Over the next week I will be doing artist spotlights on a few of the artists that are taking part in our "Odds & Ends" groups show next Friday, May 8th.
Up first is an artist named Peabe. Peabe hails from Chicago, but now calls Oakland his home. He is doing live art at the L.A. Sneaker Pimps event this Friday alongside such heavyweights as Slick, Estevan Oriol, and Tokidoki. Check out the interview below courtesy of Formatmag.
How would you describe your style? Peabe: I’m not entirely sure, I struggle with this all the time. It’s like a Technicolor world of zombi-esque people and monsters walking around a world full of colors and shapes but just starting to realize the beauty of it. Or, like being there to witness people during their epiphanies. I’m an ‘80s baby too, so all the typical ‘80s cartoons like The Transformers, GI Joe, and Silverhawks, had an influence on me, in terms of colors that I use.
Where do your characters come from? Peabe: I was born and raised in Chicago. Pretty much after grade school you got to take the train or bus to get anywhere. Riding the train everyday, I’d see all the graff up and down the subway lines. In between noticing the graff, I’d notice the same folks looking like drones on the train, like cattle being shipped to and from slaughterhouses.
Everyone looked dead tired or hating where they were going and just zoning everything out. It was sad because there would be all this dope graff to stare at on the way to wherever they were going but they would ignore it and just stand there looking like zombies. That’s when I would bust out the sketchbook and just start sketching the people I saw. The people in my worlds eventually came from these trains sketches.
Were you influenced by the comics or cartoons you watched growing up? Peabe: Man. Cartoon wise I was all about the Transformers, Ninja Turtles and funny enough Silverhawks to name a few. It seems like no one dug the Silverhawks because they were the shiny lame space version of the Thundercats. I was crazy about comics as a kid. I used to really be into X-Force, Dead Pool, typically all the really bright shit [laughs]. I fell off of comics but have slightly gotten back into them only cause my best friend has and he’s been telling me all the loco shit that’s been going on. I may get hooked again.
The homeys at Bloodbath linked up with Terry Kennedy and Fly Society to release this limited edition tee. Tradition will be 1 of only 6 stores worldwide to have the shirt when it drops in mid May.
Here's a brand new track from Alchemist called "That'll Work" from his upcoming Chemical Warfare album. This track features Three 6 Mafia and Juvenile.
The homeys at Bloodbath linked up with TK and Fly Society for a limited edition tee that is dropping this May. Tradition is one of the few select retailers around the globe that carry Bloodbath, and we will be one of only 6 stores worldwide to have the extremely limited Fly Society tee! You know we will keep you posted!
Bloodbath and Fly Society met up at the Distrect 8 boutique in Long Beach, CA. We went behind the scenes for the t-shirt collaboration photo shoot.
I can't wait for this fight, Ricky Hatton vs Manny Pacquiao, its going to be a slugfest. Pacquiao who is gunning for a world title in a record-tying sixth weight class, will meet in the main event at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Saturday (HBO PPV, 9 p.m. ET). If you have been watching the HBO series 24/7 Hatton's trainer, the personable Floyd Mayweather Sr., and Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach sound as if they are getting ready to throw down in an undercard fight. Hatton (45-1, 32 KOs), who demolished former titleholder Paulie Malignaggi in a November title defense, and Pacquiao (48-3-2, 36 KOs), who sent Oscar De La Hoya into retirement with a December pummeling in a welterweight fight, are the kinds of fighters who like to let their fists do the talking inside the ring. They are confident that they will win and don't spend time before the fight making comments about each other.
Tradition is proud to present our 3rd pack of official New Eras. This pack is inspired by two of our favorite Jordan colorways... The classic black and red, and the Jordan "Grape" colorway. Designed by Mr. Cartoon and SA Studios.
These hats will release Friday May 1st, only at Tradition. Phone Orders are welcome... (805)497-4717 Only 36 of each color!
