We attended Community 54‘s special instore sales event that featured an appearance from the style mogul Taz Arnold and his clothing brand TI$A. The store front was super packed with TI$A fans anxious to get there hands on the new items, available in store were new snapback hats, sweatshirts, and plenty of accessories. Midway through the event, the Community 54 courtyard filled up with people waiting for Taz’s appearance. Finally he came through, dipped in a vintage MCM leather trench, fresh vintage shades and gold YSL pins galore. Fans and cameras rushed the man of the hour with questions, greets and autograph requests, we just so happened to sneak an interview in amongst all of the chaos. We spoke briefly about his opinion on east coast and west coast style, his music, and of course the Dr Romanelli collaboration. Enjoy!

Shot and edited by Zo Magic & Ruben V of Jungle Gym Magazine

We recently caught up with the young innovative emcee BrandUN DeShay from Chi-Town at South Paw in Brooklyn where he performed at Barrel House Bklyn’s “Locals Only” show. His “All Day DeShay” mixtape just dropped and he is making crazy waves throughout the net and on the street. As well as being a rapper, he has produced a lot of hits for artists like Casey Veggies, Dom Kennedy, Curren$y and much more. We talked to him about his mixtape, production, his relationship with Odd Future, and his plans for 2012. Check out the video below where we go live with BrandUN DeShay.

Shot & edited by Ruben Villalta for Jungle Gym Magazine

Photo by Jeff

Recently Justin West, Ryan Cronin and Johnny Taylor Collaborated in a “Atomic Vision” art Exhibit at the Tria Gallery, Chelsea NYC. Jungle Gym Magazine got chance to talk with well respected pop artist Justin West about the newest work he’s exhibited. Jay West style of work is incredible, putting expressiveness of abstract, surrealism, and stylistic rendering of graphic illustration into his pieces. In this interview he talks about what influenced him as an artist and what is going to happen next in his career.

Interview By Zo Magic

Words by Frederick T. Smith

JGM: For those who don’t know, what does The UNICO 1990 stand for ?

E. Roman: “The Unico” means “The only one”.  I chose to use a Spanish word for the simple fact that I was born and raised in Puerto Rico and the “1990″ stands for the year I was born. There was a lot of wild shit going on in the USA during that era like the Dream Team, some of the realest to ever touch the mic in Hip Hop died throughout those years. N*ggas getting robbed in NYC over Polo pieces, and Puerto Rican boxers like Tito Trinidad whopping n*ggas asses and shit.  Anyways to me the 90′s were the shit man, the 90′s mean a lot to me. That’s why it’s “The Unico 1990″ and fuck the rest.

JGM: How did the brand come about?

E. Roman: When I was in PR as a kid I always wanted to make my own clothing line and be apart of this industry.  It was hard due to the fact that I didn’t speak English when I first got to the US.  I was just hustling and spending all my money on what I liked and what I felt I needed. After a while I got sick of spending money on gear, so I was like fuck this shit I’m going to make my own brand based on my life as inspiration, and turning my ideas into designs. The only thing that I really own in this world, is my life and ideas.

JGM: Do you consider yourselves a lifestyle or street-wear brand?

E. Roman: Well lets just say that my lifestyle has become apart of street-wear and street-wear has become apart of my lifestyle. Like I said before I use events in my life to inspire my designs. For example our latest t-shirt “The Unico Young-Gunz”, I created “The Unico Young-Gunz” because that is what the family is about. Just a bunch “Young-Gunz” doing their things, helping each other out, and trying to stay away from what we used to do in the streets.

JGM: Is there a method to the cool font text based prints?

E. Roman: Hell yea, first I have to smoke lots of good weed so I could concentrate because I’m too hyper.  I chill with The UNICO family and make moves in the day time, and sketch a whole bunch of different shit at night. Then I put the drawings on a computer and send them to one of my homies. From there he fucks with the programs he uses and digitizes the designs.

JGM: How do you feel about the culture of street fashion today?

E. Roman: I feel that street fashion today is wack as fuck but is getting better day by day. To me it’s funny that people only want to rock Bape, BBC, Original Fake, and Supreme due to the hype. Then again, there are real n*ggs making real dope gear like NA from “DEADLINE”, Debo from “DANG!”, my homeboy Jesus from “MOTA NY”, “AM after midnight” and Jalil from “APPEAL”.  Personally I think these brands are going to take over the streets in the near future and when that happens street fashion will finally be reunited with “culture” again.

