The fashion game has evolved over the years, especially in the streetwear arena. There's new lines popping up all over the globe, but streetwear hasn't always been the saturated market it's become today. When pioneering brand Tribal began in 1989, by brothers Bobby and Joey Ruiz, there weren't any other brands to look to for inspiration or a blueprint for success. They just set up shop and created gear that appealed to themselves, their friends, and were inspired by their interests. That mind state has resulted in over two decades of success and trendsetting.
San Diego’s Chicano Park almost never existed. Before it became the country’s largest collection of outdoor murals it was the center of an up-rising by local residents and Chicano activists from all over California. In 1970, it was only a bulldozer away from becoming a parking lot and California Highway Patrol Station. This construction began despite plans for a park in the same site that were approved by the City Council in 1969. When a local college student inquired about the construction and learned that it was not for a park, he decided to alert the community. After many years of neglect from the city, the mostly Mexican community of Barrio Logan decided to take action.
The history of Logan Heights and Barrio Logan dates back to the late 1800’s. It was primarily a residential area during the turn of the century, making it one of San Diego’s oldest communities. Until 1905 it was just known as the East End before it was renamed after Congressman John A. Logan, who wrote legislation to provide federal land grants and subsidies for a transcontinental railroad ending in San Diego.
Mexican settlers began arriving in the East End during the 1890’s and the number increased significantly after refugees left Mexico during the Mexican Revolution in 1910. During this time the community began to transform as Mexicans became the majority ethnicity and expanded from the southern part of Logan Heights, eventually creating the neighborhood of Barrio Logan where Chicano Park is located.
During World War II, the community’s access to San Diego Bay was cut off by the expansion of San Diego Naval base as well as other military facilities which occupied the waterfront. The area was re-zoned to include industrial uses beginning in the 1950’s. This brought a lot of pollution, junkyards, and loud noises to the residency. In 1963, Interstate 5 was built directly through the heart of the community, separating it with elevated on-ramps and painting the former residency in concrete gray. 1969 brought the construction of the Coronado bridge directly over Barrio Logan, creating a high concrete ceiling over houses, installing giant concrete support beams, and further deteriorating the community. All this was done without the consent or input from the Logan Heights community, a practice that the residents were growing tired of.
The City Council’s 1969 promise to build a park was to compensate for the loss of over 5,000 homes and businesses removed during the construction of the I-5 freeway and Coronado Bridge. This came after several demands by the community to build a park to off-set the aesthetic degradation created by the overhead freeways supported by several large concrete piers. The bulldozing of the park site in 1970 was more than the neighborhood could tolerate. After being alerted to the construction, the local residents, several San Diego students, and other San Diego residents staged a non-violent protest in the form of a land takeover. On April 22, protesters formed human chains around bulldozers while others planted trees, flowers, and cactus. One protester commandeered a bulldozer to flatten the land for planting. Groups from Los Angeles and Santa Barbara also joined the protesters in the occupation to show support and solidarity amongst Mexican-Americans. The occupation lasted twelve days while negotiations between community residents and city officials took place. The construction was eventually called off and the land was designated for the creation of a park, which was to be designed by the community.
The idea for painting murals on the support pillars of the Coronado Bridge was first mentioned during a meeting the day after the occupation by a local artist named Salvador Torres. The work began in 1973 after the money was raised to cover materials cost. Chicano and non-Chicano artists from all over California were invited to contribute. Many of the images represent the struggle in the community of Logan Heights as well as nationally with the repression of Hispanic communities. The phrase “Hasta La Bahia!”, meaning “All the way to the Bay!”, represents the original goal of expanding the park to San Diego Bay and reclaim the land that was taken away from the neighborhood by Naval expansion. Other images depict community pride, activism, Mexico’s indigenous roots, field workers, support for education, Mexican culture, and religion.
