Depth of Field

Bajah and The Dry Eye Crew

Three of my friends have been to Sierra Leone to study music and dance. They each return with different stories and one message - "Go". This past Monday (7.27.09), I got a chance to have the music and culture of Sierra Leone come to Santos - here in New York City. Mike Schreiber was kind enough to invite me to this set after we rapped about photography on Canal and Broadway.

Bajah and the Dry Eye Crew is an amazing band that hails of Sierra Leone and is bringing worthy buzz to the global arena of hip hop culture. By the time, Bajah entered the stage, the place lit up and was a frenzy of dance, rhymes, and good music that spanned an ocean. This event gets two big thumbs up because the right people were there and the energy was electric. In this video above, one of the members of the Dry Eye Crew is teaching us a new dance.

Bajah and The Dry Eye Crew from kamau ware on Vimeo.

Vinyl is Forever

(c) kamau ware 2009

Bobbito leaned over to me - "I've been doing this set for 9 years...people come here because of the music."

The set that Bobbito is talking about is Vinyl is Forever a monthly* event held at APT. Bobbito is the world renown Puerto Rican DJ sensation who is a big star in the universe of hip hop. His Vinyl is Forever sets are a happy blend of familiar and not so familiar music; the kind of tunes that you can groove to that would also be a great sample. Everybody at the Vinyl is Forever event last night was having a good time and occasionally you can tell they didn't know the song but they trust Bobbito, find the beat, and keep dancing.

When Bobbito isn't in the crates, he's shopping for kicks or on the court. Check out his other enterprise - Bounce Magazine.

kamau

*This is a correction. See Bobbito's comment below.

True

(c) kamau ware 2009

Mike Schreiber's "True" was dope. He used an image map that mounted his work on foam chore which corresponded to another map that provided details like subject and location.  This helped organize the exhibition space. He also had images matted traditionally, printed full frame, behind glass with a handsome black frame. I found his printing to be on point and totally a man after my own aesthetic, as I print dark and like pearly whites, rich blacks, and a range of silvers to seduce. There was some color work too, but the black and white was more or less his greatest weapon.

Walking about the show, I couldn't help but want a hip hop sound score to accompany the event. There were all these images of hip hop icons on top of archetypes but the dj was playing something decent but unidentifiable. The complement between the music and images was a missed op at synergizing the two mediums: music and photography. So the work gets an A and the event a B. All that said, I lift my lens cap to Mike for his portraiture in black and white with nuff depth of field.

kw

Mo Betta @ Delancey

(c) kamau ware 2008

Mo Betta' Blues...it's a name most of us know from the classic and iconic 1990 Spike Lee film. But in 2009, it's a moniker dawned by a gifted Brooklyn based emcee/musician. You might think I'm biased because I work with and know him personally, but even okayplayer.com agrees with my assessment. Last night he rocked a benefit in L.E.S. at the Delancey for the Xtreme NY Dragon Boat Team Rock and Raffle Fundraiser. It was actually his first performance since the completion of his new album, The Right Time. As usual he did his thing with the Liberation Family. His debut music video, "The Flyist," is set to air on the major networks by the summer. I'm betting he'll be classic and iconic in his own right.

Chen Lo

Traum on a Mission

Sputnik Bar, a premiere performance venue in Brooklyn, has always brought people together to support serious up and comers. They were at it again with "The Mission Tour" hosted by 623 entertainment. The stage was graced by a number of artists vying to be heard, but the night belonged to Traum Diggs, the self-proclaimed hope for hip hop. He closed the night with his four piece band of soul scholars. To a swollen crowd of supportive onlookers, he debuted his new video "Died in Vain," and performed cuts from his latest project. I'm sure he'll be making some noise in the near future.

- Chen Lo

Abby @ Googies

(c) William Feagins Jr. 2009

On any given Saturday night, LES is teaming with party-goers, hipsters, fashionistas and artists galore. Googies, a small bar with a quaint performance lounge, was no different except for the soothing soulful presence of Abby Dobson. She sang the night into a serene ambiance even if only for 30 min. I stumbled upon her for the first time with a group of friends this past Saturday. I look forward to hearing that voice again.

Chen Lo

PS from the DoF Team: If you do a search for Abby Dobson, you will likely find that there are two. One is from Jamaica and the other Australia.

Opportunity Network Spring Soiree

(c) Lesley Williams

Last Thursday Greenhouse, the super eco-friendly club, was filled with a crowd of 300 or so like-minded progressives all attending a fundrasier supporting The Opportunity Network. The Network provides talented, New York City public school students with access to the careers and networks that will lead to a bright future. This event was a green time for a great cause. 

- Lesley Williams

Paradise

Staceyann Chin on Writing....Fresh! from kamau ware on Vimeo.

What is it with me going to book signings...by smart beautiful women...in the rain? The last book signing I went to was on April 1st for Shaun Robinson's book Exactly As I Am and it was raining. Last night I was ever stoked to see Staceyann Chin for the third time live (Def Poetry tour). Her new book, The Other Side of Paradise is a memoir...how about I share what she sent to all of her facebook friends:

"Yes, these are the stories about my vagina and my grandmother and my boyfriends and my girlfriends and some cousins and some heartbreaks and some abandonment and some chickens and some orgasms and some homes I lived in- all laid out for the whole bloody world to see, hear, dissect, devour and regurgitate. I'm scared out of my panties, but I'm putting it out there anyways."

I am sooo getting a copy.

The event took place on the 4th floor at the Barnes & Noble at Union Square, which I believe is the biggest store on our planet. The place was filled with loyal Chin doters, cameras, and goons. Everything started on time, which was nice. Staceyann shared some really personal stuff that I got on video, so personal, I don't even want to share it yet. The reading was short and sweet and followed up with a witty Q&A. Unfortunately, I missed the after party at Bar 13, which was probably bonkers because Barnes & Noble was jammed. Kudos, Ms. Chin. Keep those long powerful fingers on the keys. You rock...the event was nice too.

Exactly As I Am

April 1st was a rainy day in New York. I was headed uptown to the book celebration for Shaun Robinson's (Access Hollywood) new work Exactly As I Am. I'm glad I made the trek uptown, through the rain...and wind. The launch was hosted by Robin D. Stone in a lovely Harlem brownstone. Co-host, Patrik H. Bass, the literary editor of Essence, gave a thoughtful introduction to Shaun who immediately gave everyone kudos for coming out in the rain to spend an evening with her. Who wouldn't, right? Shaun came across as an impressive woman who penned a book on self-esteem for young girls out of passion. The book is a compilation of inspiring words on self-esteem from unknown girls to move-makers like Oprah Winfrey. I'm definitely going to read the book and won't soon forget the hospitality I enjoyed at this cozy book celebration. By the time I left, I felt so good, the rain and wind didn't bother me.

- kw

Avenue Model Management Launch Partay

(c) kamau ware 2009

Sunday, April 5th Avenue Model Management had their official launch at Mantra on the upper east side. The foxy staff held it down after the models left, luring other party-goers in.

That's a wrap.