Not sure if you heard the news but the Hip Hop Group Clipse's manager Anthony Gonzalez was just charged with leading a 10 million dollar drug ring, they even have an unnamed police officer listed as an unindicted co-conspirator in the ring. 10 million dollars and cops? The indictment says "the operation has distributed more than a ton of marijuana and more than 100 pounds of cocaine since 2003". How the hell does one move a TON of marijuana and 100 pounds of cocaine and still have time to manage one of the best rap duos out today? The drug ring was allegedly run out of a Virginia club, Encore Lounge, the very same club that the Clipse are known to mention in some of their songs. It's even stated that Gonzalez bought the Encore Lounge "in November 2007 from an unidentified co-conspirator for 40 pounds of marijuana and about $80,000 in drug proceeds. The club closed earlier this year after more than 100 incidents of violence, shootings, drug dealing and disorderly conduct." According to AllHipHop.com, "to date, Anthony “Geezy” Gonzalez remains at large. Damn, the Clipse's street cred just got even bigger.
Kyle Maynard is an amputee who is fighting in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) , the only thing is he is at an unfair disadvantage because he is fighting guys who have there limbs. Pretty dope he is out there though and the guy he is fighting is weak for not trying to grapple on the floor with him.
Vimby caught up with Buffmonster at the opening of his "Sweetest Thing" exhibit at the Corey Helford Gallery in Los Angeles.
Buff Monster loves heavy metal, ice cream, and Japanese art. Check him out in this video as he talks about his artwork and his gallery, The Sweetest Thing, at the Corey Helford Gallery.
Exile recently sat down with the good folks at Yours Truly in the Mission District of lovely San Francisco, and broke down making beats from the car Radio, as well as recreating a joint called "In Love" from his recently released album, "Radio."
Tradition is proud to present our 3rd pack of official New Eras. This pack is inspired by two of our favorite Jordan colorways... The classic black and red, and the Jordan "Grape" colorway. Designed by Mr. Cartoon and SA Studios.
These hats will release Friday May 1st, only at Tradition. Phone Orders are welcome... (805)497-4717 Only 36 of each color!
If you read our blog consistently you have seen how much we have anticipated Dom Kennedy's new mixtape "Future Street/Drug Sounds." The mixtape is fire and Dom continues to impress the haters. Download it here.
METHOD MAN & REDMAN FT. RAEKWON & GHOSTFACE - 4 MINUTES TO LOCKDOWN
Here's a new track called "4 Minutes To Lockdown" featuring Raekwon and Ghostface off the highly anticipated Black Out 2 album from Meth & Redman. From what I have heard thus far this album is a must have. Check out the track here.
It wasn't pretty towards the end but Kobe Bryant's 31 points and Lamar Odom's 26 points led the Lakers to a 107-94 series clinching Game 5 win over the Jazz. Bring on Houston!
The homey Dom Kennedy is dropping his new mixtape tomorrow called "Future Street/Drug Sounds." The mixtape is bananas, Dom kills every track with that smooth flow (No Homo). I have been trying to put people on to Dom and after listening you will see why. Listen to it here. I will have it up to download as soon as its ready tomorrow.
To celebrate Acura’s collaboration with collision films, GuerillaOne.com is going to give one of you a 16” x 12” painting. An original piece by one of the featured artists in the RDX film, famed Bristol, England street artist Henry St. Leger. All you have to do is hit up chris@guerillaone.com and let him know what’s up! You have till Sunday May 3RD, good luck and enjoy the RDX film.
San Carlos, California-based Tesla Motors has raised the curtain on yet another stunner, a battery-powered Model S sedan. Tesla claims the 3,825-pound Model S, which employs a single 9-inch electric motor and a one-speed transmission driving the rear wheels which puts the top speed at 120 mph. The standard-issue battery pack will allow a 160-mile cruising range, but optional upgrades augment that distance to 230 or 300 miles. The four-door Model S seats five adults and two children, thanks to a pair of Volvo-wagonesque rear-facing jump seats beneath the large glassy hatchback. Tesla Model S boasts a cabin trimmed in Italian hide under an expansive panoramic glass roof, and an array of onboard technology, including integrated 3G high-speed Internet access and a 17-inch touch-screen display.
The Model S charges in Tesla showrooms (of which there are currently two, in Los Angeles and Menlo Park, California, with a host of others opening soon) late in 2011, priced at $57,400. That figure, after a $7,500 federal tax credit, falls to a surprisingly modest $49,900—also on par with BMW’s 550i. Tesla is already accepting $5,000 refundable deposits for the Model S.
