Pics from the opening are all over the web, but Viviane took some nice close ups showing the detail…

Celebrating the life and legacy of Mike “Dream” Francisco.

Pics from “Dream Day” February 5th, 2010 at The New Parish, Oakland, California.   February 17th, 2010, is officially Dream Day in the City of Oakland.  Photos courtesy of the lovely Viviane Oh.

Message from Vijay + Mike:

Tonight we’re presenting the beginning phase of a new project, Holding it Down, about the dreams of young veterans of color returning home from the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

We’re honored to be joined by a third collaborator, poet, ex-Marine, Iraq veteran, and project co-author Maurice Decaul. We’re also working with a stellar group of performers, many of whom have worked with us on previous projects.

Listen to a radio feature that ran this morning on WNYC

We had an amazing experience performing this work-in-progress for the first time in Milan last weekend. Now we’d like to share it with those of you here in New York.  More info here.

HARLEM STAGE presents
HOLDING IT DOWN
by Vijay Iyer, Mike Ladd & Maurice Decaul
work-in-progress performance

Vijay Iyer – piano, laptop, compositions
Mike Ladd – lyrics, voice, electronics
Maurice Decaul – poetry
Pamela Z – voice, live electronic processing
Guillermo Brown – voice, auxiliary electronics
Liberty Ellman – guitar
Okkyung Lee – cello
Kassa Overall – drums

TONIGHT! Wednesday, February 10, 7:30pm
THE GATEHOUSE at HARLEM STAGE
corner of 135th St. & Convent Avenue, NYC
directions: www.harlemstage.org/visit#getting-here
(we recommend the subway!)

“This particular song is about elevating your art form past the norms and standards of an industry with an ever narrowing emotional range.” – Opio

The Video:

West Coast/Midwest trio Chosen Few (comprised of MC’s Cold Showda, Charles “Chop” Cooper, and producer Unjust) are preparing to drop their highly anticipated Hiero Imperium Records debut, New World Symphony, on April 6th. The first official single, “Elevation,” hits the streets  today, and the crew have been hard at work finishing their chilled-out, yet heavy-hitting new video to go along with it. Shot up close and personal with the emcees spitting to the camera, the video takes place in a small and shadowy room – representing feelings of isolation, confusion, and loneliness that so many can relate to feeling at some point or another. But on the flipside, despite the track’s dark and almost bleak feel, listen closely, because the message is one of motivation rather than misery.

“Elevation” features a guest appearance from lyrical maestro Opio of the Bay Area’s Souls Of Mischief, who true to form, delivers a tight package of carefully crafted lyrics that get straight into your head. “The idea of always elevating, getting better, wiser and stronger is something I always try to do in all aspects of life, music, art, business, spirituality” says Opio. The song is about taking a stance, being aware of your surroundings, and elevating past limitations.

Buy the song at itunes.

Just spoke with MaDukes, and she is in NYC to celebrate Dilla at  First Fridays at the Bronx Museum of the Arts (going on like…now). It’s free, so hustle over there.

Tomorrow she will be at:

She also mentioned that Illa J will be flying to Japan on Feb 7th (Dilla’s actual birthday) and will be performing on the 10th at PEACE at UNIT.  More info here.

And and and…there’s a new shirt that benefits the Dilla Foundation produced by DSE in conjuction with 5e Gallery (we hopefully will be getting a few for the site, but in the meantime, you can buy them directly from DSE.)  Proceeds will be donated to the Foundation!

From DJ Haylow:

Exile x Teeko Impromptu Jam Session – Elbo Room (SF) from Dirty Science on Vimeo.

Our buddy Jonathan Kim shot this video while in SF with Exile at sound check for his gig at Elbo Room last week.   He says, “As I came into the venue, I peeped Exile and Teeko jamming out on their respective equipment, and I was impressed to say the least.  Teeko has been making some noise with his group F.A.M.E. as well as recently working with Mark Ronson in NY for his upcoming album.  It was great to see them come together and create come amazing music together.”

There’s been quite a bit of speculation about what was going on.  Now that El has written about it, we feel okay telling you that Definitive Jux the record label will be on hiatus.  The Def Jux catalog speaks for itself and will still be available for the foreseeable future.  If you’d like to read his entire explanation, check it here.

Kofie sent us a sneak peek…he says, ” This will mark my first time showing works at White Walls and I’m looking forward to this. I will have a number of recent works on display for the duration for the show as well as a wall painting that will merge with Remi Rough over the entrance way. The walls will be covered in recycled and recovered wood thanks to Eric Otto and will also include special installations by the artists.”

Never a Dull Moment A Group Show Curated by iO Wright

Opening Reception: Saturday, February 6^th, 2010, from 7-11pm.

runs: Saturday, February 6th through February 27th, 2010

White Walls Gallery

835 Larkin St, San Francisco, Calif, 415-931-1500

Gallery hours: Tuesday – Saturday 12pm – 7pm

Never a Dull Moment features Anthony Lister, Alessandro Zuek Simonetti, Jaybo Monk, Angela Boatwright, Augustine Kofie, Dave Potes, Jonathan Darby, Ray Potes, Remi Rough, iO Wright, Erik Otto, Cheryl Dunn, Armsrock, Dave Schubert, Sam Ash and Clayton Brothers.

iO Wright has chosen these artists for their “get your hands dirty” and “don’t worry just do” mentality. Without considering outside forces, they are urged to continuously create and express themselves. With shared roots in graffiti art, this group has a flare for action, immediacy, and unpredictability. Never a Dull Moment exposes viewers to the creative mind’s raw inner workings and draws distinct parallels between everyday immediate expression and fine art.

Never a Dull Moment will be a transformation of the gallery space into a chaotic, organic environment close to the heart of the artistic process. Film, sculpture, installation, and large-scale wheat paste can be expected from this multi media, multi talented group of artists. Embracing the connection between photography and fine art, Never a Dull Moment will meld the two together just as they are in everyday life. Several artists including Jaybo Monk, Remi Rough, Erik Otto, Augustine Kofie and Jonathan Darby plan to create a site-specific installation to accompany their works in the gallery. The installation will no doubt be interactive and multi sensory, with few white walls in sight.

iO Wright is a photography based artist, writer, and curator. Along with co-founding the street art quarterly, Overspray Magazine, iO curated Climb in the Back Window at Shadow’s Space Gallery in Philadelphia in 2009. Keeping close tabs on urban art, she has also interviewed such influential artists as Shepard Fairey and Erik Foss. This exhibition is curated by iO Wright and sponsored by White Walls, Hamburger Eyes, and New Order Magazine.

MURS 3:16 in association with GUERILLA UNION are proud to announce the 2010 Paid Dues Festival line up! It is the biggest showcase of independent hip hop talent in the festival’s rich history.

Over 25 acts on TWO stages will be performing on

Saturday, April 3rd at the NOS Events Center in San Bernardino, CA.

PRE-SALE INFO
FRIDAY, 2/5 @ 10AM – 10PM
PASSWORD: LOOKINFLY

GENERAL ON-SALE
SATURDAY, 2/6 @ 12pm PST

GET TICKETS