Ask anyone who knows TTK, and they’ll say that he’s just as knowledgeable about records as the most avid collector. The Brooklyn-based visual artist draws inspiration from cover art that he’s catalogued and stored away in his mind, using the vinyl as reference points for his own art.
Fellow FRANK columnist and legendary street Ricky Powell is a big fan of TTK’s work, and so are we, which is why we asked him to come onboard as a monthly contributor. Read up below as TTK explains the connection between the sonic and the visual in his column, Crates to Canvas.
For this month, my inspiration didn’t necessarily come from the crates, but from the iPod and the current state of hip-hop music. Continue to story >>
The Alliance for Young Artists & Writers identifies teenagers with exceptional artistic and literary talent and brings their remarkable work to a national audience through The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. Click here to enter! Pass this to kids you know!
This year, Blazetrak co-founders, Ron Harrison and Nathaniel Casey, will be accepting submissions from up-and-coming acts to hit the stage opening up for the event’s accomplished lineup of performers including Big Daddy Kane
About Restoration Rocks October 2013
Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation’s Center for Arts and Culture, which boasts a 45 year history of presenting multi-disciplinary arts in the Central Brooklyn community. One of the organization’s highest profile events, the 7th Annual Restoration Rocks! Music Festival on Saturday, October 12, will bring in expected crowds of 2,500 – 3,000. This free day long festival will include performances by Big Daddy Kane, Maya Azucena, Chrisette Michele, and special guest DJ Questlove.
Two performers will be accepted for 10-minute performances each. We welcome and encourage all submissions, but local Bedford Stuyvesant artists are highly encouraged to apply and will represent at least one of the winners. The contest is open between Monday, September 16 and Tuesday, October 1. Winners will be notified by October 4, 2013. This submission is FREE OF CHARGE and all submissions will be reviewed.
Man Bites Dog Records presents: the debut EP from Ag Da Coroner “CrushedGrapes”. This project is entirely produced by ATG. Features include: Meyhem Lauren, Lord Nez and more. This is street rap out of East New York, a tribute to the way rap was meant to be. BUY HERE and Stream the EP below!
The video, directed by Sheldon Candis, opens with simultaneous shots of J. Cole — who we later learn is a marijuana dealer — and a DEA agent going through their similar morning routines. Viewers get a glimpse of the DEA agent having breakfast with his daughter, as Cole celebrates the birthday of his sister, who is of the same age.
Later, during a DEA raid on his house, Cole is arrested and watches while his younger sister is shot by a police officer. After the fatal shooting, the video concludes with a message dedicated to Aiyana Stanley-Jones, a 7-year-old girl who was shot and killed during a police raid on her house in Detroit back in 2010. The case was spotlighted in the national media at the time, and clearly it resonated with the Roc Nation rapper. “For Aiyana Stanley-Jones,” the video’s message reads. “And please reconsider your war on drugs.” (source)
Brooklyn Small Business and Entrepreneurs: On October 2, Come Out to learn Strategies to Grow Your Bottom Line!!! This workshop is provided by The Coalition for the Improvement of Bedford-Stuyvesant (CIBS) is an association dedicated to positively impacting the Bedford-Stuyvesant community.
