The Wheels of Steel...

The art of turntablism, the union of two vinyl playing turns and a mixer combined made hip hops first instrument. Scratching in between breaks of soul records was hip hop's symphony. And years later after its conception, this art form still exists today. Whether its seasoned vets still hopping on the 1's and 2's or eager new young bucks eager to make their mark on vinyl, this art persists, and will always be in a class on its own..

DMC Technics DJ Championships 2009, Birmingham Heat from Chris Bates on Vimeo.

Artist... Taylor Rankin

With the Violin Being my principle instrument a great violinist inspires me beyond understanding. Bermuda born Taylor Rankin has found a way to blend genres with this amazing small wooden fiddle. He is simply amazing, flawlessly wielding insane pitches from the instrument in a way that seems effortless to him. Skill, amazing...talent, amazing.

All I Need is....One Mic

I've always believed that the most beautiful instrument on God's earth is the human voice. Some have the ability to wield it to an extraordinary level, being able to belt out melodies and hit pitches only thought destined for birds...In all its tonal quality the human voice is artistic greatness. Being able to dedicate one night to all those that find art in their vocal chords, is the aim of the One Mic Series. Dedicated only to Vocal Performance Art, including all that fall under that umbrella; poetry, song, rap, spoken word; and Taking the most talented Bermudian singers, rappers and poets and having them share the stage with the likes of Aja Monet, Rafael Casal, Jason Reynolds, Shanelle Gabriel and Mayda del Valle. That was the aim of the very first One Mic Showcase, which took place October 10th, 2009 at the Berkeley Auditorium in Bermuda. This was the very first event for the Promotion Company that I own with my two best friends. We're called 'Allied Sounds', our company's aim: To Promote, Produce and Support the fine and Performing Arts, and I surely do believe we've done so with this year's One Mic Show..Words are not enough to describe the immense wonder that was that night. Being able to watch Professional Poets, whom I am a fan of, perform heart stopping, metaphor laced, passion driven poems was amazing to say the least. The Night was surreal, it was a night that could make art proud.



Joy Barnum


The Entire Cast of One Mic, Season 1



Shanelle Gabriel



Candace Furbert



Aja Monet



K.A.S.E



Jason Reynolds


Mayda del Valle



Rafael Casal




amazing..

One Mic...Season 1

Change Clothes

Ok So I spent this Saturday very lazily. It was well deserved trust me. After almost 8 straight days of work, i needed this. Today was my Saturday where i flipped endlessly through magazines, caught up on the latest Archie comics, and spent half the day composing a promo single for Shayla Woods. In the midst of this I skimmed though the September Issue of Vogue. Vogue has to be THE ultimate fashion publication, and although I favor jordans and sweatpants over jimmy choos and liquid leggings, i like to think i know a thing or two about fashion. And Vogue definitely IS the epitome of fashion. One thing i like to do is to investigate other ppl's art, and their journey with it, Fashion is really an art form the intrigues me and inspires me. Director R.J. Cutler just released a documentary called "the September Issue" which shows the intensity of crafting Vogue's most important issue of the year.



In addition to that, this week has to be the absolute WORST week for me to NOT be living in New York. First off, we have "Fashion's Night Out" this Thursday, where stores all across the 5 boroughs will be open till 11pm, and there will be pretty much a city wide fashion extravaganza where customers can schmooze with celebs, musicians, designers and models. Things like this make me want to dip into the savings bin and buy an express ticket to NY!
Fashion's Night Out

And then, the most heartbreaking of all...Jay-Z is supposed to be having some killer concert @ Madison Square Garden on Sept. 11, which is coinciding with his Tuesday release of Blueprint 3...I just know that missing this show means I'm going to be missing out on something Epic!..BIGGER SIGHHHHHHH!!!!

In Any Case, its a GREAT week to live in New York!



"Change Clothes" (Grey Album Version)- Jay-Z

iPod Artists

I haven't posted anything really "artistic" in a while...soo lemme revisit that real quick. I love that artists use any medium to create, i think that even more than it being inventive, its inspiring, because it shows you how unconventional art is, even though we've known that for years, but still, its always nice to be reminded of that. Sooo here are some artists that use an ipod as their artistic medium, using the ipod app brushes, they are able to create gallery ready art from using their own fingers. Finger painting on a more artistic scale. lol. i love it. (sidenote...seriously technology is amazing.)

First Artist.. Jorge Columbo.
His art was featured on a cover of the New Yorker.





Matthew Watkins




Mike Miller

What More Can I say?

