Saturday, February 28, 2009

Verbal Meditation: RIPMC


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Every time I chill with this brotha we end up talking for hours. What starts out as casual conversation, quickly builds into deep discourse on topics ranging from personal aspirations to existentialism and abstract thought. One of the real treats in knowing RIPMC is knowing what a triple-threat he truly is. Quiet as kept, his gifts in the arts are not limited to words alone. He produces, paints, and conceptualizes like a true visionary. The brilliance of his bold concepts flow throughout his many expressions and I am so very happy to have him as the first artist interview on this site.

If you had 24 Hours to live what would you do?

I have these four beats I just made. I would record those four songs. I would write down what my goals were for the next ten years and leave a note for my sister saying to duplicate that. Just try to be as much of a catalyst as I can.

What would one of those goals be?

I got a couple ideas about social reform. Just a few ideas that could help change the social landscape. Like expose the general public to a higher standard of living. Like…help your community set up shop. Don’t try to tell them to do any thing. Just expose them to it. And a big part of that is owning real estate.

What country would you invest real estate in if you could?

I wouldn’t. I haven’t really been anywhere outside America. But if I had to live someplace outside America…Paris is the only city I’ve been to that encompasses all the arts. The city itself- the landscape is fine art. The food is culinary art at its best.

“New Orleans is a third-world country.”

Have you ever wanted to go to any third-world countries?

No. To be honest, if we’re talking about outreach, Brooklyn is a third-world country. All these different hoods are third-world countries. New Orleans is a third-world country. There are parts of this country that fit those criteria. There are a lot of places in America I [visited] haven’t yet. There’s so much to see over here.

What is your ethnic background?

Both of my parents are from Antigua. I grew up in crown heights and I use to hang out in Flatbush. Very West Indian influenced. Then I moved to bed-stuy and as a West Indian you generally don’t like bed-stuy, but that's when my life kinda changed... when I moved into this artistic realm. There were so many black owned businesses and it was so fresh. There’s a subconscious affect on you when you know someone like you has done something.

“If there were a sound track to our lives Melo X would be the DJ.”

So what ethnicity would you consider yourself?

I’m a new generation. We’re the first ones who grew up here. We’re a new kind of breed. It’s a similar story. Most of our parents came here to have us. We have American values. I mean, how many West Indians favorite food is pizza? We’re this mixture of cultures. If there were a sound track to our lives Melo X would be the DJ. That’s who we are… a little bit of everything.

On The Collective & Conspiracy

I don’t really entertain these conversations about conspiracy. I feel like it’s not productive. I been seen it. Not even just conspiracy…I mean religious type groups. The bottom line is it just comes [down] to you thinking this one thing is so important that it just consumes you. It’s just paranoia. You don’t think so much about things you’re not afraid of. If you’re not afraid then why do you keep pointing it out? [This] is the person who put me here.

“Everyday we make sacrificial offerings.”

Life & The Universe

The funny thing about life is, what ever matters most, prepare to loose that shit. It’s like life teaches you how not to be attached. Life’s sits down with you at the bargaining table. Whatever you offer… it takes your car…it doesn’t really care about your car, it takes your friend…it doesn’t really care about your friend. Everyday we make sacrificial offerings. Everyday we sacrifice those two dollars to get that metrocard. It will say, give me whatever means most to you. God says I have everything and I want from you what matters most. At the end of the day it’s about value.

I have been learning the seasons. Like, knowing when my high points are and when my low points are. Its just been catching me off guard.

How old are you?

Twenty-three. I think that’s when it all starts though. Twenty-three.

It goes back to my whole belief that everyone is like their own planet. I come up with these theories and I test them over time. I think every ten years we end up back at square one. These constant ‘childhoods’… There are so many different life times. Every decade you become a totally different person. A constant theme but a different lesson…

I can’t wait to hit fifty.

Me either. But I just can’t imagine going through another cycle [of my life] again. I gotta do what I did twice?! I feel like it’s a prison sentence. But you know me. I feel my actions show that I don’t really think it is.

You can reach RIP about ‘Writer’s Block’, his work with the collective, or about his own personal projects such as the Rebirth of Cool here on myspace & twitter

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

She's A Star

Not the biggest Will.I.Am fan, post-consciousness. However, this video by NABIL is amazing!

Will.i.am "She's a Star" music video from nabil elderkin on Vimeo.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Swizzy!

After a nice lil' rehearsal, the boys and I headed down to Sway. Melo was spinning and it was Theo's BDAY! 
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Mr. Dary tryna hide from the camera, lol! Dante also came through with his world famous friend chicken, vegetarian style. Exibit A.
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Please get your Melo-X Concert tickets!!! People, Blender Theater is gonna be ROCKIN March 9th! And I think I'm gettin on the mic too. So go buy them HERE. Mustafa wants you!
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Saturday, February 21, 2009

Little Nikki


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Oh how time flies...

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Stik Figa X Greg Enemy

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Some more Mid-West music for that ass! Click HERE for the BABYLON EP. Also, check out this video from The Miles Bonny Show (a real crazy cat) with Stik Figa, giving a crash course on the history of Topeka, Kansas. Shout outs the Greg!

