RZA: Parenting Tips for Father's Day

This upcoming Father's Day, if you are in the Los Angeles area, you have the chance to be treated to the parenting insights of Robert Fitzgerald Diggs AKA Bobby Digital AKA Prince Rakeem AKA the RZA.

The RZA will be spending his Father's Day at the Los Angeles Juvenile Hall to teach inmates about fatherhood. He will be hosting a workshop on fatherhood and teaching inmates a number of skills and life lessons to help transition to adulthood and parenthood upon release.

Since I am not privileged to know all of the potential lessons RZA will bestow upon the inmates, I have taken the liberty to make up a bunch of topics I am hoping he will share with his captive audience:

1) diversify your bonds
2) be sure your kids listen to music only through Chambers Headphones by RZA
3) plant your sunflower seed on every square acre
4) assassination vaccination poor education infatuation with Satan with global nation taxation
5) change the poopy diapers
6) dress kids in the latest Wu Wear
7) no time to grab the guns, they already got your wife and children
8) protect your neck
9) you can see the weakness of a man right through his iris
10) eat lots of fruit and whole grains
11) save your receipts
12) start a 401K for yourself and a 529C for your kids future college plans
13) don't have a stupid title for an email address like crunchybig-guns69@yahoo.com if you ever have to fill out a resume online for a future job
14) Wu-Tang Forever!

I know that this is a good thing that RZA is doing, but it is comical to think that some of these cats may have no idea who he is or care about anything he has ever done. Good for you either way RZA!

Fine Art Friday: June 15, 2012

R.I.P. - STAY HIGH 149

Legendary New York graffiti writer, Wayne “Stay High 149" Roberts, passed away yesterday at the age of 61.  The artist, who began making a name for himself as early as 1971, was known for his images of a smoking stick figure and catch phrase/logo “Voice of the Ghetto” tags.

After a long absence from the graf world, Stay High 149 was honored with a retrospective art show circa 2000. Even in his older age, Stay High continued to write his name in the street and influenced thousands of young graf artists and writers around the world. R.I.P. to one of the O.G.'s. Check out his website while it still exists: http://www.stayhigh149.com/



LUVJONEZ MUSIC @ PINTEREST http://pinterest.com/luvjonezmusic/

If you want to dig further into other stuff that I ramble about, Pinterest houses alot of these items that I never get a chance to post. Check it out if interested!










SOPHIE JODOIN

I came across the work of Sophie Jodoin back around 2008 and was struck and the detail of her fairly small work. Using primarily mylar sheets and black gesso, she manages to develop remarkable textures and contrast in her work that makes me super jealous of her process. She continues to put out thought-provoking work and masterful images of dramatic and sad qualities. Check out her site for more of her black and white drama! http://www.sophiejodoin.com/


BRYAN NASH GILL

Such a simple idea to ink up dead or dying tree stumps to reflect their age rings and historic development, but expertly executed to show every possible detail. I am not the biggest fan of "earth" art , but the intricate patterns and flaws in these prints are hypnotic and depressing when considering the life cycle of all things. Very Walden of me I know, but check out Nash Gill's site for more of these prints. http://www.bryannashgill.com/

WK INTERACT - New Projects

Plenty has been said bout WK Interacts work, so I won't act like this is the first time anyone has seen his work, but the image above and the video below is the result of a collaboration with the ad agency TWBA called FORTY. The video is almost pornographic in the detail or spray cans, brushed glue and dripping paint, but it is always interesting to see the creative process (even heavily edited) of a large art installation with so many textures and layers.



For more info on WK Interacts work, check out his site here: http://www.wkinteract.com/

Big K.R.I.T. - Live From The Underground : The Making Of

I realize that the internet and overall rap industry are on the Big KRIT tip right now, but I can't help but support the kid from Mississippi. He walks the line between "trunk muzik" and "introspective hip hop star" better than anyone since Goodie Mob and Outkast from the 90's. To accompany the constant buzz of his upcoming official Def Jam release "Live From The Undeground", KRIT put out this mini-doc about the making of the album. I always enjoy the inside peaks at the creative process and behind-the-scenes work that goes into any project, especially when it isn't filled with the typical "bitches and tough talk" of so much promotional material these days.

Lots of insight about the "ups and downs" of being a budding music star, watching KRIT work in the studio and some features for the album. I can't say I like everything he puts out, but more often than not, he throws mellow, grown man, soul-sample, hip hop gems on his albums to show he is not a 24 Hour Party person. Check it out above and maybe it will help show you why he is the critical darling that he is.

Props to videographer Steve-Ography for the camera work! Check out the Big KRIT website for more updates: http://bigkrit.defjam.com/