Beat Streets magazine

Ron English billboards modern culture criticism

Copyright Lazarides Gallery

American artist Ron English studied photography but chose to concentrate on becoming an exquisite painter and an inspiring street artist.

From 1982 to 1984 he was part of an art crew who modified billboards to communicate criticism on politics and consumerism with passers-by. An essential characteristic of his oeuvre remains this culture jamming: the liberation of an advertisement's commercial message by adding his own, often by means of the use of colorful pop culture's iconography. No need to say English feels inspired by Andy Warhol. His subversive POPaganda conveys sociopolitical satirical reflections on modern culture.

Hand painted popular imagery as comic superheroes, Disney characters, animals, cowgirls and skeletons are used to open a humorous dialogue with the public, often leading to media discussions. The pop iconoclast's Abraham Obama pieces during the 2008 presidential campaign had a strong impact on the election.

Like Dan Witz, English is also a master in photorealistic painting. His versions of symbolical artworks as Picasso's Guernica or Degas' the Absinthe Drinkers illustrate his craftsmanship. Street pirate Ron English simply deserves the name he has on the street.

https://www.popaganda.com

The deejaying of Ali Shaheed Muhammad

Copyright Ann Timmermans

Brooklyn MC, DJ and producer Ali Shaheed Muhammad (1970)began focusing on turntablism at an early age. He was asked to produce music for Eric Bennet, D’Angelo, KRS-One, Angie Stone and Mos Def and co-formed The Ummah with Q-Tip and Jay Dilla.

From 1990 to 1998 Muhammad recorded five classic hip hop albums with high school friends Q -tip and Phife Dawg. A Tribe Called Quest remains the ultimate musical initiation point for anyone wanting to explore the meaning of genuine hip hop. The combination of their intelligent rhymes, infectious melodies and the use of jazz and funk samples results in an unforgettable, warm sound which is still up to date.

Muhammad, Dawn Robinson and Raphael Saadiq recorded a Lucy Pearl album in 2000.
Muhammad states the formation of The Ummah, ATCQ and Lucy Pearl was only possible because their members were close friends. With music bonding them, their friendship's chemistry constructed a playground in which expressive, sincere and innovative music was created.

In 2004 the time was ripe for Shaheed's debut album Shaheedullah And Stereotypes, followed by Untitled New Studio Album in 2011.

Muhammad is still spinning his records to get people dancing. His London Jazz Cafe gig was a delight thanks to his excellent choice of music. This Native Tongue pioneer keeps it real and his favorites can soon be enjoyed live in Brooklyn and San Francisco .

http://alishaheed.com

The Golden Age of DC Comics

Comics fans, time to buy the first issue in a series of five essential collectors' books published by Taschen: The Golden Age of DC Comics written by DC executive Paul Levitz. The book consists of comic books, photographs, art, covers and illustrations of all the essential DC classics.

The American economic crisis in the 1930's provoked an insecure, somber atmosphere. People needed the sparks of a colorful super hero to lighten up that dark period, leading to the birth of iconic figures such as Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman.

The Golden Age of DC Comics

Paul Levitz

Hardcover, 23,8 x 32,4 cm, 416 pages, € 39,99

ISBN-10: 3836535734

ISBN-13: 978-3836535731

Lost Scrolls of J Dilla

To commemorate J Dilla's birthday on the 7th of February, Frank Nitt compiled a 10'' of four tracks, entitled Lost Scrolls, Vol. 1.(Fat Beats). Dilla himself can be heard on DeWitt to Do It , while his brother Illa J and Nitt do their thing on The Throwaway.

Lost Scrolls:

J Dilla – DeWitt To Do It
J Dilla – Smack A Bitch
Yancey Boys (Feat. Frank Nitt) – The Throwaway
J Dilla – Ruff & Rugged

Day Land of 1000 chances

Californian artist Day was previously referred to as DJ Day, began producing in the 90's and worked for Aloe Blacc, Alice Russell and People Under the Stairs.

This second album of Damien Beebe once again represents his own relaxed sunshiny sound as 2007’s The Day Before did.

His jazzy flow, soulful use of samples, sweet sentimental melodies and catchy drum breaks are loyal reminiscences of hip hop's golden age.

Piecelock 70 Music released this less is more must have album.