JGM:  Who inspires you and if you had the chance would you work with them?

E. Roman: Like I said before I use my own life as inspiration. There is nothing better than the struggle and the fucked up shit I’ve been through to get to where I am today. Honestly I could care less about working with other people, but if it happens it happens. Now on the other hand working with big time companies like NIKE, Reebok, and or Fila would be dope.

JGM: What are some future moves that we can expect from The UNICO?

E. Roman: The family stay making moves, never not making moves. There is a lot of dope stuff coming soon, but I’d rather just let my actions speak for themselves, but we are currently in the middle of making a collabo t-shirt with this brand from Brooklyn “MOTA NY“. The shirts will be released at the MOTA NY store during The Unico 1990 X MOTA NY event. We definitely are going to show our supporters and non believers how we get shit poppin.

Photos by Alonzo Unico

Get familiar:

http://twitter.com/#!/TheUNICO1990
http://theunico1990.tumblr.com/

Standing 6 foot something he came in the office with good spirits, draped in a dashiki, a half-dozen necklaces draped across his chest, vintage ‘94 timberland boots and gold fronts in his grill. We jammed out to some music for a bit and spoke to him about his origins, music style and long-term goals. eXquire has been on our radar since the brink of summer and in our opinion may very well be viewed as a savior for NYC hip-hop. Everything about him embodies New York. His appearance is nostalgic to a degree nostalgic but his music carries a new type of NY sound that is gritty, raw, honest and relatable to today’s audience.

He has just released his debut offering, perhaps symbolically, on the same day that marked the 10^th anniversary of 9/11. The album, Lost In Translation, which was presented by Mishka, a clothing brand that similar to eXquire, has been acclaimed for brash presentation and refusal to dilute their aesthetic. That comparison should makes sense to anyone that knows eXquire mainly because with as much Georgi as he consumes, it’s probably damn near impossible to make anything watered down. Get familiar with the new Beast of the East in our video interview below and don’t forget the “Muthafuckin’,” without that it’s nothin’.

Words by Logan Jean

Interview by Logan Jean

Shot by Alonzo Alias & Edited by Ruben Villalta

Special Thanks: Nate Santos

“WHO SHOT YA,” is the famous line Biggie used to start off his 1995 rap classic. It’s also a website for actual shots, photography shots that is, from NYC lifestyle photographer Brook Bobbins. I met Brook for the first time this summer at the after-party for Fool’s Gold Records retail store opening (see above photo) We bumped heads there and exchanged contact info. I’ve heard his name around town before so I knew I had to check his work out just out of curiosity. The next day one of my friends told me that they’d spoken to Brook and recalled to me how he was on top of a glass table inside of the FG after-party trying to take a picture. He actually fell through the table and proceeded to walk away as if nothing had happened. I couldn’t help but laugh hysterically after imagining the incident in my head. I proceeded to peep his site that day for the event photos and took notice of all of the events, concerts, and individuals he has shot and became pretty fascinated with his work. Brook has snapped rare and crazy photos of some of mine and your favorite artists in hip hop ranging from Odd Future all the way to his most recent flicks of Kanye at the Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival. You really have to appreciate this guy’s work and all of the places and people he has shot within a year’s time. That work ethic certainly requires some dedication. To even get close to some of the people that he has shot or to even get the caliber of shots that he’s taken puzzles me and intrigues me at the same time. I recently had a conversation with Brook where he answered a few questions about himself and decided to also share some of his favorite photos along with the stories behind them. Enjoy!

Words by Logan Jean

JGM: When did you start the “WHO-SHOT-YA” website?

BB: I started the Who-Shot-Ya website in August of 2010. Its about to go on it’s 1 year anniversary.

JGM: Where are you originally from and where did you grow up?

BB: I was born in Hackney, London and then moved with my mother to New Jersey in the 80′s. I spent a fair amount of my childhood in upstate New York. When I finished school I moved to Yonkers, NY and lived there from 2000-2005. I have been a Bronx resident for the past 7 years.

JGM: How long have you been shooting?

BB: I started shooting photos on disposable cameras when I started going to shows in the late 90′s, but I went digital about 3 years ago and went in full time covering events, concerts as well as random stuff in my city and along my travels.