African Collective for MICA

It's Fashion Week in New York Dearies! So you know I had to post some delicious eye treats for Fall/Winter 09.

And the Diva of Divas came to GRACE the stage! Yes Darlings, Ms. Jones!

Sunday, February 15, 2009

One Down

Had a fun lil' shoot with THATKIDTEXAS the other day and I took some shots of us in her new crib. She's a Brooklyn Girl now! Congrats and welcome!
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VDay

Dinner and a movie with the homie Jenn. I gave her a pad to wipe her lipstick off with.
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Contact

So after a really retarded ass day consisting of a great interview followed by a failed piss test, I needed to have some fun and take the edge off. Luckily, my homies came through in the clutch and we had a great night. First stop was Ms. Phillip's house for my cousin Shana's Bday! A house party in flatbush...nuff said. Then we ended the night @ Plan B with my favorite couple!

The Cause
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The Effect
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Starlet of the night: Chardonnay
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The Turn
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Fin

Amma: Bhajans



She's actually a really great singer. I enjoyed watching her during the bhajans; the hindu version of gospel music. And yes...there are usually that many people in the crowd, plus or minus 500. Usually, plus.
If you want to learn more about Amma, The Hugging Saint and the work she does visit Amritapuri. And if you want to see more footage of Amma you can watch the documentary trailer, Darshan: The Embrace here on iMac.

Thursday, February 12, 2009

There're Games Beyond The Game

Sonia Barrett
Please listen to both of these videos


Multidimensional; ever existing in a series of consecutive beats. Light, color, sound. Feeling. Feelings. Reaching beyond the limitation toward the ever existing. Positivity is just that. The Go. Just as there is a good and bad, there is a Beyond. The concept that nothing is truly bad. Everything is necessary. No longer dwelling within the relm of right and wrong. The process. As you have requested it. It is known to you just as all things are known. Wake up. Reach out. Go. Beyond.

Feed your heart. Take the goodness to your heart. Take it all in. It is truly humbling. It strikes me like a heavy blow. It strikes me every time. Like a great gust of wind. Like a burning fire. Like climbing a hill and meeting god at its peak.

As a child my greatest fear was amnesia. I was deathly afraid that if I lost my memory I would be doomed to repeat mistakes I made. How else besides the mind, could we remember what not to do? Fixated on remembering so as to keep myself in check. From making mistakes. To reach perfection. And as I grew up I became accustomed to never letting go; to remember and be tortured by those memories. Scare tactics. But the mind is not the source. The heart needs transforming. Then came the desire to make it as if it never were. ...Sunshine of the spotless mind. But the mind is not the source. The heart needs transforming. The soul...the Eternal Sunshine.

Multidimensional; ever expanding; bliss barer. Performing that Blue Light Special. Running on that pure flame. Dwelling in abundance. Moving forward. This is not all there is. This is just a cycle like every other cycle we ever experience in our process of learning. This too is a cycle. And we at anytime can accept the challenge of releasing, allowing, and organically manifesting through our pure will. The dream is the vision but the hard work is in the process. Peep game and be prepared. Release and allow.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Do-It-Yourself: Chocolate

O.M.G. do I love chocolate! And thank sweet Jesus that my mother knows how to throw down on some homemade holiness, cause Lord knows how much mamma loves it! 
Note: Everything was made from scratch. No boxes, no bakeries. We may even post the recipes. Maybe...

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I put the extra chocolate on some waffles! It's the breakfast of champions.
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Chocolate. The perfect way to take the edge off. Especially if you're a Single Lady this Valentine's Day. So go out there and enjoy that cocoa supplement!
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You're Welcome

Sunday, February 8, 2009

Fashion Video: Charles Hamilton?

Skimming through Vimeo (my new shit) and saw the thumbnail of this clip. I said to myself, "Self...that kid looks like Charles Hamilton wearing those headphones like that." So I played the video and lo! It was. Fashion Video is a video series which features artist in various styles.

Fashion Video from Seth Bernstein on Vimeo.
Kinda weird with all the geeked out dancing...but I respect his conviction. I also applaud the image consistency. These times are crucial in an artist's rise. Branding is no joke playa! That's why we the viewers can even spot the silhouette of well known, well branded celebs. Can become clique but you gotta do it in the beginning. I can hear a few irate friends already but hey, I'm on my positive shit right now. Leave the hate in '08. lol! Corny but real.
I think this is what Claude must look like when no one's watching.

FYI, I'm forever in love with BK. Home first, the world can wait....just alittle while.

Charles Hamilton - Brooklyn Girl from Kidd Izzo on Vimeo.

Saturday, February 7, 2009

Bed Shots

So Ol' C-Town was giving me a hard time about these pictures I take of myself when I'm in bed (suffering from insomnia). Apparently, he thinks I should do something with them because they look nice. Now I'm not the biggest fan of putting up gratuitous images of myself but this is a blog site about Me so...I shall acquiesce to his request.

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Freckle time
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