Thursday, October 27th, 2011 | by choorocca | No Comments »
Dam it’s been more than a minute since I’ve blessed these pages with something other than 140-char snippets from my Twitter feed. Ugh, doesn’t feel right, but such is Life right now, so I’m content to know that I’m doing my thing – being a 24/7-365 Dad! And, being a full-time Provider…it all adds up to more than a full day, everyday. Word, Life.
But I’m here now posting something filthy to ChooOn… as fortune would have it via the digital channels of fate, I was lucky to recently connect with filthygood contemporary graphic/street artist named Chor Boogie, hailing from the West Coast – sunny California. He actually stumbled onto my site somehow…word up. Either way, Chor Boogie is a a supremely talented cat that you should surely look further into. I mean, I went through his site www.chorboogie.com and was definitely surprised at the amount of theory and analysis he had posted on his work, his Art. Surprised because you rarely see an artist go so far in depth about their craft – gotta respect that. I also think that the more literature and information about the science, theory and culture behind (post) modern contemporary graphic art, the better.
So yeah, definitely worth the look. You can catch up with Chor Boogie on this blog or for more info on the artist, the art and bookings, hit up his main site www.chorboogie.com. Would love to do a more in-depth feature on Chor-Boog at some point…stay tuned, we’ll see if we can make it happen!
Monday, August 1st, 2011 | by choorocca | No Comments »
Somehow, some way, I found some time to put together a mix of some dope joints that I’ve come across in the last while. Playlists are alright, but nothing moves you more than a mix of filthy tracks put together in a seamless experience. That said, mixing isn’t my top trait, but I think the track selection should make up for that.
The mix is strictly for personal consumption – fam, friends & ChooOnThis visitors – but I do have a 320kbps version that is broken into 3 sets with separate cover art for each set. If you want better sound hit me up for access to that private download page. (Yeah, I have bandwidth limitations to consider.)
Thursday, May 12th, 2011 | by choorocca | No Comments »
If you grew up with Hip-Hop in the late 80′s and through the 90′s (like I did), know that you were blessed to have lived through a massive change in (pop) global culture. Know that you have been blessed to have lived through a very special and unique time watching what some called a “Fad” evolve into a lifestyle; yes Hip-Hop, modern day urban culture.
Whether or not you grew up in the 80′s or 90′s, I’m going to assume that you’ve heard of the album Illmatic, by Nas. If you haven’t, go jump in a sewer and then Wikipedia it after. Anyway, most headz in their right mind would think that any attempt to re-do, remix or plain mess around with a mecca album like Illmatic would be career suicide. It’s either that, you got some King Kong balls, you’re plain silly, or you actually got some real mawfuhkin skills to bring to the very large, and very scrutinized Hip-Hop table.
That said, 5-blade-razor-sharp emcee from the D – Elzhi – did just that. With the release of Elmatic two days ago, Elzhi has propelled himself into a different league in the hard-knock ranks of Hip-Hop. This, in other words, is my way of saying Elmatic is a smashing success. Yeah, we’ve always regarded Elzhi as a dope emcee since back in his days with Slum, but for me, this release definitely shows and proves in a much different way. Fashawn definitely did a decent job in his attempt, but Elmatic tops that release. Just in time for the summer to roll around too. Word.
Support dope music and Hip-Hop culture, check out www.elzhi.com.
Sunday, May 8th, 2011 | by choorocca | No Comments »
As a member of a generation that bridged old to new, I vividly recall in my younger days, how much I loved to draw, doodle, colour, tag, write. How I used to collect pencils, erasers, pens, tools for art, tools of expression. Somehow along the way, I ditched a lot of those wonderful old habits for typing and clicking.
