The Brooklyn Nets’ 2023–24 Nike NBA City Edition Uniform was released has been revealed, and it was designed in collaboration with renowned Brooklyn-based artist KAWS. This is the first time KAWS has worked with a professional sports team, as the uniform was created as part of a two-year collaboration between the Nets and the artist.

The most noticeable aspects of KAWS’ artwork are combined with authentic features in the Nets’ newest City Edition uniform. The new City Edition jersey takes inspiration from KAWS’ 10-part art piece titled TENSION, bringing in the essence of abstract paintings in a bold color palette. The signature “XX” from Kaws is featured on the waistband of the shorts and the team name is on the jersey in KAWS graphic style, which also takes over the emblem on the shorts.

“As a proud Brooklyn resident, I was thrilled when the Nets asked me to create a new uniform design,” said KAWS. “The history, community, and passion of this borough create an energy that inspires my studio practice, the players, and the fans. My design aims to capture the vibrancy that we experience daily when navigating Brooklyn.”

“The Brooklyn Nets brand transcends the court in many ways, and we are excited to partner with another Brooklyn icon, KAWS, to deepen our connection to the borough with this newest City Edition uniform,” said Andrew Karson, Senior Vice President of Brand Marketing, Strategy and Solutions at BSE Global, parent company of the Nets. “Brooklyn is home to some of the world’s greatest creators across genres of culture including fashion and the arts, and we feel inspired to have the unique ability to marry basketball with the best of our borough.  This collaboration continues our journey of partnering with local legends to share what makes Brooklyn so special with the world. KAWS has a longstanding history of creating in Brooklyn, and as a globally-renowned talent and one of the most in-demand artists of our time, he was our top choice to serve as our next City Edition partner. We look forward to working alongside him and identifying authentic opportunities to celebrate the culture and community of Brooklyn together in the years to come.”

The Nets’ 2023-24 City Edition uniforms and merchandise collection will be available for purchase online at netsstore.com and in person at the Nets’ team store at Barclays Center, Brooklyn Fanatics, beginning this fall.

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The post SOURCE SPORTS: Brooklyn Nets Unveil 2023-24 Nike City Edition Jersey Designed by KAWS appeared first on The Source.

A historic concert series curated by Grammy award-winning producer Salaam Remi, will open with an exclusive performance by Hip Hop legend Rakim on Saturday, April 22, 2023 at Miami Beach Bandshell in Miami, FL. The Iconic Midnight at MuseZeuM  concert series inspired by Remi’s newest creative venture, MuseZeuM.

MuseZeuM’s flagship gallery based in Miami’s Wynwood Arts District showcases fine art and  limited-edition merch of renowned musical artists, created and curated by Remi himself.

“This Concert Series will be like no other with the Artist providing their musical art alongside artwork inspired by them. As a lifelong creative and huge fan and patron of the art world, this is a dream come true. It’s an honor to be able to create a space where icons and emerging artists will be able to collaborate and benefit from their works at the highest level. MuseZeuM will be the ongoing home for creatives to showcase their works. There is Much Much more to come , we are just beginning”

Highly regarded as one of the most prolific rappers of all time, Rakim is globally respected for his unique flow and complex rhymes. The show marks the icon’s long-awaited return to Miami, since his last performance in 2017.

For more MuseZeuM information including limited edition merchandise, ticket sales, and more, visit MuseZeuM.io.

The post Rakim Kicks Off Salaam Remi’s “Midnight At MuseZeum” Concert Series In Miami appeared first on The Source.

This past week, Grammy Award-winning producer Salaam Remi shared the current MuseZeuM collection at a four-day event in the Lower East Side of Manhattan at Legacy NYC.

MuseZeuM is a space for tangible fine art, limited edition merch, and Web3 digital collectibles created and curated by Salaam Remi himself. The NYC Pop-Up featured art pieces of Bob Marley, Nas, Marvin Gaye, Slick Rick, Fab 5 Freddy, Amy Winehouse, Celia Cruz, Dennis Brown, and more.

Remi said, “As a lifelong creative and huge fan and patron of the art world, this is a dream come true. It’s an honor to be able to create a space where icons and emerging artists will be able to collaborate and benefit from their works at the highest level. MuseZeuM will be the ongoing home for creatives to showcase their works.”

The two-day toast was provided by JADE champagne and Maison Marcel Sparkling Rosé. Notable guests included Q-Tip, Busta Rhymes, Black Thought, Large Professor, M1 of Dead Prez, Joell Ortiz, Rsonist, Roxanne Shante, DJ Cool Vee, Dj Teddy Ted, Fab 5 Freddy, Ro James, Sway, Ralph McDaniels, Angie Martinez, Ralph McDaniels, Guy Moot (Warner Chappell), Julie Swidler (Sony Music), and Barry Weiss (Records/Sony).

MuseZeuM headquarters is open to the public and located at 2032 NW 2nd Ave, Miami, FL 33127.

The post [RECAP] Q-Tip, Busta Rhymes, Black Thought, and More Pop up at Salaam Remi’s Musezeum Collection appeared first on The Source.

Museum of Graffiti announces the opening of a novel exhibition presenting art works created with air pollution. The exhibit, entitled Reduce, Reuse, Remix: Graffiti Art for a Better Earth will open on Earth Day, April 22, 2023, and will exclusively present studio pieces of local artists who were seeded AIR-INK writing utensils.  AIR-INK technology starts by attaching filters to exhaust pipes on cars, generators, etc. to capture air pollution before it hits the environment. The sequestered soot then goes through a purification process and is converted into ink. The result is that PM 2.5 and PM 10 emissions which would have otherwise been in the lungs of millions of people will now be resting beautifully as art at the Museum of Graffiti.  

Viewers of the show can expect to see reclaimed found objects in addition to the AIR-INK in some of the pieces.  One of the participating artists, Ahol Sniffs Glue, a well-known Cuban-American multidisciplinary artist is no stranger to this concept. Ahol, born David Anasagasti, has recently gained local notoriety for his work creating sustainable art. Anasagasti, regularly rides his bike and assists in cleaning up the streets of Miami by painting pieces of improperly discarded trash which collectors rush to acquire as newly minted art. Additional exhibiting artists include Abstrk, Daniel Fila (“Krave”), Nico, Sero, Gustavo Oviedo, and more. 

All participating artists, were gifted the AIR-INK materials to use by Rabble Wine Company, which takes a planet-first mentality in its work by reducing water usage, decreasing pesticides, protecting natural vineyard ecosystems, reducing carbon emissions, and working with, rather than against, Mother Nature. 

Rabble will host the grand opening celebration at the Museum of Graffiti on Earth Day, April 22, 2023 at 7:30 PM, where guests can meet the artists, sample its responsibly produced wine, take part in sustainable interactive activities, and bid on up-cycled bottle art with 100% of proceeds to benefit The CLEO Institute, the only women-led nonprofit, nonpartisan organization in Florida exclusively dedicated to climate education, advocacy, and engagement.  

Daniel Dietch, Board President of The CLEO Institute and former Mayor of Surfside stated, “It is great to see Museum of Graffiti leverage new technology and its expertise in art to raise awareness for important environmental issues. We are fortunate to have an organization in our community doing this work.” 

The post Museum of Graffiti Presents ‘Reduce, Reuse, Remix: Graffiti Art For A Better Earth’ On Earth Day(4/22) appeared first on The Source.

Museum of Graffiti, the world’s first Museum dedicated to the preservation and exhibition of graffiti art, is announcing today the opening of its first pop-up ever in Austin, Texas from March 10 to March 28. Taking over the space at 809 E 6th Street, the Austin pop-up will be home to an exhibition entitled “The Art of Hip Hop,” that will celebrate the 50 year anniversary of Hip Hop by presenting the works of the photographers, album cover artists, logo designers, and graffiti artists who are responsible for the visual identity of the genre.

To celebrate the opening, the Museum will open its back patio from Friday, March 10 to Sunday, March 12 to host three incredible days of concerts, live graffiti art demonstrations, a Champion apparel customization lab, merchandise drops, and panel discussions inside the Mi Campo Artists Lounge. The Museum’s renowned gift shop will also be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

Guests can expect to see the work of famed photographers Janette Beckman, Mike Miller, Henry Chalfant, Matt Doyle, Lisa Leone, Joe Conzo, and Daniel Hastings, alongside Hip Hop album covers designed by Cey Adams, Eric Haze, Slick, Kaws, and more. Visitors can also expect to see works by other graffiti legends like Ces, Doze Green, Kaves, Fab 5 Freddy, Rammellzee, Dr. Daks, Shiro, Ras Terms. Original graffiti paintings on canvas and sculptures from the past 50 years will also be available for purchase within the exhibit.

The post Miami’s Museum Of Graffiti Announces First-Ever Pop-Up In Austin With ‘The Art of Hip Hop’ Exhibit, Running March 10-28 appeared first on The Source.

The Museum of Graffiti is excited to announce a new exhibit curated by the German art duo know as Layer Cake (Patrick Hartl and Christian “C100” Hundertmark). In the group exhibition, The Versus Project 3, all the canvases on display began in their studio until they were then sent unfinished to other artists scattered around the world. The other artists completed the unfinished paintings without discussing the details of the work with Hartl and Hundertmark, thus breaking one of the most important rules of graffiti: Never paint over the work of other writers.

In some cases, this process was repeated several times, and occasionally the development could take up to two years. In this creative, non-verbal dialogue, painterly mosaics of different ideas, styles and working methods were thus created in an associative manner. While the paintings crossed national borders and oceans, the artists were confronted with their own inner boundaries.

The project involves artists with different styles and techniques who changed the original painting, layer by layer, until a joint artwork was created. The unique style of each artist can be seen in each of the artworks. The result is a fascinating collective experiment that spurs an artistic dialogue and examines the exploration of the intersection between graffiti and contemporary art.

All participants in this project are united by their passion and strong connection to style writing, street art and graffiti. Some of the artists include Akue, Raws, Flying Förtress, Various & Gould, Bond Truluv, Mad C and Hera, each of whom are from various generations, countries, and continents.

Hartl and Hundertmark have been experimenting with the fusion of their styles since 2015. Patrick’s writing elements are infused and overlaid with Christian’s hard-edged floating fields. This creates deep spatial variations on type and line, color field and occlusion. The images are not planned, they happen. Sweet, crunchy and layered fittingly, the collaborators called themselves Layer Cake: a cake with a rich filling.

“Working on The Versus Project represents a broadening of our artistic horizons for us as well as for the guest artists. Normally, as an artist, you start with a pristine white surface and not with another artist’s work which is sometimes very colorful and expressive. One faces the challenge of painting over parts of another’s work or incorporating them into one‘s own work. The certainty that we, as Layer Cake, will finally intervene in the painting and again cover over parts of what the guest artist has painted forces the guest artist to relinquish final and sole control. The project and the collaboration open new horizons and shows new ways to interpret the piece. Through the project, works have been created that would never have existed otherwise, whether by an artist collective or as a solo artist.”

– Patrick Hartl & Christian “C100” Hundertmark

The post The Museum Of Graffiti Presents ‘Layer Cake – The Versus: Project 3’ Opening Next Month appeared first on The Source.

One of the most infamous graffiti artists of the 20th century is celebrating his 53rd born day today, and he goes by the name of COPE2, founder of the world-famous KINGS DESTROY crew.

Born Fernando Carlo on this date in 1968 in the Bronx, New York, COPE2 began his illustrious graff career in 1985, during the height of the crack era in the Kingsbridge section of his home borough. He picked up his throw up from graffiti bad guy CAP ONE MPC and the rest is history.

COPE’s work can now be found internationally in art galleries for tens of thousands of dollars, but with the game deeply embedded in his heart, you can still find some of his work somewhere in the Rotten Apple rockin’ on the walls.

Happy born day to COPE from the entire Mind Squad!

The post Happy 54th Birthday To Graffiti Living Legend COPE2 KD! appeared first on The Source.

Louis Vuitton is rolling out ready-to-wear, leather goods, accessories, and perfumes in collaboration with 93-year-old fine artist Yayoi Kusama. The partnership will be accompanied by carefully curated campaigns and high-profile activations.

