Illustration for Bryant Terry's new book "The Inspired Vegan"

Just got the book from the homie today and its DOPE! This book is filled with great recipe’s and great atmosphere. Each recipe is complied with music, quotes, a story, and or film that inspired the recipe.

I first saw Bryant Terry when the book “Grub” came out. He was speaking about the book at a Borders book store.Very renaissance and contagiously passionate about his mission. Fast forward six or seven years later, this is his third book of recipe’s after Grub and Vegan Soul Kitchen and I've got a piece in "The Inspired Vegan" yall!

Along side the songs and the recipes are some great illustrations and graphics by artists such as Favianna Rodriguez, Jidan Koon, Rachel Konte, and one of my biggest mentor’s; Brett Cook. All of the pieces relate to the recipe, and or food. For example, the chapter my piece is on celebrates the spirit of Shirley Chisolm with several recipes and songs. From Ginger beer, tostones, and citurs sorbet to Brand Nubian, Bob Marley, The Abysinnians, and poems of Staceyann Chinn.

The brother is on his A game, with positive press from Huffington Post, NY Times, countless Chef's and Oprah to name a few. Please go check him and his beautiful family out for your self though, pick up the book at your local bookstore and thumb through it. A lot of us talk about eating healthier, but here is a simple tool to do it. I'm not a vegan, but I find the recipes, the stories, and the inspiration very fresh and empowering. Check out this video on Urban Organic TV too.

Character 26-Paikea

Was watching "Whale Rider

" again recently and thought it'd be fresh to see a more teenage Paikea on a motorcycle, super heroin style. Shout out to Keisha and to Witi Ihimaera, author of the story the film was based on.

Siaira on Muphoric Sounds

Got a lot of words for this musicians talent, but I wont go into it too much here, except that I support her sound and love her music. Go read about her here on Muphoric Sounds

Jazz Portraits 18-John Coltrane (Tenor/Alto Saxophone)

Hands down John Coltrane is the illest Jazz musician ever , to me. He is my all time favorite and I wish that I could explain why. I waited before doing his portrait because of the gravity, then decided just to doodle something quick (a younger photo). Enjoy the process and let it go. I still remember discovering my step dads cassette recording. It was a white tape, the greatest hits that had Giant Steps, My Favorite Things and so many more. In addition to those songs, Aisha and Lush Life are some of my favorites of his music. Then of course there’s his solo’s on Kind of Blue. I could go on…. Big shout out to Jimmy Garrison, Elvin Jones, and McCoy Tyner.

January Love and Light Switches

Newness, heres the link to get em in your spot. Love and light!

Positive Wall Affirmation- "Action!"

Here is the first PWA of the year, a very fitting word for a mountain of when, "Action!" (link)

Short Story Year Wrap Up

Here is a collage of all the short stories I created this year. After hitting a slump with a story I was writing and illustrating about me and my son, I decided to take a break from it and to just “play”. These are the results of that play, it was fun, challenging at times, eye opening, and very therapeutic. As you can see in the pieces, some of them ride the line between what is children’s book illustration and what is comics. That was intentional, no borders, no particular medium constraints, just experimentation. This year I’m already working on extending this play and intensifying the focus with “fun” still in mind. If you click the “short story” label below this post you will see the original stories in more detail. And please comment and let me know which resonated with you. You reading this will be a big part of intensifying this process of exploration this year. Peace, love, and light. Happy New Year. -Rob

Short Story 10-Lowridin' Mother & Daughter

Ayanna and her mother Dolores were living a dream. They bought their rusty 61 Chevy Impala on a road trip to see grandma. When the two told grandma and the family that they were going to turn the junker into a beautiful lowrider complete with front, back, and side to side hydraulics; the family thought they were crazy. But, it takes an unordinary person (or persons) to make dreams come true. They built it! Their very own car to go cruising in. They would later start a car club and name it “A Lady’s Car Club”.

Inspiration 11

From top left to right:Mc Lyte's 1st LP-Lyte as a rock (it'd been awhile, needed to hear it again), Amulet-Incredible graphic novel im reading w/ my kid, we're on #3! Chaz Bojorquez-master calligrapher, Soul Train 09 ads-caught this at Atlantic st, Black Diamond Shining crew (Dead Eyes, Ras Terms, and Ash Rose n this shot), Maroons of Jamaica by Mavis Cambell, Textiles by Colectivo Raahuna-dope styles, Illustration by zine maker Travis Fudge, Suitable 4 Framin' graffiti zine-homie Nisha is in this along w/Spie, "21 Story of Roberto Clemente" by Wilfred Santiago-incredible story/book/art, Juggaknots 1st LP-Clear Blue Skies!, Decolonize Wall Street-Cuz its a great necessary statement, The Zapatista Reader edited by Tom Hayden feat hella writers, Aja Monet-amazing poet who got lines 4 days, Just Cause/ Causa Justa becuse they've taken on some great work, Oban-Star Racers-just watched some of this w/ my kid.Cool animation collab btwn French and Japanese animators.

Muphoric Sounds 20- Lonnie Liston Smith

If you get a chance to cop this LP, please do. The whole thing is dope. I have the vinyl somewhere, but I think the tape cassette laying around my moms collection kept me going back to it. That joint Digable sampled for "NY is Red Hot" is on there too. Wow, the 20th! Muphoric Sounds piece! Couldnt doctor this photo, will do later. For now just go listen...

In The Trunk w/ Lonnie Liston Smith