Tracks

1.VQ
2.Chinaski’s Theme
3.Mama Shelter
4.Quaalude
5.Daddy’s Home
6.FML
7.Boots in the Pool
8.Ode to a Fiend
9.Land of 1000 Chances
10.Adu
11.Partir
12.Sushi in Fresno
13.Hopefully
14.Green Fin
15.W-E-L-O-V-E

Edo.G Intelligence and Ignorance

Envision Entertainment released Edo. G's fourth solo album Intelligence and Ignorance.

1. Done Talking
2. What They Say
3. Power
4. Easy
5. Love I Need Feat. Freestyle
6. Bags & Shoes
7. Give It to Me
8. Can t Wait Feat. Noel Gourdin
9. Change Feat. Noel Gourdin
10. Hold U

Roots Manuva Banana Skank EP

Roots Manuva's Banana Skank(Big Dada) is a transitional release between 2011's 4everevolution and his next full length in the making.

Tracks

1.Natural (feat. Kope)
2.Banana Skank, Part 2
3.Banana Skank (WAFA remix)
4.Party Time (feat. Kope)

Vadim vibrations: Interview with DJ Vadim

Vadim Peare has recorded under the aliases Andre Gurov, Little Aida but primarily as DJ Vadim, the self-made master in turntablism, a sound innovator who fuses soul, funk, grime, jazz, reggae, hip hop and electronics to enlighten us with that very recognizable Vadim vibration.

The purchase of a sampler kicked off your production quest in 1992. Abstract Hallucinating Gases and Headz Ain't Ready (1995), your own Jazz Fudge label and a Ninja Tune sign-up soon followed. Which impact did this have on your life?

Well it has been huge. I never would have imagined that
1 - this would be my job, i would make a living with it
2 - I would still be doing it 20 years later.
So in that sense the impact has been huge.

You have produced music for DJ Krush, Stevie Wonder, Kraftwerk, Erykah Badu, Alice Russell, Paul Weller, Prince, CL Smooth, Amp Fiddler, Public Enemy, The Roots, Fat Freddy’s Drop, Dialated Peoples, The Roots, The Herbaliser, Killa Kela, The Cure, Foreign Beggars, and many more. It seems like you never cease to collaborate with MCs, poets and singers?

For me music is music. I do not separate music into boxes like hip hop, soul etc... it's s great to collaborate with a large variety of people. Their background doesn't matter. All that matters is the passion and vision for music. A quest for something new and exciting.

You have been described as the John Coltrane of hip hop. Was jazz one of your early musical influences?

Hip hop was my first love, jazz came later. For me jazz is about the 40's -late 60's. What's crazy about jazz is how so many people from the establishment were disturbed by it, calling it 'jungle music' and all kinds of derogatory names.. and yet for many people nowadays, jazz is what you hear at Starbucks or in a hotel elevator.... Perhaps within 50 years Rick Ross will be to what jazz is now...!

When touring with old school group The Russian Percussion One Self, the renowned hip hop trio with outstanding female MC Yarah Bravo and MC Blu Rum 13, was formed. Could you explain the message of One Self's debut album Children of Possibility (2005)?

The Russian Percussion was just a live band I put together for when I was touring. It was really just a concept. After being on tour with the Herbaliser in the 90's I noticed how much more responsive people are to a live band so I thought, hey I should do the same. I got Mr Thing(world DMC champ 99), Killer Kela(incredible beat box), John Ellis(keyboards - cinematic orchestra), and at first Blu Rum 13(who was kid koalas mc) and then Yarah Bravo. This was as you can see the cradle from which One Self was born. I came up with the title Children of Possibility and for a while that's what we were being called - C.O.P. They were stories from us being on tour for 3 years: the experiences and feelings of what we were going through at that time...

Which elements of working with a live band attract you?

It's not so much about a band but about working with anyone who is passionate about music. Since I am not classically trained in piano or drums etc, it's easier to work with people who can play!!!

Your soulful Don’t Be Scared album(2012, BBE) expresses types of fears. Why did you choose this theme?

The title came at the last minute, and the album was going to be called many other things before.... but in the end it felt like it worked best with where I am and it's music and also the times we are living in right now. I always felt the importance of social commentary in music. I always gravitate towards that so... that's the reason why artists like Bob Marley or Bob Dylan or Public Enemy always struck a chord with me because we do live in a very unfair world. One where most of us live with very corrupt governments who are preoccupied with filling their pockets and using their tools such as the police to maintain their equilibrium and laws to keep the rich getting richer...
The title is partly about these social affairs and all these supposed threats we are facing from Al Qaeda to Islam, from bird flu to communism to ... it's all part of a system.
Apart from that, the fear I'm talking about is a human fear of one self. One that we all have. Especially as adults. Everyday people will say - I don't want to do that or this or I don't like that or I don't want to go there. It's like we become conditioned as adults and go cozy. You would never hear an 8- year old kid saying those things. In a way I think we are restricting ourselves from developing because of that fear. Perhaps that's why the human brain stops developing around the age of 18 or 20. Because we limit ourselves.

