Saturday, October 10, 2009

Jin Young Yu: Army of Transparencies



“My figures express the loneliness of people living today. The transparent body means a perfect shield that makes it possible to hide itself anywhere, while the crying face represents a warning: ‘Don’t come towards me!’ I intend to remind viewers of the loneliness of people in this modern society, where there is little of true communication.” And as for an overall theme? “I want to get away from the plastic smiles and fake facial expressions,” Young explains.



"Whether it’s a flowered frock, somber mask, or small hand puppet, each accessory acts as an additional prop for concealing the individual’s true feelings and emotions, making each work of art as much about secrecy as about revelation."

This is a very intriguing concept to me, and she expressed her perspective in a very unique manner. For more info and pics click here...

Robin Thicke: "Sex Therapy"



I've been trying to think of what the conversation would sound like at "Sex Therapy." I think it would be absolutely hilarious. I'm just going to listen to the song though... lol

Robin Thicke: "Sex Therapy"

Wale ft. Colin Munroe: "Bittersweet"



I can say that since I enrolled at Howard University in 2005, I have been blessed to witness the rise of Wale as an influential lyricist in the DC Metropolitan Area and beyond. He has graced our campus with his presence many a time, and I only wish him more success on his musical journey. Colin Munroe is quite the talent as well...

Check out this new song created by the two...

Wale's debut album, "Attention Deficit" is due out November 3, 2009.

TOAST TO THE LEGENDS... "Bootsy Collins"



William "Bootsy" Collins,
Born October 26, 1951 in Cincinnati, Ohio, Collins had a huge influence on the world of music in which we now live. Rising to prominence with the legendary James Brown in the 1960's, and taking his creative genius further during the 70's with the Parliament-Funkadelic, "Bootsy" not only understood how to manipulate the bass guitar with impeccable timing; he also understood and expressed the soul it requires to play the bass guitar... Definitely one of my personal favorites

Ralph Lauren Spring 2010 Collection..



The man never disappoints,
The actual show was roughly 13mins long, but I've opted just to give you a teaser... Stay Tuned

James Jarvis for New London







This incredibly talented illustrator, who has received endless praise for his style of art throughout Europe and the U.S., will be featured via New London. From October 12-26th, followers will be able to watch Jarvis-via webcame-go through his creative process when addressing a new illustration. Starting October 12th the feature can be seen at: newlondon.com.fr:80: (but I'm hearing the compatibility with U.S. servers is uncertain).. Nevertheless, his work is dope.

"Glow In The Dark Tour" Photo Book



Indeed, you've read the title correctly,
The events of the ground-breaking "Glow In The Dark" Tour-showcased by Kanye West-will be available to the public via photo book. The book includes an interview w/tour collaborator Spike Jonze, 288 pages w/gatefolds ("9 5/8 x 13") 400 photographs, CD with unreleased music & interviews. The trade edition is available on amazon.com, and the limited edition is available through "Rizzoli Bookstore".. 1800-52-BOOKS. I was lucky enough to witness this tour first-hand, live in Madison Square Garden and trust me; you won't want to miss out on the opportunity to see inside the creative process of everything this tour had to offer. And from an artistic standpoint, as a photographer/student of music, I'm sure this photo book won't disappoint.

Def Jam 25th Anniversay.. Public Enemy, The Roots & Street Sweeper Social Club



The actual show won't air until 10/13, but this was a huge performance so I though I'd enlighten the masses..

Drake Talks Knee Surgery, New Album, and Acting...



Supposedly Drake and The Dream will be collabing on a song, entitled "Shut It Down," for the rookie's first album "Thank Me Later" slated for a February release.

The album is also supposed to feature the likes of Lil Wayne, Kanye West, Jay-Z and "a couple of guests that may be very much surprises for a hip-hop album. I just want to give people a musical experience. I like to open up the minds of the fans in my genre."

I'm highly anticipating his album in hopes that it will raise the bar for quality music in mainstream Hip Hop. No pressure sir...

Counting Crows & Friends Revolutionizing Live Concerts



Just thought this was interesting... It'd be cool to see how a concert like this unfolds, and how much better it would make the show.

Gary Go: "Wonderful"



One of my many favorites at the moment...

Check out their website as well.

Friday, October 9, 2009

"Despicable Me" Trailer.. Theme Song by Pharrell Williams



The 3-D CG-animated family film by Chris Meledandri, "Despicable Me", will show the film's villain ("Groo" voiced by Steve Carell) in an amusing yet interesting way. The film will be completely funded by Universal and it's set to be released in 2010.
p.s... THE FILM'S THEME SONG IS MADE BY PHARRELL WILLIAMS, this is major and I wish this brother continued success.

Jared Evan: "Frozen"

Ever since I learned about the man Jared Evan last night, I haven't been able to stop listening to this song. I've listened to a few of his other songs and he has a unique talent of blending multiple musical genres into one cohesive track. At 20, he's a gifted singer, songwriter, lyricist, and producer who possesses the creativity and subject matter to create some longevity for himself. He will definitely be a Civilian Renaissance favorite. Much support, and anticipate his upcoming mixtape "Radio in my Head," hosted by Polow Da Don.