I was with my my brother-in-law last week at his friend’s place – an artist who’s studio is tucked away in a back alley in downtown Toronto. Pretty much what you would expect at an artist’s studio, but it was a great little spot, and his friend is very talented. We’re checking out the piece his friend is working on and he turns to me and says, “You need a place like this.” “Yes,” I said, “I couldn’t agree more.” Considering the fact that I live mostly in the digital side of things these days, it was inspiring to be there. I would like to go back. Back to those old habits. Back to a time when the value of Art & Expression was different. This is not a resignation, rather, more of a plan to bring back and mix some of the old with the new. I think that would be healthy.
Yes, in our world that doesn’t stop, it’s sometimes hard these days to put a finger on anything. It’s Sunday nights like these, where I have to take those few hours for myself and revisit things that inspire me. Things that I love and love to do. Music, writing, art.
Above is a canvas put out last year by Brazilian artist Herbert Baglione, who’s art for me is definitely inspiring. Part of the South American graffiti movement for over ten years now, Baglione’s art, inspired by street culture, is a fresh take on the urban scape that surrounds him. Baglione does some very dope mural art-designs, but my favourite pieces are the stretchy human-alien figures he creates – rounded and elongated figures with clean, yet dramatic icons/symbols, often in balance with familiar urban architecture.
You can check out his blog here, or try Googling him too. I found a cool Flickr stream by “â–˛ = trashisfesch = â–˛” who took one of the pictures below at a Graffiti Exhibition in Wuppertal, Germany back in 2007. Nice detail in the shot, well done.
Would love to get some of Herbert’s work as wall prints too. All his work is fuckin dope. Check out “The Run-Up”, a video by Walrus TV (Upper Playground) at the end of this post.
Tuesday, April 26th, 2011 | by choorocca | No Comments »
Yeah, I don’t think there’s a lot more I can say on this. I already posted a few weeks back about the Operation Doomsday Lunchbox, and how ill the designs that are coming out the Doom Camp are…you can read the post here.
Crate Diggaz, collectors, Hip-Hop aficionado’s…I’m guessing and suggesting you cop this quick – incredible stuff like this can’t last for long!
Wednesday, April 20th, 2011 | by choorocca | No Comments »
Yeah, it’s been a minute since I’ve had a chance to post – I’m in the midst of a heavy collabo with Life – but I had to take a quick sec to spread the word about, in my opinion, one of the illest NuJazZ & House selektah’s out there, Don Ray. No nothing “new”, but definitely something you have to hear and feel for yourself if you’re into the NuJazZ/Garage/House/FutureFuNk/Afro/Latin scene (how do you really classify all this anyway? F_CKIN GOOD MUSIC!).
I’ve been listening to his Podcast for a while now and it’s something I look forward to every time he drops a new set. Definitely brings me back 10+ years when this scene was fiyah! in the TDot. Yeah, I posted a trip down memory lane piece few months back about Roxy Blu, Phat Black Pussycat, Movement etc. Don Ray and the Midnight Maraudaz series takes you there again and then some – the kind of vibe that’s so dope, so thick, heavy and fresh; the type of vibe that speaks to your soul, grabs your nuts and makes you want to move (with a fine feline!). I’ve been killing the last 3 podcasts….check the first joint that leads off Midnight Maraudaz 42 – filthy.
Tuesday, March 15th, 2011 | by choorocca | No Comments »
Power in Culture; Art transcends… From Parisian street graf-artist to using the world as his canvas, JR shares his story and TED wish with the world. Very effin cool. No, brilliant. Learn more about JR, his work and how you can join the movement: www.insideoutproject.net. Help turn our world inside out.
Monday, March 7th, 2011 | by choorocca | No Comments »
In our Digital Age, instant-everything-at-a-press-of-a-button (or touch-of-a-screen) socially networked mass culture, it’s easy to forget about the brand genius that came out of Hip-Hop street culture; Hip Hop artists, as self promoting, highly creative entrepreneurs. Russell, Diddy, Jigga, are some of the more ubiquitous larger than life Hip-Hop icons in pop culture, who figured out how to really leverage the hustle and flow format that Hip-Hop pioneers crafted way back when (well, uncle Russ was one of those pioneers). In fact, the brilliance of guerilla street branding and marketing is a cornerstone of Hip-Hop culture and testament to it’s genius and true creativity. Yes, Hip Hop, OG Brand Designer and original creator of street couture (and much, much more).
