an artist I like...

Michael Vasquez paints some really amazing pieces. His use of color and style is ridiculous.

My work explores issues in contemporary family structure. My experiences growing up as an only child of a single parent mother provide the foundation for the development of my ideas. I look to analyze the sociological impact that the lack of a father figure has in a boy's 'coming of age' years. Within this investigation lie multiple related bodies of work. One body involves aspects that reside in the household itself such as mother / son relationships that include shared feelings of bitterness and abandonment brought on by my father's leaving. Other times I aim to pay homage to my mother for her fulfillment of both parental roles. Related are works that explore the reasons, impact, and dynamics of neighborhood street gang acceptance and involvement: such as the allure of the 'extended family' to a fatherless, only child, and its accompanying values that addressed issues of respect, pride, protection, and loyalty; all of which seemed to instill a certain level of manhood and masculinity beyond a mother's capability.

I build my paintings through a unique set of marks that seem to mirror those of graffiti and territorial 'tagging,' striving for a seamless marriage of content and execution. These marks are often made of broken color that when viewed up close seem as foreign as the figures' hand gestures; yet optically assemble themselves from afar. Many of these marks aim to capture the atmosphere of the figure's environment and are neither a part of the figure nor the background; yet somehow inform them both. I aim to be able to slip in any color with any type of mark, anywhere on any painting and have it accepted and functioning.

...The homie Do Dat himself im feeling it as always coming with
the freshest flows...

fuego en su cuerpo

the long awaited video is here. check it out the homies Los Rakas:fuego

silence the violence SPEAK OUT!

Richmond High Responds to Homecoming Rape from New America Media on Vimeo.

WRENAGADE: Never been afraid to speak on it, Never would stand by and not protect a sister getting assaulted, forever working hoping and praying that this world is safer, better for the next generation, especially for young girls and my future daughter...any women who has been assaulted, harassed, raped, through out history, whether by a soldier, or someone that's supposed to protect you, a preacher, or a stranger, you are not invisible. We are all victims unless we speak out. First off I am filled with a lot of emotion about this incident that happened in the near by Bay Area city Richmond, California, to a young 15 year old girl. Especially, but not just because of the fact that, it is reported that there were by standers that did nothing and even cheered on the attacker. My first reaction is just that this is one act of horrible violence, that is one of way too many. I have too many friends who have confided that they too were raped. I have heard too many stories through out history of soldiers raping women, not just in some foreign land, but also right here, the American Holocaust. Too many in history that is not what you read in the books, too many in my life time, and too many who have felt invisible, and stayed silent. Too many communities with out unity. Too many young people exposed to violence. Too Many young girls staying silent. Too Many victims who feel they can never heal that there power is taken from them, and they wish to hide to never reveal. Too Many women have been assaulted, and felt it was there fault, or known that people would look down on them, as if they brought it upon themselves. Too many have kept silent, held back pain, supressed the crimes done to them. Its 2009 and its time for any hidden crimes to shine so that justice can be reached. Rapist have no face, n they are definitely not 1 color (although statistically in the U.S white male rapists are the highest percent) I dont know the whole stoy of went down in Richmond but ive already heard ignorant voices about Richmond and Race and the crime that went down and people assuming. All i know is what i heard that 2O something people stood by while a young girl was raped, i dont have words to describe how out of pocket that is.

This incident is not a local problem and it should mos def not be what richmond is known for, no matter what the media spins on it, this is an injustice that is found around the world and will continue to go on unless people speak out everytime it occurs and demand justice. Forget what you may think, and think of your children and your wish for her or him to be protected.

According to the LA times:

Bay Area girl gang raped at school while witnesses watch but do nothing October 26, 2009| 5:41 pm A 15-year-old girl who went to her homecoming dance was repeatedly gang raped and beaten at Richmond High School for at least two hours while more than a dozen witnesses saw the assault but failed to call police, authorities said today.The attack occurred Saturday around 9:30 p.m. after the girl had left the dance and was waiting for a ride from her father. She saw a male student she knew, who took her to a dark alley behind one of the school buildings, Richmond police said.Police said alcohol was consumed but were awaiting toxicology tests.The male student and about six others began raping and beating the girl. As she struggled, more than a dozen witnesses passed by or watched what was going on. The ordeal lasted 2 to 2 1/2 hours, police said."The victim was beaten, sexually assaulted and robbed," said Lt. Mark Gagan. "What's equally disturbing is that other people saw what was going on and did nothing."Police were finally called after a female student overhead people talking about the rape. She called 911 and told dispatchers what she had heard, according to Gagan.The girl was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, police said.A former student, Manuel Ortega, 19, was arrested a few blocks away Saturday night and booked on charges of rape, robbery and kidnapping, Gagan said. Ortega was being held Monday on $800,000 bail.

