Erica Buddington is so DOPE

 

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I first came across Erica Buddington through the many Black history videos she was doing on YouTube. As an artist who does Black, AAPI, and Women's history art I was immediately juiced to see how she was offering so much knowledge.

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The Classroom Rebel podcast interview is dope and here is another interview she did w/ The Grio's Natasha S. Alford. Ok, follow Erica here on IG and her company Langston League!

Dig this? Check out this interview w/ educator and Ethnic Studies advocate Art Nelson Concordia

What is Pimp Culture? Podcast w/ Madlines, Ryan Nicole, & Coco Peila

 

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DOPE conversation by MC's MADLines, Ryan Nicole, and Coco Peila talking about #pimpculture #misogny #hiphop and divisions within the Black community. Soooooo necessary coming from the Bay and Oakland specifically where we ll grew up with so much pimp culture which is a direct product of capitalism and passing on oppression. I've seen, heard, or experienced all three of these sisters perform and rock and they are not only super on point, but just dope artists. 

Dig this? Check out their websites: MADlines, Ryan Nicole, and Coco Peila

Amy Sherald - Everyday Icons

 

I really love seeing art processes and its great to see Amy get her props and some time to just work. I remember seeing her work via the Black Contemporary Art Tumblr and was super excited to see her be chosen for the Obama portrait. Go Amy!

Dig this? Check out this video about Hank Willis Thomas or my last inspiration board.

Linafornia - Beatmaker and composer

 

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Been loving the work of Linafornia for a few years before I even knew who she was. This is a live set she did w/ an MC, but her work is amazing on its own. The Belizean LA raised musician is on her way!

Follow her work on IG

Linafornia- Wet

Dig this? Check out the last inspiration board.

Stuff I've Been Listening to 24 - Synths please

 

Loose Ends (UK) - Hanging on a string 1984

Always loved Loose Ends and this classic track from them.

Welcome welcome. Here is a new post with some of my favorite synths, mostly across soul, jazz, funk, hip hop, and rock. I didn't always know that I loved synths, I just like good music. But after hearing some chatter about synths in general and some of the machines created to make the sounds, I thought I'd share some of my favorites, not the best synths ever. This is totally subjective. Enjoy.

Little Dragon (Sweden) - A Place to belong (2007)

This is the first Little Dragon song I heard from my boy Miguel. Fonky.

We Are King (Minneapolis/LA) - The Greatest (2015)

Agggh, one of the illest soul groups of recent to write and produce w/ synths!!

Squarepusher (UK) - Plaistow Flex Out (2001)

Was turned on to Squarepusher by my homie and drummer Valentino 

Pink Floyd (UK) - On the Run (1973)

Always loved this Pink Floyd album! 

Kool & The Gang (Jersey City) - Summer Madness (1974)

Classic joint from a classic jazz, rock, soul band.

What is this? 

This series is called "Stuff I've been listening to" and this is my place to share music that I listen to while I work, process, decompress, and live life. Some of it is new, some old. But I'm always listening. I share in the hopes that you will find something that inspires you. Please share with a fellow music lover.

Satoshi & Makoto (Japan) - Crepuscule Leger (2017)

New! Don't know much about these cats, but I dig it.

Jneiro Jarel (Philadelphia) - Soul Starr (2005)

Discovered Jeniro aka Dr Who Dat? at the record store and became an instant fan. 

Björk (Iceland) - Hyperballad (1995)

Heard Bjork through one of my best friends in the 90s and was blown away

Zion I w/ Mikos da Gawd (Oakland) - Saving Souls (2016)

RIP Zumbi, this is one of countless synth flavored Zion I songs

Did you miss the last installment of this series? 

Stuff I've been listening to 23: More Jazz

Stuff I've been listening to 22: Instrumentals

Stuff Ive been listening to 21: Raps

Stuff Ive been listening to 17: Soul

Stuff Ive been listening to 19: UK Artists

Sexual Harrassment (Midwest US) - I need a freak (1983)

House party track tried and true. First heard it as a child.

Chaka Khan (Chicago) - What Cha Gonna do for Me? (1981)

Radio classic on kiss fm in the Bay

Marcos Valle (Brazil) - Naō Tem Nada Naō (1973)

Found this cut via Madlib!

Kraftwerk (Germany) - Numbers (1981)

These cats are German, but this is straight up electro classic hip hop material. 

Ok, one last one fam....

Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein (Austin) - Kids (2016)

Discovered the guys through the Stranger Things soundtrack which was both old and new, simple, yet amazing! Reminds me of 80s movies and that was the point! Keep listening to new and old music. There are tons of great artists still coming out with music. If you're not sure where to look, check out your local DJ, playlists, mixes, and your local independent radio stations......

