PIXELS: A SHORT FILM BY PATRICK JEAN

This is pretty excellent….Thanks Joey @ Taste for uping me on this!

Enjoy

Dante Ross

BOOGIE RETURNS

Boogie sent me these recently. There a departure of sorts for him. Here are his words:
I’ve been playing new ideas and techniques and they are amazing. Here’s some examples

Me: I love these, there depth of emotion is uncanny. Boogie is onto something with these. Stay tuned.

Dante Ros

TRUSTO STRIKES

My friend who I will leave name less has been dropping various mock signs all over the city the last few months under the guise of his faux company Trusto. Pretty funny stuff peep game

D Ross

HOMEBOY SANDMAN: YEAH,BUT I CAN RHYME THOUGH

homeboy-sandman-yeah-but-i-can-rhyme-though

This is really smart. Cat can spit he was in the Loud.com rap contest a few years ago he’s a righteous cat I thought he should have won but it is what it was. I really appreciate this curious what you cats think?

RON ENGLISH STIRKES AGAIN!

The master of propaganda strikes again. Best political satirist in the whole art game these days.

Thanks Ron we need dudes like you!

FRIDAY NIGHT IN LA

Hit the left coast this weekend for some meetings with a few folx and to check my man Redas book release event out. While I was there I checked in at the Vans OTW event. Checked in with my Soul Assassin homies and headed to the event. That’s Mr. Cartoon, Muggs and Everlast for the unknowing

This is Bruno Musso, Aaron Bondaroff and my man Javier Nunez aka Wilfredo Gomez from HBO’s How to Make it in America…We wont hold it against him Jav’s the homie hope the show blows up so he can blow up other than that I ain’t a fan

This would be 3 total rippers and character’s: Mike Carroll one of my all time faves, Steve Olson my road dawg and Mr. Brandon Beibels one of the craziest dudes in the history of skateboarding….Beebs is sick!

This is Reda as in Giovanni Reda aka little pepperoni! I went to his jump off that’s where I caught Olson,Beebs and Mike Carroll…so much for Vans stronghold on skateboarders Friday evening. We were all celebrating his book release Demigods and cosmic children…..Ohwow Aaron’s peoples put it out its killer

Here’s some of the images

Johnny Boy Abrams and Patrick Holeck

Kaws

Best pic all show Andy Kessler the godfather of NYC skateboarding and my life long friend….Rest In Power big homie!

Michael Rappaport…I had the pleasure of connecting Reda and Mike Rap….six welcome back Rappaports later and the rest is history

My crazy friend Wyatt….He is too funny..

Scotty Oster….Skate legend and super DJay….Also one of my all time favorite West Coast cats….Scott is the best here he is djaying the unofficial after party at Teddys!

This guy here djayed the event….and it ws at his gallery….and hes a really nice guy like next level….next to him is the uber funny and talented Erica Jayne Christianson…..shes so funny and cool! Sheps in the book as well

This would be Natas Kaupus….If u dont know who this is then just give up

Thats Nick Diamond…..in front of yours truly

Ulle, Crazy Dave Ortis and OG Olson giving me a taste of my own medicine…

Taz Arnold just because…..Dude came to Reda’s jump off how cool is that?

Mike O’Meally and Steve Olson…Good pics….dug these mucho.

And this was the day after….little BBQ ….Reda and Elijah with the sword…..This is my new rap group the guido and the sword…..wait to the world gets a load of this…..Anyways it was a great Friday night in LA and Saturday was pretty epic as well……though not documented!

Enjoy

Dante Ross on a plane headed back to NYC

GIOVANNI REDA:DEMIGODS AND COSMIC CHILDREN

My close friend Giovanni Reda the loudmouth behind my HipHop History 101 and the funniest cat I know is having his book release tonight. Funny thing I probably met Reda due to Harold Hunters passing as much as anything. Most people think we were friends forever but during this period of time we ended up being together with some mutual friends and we bonded due to the fact he’s the funniest muther fer in the world. That and the fact he got Josh the Fish from 10Deep to eat cookies dunked in beer. Don’t ask cause Josh wont tell. It made quite the impression on me to be honest. I mean like really cookies and beer? Only Reda could inspire those kinds of shenanigans.

Fast Forward 5 years later and this friendship blossomed into a deep bond as well as our quirky liitle online show and a bunch of appearances on Wednesday with Reda. The love him and the Berrics have shown me helped reconnect me on a deeper levels with the culture of skating once again bringing me closer to my roots which is right where I need to be ( Little known fact I was a skateboarding punkrocker in my early teen years).I have totally enjoyed all of this stuff it has increased my belief in the brotherhood of skating 10fold. It inspired me to look at things specifically the youth a little differently and for that I give thanks and praise.