Which one of your own albums are you still most fond of?

I am a perfectionist so when I listen to past albums, I always find holes them. Oh I wish I had done this or that. But I guess that's the charm of music - its errors or the missing stuff. Personally I am more into the new stuff than the old stuff. I like the aesthetics but I think the very early creations lack a lot .

Exploring the world seems to be one of your passions, as can be noticed by the incorporation of ethnic sound samples in your productions. Which aspects of traveling stimulate your creativity and self development?

Just going to unpredictable places and being smacked in the ears by exciting sounds and grooves. Things I had never heard of before. That' s important as a musician - constantly being excited and invigorated.

Creativity clearly has no limits. How are your photography projects evolving?

Hahah - you detective.
It' s something I have gotten into the last few years and it's coming along great i should take way more but just always run out of time. Perhaps one day I will do an exhibition of some photos!

Any other dreams for the future you would like to share with us?

Dreams like Martin Luther King?! Little colored kids playing with white kids... well all of those but personally I would love to open a restaurant. perhaps a cafe, a boutique /clothes shop...

Links:
loads of music on the links blow - exclusives, dj mixes etc...:
www.djvadim.com
www.twitter.com/djvadim
www.facebook.com/djvadim
www.mixcloud.com/djvadim
www.soundcloud.com/dj-vadim
www.electricsoundcompany.com
www.djvadim.com/dont-be-scared-tour

El Mac's premium picture perfect

Mac and Retna Miami

Autodidact Miles Mac MacGregor(1980) has been studying art as if it were a religion. When growing up, the art that spoke to him was the art which looked real.

El Mac started painting with acrylics in the mid ’90s, realistically rendering human faces and figures. After being blown away by the Subway Art book he started experimenting with graffiti(1994). A perfectionist at heart, he always desired to create perfect, super tight works of art. Having to paint quickly in the dark was a fruitful lesson for this portraitist.

Painting from photographs and from life, El Mac has been described as a photorealistic painter. His detailed representations of a large variety of individuals look perfect, meticulously lifelike, moving your inner sensations in each and every way.

This technical master who uses iced spray cans to create an energetic rippled effect, desires to affect people in the same way he's inspired by paintings, to connect with the public and to change how others think.

His aesthetic preferences have evolved over the years, growing more appreciation for abstraction.

El Mac often collaborates with Retna, who's in charge of the typography while Mac paints the figures. Interacting with another artist balances Mac's introverted and extroverted sides. The duo painted an enormous mural for Primary Flight Art Basel Miami Beach(2007- 2009), held an exhibition at the Robert Berman Gallery(2009) and released a book entitled Alianza: Mac & Retna which documents their individual and collaborative works in three sections.

Mac's classical influences were illustrated by his interpretation of the Flemish Primitives at the Groeningen Museum in Bruges(2003).
With solo shows in San Francisco (2009, Fifty24SF Gallery), New York(2010, Joshua Liner Gallery) and sponsored murals for the Pasadena Museum(2011), the MARCO(2010) and the Cisneros-Fontanals Art Foundation(2012, Havana Biennial), more canvases and public work are to be looked forward to.

There’s always more to learn, more to discover, and MacGregor will definitely do it in his own unique way.

http://elmac.net

Publication:
Alianza: Mac & Retna, 2009, Upper Playground/Gingko Press,
ISBN: 978-1-58423-359-6

C2C's funkiness

French turntable crew C2C (Coups2Cross) was formed in 1998 by high school friends 20SYL, Atom, Pfel and Greem. This incredibly funky DJ collective from Nantes won the DMC World Team Championship four times in a row.(from 2003 to 2006)

Founder 20Syl and Greem joined forces in the Hocus Pocus project while Atom and Pfel created Beat Torrent.

After a break C2C’s first six-track Down The Road EP (2012, Casablanca Records) and their album Tetra(2012) were released, accompanied by a live tour.