Since the initial announcement of this collaboration, there has been quick progress in getting consumers excited. Last May, Nicolas Ghesquière, the brand’s artistic director of women’s collections, accessorized some of his cruise 2023 outfits with polka-dot handbags. A Tokyo takeover followed at the Tokyo Tower, Zojoji Temple, and Tokyo station, where a combination of physical installations and augmented reality activations got a buzz going. Further excitement about this drop was reflected by an Instagram post of the anamorphic billboard Vuitton installed in Tokyo’s swarming Shinjuku district that scored more than 10 million views. It shows Kusama peering out from a decorated Vuitton trunk with animated fruit friends.

Delphine Arnault, Vuitton’s executive vice president, said, “One of the aspects of her [Kusama] work is happiness, and we thought it would be really refreshing after the pandemic to have the worlds of Vuitton and the world of Kusama meet again.” 

One thing is crystal clear after the success of this partnership in 2012 between the luxury giant and artist. They share an obsession with perfection in concept, execution and craft. The new collection encompasses Kusama’s “infinity dots” and metal dots, first introduced in 1966, alongside floral and pumpkin motifs. It took the Vuitton team countless trials to achieve the desired effect of seamless floating dots that resemble wet paint. 

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Steven Meisel’s images of Gisele Bündchen, Liya Kebede, Devon Aoki, Christy Turlington, Anok Yai and other famous models are set to release on Dec. 26 in Japanese fashion magazines. The pre-launch of products will drop on January 1 in Japan and China. All offerings should be available worldwide in all 460 LV stores on January 6. 

The post The Louis Vuitton x Yayoi Kusama Collab is Almost Here appeared first on The Source.

On this date in 1958, internationally renowned graffiti legend Jeff Brown, better known as KASE 2(or CASE 2) was born in Harlem, New York. KASE 2 is one of the pioneers of the art form known as graffiti that was birthed and popularized in the streets of the South Bronx. KASE would’ve been 64 years old if he were still alive.

The self proclaimed “King of Style” began his bombing career in the early 70s, having completed his first handball court piece in 1973. Even though KASE only had one arm due to a subway accident when he was only 10, the southpaw still managed to complete over 100 pieces on the NYC subway system before 1980. He’s also appeared in the 1982 graff culture flick Wild Style alongside graff king DEZ aka the late DJ Kay Slay.

KASE passed away on August 15, 2011 from complications due to lung cancer, but his work and artistic influence lives on in today’s graff artists who will forever recognize KASE as a true legend of the game.

The post Happy Heavenly Birthday To Graff’s “King Of Style” KASE 2! appeared first on The Source.

Michelob Ultra took over Art Basel with a one-of-a-kind activation bringing in an interactive LED basketball court for fans to compete on. The event was to highlight the new team cans for the 2022-23 season, designed by six artists for 19 of the league’s franchises. Joining the beer brand in Miami for the reveal of the cans was a run of athletes, including WNBA All-Star, champion, and one of the greatest players in Los Angeles Sparks history, Nneka Ogwumike.

Oguimike teamed with Miami HEAT legend Gary Payton to wash a team of another HEAT legend Alonzo Mourning and celebrity trainer Chris Brickley on the LED court. Before she took the court, Ogwumike spoke with The SOURCE about her excitement to be a part of the Michelob activation, her growing affection for art, her impeding decision in free agency, and more.

Hearing about this can project. What made you want to be a part of this Art Basel experience and be aligned with Michelob?

I have a strong, long-standing partnership with Michelob, and I’ve always had such fun and expressive experiences in their activations. But coming here, I’ve never been to Art Basel. I like to think I’m an art enthusiast to a degree. I’m definitely an admirer; I’ll say that. But also, I was excited to see them drop the cans last year. So to see some new cans that represent sports and culture is something I love for sure.

With all the art that goes into these, I would love to see some women’s representation in these cans. We need WNBA cans. You are a free agent, but if you could design a can for your most recent team, the Los Angeles Sparks, what would you put on the can?

So I’m definitely on the can. I would like to create almost kind of, and maybe, a Mount Rushmore of Sparks players and then obviously include the three championships on the can. I would also incorporate some L.A. influence.

You backed yourself into a corner. So now I have to ask, that Mount Rushmore for the Sparks, who’s on it?

Well, I would put myself on.

You better be on it.

[Laughs] I would put myself on CP3 [Candace Parker], DMJ [DeLisha Milton-Jones], and Lisa Leslie; it’s a lot. It’s a lot.

We could do like a mural on the can instead.

Yeah, a mural. There we go. Have everybody in there.

You are playing on this interactive LED basketball court with Gary Payton, Alonzo Mourning, and some legends. How does it feel to take the court with these legends and people we grew up watching?

It’s certainly an honor. I, of course, love it when we bridge the gap between the NBA and the WNBA. So much of what we do is caused by a partnership together. To be able to work with NBA legends but also advocates of basketball from a global perspective. It’s really important to me.

Speaking of the WNBA. The league is moving to 40 games next year. How excited were you to hear about it? And, what do you think you have to do to prepare to continue that extra four games and hopefully a playoff run?

Yeah, so I’m excited about it. More games mean more people are watching. It also means progress toward a league that garners more resources, viewership, and investment. Preparing for it is the same that we do every time. You know, just do what you must to make sure you’re ready to play as many of those games as you can. The goal is always to be healthy for 40 games, and now I’m just waiting for this free agency season to see how you’re going to stack up before the season starts. I’m excited to see what this free agency holds and to be part of a team that wins.

You were instrumental in developing this free agency that we’ll see. In picking a team, what elements would you specifically like to see?

I would love to be a part of a team that represents the culture and advocates for sports, especially black women in sports. I want to be a part of a team that’s a part of a legacy. I want to be part of a team that will win and not just one time; I want to see some sustained success and history.

There could be a better effort to make the buzz of a WNBA free agency or off-season be, much like the NBA. What would be helpful to this process and expansion of coverage, and where do stars like yourself go?

Well, the first thing is people like you asking me these questions. You serve as representation. That’s very helpful for us. You are giving us a platform, giving us accessibility. Storytelling is very important. But I also think, within that storytelling, being very intentional as I feel like you are with the types of questions you’re asking, trying to get to know the players, trying to understand their thoughts, and then contributing to actual real authentic storylines. Those stories can be woven into the season and not predetermined, which has always been our issue. So this new free agency, in my opinion, has created a way for those stories to be told. For so long as a fan, I’m sure you can attest that you always knew who was going to go where. But now you have players leaving teams they’ve been with for decades. Players choose to play in different places, and that’s where those narratives come to birth.

You mentioned the love of art and being here. Do you have art pieces now? If not, is there something you want to add to your collection or have your eye on?

I currently actually just started investing in art. And the art pieces that I have now, there are two artists. One was an artist that I found in Abuja, Nigeria. He sold it to me, and it’s hanging in my house in Houston. And then I have some art in my condo in L.A. from my cousin, who’s going to be showing at Art Basel next year. She just got her master’s in fine arts from Yale. Okay. So I have a piece of her art in my house right now. So I’m like slowly dabbling.

The post SOURCE SPORTS: Nneka Ogwumike Talks Joining Michelob Ultra for Art Basel Activation, WNBA Free Agency & More appeared first on The Source.

Michelob ULTRA and the NBA unveiled the 2022-2023 Michelob ULTRA NBA Team Cans at Art Basel. The 19 limited edition cans are created by six artists and highlight the latest exciting NBA season.

To highlight the new cans, Michelob Ultra hit Miami for the annual intersection of sports, tech, and culture. For a pop-up experience, fans were bridged with the biggest sports and entertainment stars to celebrate basketball and beer.

“Michelob ULTRA is proud to partner with the NBA to bring fans a new way to support their favorite team and enjoy the game they love,” said Ricardo Marques, Vice President of Marketing, Michelob ULTRA. “As the beer brand known for superior enjoyment, the Michelob ULTRA NBA Team Cans represent fans’ joy and passion for their teams. We’re excited to bring this year’s Team Cans to life with a first-ever digital art experience and remind fans everywhere: no matter who you root for, it’s only worth it if you enjoy it.”

The collection is on its way to stands across the nation. Still, at the pop-up experience, fans could see each can and also experience a headlining performance by 21 Savage and a set by DJ Irie of the Miami HEAT home experience.

Additionally, fans could see NBA and Miami HEAT legends Alonzo Mourning and Gary Payton compete with WNBA All-Star Nneka Ogwuimike and NBA Skills and celebrity trainer Chris Brickley in the Michelob ULTRA Courtside Countdown Challenge. The challenge was played on an interactive LED court where you can pick your team to represent in a shooting case that illuminates the newly released can art on the court for all to say.

The cans are created by six dynamic artists who showcase their style and represent each city’s pride, joy, and culture. Those artists are Jacob Rochester, Chuck Anderson, Bradley Ward, Josanna Torrocha, Eric Elms, and BigShot Robot.

Rochester was at the helm of the cans for the Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies, Miami HEAT, Dallas Mavericks, and Orlando Magic. Anderson represented the 1998 NBA Finals matchup of the Chicago Bulls and Utah Jazz, bringing in bold and intense designs to these two staple NBA franchises. Rochester infuses a lo-fi analog approach with collaged and scanned imagery in his creation.

Ward represented his hometown and made us”e “Clutch City” on full display, but he also took his talents to neighboring New Orleans, evoking the midnight blue, red, gold, and white hues into the Pelicans team can. Holding down the New York Knicks, Detroit Pistons, Atlanta Hawks, and Philadelphia 76ers is Josanna Torrocha, who infuses currency’s role in basketball to create the designs.

Eric Elms used visual story inspiration from the fan bases of the Golden State Warriors, Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs, Washington Wizards, and the Charlotte Hornets for his cans. At the same time, BigShot Robot held down his base city of Milwaukee for colorful explosions and representation highlighting the championship eras of the team.

The new collection arrives ahead of the NBA holiday schedule, bringing a premium beer with a Michelob ULTRA fans can experience to celebrate the hoops occasion.

You can see the Bulls, Sixers, and Warriors cans below. The full roster of cans is above.

MUL Team Can Image – Warriors

MUL Team Can Image Warriors

MUL Team Can Image – Knicks

MUL Team Can Image Knicks

MUL Team Can Image – Heat

MUL Team Can Image Heat

The post SOURCE SPORTS: Michelob ULTRA and NBA Debut 2022-23 NBA Team Collection in Digital Art Reveal Event appeared first on The Source.

Written by: Keyanna Zorns

We’ve all had moments where visual art has taken us on an amazing journey. Many people aren’t given the ability to translate words to movement, to take  a thought and make art from it. Visionary artist Monsee has that very special  gift and shares it with the world in many different ways. Growing up in  

Alexandria, Virginia Monsee realized at a young age that he had an interest in  art. Starting with just a sketch pad and pencil, he used visions to capture the  world around him. He drew inspiration from the simplest form of nature to the  

complex minds of Steve Jobs, Albert Enstein, and many more. As Monsee  grew up, his love for art advanced through high school and continued in  college where he double majored in Communications and Art & Design.  

After college, Monsee was able to make his dream come true and turn his  love for art into a very successful career. From working at the Smithsonian as  a digital imaging specialist, developing a logo for a NASCAR sponsor, to  designing, shooting, directing, and editing music videos for local musicians  and DJ’s. This lead to working with major record labels and mainstream artist  such as Travis Barker, who was the first mainstream artist Monsee directed a  video for. Monsee would go on to direct and edit dozens of music videos and  commercials. 

He started with designing album covers which led into directing. Photography became the skill that would help all his artistic worlds collide.  

Although Monsee’s resume is long and filled with big names and projects,  such as photos published in Forbes and on billboards in Times Square, to  even directing a video for Jojo Siwa, which has over a billion views. Monsee  feels that every project is special no matter how big or small the talent may  be. Being able to have prominent experiences that allow him to grow and  become better at his craft is what Monsee values most. Being extremely  grateful for all the talent he has worked with, he is even more grateful for the  experiences each project provides.  

Being multifaceted and spreading his work between many industries, Monsee’s catalog is extremely diverse and his many experiences have taught  him to expect the unexpected, but always be prepared. From having to be  able to create projects within 24hrs, constantly having to think on his toes  when variables change, learning how to direct a music video, communicating .

with the talent through a sign language translator, directing 40 kids while  keeping their attention, executing a magazine shoot with a 24 hour advance notice, working with ad agencies for design campaigns, and project  management overseeing a product from start to finish, his unique  experiences have given him the tools to create at a higher level. 