Picture Taker, Fornicator, Alcohol Abuser, Drug Partaker. I love music and I love photography. Being able to approach the 2 simultaneously is a dream come true. I try to shoot an event so the viewer can re-live a moment in time and feel as if they were there in the room at that moment in time. I like to capture emotion as well as keep things as natural as possible. One of the biggest compliments I ever received was from an anonymous email that simply stated “I can smell the funk in those venues through your photos” That meant a lot to me.

You can find me getting drunk and shoving a camera in your face.

Brook’s favorite photos taken in NYC.

BB: In June of 2010 N.E.R.D. played a private show at Brooklyn Bowl. These photos mean a lot to me because it is the first gallery I ever put up on my website.

BB: On Governors Island in 2010 Rock The Bells made it’s inaugural appearance at the space. I shot this flick of The RZA back by Wu’s compound. It is quite possibly my favorite photo I’ve ever taken.

BB: In October of 2010 I got the opportunity to shoot a private M.I.A. show at Brooklyn Bowl. I’m a huge fan of Maya and the energy in the building was incredible. I loved this event.

BB: So On October 23rd of 2010, the day Kanye dropped the Runaway video I was at CMJ Fader Fort with A-Trak. At the time we were only acquaintances, but he let me know not to miss the Fool’s Gold party in BK. I headed over and sure enough, Ye came thru. It was really incredible. I love that his face is hidden in this image.

BB: In November of 2010 I got a call from my homie asking me to come down to Pier 54 in Manhattan to shoot a Heineken event. I was weary, he told me Nas was there and I was out the door before the phone call ended. Nas is one of my favorite artists of all time and to capture him and Pete Rock in this moment was epic for me.

BB: November 2010 at Webster Hall I shot one of those photos that grows legs and is literally plastered everywhere. This was Odd Futures first NYC show and also the first time Mos Def met them. You all know where it went from there. You can even see the homie Frank Ocean in the back.

BB: I always enjoy getting put onto new music. Especially when it’s as incredible as the music that Little Dragon is putting out. I was invited to spend some time with the band and really fell in love with everything about them. This is a double exposure of Yukimi shot in January of 2011 at Bowery Ballroom.

BB: So back to A-Trak, after CMJ we stayed in touch, and at this point I would consider him a friend. He always invites me out to anything Fools Gold related and their parties really are the most fun I have out shooting. I love this photo, it was taken in April of 2010 at Terminal 5 in Manhattan.

BB: This is a photo of Left Brain in the crowd at the Highline Ballroom in Manhattan. I love going around with Odd Future, we work great together. I fucking love this photo.

A wolf in sheep’s clothing, that’s a fitting way to describe Danny Brown. The Detroit bred artist has been increasingly solidifying his place as one of the rawest rappers you’ve ever heard of rockin’ skinny jeans. Sans the flamboyant wardrobe selections, listeners will surely find him to be one of the grittiest MCs out, period. The image of the hockey player-esque grill he sports (he lost his two front teeth in an accident) indicate the aforementioned traits.

Ignoring the presence of Brown’s unique look and sound is next to impossible, thanks in part to his blunt persona, but mostly due to a credible caliber of music that smells of spirited street aura. Danny Brown has been sticking to his guns on the indie circuit for some time now and nearly inked a seemingly well suited deal with the infamous machine that is 50 Cent‘s G-Unit Records. Of his dealings with the Southside Jamaica, Queens mogul, Brown says that 50 opted out of the deal because of the way he wore his pants; fitted. Remaining true to self, the eccentric D-Town native never faltered in his fashions for the money and kept it movin’ down rap’s runway with his head held high. Despite the deal’s downfall, he and almost boss 50 are still cool to this day.

Brown is currently being managed by 10 Deep‘s creative director, branding specialist, and NY socialite Emeka Obi. Since the two have linked up Brown’s arrival has been noticed by the music community in our neck of the woods (NYC) and beyond, resulting in Danny finally signing his name on the dotted line with co-founder DJ A-Trak’s creative music house, Fool’s Gold Records. The move officially made Danny the very first rap act to be signed to the respected niche label. Any fan privy to his projects including “The Hybrid” or “Detroit State Of Mind” wouldn’t expect the rapper to land on an imprint like A-Trak’s. But that’s probably why he’s dubbed himself “The Hybrid”, a stand out style of MCing with such little chance of categorization that his music now lives in a house for DJs and rockers.

