Some doubted Cameron’s commitment to the urban game, questioning the sincerity of his ‘hood a hoodie’ campaign but the new PM has upped-the-ante on the haterz by presenting President Obama with a piece of art by typo-graffer extraordinaire (and re-formed illegal dauber with previous) Ben Eine.
Political tittle-tattle aside, having interviewed Eine for issue 02 we can safely say that this recongition is more than deserved. Not only is Eine a top bloke to share a pot of tea with but he is a multi-talented artist. His work on prints released via Nelly Duff, Urban Angel, and before that his time as a printer at Picturesonwalls, confirms that he’s a black belt in the complex art of screenprinting, while his street creations appeal to the public and are often more subtle than you may think.
Still the thought of us and Sam Cam having the same taste in art…scary.
Where my MC ninjas at? Apparently Ski Beatz 24 Karate School project will be open for business on the 7th September. Time to go and dust off my white belt.
Bonafide sent Prof C Renwick out-and-about to Lovebox this weekend and after a few false starts he eventually landed an interview with the one and only Grandmaster Flash.
We were also invited down to cover the work of Create the agency responsible for cultivating the arts and the creative sides of the five boroughs that will host the 2012 Olympics. The Create10 festival is currently up-and-running with the Young London: Into Music strand showcasing their skills during Friday at Lovebox, as well as Indig02 and Theatre Royal Stratford East. Acts featured included UD Vocal Collective directed by Matthew ‘Excalibah’ Xia, Shola Ama, novelty act but still seriously skilled MC Mr B Gentleman Rhymer, Kele le Roc, Mz Bratt and Mikill Pane – check out this hugely innovative promo for the Re:Definition 2010 gig.
The work of UK street-artist Cept always brings a smile to the face. Often appropriating familiar images of superheros and adopting a pop-art style, his piece of street work that samples the lyrics to Joy Division’s Love Will Tear Us Aparthas just been released as a print entitled Again and Again(OG image right, print left). OMG as one of Litchenstein’s characters would undoubtedly have exclaimed.
The Simonsound Reverse Engineering
First Word Records
In light of the BP oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, The Simonsound’s debut has inadvertently gained a topical title. It’s all too easy to …Read More.
Wednesday night saw Soho’s primo bike store Tokyo Fixed Gear play host to none other than Bonafide collaborator Emilski’s debut show – regulars here will recall the London artist’s fresh-to-def Bonafide X Nike Tied Together tee. The night – in conjunction with Topsafe, the crew who launched the first hardback homage to London graffiti AKA Crack ‘n’ Shine – showcased a number of hand-painted signs amid all the bird bones and beer, pitting some of London’s dirtier dens of fried chicken inequity against each other to amusing effect. The whole affair definitely got Bonafide thinking about a little Junior Spesh on the way back to the bits, but we settled for another wing and some exercise over at Deviation. The signs will hang for the next week, along with some three-colour screen printed tees (as well as the original print) so hot you’d think they just came out the fryer. Hit up Topsafe for more info. JW
Indie rap royalty EL-P is set to release a new album next month. The cheerily titled WEAREALLGOINGTOBURNINHELLMEGAMIXXX3 is made up of mostly new instrumental tracks and remixes for Kidz In The Hall and the banging I Got Thisby Young Jeezy, an MC who may have all the charisma of a roof tile but sure knows a tune when he hears one. Go cop the free d/l for Whores: The Movie over at the albums site, while the good folk at Gold Dust (who are releasing the record) are also giving out tracks from the previous volumes.
And now for some different ish…Isolation, a critically acclaimed British documentary that explores the lives of ex-soliders as they attempt to integrate themselves back into everyday society, is currently on a tour of Picturehouse cinemas. The film is being shown alongside an live atmospheric soundtrack performed by musicians Michael Garrard (famed for Chips for the Poor but someone I know from studying at Lancaster University where his musical taste varied from hard core hip-hop to New Order) and David Stephens (Stained Glass Heroes).
Sometimes you hear something that blows your mind; razor sharp fully-loaded lyrics, crunchy beats and that elusive WTF ingredient, with The Return of the Mister Pane Mikill Pane has one of those kind of tracks in spades. And he’s a footie fan to boot.
