What's in a picture? A story, a message, a moment, a memory? Often it's a combination of these and much more, as the world around us is seen through our own unique lens. And while a plethora of pictures are taken in a day, which ones remain, and become timeless? Many times what an image becomes isn't up to the photographer but more so people who celebrate an image that may be revered and remembered later on. These questions come to mind when examining the photo collection of Tim Mantoani . Capturing portraits of photographers holding their most iconic [...]
I touched down in Paris this afternoon around 1:45. And despite the fact that "Niggas in Paris" has ostensibly nothing Paris-specific about it, the video still seemed to drop at a pretty auspicious time. In any case, Paris is still gorgeous, and this song is still making large crowds of people go fucking gorillas, so I can only assume all is right with the world. While some of us missed the boat on what's being called one of the greatest hip-hop tours of all time, Hype William's clip offers up a triumphant live version from their Staples Center [...]
Next Friday marks the first art show from the Native Thinghood collective. Featuring works from a variety of Los Angeles based artist, the initiative seeks to "propel artistic growth with collective intentions." Artwork from Savannah Wood , Danielle Schnur and Erin Christovale will be presented amongst work other visual artists. With a DJ set from Henoch Moore and Kasey Cunningham the night is sure to be smooth with high chances of good conversation. Doors open at 8:30 for a viewing of the gallery, with live performances and DJ sets after 10. The show [...]
Photography By Rebekkah Castellanos One day we'll throw the perfect party. Each element will accommodate the next, creating the perfect night that we'll remember forever. We're not there yet, but we're getting better. We have a long way to go, but that's what makes it fun. In short, our goal is to throw the best parties possible despite the fact that all the elements to do so are still not within our control. While last night was one of the best of [...]
I can't really say I grew up watching Soul Train. I was born in '88, and by the early '90s, Don Cornelius was about ready to step down, and Yo! MTV Raps had stepped into Soul Train's role as the major television showcase for the most exciting, forward-thinking black music out there. But as a cultural touchstone, its influence is still pretty undeniable. When Max and I plan out these parties, I think there's usually an image in our heads of all the folks coming down, two-by-two in a Soul Train line, groovin' out to some Marvin or Curtis. We'll [...]
For the sake of discussion, Kendrick Lamar's Section.80 happens to make for a solid point of comparison to Schoolboy Q's Habits and Contradictions . Aside from the obvious-the two are frequent collaborators and members of Kendrick's Black Hippy crew- Habits bears plenty of similarities to 80 . For starters, they each have a phenomenal ear for beats, both nostalgic and forward-thinking. Both artists too, are keen observers of the world around them. Both thrive off inner conflict, and turn those conflicted moments into meditations that feel both tangibly personal, and [...]
It seems like only yesterday when Danny, Will and were chilling on Hubbard Street, picking neighbors flowers trying to get the invite right for A Family Affair . It was March of 2010. Perhaps it's the realization that we're four days away from our tenth party that's gotten me all sentimental. But regardless, I thought it was important once again to give thanks to you, the reader. For me, one of the toughest things about blogging is the fact that rarely do we see how our work [...]
Shoutout to Youtube for making this all possible. I know I'm not the only one who's facebook blew up around 9pm last night when the dunk of the year (so far) went viral. The announcer on NBA.com said Kendrick Perkins life just changed and I wouldn't disagree. I wonder if anyone said anything to him in the locker room? Did his teammates console him, or did they try not to make eye contact? Did his ears get hot when he saw the highlight again? Did his nose itch? Did his Mom watch the game?
Sometime around the middle of the year, after a year and change of what could only be described as sleeping on Jacques Greene, I stumbled upon "Another Girl" . Shortly after that, and after watching him get yelled at by Azealia Banks briefly, I dug into the gorgeous trio of EP's, and the scattered, occasionally brilliant handful of singles and remixes he's amassed over the last year and a half or so. Greene's signature sound- elegant analog synth textures, spacey R&B vocal chops, and a typically danceable two-step groove- is about as cosmopolitan as it [...]
Photography By Max Gibson It was the summer of 2010 when Brette first told me she wanted to start her own clothing brand. We were sitting in the car, a couple blocks off of Telegraph in Berkeley when she shared her vision. "It's going to be a brand to empower women," she told me. "We don't have a name yet though." In 2011 Stuk Designs was born. Dedicated to the cultivation of the whole woman, the brand features a variety of vibrant [...]
By Willee Roberts Last Wednesday marked the 10th anniversary of operations at the Guantanamo Bay Detention Camp. Bush-era fear tactics rationalized the creation of the military prison despite its defiance of Geneva Convention protocol against torture. In Obama's early days in office, he attempted to follow through on his campaign promise to close the camp and return terror suspects to US soil. Gitmo remains open, with 171 prisoners still confined to living in its inhumane conditions. Obama is not soft on terrorism. Beware America: Osama is dead, but terror lives on. This time, it [...]
There's a common thread that ties together each of Gusmano Cesaretti 's photography collections. Each collection displays his uncanny ability to capture a specific place and time, in a way that feels almost mythical, and yet also deeply personal. While each series, taken as a whole, paints a sort of romanticized portrait of the place in question, the idiosyncratic details of each picture tell a story of their own. The pair of collections currently being shown at Los Angeles' Roberts & Tilton gallery- the first documenting 1970s East L.A., and the second depicting the harsh realities of [...]
La Cita 336 South Hill Street Los Angeles 90013
In an era where one million youtube views can equate to instant stardom, it's hard to define what's truly fresh from what's just popular. It's a debate plenty of us have had many times over, and one that comes to light when considering the rise of A$AP Rocky . I think Dom understands. So when A$AP's latest visual offering hit the net sometime last night, I thought twice about throwing it up. Has A$AP become trendy before he's even dropped an album? Maybe so. Nonetheless, I've watched this video like six times.
It always seems like we should show the illustrators and authors of children's books more love. Personally, I credit folks like Dr. Seuss, Eric Carle, Bill Watterson, Maurice Sendak and Shel Silverstein for stretching out my imagination as far as it would go when I was a kid. I suppose what distinguishes the great from good in that category are the books you can flip through fifteen or twenty years later and still be blown away by their creativity or their power to convey complex ideas in deceptively simple ways. Whether or not it's intended as a children's [...]
I don't listen to Norwegian black metal. Until about two hours ago, I couldn't have told you anything about it, and after spending the better part of that time learning about it, I can't say I'm rushing to find a download link. But Until the Light Takes Us is just a fascinating film, and for that hour and a half I was immersed in a subculture completely foreign to me. Released to mixed reviews in 2009, the film is the product of directors Aaron Aites and Audrey Ewell's vision, a documentary compiled through years [...]
Oprah is one of those people that means a lot of different things to a lot of different people. I feel like for our generation, more than anything, she's a symbol of success. From humble beginnings to the top of the world. As soon as I heard the hook to "Oprah Winfrey" at Raven's listening party last week, I knew she and Hyphen had a banger on their hands. And as a Raven Sorvino single, it seems only logical. Paper Girl , slated to drop this week, is the story of a woman driven [...]
It seems like the collective Internet is breathing a sigh of relief today. At least the part that concerns America anyway. Big ups to everybody involved in stopping SOPA and PIPA dead in their tracks , and talking some sense into at least a few of the politicians planning to lend their support. In the spirit of toppling those particular pieces of legislation, I figured we should celebrate by providing some free, downloadable new music we've been digging lately. Among other things, the new year has already brought us new, quality material from Santi, Raekwon, Sleigh Bells, Azealia Banks [...]
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My Funny Valentines