Always intrigued by the unconventional, Jungle Gym approached Danny guerilla style at this month’s Fool’s Gold store opening in Brooklyn, NY where he broke down his style of music and attire along with running down a few of his personal influences. Press play to brush up on all of the above plus the tale of the missing two front teeth. Enjoy!

Words By Logan Jean

Photos By Kinnison Cyrus

Heavily influenced under Rastafarian culture , BMX rider Shawn Garret of Cult Crew and NYC designer Rick Tan have teamed up to put together a brand that is not only stylish but is also Eco friendly and affordable at the same time. We introduce to you “The Tafari“, founded by 4 designers that are set to be the alternative to your average street brand. Tafari is taken From the term Ras-Tafari, meaning “the creator”, they are branded by their 100 percent ECO-friendly fabric and rich Rastafarian heritage. Their fabrics boast a range of plant based materials; from organic cotton, to burlap, to raw canvas, and even duck cloth. Jungle Gym recently met with Rick Tan and Shawn so they could show us some of their products, we also had a brief talk with Rick to tell us about the The Tafari’s origin and where it’s headed. Read on about how they tend to take fashion to another level and help heal the Eco system.

Interview by Zo Alias

Photography By Zo Alias

JGM: Where does the name “Tafari” come from?

Tafari: The name “Tafari” derived from Rastafari (Ras) stands for head and (ta-Far-i) for Creator. The brand provides us an opportunity to promote The Almighty, The Creator Tafari’s creation into its highest aspects.

JGM: Who or what are you inspired by in the design world?

Rick: My main inspiration is creation and it’s complexity to be simple. I am really inspired by products or layouts that have a high quality of simplicity. One of the main things that really inspires me whether it’s a designer or a brand is that as long as the outcome of whatever they’re pitching is relateable and it makes sense.

JGM: Building up a brand is no easy task, who helped birth the brand creatively?

Rick: Shawn and I came up with the concept of The Tafari. In due time we gathered up a team containing 2 more individuals who are sustaining the same way of life. Shawn Garrett – Managing Director/ Co-Designer, Rick Tan – Creative Director/ Designer/ Product Manager, Cleveland Brown – Web Developer, Paul Clinton – Public Relations/ Photographer.

JGM: Rick you once help start a strong NYC brand and movement that influenced a lot of young people called A.L.I.E.N. What happened to them?

Rick: Well, for those who do not know about A Legion In Every Nation (A.L.I.E.N.), it is a brand that was very influential through out the fashion world. It provided a platform for individuals who were outcasts and looked at as “aliens” for how they wore their attire. The collective then grew into A.L.I.E.N , a brand that sold in selected boutiques located in NYC, ATL, PARIS, and JAPAN. Also, we collaborated with a few brands within the street wear market. The brands diverse collective forwarded us to accomplish our own personal projects.

JGM: Did you learn a lot from your former brand A.L.I.E.N. ? How did they help you grow as a designer?

Rick: I started designing and customizing sneakers Mid 2002. Around late 2005 I was introduced to a mix culture of street wear infused with high end fashion. Then the direction heightened into what i do presently. So I have been designing for about 9 years. Yes, I have learned a lot from A.L.I.E.N., all the travels, events, trade shows, media press to sourcing fabrics, production, designing experiences; it showed me a way of higher heights. And so it goes. THE TAFARI.

JGM: Are you guys trying to educate people on the Rastafarian lifestyle through your brand?

Rick: Yes, we feel that humans who inhabit this planet must be conscious to the environment they’re in. Through the brand it’s our duty to educate without speech.

JGM: What kind of material do you use for your products and how does it help the Eco System?

Rick: We use a range of plant based materials from organic cotton, burlap, raw canvas, duck cloth, recycled polyester, natural rayon and all of our fabric are naturally dyed through a vegetable based process. Also the inks used on all our prints are vegetable base or non toxic industrial water base. By using plant based and industrial biodegradable materials while rejecting the use of animal products we’re also refusing to involve any animal testing, we have a minimal or no impact on our mother (earth) and all it’s children. All products that we produce are biodegradable which if discarded they will self decompose without any carbon trace.

JGM: You guys are heavy into fashion as much as you are into BMX. Will The Tafari ever collaborate in the BMX world

Rick: Yes, Shawn Garrett and BMX legend Robbie Morales (CULT BMX) have been collaborating and making BMX parts for the BMX community with a real Rasta influence. In the near future, any BMX parts that The Tafari is interested in releasing will be manufactured by Robbie Morales.

