Filed under: Friends'n'Fam | Tags: kids, MGMT, nicolas sarkozy, perez hilton, wesleyan
I have to exploit this photograph of Ben and Andrew of MGMT fame simply because it captures shirtless intraspecial love and one of those silly hats stoner snowboarders wear indoors. In other news, the MGMT boys are too busy suing world leaders to pose with adorable kittens for photoshoots. That’s right, if you haven’t already heard from Perez Hilton, MGMT are suing French Presdient Nicolas Sarkozy for using their hit “Kids” (the theme of my undergradaute years) on online videos without proper permission. It’s amusing yet hard to believe that our homies have reached the level where suing Sarkozy is an actual newsworthy scenario. Back at Wesleyan, we never knew that one day some of us might acquire enough power, wealth, status and fame to hold world leaders accountable to laws regarding acts of counterfeiting– an infringement of intellectual property. As if they weren’t already ballin’, MGMT can expect to shower in Euros given that Sarkozy has already admitted to using the song at the UMP party’s national congress. Stay tuned for the ending of this bizarre saga. Read the full NME article HERE for more details. In the meantime, take a stroll down memory lane to this:
Filed under: Friends'n'Fam | Tags: asian american film festival, denizen kane, holdin up the wall, jason mateo, youth speaks
Denizen Kane speaks for himself. No amount of pyrotechnics, smoke machines, or bling bling could compete with the force of his flow and power of his presence. To me, Denizen Kane represents hip hop stripped down to its essence without the aid of props or gimmicks. In the following video for his track “Holdin’ Up the Wall” Denizen Kane spits sitting down on the street in a simple and consistent shot that brings the focus to the content of his words. Directed by one of the founders of Youth Speaks, Jason Mateo, this video is the culmination of a thoughtful and labor intensive process and collaboration among friends and mutually creative and inspired artists. I have had the pleasure of building with both Denizen Kane and Jason Mateo since moving to the Bay Area and I hope you will all take the time to watch this video and support this project by continuing to spread the word and share the link. The video got accepted to be in an Asian American Media competition. Views = Votes. If they win, then the video will tour with the Asian American Film Festival. For more info hit up AsianAmericanMedia.Org:
Check out more music by Denizen Kane HERE. Support Youth Speaks HERE.
Filed under: Art Files | Tags: graphic designer, jonathan yuen, singapore
“To touch someone’s heart with design” –Stefan Sagmeister
My girl Christine put me on to the personal portfolio of multi-disciplinary graphic designer, Jonathan Yuen. Based in Singapore, Yuen is unparalleled in his mastery of graphic design and intuitive user interaction (in my humble opinion). Yuen uses his website to present four seperate but interrelated design narratives in a fluid and devastatingly beautiful manner. The images look like ink drawings that have been scanned and photoshopped (though they could’ve been entirely digitally created). Yuen takes a less explicitly commercial approach by subtely encouraging the user to explore the world he has created. As the user, you can frame a picture of a frog with your hands, watch hummingbirds and butterflies fly and koi fish swim, and listen to a meditative soundtrack of classical guitar and nature sounds. (Yes, I know, “very asian” — don’t hate!) The fact that Yuen launched his site back in 2006 proves how advanced and ahead of his time he is. Yuen poetically illustrates the tremendous potential graphic design has to create alternate worlds for users to explore and inhabit. No screen shot would do proper service to his work, please visit JonathanYuen.com to experience it for yourself. Look on:
Filed under: Friends'n'Fam | Tags: billll$, bottle up and go, convivial gentry, friends with benefits, gordon voidwell, kool ad
With a line-up like this, it would be criminal not to (bottle up and) GO!!! Check the flier for more info:
- Gordon Voidwell: http://www.myspace.com/gordonvoidwell
- BiLLLL$: http://www.myspace.com/guillermoebrown
- Bottle Up & Go: http://www.myspace.com/bottleupandgoband
- Kool A.D.: http://www.myspace.com/ladieslovekoolad
- Friends With Benefits: http://www.letsbefriendswithbenefits.com
Via the money man Steve
Filed under: Hip Hop, Politricks | Tags: Hip Hop, palestine, slingshot hip hop
“Slingshot Hip Hop braids together the stories of young Palestinians living in the West Bank, Gaza and inside Israel as they discover Hip Hop and employ it as a tool to surmount divisions imposed by occupation and poverty. From internal checkpoints and Separation Walls to gender norms and generational differences, this is the story of young people crossing the borders that separate them.” — Slingshot Hip Hop
I had the pleasure of going to a screening of Slingshot Hip Hop in Berkeley last night with artist and friend Evan Bissell. There’s been an internet buzz aroud the film and its featured artists since its January 2008 release at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. This film documents the lives of prominent Palestinian emcees and the role hip hop plays in breaking down the barriers that divide us. Unlike many self-proclaimed “conscious” or “underground” artists based in the United States, the Palestinian hip hop heads hunger for more than just a record deal. The music is simply a soundtrack to their everyday lives. With shows that put even the hyphiest Brooklyn bashments to shame, Slingshot Hip Hop sheds light on the far reach of hip hop in a global community. Go to slingshothiphop.com for more information on future screenings in a city near you and ways in which you can support Palestnian hip hop. Peep the trailer:
Filed under: Hip Hop | Tags: carlos nino, j dilla, jay dee, miguel atwood ferguson, mochilla, suite for ma dukes
“One of the more creative projects (commemorating James “Jay Dilla” Yancey) I’ve come across is this one, The Suite For Ma Dukes EP. This project was put together by Carlos Nino and Miguel Atwood Ferguson, and it’s a 4 song EP featuring orchestral interpretations of some of J Dilla’s finest work. Proceeds from the EP will go to Jay Dee’s mom, Ma Dukes. Go show some support and buy the full project on iTunes, or cop the vinyl when it drops in April via Mochilla. If you will be in the LA area on February 22nd (TONIGHT!), get that real life feel for the project as a 36-piece orchestra performs the Suite For Ma Dukes EP live at the Harriet and Charles Luckman Fine Arts Complex” — Via OkayPlayer
I’m hitting myself on the head for not organizing a trip to LA tonight to check out this epic performance. After reading reviews online of the first edition of Timeless — the larger four -part “epic concert event series that has historic composers performing with orchestral accompaniment at the Luckman Complex in Cal State Los Angeles” of which Suite For Ma Dukes is the next installment. If LA is within your reach, you would be crazy not to be in attendance.
I respect CuDi’s authentic stoner status. I mean, turntables transform into pizzas?!?! I could do without the random Travis Barker cameo but I appreciate the simplicity of his outfit and y’all already know how I feel about skullys. Speaking of day’n'nite, here’s a sneak preview of MeLo’s rendition:
via OnSmash and Herfection