This turntablist quartet enthusiastically mixes jazzy, soul, blues electro, pop and hip hop with self recorded vocal and instrumental samples. No wonder they recently won the 2013 European Border Breakers Awards.

http://www.c2cmusic.fr

Jean Grae's Dust Ruffle

South African-born rapper Jean Grae released Dust Ruffle, an album consisting of ten unreleased songs recorded between 2004 and 2010.

She calls it an interesting retrospective project. Indeed the album does once more illustrate her lyrical gift, soul-searching and artistic growth.

The album, featuring Planet Asia and Sadat X on Haters Anthem, can be found on Grae’s Bandcamp page.

Snapshots of one of the most genuine female emcees' life journey!

Tracklist:

1 - Neckface
2 - Mean Jean (B Day edition)
3 - What Cha Gonna Do
4 - What The Hell
5 - Admire Quagmire
6 - Haters Anthem Remix ft Planet Asia and Sadat X
7 - The Setup
8 - Lights Off
9 - The Climb
10 - SupaLuv (Acoustic Rehearsal)

Uptown XO Colour de Grey

Diamond District member Uptown XO's album Colour de Grey album will be available from January 29th 2013.

Two very musical parents gave birth to Jamaal Walton, who experienced a life struggle against poverty. He first sang in a church choir, played the piano and trumpet to continue his musical expression with open mics where he met Oddisee, YU, Slimcat and Gadget.

The self-made MC worked together with several mc's and created diverse projects and mix tapes. When Oddisee formed Diamond District with XO and YU, the In The Ruff album(2009) and a tour soon followed. In 2011 this DC native released his 8th project entitled Monumental vol.2.

Uptown XO's debut was produced by A.B. The Pro and is packed with introspective reflections.

Tracklist
1. Grey Poupon (feat. Messiah)
2. Spread Love
3. Everyday (feat. A.B. the Pro)
4. Finding My Way
5. Salaam
6. Soul Value
7. Reflection Eternal (feat. Doe Cigapom & Benji)
8. Poor Man’s Copyright
9. They Say
10. XO Skeleton
11. Evolution (feat. A.B. the Pro)
12. Needs and Wants
13. If I Should Die (feat. Danni)
14. Grey Area (feat. U St. Face)

Nosaj Thing Home

LA producer and DJ Jason Chung made a therapeutic second album, more quiet, symphonic, melodramatic and somber than his 2009 electronic debut Drift.

Blonde Redhead vocalist Kazu Makino lent his voice to the Eclipse/ Blue track whilst Toro Y Moi produced his most angel like sound in Try.

Tracklist:

Home
Eclipse/Blue
Safe
Glue
Distance
Tell
Snap
Prelude
Try
Phase III
Light 3

http://www.nosajthing.com

The Trevor Nelson Collection

Trevor Nelson presents his selection of sixty Rand B classics, recorded between 1979 and 2010.

The Soul Show host shares his passion for tracks as Lucy Pearl's Don’t Mess With My Man, Luther Vandross’ Never Too Much, Mary J Blige's Real Love, TLC's Ain't 2 Proud 2 Beg, Aloe Blacc’s I Need a Dollar and Montell Jordan’s This Is How We Do It.

Three discs of sing-along party music!

http://trevornelson.com

Oh No Disrupted Ads

The Michael Jackson(1979) who's known as producer Oh No and Madlib's younger brother, is enlightening us with another hip hop release. He enlisted Blu, Gangrene, Souls of Mischief, MED, Rapsody, Psalm One, Ron Artiste, Tristate, Midaz, Declaime, Georgia Anne Muldrow to provide lyrics on previously unreleased instrumentals.

Disrupted Ads is his fourth solo album after Exodus Into Unheard Rhythms(2006), Dr. No's Oxperiment(2007), Dr. No's Ethiopium(2009).

Oh No's new album Disrupted Ads will be released on January 29th via Kash Roc Entertainment.

Tracklist:
1. Intro Doctor Visit
2. Creepers
3. Jones's ft. Blu and MED
4. Wet Em Up
5. Same Shit ft. Rapsody and Psalm One
6. Boom
7. The Difference
8. Punchdrunkpatterns ft. Tristate and Midaz
9. Perfect Cylinders
10. Cleansing
11. Animals ft. Ron Artiste' (Chali2na & Roc C)
12. The Magmas
13. Rollin Up ft. Gangrene (Oh No & Alchemist)
14. Drifters
15. Improvement ft. Declaime and Georgia Anne Muldrow)
16. Outro
17. Controlled Riots ft. Souls of Mischief (BONUS TRACK)

Ill Bill The Grimy Awards

Ill Bill's new album The Grimy Awards will be available on January 29th 2013. An impressive list of collaborators such as H.R., A-Trak, El-P, Jedi Mind Tricks, O.C., Cormega, Meyhem Lauren, Q-Unique, Shabazz the Disciple and Lil Fame in combination with productions by DJ Premier, DJ Muggs, Pete Rock, Large Professor, Psycho Les, El-P, Ayatollah and MoSS are bound to prick up the ears.