JGM: As a new brand out there are you willing to work with any other designers or brands?

Rick: The doors are open, if the opportunity comes into place then the standards must be met. We are mainly focusing on technical details and the growth of our brand.

JGM: What are you trying to get from the culture you present? How do you feel about the Eco now, do you feel people are making their environment worse? What can we do to save it?

Rick: The Tafari is not a culture but a ancient way of living that has never changed. I an I the Rasta’s have observed activities and most cultural activities that do not promote a sustainable way of living. From the elders to the youth of today, we have took a keen observation on what can sustain individuals and the environment they’re in. It must take a consistent divine intelligence to see the way how the whole human race is going to prosper. There is only one way that  humans can grow and it is through a divine livity (way of life), not cultural activity. Modern human culture has segregated the activities of the Earth’s natural cycle. The Eco now has a strong wave and as more people get educated and consciously aware of the harm done to the environment, the Eco will consistently prosper. It is evident that humans are the only species that inhabit this planet as much as they are destroying it. Knowing not only humans but also other species lives on earth. There is nothing we can do to save it, but it is to learn how to save you. Over eons earth as a organism has showed us that she is fully capable of recovering any damage done to her, but any organism that starts to get too out of line the Creators will put that specific organism in it’s place through natural selection.

JGM: Where can people find your brand online?

Rick: www.TheTafari.com, www.TheTafari.Tumblr.com, Tafari Facebook,  Follow us @TheTafari
The Online store will be available JULY 2011.

From the alley ways of Raleigh, NC to the rugged streets of New York City, it matters not where you are, so long as you’re in the presence of King Mez consider yourself to be in the King’s court. A young emcee devoted to his craft, Mez serves as the heir the NC rap throne. No one has rep’d said state harder since Petey Pablo told us to spin our shirts round like a helicopter. This newcomer has earned respect from hometown hip hop O.G’s like Ski Beatz, 9th Wonder and Phonte of Lil Brother, all of whom have chosen to build with him musically. At 20 years old Mez has already been spotlighted by iconic hip hop publications such as The Source and XXL along with landing a slot on MTV’s Sucker Free freestyle segment, which he ripped with ease. JGM recently had an audience with the King to ponder over such matters as his ascension in the ranks of new school rhymesmiths, Carolina rap pioneers and his future pursuits. Cross the mote and read on to see why we’re so inclined to watch the throne.

Words By Logan Jean

Photos By Erick Ogada

JGM:  Off bat give us ten words to describe King Mez…

KM:  Ten words… I’ll probably say strong, focused, determined. Hmm ten words.. Humble, gregarious, intelligent, umm… That’s a good one ain’t nobody ever start a interview off with ten words that’s a good one. Uhhh what else would I say… God fearing, Positive, optimistic and umm this the last one umm…. Modest!

JGM: The first track that put JGM onto you was “Hoppin Over Fences” and it was promoted by veteran streetwear brand Stussy. I see your wearing their shirt right now too. How did you link up with them?

KM: Basically there was this kid named Sean in Seattle, big shouts to my man Sean. He was playing my stuff in their store all the time and I ain’t never been to Seattle. I ended up contacting him and he hit up corporate and they just sent me a couple of shirts at first. Then I did a Def Jam cypher session joint, sent them the footage, started wearing their stuff in different things and they liked it. They threw me the logo for that first single and they said they’d sponsored my project. Big shouts to them though cause it’s not a lot of rappers even sponsored or get love from Stussy like that.

JGM: You rep your home state of North Carolina hard. How does it feel to be one of the top cats coming out of there alongside artists such as J Cole, and 9^th Wonder? Oh, and can’t forget Petey Pablo!

KM: [chuckles] Petey Pablo…  I’m honored man and grateful for it. I got that co-sign from 9th, Phonte [and] Ski Beatz. Most people don’t even know Ski is from Greensboro. I did a joint with him and Apple Juice Kid called “Champions.” Just for the people from North Carolina to show me love man I’m grateful, super honored to be on the forefront of what’s going on. It means a lot to me to have that support.

JGM: How’s it been getting your music out to the public coming from a state that isn’t really that big in hip-hop music?