Looks like Jadakiss is teaming up with the homies from Crooks & Castles and doing a limited edition tee only available at the In Store signing at the Crooks store on Melrose Friday May 1st. Of course with my luck I'm going to be out of town and am gonna miss it.
LeBron James made 3-pointers from every angle , drove into the lane for dunks and leaned into low post moves. James had 36 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 99-78 victory over the Detroit Pistons yesterday, sweeping the Eastern Conference first-round series. Here's a few facts you may not have known:
• The Cavaliers became the only team to sweep their series in the first round and just the third team to sweep a team by winning each game by a double-digit margin (1980 Celtics and 2004 Pacers).
• The Cavaliers improved to 5-2 in games in which they can clinch a playoff series on the road under Mike Brown. Prior to Brown's arrival, Cleveland clinched only one playoff series with a victory on the road in 1992 at New Jersey.
• LeBron James led the Cavaliers with 36 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists. He finished the series averaging 32.0 points, 11.3 rebounds and 7.5 assists, becoming just the third player in NBA history to average at least 30 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists in a single postseason series (Larry Bird and Oscar Robertson are the others).
• James became just the second player in NBA history to accumulate at least 1,300 points, 400 rebounds and 350 assists in his first 50 career postseason games (Oscar Robertson was the other).
Tradition is pleased to announce our upcoming art exhibit called "Odds & Ends" Friday May 8th. "Odds & Ends" showcases a collection of work from a very talented group of artists including: Derek Albeck, David Browne, Dethkills, Justin Fry, Jawn, Augustine Kofie, Annie Madison, Eye One, Peabe, Justin Reed, Ralph Silerio, Quincy Sutton, Chase Tafoya, Jason Youth, and Marco Zamora. Please join us for the opening reception Friday May 8th from 7 to 11. A handful of these artist have exhibited their work at Tradition in the past, and I will be posting artist profiles on a few of the artist that have not yet shown at Tradition.
Here is some long lost footage from an unfinished documentary of one of my all time favorite bands, Judge. Judge only released 2 seven inches and 1 album in the short time frame that they were a band, but they will go down in history as one of the best Straight Edge Hardcore bands of all time.
This is what the videos creator had to say...
"This is a rough cut of a short documentary that Porcell, Sam Siegler and I were doing together. The audio is NOT mixed so please take that into consideration. Unfortunately I had a hard drive crash and lost all the elements which stopped us form wrapping this project up and making it final. This almost complete version is all I had left over. I hate showing incomplete work so please don't JUDGE it too harshly (pun intended), I just want to show what it was going to be to anyone that may have heard about this project and then never saw it released and also find a bit of closure in it for myself." - Joseph Patisall
I got a chance to go by the opening of Horiyoshi III's current exhibition last night at Canvas LA. Horiyoshi III is revered by tattoo enthusiasts as possibly the world's greatest horishi, or full-body tattoo artist. Although Horiyoshi considers the human body as his canvas, he has published 10 books of artwork on both paper and skin. Last nights exhibit consisted of a display of a large number of full body suits as well as 50 original paintings straight from Japan, the largest-ever American exhibit of the Irezumi tattoo master’s work.
J reports "I'm James Allen and I've been working online for 3 years now. When it comes to making money online, I know all the tricks. It's easy. Learn how to make money in a recession-proof business... Never have to worry about money again. I'm making more money now than I was in the past years, what the fuck is a recession? Go to JamesMakesMoney.com and learn everything. Start making money as fast as today! I started making 100k one year, to hundreds of thousands a year today."
This is pretty hilarious but who knows, it may really work. Check out the site here. Naw this is bulls#@*! Hahaha.
I know we are a little late on this, but blogger was down for a few dates, and I wanted to make sure to post this in case some of you missed it. Check out the newest track, "3 A.M.", from Eminem. This track is by far the best leak from his upcoming album, and one of the best Em' tracks I have heard in a long, long time.
Here's why he was my favorite player in college this year. WET!