His many talents have allowed him to continue to elevate his artistry. He now  is the creative director for a major tech company while also building his own  brand, A Sleeping Giant. A Sleeping Giant is a brand he created for like  minded artists who continue to grow, encourage, and dream big with each  other in the visual arts world. After accomplishing so much, Monsee’s goal is to keep showcasing talents and wants to contribute to helping the next generation evolve. He wants to be known for his gift and not just another artist who works a lot.  

As we step into the new year we can expect Monsee to continue to inspire and work towards helping other artist dream big. As he shares his gift of  stimulating ones sense of sight we can look forward to new brands such as “Perfect” and “Detention again.” Monsee can be found on Instagram  @MonseeWorld.  

The post Monsee: Your Imaginations Stunt Double appeared first on The Source.

It’s Art Basel week in Miami and Floyd Mayweather is opening up his bank account. According to TMZ, Money Mayweather is living up to his name, dropping off $3.1 million in an hour on new artwork off the display wall.

Mayweather was shopping with billionaire Robert Smith and friend Jona Rechnitz at the SCOPE Art Show, picking up at least 10 pieces.

Mayweather will hit another show on Wednesday. We’ll check out what he picks up then.

The post Floyd Mayweather Drops $3M on Pieces at Art Basel appeared first on The Source.

Christian “King” Combs, a rising musician, actor, businessman, and fashion powerhouse, walked at the Dolce & Gabbana Alta Moda presentation this week as part of Miami Art Week. He entered the runway wearing a stunning, checkered suit.

The “Can’t Stop Won’t Stop” rapper and D&G initially collaborated when he was chosen as the face of their Spring/Summer 2018 campaign. His song just peaked at number one on the mainstream Hip Hop/R&B Chart. Quincy, Combs’ brother, and Maluma, a music artist, were present and supporting Combs.

You can see the images below.

King Combs on runway 4

King Combs on runway 4

King Combs on runway 5

King Combs on runway 5

King Combs on runway 6

King Combs on runway 6

King Combs on runway 1

King Combs on runway 1

King Combs on runway 2

King Combs on runway 2

King Combs on runway 3

King Combs on runway 3

King Combs on runway 7

King Combs on runway 7

The post King Combs Hits the Runway of Dolce & Gabbana’s Alta Sartorio/Alta Sartoria Presentation During Miami Art Week appeared first on The Source.

It’s Art Basel week in Miami and Floyd Mayweather is opening up his bank account. According to TMZ, Money Mayweather is living up to his name, dropping off $3.1 million in an hour on new artwork off the display wall.

Mayweather was shopping with billionaire Robert Smith and friend Jona Rechnitz at the SCOPE Art Show, picking up at least 10 pieces.

Mayweather will hit another show on Wednesday. We’ll check out what he picks up then.

The post Floyd Mayweather Drops $3M on Pieces at Art Basel appeared first on The Source.

Trevor Noah will take center stage as moderator and emcee for “Black Theater Night” on Tuesday, Nov. 29. The Daily Show host is set to curate the celebration of the Tony-winning musical, A Strange Loop, written and composed by Michael R. Jackson. Joining Jackson is the cast of “A Strange Loop” as well as choreographer Raja Feather Kelly.

A Strange Loops follows the musical’s lead, Usher, a Black queer man writing a musical about a Black queer man writing a musical. Trevor Noah is expected to dive into the bold, audacious and humorous look at the Black life Jackson has presented  in this musical which won the Tony for Best Musical earlier this year.

Audiences have eight weeks left to see the Blackest and Queerest show to ever hit Broadway. A Strange Loop will have its final performance on January 15.

The post Trevor Noah To Host ‘Black Theatre Night’ Celebrating ‘A Strange Loop’ Musical appeared first on The Source.

Parsons School of Design, part of Manhattan’s The New School, is under heat as several people, including students and part-time faculty, hit the front lines. Professors have gone on strike to protest unfair working wages. Staff objected to the fact that administrators’ salaries were high compared with faculty, many of whom are part-time. Numerous apprehensive students wonder, “Where does our tuition money actually go?”

A.C.T.-U.A.W. Local 7902, the union organizing the strike, reported that a four-year period has passed since adjunct professors received a raise, and actual earnings are lagging behind inflation – down 18% from 2018. As the fall semester comes to an end next month, professors have stopped grading papers in a pursuit to demand equitable pay that reflects their value. 87% of faculty at the New School are part time and under-protected against cuts to healthcare and third-party protection for discrimination. 

At Parsons School of Design, tuition fees for four years of college can easily surpass $200,000. This has encouraged many students to join their professors in this fight despite administrative guidance to continue coursework. However, The New School did make a statement iterating their respect for teachers’ right to protest. On Wednesday, November 16th, nearly 200 demonstrators protested on Fifth Avenue and 14th Street, shouting, “We’re out here fighting for our contracts,” as they held signs that read “Administrative Thievery.”

Knitting and embroidery professor Ms. Larson shared that her income per teaching year comes out to $8,598. She said, “I don’t have a safety net…I live alone in one of the most expensive cities in the world. If I can’t pay my rent or bills, nobody else is stepping in to help.” It is not merely unsung praises being protested; it is the declaration of health and increased quality of life for an entire community of educators. 

This push for transparency from the University’s end has been brewing for quite some time. The blurred lines between salaries, benefits, and education at Parsons School of Design are a slice of an even bigger pie trying to combat contentious wages in the education system.

The post New School and Parsons School of Design Adjunct Professors Protest Wages appeared first on The Source.

This past Saturday, Future Galerie hosted a preview of their forthcoming immersive digital art exhibition that will arrive in 2023. The Oct. 1 event highlighted Mental Health Awareness Week and NFTs with over 2000 guests. The event was attended by Chance the Rapper and had the music curated by Soulection.

A series of incredible panels on the future of art, entrepreneurship, the metaverse, and web 3 were the highlight of Future Galerie’s preview event, which was organized by Eric Spivak of New Friendship Tech.

“Future Galerie exhibitions and events are the sites of innovation and shared cultural experiences tailored to the general public and art enthusiasts alike,” says Co-Founder Alaiia Gujral. “The Future Galerie Preview Series is an opportunity for us to bring together a diverse group of locally and internationally acclaimed artists and to educate others not only about new waves of contemporary art but of the newest mediums we are seeing and how they are transforming the artistic landscape.”

With Refik Anadol’s renowned machine learning algorithms that produce abstract, dream-like settings exhibited on a 190-foot canopy of overhead LED screens, attendees will get a first-hand glimpse at what genre-pushing art looks like. Visitors will be able to see Krista Kim’s interaction of light, technology, and sound on a sizable projection-mapped screen suspended above them while also getting a glimpse of the cutting edge at Art Blocks’ gallery of physical and digital art that combines creative coding and blockchain technology.

By fostering a vibrant local creative scene and providing a stage for up-and-coming artists to flourish in Chicago, Future Galerie also hopes to set itself apart from other well-liked immersive art experiences.

You can see images from the event below.

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The post Future Galerie Hosts Preview Event in Chicago of Largest Contemporary, Immersive, and Digital Art Exhibition appeared first on The Source.

Distinguished actor James Earl Jones is officially retiring from Star Wars. After 45 years of voicing ‘Darth Vader,’ Jones announced he’s officially signed his voice rights over to Lucasfilm.  

The Oscar winner first debuted his voiceover role in the original 1977 film, as the iconic Star Wars villain, giving voice to the ‘Sith Lord’ while David Prowse physically portrayed the character.

Now, sound editors will use archival recordings and an A.I. program to create new dialogue with his iconic voice.  This method has already been used in the Star Wars franchise to recreate the voice of a young ‘Luke Skywalker,’ and to mimic Darth Vader’s voice in the new show ”Obi-Wan Kenobi.”  

According to Vanity Fair, Jones has given his blessing for Lucasfilm to use his signature voice in future Star Wars content, even those made after his own passing. 

Share your thoughts and comments with us on social media.

The post James Earl Jones Officially Retires His Voice From Star Wars appeared first on The Source.

The Museum of Graffiti is pleased to announce the upcoming opening of a solo exhibition by graffiti and contemporary artist Doze Green. The show opens on July 28, 2022 and will be on view through Aug 28, 2022.

Gray Matter 3.0 consists of monochromatic works created with mixed media on canvas and paper that are an exploration of the human consciousness rooted in the artist’s study of the Swiss psychoanalyst Carl Jung. Green explores the four Jungian archetypes: the Persona, the Animus, the Shadow, and the Self. Green’s paintings convey a sense of discordant emotions, chaotic flux, fear, loss, and the inner conflicts experienced in our psyche. In each painting, Green is a presenting an interpretation on the collective state of the human experience and his own efforts to pierce the veil of the unconscious mind. Green states, “the series explores finding the truest version of the self. What have we compromised with our current state of being?”

The artist presents figures emerging out of the gray monochromatic layers of overlapping paint and semitransparent glazes. In Green’s lines there is a sense of urgency – white lines represent the soul all with a direct line to the divine. Black overtones represent protection from the clouded memories and words that spill onto the paintings in gray washes and transparent whites. On canvas, the figures are in transformation to become their higher self and thus emerging semi-revealed, overlapping, and partially concealed. For Green, this energy and motion of created forms exist in a visual meeting place of ideas. Influenced by Edo period paintings, Green mixes black gesso with Sumi ink and applies “creatively chaotic, and intuitive brushstrokes” in a calligraphy-inspired and graffiti aesthetic.

Doze began creating art on the street and on trains in NYC in the 1980s when Hip-Hop was in its heyday, and B-Boys (break dancers) ruled the streets. Doze polished his craft, led by intuitive flow, and advanced from letterforms to character forms. He was the first of his peers to create a style of drawing that has been adopted by graffiti artists around the world. Breaking away from his old “mugsy” characters Doze moved on to illustrate and paint biological entities of the metaphysical spirits. His work celebrates his Cubist influences and includes ascending and descending planes and repetitive, overlapping, and concentric lines in an otherwise undefined landscape.

Tickets: General Admission tickets are $16; Children 13 and under are free. Tickets are available online and include access to all museum exhibitions. To purchase tickets, visit our website from your desktop at home or your mobile device, museumofgraffiti.com 

Hours: The Museum of Graffiti is open from 11 AM – 6 PM on weekdays and 11AM– 7PM on weekends. Please check www.museumofgraffiti.com for special holidays, extended hours, and unexpected closings.

Location: The Museum of Graffiti, located at 276 NW 26th Street, Miami, FL 33127.

The post Museum Of Graffiti To Presents “Gray Matter 3.0: The Chromatic Works Of Doze Green” appeared first on The Source.

NBA great Shaquille O’Neal is returning to his hometown of Natick, New Jersey to help improve the community. O’Neal unveiled two projects last week, including a new basketball and multi-use court.

The four-time NBA champ held a 3-point shooting contest, offering up laptops to local students who made a shot. O’Neal shared “I played here in the morning and until late at night. When those street lights went on, I ran my butt home.” He continued motivating the Brick City kids and told them to “follow their dreams.”

READ MORE: Reebok to Celebrate Shaquille O’Neal with Shaqnosis “Athlete’s Choice” Sneaker

Shaq also showed off a 33-story affordable apartment tower, where the basketball superstar will be living in its penthouse, called “Shaq Tower 2.” The $80 million building will be the largest mixed income complex in New Jersey. Governor Murphy said the new apartment complex is a win-win for Newark. Twenty percent of the units will be affordable. The historic development project will also offer 12,000 square feet of restaurant and retail space.

The post Shaquille O’Neal Gives Back In Newark with Multiple Improvement Projects appeared first on The Source.

NBA great Shaquille O’Neal is returning to his hometown of Natick, New Jersey to help improve the community. O’Neal unveiled two projects on Monday, including a new basketball and multi-use court.

The four-time NBA champ held a 3-point shooting contest, offering up laptops to local students who made a shot. O’Neal shared “I played here in the morning and until late at night. When those street lights went on, I ran my butt home.” He continued motivating the Brick City kids and told them to “follow their dreams.”

READ MORE: Reebok to Celebrate Shaquille O’Neal with Shaqnosis “Athlete’s Choice” Sneaker

Shaq also showed off a 33-story affordable apartment tower, where the basketball superstar will be living in its penthouse, called “Shaq Tower 2.” The $80 million building will be the largest mixed income complex in New Jersey. Governor Murphy said the new apartment complex is a win-win for Newark. Twenty percent of the units will be affordable. The historic development project will also offer 12,000 square feet of restaurant and retail space.

The post Shaquille O’Neal Unveils Multiple Improvement Projects To Help Newark appeared first on The Source.

