DAM FUNK :: SUSHI

Thank you Damon....

GREGORY BOJORQUEZ :: .45 POINT BLANK

HardHitta Gallerey

Photographer Gregory Bojorquez, whose previous one man shows featuring life in East Los Angeles has won the praise of critics and art lovers all over the world, will unveil a dramatic five picture series of a recent real-life shootout on the streets of Hollywood in a one man show scheduled for June 9th in Los Angeles. Presented by Bene Taschen through his pop-up art space, Hardhitta Gallery (5900 Wilshire Blvd, East Annex (Variety Building), Los Angeles, CA 90036), “.45 Point Blank” will open on June 9th and run through July 12th.

Taschen, the son of art publisher Benedikt Taschen, has long been a supporter of Bojorquez and recently featured a collection of the photographer’s work entitled “Streets of L.A.” in Hardhitta exhibitions in Cologne and Berlin. Of those shows, Carolin Genreith writing for Germany’s HHV magazine said, “Bojorquez’ photos are poetic, sometimes merciless. Some seem almost staged or from another time, but what is to be discovered in the exhibition “Streets of L.A.” is the dark and real, here and now (hidden) under a bright Californian sky.”

A native of East Los Angeles, Bojorquez cut his teeth shooting for the local alternative newspaper, L.A. Weekly. He also made a name for himself amongst the city’s celebrity set with his unique approach to shooting hip hop icons and sports stars. But his personal work was always a priority – Bojorquez never went anywhere without his camera and in 2009 his work was featured in a collection called “The Sun Rises in the East” at the downtown Los Angeles art gallery 01.

In December of 2011 while walking on Sunset Blvd, near the intersection of Vine Street, Bojorquez was literally caught in the crossfire of a dramatic shoot out between a lone gunman and LAPD. As Bojorquez instinctively snapped pictures, police shot the gunman dead in the street. One innocent bystander was also shot and later died in the hospital. Bojorquez’ photographs were carried by hundreds of newspapers around the world, but have never before been available to view as a sequence of fine art prints.

This series of photographs form the backbone of “.45 Point Blank,” which is a retrospective of Bojorquez work beginning in 1992 through 2011. The gritty, street-level work features the kind of grimy glamour that is Bojorquez’ calling card. From Boyle Heights to Beverly Hills, Bojorquez ability to capture the essence of such a disparate group of subcultures signals a major photographic tour de force.




Gregory Bojorquez:

Born in 1972, grew up in the infamous streets of East Los Angeles. He photographed his surroundings, his neighbors and his friends, succeeding early on in documenting their private lives. After he caught the attention of LA Weekly, he began to photograph Hollywood celebrities, stars ranging from the likes of Snoop Dogg to Mike Tyson. His photos were published in numerous magazines including Rolling Stone Magazine and FHM.
However he continues to go back to his roots by maintaining his interest in people from his surroundings. He knows the dark side of Los Angeles and conveys original images of a hidden world, far removed from the Hollywood Hills. His photos have a remarkable documentary quality, for example “The Eastsiders” (1997-2001), a fascinating work of romance, gangs and death. “Friday Night Party” shows 19 year old ‘Wicked’ with his friends just minutes before his murder by a member of a rival gang.

Greg paints a picture of Los Angeles as we have never seen it before – naked and uncensored.

MUSIC MAN MURRAY

What a great story. You have to love legends like this. Check out the full article here NPR Music

GETTING UP :: TEMPT :: OFFICIAL TRAILER :: LOS ANGELES ::

Tempt is one Los Angeles most influential writers to come out of los Angeles, pioneering styles, traveling around the country to paint and gaining respect and notoriety where ever he painted. Although he can no longer paint the streets due to his diagnoses of ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), ALS, is a disease of the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary muscle movement. ALS is also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. This fact is not stopping tempt from pioneering in an entirely different way. Tempt has recently teamed up with members of Free Art and Technology (FAT), Open-Frameworks, the Graffiti Research Lab, and The Ebeling Group communities. To create a low-cost, open source eye-tracking system that will allow ALS patients to draw using just their eyes. The long-term goal is to create a professional/social network of software developers, hardware hackers, urban projection artists and ALS patients from around the world who are using local materials and open source research to creatively connect and make eye art.











Words from Tempt One:

Growing up in los Angeles and being a teenager that was into graffiti in the 80's i had the privilege to have been able to witness some of Los Angeles graffiti writers that now dwell in obscurity. Before the age of the Internet if you did not see a graffiti writers work in the streets it simply did not exist. For some one to be notice back them they really had to get up and put in 100's of ours of work.



One of those memorable graffiti writers is TEMPT ONE. his work was all over town especially the freeways. He was part of an elite crew called FB that consisted of CAB, KEY, ANGST, MURAL, and TEMPT. These guys literally where FREEWAY BOMBERS. Tempt stood out from the crowd with his stylized fonts and clean legible styles that were boldly outline and strategically placed in highly visible areas. Tempts hand styles were in a league of their own, immaculately executed his tags graced the sides of signs, poles, electrical boxes and countless other objects.

ICE CUBE CELEBRATES THE EAMES

Ice Cube Celebrates The Eames for Pacific Standard Time the birth of the LA art scene. For more info on Ice Cube & The Eames visit http://pacificstandardtime.org.


Ice Cube drives Inglewood blvd. describing the Los Angeles that he knows. He talks of landmarks like The Forum, Five Torches, Cockatoo Inn, Brolly Hut, and Watts Towers. He refers to the 110 as "Gangsta Highway". Cube says coming from South Central LA teaches you how to be resourceful.