Release Date: Thursday October 15th, 2009
Record Label: Zone 4/Interscope

Check out "Frozen" below...



...and his other song "What I Want" a couple posts back

NASA's Successful Crash Landing

This morning, NASA successfully crashed a $79 million rocket into the moon in hopes of dining water resources. NASA's John Marmie discuesses the mission in further detail below...

Obama's Acceptance Speech



Truly a man of grace and humility.

WHBC HOWARD'S HOTTEST DJ EXHIBITION HOSTED BY YOU'RE ONE AND ONLY...ME...DJ JA-HI AKA "MR. I RUN THE SHOW"



COME OUT ON TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2009 @ THE BLACKBURN CENTER BALLROOM AT HOWARD UNIVERSITY. FEATURING ICE THE VILLAIN AND MANY MORE ARTISTS FROM HOWARD UNIVERSITY AS WELL AS ALL OF WHBC DJ'S INCLUDING, 24 NIGHT CLUB'S DJ DENO, DJ CHUBBY SWAGG, DJ NO V, DJ LADY GEMS, DJ SWAG, AND YOUR BOY DJ JA-HI "MR. I RUN THE SHOW" AND MANY MORE. COME OUT AND HAVE A GREAT TIME WITH US. WHBC CHANNEL 51.

ROC NATION NEW ARTIST - BRIDGET KELLY "FALL IN LOVE"

Obama Wins Nobel Peace Prize



Obama is the Renaissance Man himself. He is undoubtedly a symbol of hope for all people and encourages us all to seek the huamnity in one another. Congratulations Mr. President!

Click the link for the full CNN article.

J. Cole Unleashes an Unreleased Track



Roc Nation's first artist blesses us with an unreleased snippet. From this to "Star is Born," not bad at all, man. Keep up the good work.

THAT'S GENIUS!



Not new, but definitely a classic by Mr. Leslie... Now, That's Genius!

Jared Evan: "What I Want"



Just learned about the young man Jared Evan, however, he's quite the artist.

Check out his newest song, "What I Want" and his website...

I will post his upcoming mixtape "Radio in my Head" on October 15th.

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Erykah Badu "Making It In The Music Business"



love the sarcasm from a true renaissance woman... Butt naked Wednesday's sound stupendous though. lol

Erykah Badu: Annie Don't Wear No Panties



Erykah Badu, man-o-man, lol....

"Tall Boy" by Har Mar Superstar



Lol, the pillow fight looks fun...

Jennifer Lopez ft. Pitbull "Fresh Out The Oven" (prod. by The Neptunes)



New joint by Jenny from the Block. And, your thoughts...

Q-Tip on 106 & Park



Q-Tip is definitely an artist that embodies The Renaissance literally and figuratively. Congrats on the nomination brotha!

Q-Tip ft. Norah Jones "Life is Better"



Nice little video done by two individuals who represent the essence of creative expression. When it's creative, life is definitely better. Check it out...

Lloyd "Beautiful"



I've always liked lloyd as an artist. He has, from day one, provided his fans with songs that shed light on the realities of life. Here is yet another...

"Every cloud has its time before the sun..."

Roisin Murphy: "Primitive" (Live)



I'm a big fan of abstract music with extraterrestrial vibes. The combination of funkiness, seduction and raw passion is fantastic. Who wouldn't want a woman to sing this to them in the midnight hours? Take a listen...

"Sidewalk Fiction-Hillside" by: Nir Ben Jacob

Sidewalk Fiction - Hillside from Nir Ben Jacob on Vimeo.



Yeah Buddy,
This video caught my eye while surfing the net, and it is indeed dope.

"Lady Gaga" by: Nobuyoshi Araki



Dope Photo, I can appreciate this...

"Chess Set" by designer Stuart McFarlane














Wowzers,
All who actually play chess can appreciate this work of art, and for those who don't, just having this set in your house would be impressing..

Three Degrees of Separation: Obesity, Politics, STD's and Social Networks...




This article and featured book, "Connected," written by Dr. Nicholas Christakis, professor at Harvard University, and James Fowler, associate professor at the University of California, San Diego, dissects the impact of social networks on human behavior and conditions i.e. the increase in obesity, happiness, and the spread of STD's and political views. It also claims that your behavior on social networks is most likely going to effect your friends, friends, friend. Click the link for the full article, and with that said, I'm off to class...

Jay-Z BBC Interview Pt. I


Every Jay-Z interview is inspirational. With an honest and humble intellectualism, he is able to transcend social barriers and speak his truth to all people around the world. He does so in a way where they may not be able to completely relate, but they will undoubtedly understand his perspective and vision. It is also a collective belief of ours that rappers and entertainers alike should speak with a sense of intelligence and deeper thought. Class is in session...

Jay-Z BBC Interview Pt. II



Cont'd success and greatness...

Terry Kennedy Showcases New Supra TK Society Sneaker



These are dope... Enough said. Do they give the Air Yeezy's a run for their money though? What do you think? Terry Kennedy is definitely a Renaissance Man in the realm of skating. Keep doing your thing brotha...

