Basquiat once said, “Your life is your message to the world, make sure it’s inspiring.” The words of the late neo-expressionist painter still ring true 29-years after his untimely passing.

Getting his start with Graffiti collective SAMO in downtown-Manhattan during the ’80s, Basquiat transitioned from rags to riches with paintings chronicling socio-political commentaries on the identity of blacks in America, Hip-Hop culture, and more.

Moreover, the fact Basquiat overcame poverty by creating something out of nothing without compromising his integrity is something every artist could relate to. Consequently, Basquiat’s been a go-to reference for contemporary artists across the board.

Within the last decade, his legacy has been introduced to a generation of post-millennials by various recording artists like Jay-Z, Nicki Minaj, Kanye West, Frank Ocean, and Rick Ross.

Making their own mark in the coalescence between music and neo-expressionism, Grammy-Award winning record producer BINK! and esteemed visual artist PEL presents PEL’s BINK! Mixtape 5-day art exhibition.

Taking place from Tuesday, May 16 to Saturday, May 20 at the legendary S Artspace in Little Italy, Manhattan, the art show will feature select music from BINK!’s iconic discography as exquisite art. Song selections include:

1. “1-900-Hustler” Jay Z (featuring Beanie Sigel, Memphis Bleek, & Freeway)
2. “I am Forgiven” Pusha T
3. “Cigar Music” Rick Ross (featuring Masspike Miles)
4.  “Who Do We Think We Are” John Legend (featuring Rick Ross)
5. “Devil in a New Dress” Kanye West (featuring Rick Ross)
6. “Jay Z Interview” Hit-Boy
7. “When They Remember” Freeway
8. “Living Better Now” Jamie Foxx (featuring Rick Ross)
9.  “All I Need” Jay Z
10. “One Shot Deal” Beanie Sigel (featuring Redman)

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The post Visual Artist PEL and Award-Winning Producer BINK! Present “PEL’s BINK! Mixtape: A Five-Day Art Exhibition” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Ironically, the album titled the turning point in the career of then 30-year-old Jay Z.  The Blueprint laid out the direction in which his already legend would become legendary.  The symbolic and iconic masterpiece was a defining moment in the genius of music.  The Blueprint, executively produced by Shawn “Jay Z” Carter, Damon Dash, and Kareem “Biggs” Burke, oozes Roc-A-Fella epicness since September 11, 2001 until now.  The album also holds a sadden memory that day, the day of the 9/11 attacks that the world will never forget.  In Hip Hop, the album was the beginning of the end of a trilogy that will go down in the history books of greatest of all time.  The all-in-blue memento was perfectly written and stories were perfectly told.  Producing handles by some of the greats: Kanye West, Just Blaze, Trackmaster, Timbaland, Bink, and Eminem, who also lended a hand as the album’s solo guest contributor on one of the hardest tracks, “Renegade.”  The beat hits so hard as the vocals ring off in your ears and Jigga and Eminem’s bars flow so fluently together.

After hitting you so hard once it would only be appropriate that Jigga came through for the ladies on “Girls, Girls, Girls.”  On the track, Jay Z gets around the globe showing love to every type of woman there is.  He gives us tears with “Song Cry,” behind a hot melody and a brilliant storyline; “They say you can’t turn a bad girl good, but once a good girl’s gone bad, she’s gone forever…” The meaning runs deep, the feeling is real, and the the tone is raw in expression.  “Never Change” forever holds an authenticity that can never be denied, “I’ll never change, this is Jay all day…”

“The Takeover” is timeless and was done effortless in response to the famous beef at that moment in time; “Ask Nas, he don’t want it with Hov, nooo!”  Jay made the statement of all with “The Ruler’s Back” and shows there is no love with “Heart of the City (Ain’t No Love)”, later performed with Mary J. Blige.  “U Don’t Know” reigns as the greatest track on The Blueprint, “U don’t know what you do…”  “Izzo (H.O.V.A.)” is the album’s anthem, “I can’t leave rap alone, the game needs me…”  The Blueprint is truly a classic, all 13 tracks included plus two bonus tracks, “Breathe Easy (Lyrical Exercise) and “Girls, Girls, Girls (Remix)”  To Hip Hop this spells legendary and the best Hov album in history; not to mention his very own closing remark in the thank you’s:

“To This Whole Fake Bulls**t Industry, Thanx 4 being so Fake and Keeping me on my Toes!!! I Love Ya’ll Holla Back!”