Only a small number of people work differently and unconventionally in any creative field. Because of this, there aren’t many names that signal a turning point in the creative world. Look at the visual artist Bolli Blas, who is achieving it. 

British visual artist Bolli Blas, 34, was briefly reared in Poland and was born there. Bolli earned a master’s degree in accounting and economics after relocating to the UK, but she discovered her calling in painting. 

Her early works of art were representations of already realized visions. She thought that as a beginning artist, copying previously completed works was the best course of action. 

Fortunately, her focus shifted to her own ideas and thoughts. Bolli Blas sought to design something novel, utopian in nature, and inclusive of all individuals. The artist came up with the term Bollis for her creative signature. 

The figures in the piece have large eyes that closely mimic the windows of the soul and serve as a mirror to contemporary society. She aims to convey via her paintings that everyone is equal, regardless of their age, race, sex, or religious views. 

Bolli Blass has always been a strong proponent of equality and wished to express her ideas via the arts. She discovers that by always learning, evolving,  and sharing her opinions in the art world, she can produce work that connects with everyone, regardless of background. 

Backpacking across some of the most underdeveloped nations in Central  America, Africa, and Asia was Bolli’s last travel destination. There, she had her eyes opened to a fresh viewpoint and was daily gaining knowledge of many cultures and concepts. 

She aims to inspire others to never stop learning and choose a job that reflects their deepest passions as a result of the emergence of her creative specialty.

When examining contemporary culture and art in general, it becomes clear that art has served as a means of expression for many individuals, a tool for social activity, and, at its heart, a kind of solace for creators like Bollis who have so much to offer the world. Bolli is asking more people to see the limitless possibilities to push limits and discover novel ideas in the art world. Indeed, all art is universal. For this reason, Bollis has been training budding artists about the field of art and the art market. As she exhibits her work in different places, she anticipates discovering fresh perspectives. 

Bolli Blas and Yuliia Korienkova discuss what it takes to leave a lasting  legacy. 

Despite the fact that immortality is not feasible to attain, many people nevertheless want to have a significant impact on the world. Even while it may not be feasible to live forever, it is still possible to leave behind a lasting legacy that will continue to honour our contributions long after we are no longer here.  We got in touch with motivational artists Bolli Blas and Yuliia Korienkova to learn more about what it truly takes to create a legacy. 

Bolli Blas has carved out a special place for herself in the world of art because to her arresting depiction of eyes that contradict the viewpoints of people who study and evaluate her work. Bolli Blas’s artwork has been exhibited all over the world and will soon be viewed in art fairs and exhibitions in major cities, including New  York, Paris, Nice, and London. Yuliia Korienkova, a fellow artist, maintains her outlook on the future while producing modern art. The idea of legacy in general is relevant to Yuliia’s artistic career since she has built a reputation for producing works that fuse robotic and conventional artistic techniques, establishing a legacy of innovation within the art community. 

Both Bolli Blas and Yuliia Korienkova concur that attempting to leave a legacy is a worthy objective to aid in assisting you in making your imprint on the planet.  According to Bolli Blas, the greatest way to create a legacy is to start by choosing on the field in which you want to become a household name. “You need to pick what industry you want to make your impact upon before you set your sights on leaving an everlasting impression,” she advises. This idea is shared by Yuliia  Korienkova, who also argues that identifying your skills may be quite helpful in creating a lasting legacy. She elaborates, saying, “If you believe that you have 

the ideal traits to completely transform a certain business, then do so she elaborates on this concept by stating, “If you believe that you have the ideal strengths to completely transform a certain business, then devote all of your work to utilizing these talents in order to create a recognizable legacy within that industry. 

The internet era offers limitless opportunities to broaden your reach both within and outside of your profession, according to Bolli Blas and Yuliia Korienkova,  who both agree that the modern artist or businessperson has an even higher possibility of leaving a lasting legacy. 

While immortality is unachievable, Bolli Blas and Yuliia Korienkova contend that with the appropriate mindset and perseverance, each of us may create our own enduring legacy.

The post Artist Bolli Blas’ Work To Be Shown in Paris, Art Collectors and Fans Excited appeared first on The Source.

The Purple one now reigns over downtown Minneapolis! A mural of international icon, Prince. will be unveiled Thursday night in downtown Minneapolis at a Purple Block Party.

The massive 100-foot tall art display honors the late iconic entertainer. The artwork depicts portraits taken of Prince, born Prince Rogers Nelson at three separate points in his career. It sits at 1st Avenue and 8th Street, on the side by Target.

The “Crown our Prince” mural initiative ceremony kicks off the return of Paisley Park’s annual Celebration at 7 p.m.. The events will last for the next four days filled with concerts, celebrity panels, and in-studio recording sessions. It is free and open to the public, scheduled to end at 10 p.m..

READ MORE: “Prince Rogers Nelson Way” Approved by Minneapolis Planning Commission for Street Renaming

According to Kare11, Miami-based muralist Hiero Veiga was selected unanimously from a pool of 60 muralists worldwide. The completion of the legendary entertainers mural has been years in the making. The organizers worked closely with Prince’s family and estate to bring it to life.

Watch Prince’s sister Sharon Nelson speak with media about the importance of the mural honoring him below.

Share your thoughts with us on social media.

The post New Prince Mural To Be Unveiled In Minneapolis Thursday Night appeared first on The Source.

The Orlando Museum of Art has been accused of displaying over two dozen counterfeit paintings they claim were created by acclaimed artist Jean-Michel Basquiat.

The New York Times reported over the weekend that the FBI is investigating 25 paintings by Jean-Michel Basquiat that have been unveiled in Florida for about three months.

The investigation started after the Times reported on questions that were raised about the paintings’ authenticity a week after the exhibit opened. The artworks in question are valued at roughly $100 million.

READ MORE: Jay-Z & Beyoncé Catch Unwarranted Heat for Basquiat Art in Tiffany’s Campaign Teaser

According to the museum, the pieces are authentic and genuine from the late American Neo-expressionist painter, who rose to fame in the 1980s.

Aaron De Groft, the museum’s director and chief executive, asserts that Basquiat’s works were sold from himself directly to Hollywood screenwriter Thad Mumford for a mere $5,000 in cash. Said to have been created in 1982 while he was living and working out of a studio space in Venice, California.

According to The New York Times, The F.B.I.’s Art Crime Team is interested in ‘Untitled’ (Self-Portrait or Crown Face II), a particular piece (pictured below) that Basquiat was said to have painted on a FedEx cardboard box that was not even used by the company until 1994, six years after the famed painter died of a drug overdose.

According to the Brooklyn Museum, before his death in 1988, Basquiat is believed to have created roughly around 2,100 artworks. The exhibit runs for another month before the paintings go on display in Italy.

Share your comments with us on social media.

The post Orlando Museum Of Art Accused of Displaying Fake Jean-Michel Basquiat Paintings appeared first on The Source.

Biggie’s golden anniversary was this past Saturday. The Notorious B.I.G., who would have turned 50-years-old on May 21, received a number of tributes in New York City.

On Friday, there was a ceremony in partnership with Bad Boy/Atlantic and Rhino Records at the Empire State Building with family members, friends and collaborators of the legendary rapper, Christopher Wallace.

While Brooklyn’s Barclays Center featured a video montage of him on the mega oculus display above the venue’s entrance.

READ MORE: Fat Joe Recounts Uniting Bone Thugs-n-Harmony and Biggie for “Notorious Thugs” Collaboration

New York City is going B.I.G. for Biggies 50th birthday.

On Saturday, the landmark skyscraper changed its lights to red and white, with a crown spinning on its mast.

In addition, the MTA is released a special MetroCard edition featuring the Brooklyn-born Hip-Hop icon and there will be a free orchestral tribute at the Lincoln Center on June 10.

For more information on the tribute, visit the Lincoln Center’s website.

The post New York City Honors The 50th Birthday Of The Notorious B.I.G. appeared first on The Source.

Biggie’s golden anniversary is this upcoming Saturday. The Notorious B.I.G., who would have turned 50-years-old on May 21, is receiving a number of tributes in New York City.

On Friday, there will be a ceremony in partnership with Bad Boy/Atlantic and Rhino Records at the Empire State Building with family members, friends and collaborators of the legendary rapper, Christopher Wallace.

While Brooklyn’s Barclays Center will feature a video montage of him on the mega oculus display above the venue’s entrance.

READ MORE: Fat Joe Recounts Uniting Bone Thugs-n-Harmony and Biggie for “Notorious Thugs” Collaboration

New York City is going B.I.G. for Biggies 50th birthday.

On Saturday, the landmark skyscraper will be changing its lights to red and white, with a crown spinning on its mast.

In addition, the MTA is releasing a special MetroCard edition featuring the Brooklyn-born Hip-Hop icon and there will be a free orchestral tribute at the Lincoln Center on June 10.

For more information on the tribute, visit the Lincoln Center’s website.

The post Biggie Would’ve Turned 50 on May 21, New York City Celebrates appeared first on The Source.

The original album cover art painting from Tupac Shakur’s The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory, recorded under the pseudonym Makaveli, will be auctioned by Riskie Forever in collaboration with Zelus, a company that aims to revolutionize the way people interact with art and finance, and Heritage Auctions.

Working with Heritage, Zelus will auction the original record cover painting from now until June 18 together with a one-of-a-kind NFT that includes a never-before-heard tale from Riskie about the piece’s beginnings. On a 29″ × 47″ canvas seen via a 35″ x 53″ frame, the original painting was produced using airbrush and mixed media. The NFT will deliver a one-of-a-kind collectible experience related to a piece of hip-hop history to the buyer.

On his podcast “Hotboxin’ w/ Mike Tyson,” longtime friend of Tupac Shakur and boxing legend Mike Tyson will discuss the original painting while showcasing the artwork. He’ll talk about his memories of Tupac, as well as the significance of the album cover in music history. On May 19, the show will appear on YouTube with special guests Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson.

“This episode was cool to shoot,” said Tyson. “Having the opportunity to honor Pac and have this painting here with us was awesome. It’s by far the most iconic hip hop album artwork of all time.”

On May 19, Heritage Auctions, located at 445 Park Avenue, will host the “HeritageNow” event. The auction will feature items like Frank Miller’s original cover art for The Dark Knight Returns Book One, which has never been auctioned before; Enola Gay Captain Robert Lewis’ contemporaneous first-hand account of the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima on Aug. 6, 1945; a manuscript in Mozart’s hand from The Marriage of Figaro; and other iconic, major moments in American and world history. As part of the exhibition, Heritage has included the Riskie Forever cover art painting.

“The Don Killuminati is, of course, now regarded as one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time, and its cover art by Riskie is no less a masterwork – a true collaboration between two geniuses that resulted in one of music and popular culture’s most indelible images,” said Heritage Auctions’ Executive Vice President, Joe Maddalena. “It’s one of the few album covers ever created that merited critical discussion – there are so many theories behind its meaning – and it’s an honor and thrill to offer this not just as a piece of music history, but as a true work of American art.”

Riskie sold the original physical artwork he made in 1996 for The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory’s album cover to a long-time fan in 2015. However, in 2021, to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the posthumous album’s publication, Zelus assisted Riskie Forever in reclaiming the artwork. Tupac was introduced to Riskie by Suge Knight, and after seeing Riskie’s portfolio, Tupac insisted that his label pay him to create a picture depicting Tupac crucified on a cross, just like Jesus, complete with a crown of thorns. Tupac was seen the artwork just days before his sad demise.

“I remember giving Pac the painting officially, I knew then this was something special,” said Riskie Forever. “Now to be able to celebrate that legacy while creating something truly new and unique – that’s something I’m incredibly proud to be a part of.”

The post Makaveli Cover Album Artwork by Riskie Forever To Be Auctioned Celebrating 25th Anniversary appeared first on The Source.

Who could see the Black Ink brand becoming this large? Ceasar Emanuel could. Shops across the country, one of the most popular franchises on reality TV, and now, a tattoo battle pitting the Black elite from across the country in a competitive arena are just a few of the achievements that have come from the grind of his hard work.

The aforementioned tattoo competition is a part of the current seasons of Black Ink Crew and Black Ink Crew Compton. Both casts, and the Chicago crew, convened in Atlanta for the battle. Iron sharpening iron.

During his visit to Atlanta for the battle, Ceasar spoke with The Source on just how massive this battle is, reflecting on the success of Black Ink, and more.

What led to the creation of this battle?