Chicano Park was designated an official historic site by the San Diego Historical Site Board in 1980 and in 1987 the San Diego Public Advisory Board officially recognized the murals as public art. Chicano Park Day is celebrated every year on the weekend nearest to April 22. The park itself is easily accessible, but even easier to miss since it is located directly under the on-ramp that connects the Coronado bridge to Interstate 5. It is one of San Diego’s hidden gems and a historical site for the Chicano Movement. The murals themselves have received recognition internationally and their care and restoration by the local community continues to this day.
BIRTHDAY BASH for MONILOCA ROBLES! (Quincenera x 2!!)
w/DJs Jeff 'guero' Graves (Michelle 'la green eyes' Rubano is on vacation) + special guest DJs Johnny B. Goode & BlackCoffeeArt (Marco Aldana)
Spinning classic Lowrider Oldies / Soul / Old Skool dance jamz all night long!
WEDNESDAY 09 NOVEMBER 2011 9:00pm / 21+ / FREE! @ Whistle Stop Bar Golden Hill 2236 Fern St. San Diego, CA 92104
BE THERE! Lowriders welcome / free street parking / Tell the bartender that you wanna try the lowrider 'Mexican Candy' shot that tastes like vera mango paleta dulces!! Mmm! Que sabroso!
SALUDOS! SLEEPWALKING TAKES PLACE EVERY SECOND (2nd) WED OF EACH MONTH @ WHISTLE STOP BAR - Golden Hill SD.
Heading to SAN DIEGO next month to pick up this Turntable console from the 60s my aunt scored for me, and While I'm there I'm hopping to get tatted up by Luke Wessman.
I love this guy's style, as he calls it "Traditional Gangster"!
Addiquit is an American rapper, singer and songwriter who performs as a solo MC. While you can hear the influence of hip-hop, the style seems to be emerging with something so fresh its indefinable. She's a sharp, lyrical vandal with an airy voice and street-smart beats.
The San Diego native "Addiquit" is putting her city on the map with her unique MC skills. Currently in the studio Addiquit is working on her highly anticipated debut album which should be out sometime this year. If you like Nu Disco with snazzy vocals you will dig "Take You Home".
IF you're familiar with San Diego and GOOD MUSIC, "Ikah Love" is a name you will hear frequently amongst SD's Eclectic & Soul music community. Ikah just laced us up with his latest edit of "Sugar Hills - Hot, Hot Summer Day". Ikah took the best parts of the track, stripped it down and give this track a whole new feel. Heavy Dance Floor mover that should be making noise by next summer. DJ's DONT SLEEP!!!
HEAR THE SOUNDS approves!!! Check out the video, then Download the edit.
Big up Bryan Snyder for show casing local art and gatherings on the coastal North County side of San Diego. Nice to see you have things on lock with the Carlsbad Art Crawl.
Glad to see this here in San Diego. On some under ground art movement. Take the walk and see if you can Spot Space Invader. To my SD fam please send FLICKS if you make the journey.
This is what San Diego needs. More art projects to this plain and boring down town yuppie area. If there's more art you might actually get some talented people rolling through and leaving some memorable art work that can last for decades. I hope this survives.
“I think it’s awful, it’s an ugly eyesore,” complains a San Diego resident of a commissioned mural by Barry McGee directly across from City Hall. Looks like the controversy will never end when it comes to the debate between “graffiti and art” -- even when McGee is involved.
The Museum of Contemporary Art in San Diego commissioned Barry McGee to paint a mural as part of a large exhibit showcasing street art. The unfinished mural has garnered a lot of attention, much of it negative.
A local cop asks “What’s graffiti and what’s not?” Others say, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”
The museum says that once the mural in completed in the next few days, if reaction is still negative they will remove it.