I'm too much of a Jay-Z fan to NOT appreciate this.



Like seriously who does this??? He visually recreates EVERY album cover..genius.. this is a criss promo, seriously what more can i say? lol. makes me remember earlier Jay-Z albums.. Cannot Wait till Blueprint 3 drops!...anyways Here's the actuals which inspired the promo commercial..

























"What More Can I Say (Grey Album Version)" - Jay-Z

Artist...Aaliyah

Aaliyah was like the pinnacle of my music knowledge when i was like 5. Aaliyah and Hammer. That was all the music I needed. She was one of those artists that you could not help but love, she had the 'sweet but street' quality down to a T, and paired up with Amazing musical minds like Timbaland & Missy, she was the perfect R&B songstress. 8yrs seems like a looong time, but I remember when Aaliyah died clearly, I was broken hearted for like a whole year straight after that, and still don't like getting on planes. In wake of her untimely death, she was something that music needed, she added balance and a touch of class.

Hurricane Waters..

It's Getting a bit tempestuous here on the island..


"Hurricane Waters" - Citizen Cope

The Good Kind..

Sometimes a good film, can in turn spark alot of good things. Inspiration, insight, intellect, understanding, or shoot even just that good feeling that you get from escaping from the work for 120mins or so...These look like the type of films that spawn those "Good things". I eagerly anticipate them.


"As We Forgive"

As We Forgive - Trailer from Limité Magazine on Vimeo.

"Inside a Change"


Chris Rock's "Good Hair"


"Where the Wild Things Are"

@ Yahoo! Video

"Law Abiding Citizen"



"The Good Kind" - The Wreckers

Flowers...

A single red rose i gave you
perfect,
flawless,
one to match the characteristic of your being
the best,
impeccable.
And as i placed before you,
the fruit of nature's labour
i got to think of the flowers that we have savored
flowers that i have given you in the past,
beautiful, intoxicating, ones that did not last
flowers after past fights,
flowers for nothing,
flowers for mother's day,
flowers for everything..
and that rose epitomized a different type of flowers i would give you
flowers that you can't smell,
flowers that you can't see,
flowers that you can't appreciate,
flowers from me...
and in between broken petals crushed from my tears,
i thought about the flowers that we would never share,
graduation flowers,
flowers from my wedding bouquet,
flowers in the garden grown with your grandchildren
flowers from my first mothers day..
these flowers we will never share,
those memories we will never share,
and as i stare off, into what appears to be the future of us,
I lay down your rose,
with you, where i laid down my heart.


I miss you...so so much..

Answer In You...

'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.'

Acts 17:28

At times no word of a lie, it can be difficult to walk as God would want me to, to ignore flesh and thoughts and to truly abide to the way of life that God has set in motion for me..Funny thing is, it doesn't have to be that difficult, I forgot that to live a Christian life means to forsake self, and in doing that, let God take total control of your life and live through you. Understand that we have to allow God to move, walk, and be in us, making this walk all the easier, because he's amplifying through us. I was questioning this week, how can i possibly do this without falling, and failing from time to time, and this verse was the answer that I was searching for. And although i know this road I'm travelling on will not always be the easiest i Take comfort in knowing that, after all we are his children, and the apple can't fall too far from the tree.


"Answer in You" - Oakwood College United Student Movement

Artist... Max Kehrli

Max Kehrli is a photographer whose skills behind a camera are so amazing you would think he's a 20yr veteran. He composes shots that are breathtaking and inspiring. I went to high school with max, and its an absolute honor to me able to know this artistic marvel. His photographs are simply amazing.

Here is just a taste of Max's beautiful photo's.








Keep up with Max and his work.
Max's Website
Max's Flikr Page

Bay Area Slang

Rafael Casal is Ill.....seriously nuff said.

Cupmatch..

I think that the BEST Bermuda Holiday has GOT to be Cupmatch. 2 Full days of cricket, where the island is split down the middle between a friendly match of two ends of our small little country. This year, the game was a step up from its past few years of barely excitable plays. This year was golden. and it was almost a win for either side. But alas, the game ends in a draw again. ha ha. either way, this was a game that kept me on the edge of my seat, had my fingers crossed and all hoping that my team would pull through and get those last 50 runs in 30 mins. No dice though. But all is not lost. we experienced some classic moments. watching a team captain hit a century for the first time, watching a cupmatch veteran retire, and watching the simple act of camaraderie, take part for yet another year. and Amidst the crowds riddled with the teams colors, of blue and navy blue, and blue and red..there was that feeling you get, where everything is perfect. even if just for a moment.