Brooklyn MC William Braunstein(1972)'s third turned out to be a personal, provocative album.

Tracklist:

What Does It All Mean? Prod. by Ill Bill
Paul Baloff prod. by Moss
I Don’t Know How Long It’s Gonna Last (Interlude)
Acceptance Speech ft. A-Trak prod. by Junior Makhno
Truth prod. by Pete Rock
Exploding Octopus prod. by Ill Bill
Forty Deuce Hebrew ft. HR of Bad Brains prod. By Ill Bill
How To Survive The Apocalypse prod. by Psycho Les
Vio-Lence ft. Shabazz The Disciple & Lil Fame Of M.O.P. prod. by DJ Skizz
Acid Reflux prod. by Large Professor
L’amour East ft. Meyhem Lauren & Q-Unique prod. by Ayatollah
Power Ft. OC & Cormega prod. By DJ Muggs
When I Die Ft. Tia Thomas prod. by Pete Rock
Severed Heads Of State Ft. El-P prod. by El-P
120% Darkside Justice ft. Jedi Mind Tricks prod. by C-Lance
Canarsie High prod. by Large Professor
World Premier prod. by DJ Premier

www.illbill.com

Opposites attract: Miranda Donovan

Copyright Miranda Donovan 2012

Miranda Donovan(1979) grew up in The Netherlands, followed art courses in London and France and is currently residing in London.

Whilst living near Marseille she met a graffiti artist who contaminated her with those addictive graffiti germs. Back in London Donovan began experimenting with graffiti.

While her earlier work was mainly marked by textured brickwork, obtained by applying a cement mixture on board to build a carved out brick wall relief, a tactile surface for the contrasting painting, nowadays urban and homely symbols are omnipresent.

Donovan has been known for her bright color palette, transforming meticulously painted traditional interiors or Ruisdael-like landscapes with neon paint dashes.

One of Donovan’s artistic ideas seems to be that opposites as decay and poverty versus wealth, luxury and magnificence attract each other. Her gallery work illustrates her personal social beliefs in a humorous way.

Nothing’s what it seems, reality and fiction can easily be confused when not thinking critically...

http://www.mirandadonovan.com

The social work of Haas & Hahn

Dutchmen Jeroen Koolhaas(1977) and Dre Urhahn(1973) are known as the artistic duo Haas & Hahn.

Graphic designer Koolhaas previously worked as an illustrator for the New Yorker while Urhahn worked as a journalist, copywriter and art-director.

Since working together on Firmeza Total(2005), a documentary about hip hop in Brazilian favelas, they have been joining artistic forces in social art projects.

Haas & Hahn's Firmeza Foundation(2007) organizes inspiring community art projects to encourage crime news manipulated citizens to deal with their negative perceptions of certain deprived neighborhoods. With the help of local youth enormous murals are created to improve the look of a slum village and enhance it's inhabitants sense of pride.

In 2008 the duo worked eight months on Rio Cruzeiro, a 2000m² carp-filled river painting in Vila Cruzeiro and one day on a fantasy wall with the help of fifty Brazilian children in Terra Encantada. Their Brazilian quest continued with the painting on Praca Cantao, a 7000m² square.

At Art Basel Miami 2010 they created an installation with eighty painted canvasses.

A 2011 Knight Arts grant allowed them to reside in Philadelphia for a year to reinvent the Germantown Avenue blocks with bright colors and patterns to provoke a sense of unity. The same year they participated in a group exhibition held at the Smithsonian.

Lectures, documentaries, video clips, audio and photo installations complete the urban concept of these two social workers.

www.jeruniverse.com
http://www.favelapainting.com/haas-hahn

Ruff Sqwad White Label Classics

No Hats No Hoods released Ruff Sqwad‘s White Label Classics, featuring previously unreleased instrumentals.