For this young victim and for anyone who has been raped, you are not invisible, and there is no shame in speaking out against the horribe crime done to you, you are not damaged, the only one in the wrong is the person that commits the rape, or anyone who stands by and lets it happen.

AM I (INVISIBLE)

{by singer, song writer, all around fly artivist: Siaira Shawn}

What does it mean, if things obscene seen and no help you bring
The song I sing, silenced, the quiet violence or the noisy love
To both you shrug and ignore the blood


Am I invisible or do you just not care to look
Am I expendable, do you care when my life is took

Sweep things under the rug, until they have to be dug, from under
Appalled at the plunder, slumber on it, but still condone it
Treat us like enemy or your opponent

Am I invisible or do you just not care to look
Am I expendable, do you care when my life is took
(c)SiairaShawn

her thoughts on writing this piece:

SIAIRA SHAWN:I wrote this awhile ago, it was sparked by an incident that happened to a young women who went to Mills and she was attending school in New York. She was living with roommates and they discovered her dead body in the room days later; she had been beaten to death by her former boyfriend and left for dead.

Around this time other violent crimes against Black women were happening as they have for centuries and there was no or little media coverage or outcry. It seems that when something happens to women of color we are supposed to take it and be silenced, we are not valued or respected and that is why things like this young girl in Richmond getting beaten and gang raped while people watched can occur. What are we teaching our men, our women, ourselves? These things must not be allowed to go on!

SPEAK OUT!!!

*Statistics indicate that 1 in 3 women and 1 in 7 men will become victims of sexual assualt during their lifetime *36% of new victims served by the Rape Crisis Center are between the ages of 0-17 *Every two and a half minutes someone in America is sexually assaulted *More that 1/2 of sexual assualts go unreported, (last year Rape Crisis served 313 victims, so just imagine how many more victims are out there that never reported the crime!) *False accustations of sexual assualt are estimated to occur at a low rate of 2%- similiar to the rate of false accustations of other crimes *The chances that a woman will develop PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) after being sexually assaulted are between 50%-95% (Proving that this is a serious crime, and not something that happened in one night and someone can get over easily!) For more information and statistics visit: www.rainn.org After posting a note about this incident I was outraged to find out that based on a law that diferentiates between victims that are 14 vs 15 (the age of the victim) those people people that stood by and laughed while this crime was commited will not be charged with anything: via Catherine-Mercedes Brillantes Judge FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty: California police now say as many as 20 people were present at the gang rape of a 15-year-old girl outside a high school homecoming dance last weekend. 10 people were involved in an assault in a back alley at the school that went on for more than two-and-a-half hours. 10 people stood around and watched without calling 9-1-1 to report it. Police say some witnesses took photos, while others laughed. Police say a student at Richmond High School was gang raped outside during a homecoming dance. California law makes it illegal not to report a crime against a child, but the cutoff is 14-years-old. Since the victim in this case is 15, cops say they can't arrest the spectators. The law needs to be changed immediately. Meanwhile this horrific rape of a young girl follows that brutal beating death caught on video of a 16-year-old honor student in Chicago. That case has been hampered by the refusal of witnesses to come forward. These kids in Chicago also stood by and watched this teenager murdered - beaten to death in broad daylight - and did nothing. Experts say the reason crimes aren't reported could be a social phenomenon known as "the bystander effect" that means the larger the number of people involved in any situation, the less will get done... One famous case happened in New York in the 1960s - where people watched or heard a serial killer rape, rob and murder a woman named Kitty Genovese. At the time, one witness said: "I didn't want to be involved." Here’s my question to you: Should people who witness a crime, like the gang rape of a 15-year-old California girl, face jail for failing to report it? Beautiful Resistance ft. Eligh - Mystic Beautiful Resistance ft. Eligh - Mystic Beautiful Resistance (inspired by @thatgirlmystic 's songs, albums, and beautiful spirit) he Tried to devour my soul today They tried to take my power away Feels like I dont have a choice But its still a beautiful resistance Born into this world Hurled into it I can smile thru tears Because I cry flowers Seen friends killed with my own eyes So I know violence Too wise for the lies Heard my mamas cries ReLiving being raped Vowed to be my families protector at the age of 8 For the young girl who stayed silent When he said dont tell For the woman who still Lives with the memory of Hell For wives who stay silent thinking it wont be considered violence For anyone thinking that its accepted For the young girl neglected n molested For the victim who blamed herself Because she was reckless For all women who wear shame like a necklace The only one shamed or in the wrong is who did it or anyone that didn't put up a Beautiful Resistance Speak on it because the world needs to hear you Speak on it cause every young girl hurled into this world need to hear it No one can take your beautiful spirit. -WrenAgade

no matter how strong you are everybodyneeds...

