Buggin with Busta @ Floss Magazine Shoot....

Today I had a photo shoot with the "mighty infamous" Busta Rhymes for Floss Magazine (www.flossmagazine.com) It's beautiful to see well seasoned hip hop heads still doing the damn thing. That's what I'm talking about. For me, it's always cool to photograph Busta. Whenever I'm in his presence I think of my first published photo. I will never forget my first assignment: the Posse film release party. Leaders of the New School, Big Daddy Kane and a whole host of others performed at Studio 54. To be absolutely honest, I certainly wasn't the pro that I am today. Like a crazy lady, I decided to use slide film and only a few of my shots came out good! Luckily one of my favorite shots was a picture of Busta Rhymes running across the stage as he performed with his then group, Leaders of the New School. Chi Modu, the then photo editor at The Source Magazine, loved the photo too and that's where it found it's home. I also got my first pay check for being a photographer and I was charged ever since.


It's funny how some young people don't even know Leaders of the New School, they know Mr. Busta for his movies and recent endeavors, "Arab Money!"

Well Busta has certainly evolved into a real grown man...Wow..time flies. He was pretty cool at the shoot and we had lot's of laughs. I asked him if he had a Facebook page and he replied, "What is that?" So funny. I told him it was a good marketing tool for artist. He then asked if I was cool with giving out all of my information on line etc...etc....etc....which immediately reminded me of "There are only 5 years left" so I had to tease him. Check out the video.

Malcolm X

Malcolm X was such a powerful man in physical form that his presence still lives strongly through his words and images.

Avante Yard...

During times of recessions and depressions art keeps the city moving and thriving...Avante Yard is the place to be on February 19th. Let the creative energy of this dynamic artistic movement revitalize you...Or maintain your lively spirit..

Avant Yard continues to be a driving force in the arts underground scene with a dynamic

blend of painting, photography,
installation, photo-illustration, and music aimed at
shattering socio-political boundaries.

Avant Yard Presents LA LA LAND don't get caught sleeping

Photographs
by Malik Cumbo, the image herder. A provocative look at everyones favorite pastime, Sleeping.


Live music will be produced
by Jamaki Knight, Brooklyn's
hardest-working drummer,

along with some
of the top players and vocalists in the NYC area.


FEB 19th features

The Avant Yard Band doing improv soundscapes inspired by the theme LALA Land..
Singer songwriter Nucomme doing her raw bluesy style.

Film "Bold As Love" debut from filmmaker Joshua B. Alafia at 7pm



Two
floors of inspiration designed to move you.
Resident
DJ's Soul Vibes Digital, Majestic Twinsound, Metaphysic and Ian Marquis
make sure both floors are jumping with the right mix of Afro
Soul, Roots, Dance, and Hip Hop.
every 1st and 3rd Thursdays






Event Information:
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Every 1st & 3rd Thursday
7:00 PM - 3:00 AM
21+
cover: $5.00 | Free before 9p, $5 after
music: Afrobeat/Hip-Hop/Funk/Soul

Contact Email:
avantyard@gmail.com

Venue Information:
Rehab
25 Ave B
btwn 2 and 3rd Sts, LES
New York , NY 10009
http://www.clubmidway.com/
view Mapquest
view Yahoo Maps

Links:
http://www.avantyard.tv
http://www.myspace.com/avantyard

This is America...are we really surprised people?

Take a look at what the New York Post felt was appropriate to print today:



The question is what happens next?

Should Michelle Obama Make it Her DUTY to use Black Designers?

Amnau Eele, co-founder of the Black Artists Association made a public complaint about the fact that Michelle Obama did not use any black designers during the inauguration. She argues that using well established black designers such as Tracy Reese, Reginald Walker or B. Michael could have boosted their careers tremendously. For example, the First Lady's ball gown designed by Jason Wu is now in the First Ladies Collection at the Smithsonian.

I guess anyone would want to have their product worn, talked about or even looked at by the Obamas.

Apparently Amanue Eele's comments were a bit controversial. Strange enough she got death threats a day after making her statements. Also, a well known designer distanced himself from her remarks.

One designer who remains anonymous said, "President Obama spoke about change."

"What about inclusion?" she asked.

"Every African-American designer doesn't necessarily have the capacity to do what she wants to do, but there are enough of us out there -- those of us who are in stores, give us a chance," the designer said.

Does Amanue Eele have a legitimate beef? Is it the First Lady's responsibility to intentionally "look out" when it comes to the clothing she decides to wear?

Michelle Obama Joins Jaqueline Kennedy and Hillary Clinton at Madame Tussauds

In the near future you will be able to see Michelle Obama at Madame Tussads in wax form.

According to ABC News, Michelle Obama's wax figure is currently in the works. London artists have intensely observed the first lady's gestures and features through hours of video footage and tons of photographs.

Take a look at the work in progress.

Something Like Beautiful...

I'm not only supporting this book because I photographed the cover. I am supporting this book because I absolutely love Asha Bandele's work. I am eager to see what she so intimately shares in this book...


Book Description

From the author of The Prisoner's Wife, a poetic, passionate, and powerful memoir about the hard realities of single motherhood

When Asha Bandele, a young poet, fell in love with a prisoner serving a twenty-to-life sentence and became pregnant with his daughter, she had reason to hope they would live together as a family. Rashid was a model prisoner, and expected to be paroled soon. But soon after Nisa was born, Asha's dreams were shattered. Rashid was denied parole, and told he'd be deported to his native Guyana once released. Asha became a statistic: a single, black mother in New York City.

On the outside, Asha kept it together. She had a great job at a high-profile magazine and a beautiful daughter whom she adored. But inside, she was falling apart. She began drinking and smoking and eventually stumbled into another relationship, one that opened new wounds. This lyrical, astonishingly honest memoir tells of her descent into depression when her life should have been filled with love and joy. Something Like Beautiful is not only Asha's story, but the story of thousands of women who struggle daily with little help and much against them, and who believe they have no right to acknowledge their pain. Ultimately, drawing inspiration from her daughter, Asha takes account of her life and envisions for herself what she believes is possible for all mothers who thought there was no way out—and then discovered there was.