Type Musical 10 - Lyrics

Lyrics are important. Sometimes its all about the vibe for sure, but it is a hell of a thing when you can nod to it and feel it in your heart. Is there a recent song lyric that you can't get out of your head? What do you sing, chant, or rap when you're riding? Was feeling this opening line: 

"Fuck a story arc if it don't involve no matriarch" - Ruby Ibarra

Dig this? Check out this: "Turn it Up" 

Character 143 - Boombox

Never had a huge boom box, but I used to sort my cassettes for the bus ride, and later the car ride. Did you have a boom box like this? Remember when you would tune to the radio to hear that certain show? Its a trip that you can walk around with something just as loud now that is the size of your shoe. What song would you play on a box right now? I'd play the instrumental to "money shot" by Curren$y.

Type Musical 9 - Harmony

Chords, soothing beats, and sounds that fit together is what this word means to me when it comes to music. Almost all genres use it, but my favorite is soul. 

Character 142 - Digging for 45's

Everyone digs and digging just means falling down the rabbit hole or looking for more of an item , topic, or feeling. This is of a very young lady digging for records, specifically 45's. You know, those small 7" records that usually have one song on each side. Singles! I used to dig for records. In fact, I started leaving my high school at lunchtime to go dig at Amoeba and Rasputin's in Berkeley around the age of 15. I'd usually dig because I didn't have much to spend and the deals or bargains were sometimes hard to find. When is the last time you went digging? For records, shoes, toys, heels, an insurance agent?

Type Musical 8 - Vinyl

I grew up with records, and I hope that my son will remember me playing them. Some of the first records I remember were in my parents house. Sade, MDK, Public Enemy, The Clash, Fela Kuti, Steel Pulse, an odd mix. The first record I ever purchased with my own money was "Bus Stops" by the Nonce (I'd purchased tapes up until that point). What was your first vinyl record? 

Character 141 - Pulling Speakers

I was a bedroom DJ who still loves music. I bought my first 1200 at 15 or so. I remember lugging equipment around to teach young people the little I knew about mixing, scratching, and hip hop history. To my DJs out there, do you remember the first time you bought a turntable, carried a speaker, or a crate to your first gig?

Type Musical 7 - Play that beat

I painted this with watercolor as part of a series of hand lettered typography related to music.

"Play that beat, why don't you play it for me? Play it! Kick it!" This is an old song from GLOBE and Whiz Kid. I was thinking about some of the first beats that mesmerized me, who made them, and if they still rock today. One of the first beats that made me take notice was "If it ain't ruff, it ain't me" by Dr Dre on the legendary Straight Outta Compton. The guitar sample and bass was so simple yet hypnotic. Another one was "I want to be free" by the legendary Ant Banks because of the samples and the live instruments on it. First time I heard it (on tape) was in a box chevy w/ my cousin Mook and the homie Jerome. In this day in age, who is making beats that really makes you ask "who made that?" Who makes you rewind it back?

If you dug this check out: 

Type Musical- LYRICS

Character 140 - Youth Sound

Here's a thought. The sound of the youth is different. Sometimes I love it, sometimes I don't like it at all. But the only constant is change. What they do has to be different in some way. What I pay attention to is the way they dance to it, the happiness or confidence that comes through. No matter what they (the youth) do they have echoes of the previous generations. What song are you or were you excited to play for your child? For me, most recently it was Paris-the devil made me do it. In the past it was Jimi Hendrix.

Type Musical 6 - Turn it up!

I want you to tell the sound man, sound woman, or sound person to turn it up! What was the first concert you attended when you felt the music you loved? For me, I think one of the first times I really felt the bass, treble, and force in my ears and body was at a 1989 Janet Jackson Rhythm Nation Tour show in Oakland California. The next time would be a show put on by the Live Lyricists Society at Berkeley High School. Whenever I hear "turn it up" I hear the Fantastic Five MC's from the 1982 film Wild Style.

Dig this? Check out: Vinyl

Character 139 - Listening

Did you ever fall asleep to a favorite record or album? Or was it a mix? I can remember spending hours listening to music; pouring over the liner notes. This is a tribute to those long nights listening to records, tapes, cd's, and mp3s. I made this last year as a way to celebrate analog music and feel like it fits perfect with record store day. Keep listening....

Want a print of this image?

Character 138 - Walkman

Walkman flavor for you. I remember getting my tapes ready for the bus ride. I had them all rewound to the beginning so I could hear the whole album. Did you have a walkman?

Character 137 - Purple headphones

That feeling when the music puts you at peace. Do you remember listening to music for hours without even glancing at a computer or phone? I do!! What is your favorite record that you own, or record your parents owned?

Furqan UPDATE 24 - More New stores 2018

Estellita's Library - Seattle, WA

Boogie Down Books - Bronx, NYC

Burning Books - Buffalo, NY

Kweli's Book Club (Formerly Nkiru Books) - Online/ Brooklyn, NYC

Libro Mobile - Santa Ana, CA

specializing in bilingual/ spanish books

Quimby's Books - Chicago, IL

Vroman's - Pasadena (LA) California

So, thank goodness for independent bookstores. If you are in Chicago, NYC, Seattle, or Los Angeles here are some spots you can get Furqan's First Flat Top from. If you must get books for someone or a specific book, order it from your local bookstore. Yes it costs more than Amazon, but the money you spend helps fund your local economy and give your city access to knowledge, community events, and more. Please visit or buy from these stores. #SupportIndependentBookstores

Shout out to Nia King of the Queer & Trans artists of color series for recommending stores!

Photo: Bay Area Book Festival

This is me talking on a panel with Maya Gonzalez , Aida Salazar, Jennifer Torres, Hearher Robertson-Devine, and moderated by Maceo Cabrera-Estevez ( Booklandia),
Photo by Xilo Photography

Video - People's Kitchen Collective

Me and my wife volunteered to help with PKC’s mission. Her, much more than me, taking the lead on cooking for hundreds of people. Super proud to work with these homies and all the good people who came to help and eat! Follow the Peoples Kitchen Collective here. Also, my crew Trust Your Struggle volunteered some artwork to be printed along with several other artists which you can see in the video.

Video: Larry Herd (house music)

Growing up, I did not know Black folks invented house music. I only know a few songs here and there but "Can you feel it" is one of the best songs i've heard! Props to Larry Heard.

When She Rises - LA Sparc

If you're in the LA area please come through to this amazing show of ladies rocking all types of styles from Graffiti, photography, design, illustration, fine art, to activism. Its in Venice California on the west side of LA. See you there. More info here. Check out the line up curated by Erin Yoshi of TYS and When She Rises.

LA Book Reading @ Mi Vida Shop

Hey, if you're in or around the Los Angeles area I'm doing a book reading at Mi Vida in Highland Park this coming Sunday. All ages are welcome! Come thru w/your babies for storytime and feel free to bring young budding illustrators/writers to ask questions about book making! And the homie DJ Spinorita will be playing music, so come support small local biz.The homie Oree brought me to this store back in 2010 and I loved their selection of kids books (curated by Sol, formerly of Imix Books) featuring latinx and bilingual stories. The store also has some great clothes, locally made art, and mo.

Facebook event link

Store Link: www.shopmivida.com