THROWBACK KULTJAH LAB COMMERCIAL...

TODAY'S MATHEMATICS...

SUMMER MADNESS...

....So summer is officially a wrap, and I guess the best part about being an Independent designer/business owner is being able to decide what and when you want to produce. I know the proverbs "your only hot as your last hit" and "keep feedin' em..and feedin' em and feedin' em" are great mantras to create by, however...I can't front...for the first time in maybe...10 or so years I've been uninspired with "things"...yet so inspired by "thangs" (Artists are living contradictions...fuk it.) Maybe it was the recession, or the over saturation of an already crowded (Art/Fashion) market.... or the Wall Street Bailout mixed with that Balloon Boy fiasco (whenever that was) combined with a lil' pop culture "ignance" (you choose an event)...but I think subconsciously before the summer even kicked in...my creative engines were pre-programmed for cruise control.

Thus...I've been taking deep breaths, studying alot, laying crazy low...planing, plotting and perfecting...traveling, trying to chill wit fam, friends and foes...(know thy enemy)...only to emerge feeling swedish massaged, silk robed ready for the world. Several projects on the horizon...KULTJAH...ARTofJAHMANE...collabos...and much more...if we fell outta touch...get at me...if yah mad...it'll pass...stay tuned....(master teachers build and destroy!)

P.S....coming soon..."NOOH CONCEPTS" home furnishings and decor.

KULTJAH: LEGEND OF THE SUNPALM PT. 1

.....It all began in a time, space and ghetto far....far away. The concept of KULTJAH and the Legend of the Sunpalm was born from the raw energy and creative survival skills refined by a small group of artistic individuals. A Hip-Hop renaissance was taking place, and the same street culture that made Gucci, Louis Vuitton, POLO, Versace, Levi's, Nike, Hilfiger and a host of foreign and domestic brands millions of dollars, as well as "Hood" household names, was turning it's focus & funds inward....creating a whole new genre of fashion. Regardless of what the average...conservative/tea bag(gin)... um...party member....or cultural "scientist" may think, Hip-Hop, Urban, Rap, Street, Ghetto...(yeah Ghetto!...stay tuned for "Stay out of the Ghetto" post) Culture is the most relevant, powerful Culture to emerge from the human psyche in centuries. We can debate for days, but the Music, Language, Art, Style and "Ways" of Hip-Hop have become more than just a global phenomenon, but a force that emanates from skid row to wall street...from the slave quarters to the white house...and beyond...

Out of this new era of Hip-Hop energy came the lifestyle (brand) of KULTJAH. The late eighty's / early ninety's was a creative incubator for street entrepreneurs... legal..not so legal ... commercial ...underground etc...whatever it took to express yourself and perhaps get paid...in full. Naturally, as "street" artists', we found ourselves expressing our talents all over the Tri-State area... walls, trains, planes, automobiles and anything that stood still long enough to get bombed... so when we started tagging t-shirts, jean jackets, hats and various garments as a means to make ends and friends...twas like the stars aligned....and KULTJAH - "Hand Crafted Rugged Dezigns" started to take shape.

TO BE CONTINUED....

TODAY'S MATHEMATICS...

HAVE ART...WILL TRAVEL...

....In my never ending quest to inject (my) Art into the hearts and minds of "Common Folk" (Elitist Art is a Lie, and the Old Masters are Dead!!)....I'm constantly thinking of ways to diversify my work, as well as price ranges of work I produce. Lets face it..."Ain't nothin' new under the Sun"...and the days of being some super deeeeep, Master Painter...Artist dude (in my personal opinion) is WACK!...I'd much rather mastermind the next Mickey (Mouse) than Mona Lisa. Just think of the millions, or perhaps billions of lives Mickey has brought the joy of laughter and wonder.....while Mona sits there with that smirk on her face waiting for some Art Historian to trick you into thinking she's the most beautifulest girl in the world...wit no eyebrows. Not to mention the marketing powerhouse Mickey and his Clan have built (shout out to Pluto and Daffy)...though I'm sure you may find Mona's grill on a mug in the gift shop at the MET...or on some ultra-cool refrigerator magnets...but c'mon...Mickey made the Magic Kingdom...lunch boxes, countless toys, books, the Disney Channel, Mouscateers and the list goes on......and on..

What I'm saying (to my fellow Artists) is TIMES dun changed...and if your ultimate goal is to sit on the throne of galvanized greats, then you will always be a slave to the "Masters" and the pollitricks of the ART world.....besides, why would you wait for fame in death, when you can have (Artistic) freedom in life? ART is for people, whoever and as many as you can reach...by whatever means...the concept of selling out is only a cop-out for those who ain't buyin' anyway....(*remember...never sell you soul though!)...If Target calls..I'll answer....tell Ronald (McDonald) to holla at me....Walmart want what???.....take it to the streets...get your work together, travel, do shows in other zones...states...countries...from my own personal experience....the return is much greater than the effort....just be sure to focus on the infinite possibilities of the stars, and not the white gloved mouse hand pointing at them.....

NEW YILLZ...NEW QUILLZ...

....First of all...if your reading this blog, I'd like to extend peace and blessings to you and yours. Once again we find ourselves beginning a new year. I think it's safe to say that most of us are ready to shift into a new time frame....and let (especially the back end of...) 2009 drift off into our collective memory banks. In the famous words of Ghostface (Killa)..it does seem like "The glorious days are gone, and everybody's doin' bad.."...so many changes...socially, financially, spiritually, environmentally....uh...mentally and so on...that now is the perfect time to take stock in yourself and the people around you, tighten up your boot laces and go get it! For independent, Creative Individuals (Artists, Musicians, Writers etc...) now is the (best) time to do it!...the globe (Internet) is at your fingers and the people want what you have....after all...you've got nothing to lose (except your soul..never sell that!!)....so while most people are ready to file intellectual bankruptcy, or forfeit their creative freedoms...RISE I say....RISE like a Phoenix from the ashes of mediocrity, and make this a POWERFUL YEAR on your path to fulfillment.

Happy and Prosperous New Year from KULTJAH DEZIGNS.

JAHMANE
Artist, Designer...
Motivational Speaker.