Ceasar: Short version is as a Black man coming up in this industry. Y’all seen me on TV basically for 10 seasons. But a lot of people don’t know the backstory and what we have to deal with outside of just being on TV in this tattoo industry. A lot of people don’t understand as a Black tattoo artist, how difficult it is to be industry. A lot of times you see these competition shows and it doesn’t represent us. They’ll put us on there with crazy talent, but we won’t even be able to get out the second round. So this right here is to set a certain tone. People know us for what goes on in the shop. Our ratchetness, but nobody knows that we really artists. We really feed our family off what we do before we got on TV. We are artists. This competition is not just a competition to do it, but this is a competition to really show the world that we’re very skillful people.

You mentioned 10 seasons. A lot of people don’t get that, especially Black people. Being the focal point of this series, how do you manage to keep it a must-watch?

I can’t say necessarily humble, but me not getting a big head. And that’s because of people around me. Ted is around to keep me humble. When I start on too much, people are there to bring me down. But then when I start being on my low, there are people to tell me to pick up your chin. A lot of people need that. Ted’s been around 10 years on TV, been sitting on the couch where he’s been the most important person to me.

Even 10 seasons going, people can sit here and be like, “I could really relate with Caesar.” I was in a shop across the street from the projects and that’s where we made it from. So I think a lot of people mess with the show because they seen the struggle. They been day ones. They seen how we couldn’t even afford to have lights on. And then we got to hit. It’s almost like, one of those American dream stories.

Before this, I was barely able to afford Chinese food, so it is a whole different thing. It’s also a responsibility. I remember going to LA Fitness and a lady asked me, “does anyone ever tell you that you look like Ceasar from Black Ink?” and I respond all the time. She then just started talking about me and I really don’t really look at myself like how this lady who blending my juices does. She’s calling me an inspiration and stuff like that. So I really just try to stay humble and out of trouble to set an example in this situation.

In this competition, it’s you, Ryan, iamCompton, and all of your shops. It’s a bond but you can tell everybody feels they are the best. When it comes to getting ready for this competition, how did you prep your team? What strategy did you have? What words did you give them? Because you Ceasar, you can’t come in here and host the joint and lose

Can’t lose. But at the end of the day, everybody gonna understand this is family, right? So I don’t want anybody to sit there and get into a fistfight over this. But like I told my people, “yo, y’all better turn up.” This is your time to shine. We got this big stage, this big platform we want to show out for, not just us, but for the culture. This ain’t about your individual glory. This is about glory as a community. We all understand the bigger picture in this. But a lot of us want to battle anyway.

How often would you want to replicate this? You got a handful of artists here but around the nation, it’s so many more.

That’s when, we just started something that basically can keep going, almost like a battle rap thing. I could go to every city and I could put people up against each other. And that’s what the showcase is to show other people’s skill. I feel like this next level is really a showcase in talent. Not just people who work in Black Ink, but minority tattoo artists everywhere.

You’re a busy man. You run shops everywhere. How do you keep your actual tattoo skills sharp?

I’ll be honest with you, bro. I’m completely honest with you. I tattoo on the low. When people would sit there and be posting they tattoos, you probably won’t see me posting a lot of my tattoos because I’m sitting there working on my craft. Plus tattooing is almost therapeutic to me. So most of the time I’ll be tattooing in the middle of the night and nobody knows it. I don’t take a lot of clients because I like doing big jobs. So I only take up like probably 15 clients for the year but those are like big pieces. Like bodysuits and whatnot. That’s how I hone my skills. I’m not really showing the picture until I finish the whole bodysuit.

The one thing I’ve learned from an OG, if you the biggest earner in your shop, you doing it wrong. The problem I always used to have, especially in my first three shops, is I was the main earner and I kept putting myself first instead of putting my employees first and I had to learn that. So a lot of times I pull myself back from tattooing and being booked out. Cause at the end of the day, bro, I’m 42 years old. I probably got like probably seven more years of tattoo left than me. Yeah. I got, I’m gonna have to leave it for these young bucks sooner or later you feel me? I’m gonna be in there, but you know, I’m gonna go from a player to a coach.

The different shops. You had to move to Brooklyn and it was kind of like a homecoming store, but people often talk about Brooklyn’s change. It’s gentrifying. Everything is switching up. So you have this Black tattoo shop in the middle of a gentrifying Brooklyn and you are about to be a staple. How does that feel?

It feels different. A lot of people don’t know. I started in Brooklyn. A lot of people don’t know I started in that same neighborhood. For me to basically leave Brooklyn and come back when basically Bedstuy is being stripped of everything that made it Bedstuy. It feels good to come back and show them like, yo, we ain’t gotta leave our hoods to other people. We ain’t gotta leave. We could take over our own neighborhood. We could own these stores. A lot of people just get so they get so uncomfortable on sitting and being an entrepreneur. They rather work a nine to five, knowing that they’re gonna give their money at the end of the week. They don’t really gotta hustle as much as an entrepreneur. Well, they don’t know, they hustle more than entrepreneurs.

When I came back, it was to yo, you don’t necessarily have to leave your hood to be comfortable. You could buy your hood back and stay there. I always felt our biggest problem was always yo, as soon as I get some money, I’m outta here. We never once sat there and say, once I get some money, I’m buying back my block. Most of the time people leave they hood cause they’re not comfortable. I’m more comfortable in my hood. So I always came with that idea one day, there’s going to be a franchise to be a symbol for those who have watched me for 10 years and grew with me and who can walk up on me like I’m their cousin. Cause a lot of these people went through the struggle with me and I didn’t even know it. Even with the kids, some been watching me since second grade. They in high school now and they’ll tell me scenes from like season two. Like wow. It is almost like a cult feeling. We really got into the culture and I’m just blessed because when we came on, it was just so many great reality shows on and we ain’t have the fancy cars. We didn’t have the big names. We got Harlem.

How much do you miss the old shop?

A lot. A lot. A lot. I ain’t gonna lie. When we lost 113, I cried because I always felt like it was my responsibility to keep that shop. We all grew up in it. Our memories is just embedded in that shop. Like we had the most fun, broke in that shop. And we went from broke, basically project kids to who we are now in that shop. But it was nothing I could do. It hurt me the worst cause it was a greedy landlord that wouldn’t let up. You go from rent being $5,000. So you wanna charge us $25,000 a month. Who is doing that for something that’s less than a thousand square feet? And that burnt my soul because even if I just left it just, not even as a working tattoo shot, but basically got a museum for Black Ink to see where we started. I wanted that and it was just taken away from me. If you go past it now it’s not even open. Nobody’s taking it because everybody know what it is. The community won’t let anybody take it. Somebody try to move in that right now. They gonna shut it down. The community misses me. And I did so much for that community. I miss it.

When you first saw this battle arena set up, how did you feel?

I’m be truthful with you. I’m be a man with you. I had to hold back my tears because a lot of people don’t know the struggle to get here. It took us 10 years to get here. For us to go from where we was and how people looked at us like we was the black sheep from day one. People saying we don’t represent our culture, the struggles of trying to open up shops. And they sit here talking about, “oh they’re on TV. All they do is fighting.” And this, that and the third. Now we finally got something for us. Now it’s fair game.

I know it’s in your head. What’s the next step for the takeover?

The tour. Yeah, the tour. I’m going straight to conventions. After that, it’s going to be like a music festival. I’m going to make it almost like a Black Woodstock. It’s so much more to the Black Ink culture than just tattooing.

The post Exclusive: Ceasar Talks Black Ink Crew’s ‘Battle of the Tattoo Titans’ and Growing with the Black Ink Brand appeared first on The Source.

The pandemic hit at an unfortunate time for the Compton leg of the Black Ink Crew franchise. As viewers were able to get introduced to the cast of Compcon artists, a halt in production, and the entire world, delayed more of the stories the shop led by iamCompton.

Now, Black Ink Crew: Compton is back in season two, allowing us to learn more about the hottest Black artists on the nation’s west coast. iamCompton led that group to Atlanta to take on their counterparts from the Chicago and New York Shops.

While on hand in Atlanta, iamCompton spoke with The SOURCE about owning the first tattoo shop in Compton, gearing up for the “Battle of the Tattoo Titans,” and more.

As a fan of Black Ink, I feel like the pandemic screwed me over. Just as we got introduced to you all, the story got cut short. How was it being a shop owner and continuing business right after the initial stages of opening the shop and then the pandemic?

Honestly, it was a struggle as a first-time shop owner. Trying to do something in Compton, being the first tattoo shop ever in Compton. It was a lot of pressure on me. And then when the pandemic hit, it was like, oh man, I got this far and now I got to somehow keep it above water. I just took it one day at a time and thank God that I’m here now.

Do you feel there is a never-ending set of roadblocks and challenges?

Oh for sure. Obstacles come left and right through life it’s it is a rollercoaster, but I’ll never stop. Might ease out for a while but that’s, that’s part of life going through those hurdles.

What have you learned about yourself as a person, but also a business owner, and then a tattoo artist?

Don’t take nothing personal. It’s just business. Don’t mix emotions with business.

When you got here to Atlanta and saw the setup for the competition. How did you feel?

That was exciting. I was like, oh, hold up. We important [laughs]. Y’all took the time out to do something for us. You get kind of numb when you been working for a long time and tattooing a lot of people or to see somebody spend $1,500 on a pair of shoes or $5,000 on a bag, but they didn’t want to pay for $500 tattoo at the most. It throws you off and you feel like you are not doing enough and it’s a difficult job. Now, everything changed and now people appreciate it a little more for art. And even the things like the NFTs and stuff, the artists being more appreciated, more valuable. And that’s what I felt walking out like, oh, y’all value us. So it was excitement, a good feeling.

When you first heard about this battle and everything coming together for it, placing you in the same arena with the other two shops and on this grand stage, what was your initial thoughts?

I thought it was dope. I thought it was a great idea. I’ve been waiting to be a part of something cool like that. I didn’t know what it was, but that was it. You can take this all over the world and have fun with it. It’s the culture and it’s a part of my brand. I done dreamed about this environment, not knowing it, you know what I’m saying? I can do what I love.

This is a family environment, but at the same time, there’s a level of competitiveness that comes into it. How did you prepare yourself and your team for this?

I think they got a lot of competitive nature. I wasn’t concerned about them competing, but as far as coming and being prepared and having everything you need on a spot and then like do this right now and figure it out. You got this amount of time with the pressure for cameras and, and stuff like that. It’s difficult. But we deal with that anyway. So I think it’s dope. It’s all fun. It’s all up. At the same time, you can display your talent. They get to show their skills under pressure and see what obstacles they overcome at the end of the day. We all get a chance to use the platform to show people what we do.

Reflecting back on season one, was there a big lesson you would take a way from it?

I think I would have did the tattoo shop thing a couple of years before the show. It’s still cool that I did it the way I did it. Cause I showed the process of starting and building it from scratch. You got to see the struggles and then there you gonna be at two years from now.

You’re competing against Ryan and Ceasar. You are a boss in your own right. How do you feel coming into it? Do you look at yourself as the underdog or the upstart that is taking on the guys who have had more TV time?

Honestly, when I played football I learned to focus on your assignment and what you are supposed to do. Now me, one on one, I play receiver I’m on that island. It’s a DB trying to stop me. I’m not even worried about you. I’m calm. I know my assignment. I know what I need to do. As long as I can get to the zone, I’m good. Take your time. Be patient, keep calm. Do the assignment, get in the zone. Once you in that zone, your talent going to speak. Your art is going to speak. And this is what we do.

You art ranges from tattooing to music. Where do you draw the inspiration for your music?

I’m speaking on situations that I’m been through. I seen my life flash before my eyes and I’ve been robbed and woke up to some gun in my face. I done seen life from a different perspective. So all of this is fun. I just take it one day at a time.

The post Exclusive: iamCompton Reflects on Surviving the Pandemic and Heading Into the ‘Black Ink Crew’ Battle of the Tattoo Titans appeared first on The Source.

The Museum of Graffiti is pleased to announce Bits and Pieces, a solo exhibition of new works by GHOST, the New York graffiti artist. The exhibition opens on May 19, 2022 and will be on view through mid-July 2022. 