Therapy - India.Arie

..Wild thangs n Monsters..

Just rolled to the movies last Friday with the fam bam of homies to see 'WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE' which i thought was really fresh. I am not really a fan of kids movies, i always appreciate the animation but this was definitely a fresh translation from a classic book of few words to a whole movie. The magic was captured.

















And another wild thang of the talented emcee hip hop breed is coming out with a album on Halloween called 'Monster' and his first video is just that. I'm loving the visual metaphors in this video and all the flows Rafa is definitely rep'n for the Town, and a good example of the talent and diversity in the Hip Hop and overall music scene.

Fresh Lady Spittas

Anybody who was there on Sunday at Lukas for the dopeness of female spittas needs to let anyone who thinks there ain't no more female emcees know, they are truly trip'n. This past Sunday was fresh, I went out to support Ms Dom Jones herself and witnessed a star studded performance. Rawnken the stage with covers as well as an orinal song off her project coming out soon 'Keys to My Heart.' With Isis G, Krystle Azul, backing her up, Dom put on a lovely sho showing that she can command a stage vocally, and then along with Talia Talor, Melina Jones, and host Ms. RyanNicole, Dom blessed the mic got the crowd hyped and lyrically spit pure freshness, proving that Lady Spittas can be Champions in the hip hop arena.

The crowd was live, with everone feeling these ladies lovely energy. Dom and Do Dat also did a cover with there own swing to it 'show 'em what ya dont got.' And some of it was captured through the lense of a talented producer and photographer who goes by ID. For all those that were not able to be in the building or wanna check out these black and white flicks that capture some of the magic, here ya go:

Photography (c) from ID
check him out at
www.flickr.com/id510

ILL new songs from ILL-LITERACY

HERE/NOW

...Something's wrong if you can't see that your BEAUTIFUL

IF YOU SLEEP'N GO GET JERN EYE'S BRAND NEW ALBUM 'VISION'
THIS DOUBLE VIDEO IS FRESH 2 SONGS -the feel good song with scenes of Lake Merrit-BEAUTIFUL, and the spitt'n by the railroad head nod track-SOMETHINGS WRONG (via 38thnotes)...

on the daily these spittas hold it down for the Yay, so vote for 40 LOVE SF weekly today!

CLICK HERE TO VOTE FOR 40LOVE for Hip Hop

Spanning the genres of Hip-Hop, Electronica, Soul and Reggae, 40Love's sound is versatile, unique, and ever-expanding. Hailing from San Francisco, 40Love is the rising new group gaining critical acclaim and "breaking sonic barriers" (URB).

The group, consisting of emcee G-OFF, producer Mikos, female vocalist/emcee Haze and DJ/Producer The Whooligan have released two full length albums, "Advantage" in 2007 and more recently "BANGERANG!" in February 2009. "BANGERANG!" features hip-hop heavyweight Black Spade, The Jacka of the Mob Figaz, soul star Jesse Boykins III, Denise Wallace, Bay Area legend L*Roneous and more.

Since their second release, 40Love has been reviewed and featured in media outlets like NBC, URB, Okayplayer.com, Venus Zine, VIMBY.com and Hard Knock Radio, as well as featured locally as Amoeba Records homegrown pick and CD Baby 1 Hyphy album two years in a row. They have recently been nominated for "Best Rap/Hip-Hop" in the SF Weekly Music Awards 2009. Their discography also includes mixtapes, "Up Up and Away the spacetrumentals" (The Whooligan) in 2008 and "The Stargazers" in March 2009, as well as a feature on Om Records release "Mushroom Jazz 6" by DJ Mark Farina, which sold over 15,000 units worldwide.

At a young age, the group has already shared the stage with some of the industry's most respected names, including Mos Def, MC Supernatural, MC Lyte, Mistah F.A.B., Zion I, the Living Legends, Wale, Blu, Mark Farina and more.