Anyway, as someone in the design business who works with and helps create brands, that’s why I love this new OPERATION: DOOMSDAY release so much. In this impersonal era of mp3 bootleg, de-value-the-hard-work-of-true-artists online culture, packaging your brand, your product, has changed dramatically – especially in the music business. “Artists” and Labels definitely do not put as much thought into how they market and package their product these days. It’s sad. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…I miss owning the record/CD; I miss the intimate association of actually owning the music physically – the extended interpretation of the artist and music through the cover art and the details of the liner notes! (although I’ve always been a “collector”).
I mean, you all know the story – it’s not that the “hard copy” product doesn’t exist anymore, it’s more of a change in consumer behaviour, driven by new systems of distribution that directs the consumer through digital channels. Yeah, and as a result, demand changes and as such, so does the product as a whole. How many record labels do you see putting out lunchbox double disc packages like Metalface Records?
That said, gigantic props to Stonesthrow for putting out artists that are still, Artists. Stonesthrow has been a fearless trendsetter in an industry that many thought was doomed. They’ve continued to forge ahead behind what they believe in and stand for – creativity and artistry – and have set the pace for other labels to try and follow suit.
And most importantly, let me give blessings and thanks to supremely gifted artists and true creators like MF Doom, who just know how to create an undeniable persona, character and unforgettable brand. I don’t think anyone has done it this well since the Wu (although Madlib is most definitely on par with Doom with his own twist on character development and brand brilliance). Yeah, Doom is the total package.
Note, this is NOT your regurgitated and downloaded a million times over web mp3 copy of Doom material you can find anywhere online, but OPERATION DOOMSDAY complete and remastered – the real deal. Available in 2/CD LUNCHBOX and 4/LP METALBOX sets, these ridiculously awesome collector’s items “each contain a 32-page lyric book and set of 10 cards with images of the Operation Doomsday MCs”. Stones Throw has an advance pre-sale for the lunchbox that started last week and starts shipping out March 28th. Who doesn’t need to transport their lunch in style while they listen to some serious, one-of-a-kind Hip Hop? Yes, it really is a perfect extension of the music, the man behind the mask, the brand, if you really think about it. The Doom camp obviously did. Yeah, Operation: Dope Brand, brand designers take notes!
Sunday, March 6th, 2011 | by choorocca | No Comments »
If you’re into JazZ, nu-JazZ, the rare groove sound, hip-hop, or any sort of jazZ influenced music, you might (or should) have heard of the jazz re:freshed movement and label. If you haven’t, well booo for you…but it’s all good, better late than never – great art, music is timeless, right?
Taken right from their site: jazz re:freshed is a contemporary music/arts movement and record label built around a weekly live music residency in the heart of west london, covering the whole spectrum of jazz and jazz-influenced music…
Toward the end of last year, jazz re:freshed (jre:) announced 5ive, a limited edition series of 5-track mini album releases from artists/bands they believe in. The first album jre: dropped was Spaven’s 5ive (Dec 06, 2010), drummer extraordinaire Richard Spaven’s long awaited first solo album.
If you don’t know, Spaven, a London native himself, spent the last half of the first decade of the new millennium gigging with everyone, from Mark de Clive Lowe, 4Hero, Jose James, GURU, The Cinematic Orchestra, (a list of other artists) and most recently Flying Lotus. Yeah, that’s some talented company. That said, check out the album, it’s a must have – straight up filthygoodness. You can get in on the JazZ re:freshed site if you’re in the UK or on itunes here. For a teaser, here’s some video footage from the Spaven’s 5ive launch party below.