Bits and Pieces is Ghost’s first solo show at the Museum of Graffiti. The new works are an explosion of colors and imagery that melt into his rounded his unique graffiti letterforms. Ghost’s work contains hundreds of elements from his fantastic imagination where viewers are transported into a psychedelic world where letters come to life. “One of the highest compliments I get is that people say they feel like they took acid without taking acid. I like to take people on a trip. The more they look into the art, the more they discover my world,” states Ghost. His paintings are like eye candy to the artist who unlike many of the graffiti artists working in the streets wants his work to be accessible to the public. He adds, “I want people to get drawn in. Layers and depth are important for me to create a situation where people can spend time with my pieces. People want to walk into them and get into the art. To me that’s what makes my painting successful – when people want to walk into it. I don’t intend to do this but it just happens that way. For the most part it has been accidental discoveries during the process of painting and challenging myself.” 

The new paintings include works that are reminiscent of the 1980s when he was adorning New York City’s subway trains with his original and improvised style of graffiti lettering and characters. Ghost was one of the last kings of the New York City train graffiti era. Today, he approaches his paintings with the same zest and casual grace as he does his train work, with bold explosions of colors and wild cartoons.  

The post The Museum Of Graffiti To Exhibit ‘GHOST: Bits and Pieces’ appeared first on The Source.

Katrina “Kat Tat” Jackson, a tattoo artist, television personality, and entrepreneur, has signed a First-Look, Development, and Executive Producer agreement with Paramount, it was announced today. As part of the deal, Jackson will collaborate with her production firm, Enigma Entertainment Group, to develop and executive produce unique content for Paramount.

“I couldn’t feel more blessed and I’m excited to partner with Paramount as they continue to bolster a new generation of BIPOC and women creators,” said Jackson. “I’m thrilled to not only return to TV, but to also create and produce new, fun, fresh, compelling and impactful content across all platforms.”

She will also provide on-camera services, including her long-awaited return to the Black Ink Crew franchise on VH1’s Black Ink Crew: Compton, which will run Monday nights. Jackson dazzled the globe as the star of VH1’s Black Ink Crew: Chicago for three seasons, creating a stunning tattoo on her own thigh during an outstanding episode of the show. She left the show in 2017 to focus on her own business and became the first Black woman to own a tattoo studio in Beverly Hills, California. Since then, Jackson has tattooed a slew of celebrities and athletes, including Idris Elba, Trey Songz, Faith Evans, and Von Miller.

Jackson’s artwork has been featured on ESPN, Rolling Stone, Inked, Refinery 29, VH1, BET, and a slew of other platforms and newspapers throughout the world. Jackson’s work has been shown at galleries across the country, including Art Basel in Miami, where she sold unique pieces to Chad “Ocho Cinco” Johnson and comedian Deon Cole. She’s also partnered with a number of well-known firms in the beauty and fashion industries, including Shoe Dazzle, Fashion Nova, Pretty Little Thing, Cantù Beauty, ORS Hair Care, and True Religion.

The post Katrina “Kat Tat” Jackson Inks First-Look, Development and Executive Producer Deal with Paramount appeared first on The Source.

Jean-Michel Basquiat: King Pleasure exhibit featuring a celebration of Basquiat’s life will open this April,The NYC Landmark Starrett-Lehigh Building will be featuring over 200 never before and rarely seen paintings, drawing, ephemera and artifacts.

Jean-Michel Basquiat: King Pleasure is a deeply personal exhibition created by the Basquiat family, with the exhibition designed by acclaimed architect Sir David Adjaye OBE ~ the architect for the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History in Washington, D.C. and the Studio Museum in Harlem to name just a few.

“We wanted to bring his work and personality forward, in a way only his family can, for people to immerse themselves in. We want this to be an experiential and multi-dimensional celebration of Jean-Michel’s life.”…. – Lisane Basquiat

The exhibition will be divided into seven themes ~ An  Introduction (1960) ~ Kings County ~ World Famous ~ Ideal ~ 57 Great Jones Street Studio ~ Art Gallery ~ Place Jean-Michel Basquiat.

“Jean-Michel stands at the forefront of a legacy of really strong people who are committed to showing up in the world in a specific way. And that runs through our bloodline. Now our children know what can happen when you live your truth, when you stand up for what’s right for you and exert work ethic, passion & commitment to why you believe you’re here. Partly because of this blueprint, every one of our children lives in authenticity of who they are, in their own different ways,” Lisane says.

“It was important to have a show that all people want to experience. We want them to see Jean-Michel in themselves, an artist that looks like them. We want it to be completely accessible for those who have felt intimidated in the past by going to a museum,” Jeanine explains. Lisane adds: “I want people to walk away with inspiration, hope & confidence in themselves to do the same thing with whatever it is for them – whether it’s painting, music or being an accountant. To live their lives with that same commitment, dedication and grit.”

Check out the video below.

The post [WATCH] Jean-Michel Basquiat: King Pleasure Exhibit Debuts In NYC appeared first on The Source.

According to several confirmed reports from within the graffiti community, graffiti icon Alfredo “PerOne” Oyague has passed away. He was 55 years old.

PER ONE FX, one of NYC’s most revered innovators of style from the 80s, was a member of the world-renowned Bronx-based TATS CRU before forming the FX Crew, which includes prominent graff artists such as KING BEE UW, COPE2 KD, NOMAD, and T-KID just to name a few.

Oyague was a pillar of graffiti culture around the world and will be greatly missed, yet supremely remembered. RIP PER ONE FX

The post NYC Graffiti Legend PER ONE FX Dead At 55 appeared first on The Source.

We Were Hyphy is delighted to announce its World Premiere as part of the prestigious Cinequest 2022 Film Festival.

MORE: Bay Area Hip Hop Artist And Entrepreneur Foreign Glizzy Is “Road Running”

The music documentary captures the hugely kinetic Hyphy movement and brings the sights and sounds of the San Francisco Bay Area’s most influential musical movement of the past 30 years to life on the screen.

This music documentary feature traces Hyphy’s genesis on Bay Area streets and examines its influence with interviews from legendary figures such as Keak da Sneak and Mistah FAB to modern-day artists such as Kamaiyah, Rafael Casal, P-Lo, and G-Eazy who grew up during the movement and were deeply influenced by it. Historical context is provided by columnists and academics such as Pendarvis Harshaw and Dr. Andrea L.S. Moore.

“Hyphy had a massive influence on me as a teenager,” says Laurence Madrigal, director of WE WERE HYPHY. “I grew up in Antioch and Hyphy was everywhere. It was on the streets, in our cars, in the clothes we wore, and in the way we spoke. I’ve always wanted to share my love of Hyphy with the world and this film is a love song to the era!”

MORE: Bay Area Rapper Mike Darole Killed During Attempted Robbery

 The film is a beautifully shot, heartbreakingly sweet story detailing the highs and lows of the Hyphy movement from its inauspicious start which saw a plethora of Bay Area artists crafting and selling CDs from the trunk of their cars to an unwaveringly loyal fanbase who supported the artists and partied with a hedonistic abandon at side shows. It is a love song to all those who were brought together by the sounds of the Hyphy era. The goal of the documentary is to give the audience a look into Hyphy and experience it from two perspectives – through the eyes of the artists who created the iconic sound – and through the Bay Areans who grew up listening to the music, speaking the language, rocking the fashion, swangin’ the cars, and most importantly of all, getting hyphy.

“While Hyphy had a massively formative influence on the kids growing up during the era,” says Laurence, “I think there’s a wonderful universality to the film. Everyone feels that the music they listened to as teenagers was uniquely special. And it really is. It doesn’t matter if you grew up listening to punk, or hip-hop, or classical music, the love you had for the music and the love you had for the friends you shared it with stays with you forever. And it’s this beautiful, almost lonesome nostalgia, that we tried to capture with the film. It’s a deeply personal film for me and my sincere hope is that the film captures the essence of Hyphy and does justice to the artists of the time and, most importantly of all, to the fans who shared in the experience!”

Watch the documentary’s trailer below.

The post New Trailer: ‘We Were Hyphy’ Documentary appeared first on The Source.

 OneOf, the Green Web3 company built for music, sports, and lifestyle, is honored to commemorate iconic rapper Biggie Smalls’ legendary hip hop career with exclusive NFTs. As we embark on the auspicious 25th Anniversary of the death of The Notorious B.I.G. and the release of his iconic album Life After Death, OneOf celebrates his life in partnership with The Christopher Wallace Estate and will be minting the first-ever official The Notorious B.I.G. NFT collection.  

A portion of the proceeds of the NFTs will go to The Christopher Wallace Memorial Foundation, Inc. Additional details on the NFT collection will be announced in the coming weeks. Go to https://OneOf.com/Biggie for more information. 

“We are excited about our partnership with OneOf and their expertise to memorialize my son Christopher with this first official NFT drop to allow his fans to participate in and honor their love of him and his music,” said The Notorious B.I.G.’s Mother Voletta Wallace.

“We’re honored to work with The Christopher Wallace Estate to celebrate the incredible legacy of Biggie Smalls,” said Josh James, C.O.O. & Co-Founder of OneOf. “Using NFT technology, Biggie’s legacy and his outsized impact on music and culture will be forever cemented on a blockchain, to be honored and shared with fans around the world and for generations to come.” 

OneOf will mint the Notorious B.I.G. NFT collection on the environmentally responsible proof-of-stake blockchain Tezos, preferred by music artists for using up to 2 million times less energy than proof-of-work networks.

The unique concept of the NFT was created by Elliot Osagie of Willingie, Inc and Wayne Barrow, Manager of Voletta Wallace. Phil Sandhaus of W.M.E. Legends represents the Christopher Wallace Estate.

OneOf, the preferred NFT platform of the music industry backed by Quincy Jones, has recently announced major partnerships with The Recording Academy to celebrate the 64th Annual GRAMMY Awards, Warner Music Group, and the top-rated syndicated morning radio show “The Breakfast Club.” OneOf’s recent Whitney Houston Collection made headlines when a never-before-heard Whitney Houston song made when she was 17 was sold at auction on OneOf for $1 million. OneOf recently expanded into sports and lifestyle with Sports Illustrated legendary athletes series including Muhammad Ali, Shaquille O’Neal, Jerry Rice, and more, and iconic teams including Duke Basketball. 

OneOf was designed with the next 100MM non-crypto native fans in mind to create an environmentally sustainable, artist and fan-friendly experience. Fans can sign up and purchase their first NFT in under 2 minutes using credit/debit cards or major cryptocurrencies. OneOf donates portions of proceeds from every NFT collection.

The post OneOf Announces Partnership With The Christopher Wallace Estate to Release Limited-Edition Notorious B.I.G. NFTs appeared first on The Source.

Graffiti has its roots in NYC sub-culture since the early 70s starting with writers like TAKI 183, an Inwood, Manhattan native who tagged the Rotten Apple streets during his bicycle delivery route. In 2022, a new wave of writers has emerged from Uptown and one at the top of the helm is KGK ASS crew headliner MISTA.

Premiering this Writer’s Itch special with an exclusive screening in Dyckman last week, MISTA gives a candid look at NYC graffiti in general with a first person perspective of bombing the streets of New York over the span of two decades. Through prison bids, graff beef and everyday life issues, MISTA continues to put on for Uptown and shows the world how real writers get down in NYC.

The post [WATCH] ‘Writer’s Itch’ Presents MISTA KGKASS appeared first on The Source.

Art is a kind of therapy that allows the artist to communicate his emotions and feelings. It is a great means of emotional release for people who are feeling anger or despair. When AJ, the artist, discovered the therapeutic benefits of art, he knew what he wanted to do for the rest of his life. In 2015, AJ started his career as an artist working with other renowned artists in Canada and participated in various exhibitions. Now he is the founder and owner of his company EyJay Inc., which is reputed for selling exclusive art pieces by AJ.

AJ started by exhibiting some of his artworks at local exhibitions. Over time, he was able to transform his artistic skills and develop a refined style that quickly separated him from his contemporaries. AJ’s approach to art is unique in the sense that his interpretation of emotions through art is distinct.  His inner feelings are reflected through visual creations. This unique sense of art and style of representation have earned AJ appreciation from critics and collectors alike.

Acrylic and epoxy are the primary mediums AJ uses to create his artwork. He usually adds a resin-gloss layer on top of abstract acrylic paintings that makes them more visually appealing. A dominating aspect of AJ’s artwork is the use of powerful colors. The bright colors in AJ’s art contrast with the black and white surfaces making them a piece to behold. AJ is also a master of stenciling and gold sheet art.

