Blek Le Rat started stenciling his rat silhouette on Parisian walls, hoping to provoke others to express themselves in the same way. The preparation( drawing and cutting) of these stencils took him over a week. Around 1981 he stenciled small black rats, bananas, running red men, little faces and a self-portrait. 


Graffiti wasn't criminalized yet, allowing him to create a multitude of rats and tanks all around Centre Pompidou and frankly answering inquisitive policemen he was doing art.


After a couple of years the small pieces developed into life size figures.
Inspired by a photograph of an old man from Belfast, he created the Old Irish Man in 1983. This piece, symbolizing civic courage, was reproduced all over France. Other full size images followed. (among others Andy Warhol, a Woman from Bangladesh, Mitterrand, Joseph Beuys, Jesus Christ, Two dogs mating, ...)


His first and last collaboration took place in 1984, when he and Bergu from Surface Active worked together on a stencil fresco on the Louvre's fences.


Le pochoir became a popular way of expression, as referred to in Le Monde(1986) as L'école de Blek le Rat. His pioneering technique added a new perception upon art and design. His work inspired other stencil artists such as Logan Hicks and Swoon.


After some graffiti charges in 1991, he chose a safer method: posters and cut-outs. Working on paper changed his approach towards working in urban space, allowing him to work in other areas freed from the constant fear of being caught.( e.g. self portrait, French Soldier)


He tackled some ancient mythological subjects(Centaur, Faun) and experimented with Michelangelo's (faun, David) and Caravaggio's imagery( Madonna and Tribute to Caravaggio).
His wish to influence social change became apparent in 2003 when he created his American Soldier(2003) to criticize the Iraq war. He pasted hundreds of posters of the kidnapped French journalist Florence Aubenas(2005) throughout Paris and pasted tragic fairy tale symbol Lady Diana(2006) on the walls of Tate Modern.


Aware of the architectural impact of image, time and space, his images are always linked to the social urban environment. It explains why his Greek lady was found in multicultural areas. 


His street art raises global social awareness on issues as discrimination, the solitude of the elderly, the homeless, poverty (Woman from Bangladesh), loneliness, people living on the fringes of urban society( Beggars). His pieces have permeated public consciousness and have had a profound effect on people's critical thinking.


Le Rat's art is all about purity of content and imaginative thought-provoking imagery. 


Real life passionate rebellion against art imprisoning institutions, now who could object to that? 


Watch:
Blek le Rat- Original Stencil Pioneer 2006
Bomb It 2007




Article written by Ann Timmermans

It's so beautiful the things u do to me things u do: femcee Stacy Epps expresses love

                         




Underground femcee Stacy Epps studied African American studies and sociology at the University of Virginia. That's where she and Scienz member Lil Sci formed the jazzy rap duo Sol Uprising. They released Sol Power in 2004.


This lady combines rhymes with singing. Fond of contrast, she mixes soft melodies with hard beats. 
She collaborated with MF Doom( Eye 2004), Madlib, J Rawls, ... Epps and femcee Invincible were asked to join Bahamadia to tour Europe in 2006. 
Her sensual singing on Jazzliberatorz' Clin d'Oeil (2008) track "U do" is a clear example of her laid back rhyming.


Check out her debut solo album The Awakening!(2008, Japanubia Music)
In her own words: "To shine from within is the most beautiful thing you can do. I create music to heal us through sound and vibration."

www.stacyepps.com
www.stacyepps.wordpress.com
www.myspace.com/stacyepps

To all the girls do what you gotta do but it ain't what you do it's how you do

Smart self-reflective women aren't novelties anymore in hip hop. 
Philly native Antonia Reed( 1970) started out as a DJ in the 80's. 
The Arabic words Badia( original creation) and Hamd'allah( thankful to god) were combined in her artist name Bahamadia. This conversational lyricist was musically inspired by Sarah Vaughn, Ella Fitzgerald, Bobbi Humphrey, Stevie Wonder and Minnie Ripperton.

Her smooth flow and intellectual style( Funk Vibe) caught Gang Starr Guru's attention in the 90's, who helped her get a record deal with Chrysalis. Guru's protégée also appeared on the second volume of his Jazzmatazz album.
The jazzy raps of her first singles Total Wreck( 1994) and Uknowhowwedu (1995) once again proved her skill on the microphone. 


Her critically acclaimed full-length debut album Kollage, with productions by Guru, The Roots and DJ Premier appeared in 1996. Her laid back voice and raps were lent to various projects during the 90's, including acid jazz artists The Brand New Heavies and drum 'n' bass artist Roni Size( New Forms). 

From 1997 to 1999 the poet hosted a hip hop radio show in Philadelphia. Goodvibe released her seven track EP BB Queen in 2000, including the track Beautiful Things with Dwele. 


