Since today is MLK Day it seemed like the perfect time to finally revisit the fantastic trip that I went on with one of my favorite nonprofits, Friday Is Tie Day, and some of the members of the team right before I went to work at Meta/Facebook. Click here to check out more of the pictures and videos from the trip. Click here to see how you can support Friday Is Tie Day too!
“Knowledge and Method” is the 2nd mural in the Ode to Hip-Hop series by Christian “TAMEARTZ” Rodriguez and Bill Strobel. This mural aims to provide viewers with an in-depth visual and auditory description of Hip-Hop culture. The new project encapsulates a multi-layered concept describing each element of Hip-Hop, it’s history, and the cultural impact it has had in our city. Each element is represented using a technical and architectural approach, all while simultaneously providing a poetic expression by Reef The Lost Cauze an MC= Emcee. Click here to see pictures by Reji Berrouet. His original picture was the inspiration for the last mural as well. Click here to see additional pictures from the mural dedication for Knowledge and Method by Imaad Andrews. Click here to see the pictures from the last mural dedication by Imaad Andrews too. Click here to learn more about the fantastic work that Mural Arts does in the community, especially in terms of restorative justice.
Check out the video above for an inside look at Shawn Theodore's solo exhibition at Paradigm Gallery during the artist talk with independent Philadelphia curator Ginger Rudolph. Click here to see some pictures from the event by Reji Berrouet.
I completely forgot how incredibly awesome and incredibly sad these pictures are that Reji Berrouet shot of my old friend Fred. I still hope to tell more of Fred's story one day, but for today I will say as a country and society we have to do a much better job of taking care of our veterans and the other vulnerable members of our society. Happy Veterans Day to Fred and all of the other veterans. Thank you for your service. Click here to see more pics.
With the long overdue relaunch of the Rich Workshop Series let’s take a look back at the inaugural Rich Quick Workshop in 2019. Click here to see how we are keeping Rich’s dream alive of using music and the arts to help the community through his own story, friends, and family.
Our uncle was never really the biggest fan of the 4th of July because he always said we were not free until years after the first 4th of July. However, he did enjoy spending time with his family and friends on the holiday for the most part lol. He fought literally and metaphorically for his freedom and the freedom of his family and friends. Eventually, he left Corporate America so he could be free to follow his dreams because he ultimately felt like Corporate America was not a place where he could do that. So, when I originally thought about making a grandiose announcement about how we intend to carry on his legacy Juneteenth seems to be the perfect time to do so based on the fact the holiday does commemorate the end of slavery. My cousin and I were reminded that our uncle was a bit ambivalent when it came to the holiday and really most holidays in general for that matter lol. Then, I thought in this current climate does anyone really feel all that free, especially in light of recent events? Has that much really changed for most people in Corporate America, especially black people? Do most people feel like Corporate America or our society in general is a place where a person can really follow their dreams these days or ever? When I looked back at the legacy of the 4th of July and where we are now it seems like the perfect time to continue the legacy of our uncle, Eugene Mebane, Jr., his sister, Anna Adams, his brother, and my father, Willie Mebane, and their parents Eugene Mebane, Sr. and Willie Margaret Jones. A legacy of education, technology, and the arts to bring people together, make a difference, and help people follow their dreams! Thanks, for fighting so hard to make sure me and many others followed our dreams, uncle! Artwork by Tyrell Waiters!
I have always said there are so many talented people from Mays Landing and really South Jersey in general. I even had the great pleasure of working with some of them like Camper and helping tell some of their stories. After, getting to know Darrell Edmonds, the Founder of Friday Is Tie Day, and Superintendent Reyna they recommended I get more involved in the alumni association. So when I was asked to do the introduction for Camper I could not have felt honored because people like him show kids from Mays Landing, Oakcrest, and really South Jersey in general that anything is possible even winning a Grammy award. It was very much a full-circle moment. I started a podcast called Stories of Oakcrest to help stories like Camper’s and now here I was doing introduction. I almost never take pictures with many of the talented people I meet even the ones I have worked with. However, in this case I felt like I had to make an exception. Click here to read the rest of my introduction and see the picture with me and Camper as well.
