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

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

Type Musical 1-Rhythm

not exactly sure where i'm going with this, but its more about the journey.

Jazz Collage: Portraits & Typography (2010-2013)

Here is a collage of most of the portraits and type I did over the past two or three years related to Jazz Musicians of the past and present. I cannot remember how I started this but I do remember wanting to try out some things whether they failed or worked. Weird styles, different color patterns, some of my favorites, etc, etc. Anyways, like many I found jazz through hip hop and for that I am truly grateful. It not only opened my mind to a different musical patterns, but different religions, philosophies, and world views.

Portraits: Lto R : Cassandra Wilson, Madlib, Etta James, Roy Ayers, Meshell Ndegeocello, Oliver Nelson, Amel Larrieux, John Coltrane, Dorothy Ashby, Nujabes, Freestyle Fellowship, Patrice Rushen, Bobbi Humphrey, Headnodic, Esperanza Spalding, Pharoah Sanders, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Jose James, Abbey Lincoln, Dizzy Gillespie, Muhsinah, Mulatu Astatke, Eligayehu "Gigi" Shibabaw, Jneiro Jarel, Celia Cruz

Type: L to R: A-Amel Larrieux, B-Bebel Gilberto, C-Coltrane, D-Digable Planets, E-Esperanza Spalding, F-Freddie Joachim, G-Guru, H-Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, I-Invisible Skratch Piklz, J-Jneiro Jarel, K-Kat 010, L-Linda Oh, M-Miles Davis, N-Nina Simone, O-Oliver Nelson, P-Pancho Sanchez, Q-Quadron, R-Robert Glasper, S-Stuyvesants, T-Thelonius monk, U-Ulysses Owens Jr, V-Vinia Mojica, W-Wayne Shorter, X- nadie, Y-Yesterdays New Quintet, Z-Zelia Barbosa

 Some of my favorite songs from over the many Jazz posts are: and disclaimer, you might not think of some of these cuts as Jazz, but they are to me. Look out for more Jazz artwork and Posters soon.

John Coltrane-Aisha
Patrice Rushen-Before the dawn
Mulatu Astatke-Tezeta
Meshell Ndegeocello-Aquarium
Madlib-Dear God and Stepping into Tomorrow
Dorothy Ashby-Drink
Oliver Nelson-Stolen Moments
Zelia Barbosa-Pedro Dina
Amel Larrieux-We can be new
Roy Ayers-Aint got time
Bobbi Humphrey-My little girl
Headnodic-Something feat Rashaan Ahmad
Donald Byrd-Places and spaces
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble-Sankofa
Vinia Mojica-Sands of time
Digable Planets-Pacifics (NY is red hot)
Robert Glasper-FTB

If you would like to see who else I drew or painted click the tags "Jazz" "typography" and/or "Jazz Portraits"

Typography 19-Poncho Sanchez (Congas)

I have the DJ Jesse Chuy Varela out here at KCSM The Bay Area's Jazz station to thank for putting me on to "Poncho". Every time he ends his Sunday Latin jazz show he plays a cut featuring Poncho with Clare Fischer called "Morning". Love that song! But, Poncho has so many records and I have a lot to learn about his catalog. Here's a few I like "Besame Mama" , Night Walk, and his version of "Night in Tunisia"

Typography 17 -Yesterdays New Quintet (Y)

Two of my favorite songs by YNQ are "Uno Esta" and "Little girl". Not sure when I first heard of Madlib's group YNQ, but I think it was on a Stones Throw sampler. I bought one of the vinyl lp's years ago and fell in love with the simplicity of the loops and rhythm.

Typography 16- Stuyvesants

I think I first became hip to the work of Darien Victor Birks and Allan Cole by seeing the site FLWRPT. I then started to hear something about them making music and when the “Stuyvesants instrumental LP dropped it was bananas! I’ve had this joint on rotation in my mp3 player ever since it came out and have seen various folks connect with it. My favorite joints from the LP are “Fire (Untrue)” , “Seldom Seen”, and “Greene St. Anthem”. Before living in Bed Stuy (Brooklyn) I probably wouldn’t have appreciated the different vibes a street or area has. But my kid used to attend a school on Greene St so it does stick out in my mind. Anyway, if you’re not up on these cats, go check out their work, its free to download. And if I’m not mistaken they just came out with some new material

. Hype design and music! Check out the letter S for Stuyvesants! Greene Ave. Anthem by The Stuyvesants

Typography 5-Guru

G is for GURU. RIP! Been working on this Jazz alphabet for a few months now.The end result will be.....

Typography 2-Esperanza Spalding

E is for "Esperanza".....Spalding. Working on an alphabet of Jazz related letters. This E relates back to this style.