Her inner truth and unique activist spirit were preached with Towa Tei, the Herbaliser, The Roots( Push up ya lighter), Morcheeba( Good Girl Down), Slum Village(One-4-Teen), Talib Kweli( Reflection Eternal), Sade(Sweetback), Erykah Badu( Love of my Life with Angie Stone and Queen Latifah) and Dwele(High).


More recent albums Good Rap Music(2006) and Here(2010) prove that Bahamadia remains true to herself. She embraces all of who she is, the good and the bad, never compromising her integrity or her moral ethics for the monetary gain of the competitive business. 

This strong lady is all about self-knowledge and growth. Her challenge is to become the best person she can be and to inspire others to become the best they. This true honey bun can still look at herself in the mirror at the end of the day.

Sem Rubio's photography

Copyright Sem Rubio
Dennis Busenitz kickflip

Spanish pro skater Sem Rubio(1976, Blanes) was forced to stop skating due to a knee injury. 
He then decided to follow a two-year photography course at Gris Art in Barcelona.
His photography focuses on good times, fun and positivism. 
His black and white pictures of skateboarding friends under minimal lighting conditions are clear examples of his never dying passion, be it on the other side of the lens. 
www.semrubio.com

Unbreakable breakdance Championship 2012

For the latest edition of Unbreakable, held on the 31st of March 2012 at the Lotto Arena, sixteen of the best b-boys showed up for a one-to-one battle. Dutch b- boys Skychief and Menno, Belgians Sam and Lawson, Polish Greku and Kleju, Russian Gun and Yan the Shrimp, American Moms, Domkey and Changubis, Korean Wing, Portugese Lagaet, French Keys, Japanese Yoshi and Spanish Pier battled each other.
Dutch b b-boy Menno won the Unbreakable World Championship 2012.

All-text Jenny Holzer

American installation artist Jenny Holzer(1950) can easily be described as a street artist focusing on content.
Holzer received a BFA(painting and printing, Ohio University 1972 ) and enrolled in the Rhode Island School of Design. At the RISD she began to introduce language into her work, an essential element in her public projects. 


She created her first Truisms(1977-1979) on the streets of New York when she enrolled in the Whitney Museum Independent Study program. Initially these Truisms were one-liners on posters. 
Later on these slogans were shared with the public in another form, other media: LED displays, outdoor light projections, ....


Whether pasted or projected, this artist is spreading her reflective message in a humorous way.


Jenny Holzer
Joan Simon, David Joselit, Renata Saleci
ISBN 07148375 47


Holzer's publications:
A little Knowledge 1979
Black Book 1980
Hotel 1980
Living 1980
Eating Friends 1981
Eating through living 1981
Truisms and Essays 1983

ESPO A love letter for you

Graffiti artist Steve Powers started writing as a teenager. 
Became known  for painting his ESPO( Exterior Surface Painting Outreach) on storefront grates in broad daylight. Powers moved to New York in 1994.


Powers stopped his graffiti work in 1999 as he wanted to focus on another type of art.
The Dreamland Artist Club, a 2004 artist collective, repainted Coney Island signs. In 2007 he used his  Fulbright grant to create murals with local youth in Dublin and Belfast.
The 2009 " A love letter for you" project in hometown Philadelphia was realized with over a thousand cans of spray paint and the aid of other artists. They enlightened a neigbourhood with visuals of an epic love letter.


His work has been shown at the Venice Biennale(2001), the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art, the Institute of Contemporary Art in Philadelphia.
Steve Powers publishes books and is editor of On the Go magazine.


Steve Powers, A love letter for you
ISBN 978-0977652372
The Art of Getting over
1999
Graphic Novel First and fifteenth: Pop Art Short Stories
2005 Villard Press

Mark Jenkins always in the humour

Embed series Mark Jenkins

American mixed media sculptor Mark Jenkins' fascination for sculpture sprung up after seeing the 2001 Juan Muñoz exhibition at the Hirshhorn Museum in Washington DC.

Since then Jenkins has been installing witty street art installations in urban and environmental settings.

His first street art piece was a giant sperm made out of tape at Copacabana beach in 2003. He soon began focussing on figurative self-cast sculptures.

His Embed series composed of dressed human figures installed in urban settings excite passers-by. He placed casts of urban objects as parking meters and fire hydrants in suburban parks and forests(Street Extracts series) to criticize urban expansion whilst his Storker Project consisting of plastic clear tape babies in bizarre locations emphasizes children's vulnerability.

More recent projects are Meterpops( 2005: parking meters converted into giant lollipops), Traffic-go-round, Flowersigns and Storker Twins.

His imaginative art projects are social experiments, acts of psychological self-projection in public space.

The city's his canvas, tape's his medium,  the artist is always in the humour for interactive work.

Article written by Ann Timmermans

www.xmarkjenkinsx.com

www.carmichaelgallery.com

www.lazinc.com/artists/mark-jenkins

http://hirshhorn.si.edu

Copyright Mark Jenkins, The Blah series,
infiltration Art Whino Gallery Washington DC 2008