To date, AJ has showcased his artworks at various prestigious events across Toronto and around the U.S.A and Europe. Notable among them are his Solo Exhibition in 2017 in Toronto, Future Landscapes Project Gallery, Toronto in 2018, and Clarity, Project Gallery, Toronto in 2019. His work can be seen in the homes of NBA Stars, such as Tristan Thompson and Rap Star Preme. AJ’s artworks are presented at various exhibitions by his company EyJay Inc. which has now achieved the status of a brand.

Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, EyJay Inc. is all set to showcase his artworks in different corners of the world in the coming years. AJ wants the world to enjoy his art as much as he enjoys creating them. The passionate artist leaves no stone unturned to present his best to the world. When the pandemic hit the world forcing people to live indoors, AJ utilized the time to hone his skills in his studio. He experimented with different colors, strokes, and styles to produce some of his best artwork. He turned adversity into an opportunity to become a better artist and now he is unstoppable.

AJ is looking forward to conducting more art exhibitions through his company EyJay Inc. in major cities in the U.S., such as Los Angeles, Miami, and New York. He wants to take his art beyond geographical borders to cities like Paris and London to let art lovers see what he has created on canvas.

The post EyJay Inc. Founder and Artist Making His Mark From Toronto to Worldwide appeared first on The Source.

Los Angeles Instagram exhibit to showcase Black History of Memes.

From the evolution of photos and GIFs, to short videos, the Black meme community has become a pivotal part of pop culture on social media. Over the last decade, the way Black people share memes is an expression of ourselves — of who we are, and how we feel at a certain moment in time.

Afro Surrealist, artist Alim Smith is debuting a collection of meme portraits at a Instagram pop-up exhibit, titled Family Reunion. 

“I feel like the emotions that I chose really capture pandemic energy. They capture how the world feels right now to me, at least, or what the world looks like to me right now,” Smith shared.

To honor our evolution and cultural impact, the new exhibit celebrating Black memes is slated to open on February 23 in Los Angeles.

The gallery will pay homage to the hall of famers of Black meme culture including Kayla Nicole Jones, Kalin Elisa, Sweet Brown, Soulja Boy, Viola Davis, and more.

Check out  some of the images featured in the Black History of Memes exhibit below. For more info visit the website here.

Continue the conversation and share your  thoughts with us on social media.

The post New Los Angeles Exhibition Celebrates The Black History of Memes appeared first on The Source.

These past two years have been flooded with unexpected deaths and uncertainty. One of the most renowned illustrators in the game has honored legends from the past and present through the stroke of his pen. From MF DOOM to Martin Luther King Jr, his illustrations cover a wide spectrum of intellectual geniuses.

Brian Lutz is a celebrity illustrator from Connecticut. He is an award-winning artist and has been recognized by American Illustration, Communication Arts, 3×3 Magazine, Creative Quarterly, and Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles. Always ahead of the curve in some eerie way, Lutz honors many of the greats even before they pass on recently reposting a creative tribute to the late Sidney Poitier.

Some of his clients include Los Angeles Times, Texas Monthly, New York Magazine/Vulture, UConn Magazine, and Upper Deck. 

With a strong social media presence, Lutz live drawings of his art draws you into his creative flow. Lutz obtained his MFA from the University of Hartford in 2020 where he has now joined the faculty as an adjunct professor teaching editorial illustration. He enjoys experimenting with a unique combination of traditional and digital media. When not working on assignments, Lutz takes on personal projects and weekly drawing challenges to keep his skills sharp. Art-making is an ever-exciting journey for him filled with self-discovery and growth.

Peep some of his creations below!

The post Celebrity Illustrator Brian Lutz Honors The Legends Through Art appeared first on The Source.

Santa may be done delivering toys to kids for almost another year, but adult hip-hip fans might be getting a new action figure soon as Playboi Carti appeared to tease a line of his own action figures.

A tweet shared by the rapper showed a hand holding an action figure resembling Carti in a black box emblazoned with “Red” in the same font as his second studio album “Whole Lotta Red” and the words “Playboy Carti” in gothic font. The action figure has Carti in all black with his signature bright red locks. The side of the box shows four different looks for the action figure including one in a black fuzzy coat, one in a black puffer coat, and one in a white long sleeve shirt. At least one different show option appears below. The artist’s signature tattoos are replicated on the figure’s body.

Carti is not the first hip-hop artist to release a line of toys in his image. Travis Scott released a personalized action figure in 2015 to coincide with the debut of his studio album, Rodeo, in 2015, members of Run DMC were immortalized in their own line of Kokeshi dolls, No Limit Records released a (talking) Master P doll in 1998 to promote his single “Make ‘Em Say Uhh!” in 1998, and in 1991, Vanilla Ice released an action figure that looked very much like a Ken Barbie doll.

The post Playboi Carti Teases Action Figure Release appeared first on The Source.

On October 31st, 2021, DOOMSDAY SF celebrated –in true Bay Area fashion– the life and art of Daniel Dumile, an artist of many monikers though perhaps best known as MF DOOM.

Co-organized by Ryen Motzek (proprietor Atlas Skateboarding / The City Station), Alán González (Senior Designer, Thrasher) and Jason Jägel (artist), DOOMSDAY SF invited 34 exclusively-Bay Area visual artists to create original DOOM-inspired artworks.  Those works were made available for purchase to the public at an outdoor market at the City Station, an outdoor, open lot on the corner of 18th and Valencia Streets. 50% of all profits from the sale of artworks were donated directly to the Estate of MF DOOM.

The City Station was transformed for the event. Jägel-DOOM art held down three corners of the lot.  On the south wall was a hand-painted, 15-foot tall “DOOMSDAY SF” mural (also available on orange-colored t-shirts during the event). The garage to the east was transformed into a full-color DOOM head (painted in one day by Jägel using solely rollers, no brushes). And at the north side, attached to the front of the DJ table a painted wood panel with requisite DOOM character and “DOOMS DAY ” (interwoven, blunted SF). Artist tables held down one side of the space and were filled with items such as prints, clothing, cassette mixes, ceramics, and DOOM light fixtures. A plywood wall featured original paintings and drawings, stained glass, a “Fancy Clown” mirror, custom DOOM jerseys and much more.

The soundtrack throughout the event perfectly encompassed the scope and span of DOOM’s eclectic career.  With curated performances by some of the Bay Area’s finest, the audience was treated to over 5-hours of inspired tracks and original interpretations. First, DJ Abby Imperial set the tone with a healthy DOOM collage sprinkled with Bay and Madlib touches. Jerry Nice followed up with a creative blend of beats, features, and obscure sample sources. Cutso, doing what he does best, seamlessly chopped up layers of tracks that helped to create Supervillain anthems, while KingMost rounded out the DJ ensemble with tasteful re-edits and choice cuts that spanned across his diverse catalogue. Closing it out was Stanley Ipkuss, who brought the house down with live KMD and DOOM remixes (via his SP-404) that hyped the full-capacity crowd from start to finish.

Required for participation, every artist and musician were and continue to be massive DOOM fans. Local hero Jeremy Fish quickly sold out his suitcase of t-shirts. George Rocha of Iris Skateboards auctioned a DOOM mask created from recycled skateboards. When MF DOOM’s Instagram promoted the auction, Iris Skateboards’ website was overrun and crashed.  Upcoming, Iris will be releasing the mask via Gas Drawls. Visual artists participating were Alán González, Dennis Brown (Bagger 43), Jason Jägel, Cecelia Perez, Ferris Plock, Sarah Vyeda (Heart of Glasswork), WRN FRSH, Joe Roberts (LSD Worldpeace), Jeremy Fish, George Rocha, Emily Fromm, SunNight Editions (featuring Lenworth McIntosh, Soleil Summer, Dennis Brown, Penelope Anstruther & Drew Grasso, Fresh Daily, Ryan Whelan, Liz Hernandez, Muzae Sesay, Jason Jägel), Ellie Andrews, JP McNicholas, Rico Duenas, Lil’ Zen Ten, Dane Nomellini, Rewina Beshue, Phil Peralta, Donta Santistevan, Brian Barneclo, Nile Gibbs, Jerome McCaskill, Jackie Brown, Max Martilla, Michelle Nguyen.

An hour into the event there was an entry line that wrapped down the entire block of Valencia, around the corner and down 19th Street. Inside were crowds for merchandise. Spirits were most high, water was provided, and the Señor Sisig food truck kept people sated. Perhaps most of all the raw elegance of well-crafted DOOM soundtracks that bound everyone together. It was agreed that Bay Area energy was in full effect: a soulful & creative collective gathered in union to witness the unfuckwithable genius of MF DOOM.

-Words by Jason Jägel

Watch the recap video below!

The post [WATCH] Official MF DOOM DOOMSDAY SF Recap appeared first on The Source.

To celebrate the 75th anniversary of the NBA, Bleacher Report has teamed with a diverse crop of artists to create original works of art inspired by the league. Each artist created original artworks that range from paintings and illustrations to quilts, embroideries and jewelry.

Included on the team are:

• Frank Miller, one of the most influential and awarded creators in the entertainment field today. Miller is known for his intense, hard-boiled storytelling and gritty noir aesthetic across comics, novels and films, including Daredevil, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Sin City and 300. 
• Hank Willis Thomas, is a widely exhibited conceptual artist working primarily with themes related to perspective, identity, commodity, media, and popular culture. He is known for creating overlaps of sports, history, and contemporary art through his tapestries made of athletic jerseys
• Sue Tsai, a visual artist whose vivid work is a crossover of art, fashion, and popular culture. Known to bring a bold yet feminine aesthetic into the world of basketball, Sue creates multi- media collectible art through her pop-surrealistic style
• Greg Yuna, a prominent luxury jeweler and New York city fixture, who is based in Manhattan’s Diamond District and counts top celebrities in sports, music and film among his clientele. Yuna’s creativity and unique aesthetic drives the design direction of the Greg Yüna brand’s contemporary collections of precious jewelry, apparel, accessories and artwork.  
• Bandulu, a label founded by artist Pat Peltier, known for transforming vintage clothing and sports-wear into unique, one of a kind garments through custom embroidery, including hand-sewn paint splatters – a trademark of his style.

Miller created three pencil and ink illustrations reimagining the Celtics, Lakers, and Raptors logos. Thomas created a large-scale quilted NBA logo from a collection of team jerseys.

“I have been a basketball fan since I was a teenager,” Miller said. “Watching the Lakers playing the Celtics was like watching super heroes in action. Those guys are too good to be true. But they are true.”

Tsai added four paintings celebrating the Nets, Bulls, Lakers, and Knicks. three hand-embroidered tapestries honoring the 76ers, Celtics, and Heat, and Yuna made three pendants encrusted with precious gems of the Knicks, Lakers, and 75th anniversary NBA logos, the latter of which is a nod to the “Diamond Anniversary” of the NBA.

“Basketball has always been a gateway for artistic expression and mental fitness for me, from an early age,” said Pat Peltier, the founder of Bandulu. “From being inspired by the culture of the sport my whole life to going on to play collegiate basketball at Mass Art in Boston, I have continuously drawn reference points and parallels to how art and basketball intertwine through Bandulu. Being from New England and growing up an avid Boston Celtics fan, a milestone moment was having the opportunity to work with Nike and Kyrie Irving to create an on court performance silhouette to offer his artistic style for the next generation of hoopers embracing their love for the game. Hand crafted art styles require the level of competitive performance and exploratory style that the game of basketball embodies.”

The apparel is a capsule collection of casual wear, including long and short sleeve t-shirts, hooded and crewneck sweatshirts, embroidered bomber jackets and a pair of sweatpants.

You can get a glimpse of the work below.

BR-NBA_Sue-Tsai_Painting_Lakers

BR NBA Sue Tsai Painting Lakers

BR-NBA_Sue-Tsai_Painting_Bulls

BR NBA Sue Tsai Painting Bulls

BR-NBA_Greg-Yuna_Pendants_All

BR NBA Greg Yuna Pendants All

BR-NBA_Hank-Willis-Thomas_Blanket-and-Apparel

BR NBA Hank Willis Thomas Blanket and Apparel

BR-NBA_Sue-Tsai_Crewneck_Bulls

BR NBA Sue Tsai Crewneck Bulls

BR-NBA_Bandulu_Embroidery-On-Canvas_Heat

BR NBA Bandulu Embroidery On Canvas Heat

The post SOURCE SPORTS: Bleacher Report Teams with Artists to Celebrate NBA’s 75th Season appeared first on The Source.