Friday, February 25th, 2011 | by choorocca | No Comments »
It’s been a crazy-nice last week and a half helping my brother-in-law with his new Massive initiative, the Massive Change Network. Everyone should join the conversation about the design of our world – the design of our future.
Yeah, it’s been a little crazy, positively hectic and sleepless, but extremely satisfying all said and done. This sort of thing is what really motivates me these days; being involved and part of real change is what inspires me.
So, I’m working away the other night and Bruce sends me two essays he wrote last year. One originally published in the World Policy Journal and the other in Fashion Magazine: Storm by Magnum Photos, edited by Paolo Pellegrin. Bruce tells me he thinks it would be a “fun read”, ha! Yeah, as usual, I was blown away. Which isn’t surprising.
Yeah, Bruce Mau has that affect on people, the business of Design, the world. And, thank God for that. Thank you Bruce for that.
Urbanity Revised is a brilliant piece on why it’s necessary for us to rethink the City, entirely. Yes, utterly and completely….rethink and change our ideas and conceptions, our fundamental beliefs of what a “City” is. But what really struck me, was the essay Special Extra Mysterious Magical Immesurable (SEMMI). In my opinion, one of the most important and inspiring essays I’ve read in a long time. See, we (as a global community) know so much. We know what’s wrong, what’s right, we know what we can do, what we can’t do yet, and we know what we should be doing. But yet, nothing is being done – the message doesn’t seem to be getting through. Whether it’s the idiot box that’s numbing awareness, or just plain old ignorance, people still wake up every day and go about their business like the world isn’t going to end. WTF is up with that? So in this essay, I think Bruce nails it it on the head with this revelation of the importance of Beauty. Yes, with Beauty by design and through design, people just might wake up – they might find the desire to do the right thing.
I can’t really say it better than the man himself, so you’ll just have to read it. There is hope…and it starts with you and me. Join the global coversation at www.massivechangenetwork.com.
Special Extra Mysterious Magical Immeasurable, by Bruce Mau. Urbanity Revised, by Bruce Mau.
[Sorry, links to these texts have been removed]
If you’re interested, here’s my response to Bruce’s email to me after I read SEMMI:
Hi Bruce, thanks for sharing that “fun” read with me, ha! I am grateful. I don’t think anyone on the planet could have said it better. I will read it again, and again. I especially think it’s fantastic that this essay was published in Fashion Magazine. Shift in perspective is one massive change we are in dire need of as a planet.
I wonder daily about what I do. What I’m doing. Why I don’t feel “connected”, or fulfilled or challenged in a way that actually means something. Mind you, I am not talking about being a husband or about fatherhood. Those life roles are what drives me, and is where I find the most fulfilment and inspiration – purpose. I can not say that I have learned lessons in life more important than after I became a father. (I chuckle quietly to myself now at the blissful ignorance of my non-parental friends…boy, do they say some silly sh!t some times, haha. But, I don’t hold it against them, that was once me too!)
But I am finding it difficult to motivate myself or really, truly care if we (the company I currently work for) sells more software (is that bad?). Yes, if it weren’t for B and the girls….genuinely caring about my job, work, would be impossible. The Marxist in me still believes that we should all be doing our Art. And, it seems that I’m not alone though. My generation – born in the 70′s – are a unique bunch in our own right, a nice mix between old school and new. Fortunate enough not to have had to wear bike helmets and shoes outside, and also there for the advent of the first video game console and Apple computer. Yes, we are the last generation to still hold some of those old time values, and the first generation to grow up with all the conveniences of the modern button pushing, I-want-it-now era. Down-to-earth-tech-savvy, hybrid genXers?
Yes, I see the look in the eyes of some of my close peers. I hear them ask the questions and propose ideas that lead me to believe that we are all aware (and thankful) that we are very fortunate to live the lives we live, but also know that the illusion can not last much longer.
