Roc Raida is one of the most influential DJs in hip hop, having come up through the ranks with a foundational power crew of DJs The X-Ecutioners & X-Men his mark is indelible. Recently both crews got together to celebrate Roc Raida’s 40th, with an album and series of vignettes.

I’ll let Rob Swift Tell it:

This May 17th marks what would have been Roc Raida’s 40th birthday. Unfortunately Raida isn’t here to rejoice with us but it doesn’t mean we can’t. Thus, I ask you, Raida’s fans, not to mourn his death on the 17th of May. For birthdays are about celebrating life.

Although Raida only lived to be 37, he accomplished more in those 37 years than some people do in a lifetime. The odds were stacked against Raida from childhood. The odds say a young man who drops out of school will never make it out of the projects. But Raida not only left Harlem’s Foster Projects as an adult, he left New York and made a home for his wife and kids in Maryland. The odds say an aspiring DJ without turntables will never be able to perfect his skills. But Raida initially developed his style by going to other people’s homes and practicing on sets that didn’t belong to him. The odds say once you retire from battling you’ve given up your chance to win a world DJ title. But Raida came out of a 3 year retirement and won the 1995 World DMC Title. The odds say once you die, the world moves on without you. But through the support of many of YOU for my mixtape “Roc For Raida”, the memory of Anthony Williams aka Grandmaster Roc Raida continues to live on. The odds have always been stacked against Raida and even in death, he continues to defy those odds.

So for those of you who’ve purchased “Roc For Raida”, on behalf of Tyeasha Williams (Raida’s wife) and their 3 kids, Tia, Nyra and Asia, I sincerely thank you from the bottom of my heart. To those who haven’t bought a copy of “Roc For Raida” I urge you to please support. Proceeds from the sales will be donated to Tye and the kids. But If that isn’t enough incentive, I hope my latest “Roc For Raida” video trailer will move you to Roc For Raida!

Peace

Rob Swift

“From The Inbox” is the submissions portion of Social8gency, whether you sent it via email / Soundcloud / Facebook / Twitter / Tumblr - we try to listen to everything. Keep Creatin’!

Proe dropped through the inbox a few days ago, being as I received a good number of submissions in a matter of days, I hadn’t gotten around to listening to all of them yet.  Sitting down this morning to go through them. I must say I waited too long to check out Proe.

A dusty style and sound that in some ways can be described as reminiscent of Homeboy Sandman, Grieves, & Atmosphere; fans of Rhymesayers and rap with a bit rock awareness will feel right at home with Proe.  In my opinion he’s got a style and passion that comes through with every word he utters.  Also there is a sick break in “She’s a Cutter”.

Be Brave, Gladiator  @Social8gency Recommendations:

“All Day”

“Cuss By Candlelight”

“Be Brave, Gladiator”

“She’s A Cutter”

“The Worst”

I don’t want to say too much more, I’ll let you decide whether you’re feeling it or not.  Check out the embed of his latest Be Brave, Gladiator below and look out for Proe -> @proemusic / Facebook / Official / Bandcamp

I (@bjones21) have been spending the last few weeks here at @Social8gency putting together this show and I want everyone in LA, shit Cali and lets add Nevada and Mexico for good measure to make it out on December 29, 2011 to The FreQ Show.  Its the first of hopefully many events and performance put together by Social8gency to bring that good, that SWAG to the masses.

My homie, associate, and outstanding musician Malik The FreQ and I have put together a undeniable lineup of DJ’s to get your transition into 2012 going right and to exercise a few more bad habits before those resolutions kick in.

Here are the details for those playing at home:

WHERE
Little Temple
4519 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90029
Doors @ 9pm

LINEUP
9 – 10:00pm : The GetDown Collective (DJs)
10 – 10:45pm : dj Almighty Nectar
11 – 11:45pm : Malik The FreQ LINK
12 – 12:45pm : Ta’Raach
12:45– 2am : DJ House Shoes

Boom Clap Bachelors – Skynd Dig Langsomt from Plug Research on Vimeo.

Watching this made me smile, last I saw Iverson he was a bit of the a shell of the confident, ready to take on all comers player that I loved for so many years. On top of that it also features Dwyane Wade. So in one video two of favorite players of the last 15 years are on display laying props to one another.

I also love Iverson’s words about his famous crossover on MJ.

Interview by @bjones21 for @social8gency

I came across Sagaki Keita’s work and thought it was some of the most amazingly psychedelic art I’d seen in some time.  The precision on the macro scale down to the seemingly haphazard and spontaneous nature of the micro is amazing.  I’m always a bit taken a back that he doesn’t lose his way when creating these pieces.

The interview was done via email.  Sagaki speaks little english and thus the text has some hiccups here and there.  I’ve kept it as is, with little alteration as not to misconstrue or misrepresent Mr. Keita’s words.

Mr. Keita where are you originally from?

I‘m from Japan. I was born in the place called Ishikawa. I lived in Fukushima to18-24 years old. I live in Tokyo now

Has your location and how you grew up influenced your work at all?