This well known East London grime initiating crew arose in 2001, composed of founder Tinchy Stryder(1986), accredited grime producer and sound engineer Rapid(1983), producers Dirty Danger(1984)and Dizzee Rascal's cousin Slix(1982), Shifty Rydos and Mad Max. In 2006 Mad Max was replaced by Fuda Guy. From 2004 until 2010 DJ Scholar joined the group, whose place was taken in by Tinchy Stryder's personal DJ Sir Spyro(1984).

Thanks to their mix tapes grime became a new genre. Other early grime contributions came from N.A.S.T.Y. Crew, More Fire Crew and Aftershock.

Ruff Sqwad's first studio album Guns and Roses Volume. 1(2005) was a success upon its release. Both the independently released debut album and their second full length Guns and Roses Volume. 2(2006) have been cited to be the best full-length grime albums of all time.

The grime rap record production team split up in 2010, after which only crew leader Tinchy Stryder continued his mainstream success.

An urban album which simply needs to be bought!

Tracks

1.Anna
2.Misty Cold
3.Lethal Injection
4.Pied Piper
5.Functions on the Low
6.Together
7.Your Love Feels
8.Tings in Boots
9.Down
10.Move 2 Dis
11.Knight Rider
12.An Ting
13.Underground
14.Burial
15.Top 3 Selected
16.Cheque
17.Clio
18.Xtra
19.Good Old Days
20.I'm From a Place
21.No Bass
22.Clio (remix)

Kendrick Lamar shares his personal stories in Good kid, m.A.A.d city

Kendrick Lamar Duckworth's(1987) father was a member of Chicago's Gangster Disciples. The boy lost relatives in the Crips' and Bloods' battle and saw others go to prison.

The album's cover shows a Polaroid of him as a youngster with his father holding a gun. His entire family tried to protect the Good kid from the wild street life. Lamar chose to feed his mind with book knowledge and reflected on the world with masterful storytelling.

Letting it all out in music, growing into a technical lyricist, Dr Dre signed the young MC. His 2011 Section.80 EP was a rousing success.

The result of Lamar's dedication is a genuine self-portrait, a brilliant hip hop album based on honest storytelling about Lamar's living conditions, the Compton crime scene, social anomalies and love.

Not afraid to show his vulnerability, he takes up a victim's fear and emotions.

Human, empathic, responsible, ....

Who's keeping it real? This Good kid!

Tracklist:

1. Sherane a.k.a Master Splinter’s Daughter (Prod. By Tha Bizness)
2. Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe (Prod. By Sounwave)
3. Backseat Freestyle (Prod. By Hit-Boy)
4. The Art of Peer Pressure (Prod. By Tabu)
5. Money Trees (Ft. Jay Rock) (Prod. By DJ Dahi)
6. Poetic Justice (Ft. Drake) (Prod. By Scoop DeVille)
7. good kid [Prod. By Pharrell]
8. m.A.A.d city (Ft. MC Eiht) (Prod. By Sounwave & Terrace Martin)
9. Swimming Pools (Drank) *Extended Version* (Prod. By T-Minus)
10. Sing About Me (Prod. By Skhye Hutch + Sounwave) / I’m Dying Of Thirst (Prod. By Like of Pac Div)
11. Real (Ft. Anna Wise) (Prod. By Terrace Martin)
12. Compton (Ft. Dr. Dre) (Prod. By Just Blaze)

Deluxe:

13. The Recipe (Ft. Dr. Dre) (Prod. By Scoop DeVille)
14. Black Boy Fly (Prod. By Rahki & Dawaun Parker)
15. Now Or Never (Ft. Mary J. Blige) (Prod. By Jack Splash)
16. Collect Calls
17. Swimming Pools (Drank) (Prod. By T-Minus)

http://www.kendricklamar.com

Dels' Black salad

Three years ago Ipswich master of ceremonies Kieren Dickins(1984 ) signed a three album Big Dada deal.

His debut album entitled Gob(2011) was mainly produced by Kwes.
Black Salad, his 2012 five track counting follow-up, also features productions by Kwes, Eli-T, Raisa Kahn and Coby Sey( Kwes' brother).

With a third album to be expected this year, graphic designer Dickins is working hard to succeed in this creative career switch.

Slowly surely his serious sound has become appreciated in the British hip hop scene.

Tracks

1.Black Salad
2.Bird Milk(ft Bila, Kwes production)
3.Not Today(Micachu & Raisa Khan production)
4.Sell by Date
5.You Live in My Head

Bossalinis and Fooliyones

Young one records released Main Attraktionz' debut album Bossalinis and Fooliyones. The beats, made by over a dozen producers, are more enchanting than the rhymes.