Stephen Curry, the nation's leading scorer announced at an on-campus news conference yesterday that he's skipping his senior season to enter the NBA draft. His father, former NBA sharpshooter Dell Curry, attended the announcement. The 6-foot-3 Curry moved to point guard this season and averaged 28.6 points. He had 15 games of 30 or more points and three of 40 or more as teams couldn't find a way to stop him. "I think I'm mentally and physically ready to make that jump," said Curry, who believes he'll be selected somewhere between seventh and 20th overall. "This is a dream of mine since I was a little kid."
Peep this new joint from Raekwon called "Flashback Memories" featuring The Game. Damn these two compliment each other well. Raekwon murders the track and the hook is fire. Can't wait for OB4CL2 to drop! Check it out here.
In the new issue of XXL, Marshall addresses the Asher Roth comparisons.
"Asher Roth, I haven't had a chance to, like, really get into everything, like, really get into what he's about, because I've only hear a couple songs. There was talk about people saying he sounded like me, and he was doing this and that and, you know, trying to take what I do and do it. You know, shit like that. I've heard things. But the stuff that I've heard from him honestly, which certainly isn't enough for me to make my own opinion and say, 'Yeah, he does sound like me' or 'No, he doesn't.' But the couple of songs I've head, I don't really think he does. You know what I mean? He's doing his own thing. I can respect it, too, because at the end of the day, I think he's dope."
Blogger still is not uploading images, so enjoy another video, this one is DJ A-Trak on Vimby.
When DJ A-Trak was a kid, he'd come home and go straight to scratchin' while his friends went to the arcades. Now, he's popular by demand and mixes his hip hop background with electro/dance. We caught up with A-Trak in L.A. at the record release show for his new mix album, Infinity 1.
Mid-City Arts is gearing up for Chaka's first ever solo show this Saturday, April 25th. Daniel Ramos, AKA Chaka, was 18 when he was arrested and charged in 1991 with 48 counts of vandalism, trespassing and causing $500,000 in property damage. Chaka’s signature tag had appeared in a staggering 10,000 locations from Orange County to San Francisco. At the height of his notoriety Chaka was demonized by mainstream media and culture as being little more than a prolific vandal. At the same time he was celebrated by street artists who admired the ability of a teenager from the projects to literally make his mark on the vast, glitzy LA cityscape in such a ubiquitous manner. Mid-City Arts, 5113 West Pico Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90019.
Here's a new joint from the homeboy Dom Kennedy called "Hard Work" off his new mixtape Future Street/Drug Sounds. The track is bananas, its produced by Chuck Inglish of the Cool Kids. Check it out here. The mixtape is available for download on April 28th.
Derrick Rose, who led his hometown Chicago Bulls to the playoffs and restored hope to the franchise was the runaway pick as the NBA's rookie of the year. Rose became the third Bulls player to win the award Wednesday, joining Michael Jordan and Elton Brand (who shared the award with Steve Francis). He received 111 first-place votes and 574 points from a national panel of sports writers and broadcasters; runner-up O.J. Mayo of the Memphis Grizzlies received five first-place votes and 127 points. Also the Dallas Mavericks Jason Terry won the Sixth Man Of The Year Award. Lebron is next to win the MVP!
Blogger is being lame, and won't upload any images at the moment. While I wait for that to sort itself out, I figured I would post up some Youtube content. Here's a throwback video of my band Strife from "A New Hope Hardcore Fest" in Madison Wisconsin way back in 1994. The 3 day festival was one of the first of it's kind and had everyone from Endpoint, Integrity, Falling Forward, and many more sharing the bill. I was 18 at the time... The audio in this video is crappy, and Rick hardly sings more than the first few lines of the songs... The crowd reaction is crazy though!
On May 7th, Fifty24SF, is a book release and group show for Usugrow's Shinganist. Shinganist was curated by Usugrow and will feature his work alongside the work of Mozyskey, Toshikazu Nozaka, Bene, and Jun Kaneko.