I was with Reda when I got the news that my bro Andy Kessler had passed. Reda really held me down that night and me him. I couldn’t think of a better bro to be with during this tragic moment. Sometimes you see somebody around for years an never interact with them and then by some circumstance beyond your control your thrust into dealing with each other. Sometimes for good and sometimes for bad. This was me and Reda’s case. The funny thing is we had seen each other around for years but had never conversed really. The experience of getting tight with Reda changed my life on a few levels as he is a incredibly kind hearted person full of compassion and posititivty something my departed brethren Andy Kessler and myself really valued in him.

For this and many other things I say congrats Giovanni Luigi Reda our friendship is one of legend and now cause of you I got lttle skater kids coming up to me when I’m trying to eat brunch with my 73 year old dad asking me where you are and when I’m gonna do some new HipHopHistorys. I say thanks, congrats and blessings my brother. Glad I will be here tonight and that I am a small part of your book.

Now let the festivities begin!

Come through if your in LA and say hello!

D Ross

ROOF TOP LEGENDS AT NEW DESIGN HIGH SCHOOL

This is a project I really believe in. My life long friend and HS dean Jesse Paiz put this together and its for a great cause namely New Design High School which is in a tight squeeze with budget cuts going on throughout the NYC public school system. Come through please and spread some love this event is really one for the community of the Lower East Side of NYC something in the midst of all the cool guy stuff we deal with we forget sometimes that this neighborhood is more than a place to hangout in and grab a drink at your favorite spot De Jour. It is a community of people who need things like New Design High School a great public high school that actually cares about it’s students something NYC education needs more of.

Please come out and support!

Thanks

Dante Ross

OSCAR GRANT: 1 YEAR LATER NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE

Nobody gets a pass on this one. As the state of Claifornia trys to wait this one out the citizens of Oakland are not having it. Oscar Grant and his execution at the hands of the Oakland Bart officers will not be swept under the rug end of story. It’s going to get hot in the bay this summer when this finally goes to trial.

OSCAR GRANT PROTESTERS SWARM BART STATION

By Angela Woodall
Oakland Tribune
Posted: 04/08/2010 07:42:11 PM PDT
Updated: 04/09/2010 11:00:53 AM PDT

More than 100 activists swarmed into the Embarcadero BART station Thursday afternoon to protest what they said was the transit agency’s ongoing mishandling of the Jan. 1, 2009, fatal shooting of Oscar Grant III.
Nearly two dozen armed BART police were on hand to keep trains running without disruptions. No delays were reported, but one person was arrested about 5:30 p.m.
“We are extremely experienced and have been very successful in dealing with all kinds of protests, including anti-war, immigration and student demonstrations,” said BART spokesman Linton Johnson in a prepared statement posted on the BART Web site. “We have plans in place to prepare for virtually any scenario the protesters throw at us.”
The attempt to disrupt service proved unsuccessful, but the group calling itself “Oakland for Justice” captured the attention of some commuters and the media. They chanted “Justice for Oscar” on the platform, then boarded a train for the Montgomery Street station, where they continued to chant. Some protesters rode to the Powell Street station.
BART had recommended the Montgomery station as an alternative to the Embarcadero station to commuters who wanted to avoid the protest.
Demonstrators called for the firing and arrest of BART police Officer Anthony Pirone, who has been on paid leave since former Officer Johannes Mehserle shot Grant, a 22-year-old Hayward resident, at BART’s Fruitvale station in Oakland.
Mehserle has been charged with murder. His trial was moved to Los Angeles County and is expected to begin in June.
The protest comes just weeks after acting BART police Chief Dash Butler fired Officer Marysol Domenici. She and Pirone were the first officers on the scene Jan. 1, 2009, at the Fruitvale station in response to a call that a fight had erupted on a BART train.
Mehserle shot Grant while trying to handcuff the unarmed man, who was lying facedown on the BART station platform. Mehserle’s lawyer has said Mehserle meant to stun Grant with a Taser but grabbed his gun by mistake.

WHEN POLITRICKS AND SPORTS COLLIDE: VIVA LOS SUNS!