However MondreM.A.N. and Squadda B do sound like they are having a blast, leading to an entertaining première.

Tracks

1.Green on Sight
2.Liquor Runs
3.La Piñata
4.LFK
5.Take U There
6.Cloud Life
7.On Tour
8.Sex in the City
9.Do It for the Bay
10.Superstitious
11.24th Hour
12.Wings
13.Rainy Days
14.Love Is Life
15.Bury Me a Millionaire
16.Zoney Nights
17.Cloud Body

Sten & Lex

Italian street artists Sten(Rome, 1982) and Lex(Taranto, 1982) have been working together since 2001. They have often been referred to as the Italian stencil pioneers.

Their halftone stencil portraits are based on personal photographs and can be admired in metro poles such as Rome, London, Paris, Barcelona and New York.

In 2008 the duo participated in the Banksy Cans Festival and the Power and Currency show at the Factory Fresh Gallery in New York.

In 2009 Sten Lex started to develop a new durable technique to produce Stencil Posters. They inventively combine collage, painting and stencils, resulting in highly original linear works.

Since 2011, the artists have shown their pieces at MACRO, Magda Danysz Gallery and the Carandente Museum. They were invited to the Living Walls show in Atlanta and the Open walls in Baltimore.

More information:
Eleanor Mathieson and Xavier A. Tàpies, Street Artists, the complete guide, London, Graffito Books, 2009, ISBN-13: 978-0956028419

http://stenlex.net

Murs and 9th Wonder The Final Adventure

American MC Murs (1978, Making Underground Raw Shit) mostly rhymes about relationships, faith and beliefs on his final collaborative album with 9th Wonder.

Their fifth LP The Final Adventure after Murs 3:16: The 9th Edition(2004), Murray's Revenge(2006), Sweet Lord(2008) and Fornever(2010) features ten tracks.

Tracklist

Get Together ft Rapsody
Dance with Me
Whatuptho
Holding Hands
Walk Like a Woman
Tale of Two Cities
Funeral for a Killer
Better Way
Wherever You Are
It’s Over

http://mursworld.com

9th wonder & Buckshot The Solution

Brooklyn emcee Buckshot and grammy - award winning producer 9th Wonder previously released Chemistry (2005) and The Formula (2008).

Their third joint album The Solution(Duck Down Records) explores the concept of self-determination, the solution to all success and problems to be found within oneself. Their newest creation includes guest appearances from DyMe-A-DuZin and Rapsody.

Buckshot Shorty began rapping in 1992. The leader of Boot Camp Clik released a solo album entitled The BDI Thug (1999) and led the gritty Black Moon crew.

Both gentlemen are most fond of the nostalgic old-school vibe, complete with soulful samples and memorable lyricism.

Tracklist:
01 – The Big Bang
02 – What I Gotta Say
03 – Stop Rapping
04 – Crazy
05 – The Feeling
06 – SAM
07 – Pat Em Down
08 – Keep It Going
09 – The Change Up
10 – Shorty Left Ft. Rapsody
11 – You Ft. Dyme-A-Duzin
12 – The Solution

Apollo Brown and Guilty Simpson Dice Game

Mello Music Group released another Detroit production: sixteen track Dice Game, featuring Torae and Planet Asia.

Tracklist

Freezing Dice (0:21)
Reputation (3:11)
Let’s Play (3:13)
One Man (3:28)
I Can Do No Wrong (3:21)
Potatoes (2:51) Ft Torae
Change (3:14)
Dear Jane (3:17)
Lose You (3:02)
Ink Blotches (3:04)
Never ending Story (3:15)
The Cook Up (3:46)
Truth Be Told (3:26)
Nasty (3:44)ft Planet Asia
Wrong Hand (3:18)
How Will I Go (3:58)

The non conformist way of Haring's walk

After passing through the New York School of Visual Arts American visual artist Keith Haring became a prominent subculture figure, leaving his spray painted mark on subway walls.

Born in Reading and raised in Kutztown, Keith Haring(1958-1990) grew a passion for drawing at an early age, learning basic cartooning skills from his creative father. While attending the Ivy School of Professional Art in Pittsburgh, he realized he had no interest in becoming a commercial graphic artist.