40Love has many upcoming projects in the works, including a production project mikooliganziland by Mikos and The Whooligan and a mixtape collaboration featuring Haze, Denise Wallace, and DJ Shred One. However, their most anticipated new release will be a free downloadable EP releasing January 2010.

For more info: myspace.com/40Lovehiphop or twitter.com/40Love

Contact: geoff@om-records.com


"Shaped by broodingly bubbling synths and ethereal hooks, sung by one of hip-hop’s most alluring sirens, Bangerang! is tailor made for nocturnal sojourns, preferably through urban streets, on a sticky summer night...Ably crooning lush choruses and spitting impeccably timed couplets, Haze possesses the rare combination of poise, swagger and sultry mystique that won fiercely loyal fan bases for Lauryn Hill, Mystic and Jean Grae...cooing breezy jazz flirtations...or spitting rapid fire vignettes of inner-city struggle... providing the tracks with both their warmth and their urgency...Mikos serves up warm drums with ample space in which his mercurial synths can leisurely unfurl. Meanwhile, the aggressive flow of G-Off offers a nice shot of adrenaline..."

- Okayplayer.com, Jeff Harvey

"Hip-hop isn’t really known for the hard-hitting female emcees anymore. Sure, there are the Jean Grae’s and Lil Kim’s of yesteryear, but these days you’re hard pressed to find a lady lyricist who has the total package. Haze, the female emcee of San Francisco-based group 40Love, just might be what the game’s been missing. Alongside producer Mikos, who draws inspiration from Pete Rock and forms the backdrop for this dreamlike narrative, rapper G-OFF, who is reminiscent of a young Common, and DJ Whooligan, who brings the spirit of '94 with his Primo-esque cuts, 40Love is equipped to break sonic barriers. "

- URB Magazine, Jason Parham

2 fresh events to not miss

Im super excited about this FRESH STEPS which will feature the homegirl DOM JONES and maybe some guest appearances from other folks in the OaktownFinestSongBirds&spittas crew (shhhh) It goes down this 3rd Sunday @ LUKAS in the Town that is where I will be found...
The second event that's going down in the Town I am just as juiced for, the songstress herself Isis G...

These 2 events are going to be FrESH!!

I AM

on this wonderful blog created by Dom Jones herself as a guest writer, with a piece entitled I AM ready to grow.click HERE to check it and check this blog regularly, I am honored to be 1 of many creative minds writing on there.

I started off not knowing where to start, never having been asked to guest write on anyones blog. The list of prompts was my motivation and once my fingers hit the keys to my lap top they didn't stop till it was done. I AM thankful because it challenged me to write in a different way, I felt like I used parts of my brain i had let fall asleep, now I got pins and needles and i gotta keep going...getting Ready to Grow.

Props to Dom Jones for taking action to build bridges between like minds. I am filled with smiles to see folks coming together, to truly support eachother and collaborate in a beautiful way. Looking forward to seeing the next pieces on the blog, Dom Jones performance this month, and the many beautiful projects to come that I can only make out suddle outlines to, but soon they will be drawn, outlined, filled in and painted with beautiful colors to bring them to life, and grow...and then some...

Oakland is HOPEFUL with folks like Kev Choice

Just caught Oakland's own KEV CHOICE yesterday for an amazing performance. If you are sleeping wake up and see that he is an artist, with hella talent and really repping for the Town in a beautiful way. How many emcees can get down on the keys. He is definitely and inspiration to me coming out of OYC (Oakland Youth Choir) He stands alone and holds his own among other alumn of the youth choir like Goapele, Jennifer Johns and Lotoya London. The song HOPEFULly (via 38thnotes) is just what Oakland needs to hear right now. Many people rushed to make tribute songs to Oscar Grant and the violence between people and cops this year in the Town, but I will say this is hands down the most intimate lyrical dedication to the incidents that have occured and his personal experience around them. I will continue to post about this multi talented artist known as KEV CHOICE and be sure to check out his Project the Power of Choice when it drops. He channels great artists of soul and hip hop like Lauren Hill and continues to stay true to him as he aims for the sky, he is truly an artist on the rise.

the Proper Gander

Highly Anticipated
K-SWIFTS ALBUM RELEASE
ProPer Gander ((gaurenteed Banger
Dont Sleep!!!))
-BUY IT NOW CLICK HERE

...stay awake...