KM: It was tough man, it was real tough establishing connections and stuff like that cause you can’t just go to anywhere. If I was out here I would be at XXL all the time, I would be at The Source all the time, just kickin’ it getting cool with people. Everything is out here, there’s nothing like that in North Carolina. So, I just had to learn how to utilize the Internet real good. My man put me on to Twitter and ever since I got on Twitter man, I was on MTV, my grandma seen me on television. The XXL thing was real dope, The Source I be working with them, working with ya’ll. I got a lot of my collabs and features off the strength Twitter, just the Internet in general. The Internet really helped me.

JGM: Who do you think paved the way for NC rap artists to get in the game?

KM: Honestly man it’s this rapper Phonte dog. I don’t even know why I said the rapper named Phonte, this nigga Phonte is Drake‘s favorite rapper. Phonte shaped his style, Phonte shaped hella niggas styles. He’s not even just the best in North Carolina he’s one of the best in hip hop right now.

JGM: Would you say he’s one of your influences?

KM: Yeah, he’s one of my influences, I listen to him a lot. I don’t really sound a lot like Phonte though.  Like Drake, that nigga sounds just like Phonte, style and all that.

JGM:  Would you say he took an element of his flow?

KM: Nah see, if he denied it then they would have been like “He stole it” but the fact that he acknowledged it like, “I listen to this dude and he inspired a lot of my music,” it’s just a respect situation. It’s like you can see where it came from rather than being like “I don’t even know who that is but he sounds just like him.” Then you would be like, “He stole his style.” But as far as influence from rappers in the game, Phonte definitely and J. Cole doing his thing hard-body right now. Really, not even just Phonte, Little Brother, 9^th [and] Big Pooh. Little Brother just influenced a lot of people.

JGM: We know you’ve had recent encounters with 9th Wonder, do you plan on working with him in the future?

KM: Yeah, I just did a joint with him for my new project called “The 9th inning.” Ain’t nobody heard it yet really. Like, I haven’t even heard it yet. I heard it when I recorded it and that was it. I ain’t heard it since it’s been mixed. I really like that joint and I’ll probably be working with him [again] sometime in the future. On my next project I’m really trying to expand as much as I possibly can and go to the west coast and go everywhere and get as many people as I can from different places.

JGM: From the first mixtape that you dropped (LLTK) to your most recent project, The Kings Khrysis EP, I’ve noticed that the tracklists have gotten progressively shorter. Is there any particular reason that you put out only six tracks with Khrysis?

KM: It’s funny that you noticed that, I never thought about that. If it’s six consistent tracks you can see what can happen from it. It’s funny because the first one had a whole bunch, the second one in the middle had less and this one has the least of everything I put out. And it’s funny because as far as my progress goes it was so much better and so much better and so much better because its less tracks and they’re more consistent [and] more thorough. It’s less space for people to be like “I don’t like this” or “I don’t like that” or whatever. I ain’t really got no bad reviews. My next project will be a full project. It will be back in the teens but the low teens maybe like 12, 13. To know you can put out six tracks and have people call you from NY and Seattle over six songs, it lets you know you ain’t gotta flood the game. A lot of people flood the industry, I rather starve ‘em more than anything.

JGM: Who you plan on working with in the near future, anyone in the new school?

KM: I can’t say specifically but like I said I’ll definitely be reaching out to people from different regions with different styles. I really like Big K.R.I.T. right now, I listen to ReturnOf4Eva all the time. Kendrick Lamar. Those two right there and J. Cole are like my favorite newcomers right now.

JGM: With all of the great rising talent in hip hop that’s out right now like Odd Future, Big Sean etc, what will you do to stand apart?

KM: My music is an extension of who I am directly. It’s not vicarious. It’s not in any way shape or form or fashion different than who I am specifically as a person. What a lot of rappers do is they glorify their strengths and always forget the weaknesses. Put everything on the table, your mind, your heart, strength and weaknesses on the table, people can respect it on a different level. I just speak on everything, on hard times in life and on good times in life. It’s way more relate-able.

JGM: To wrap things up what can we expect from you in the future?

KM: Expect my solo project hopefully coming out in the fall. Expect a lot of videos coming out from The Kings Khrysis, I’m real excited about that. I’m gonna see if I can do some type of college tour in the fall to go along with the release of my new project.