In 1978 Keith Haring moved to bustling New York, where he developed his own style of abstracted figures. While attending the SVA he experimented with performance, video, installation, collage, painted plastic, metal and found objects and exhibited in Club 57.

In 1980 Haring decided to draw cartoon-like pictures on the large amounts of unused black subway billboards. These recognizable white chalk Subway Drawings allowed direct communication with the public, whose attention he very much enjoyed while performing.

His black outlined pictures of vital human and animal figures expressed powerful social messages of life, birth, drugs, AIDS, death, sex, war and unity. Vividly colored stereotype imagery of dices, dollar bills, barking dogs, wormlike babies, flying saucers, Mickey Mouse were successfully used in his 1980’s graffiti creations which soon caught art handlers' attention.

Following his neon drawing on Times Square(1982) and a popular one-man exhibition at Tony Shafrazi’s gallery Haring’s intense worldwide career took form with shows at Documenta 7, the Paris, Whitney and São Paulo Biennial, ...

An urban artist at heart, he continued to paint public murals: in Melbourne(1984), New York(Crack is Wack), Amsterdam, Paris, Phoenix, on the western side of the Berlin wall(1986).

Although the elite paid towering prizes for his works, Haring still believed art should be for every one. His hand painted Soho Pop Shop, the ultimate example of the artist as a brand image, sold affordable merchandising such as T-shirts, caps, toys, magnets, buttons and posters.

Embracing advertising as a medium, Haring designed for Swatch, Château Mouton Rotschild and Absolut Vodka. He furthermore painted in Grace Jones' I’m not perfect video clip, created a jacket for Madonna, theatre sets, posters, logos, held art workshops for children and generously painted to benefit health centers.

Diagnosed with AIDS in 1988, the artist established the Keith Haring Foundation which provides education to children in addition to the prevention of AIDS. This virtuoso pioneer of contemporary mass culture died at the age of thirty one.

www.haring.com
www.haring.com/kh_foundation

Zevs is brought to light

Parisian street artist Aguirre Schwarz (1977) named himself Zevs after almost being hit by a Parisian regional train line coded ZEUS.

When he was twelve years old, he already enjoyed expressing himself by tagging on his way to school. The artist befriended Invader and André, with whom he often collaborated in the 90's.

During the late 1990's Zevs developed a project based on street objects' shadows. His enchanting Urban Shadows series drew attention to objects in urban space by outlining their shadows to make them more visible at night. The silhouettes of city fixtures such as traffic lights, mailboxes, benches and bins were detoured with white paint.
( Public Bench 2000, Paris; Subway, Electric Shadows series, Paris )
Around that time Zevs also started working in the reverse graffiti technique.

His Liquidated Logowork, a unique treatment of advertising logos of corporations such as Nike, McDonald's, Chanel, Google and Louis Vuitton, spread his name. By dripping the logos with paint, he creates the illusion that they are dissolving or liquidating. He visually assaults corporate culture by showing that the power of the logo can be reversed against the company. Following a liquidated Chanel logo on a Hong Kong Armani store, Zevs ended up in jail for a couple of days because the authorities didn't believe the paint could be easily washed off.

His Visual Attacks series(2001) targeted advertising boards and light boxes with dripping bullet-wound style spots of red paint between the models' eyes.

Another one of his provocative projects was his Visual Kidnapping of a Lavazza poster in Germany, with demand for a ransom of 500.000 euros ... Another reverse strategy: he kidnaps an advertisement which is meant to kidnap the public's attention. The ransom money was given to a good cause: Palais de Tokyo in Paris.

Experimental and inventive, the artist creates Invisible Graffiti with a self created paint, invisible during the day but visible at night. This invisible ink technique is a method he also uses for his gallery work, in addition to UV printing.

Signs and the light remain Zevs' trademarks, be it graffiti illumination, a spray painted lightning strike or a shadow effect. This prominent French street art figure simply loves playing around in the street.

http://www.debuckgallery.com

http://www.patriciadorfmann.com

Karriem Riggins Alone Together Stones Throw Records

Karriem Riggins' debut album Alone Together has just been released by Stones Throw Records. The producer's thirty four track instrumental hip hop project was recorded in Los Angeles.

Detroit native Riggins grew up in a jazzy family: his mum collected records and his father played the piano and organ.

A man of great talent... no wonder Riggins was asked to complete Dilla's last album The Shining, worked with Madlib and produced tracks for The Roots, Common, Erykah Badu, Slum Village, Dwele, among many others.

Riggins is trying to be the best he can be.

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