Oprah vs. Mike Tyson



This should be interesting...lol. I actually gained a lot of respect for Mike Tyson after watching his documentary. He's an individual who is a perfect product of his environment. I can appreciate how people are beginning to dig deeper into who he is as a man and what factors made him this way. He seems like a cool guy; just has a lot of baggage. We'll see how Oprah matches up against him, or vice versa...

Lenny Kravitz: I Belong to You



One of Em and I's favorite songs to play in the company of young women. Everybody loves this song, so it's only right that I share it with the world... Enjoy!

The Roots: How I Got Over



Check out this new piece from The Roots, who have recently taken time off from their House Band duties on "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon," to record their 11th album entitled "How I Got Over." Interesting title; let's see what The Roots have in store for us. Here's a sneak peak at what may come...

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

"The Ear" ft. Pharrell Williams



Interesting yet very Artistic,
This is a new short film by, Yi Zhou, and it features one of the world's greatest music producers Pharrell Williams. Pretty dope, check it out...

Mr. Hudson: "Instant Messenger"



Dope,
Hudson's album, Straight No Chaser, is going to be the truth; and oh yeah, This Video Is Out Of The Park.!

Passion & Persistence...



Truly Inspiring,
Although he's yet to receive his due acclamation, Ryan Leslie has proved himself to be a vital force within the music industry, and aside from that, he's an all around good brother. On the night of Obama's historic election we all got the opportunity to meet/interview Mr. Leslie at Howard University's #1 College Radio Station "WHBC 830am", and he was a really kool kat.

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Legendary...





A monumental occasion indeed,
This performance was the birth of a musical renaissance in many aspects; however, due to the musical quality/precision within this stage performance, the legendary Michael Jackson gave the world a brief look into the future.
R.I.P...... (and we'll do our best to carry the torch)

LETTER TO THE MASSES

To all Civilians,

Welcome to the world. A world in which reality is cherished, truth is an absolute necessity, and creativity is the essence of it all; a world in which the pursuit of profit does not taint the rawness of the art; a world in which there are no titles, boxes, or categories; a world where the question is the answer and where conscious creativity is crowned the ruler of the land; a world in which time is eternal and freedom of spontaneous thought is the norm; a world where people are truly humans whom in their quest to find infinite bliss strive to become Universal Civilians; a world where people are Civilians and life is a Renaissance. Welcome to the world of Civilian Renaissance.

Reigning as the North Star in society’s passage to a Universal appreciation for abstract musicianship, creative film-making, harmonic photography and exotic fashion, this blog will invite the experiences of all people; despite one’s skin color, age and/or geographical location. We All, as Civilians, share the undeniable trait of an intellectual foundation rooted within the soils of our creativity, so no longer will race be the active pesticide within our societies. This blog will initiate an era of a Renaissance. A Renaissance in which the arts will encourage the intermingling of All Civilians, and through the dialogue of this blog, we will indeed be the group of Civilians to change the world in which we live…

Civilians are those individuals who, as history proves, are misrepresented when it comes to political agendas due to special interests. Civilians are often times the forgotten ones, and they are typically the first ones killed in wars and natural disasters. However, Civilians are the backbone of society. Civilians define art, create culture, and design the meaning of life. Civilians have transformed the world time and time again in monumental manners, and when Civilians congregate around a central cause, they are seemingly unstoppable. The world cannot move forward without Civilians. Civilians are the root of humanity.

A renaissance is a rebirth of the arts, culture, and life. A renaissance, within itself, harnesses the potential energy to rearrange societal structures, change the course of the times, and recreate the definition of life. At this very moment, the world desperately needs a renaissance to shake up the state of stagnancy that has coaxed us all into being content with staying the same.

A Civilian Renaissance is more than a collective movement to transform the arts, culture, and life. It is the defining moment when an individual experiences a revelation that inspires him or her to truly define their self and make their dreams a reality by any means necessary. When one experiences a Civilian Renaissance, there is no looking back.

Over the past few years there has been a bad representation of what our culture and generation are capable of. We have been accepting the fact that we are only one dimensional and that we cannot bring about something new. The time has come for us not to be complacent about how our culture is portrayed. Civilian Renaissance brings a new level of creativity that the people are requesting. Bringing skills and talents that have been neglected by the mass media to the forefront, Civilian Renaissance’s mission is to rejuvenate a sense of pride in our culture.

Our ultimate goal is to transform the face of media, in such a way, where people can no longer rely on stereotypes or heresy as candid depictions of the diverse inhabitants of the world. Our duty is to shed light on the good, the bad, the ugly, but most of all the creative, as well as shatter the barriers that keep individuals narrow minded and entrapped in a reality that, ironically, is not real. Civilian Renaissance will serve as the Universal mirror that reflects the world as it is, not necessarily, as we know it.

Join us on our journey as we explore the world with an insatiable hunger to find what’s real, succeed in personal and collective endeavors, and creatively transform the time known as, now.

Life is an Art

We are the World

Be Universal

Welcome,

Civilian Renaissance


Erik Mohn
Jahi Whitehead
Emmitt McGee III