Although the history that came from America and Europe is still new, they were born and raised in Japan, and they met and got inspired by creative imported culture (music including punk rock, hip-hop, and other club music, skateboard, graffiti and tattoo, but note that tattoo is a special case since there has been an original tattoo culture in Japan, and also outfit including those factors) when they were teenager, then they got clear creative chance to express by relating it, and they became wholly devoted to not only artwork but also its action and philosophy behind. (Not that all the artists are influenced by things mentioned above) Although their arts are often summed up roughly with the words 'street art,' there is a nature extracted from each influences and a basic nature that they've looked back deeply at in everyday life in Japan as Japanese. When these natures got blended together, their artworks get simply realized as art and not necessary to be categorized anymore. Just because you create something based on Japan as subject, it doesn't make an artwork Japanese. What is important is that the feeling and the process behind the artwork, and they surely reflect to artwork. Therefore, the nature of Japanese appears strongly in medium and process of expression than subject matter. Since Internet has popularized, traveling overseas isn't hard anymore, various races have been mingling and the world is becoming borderless in our consciousness now, any reference to national identity might have been already reduced. However, there are definitely new expressions generated by this generation. This show is for many people who love art. And there will be also a new art book featuring the five artists coming out along with the show
For those of you that happen to be in Paris this weekend, there is a great new exhibit from Dalek & Mike Giant at the Galerie Magda Danysz. This isn't the first time that these two artist have exhibited their work together, I actually have a collaborative print that they did together about 10 years ago, but at this point in their career it is definitely a treat to see both of their work in the same gallery. Read the press release below.
The Magda Danysz gallery is pleased to welcome two major artists from the street art culture who have developed a style of their own : Dalek and Mike Giant. Though they have very different styles they talk about the same culture, the same influences, the same world.
Dalek is one of the artists who as Shepard Fairey, Dave Kinsey, and Twist (aka Barry McGee) is taking the old school styles of graffiti and while exposing the work to whole new audiences at the same time.
Mike Giant has added the whole tattoo culture to his graffiti background. He started writing in 1989. Early on, he was influenced by his graffiti partners a lot, as well as by writers like Twist, Rem, and KR. A habit he has kept from his graffiti years as now, Mike Giant uses words as the building blocks of language.
Ricky Rubio, the Spanish point guard sensation that has been compared to everyone from Pete Maravich to Steve Nash will declare for the 2009 NBA draft, his agent, Dan Fegan, told ESPN.com from Barcelona Monday afternoon. Rubio will have until June 15 to withdraw his name from the draft. However, his agent sounded confident that he's staying in.
The 6-foot-4, 180-pound point guard from Barcelona has been a starter in the best basketball league in Europe since the age of 16. He made himself into an international phenomenon with his strong performance for Spain in the Olympics. Rubio more than held his own playing against NBA point guards like Chris Paul and Jason Kidd. This season he's averaging 10 points per game and six assists per game in the Spanish League in about 22 minutes per game.
Here's the trailer of the highly anticipated Lebron James documentary entitled "More Than A Game." It follows Lebron through childhood then his High School days. You also get a chance to see his childhood friends and hoops teammates and follow their struggle as well. I can't wait to see this.
Check out Glasses Malone's new mixtape project with Greg Street called 2010. Glasses goes in over a handful of classic Dre beats. 2010 features appearances from Jay Rock, D.O.C., Mistah Fab, and more. You can download the mixtape for free from Glasses' website.
The long awaited Lupe Fiasco x Converse shoe is finally here! Photos of these surfaced almost a year ago, but there wasn't any info about a release date. This shoe is a part of Converse’s PRODUCT (RED) program, and Tradition is one of the few stores in California to receive this limited edition shoe. Don't sleep! Phone orders are available... Call to order (805) 497-4717. These are also available in womens sizes.
The first images of the artwork for Eminem's upcoming album Relapse have just surfaced. Em's face is made up entirely of pills, and the text is made to look like a prescription label. "Prescribed by Dr. Dre"... Pretty clever. Relapse drops May 19th.
Upper Playground's Walrus TV caught up with legendary L.A. graffiti writer Slick. Slick has been doing his think since the 80's, and his iconic style can be seen on both the streets and in galleries around the world. Check out Slick's amazing website for more information.
DOM KENNEDY - FUTURE STREET/DRUG SOUNDS LISTENING PARTY TONIGHT
The homie Dom Kennedy is dropping his highly anticipated new mixtape April 28th called "Future Street/Drug Sounds" and tonight is the listening party for it. To hear some Dom joints checkout his myspace here. So if you don't have plans come by to support and celebrate.
The Room 1626 N. Cahuenga Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90028