With the release of the soundtrack for Kenyatta: Do Not Wait Your Turn, especially during Black Music Month it seemed like the perfect time to recognize Drew for all of his wonderful art and his passion for sharing his art and time with the community. Click here to check out some work from Emmy Award-Winning audio engineer and Grammy-nominated music producer, Drew Miller. Be sure to check out the Barry Sanders documentary Bye Bye Barry scored by Drew featuring original music by Eminem, Ed Sheeran, and Drew exclusively on Prime Video. Which, is now the most streamed documentary on Prime Video. Click here to see some pictures from our interview with Imaad Andrews. Look out for the interview dropping soon. In the meantime, below are some words from Drew himself and you can check out some of the work that we have done with him here.
This film means a lot to me because not only is it my FIRST produced soundtrack but it’s a reminder to not to wait for anyone to “give” you an opportunity or allow to have what’s rightfully yours. If you’ve worked for it, go get what’s yours and don’t wait for the establishment or gatekeepers to “let” you in. #donotwaityourturn
“If you prayed for it and don’t work for it, you don’t get it…”
To each person that helped me bring this soundtrack to life… THANK YOU 🙏🏾🫶🏾
S/o
@ts_harris
@lornadoone143
@sevenknotsfilms
@alrokerent
@xpeditionmedia
@malcolmkenyatta
@drmatt.kenyatta
@don_michaeljr
@slowwaveaudio
@dametheengineer
@milkboystudio
@thesaltminestudios
@willkinsworld
@sanonmusic
@bleulilbaby
@alondarich
@yuneergainz
@lakeithrashad
HAPPY #PRIDE, HAPPY #BLACKMUSICMONTH, HAPPY #JUNETEENTH MONTH!
@kenyattafilm is a story the encapsulates the spirit of each of these movements, and we couldn’t think of a better month to release the OFFICIAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK for KENYATTA: DO NOT WAIT YOUR TURN, by @prodbydru.
Other artists include:
@bleulilbaby
@yuneergainz
@lakeithrashad
@alondarich
This soundtrack has a little something for everyone: #r&b, #jazz, #hiphop, #soul, #rock, and so much more.
We hope you will enjoy it and much as we enjoyed making it! Click here to listen to the soundtrack!
As a kid growing up I was a huge Barry Sanders fan. I had the sneakers, the jersey, and I even made up a Barry Sanders song inspired by Get Money by Biggie Smalls and Junior M.A.F.I.A. So I was especially excited about this documentary and to hear more about the story of one of my favorite players. I am also really excited because this story is also scored by one of my friends, Drew Miller, and I could not be happier for him based on what I know about his own story. Click here to see the teaser for Bye Bye Barry, which is now the #1 most-viewed documentary ever on Amazon Prime Video in the US. Scored by Drew featuring original music by Eminem, Ed Sheeran, and Drew exclusively on Prime Video. Click here to check out some of Drew’s work.
With Benny's show tonight in Philly I figured this would be the perfect time to look back at some of Reji Berrouet's fantastic work during those shows with him and the rest of the BSF and Griselda crew. Big shout out to Sean Salm for those early shows and all of the fantastic work that he did at Voltage Lounge and continues to do as well! Click here to see the pictures from Reji Berrouet from the first 4 BSF/Griselda shows in Philly at Voltage Lounge that Sean put together.
Sports always have had the power of connecting people, so we thought telling the story of Oakcrest alumnus and current head coach, Michael Forest, as he returns the Oakcrest Football team that he once led back to prominence would be the perfect way to re-launch the Oakcrest Alumni Association. Click here to fill out the interest form for the alumni association or use the QR in the flyer above. Check out the trailer for the documentary below that Marcus Brown worked on with fellow Oakcrest alumnus, Imaad Andrews. Above photo of Michael Forest also by Imaad Andrews. Artwork by Robb Chambers.
Click here to check out some pics from the fantastic exhibit, but really the pictures and even the video below by K Davis do not do the exhibit justice. I have seen a lot of great exhibits, but this was easily one of the best exhibits I have ever seen. It truly reminded me why Spike Lee, my mother, my uncle Eugene Mebane, Jr., and The Brooklyn Museum are so special. An audio-guided tour, a highlights tour of the exhibit by Spike Lee, and a bunch of other great information about the exhibit can also be found here on the website for one of my favorite museums, The Brooklyn Museum. Above picture by Danny Perez.
Click here to check out some pictures from the sold out show by Reji Berrouet. Also, be sure to check out the footage from K Davis below as well. The Triumphant is out now.
Click here to check out the new album The Triumphant from Reef The Lost Cauze.