Rock The Bells, LL Cool J’s global lifestyle brand celebrating classic and timeless hip-hop, will partner with Cheetos to present a one-of-a-kind, hip-hop-inspired art exhibit to take over Miami Beach during Art Basel. “Yacht The Basel: The Art of the Cheetle” will feature eight vibrant and dynamic original art pieces created from Cheetos’ iconic orange dust, also known as Cheetle®, curated by renowned artist Lefty Out There.

Lefty Out There has built a loyal following through his bold and intricate style, entering him in collaborations with Nike, Megan Thee Stallion, Chance the Rapper, and more.

“Creativity and expression have always been central to the hip-hop movement, which is why we are thrilled to team up with Cheetos, a brand that is all about celebrating self-expression in all its forms,” said James Cuthbert, president of Rock The Bells. “We’re also excited to have Lefty Out There on board for this special event and can’t wait to see his bold and dynamic style brought to life in an entirely new way.”

“Over the years, fans have used Cheetos as inspiration for so many different things – from fashion to beauty to culinary and more,” said Jessica Spaulding, senior director of marketing, Frito-Lay North America. “Now, we’re excited to see how Cheetle – the orange dust that our fans wear proudly on their fingertips – is brought to life at Art Basel through the incredibly talented Lefty Out There’s artwork.”

The exclusive one-day event will take place Saturday, December 4, 2021, from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. EST on the iconic SeaFair – a 220-foot, four-story megayacht docked at Bayfront Park in downtown Miami. On the yacht, fans can view the full “Yacht The Basel: The Art of the Cheetle” exhibit and enjoy live DJ sets from Just Blaze, DJ Millie, DJ Stevo, C-Stylez and others.

After sunset, the SeaFair will take sail for an invite-only experience around Miami harbor with Cheetos-inspired cuisine, cocktails, and a live performance from Kassh Paige.

The post Rock The Bells and Lefty Out There Unite for One-of-a-Kind Art Basel Miami Experience appeared first on The Source.

The Shakur Estate has announced today tickets are on sale for the world premiere of Tupac Shakur. Wake Me When I’m Free, a fully immersive, thought-provoking museum experience that explores the life and legacy of the acclaimed artist and activist. Tupac Shakur. Wake Me When I’m Free (WMWIF) will open on January 21, 2022 in Los Angeles, CA at The Canvas @ L.A. Live, Georgia Street and Olympic Boulevard, and run for a limited time only. General tickets are on sale on WMWIF.com. 

Twenty-five years after his murder, Tupac Shakur remains one of the most complex and prolific artists of his generation. With over 75 million albums sold worldwide, he is one of the top-selling artists of all time. In 2017, Tupac was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, making him the first solo hip-hop artist to be recognized for inclusion in his first eligible year. Tupac also found success and critical acclaim as an actor, starring in popular films like Juice and Poetic Justice.  A brilliant lyricist and critical thinker, Shakur can be described as a social observer and a political activist devoted to social change. Born to a Black Panther and named after a Peruvian revolutionary, Shakur seemed fated to reject authority and give voice to the disenfranchised. 

Tupac’s mother and Black Panther Afeni Shakur (1947-2016) played a prominent role in Tupac’s life and her spirit brings a moving and parallel presence to WMWIF.  Tupac’s Godfather and Special Advisor to the Estate Jamal Joseph said, “Afeni was the baddest Black Woman to walk the planet.  She raised awareness and shifted the atmosphere wherever she went.  Tupac’s brilliance shined brighter than the Sun. He lived and moved with creative – revolutionary- fearless-passion fueled speed of a comet. Afeni and Pac challenged, re-imagined, and transformed history.”

Part museum, part art installation, part sensory experience, WMWIF will showcase Shakur’s music, poetry and never before seen artifacts in a 20,000 square foot curated space akin to a contemporary art museum. Guests will transition through a myriad of surround sound spaces, rich with rarities embedded in technology. WMWIF will delve into the greater meaning of his activism, music, and revolutionary art. The attendees will be educated and enlightened through a labyrinth of emotions as they take this journey through his extraordinary life.

See the Wake Me When I’m Free trailer HERE.

The post [WATCH] New Exhibit Trailer For ‘Tupac Shakur: Wake Me When I’m Free’ Museum Experience appeared first on The Source.

It seems like everyone is breaking barriers and defying gender norms in 2021- and Kid Cudi is doing it on the red carpet. This week, he turned heads in a custom lace wedding dress at the CFDA fashion awards.

The custom white lace bridal gown was the creation of ERL designer Eli Russell Linnetz, who also accompanied Cudi as his “date” on the red carpet. 

Linnetz was attending as a major guest of honor as he was nominated for the CFDA Emerging Artist of the Year. Cudi didn’t stop showing off his taste for fashion and flair with the dress. He donned a full-body lace catsuit under the dress and accessories the look with lace gloves, a cream-colored simple blazer, cream-colored sneakers with a silver accent, a Black Jesus necklace, and like all brides, he wore a veil in his pink hair.

Linnetz reportedly texted the rapper asking him “will you be my bride?” with a picture of the dress.

Cudi obviously said yes and was happy to sing his friend’s praises during the press line before the event. He said, “I trust this man [Linnetz] so I was down to take it wherever his mind went.”

 The event was not Linnetz’s first connection with the hip-hop community. In September, he gained attention for designing  A$AP Rocky‘s colorful thrifted quilt look ensemble for the 2021 Met Gala. 

It is also not Cudi’s first time wearing a wedding dress either. In April, he wore a floral dress while performing “Sad People” on “Saturday Night Live” as part of his tribute to the late Kurt Cobain. 

In an interview shortly after his SNL appearance, the hip-hop artist addressed criticism of his outfit choice while doubling down on his desire to disrupt certain social norms. “If this is what I’m supposed to do, then so be it. I want to be a disruptor,” Cudi said. “And it’s cool, because I’m also giving confidence to the kids and telling them to be themselves and do what they want to do.”

And while Linnetz ultimately did not win the award (it went to Edvin Thompson), it still appears that he had a great night to remember- and already likely has brides eagerly awaiting a full wedding collection. 

The post Kid Cudi Rocks Wedding Dress at CFDA Fashion Awards appeared first on The Source.

A report from The Insider has confirmed that the Swedish artist known for his controversial depictions of the Prophet Muhammad, was killed in a car crash over the weekend in Sweden.

Lars Vilks, the 75-year-old artist who has been depicting the religion of Islam’s Prophet Muhammad as a dog since 2007, had survived a series of assassination attempts until his death this past weekend. Vilks had a bounty placed on his head by al Qaeda following his image of the Prophet Muhammad. Depictions of the Prophet are generally outlawed according to Islamic law.

Vilks, along with two plainclothes officers in the police car, all perished as the car crashed head-on with a truck. The driver of the truck survived, but with serious injuries.

Chief Prosecutor Kajsa Sundgren announced a preliminary investigation into whether “any police officer may have committed a crime in connection with the accident.”

According to the preliminary report, the police car went over a guardrail and veered into oncoming traffic where they crashed into the truck. Police have claimed they were unaware of any new threats prior to Sunday’s car accident.

The post Targeted Artist Known For Depicting Prophet Muhammad Killed in Car Crash appeared first on The Source.

The craze of non-fungible tokens, or NFTs, has consumed the sports world over the last few weeks. 

Stephen Curry bought a piece of blockchain art called a Bored Ape for $180,000. Odell Beckham Jr. purchased his digital likeness in the form of a CryptoPunk for more than $2 million.

On Monday, some NFT community sleuthers found an OpenSea account that appears to belong to none other than the great Shaquille O’Neal. 

In particular, PFP (profile picture) NFT projects have seen an astronomical rise in popularity and sales volume of late. These projects typically offer 10,000 NFTs for minting, and no two pieces of the collection are the same as they are made unique by different properties, which have varying levels of rarity. CryptoPunks, Bored Aped Yacht Club, and Cool Cats are some of the most popular PFP projects.

But recently, sports and basketball fans around the globe have been going crazy, hyping a collection that honors the legacy of Kobe Bryant.

The KB24 NFT project was publicly announced on September 7 on Bryant’s previous personal website, KB24.com. The initiative was met with doubt and skepticism as to the team behind KB24 NFT immediately declared that all proceeds from the initial drop, as well as every secondary marketplace sale, would be donated to the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation, which is a non-profit organization established by the Bryant family with the goal of “creating positive impact for underserved athletes and young women in sports.”

In an NFT market where millionaires are being made every day behind billions in trade volume, why would anyone put in an extraordinary amount of resources to forego the profit that comes with it?

“We want to change the NFT space,” Andy Treys, one of the project’s co-founders, told Forbes. “There’s so much room for the NFT community to give back to charities and make this world a better place. We’re not doing this for fame or fortune, we’re doing this because we want to forever extend Kobe’s legacy to the digital realm.”

LAST THURSDAY, the KB24 NFT Team announced that the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation has given the project its “blessing.” The donation details are currently being finalized, and a formal announcement from both parties is expected soon.

The foundation partnership quieted many of the skeptics, and over the past week, the project’s Discord server has grown to more than 20,000 users. The community of Kobe Bryant fans is active and passionate, with one member even gifting front row Lakers tickets for a giveaway prize. 

Current and former NBA players have also taken notice. Dwight Howard, Kenny “The Jet” Smith, Danny Green, Nerlens Noel, and Metta World Peace have all voiced public support for the KB24 NFT project.

“I’m honestly amazed at how fast the KB24 community has grown and how engaged they are with each other. I haven’t fully emersed myself in the NFT world just yet, but this is a movement that carries more significance than just another piece of art.” – Kenny “The Jet” Smith.

In a podcast interview, Treys and co-founder Sako Waves said that the KB24 NFT general public sale would take place on Friday, October 8. The price to mint a token is .0824 ETH (equivalent to about $235 as of this writing), paying further homage to Bryant’s two jersey numbers.

Of course, there is already widespread speculation about what these KB24 NFTs could be worth in the future. So much more than one online sportsbook, BetOnline.ag, offers prop bets and odds on projected values and participation. 

The oddsmakers set the over/under for the OpenSea floor price on Friday at midnight at 2 ETH (~ $6,000). The over/under for the highest sale of a Kobe NFT by the end of the weekend…a whopping 15 ETH (~ $45,000).

And here’s perhaps the most interesting prop from BetOnline:

Who will be the first person to change Twitter profile picture to a KB24 NFT?

Devin Booker +200

Shaquille O’Neal +300

LeBron James +400

Stephen Curry +500

Dwyane Wade +600

Carmelo Anthony +800

Chris Paul +1000

Magic Johnson +1200

Michael Jordan +1500

Tiger Woods +3000

(The KB24 NFT team stated that it is not associated with BetOnline in any way.)

It’s anyone’s guess as to what kind of value these Kobe Bryant-inspired pieces of digital art will hold. But one thing is sure, at the end of the day, the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation that was “founded through the vision and loving memory of Kobe and Gianna ”Gigi” Bryant” will be the real winner. 

The post Kobe Bryant NFT Project To Benefit Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation appeared first on The Source.

As part of his highly-anticipated Donda release, Kanye West has not just released an album, but also a limited edition fashion collection that hints at another presidential run.

The collection is featured on an austere webpage on his site with a simple statement: ““Engineered by Balenciaga.” The collection contains only four items. The first is a black, two layer long sleeve cotton t-shirt that features an image of his mother as a child on the front and an image of her family home on the back. The second item is also a black, two layer long sleeve cotton t-shirt that features the presidential seal on the front of the shirt with “2024” and a cross on the back of the shirt, seemingly hinting that ‘Ye is looking to run for president again. Both shirts retail for $200. The third item is a black baseball cap that simply says “DONDA” in white letters. It retails for $60. The fourth item a black mask that has zippered eye holes, similar to the one that he wore at his Donda listening party in Chicago. It retails for $160.

If the presidential t-shirt wasn’t enough, Kanye has made less subtle public statements about a possible presidential run. On August 27, Kanye tweeted “The start of the #Kanye2024 presidential campaign is now” with a fire emoji and pictures of people working on his Donda merchandise.

Additionally, Donda can be purchased on his site for $10 with U.S. residents receiving a digital download immediately following their purchase. As for the clothing items? Pieces won’t ship for 12-16 weeks, which will be perfect time for long sleeves.

This is not Kanye’s first collaboration with Balenciaga. Earlier this year, he formed a special partnership for a DMX tribute collection.

The post Kanye Debuts Balenciaga “Donda” Collection, Hints at 2024 Presidential Run appeared first on The Source.