What's in my bag? Amoeba Series

 

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Ok, so I grew up going to record stores. Rasputins, Leopolds, Tower, Virgin, The Warehouse, and Amoeba is and was my favorite. In high school I used to walk from Berkeley high at lunch and use my lunch money to buy 99c or $5 hip hop records. I loved and still love getting new records, spending time with them, and just listening. 

I love this episode with Santigold! This "What's In My Bag?" series is old, but I love how they keep reinventing it by interviewing new and older artists. Case in point, have you listened to any of these episodes like:

Kaytranada

Yuna 

Big Boi 

The Internet

Little Dragon

Karriem Riggins/ DJ Jrocc (Beatjunkies)

Kamasi Washington

Ibeyi

Thundercat

Dig this? Peep the last post I did about Jazz-Stuff I've been listening to

Inspiration board 43

 

Hey fam, I hope you're well. It has been a rough one for me lately but trying to hold on to it. Check out some of these things that have been dope to me recently. Keep going.

Starting from top to bottom, left to right:

1. Major Taylor Iron Riders -video by The Pro's Closet (Cycling/Fitness)

2. Odessa- Middle grade graphic novel by Jonathan Hill (book)

3. Giant Robot- Doc about an AAPI magazine/store (film)

4. Monica Martin- Vocalist, songwriter from the midwest (music)

5. El Michel's Affair x Black Thought- I'm still somehow (music)

6. 1000% Me- Doc about being mixed by W. Kamau Bell (film)

7. Art of Cam Kendell from Fart Quest (art)

8. Hidari- Stop motion animated samurai (stop mo animation)

9. The Nakba- Educational video about the Nakba in Palestine (history)

10. Chang Can Dunk- Narrative film about personal goals (film)

11. Cymone Wilder- is an incredible lettering artist (lettering)

12. This Was Our Pact- All ages graphic novel by Ryan Andrews (book)

13.  Moon Girl and the Devil Dinosaur- Animated show based on comic (tv)

14. Endea Owens - Where the Nubians Grow (music)

15. Turning Red- Animated film by Pixar (animation)

16. The Last of Us- Post apocalyptic tv show based on video game (tv)

Did you miss the previous inspiration board? Here it is, plus a few more 

Inspiration board 42

Inspiration board 41

Inspiration board 40

 

What's this? This inspiration board is one of the ways I stay inspired and sane through all of life's trials, and tribulations, work, etc. I've been making inspiration boards full of films, books, music, events, people, artists, movements, and more for over a decade. Do you have an inspiration board? Please share in the comments.

Who am I? My name is Rob Liu-Trujillo and I'm an artist working in kid lit, public art, and other disciplines. Go to my website, or follow me on IG or YouTube. You can also cop my first art book here.

Chinese pioneers in Reggae, Ska, and Rock Steady

 

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Wow, the more you know. I LOVED listening to this video and it just goes to show there is so many stories yet to be told. I did not know that VP Records stood for Vincent and Patricia-two Jamaicans who were ethnically Asian and mixed! Wow. This video talks about several Chinese pioneers in Jamaican music and who consider themselves "Jamaican", that's it.

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Check out this video that expands on Patricia Chin, co founder of VP Records who are known world wide for distributing reggae and dancehall music.

Dig this? Check out this doc about Giant Robot Magazine!

Leo Espinosa (illustrator) - Video demo

 

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Leo is a fantastic illustrator and in this video with the Society of Illustrators he talks about some of his process for illustrating "The World Belonged to US" written by Jacqueline Woodson.

Dig this? Check out my last inspiration board

Major Taylor Iron Riders

 

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Thoroughly enjoyed watching this and learning about the Major Taylor Iron Riders. I did this illustration of the original L&M Riders. As a former kid who loved riding and who has gotten back on in the past two years I'm really excited about riding again.

Dig this? Check out this piece about Tony Coleman (Bikes 4 Life) and this mini comic about bmx riding

The Nakba- historical video by Vox

 

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One of the most strategic things those in power do to shape public opinion is to control the narrative, They do this by omitting, blocking, and often erasing the history of the oppressed peoples. This video shows what has been left out of most history books and discussions of freedom when it comes to Palestine and the creation of the state of Israel. It is not anti-semetic to discuss the true history of how this state came to be through the British and the United States involvement and support. It is anti-semetic however to deny that the Jewish people were not persecuted and murdered during WW2! History is powerful yall.

Please watch and share

Dig this? Check out this video of how apartheid works today in occupied Palestine aka Israel. 