Special Thanks: Nate Santos

Interview By Logan Jean

It’s safe to say that even the most colorblind of kids believe they have swag when it comes to the images they can produce with a blank canvas and a box of Crayola sticks. As adults however, many of us fail to boast art skills more advanced than primitive Pictionary level illustrations. Salehe Black is not one of the aforementioned suckers still stuck on stick figures. Brought up in the artistic kaleidoscope that is downtown Manhattan, Salehe didn’t let his love of creating art fade to black as he grew, but instead pursued a colorful path, choosing a career as a professional illustrator and painter. Ironically selecting the color “Black” as a make-shift artist moniker, the 20 something designer has already drawn up dozens of footwear products, including kicks for Adidas, as well as a Big K.R.I.T. mixtape cover via famed music mogul Dame Dash’s imprint DD172. Most recently Salehe’s been dishing a winning series of New York Knicks commemorative imagery which has received much acclaim from both art geeks and sports freaks alike. The JGM all-stars hustled uptown to Salehe’s Washington Heights in-house studio for a convo dabbling in design, a love for New York’s hometown ballers, hypothetical album artwork and future endeavors. So without further adieu, here’s a read full of sports, canvas pharmaceuticals and entertainment that’ll leave you wanting to take down your kids drawings and redecorate the front of the fridge (especially if you bleed blue and orange).

Words By Nate Santos

Photos By Alonzo Alias

JGM: When did you discover your talent for illustrating?

Salehe: Really when I was a little kid, like 8 [years old]. I noticed that adults were impressed with my stuff. It wasn’t on some, because I’m a little kid. I was like “if adults are feelin’ it I must have some kind of talent.”

JGM: How did growing up in TriBeca (Downtown NYC) play a part in your creativity?

Salehe: I’m kind of a product of my environment. It was a real artsy community. My dad was a photographer and a bunch of my neighbors were painters so I was really exposed to a lot of different people and perspectives from a young age. So that influenced me not just on a subconscious level but in a very real way as well.

JGM: Are there any artists that you’ve followed closely or perhaps even taken a page from their work?

Salehe: Two artists I really like, Chuck Close, he’s a really good painter and I’m really into Ron English too. I recently got the opportunity to meet him and he’s a really talented guy. In terms of designers I really like Tinker Hatfield, he’s a pretty inspirational designer for Nike and Jordan [Brand]. It’s cool because he was an architect first. He just takes vague inspiration and turns it into something different. The Air Max 95 was inspired by a jet or something crazy.

JGM: What programs do you work with when creating illustrations?

Salehe: Mostly Illustrator and Photoshop. I also try and do a lot of sketching because I feel like sometimes you can get all mixed up in the digital production. That’s good for the process, just to be able to sketch it out and physically do it.

JGM: When you do actual paintings what do you typically paint with?

Salehe: All the paintings that I’ve done have been acrylic. Oil is a beast that I haven’t been able to tackle yet. It’s pretty difficult. It takes forever to dry. You need to know how to paint with oils.

JGM: Your series of New York Knicks illustrations is pretty unique and well executed. How was the idea for that conceived?

Salehe: That was inspired by those World Basketball [Festival] Illustrations. I just really like that and thought it could be taken further. I’m a huge Knicks fan and I just thought that needed to be interpreted for the Knicks. It was actually Christmas day and I was just posted up on my couch watching NBA basketball. I saw one of those World Basketball Festival illustrations and I got inspired so I just started making the Ewing one and I put it up on my blog and within minutes it was posted up on the Knicks blog and a few other sites. Then I thought maybe I should sell some prints so I said I was going to release 50 prints and it sold out in two days, which was awesome. I wasn’t expecting that at all. It was proof that I should do a series.

JGM: Aside from the digital Knicks art, you also did a Ewing painting on a canvas which displays Ewing’s back and him tipping a Knicks cap as sort of a farewell image and then more recently the Amar’e Stoudamire piece depicting him in a suit arriving at Madison Square Garden. Was your intention to say goodbye to an old era of the Knicks t and then the usher in a new one?

Salehe: It’s funny because the Amar’e got just as much press as the Ewing piece did but the Amar’e one really isn’t part of the series. Someone commissioned me for that but I really liked it so I decided to put it out there. I can’t sell it but I just put out the image.

JGM: What’s the symbolism of your “Ewrilla Guerilla” painting, including the flag?

