The De Liban Solar Return… Oh and he has pretty cool digs.

If I am ever posting anything about anything I’ve gone to, ~~minuswell~~, ~~midas whale~~, ~~just as soon~~ just assume I am or was late to the party… Try as I might, the only thing I’ve ever been early for was childbirth (my children were both 3 weeks early)…

But I show up though and usually have a pretty darn good time, despite the tardiness. Like a couple of weeks ago… When I attended the birthday party of Lawyer/Emcee/Dude with the interesting name and more interesting resume, Kevin De Liban .

Kevin, who is supporter and regular patron of the MempHop scene decided to have a partee (feel free to trill that r and over annunciate the e’s) heralding his birthday, return to Memphis, oh and this lil project he’s been working on with IMAKEMADBEATS over at Dirty Socks Studios… And awladat would’ve been enough, but when your friends are the crème de la crème of Hip Hop, Art, Activism, and Culture why stop there? Why not just make it an Art Show featuring said friends.

Drea L. Powell @http://www.rawartists.org/dreatheartist

Quinn McGowan @http://www.quinnproart.com/

Sir Walt @https://www.facebook.com/pages/MUDWORKZ/

Oh and unveil some iconic images of yourself captured by a remarkable photographer, Darius B. Williams? (Aquarius Creative Studio)

(Kevin and iconography, black and white photo by Darius B. Williams)

There is no reason not too… I mean who’s gonna stop you? Nobody, that’s who!

The fanciness of this sounds quite overwhelming as I read it back…

So let me add some subtext and say all of this took place over a Hip Hop Soundtrack with food catered by local soul-food restaurateur (Edna Banks-Hawkins, affectionately known as Miss Edna to many of the local Artist), lots of libations (and by that of course I mean dranks, the kinds with volumes and proofs… yes, alcohol)… Oh and lest I forget the centerpiece of any respectable shindig… A piñata!!! Yeah son!!!

And it was still fancy AF!!!

(Everybody Loves Miss Edna)

SO again… I was late but not really by normal partee standards (party invite was for 8p, I showed up at 9ish)… But apparently people had arrived en masse, at the time we were actually invited. No worries I came in a group, quickly found Kevin and gifted him with a bottle of 19 Crimes Red Wine…

(Tuh! He’s a lawyer, I’m Cleva!)

and began mingling with guests…

Of course I was checking for my fellow #AllStars so I could snap a few pics because I’m always on my Lois Lane as #thatguy calls it…

All Star: Terry Location: De Liban Diggs

Annnnd, in a moment of absolute kismet, the not hostess, beauty.full and fiery Cara from Kentucky offered me a drink (a my 1st Kentucky Mule! Made with real Ginger Beer!) and I peeped her #nonverse from @NoSweatApparel… We chatted about my affinity for purple hair (and pretty much all things purple), Converse sneakers, conversing with strangers and the best way to make a KY Mule (Copper Mugs awladaway!) and before the night was over we came up with the #ListOfNos for those upon who the great misfortune befell to not be where we were…

No Hip Hop! No Art Show! No Koi Pond! No Piñata! No KY Mules!

(koi pond and piñata)

I held court in the kitchen with people I met waaaaay back in college (where we held court in the Student Center at ~~STCC~~ Shelby State); pulled Kevin aside to tell him how awesome an experience I was having and how much I appreciated it…. Because I know truly not everybody gets to see the Memphis I do… And even ran into and old friend/co-worker and his husband (I missed that whole wedding errthang…And I’m sure it was the ultimate… because he’s kinda fancy).

the unveiling (CD Art) photography by Darius B. Williams (Aquarius Creative Design) lower left corner art by Sir Walt (MudWorkz)

I captured as much as I could on whatever the camera phone version of celluoid is… Including… Kevin’s impromptu performance, producers going in to Wu-Tang (ODB tribute)…

which you can find here ——-»> (http://youtu.be/JZkpg-B09EU)

And maybe one of the sweetest ciphers I’ve witnessed to date… As Brandon Tolson (Eso,1/2 of Artistik Approach)… Karen (she be sanging on all up in Dirty Socks Studio), Marco?, Rajoun Mwangi (Singer/Chef/Boxer/Big Brother), and the Branding Guru that is Dana James Mwangi (some people don’t eeem know she be sanging) sang us right on into the morEning and lovely scattered showers to tucked us into bed…

upper left-hand corner a birthday gift “Dread Headz” by Lance Andrade 2nd panel art by Quinn McGowan, 3rd panel (top) art by Sir Walt (MudWorkz), (bottom) art by Drea Powell (dreART)

I don’t know how YOUR friends party or when YOU know that YOU’ve arrived but I knew when I got the invite I knew I HAD ARRIVED and would show up… Late to the party… But how does the saying go…

“Better Late Than Never”

The De Liban Solar Return… Oh and he has pretty cool digs.

Drea L. Powell @http://www.rawartists.org/dreatheartist

Quinn McGowan @http://www.quinnproart.com/

Sir Walt @https://www.facebook.com/pages/MUDWORKZ/

Oh and unveil some iconic images of yourself captured by a remarkable photographer, Darius B. Williams? (Aquarius Creative Studio)

(Kevin and iconography, black and white photo by Darius B. Williams)

There is no reason not too… I mean who’s gonna stop you? Nobody, that’s who!

The fanciness of this sounds quite overwhelming as I read it back…

And it was still fancy AF!!!

(Everybody Loves Miss Edna)

(Tuh! He’s a lawyer, I’m Cleva!)

and began mingling with guests…

Of course I was checking for my fellow #AllStars so I could snap a few pics because I’m always on my Lois Lane as #thatguy calls it…

All Star: Terry Location: De Liban Diggs

No Hip Hop! No Art Show! No Koi Pond! No Piñata! No KY Mules!

