I’ve been sitting on this video for the past few days, why? I wasn’t sure if I would do the video any justice with my words. It’s one of them videos that will leave you speechless, both visually and audibly mind blowing. Spoken word has been around for yonkers but to me it feels like 2011 has been the year that it’s real emerged into the mainstream spotlight. Striver’s Row is a collective of talented NYC-based spoken word artists including college junior Miles Hodges, who recites his poem ‘Harlem‘ in this video. It’s a tribute to the NYC district – every word that comes out of his mouth is a bullet, powerful. The visuals by the exceptionally talented Andre Wagner of AbstractElements is equally as good. Watch it on the reverse, you won’t regret it.
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Dayum! another amazing Flickr find. Meet Simon Gardiner, a Lancashire based photographer who primarily focuses on reportage/documentary and sports photography. However his individual work is what I’m going to feature. He’s captured some incredible architecture and inner city scenes like the one above which uses the vortograph technique, an abstract form of photography that utilises kaleidoscope repetitions by photographing objects through triangular arrangement of three mirrors. The rest of his photographs aren’t quite as crazy and Inception-esque. He describes his passion for street photography “I like shooting streets, the streets are full of life with a story behind every street photo. The photographer captures the scene and the viewer discovers and interprets the story behind the shot.”. That’s exactly what he’s done in the following shots after the cut, have a gander! certainly inspired me to explore a new style of photography.
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Harlem rapper, Ema the Kid talks about his frustration with modern media influences on women and their desire for plastic enhancements, to which he likens to a heroin addiction, over this Selasse produced beat. Interesting concept. I haven’t heard of a rapper speak specifically about this subject on a song for a while, and with the likes of women like Kelly Rowland discussing theiar body battles & plastic surgery in the press recently….Ema the Kid’s chosen subject is very topical. Hit the jump to check out this visual offering beautifully filmed by On.CutFilms.
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I met eXquire at the Fool’s Gold afterparty in New York. Amongst the rappers, music industry socialites and booty clapping strippers there stood a charismatic, 6″4 26-year old sporting an impressive array of necklaces and a huge smile. No Jesus piece or facade in sight, I was instantly intrigued by this guy. Later my friend introduced me to him. Exquire, a rapper from Brooklyn, New York who my girl (a Hip Hop dj and good friend who’s opinion I trust) told me had a Biggie Smalls vibe about him. Say what? Some Youtube searches and a mixtape download later, and here I am bumping eXquire’s debut mixtape, Lost in Translation, singing along to an array of comical, narrative, alcohol-induced and somewhat colourful choruses. Here I pick my favourite tracks from eXquire’s mixtape, be warned…this is most certainly explicit content.
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I would love to give you guys a breakdown of the episode but I haven’t actually had time to watch it myself. Rushing to get ready for work and not looking forward to the sauna-esque commute on the Central Line. In fact, I’ve started going in a little later than I used to but can’t do that today with the Monday morning meeting. Right I’m off to try and make it in London, hop on after the cut to see a few statesiders do the same in New York.
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Super models? Please, pretty girls that clearly need to be fed more. This is cute though, some of them have serious swagger whilst lip syncing one of Jay-Z‘s most iconic songs that pays tribute to New York. We need a song like that for LONDON but I don’t trust the rappers here to come up with something as powerful and positive. Kano released London Town a few years ago which was all about how rough the city is, meh. I trust Wretch32 do a good job. Anyway, pop on after the cut to witness some skinny but beautiful women lip sync Empire State of Mind around the city. Victoria’s Secret girls need to do a version. Now that I would have NO COMPLAINTS about. *drools*
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Here we have a trailer for a documentary revolving around the topic of doing what you love, breaking boundaries in order to do just that – it’s all about passion and drive. The documentary It’s very much like the Influencers documentary that dropped last year – focusing on 10 individuals who have ‘made’ it on their own, the independent people. BANDIT, a strategic ideas agency from Copenhagen works with clients who don’t understand the power of influencer marketing have decided to embark on a journey in which they go in search of like minded individuals from the fashion, branding, media, photography and design industries. I’m really looking forward to watching the full documentary which will consist of 10 conversations with the following creatives: Vashtie Kola (Designer), Jonathan Mannion (Photographer), Brendon Babenzien (Supreme), John Gerzema (Social Theorist), Noah Callahan-Bever (Complex), Rob Cristofaro (Bandit), Russ Bengtson (SLAM), Tom Britton, Andrew Lafiosca and James M. Reilly. Trailer on the reverse.
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