Lionel Cann, the captain of the St. Georges Team, after smacking his very first Cupmatch Century.



Cupmatch Veteran Charlie Marshall walking off the pitch after being caught out in his very last Cupmatch appearance

Double x Double

HAPPY 22nd BIRTHDAY TO MY TWIN COMPADRES!!!!!!!!!!!!



Ha ha they're gonna be mad @ me for posting this pic. LOL watevs, they'll build a bridge! LOVES YA!!!

Me and my Sneakers

Artist Daniel Reese is driving sneaker heads everywhere crazy with his custom made dunks! and they are made to order, you can request anything and he'll whip it up in all its footwear glory. I'm already drooling over a few of his creations, I have my own idea of my own perfect sneaker...hmmm maybe i should send my request through :)

808's & heartbreaks dunks...so so soooo criss!


Loving the Pac kicks


These Banksy dunks are insane! I love Banksy's work he's such an amazing artist. so this homage to him, is ill.



LOVINGG THESE!!! Kicks with cudders on them! coolness.



HA HA of course, a nod to youtube with these



To check out some more of Daniel's kicks and to order your own check out his website..Brass Monki


"Me and My Sneakers" - Lupe Fiasco

Artist... Chuck Anderson

Chuck Anderson has some amazing digital prints, very luminous, and awe inspiring. Along with producing some of his own artwork, he does the art for many ads and even a few album covers. 2 of which i own! i love his creativity and his creations, simply amazing. His work is just so beautiful, i think I'm going to purchase one of his prints...soon come









Chuck Anderson's Website

Artists...Metronomy

British Electronic Group Metronomy releases this new music video, very artistic/different/intriguing.

Music Painting by JUL & MAT from JUL & MAT on Vimeo.

Hometown Glory

i think my favorite song from Adele's debut album '19' is Hometown glory. which is steadily climbing up the hip hop charts as the most sampled song for this year by various artists. last year hip hop sampled santogold. this year adele. anyways, i love this song, the keys, the voice, the soul..its all the recipe for good music.


Adele - Hometown Glory (Official Music Video) - Funny video clips are a click away


here's just a taste of a couple of songs with this sample

"Tears of our City" - Charlie Hilton



"Hometown Glory" - Professor Green



"Hometown Glory" - Drekidd




"Intro-Spective" - Novel

Africa

This Acapella Group Perpetuum Jazzile covering Toto's song Africa...mann just the beggining alone is pure genius!

Perpetuum Jazzile - Africa (live, HQ) from rokelvisar on Vimeo.

"Africa" - Toto

Love of My Life...

Mannnnnnn I looooove this video..off the soundtrack from my favorite movie ever, Brown Sugar!!... I love how this video shows the evolution and growth and change of Hip Hop, shoot, it makes me wanna flatten out a cardboard box and breakdance on a brooklyn Subway platform! lol. Love me some Hip Hop




"so when did you first fall in Love with Hip Hop."...Classic

Artist... Paul Dateh

Paul Dateh is a Violinist & songwriter.. this hip hop medley is ILLLLLLLL!! it makes me want to practice my violin NOW! ha ha

Exuding Gratitude

Each and every friend of mine

Rightly deserves

My heart's gratitude-tears.

-By Sri Chinmoy



I love my friends...I think God must've known the EXACT friendship need that i required, because he filled it, to the brim, perfectly. I'm blessed. with friends so good, that I'm sure we're siblings...just lost in the gene pool or sumthing...ha ha... sooo i went to a nice bbq, with my good friends...and met someone who knew my mom! its always nice to hear things about her, its a friendly reminder of how beautiful she was to everyone around her...so yeah, my friends...beautiful..and needed. They alleviate the daily trials that is life, they make smiles easier to beam, happiness easier to exude, stresses easier to bear, and love oh so much easier to give.... friends...sisters, recognized by my heart, not by my eyes nor mind.

Beautiful night.

Happy Independence Day to America

and happy Saturday to everyone else. lol

peace

Artists...

I love how everyone has their own idea of art, and their own way to bring it into fruition. its inspiring, because that way, art isn't boxed up or subdivided into what everyone else thinks it 'should' be.
I was a lil sad last nite...still a lil am, art always gives me that smile that i search for, even if for a minute.



German Artist Simon Schubert, folds paper in a masterful way to create perplexing images that some people would have difficulty drawing, let alone fold into existence.



Picasso Doing 'light graffiti' for life magazine.



Artist David Choe with his stunning Hendrix Print..