(koi pond and piñata)

the unveiling (CD Art) photography by Darius B. Williams (Aquarius Creative Design) lower left corner art by Sir Walt (MudWorkz)

I captured as much as I could on whatever the camera phone version of celluoid is… Including… Kevin’s impromptu performance, producers going in to Wu-Tang (ODB tribute)…

which you can find here —–>>> (http://youtu.be/JZkpg-B09EU)

And maybe one of the sweetest ciphers I’ve witnessed to date… As Brandon Tolson (Eso,½ of Artistik Approach)… Karen (she be sanging on all up in Dirty Socks Studio), Marco?, Rajoun Mwangi (Singer/Chef/Boxer/Big Brother), and the Branding Guru that is Dana James Mwangi (some people don’t eeem know she be sanging) sang us right on into the morEning and lovely scattered showers to tucked us into bed…

upper left-hand corner a birthday gift “Dread Headz” by Lance Andrade 2nd panel art by Quinn McGowan, 3rd panel (top) art by Sir Walt (MudWorkz), (bottom) art by Drea Powell (dreART)

“Better Late Than Never”

Picasso Baby Pt. I

Pablo Ruiz y Picasso, also known as Pablo Picasso (25 October 1881 – 8 April 1973), was a Spanish painter, sculptor, printmaker, ceramicist, stage designer, who spent most of his adult life in France. As one of the greatest and most influential artists of the 20th century, he is known for co-founding the Cubistmovement, the invention of constructed sculpture, the co-invention of collage, and for the wide variety of styles that he helped develop and explore.

In Memphis on April 12 #206PicassoBaby endeavored a major feat by presenting an event that sought to capture Picasso and maybe to a lesser degree Jay-Z’ penchant for prolific artistry. Orchestrated and spearheaded by Speak Life Society founder Timothy “Urban Thoughts” Moore working in conjunction with other local artist 206PB was designed to provide an “ARTIST FREESTYLE” event as a platform to Memphis’ most vibrant, thoughtful, creative artists in the city.

I just want a Picasso…

Picasso Baby, is also the title of the Jay-Z song that reestablished the collaborative relationship Jay and Timbaland and the anchor for the game-changing Magna Carta Holy Grail album (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Picasso_Baby). If I didn’t get an indication on what to expect from the use of the name Picasso (Pablo), Picasso Baby definitely drew several from the part of me that relates to urban artistry and artists and what 206PB hoped to achieve.

Perhaps the desire to bring something rare or what is the desire to expose something familiar to a broader audience? The desire to up the ante? Do something new, different, unique? Another creative way to market artists? To showcase the talent of Memphis to Memphis in a new format? To seamlessly blend sight and sound, taste and smell, touch?

In the opening lines to the Picasso Baby song Jay, HOV, Hova, Mr. H-to the Izzo, nee’ Shawn Carter proclaims “I just want a Picasso” and then throughout the song progresses from wanting a million to wanting a trillion. The event seemed to follow the blueprint of seeking more opulence as well. Please allow me to explain…

Let’s say that 10 artists on a non-festival bill is a million. Ten artists in one night for $10 general admission might be a showcase, at the very least, and up line yes part of a festival line-up… So 10 is the million, the base line… Following that logic let’s say 20 artists on a non-festival show is a billion… And 30+ artists, of varying genres, various calibers, some with multiple talents on a non-festival show, in one night well yeah that’s a trillion folks! The winner’s circle, the ultimate… Right?

Ok, for the sake of argument, for the dissenters, the nay-saying naybobs, and those that will call me a hater (oh how I despise that word and it’s colloquial use… grrr) let’s say that is an oversimplified extrapolation of an event that many talented people invested their heart, spirit, soul, blood, sweat, tears, and finances into… The fact remains than when an event shares a name with the a legendary prolific artist and the title of a song from a game changig contemporary artist and business man comparisons will be made! And as comparisons go this is one person’s opinion (mine) and it is based on person’s beliefs and experiences and do not reflect the… blah,blah, blah… You know the spiel.

#206PicassoBaby

“BE CURIOUS. AND SLIGHTLY PARANOID. (WHAT OPPORTUNITY ARE YOU MISSING?!)” Rebecca Van Dyck

I have been in Memphis for almost 2 decades (18 years Jan 1, 2014 to be exact) an I’ve seen some old things, seen some young things, seen some little pretty go and come things…What an enticing peace of something! Memphis is so full of talent that it has been my chosen exile, forsaking the sun and sand of Cali and staying planted in fertile ground. The talent in Memphis is so rich an raw that daily I am amazed. And #206picassobaby is no exception! An apropos title borrowed from the incomparable Jay Z album Magna Carta Holy Grail. In as much at that album is a game changer, so is Memphis an especially this event. Seamlessly blending genres, culture and philosophy under one roof. #206PicassoBaby seeks to engage and expose attendees in a creative environment. PHOTOGRAPHY. DANCE. FASHION. VISUAL ART. LIVE MUSIC. A creative multi-dimensional event with theoretical ideas and concepts.

Described by coordinators as “A Plethora of artistic performances emerging,…. then pouring into the city; reflective of a sense of Picasso’s habitually chaotic style.”

You are invited to witness this eruption of Memphis’ intellectual, creative beings as they touch the audience through extension of talent in the forms of writing, image, engagement, and performance.

Be fearless in your pursuit of GREATness! And only paranoid of being the one that gets the updates and not make the updates.

Opportunity is knocking, answer without reservation!

—Malaika Salaam,TheMotivator