El Michel's Affair + Black Thought- I'm Still Somehow

 

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Prolly had this joint on repeat for the last week at least. The slow melancholy nature had me nodding.

Dig this? Check out the last Stuff I've Been Listening To-JAZZ

Palestine will be free - US Campaign for Palestinian Rights

 

This is a dope poster to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the "Nakba" in occupied Palestine. If you support the freedom and determination of the Palestinian People please tell your local representative to stop arming Israel! 

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Dig this? Check out the Art of illustrator Raneem Hijazi who did the above poster, some

background on "The Nakba",

1000% Me: Growing up Mixed - trailer

 

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One to watch out for. A new doc by W. Kamau Bell ( Do the work, stand up, united Shades of America) . Its great to see some friends and folks in this trailer too. 

Dig this? check out my last inspiration board.

Berna Anat - How do I Pick a Bank?

 

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Berna Anat, is doing the damn thing when it comes to sharing financial information and literacy that is quick, funny, to the point, ethical, and aware of how not all financial advice applies to everyone. Especially to Black folks, Indigenous , Asian Americans, Latinos, etc.  I've been following her for two or three years and I have definitely felt informed and smarter after listening to her speak. Check out her new YouTube series!

For example, this is common knowledge to most folks, but for some reason it didn't sink in to me until she broke it down. Using credit cards to make purchases helps you earn points which can be used to buy other things like plane tickets, or whatever you need depending on the card.

Dig this? I wrote about her when I heard she's got a book dropping to break some of this down for young people and teachers. Get her book here

Hidari - Stop motion trailer (samurai)

 

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Juiced to see this one and the growing shorts, films, etc made with stop motion lately. Here's a Catsuka article about the film and here is the link to their Kickstarter to make this film.

Dig this? Check out this inspiration board or the sneak peek of Wendell & Wild

I'm a Virgo - Trailer

 

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Can't wait to see this new series by Boots Riley (The Coup/ Sorry to Bother You). I left the theater going "what the fuck was that?" when I saw Sorry to Bother You. But I have to give him props because I love to see Black/ POC directors do some weird shit I wasn't expecting. Not sure what to expect with "I'm a Virgo" starring Jharrel Jerome, Carmen Ejoho, and Mike Epps but I'm excited to see it!

If you didn't see "Sorry to Bother You" check that out here and if you're unfamiliar with the pen game of Boots Riley, I'd highly suggest listening to The Coup!

Dig this? Check out my last inspiration board

Stills from the show:

Black Art: In the Absence of Light- Trailer

 

Hey, this doc inspired me today to draw like I haven't in a long time. If you haven't seen it, check it out!!

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Te gusto? Check out my last inspiration board 

10 Years of Revision Path!!!!

 

Ey, we gotta give big props and credit to Maurice Cherry who has spent the last decade researching, contacting, featuring, interviewing Black designers and artists. I started listening to the show off and on when my friend Qa'id Jacobs was a featured guest(2016). I knew Qa'id from Brooklyn and was astonished at the time to see a podcast dedicated to Black artists and designers like this. It did NOT exist back then. But folks Like Andrea Pippins, John Jennings, Kimberly Bryant, Goldi Gold, Craig Brimm, Gabriele Smith, and Dawn Okoro were working HARD even back then.

If you're interested in architecture, graphic design, illustration, UI UX, etc go to the website and listen to some of these episodes. LINK

Listen to this episode about the history of Revision Path where he breaks down some of the hardships he's faced over the years and some of the triumphs. Thank god he has kept it going! 

Thank you Maurice!!! Who himself is a great designer. This is his company.

Dig this? Check out Black Work Talk podcast or these Business Podcasts

LLAG Radio - Art Nelson Concordia interview

 

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This is a really great interview with educator, activist, and dad Art Concordia Nelson about his work in Ethnic Studies. He has been a teacher in schools for over 20 years, was instrumental to the fight for ethnic studies in San Francisco public schools, Ethnic Studies as a requirement for all California high schoolers, and is now working on a program in Santa Barbara.

Some of my favorite topics he brought up in this video are:

• Ethnic Studies going from the margins to the center and the attacks that come with that
• Why Ethnic Studies and Critical Race Theory are under scrutiny and threat
• How race was invented to divide people
• The path of inquiry to understand systems
• The experience of working with young people and the responses or questions they have
• Anti Oppression/ Anti Racism
• Sorting neighborhoods into workers, managers, and owners

There were more gems but heres a good quote: "Ethnic Studies is history from the perspective of racialized communities of color"

Dig this? Check out my last Ethnic Studies in Every School painting and the Coalition for Liberated Ethnic Studies