-Jay Z

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The post The Chronicles of Jay Z: Marking the 15th Anniversary of ‘The Blueprint’ appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Evan Barlow pleads with the evil forces of drug addiction to release their hold on his soul: “Pop that vein/Satan is alive now/I want Satan to let me be/Just give me peace.” It’s easy to see the struggle Barlow had to go through while overcoming the battles of drug addiction in this chilling new record titled “Window.” Shanica Knowles, actress and cousin to the legendary Beyonce Knowles, known for her roles in Hanna Montana and Jump In!, does an incredible job painting the picture of addiction knocking at the window of the soul asking to be let in over a hypnotic, enchanting beat.

Evan Barlow

Barlow takes the listener though the ups and downs of his near death life experience which he has been faithfully able to withstand. The rising star is committed to sharing his story about his ability to overcome drug addiction and continues to show up with incredible art showcasing his lyrical dominance and powerful delivery. His undeniably powerful writing style continues to give him a cutting edge, working with producers aligned with Jay-Z, Kanye West, Macklemore, Timbaland and more. Barlow plans to fully release his entire body of work titled Fabrics on July 4th. With nearly 156,000 organic plays on Soundcloud, fans seem to be consistently growing fond of Barlow’s skill set and are committed to following him as he shares his story with the world.

Shanica Knowles

Barlow is set to open for Diplo, Travis Scott and Lil Dicky on May 21st for Shaggfest in his hometown of Virginia.

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Hip-Hop Lives in Virginia!! 

As we know, the history in Virginia is rich.  From the early days of Jamestown and Colonial Williamsburg, and especially, when it comes to having a role in hip-hop culture.  From Skillz to Timbaland and Magoo, Missy, Pharrell, Nottz, Bink, Lex Luger, The Lady of Rage, DJ Lonnie B, DJ Bee, Kool DJ Law, The Boodah Brothers, and more.  It’s no surprise that artists emerging out of the Virginia underground scene are starting to make noise internationally. (Example:  D.R.A.M. Cha Cha and Nickelus F). Cutlass Reid has a long history in Virginia’s hip-hop culture. So if you Google him, don’t be surprised to find collaborations with living legends: Nottz Raw, Bink Dog, and 9th Wonder.

In “Jus Like Riding A Bike”, Cutlass brings us vivid imagery through immaculate story-telling.  The production on this project is A1.  Expect to hear sounds of Bink, IAMNOBODI, Knoname Needed, Ologist, and more!

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Grammy-Winning Producer, Bink (Bink Dog) is known for blessing tracks for Jay-Z, John Legend, Kurupt, Nate Dogg,  and many more!  Also, his latest works can be heard on Dr. Dre’s Compton.

This time around, Bink comes back home to Virginia to bless hip-hop artist, Cutlass Reid with this soulful track that Reid uses as therapy through lyricism.  Cutlass Reid is a beast if you didn’t already know.  To give you a brief background,  the Virginia native has been around for a minute!  He used to go by the name BlacknDeckah in the legendary hip-hop group out of VA called, DMP, with producer Nottz Raw.  He has also collaborated with 9th Wonder in the past.  There’s a reason why all of these legendary producers continue to flock to this man!  BARS!  A true story-teller!  Keep your radar on this guy!  This joint is off of his project, “Jus like Riding a Bike,” which features production from Bink!, Ologist, and IAMNOBODI, coming out soon!

The post New Music: Cutlass Reid – Let The Pain Out (Prod. By Bink!) appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Happy New Years Eve! One of the best parts of the end of the year is always the rap up courtesy of Skillz. He skipped last year and only did a sports recap, but this year he is back with “2014 Rap Up”. If you have forgotten any of the highlights from 2014, this track will definitely refresh your memory. Over quality production courtesy of BINK!, he talks about everything from Lupita Nyong’o winning an Oscar, Donald Sterling, P.O.P Hold it Down, the saga of Chris Brown and Karrueche, the ALS ice bucket challenge, Kim and Kanye, Mimi and Niko’s shower rod sex tape, the epic fail known as the Aaliyah movie and so much more. The track serves as the last song on Skillz latest collaboration album with BINK!, Made in Virginia which is available on iTunes now.

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Are all your favorite rappers dead? Do you miss the way hip-hop use to be before it became a widespread phenomenon? If this is you, then you can relate to Skillz on his new single “All My Favorite Rappers Are Dead”. Produced by BINK!, the track is an ode to hip-hop and it’s pretty dope. This serves as the first single from Skillz and BINK!’s upcoming album Made in Virginia which drops on December 31st. Listen to the track below.

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