This past Saturday at Bar Dynamite was a magical one (More pics to come, I'll just add them to this post.) By 11pm we were at capacity with only one week of the event being promoted. Bency set it off with some downtempo, midtempo, jazzy hip-hop & more. Next up was Roza & Raichous (rrs feed) rockin' 2 tables & the Serato Itch with a set of hip-hop, downtempo, jazzy breaks, 80's classics & turntablism. The crowd was warm then Hawaii's son Sovern-T stepped up with some classy party tunes hip-hop, reggae & a dash of dancehall. Closing out the night was Shred One (rrs feed | sweater funk) who dropped bmore soul, boogie, & even some Total Devastation "many clouds" to a packed dancefloor. To top off & end the night correctly, I even ran into the oldschool homie Joe aka Mosco a Hear The Sounds extended family member. Til' next time . . .
DJ Sovern-T has been a firm fixture in the Hawaii music scene for the past decade. From his early days as a bass player in several bands, to his groundbreaking Treehaus parties, and now as one of Honolulu's most in-demand club/party djays, Sovern-T continues to inflame in people an uncontrollable urge to just dance! He posseses a flair for seamlessly blending hiphop, reggae, drum-n-bass & dancehall music into a signature sound that is so unique it deserves to be declared 'Sovern'. A typical Sovern-T set consists of a "natural mix of bangin' beats to compliment the natural mix of people on the dancefloor"
W/ A SPECIAL PERFORMANCE BY: RRS FEED ROZA | RAICHOUS | SHRED ONE
::RRS FEED:: DJs Raichous (LA), Roza (LA), and Shred One (SF) first connected headlining a collaborative DJ event in Los Angeles, CA in 2009. They instantly vibed and complemented each other’s style on the decks, igniting the spark for a future collaboration. Although residing in different cities, they set out to work together through a tireless series of practice sessions consisting of 3 mixers, 4 turntables, Raichous' swift and funky cuts, Roza’s smooth versatility, and Shred One’s impeccable selection.
+ BEATNICK & BENCY
BAR DYNAMITE 1808 W. WASHINGTON ST. UPTOWN, SD 92103 9PM - 2AM 21+
Friends of the Hear The Sounds fam, owners of "Airport Lounge" San Diego closed down the Little Italy lounge earlier this year & opened a restaurant called El Camino in the South Park neighborhood. Simple concept of mexican food & full bar with their own artistic, design related touch. Fast forward to 6 months later & Airport Lounge transitioned to El Camino (little italy) Recently one of the partners Alex requested some mix cd's so I hooked him up. While the artists were working & being interviewed they happened to be playing one of the mixes in the background. Check the pic & video mentioned above. Shout out's to Alex, Mauricio & Jack at the lounge. Be sure to check Ikah Love & his El Camino House Band performing often here.
El Camino's grand opening party is Wednesday December 17th 2400 India Street San Diego, CA 92101-1211
A few posts down it shows Chor Boogie was painting in SF. During that session he got stabbed while they were trying to jack him. But he's aite. We're glad he's ok & eff them suckers tryna jack. Check the story here:
I tried to embed, but it's not working. Check the news story here. Damn he looks mad skinny compared to the last time I saw him back in the day in Vista, CA
POPSTARS AND COKEHEADS, GREG MIKEs first solo show, features hand painted pieces, sculptures, tee shirts, accessories, prints and collectibles designed and created over the past ten months.
The centerpiece of the show is an army of 100 hand painted soda cans that have been transformed into the kaleidoscopic POPSTARS AND COKEHEADS characters, a playfully sinister cast of unique and eye-catching creatures.
Supported by FREEMAVEN, the lifestyle brand, and THE ROWDY COLLECTION, Dallas Austins line, the show presents individual pieces from GREG MIKE as well as selected collaborations.
See the show at MEDICINE AGENCY (1262 Mason Street San Francisco, CA) on November 6th, 2009.
BIG UPS TO THE HOME GIRL DJ PNUTZ reppin san diego... SHE'S BEEN A FACE IN THE UNDERGROUND SD SCENE FOR A LONG TIME. MUCH PROPS TO YOU GIRL, ALSO FOR HOLDING DOWN NIGHTS THAT DON'T CATER TO THE YUPPIFIED CROWD. WE SUPPORT