In case you didnt know it recently became illegal to be Latino in Arizona….Not exactly but there is some serious racism being issued in the state. The NBA takes a stand….VIVA LOS SUNS!
Phoenix to wear Los Suns jerseys, bringing politics to court
By Art Garcia, NBA.com
Posted May 4 2010 6:01PM - Updated May 5 2010 2:01AM
PHOENIX — The basketball court is rarely, if ever, the site of a political statement, much less during an NBA playoff game. Politics are going to be center court Wednesday night.
The Suns are taking aim at Arizona’s controversial new immigration law during the Western Conference semifinals. Phoenix owner Robert Sarver is outfitting his team in “Los Suns” uniforms for Game 2 against San Antonio. The game also happens to fall on Cinco de Mayo, a traditional holiday celebrating Mexican heritage and culture.

Sarver is also using the high-profile platform to voice the organization’s frustration with the nation’s toughest law on immigration. The act, signed into law in late April, is designed to identify, prosecute and deport illegal immigrants.
“We think it’s appropriate what the Suns are doing,” NBA commisioner David Stern told NBA.com.
Critics contend that the Arizona act will lead to racial profiling. A number of boycotts and protests in Arizona are in the works.
“Our players and organization felt that wearing our ‘Los Suns’ jerseys on Cinco de Mayo was a way for our team and our organization to honor our Latino community and the diversity of our league, the State of Arizona, and our nation,” Sarver said in a statement released by the team. “We are proud that 400 players from 36 countries compete in the NBA, and the league and the Suns have always considered that to be a great strength of the NBA.
“The frustration with the federal government’s failure to deal with the issue of illegal immigration resulted in passage of a flawed state law. However intended, the result of passing this law is that our basic principles of equal rights and protection under the law are being called into question, and Arizona’s already struggling economy will suffer even further setbacks at a time when the state can ill afford them.”
Phoenix players backed Sarver’s decision to wear the alternate jerseys. So did the Spurs organization. The NBA also signed off on the Suns’ move.
The NBA Players Association released a statement criticizing the law and praising the Suns for the move.
“The recent passage of the new immigration law in Arizona is disappointing and disturbing,” said Billy Hunter, executive director of the NBAPA. “The National Basketball Players Association strongly supports the repeal or immediate modification of this legislation. Any attempt to encourage, tolerate or legalize racial profiling is offensive and incompatible with basic notions of fairness and equal protection. A law that unfairly targets one group is ultimately a threat to all.
“We applaud the actions of Phoenix Suns players and management and join them in taking a stand against the misguided efforts of Arizona lawmakers. We are consulting with our members and our player leadership to determine the most effective way for our union to continue to voice our opposition to this legislation.”
The Suns and Spurs are among several teams that wore “Los” jerseys during the league’s Noche Latina initiative during March.
The meaning Wednesday goes much deeper.
“We’re all proud to wear our Los Suns uniforms tomorrow night for Cinco de Mayo,” Suns guard Steve Nash said. “Obviously the passing of the recent bill and what that means to our state, to civil liberties, and the quality and precedent it’s setting, and message it sends to our youngsters in the community, we have a problem with that. It’s great that our owner took the initiative and our players are behind him.”
San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich would have gone with the “Los Spurs” jerseys if possible. The team only has one set of that uniform back in San Antonio, having sent the second back to the NBA. (Teams need two sets of uniforms for a game.) Popovich added that the Spurs had talked about addressing the immigration topic with Phoenix later in the series.
“It’s a great idea,” Popovich said. “I think that came from Mr. Sarver and it’s a wonderful idea because it kind of shows what we all should be about. Sure there needs to be a lot of work done, obviously. A lot of administrations have done nothing about the immigration deal and now everybody is paying the price, especially a lot of people in Arizona.
“That’s a bad thing, but the reaction is important, too. And this reaction, I agree with Mr. Sarver, is inappropriate. It’s kind of like 9-11 comes and all of a sudden there’s a Patriot Act, just a kneejerk sort of thing that changes our country and what we stand for. This law smacks of that to some degree, so I think what he’s doing tomorrow night is very wise and very correct.”

The Suns aren’t the only one making a political statement Wednesday. Civil rights activist Al Sharpton is leading a protest march from the Pilgrim Rest Church in downtown Phoenix to the Arizona Capital building. The march will pass US Airways Arena. The choir from Pilgrim Rest sang the National Anthem on Monday night before Game 1, which Phoenix won.
Other states, including Texas, are studying the Arizona law and considering drafting their own versions.
“I hope they change [the law] back to what it was and give the workers the possibility to be legal and pay taxes as everyone else,” Spurs guard Manu Ginobili said.
Art Garcia has covered the NBA since 1999. You can e-mail him here and follow him on twitter.