When I first became a home owner, I went through a phase where I had all these romantic ideas in my head about technology that would allow me to live “off the grid” if necessary… Stuff like a green on-site power generator, rain water collection, water filter & water tank, solar panels, hydroponics etc., nothing crazy. One of my close buddies asked me why I was so “paranoid”. I told him I wasn’t paranoid. I then asked him if he remembered the blackout we had in the early 2000′s…I believe it was 2003. I asked him to think about what would have happened if that blackout lasted a whole week; a month; or even longer.
Yes, the current set of existing systems in place from 1st world right down the socio-politcal-economic fraying line do not work. And, the appearance that they do work will not last. We need something other than – how did you put it? – “our current resource extraction model” to share and care for our planet if we are to remain here even a touch longer in the grand scheme.
Through university, among the many interesting odd-jobs I’ve had, I stocked produce shelves at Costco one summer. I was appalled at the amount of fresh fruit and veggies that got tossed on a daily basis (and would stuff myself in the back room as much as I could every shift, lest see all the goodness go to waste). I was blown away by the fact that with everything we can do, these grocery giants (at the very least) haven’t yet figured out how to disperse that “waste” to people who need it locally?!! So much could be done with that “waste”. (We have had heated discussions about this very topic here at my household – ‘red tape’, ‘bureaucracy’, ‘liability’ and other lawyersome words thrown around, all hogwash.)
So yes, I am grateful. Grateful and thankful that there is now something like the Massive Change Network. Thankful, that you have kick started a lazy planet on the long path toward enlightenment…and more importantly, survival. Everyone can lead, but not anyone can Lead. I agree with you… “Beauty is the tool with which we are able to continuously reconnect to desire.” No one will respond to the picture if it isn’t painted nicely or fashioned in a way that actually sends the message through.
I am thankful that I now have something for which to apply my Art: help paint the Big Picture! That sculpture, Future. The new Starry Night. It is frightening, but yes, beautiful.
Wednesday, February 23rd, 2011 | by choorocca | No Comments »
Last year I did back flips when The Roots dropped How I Got Over. They hadn’t released a record in a minute and for me, it was a masterful production with a brilliant content…in the same ilk as most of their body of work. Toward the end of last year, John Legend and the Roots dropped Wake Up, which was alright in my opinion, but nothing that really sticks outside of the Pete Rock-C.L “Straighten it Out” remix. (It definitely didn’t live up to all the tweeting hype ?uestlove did leading up to
Anyway, 2011 is a new year. And, this new mixtape by J.Period….is straight filthygoodness. It’s free to download, but you should email interac him some dough for putting out fiyah! like this for real heads to enjoy. Seriously, amazing mixtape.
Saturday, February 12th, 2011 | by choorocca | No Comments »
That Leftto & Simbad Brownswood compilation record that dropped at the beginning of the year is still getting mad playage in the deck for me. The 1st track on CD1 – Blend feat. Delvis – blew my head back when I first heard the vocal. Hard not to feel it. Here’s a vid from a live studio session in Brusells. The stream of the vid isn’t the best, but it you can still feel the tune. Miles Bonny is featured on the record on a track with Ahu on a 74 Miles Away joint – more filthygoodness.
Monday, November 15th, 2010 | by choorocca | No Comments »
I’m not sure exactly when it happened, but over the last few years, I started listening to a ton of instrumental Hip Hop – hardcore beats, jazzy and funky breaks, jazzed up fusion tracks, downtempo vibes…from an eclectic list of artists from all over. I didn’t realize it right away, but when I did, it occurred to me that it had to be one of three reasons:
Sick Of….try-hard, marketing-injected, lame-ass contrived production, writing and “styling”.
Lack Of…quality music, with quality content, created by real musician or music artists.
Evolution Of… and maturation of Taste. Yes, my grown ass has been hit with a serious case of “finding-it-hard-to-relate”.