Salehe: Honestly, it’s really not that deep. I feel like any Knicks fan or really any person with eyes will tell you that Patrick Ewing looks like an ape. I just decided to depict it but it’s funny cause I find it more interesting to see what people think it means. I’ve had some friends make Obama comparisons, hint at politics or racism, I don’t know. When I do art I really don’t have too much deep meaning into it. I’m almost more interested in the response over the reason. When I see art I’m not really thinking about what the artist was thinking, I more so want to know what it does to me. What do you think?

JGM: Kind of figured Ewing looks sad ‘cause he never got a ring. The background seems like a race tie-in, almost an African-American flag lookalike.

Salehe: I won’t say that’s off or on. I will say the whole pouting idea has something to do with the ring. There was no real idea though, I just kind of went for it.

JGM: What other New York Knicks figures are you planning on recreating?

Salehe: Pretty much the goal is to capture those classic Knicks images. Any Knicks fan knows what those images are. I mean, we haven’t been lucky enough to have too many. There are six to eight that are pretty memorable and I got to experience some of them so I thought it would be nice to interpret in that in a style that people could appreciate.

JGM: You designed the cover for Big K.R.I.T.’s mixtape K.R.I.T. Wuz Here. Can you explain the concept behind that?

Salehe: That was when I was designing at DD172. He was just coming out with his mixtape and they needed a cover. I saw a video that Creative Control did for him and then I just went from there. I probably should’ve done a bit more research but I didn’t. It worked out though. He liked the cover and it was well received.

COVER ART BY SALEHE BLACK

JGM: If you could design an album cover for any musician, who would it be and what would that cover look like?

Salehe: I would say Mos Def ‘cause I’m a huge Mos Def fan. I was actually with him recently and he told me the name of his album and the idea behind it. Me being such a fan, my brain has just been farting out ideas constantly. I would love that opportunity. Some artists it’s like, “Ok, let me get a picture of me in glasses with the lights low, smoking a cigarette.” But some people put a lot of effort into their covers and Mos Def seems like one of those people.

JGM: So what are some projects that you’re currently working on?

Salehe: I’m actually doing some art direction for a friend, Dice, who’s trying to get his art more out there. I just started doing some designs for Dave from DQM’s warehouse. He’s opening up a new store. I’m designing the apparel, t-shirts and stuff. It’s gonna’ be like a BMX, skateboard apparel shop with shoes, etc.

JGM: Any passion projects that you’re doing on the side, such as the Knicks series?

Salehe: Not really. That kind of came out of nowhere so that’s definitely a nice project. I used to own this [streetwear] company called Duane. That was my passion project cause that was some shit that I started while I was still in college. I didn’t have any knowledge of the business. I had a few friends with brands and I just decided to wing it. I made like 36 t-shirts on my roof, screen printed them myself and got them into Atmos the first season. I use the term “season” loosely because there were only 36 t-shirts [and] the tags were ironed in. It was a real shotty operation. But we did pretty good and at our best we were in like 15 stores worldwide. I learned a lot from it but because of some internal problems it didn’t pan out. This store Stackhouse in Brooklyn, I’ma call her out too, this girl Tara, the buyer at Stackhouse, she just started dodging our calls and didn’t pay up. Since we were such a small company she just screwed us. So with internal issues and the money we just cut ties.

JGM: You’ve designed a lot of footwear. Is there any one shoe design you’re most proud of?

Salehe: A lot of the shoes that I’ve done so far have been women’s and more mall brands or general brands. I don’t know how proud I am of those. I got to do a collaboration between Adidas and DD172. While I was doing that I got to work with Curren$y and Dame (Dash) and that was pretty cool.

JGM: Do you plan on working with Dame again?

Salehe: I mean, I’d never say never. In the time that I did work with him, he opened up some doors for me and I doubt he even knows that. When you work with someone like that you have to deliver. If he were to ever knock or if I were to run into him again I’d take the opportunity.

JGM: Anyone you’d like to work with in the future?

Salehe: Footwear wise I’d have to say Gourmet. A lot of brands these days have those styles like the Chuck, the low top and they put their twist on it, but Gourmet their on their own road and I love that. If I ever start a brand it’ll be like that aesthetic. It’s dope ‘cause they even take old styles and rebirth them. The Jordans thing was smart because that got them a lot of attention but even with the “Quadici,” that’s that L.L. Bean duck boot and they just gave it a whole new life. I’d definitely like to work with those dudes.

TALKS ABOUT Patrick “Ewrilla Guerilla” Ewing Painting.