The video cuts to Cube walking the Eames House perimeter, through the Eames living room, and sitting in the Eames lounge chair. He brings us back to his NWA years when he studied architectural drafting before launching his rap career. One thing he learned that translates is to always have a plan. Cube describes the modern, green and resourceful building design of Charles and Ray Eames. Visionaries of connecting nature and structure. Cube ends by saying "Who are these people who got a problem with LA? Maybe they mad cuz they don't live here." Song during intro is "A Bird in the Hand" off of Death Certificate.

DAM FUNK :: J-1 LIVE FREESTYLE :: FUNKMOSPHERE :: R.I.P

JOSE LOPEZ :: LOWRIDER TATTOO

SOUTHERN SOUL SPINNERS

Big ups to all my Southern Soul Spinner familia. Glad your finally getting your shine, although you've been underground star's forever!

SOTHERN SOUL SPINNERS :: NOVEMBER 12th

If you happen to be in LA check out this event brought to you by the Homeys "Southern Soul Spinners" These dudes get down, and you won't find any re issues here! No Bad attitudes, no set tripping!!!! Enjoy Rare and Sweet Soul on 45!

CHICANO SOUL LEGENDS

WOW!!!!!!!!! Did you see this lineup!?! Time to start making plans for this RARE event... Mark your calenders!

ESTEVAN & ERIBERTO ORIOL

DAM FUNK :: FOREVER :: VIDEO

The Only word that comes to mind when I "Saw" and "Heard" this new track, FONKY!!!! Standing ovation for keeping true and original!

RISK AND RETNA FINED

RETNA and RISK had been secretly doing up an abandoned Santa Monica house to raise money and awareness for environmental charity Heal The Bay. The project--which had been taking place under tarps--had been kept a secret until a day before to avoid tipping off "negative parties," and it seems their instincts were more accurate than they realised. The magnificent finished product was unveiled today, with photos spreading thick and fast across the Internet and local LA residents driving across town to see it for themselves. Now, just hours later, the property owner has been served with a "permit violation" that threatens to cost $5000 a day until the artwork is removed.

The artwork was done onto panels which were then retro-fitted to the structure, but it seems it's not a matter of how easy the artwork will be to remove, but a matter of principle.

NEW DAM FUNK :: INNAFOCUSEDDAZE EP

All music & vocals recorded Mon. August 22, 2011, around 3 a.m. in Ladera Heights (Westside L.A.) CA by DāM-FunK. Coming up in just a couple weeks he'll release a new EP: InnaFocusedDaze.

See you tonight in Oakland Damon! Master Blazter in da house!!!!


Kaint Let 'Em Change Me (No!) - DāM-FunK [unreleased] by DâM-FunK

GREGORY BOJORQUEZ

I'm Obsessed with Gregory Bojorquez and his photography!!! Dude is raw, and he represents the UNDERGROUND side of L.A. I recently heard Gregory is throwing a exhibit in Berlin at HARDHITTA GALLERY which will BE OFF THE HOOK...

German Crew, if you check out the show, please send pictures.


HARDHITTA GALLERY
Potsdamer Straße 91, 10785 Berlin
Tue-Sat 11am-6pm

STYLE WARS 2 :: COMING SOON

Directed by Tony Silver and produced by Tony Silver and Henry Chalfant, Style Wars is regarded as the indispensable document of New York Street culture of the early '80s, the filmic record of a golden age of youthful creativity that exploded into the world from a city in crisis. The film captured the look and feel of New York's ramshackle subway system as graffiti writers' public playground, battleground and spectacular artistic canvas. Opposing them by every means possible were Mayor Edward Koch, the police, and the New York Transit Authority. Meanwhile MCs, DJs and B-boys rocked the city with new sounds and new moves and street corner breakdance battles evolved into performance art. Now, we enter a world with Style Wars 2.



Of this new "semi-sequel" effort, the backers note:
It is a completely original film that makes intelligent and extremely funny references to our nearly thirty-year-old film, but in contemporary situations. They use clever dialog and audio quotes from Style Wars to establish the context. In ironic, and often hilarious scenes, they engage various elements of the film’s narrative, such as the conflict with the authorities, the cross-out wars, and the emergence of graffiti in the art world, in surprising ways. The film that Amos Angeles and Veli Silver are engaged in making is a refreshing departure [from hackneyed ideas on the subject].

SUPER iam8bit :: VIDEO GAMES & ART :: ECHO PARK

My work was fortunate to be involved with iam8bit, who recently had a show in Los Angeles.

The line stretched down the block on Thursday, August 11, for the opening of "SUPER iam8bit" at iam8bit world headquarters in Echo Park. Hundred of international artists participated in the show, which featured a gigantic Galaga game and an interactive Kinect hack.

iam8bit founder Jon Gibson says the opening of the new Super iam8bit art show in Los Angeles' Echo Park neighborhood this week is really about a "rebirth." Iam8bit is not only premiering over 100 new pieces by artists inspired by old-school video games, but it's also showing off a brand new gallery space, and reinventing itself as a company.

"It was just me before, by my lonesome for so many years," says Gibson. "And now I have three partners and we're all equal, and we're all taking charge." Taylor Harrington, Amanda White, and Nick Ahrens have now officially joined the company, and the group will all work together on the art collective's various projects.

The new space will be helpful as well -- iam8bit originally found it while putting an event together with Capcom, and eventually leased it themselves. Gibson plans to use it for a number of different functions. "It's so big," he says. "We can do shows here, we can have concerts, we can do movie screenings."

The Super iam8bit show has a book associated with it, currently available in the gallery's storefront, open for business Thursdays through Saturdays in LA. And the art show itself is open for the next month

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOYS :: DAM FUNK :: JON BLUNK

If it weren't for these 2 guys the LOS ANGELES >>> SAN FRANCISCO Funk connection would of never happened. Thanks for making us one big family!!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!









REWIND: DAM FUNK @ SWEATER FUNK PICTURES 2008