Come to think of it now…it’s probably all three reasons listed above (and possibly a few more). I mean really, are there are many “rap artists” out there these days saying anything worth listening to anyway? OK, OK, this post isn’t going to be a “Hip Hop is dead” rant…but off the top (and there hasn’t been much), best content I’ve heard a rapper spit lately would easily be Kanye and Jay off Kanye’s new joint The Joy. Yeah, I have a love-hate thing going on with Mr. West (love the Art, it’s undeniable, not so sure about the Artist), but this joint is filthy-rotten-Good. (Pretty much every track off this album I’ve heard so far has been Fiyah). Read the lyrics here, listen to the track here, or download it from Kanye’s blog site.
So, why Hip Hop instrumentals? Well, it’s like listening to Jazz records – music in pure form – untouched by Word, Opinion, Human Evocation, Gimmicks, Subliminal hokey pokey, leaving it (more) up to you to interpret. And, Hip Hop could be described – in one dimension – as a hybrid form of the Jazz art form. That’s an essay in itself…
Anyway, you know all I really wanted to do in the first place was to share some (non-instrumental) Hip-Hop music with you peeps. Specifically, this filthygood track called The Wave (Science Jazz Remix) originally by Banda Utopia featuring Sabrina Malheiros, but this jawn is remixed by IG Culture featuring the one and only, John Robinson….yes, confusing credit, but ridiculously DOPE tune. Seriously, I can’t even begin to big this tune up….it’s that filthy. But that’s just me….you might think different. Hit play below and let me know what you think. If you love it like me, don’t eat up my bandwidth, go get it on iTunes here. (Not sure who John Robinson is and claim to be a hip-hop-head? WAKE UP, and plug into some quality craftsmanship).
Here you go, two versions that I’ll bet will make you hit repeat: The Wave (Science Jazz Remix) and The Wave (The Plan Mix) ~ Band Utopia featuring Sabrina Malheiros, remixed by IG Culture featuring John Robinson! Fark..hit play already.
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Ok, one more….
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Thursday, October 7th, 2010 | by choorocca | No Comments »
One of my favourite sites to visit as much as free time permits is The Citrus Report. For me, it’s like the Rebirth of Cool online art rag – always a smart, interesting take on the world of contemporary art; always showcasing and reviewing compelling, brilliant contemporary artists and their art. Pretty much everything they cover and put out, I really dig. Most of my favourite art and artists of late I have come across through The Citrus Report (TCR). It really is a premier resource and network for (filthy-good) contemporary art and culture. My nose never usually gets this brown.
Not too long ago, TCR posted a detailed review on a summer showing by artist Rene Almanza in Barcelona. I can’t say that I’ve heard of Rene Almanza before, but then again, I’m not really in the “loop” when it comes to contemporary art and I don’t’ claim to be. I do know that I love art and love what I love when I see it. I also now now that Rene Almanza is masterful and has created some brilliant works of art. I tried to read the review/essay on the TCR site, but sweet-Confucius, it was a tough read. I felt like I was back in University reading Leviathan by Hobbes or something of the ilk…snoooooze. What did jar my slanted eyes wide open was Rene’s work. Absolutely filthy-good. Here are a few more pieces that I liked most. You can find more on The Citrus Report and tons more on Rene’s site.
What struck me about this piece above was that it come across as the perfection representation of the beginnings of “design” or the inception of an idea, or just after when the wheels begin to turn. To elaborate….when you start to “design” something or if you “begin anywhere” with an idea and start to move forward…things are still hazy; squiggly and not in nice neat lines. But you do have a small lump of clay that you are slowly beginning to fashion, to shape, to bring to life. This piece of art shows me that exact point in the process. I think it would be a great piece to go in a design studio – large format. Really like this one..so I had to add it into the site art at in the header design (if you didn’t notice).
Yeah, I ain’t hearing all that noise either! If you have a few extra minutes to spare, check out the Flux Catalog on Rene’s site via the Magazine Viewer…it’s easy, just click on the first page that loads up when you hit Rene’s site.
