KARAZ PAINT FUNDRAISER

This is the place to donate for the KARAZ paint fundraiser. We appreciate all of your support. We will get the wall done this weekend.

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New Music: RJ PAYNE ,"777"

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE; ALBUM REVIEW COMING SOON.

RJ Payne, formerly known as Reign Man, is a Brooklyn bred, Philly groomed battle rap legend who 

has recently taken Instagram by storm with his “Murder In Less Than 60 Seconds” freestyle series. 

His sixty second freestyles have attracted the attention of Lord Jamar, Pete Rock, Eric Sermon, and 

Black Thought just to name a few. 

RJ’s career took off while performing under the name Reign Man. He was selected as a finalist for

 MTV’s Making The Band 2 by P Diddy, and six months later won the MTV MC Battle, landing him a 

deal with Def Jam Records. Due to unexpected events involving the firing of then Def Jam President, 

Kevin Liles, Reign Man’s music was unfortunately shelved. He then signed with Jimmy Henchman, 

one of the most feared in the music industry, until Jimmy’s legal troubles began.

Back in Philly, Reign Man linked with Reed Dollaz and joined Top Klass, the city’s largest independent 

label. He was an integral part of the battle rap DVD era and had a cult following on the internet. 

His last battle was in 2015 where he won against URLS Ty Law.

Reign Man decided to drop the stage name and start recording music under his real name – 

RJ Payne. He joined forces with producer PA Dre and released seven albums in 2017 under 

Educated Ignorance Music Group. Four albums were tributes to the late rappers, Big L, Big Pun, 

Prodigy of Mobb Deep, and Sean Price with all of the beats completely reproduced by PA Dre and his

team The Pronoun. “The Art of Payne” and “Max Payne” were original full length releases, and

“Murder in Less Than 60 Seconds” is a mixtape of his Instagram freestyles.

In 2018, RJ’s music and popularity began attracting national attention from both fans and celebrities. 

He released “Murder In Less Than 60 Seconds Vol 2” mixtape, “Goodbye” single and video ft the 

legendary DJ Doowop, “Dear Amerikkka” single ft Lord Jamar of Brand Nubian, “Death of Mumble

Rap” single ft Reed Dollaz, and “Death of Mumble Rap Remix” ft DJ Doowop, Mysonne, Lady Luck, 

and PA Dre. His next release “777” is an album inspired by Jay Z, with reproduced beats by PA Dre.

RJ continues to record music at the speed of light, releasing freestyles multiple times a week, 

sometimes twice in a day to keep the fans engaged as he works on his full length projects. He has an 

RJ Payne collection of merchandise available on his official website iamrjpayne.com. He is committed 

to bringing the art of Hip Hop back to the forefront, delivering music with a message.

RJ Payne’s music can be downloaded from his official website iamrjpayne.com

Instagram - @iamRJPayne

YouTube.com/iamRJPayne

Bookings, business, public relations and press inquiries – 

contact Chrissy Mac ChrissyMacEIMG@gmail.com @chrissymac78

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Movie Review: Infinity Wars

Just like a lot of people this weekend I checked out Infinity Wars. I have to go with the crowd and say it did not disappoint. And that's going thru the Culture litmus test: that is, 'was it as good as Black Panther?' or close?.... and  it was. Cause I tried to watch Ultron after Black Panther and that shit was gahbige. But Infinity Wars wasn't perfect either.

The action was on point. Directors Anthony and Joe Russo gave a much better depiction of the battle scenes as something that's more suited in reality. I know it's a fantasy flick, but I like it when the action is believable and not some fairytale looking stuff, or a concentrated bowl of hyperbole. I found the fight scenes to be believable and more importantly, they seemed to fit the conflict, like the hard battle was fought for a reason and the villains weren't easily vanquished. This for me helps to reinforce in the viewers mind why the heroes are necessary. Cause the villains are powerful as shit.

The battle at Wakanda I'd have to say was disappointing for me tho. It really didn't help to reinforce the notion from the previous film the dominance of Wakandan technology. Here we have this reservoir of the most precious and powerful material earth has to offer and the best they can do in a battle with organic opponents is do some Kung fu??? It seems to me that the power of the Wakandan technology should have easily over taken organic beings easily, yet the battle was so hard fought. I couldn't help but wonder why my man T'Challa's armour didn't perform so well in the conflict either. For a suit that was supposed to give him the ability to store and release kinetic energy, he ate a lot of shots with no feedback. This is the power of the Panther? Not in the last movie. And that's what left me like, naaaah. Yall fucked up on that one. They lost the city to a bunch of animals, while being
renowned for being tamers of beasts. Just didn't flush with me.