I do not think that the location influences my work.
But, as child, I was affected by one thing; it was Mandara. Mandara is the religious painting of the esoteric Buddhism that I was very interested in at first.

At the age of 10 years old, I was with by father and saw a mandara. It is very minute, richly colored, and psychedelic. And it expresses a human being and the universe that they are both the whole and the part. I was strongly charmed by Mandara.
In addition, comics were the most imminent thing since I was young. I wrote/drew comics from my younger years.

“It is my roots.”

What can you say about your style?

I draw a picture to a concept in both the part and the whole of the art. My work is made with a pen mainly. I draw a picture of the macro image and spend most time on the minute mainly. My works is comprised of accumulation of many characters. It may look like a masterpiece and a city or a monster from a distance. However, it is really the accumulation of the picture such as comics and strange motifs.

What are the characters that you draw? There is seemingly a usual style to them, but always a few changes to each?

I do not understand it well myself.  I draw the thing which flashes, impromptu.
They are my other self and are a part of the world and the space at the same time.
I think that characters are continually changing.

Were there any artists that inspired your work?

One that I was performed inspire of is a mandara as expressed earlier.
In addition, the favorite painter is Hieronymus Bosch.

Do you work in any other mediums, or purely pen & ink?

The art supplies are ball-point pens (Gel ink 0.38mm) mainly.
In addition, the gray tone draws India ink with the thing which I weakened with water.

Where did you develop your style?

This style came out naturally.
My style drawing little by little from the corner. This style fits me. Then gradually erode over the whole canvas.

I don’t draw a draft. I draw it in pen from the beginning.
The style to repeat several levels like oil painting, and make a screen, this is not suitable to me. The place where I drew on doesn’t want to be touched anymore.

Where did you go to school?

I went to the Fukushima University graduate school.
Fukushima University is not University of Arts, It is a pedagogic university.
I majored in art in the education.

Fukushima is a prefecture with a nuclear power plant becoming the problem in the world now, and of course, it is the land which there was for very heavy damage by an earthquake.

What was the experience for you during the earthquake?

It is a difficult question.
My feelings probably have not yet come, it is difficult to regard it with objectivity.
Probably I think that outwardly the picture [myself] has not changed immediately. However, I may be unconsciously changed by this earthquake.

“I was able to reconfirm that I will draw a picture all the time from now on.”

Fukushima has a lot of friends and acquaintances. I worried very much.
There was not much room to think about oneself.
However, I make use of this experience and think that it is necessary to change it into a positive thing from now on.

“One way is through art.”

Where were you at the time?

I was in Tokyo. It was just the day of the graduation ceremony of the high school where I work. Tokyo shook very much, too. I remember that I was very much surprised.

Is art our full time job?

I draw, work, and sell.
I work as a teacher of the art in a high school

More of me @LP33

Other than looking drunk in the thumbnail preview this was a solid interview with the guys.

Here it is the full length of my interview with The New Boyz! The interview was done just before the release of their lead single Backseat ft. Dev & The Cataracs.
Check it out.

PREVIOUSLY -
Things To Do In LA When You’re Brock Jones: New Boyz – “Backseat ft. Dev & The Cataracs” Behind The Scenes

@bjones21 with the interview

When I saw this I could think of only three things: it opens a portal to hell, its used as next millennia social experiment, or it signals aliens. I still wouldn’t doubt that one of those is still an option. Either way it’s now on my list of sites to see. Architecturally awe inspiring.

From Rocco Architects:

Guangdong Museum is one of the four cultural landmarks for Zhujiang New Town of Guangzhou. Conceived as an Objet d’Art in a monumental scale, it is an allegory to the impeccably and intricately sculpted antique Chinese artifacts of a lacquer box, which collects and reflects treasures of the times. The museum is designed to house objects of treasure, and is also a treasured object of fascination. It is an identifiable cultural icon, giving visitors a memorable experience on the traditional wisdoms as well as the appreciation of the cultural identity of the city.

by @bjones21

When I linked up with Kenneth Price earlier this year for the Behind The Video Series, he made mention of “The Wonder Year” soon to hopefully see the light of day, and below is the trailer for Ken Price’s year chronicling the great Grammy Award Winning Super Producer 9th Wonder.

If you love hip hop, click through to 9th Wonder’s Official Page, and request to have it screened in your city.

Found @pricefilms & @9thwondermusic.

This is another from my time out at @A3C Hip Hop Festival in Atlanta this past October.  I had a great time out there & the organizers (shout out to the big homie Brian Knott, if you meet him you’ll know what I mean) treated us great and provided outstanding access.

For this one I linked up with the outspoken Killer Mike, growing up in Atlanta he was one of the names I always loved. Not saying I’m some street dude, but I appreciate the craft on the mic and he was one of the first out of the A’ doing it and doing it with intelligence and speaking to real issues.

Not seen but sitting across from me was Immortal Technique, dude’s real talk all the time.