The scene where  Thanos sacrifices his daughter also raised my Illuminati sensors. In the seemingly millions of videos out there talking about blood sacrifice in order to have riches and fame, here we see this character faced with the same decision on a cosmic scale. And he chooses to offer her as a sacrifice for his destiny, with a tearful eye tho, which I thought was a great choice for a villain. The fact that he empathizes and has a feeling of sadness but still commits the act I think makes him even scarier. If he can kill his own daughter, your ass is toast. Imagine in Star Wars when the Emperor is frying Luke with the Force and Vader is standing on the side looking torn imagine if he came over and cut Luke's head clean off in that scene. He woulda been the greatest villain in the history of cinema. While Thanos does have that universal profile of being a villain of epic proportions, for me he comes off a bit like a thug. Vader was a commander of a military that was a part of a government that imposed its will on subjects thru law. Thanos is a terrorist, a person acting violently because of his own personal beliefs. It's like Mao Tse Tung and Bin Laden.

The prevailing belief that drives THANOS has a eerily similar counterpart in the world we share currently. Thanos' over all goal is population control, because the resources of the universe is being over run by the needs of the organic beings in it, like his own home planet. Likewise, the same idea is running thru the upper parts of governments right now with large endowments like the Bill Gates Foundation allocating money to this goal. Gates has even gave talks where he states what will cause the reduction of the population of the planet, a virus strain totally resistant to current scientific capability. Or more accurately, current scientific disclosure. The satisfied look of Thanos when the deed is done is probably secondary to the fact that the audience is left with the notion that the world did not end. It is a new world, waiting for a New World Order. Philosophically, I'm torn between the messaging; population control is evil and the ones carrying it out are villains against humanity... yet your most powerful heroes are helpless to stop it. Is this a seed sown for us to accept at a later date? Is this the ill subliminal? Time will tell. Although if it is, I don't think we're gonna like the ending of that story too much.

I hear a lot of people remarking on the ending of the movie. 'Aw man, that's something you wouldn't expect from a hero movie!' to 'Wow I can't believe it ended like that!' Maaaan, please. The ending was nothing but the exact same ending from The Empire Strikes Back. The heroes are hurt, the resistance is in shambles and the Empire has won this war and moved on. I read director Joe Russo say they were aiming to elevate Thanos to the Darth Vader level of villain. I didn't know they had the same goal for the movie. Well, maybe that's unfair to say the movie in its entirety, but that ending was written by George Lucas. In the words of the current popular meme, prove me wrong.

Overall, it was a great movie and I enjoyed it a lot. I have a projector in my house so I watched it at home after ordering it thru Xfinity. I'm def gonna watch it again with some friends, enjoying some 'vegetables'. Movies are so much better with 'vegetables'. 

Here is an excellent video i found giving a great backgrounder if you're like me who doesn't have the time to be fully versed on the entire Marvel Universe these days. Great video. 

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To the victor goes the spoils.......

                       Duck TRK

  Graff is funny, and films about graff are funnier. The moment one begins to document it's "history" he embarks on a road littered with embellishments (or outright lies) and ego. Which is why Culture Livingston's "Tagging Ass City" is a welcome piece of cinema, surprisingly clear and well presented. Opening with an action sequence featuring Rame KMD in Philadelphia's Broad Street Subway tunnels, the film carefully begins to craft it's case for Philadelphia as the home of graffiti (certainly to the chagrin of New Yorkers). Yet this isn't a claim made without research, and New York's contribution for the birthplace of hip hop is stated with no question.

  Mr. Livingston carefully narrates of (and openly wonders about), the impact of Chicago gang hands. As if the idea of Chicago being the inspiration for the East Coast is quite reasonable. After dangling this prospect before the viewers in enters Darryl McCray.

  Darryl McCray aka "Cornbread" the World's First Graffiti Writer. You'll find a few people to dispute this, but not many. And even if someone else did precede Cornbread​, his narrative is way more compelling. What red blooded American man can't relate to a love smitten boy writing his name on a wall to get the attention of a woman? Sentiments like that are literally what films are made of, and Mr. McCray knows and sells the commodity which is "Cornbread". And a very legitimate and valid point is made in his interview. Cornbread was the first writer to write his name on a wall throughout a major metropolitan city, completely separate from the gang culture that permeated the era. He IS the Godfather of Graffiti and the modern graffiti writers.

   The film then segues into the history of Philadelphia graff crews, Delta Phi Soul, KCD, SAM1 and ICP (which holds the distinction of being the oldest active graff crew in the world).

  Also mentioned is Notorious Bik (NB) and his popularizing, if not creating the wicked.

  Next up is Task "The Amazing Scribble King" from Philadelphia's storied HCS crew. Task speaks of his experience in the game, and tricks he used to stand out in a graffiti soaked city during the 70's.

  JK of ICP also speaks of his experience, while Mr. Livingston fills in the blanks from a historical aspect.

  Which finally leads up to the unexpected star of the show DUCK TRK. Interviewing Duck on film doesn't really do justice to Duck. To Philadelphia, Duck is much more than an interview in a film. Duck, maybe more than anyone epitomizes Philadelphia graff. For at least four decades Duck wrote on walls... EVERYWHERE. All tags too, no fills or pieces. The man became a Philly institution from solely tagging his name. In his interview Duck doesn't speak as eloquently as Task or JK about the mechanics and history of graff. Nor does he proclaim any titles or credit himself with anything like Cornbread. Duck doesn't need to be either of those things. Duck just writes, he was the oldest, on going graff artist. Simple in his speech, simple in his approach to graff. Write on everything.

   "Tagging Ass City" is worth the pickup for a fair and balanced look at the history of Philadelphia graff. Culture Livingston's ​film is an enlightening historical documentation. Give it a try.

Go the STORE page on this site or go here to purchase.



Dedicated to the memory of Duck TRK.... rest well.......KING.

 
 

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Happy 50th Birthday Graffiti!

In 1967 a kid from North Philly went out and started writing on walls so that he could get at a girl. Like most of what guys do, right? If it weren't for women, most guys would shower maybe once or twice a week. Lol (not me, of course...) But it was this simple act of tryin to get at the fairer sex that  launched a cultural phenomenon.

That was 50 years ago this year! Happy Birthday Graffiti! CORNBREAD, the kid from Brewerytown, North Philly, that started it all, started writing on walls in September of 1967. Altho he officially started taggin in 1965 in reform school, we will take it from the time he started rockin in the plain view of the general public. (this discussed in our movie, "Taggin Ass city", now available in the bboycult.com store, or here.) So, Happy Birthday graffiti!

In the past 50 years graffiti has progressed from what gang members used to use to mark territory to a full fledged art form. It amazes me that the movement du jour started out as some strait gangster shit. It's usually how it happens tho; the common man sparks an idea, someone sees it and finds value. For the kid in the street its a way to get fame. For others, its a full on career. That value is found in the people who use it.

Graffiti for some has been the first major achievements in life. That first taste of  public acclaim has inspired some to move forward in other areas. I think that's a part of its allure. It's the first reality show. People watch in real time the exploits of graffiti writers and the places they've traveled in a bid to stay watched. In many ways, graffiti artist greet people on their journey and become a part of their adventures as they arrive at certain places, see a familiar name and say, "Dam, what the hell is he doing way out here???''. The mystery identity helps to fuel the curiosity that keeps people watching. They become known, all while employing creativity, while being a bit of an outlaw while, ironically, remaining unknown to the people that watch. They know the name tho. They all know the name.

Conversely, graffiti has also been a practice that has served as a major point of disappointment for some. When they get to these celebrated heights, they are now feeling a pressure to live up to the hype. You're a star now, so u gotta look like one. And that translates to the pressure of having things and looking fresh without fail. In Philly, it's almost expected that the top Graff writers are also get money boys. And in a lot of cases it's true. And those that can't rise to the occasion are left retreating into the anonymous world of drug abuse. It happens to the drug dealers too. Drug abuse is the perfect escape from the pressures of life, because, after all, it's not your fault you fell off. You were addicted to drugs. It's happened to a lot of the top players in the game. You come across them and sometimes they are embarrassed to tell u who they are because they see who you are and feel like that they should be better off in the game. Or sometimes it's the obvious disappointment in your eyes, when meeting your childhood hero, the guy you patterned this pursuit after, is a guy who wears the same drawls for a week, shoots heroin and maybe does somethin strange for some change. The disappointment they see in your eyes when you meet helps to push them further into retreat.

Regardless of what goes on in the swamps, the reception halls tell a different story of people finding fame and fortune in the world of high art, earning magnificent fortunes from an art form they found in the gutter. For those that used it to improve their condition, I salute you. I salute all poor people who have used this culture to change their lot in life. What better use for culture can there be? The beautiful thing is that graffiti STILL has the same utility deep down in the slums, in the underbelly of the city's subways systems and train yards, as it does in MOCA or the various art galleries across the world that embrace it. It still holds the same basic premise; you must be excellent to excel at it. You must be persistent to be recognized. It is the only pillar of hip hop that still requires individual excellence in order to be celebrated.

Happy Birthday graffiti. Thank you for all you've given to me and to my homeboys both dead and alive, those fallen soldiers in the war against their current circumstance, those who set out to make the world recognize them. Thank you for providing a vehicle for the road to success. You are truly a crime of passion.

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