Sunset's Soundcheck: Durand Bernarr - THE VOICE

Sunset’s Soundcheck: Durand Bernarr – THE Voice

Posted by Sunset in PGTV, Soundcheck on November 20, 2012 | No Comments

Durand Bernarr. Etch the name into your memory. I first wrote about him here (shoutout to eclectic alexandria – I discovered him through her tumblr), and since then I’ve fallen deeper in love with his work, his growth and that voice. I’m not alone. Just ask his 11,000 + Twitter followers. His talent’s even led him to being mentored by Erykah Badu, who he’s been touring with as part of her band for some time now. And he’s been taking notes. I call him “THE Voice” because there isn’t a single one out there like his. His range, emotional impact...

Makeda on the Eye Goddess and the Evil Eye

The Eye Goddess and the Evil Eye

Posted by vincent in Makeda's Musings on November 6, 2012 | 1 Comment

The eyes are the most exclusive feature of the hundreds of votive figures found in the excavation of the Syrian “Eye Temple” of Tell Brak, a temple that was exclusively “dedicated to the worship of Ishtar (Inanna).” (13)  The eye-idols, as they are known, are representations of Ishtar.  The variations on their single iconographic form are almost without end.  Some of the figures don headdresses, some wear necklaces, others are decorated with chevrons suggestive of breasts, and there are others whose necks and heads are abstracted phallic or vulvar forms.  Each is unique and yet they...

Ajak Deng in Numéro China

Sudan native Ajak Deng in this November’s Numéro China

Posted by vincent in Fashion & Glamour Naturalle on November 6, 2012 | 1 Comment

Sundanese model, Ajak Deng, was photographed by British photographer John-Paul Pietrus for Numéro China’s November 2012 issue. Numero magazine analyses in a sharp and international way all fields of creativity and culture : Fashion, beauty, living places, architecture, design in order to detect tomorrow’s great trends, glamour stock, figures who will become icons. NUMERO likes to think as a precursor. Numéro is an international fashion magazine published by the Groupe Alain Ayache. In September 2010, the Numéro China magazine was launched as the third international edition for the market...

Events: ATL-A3C Festival

Needle To The Record DJ Competition @ A3C Festival Atlanta 10.12.12

Posted by vincent in Events & Event Photos on November 3, 2012 | No Comments

Last Friday [10/12/12] night I went to check the Needle To The Record DJ Competition over at the A3C Hip Hop  Festival at Masquerade. When I got to Masquerade I went to check out the festival before I went in to the Needle To The Record  part. I caught the very tail end of the Wu Tang  performance, then I went upstairs to the Red Bull stage checked out a performance for a quick second , then I went downstairs to and got situated for the competition. The special guest judges for the evening were Dj Swiftee and Presyce , and were were treated to have Hip Hop legends Kool Dj Red Alert , and Teddy...

an Afro Punk adventure

an Afro Punk adventure…

Posted by vincent in Events & Event Photos on October 29, 2012 | No Comments

Described by the New York Times as putting “rock and rebellion squarely in the category of African-American music,” the Afro-punk Festival has become a Brooklyn intuition, the focal point for the burgeoning Afro-punk movement. Over the past seven years, the festival has presented new artists before they hit it big, such as Grammy-nominated Santigold, The Noisettes and Janelle Monae. Afro-punk mainstays like Saul Williams, The Dirtbombs, and Dallas Austin have also graced Afro-punk’s stages. This feature is Ali Esteem’s first hand account of this year’s Festival in August,,.

Nubién…an Urbanista at the Farm

Nubién…an Urbanista at the Farm

Posted by vincent in EarthSistas on October 28, 2012 | 5 Comments

Lively and focused, earthSista Nubién strolled thru Atlanta’s Goat Farm coy and confident. The beautiful spoken word artist was her usual happy-go-lucky self, her spirit was gleeful and positive. She had been to the Goat Farm once before; her “seven-minute” test shoot proved to be far too inspiring to be confined to such a random limitation and she was too captivated and purposeful to be restricted in such a manner. Nubién was sassy, feisty and playful in front of the camera; she is not much different up-close and personal. Nubién is that upbeat, uniquely determined Urbanista...

Sunset's Soundcheck: Video Soul

Sunset’s Soundcheck: Video Soul

Posted by Sunset in Soundcheck on September 13, 2012 | No Comments

So I was struggling with what to write about for this edition of “Soundcheck.” It’s not because I haven’t been inspired; it’s just that I wanted to do something a little different. Between the creative ways independent artists are making videos on shoestring budgets, to the mass of HD recordings of live performances out there, we can all experience the music we love with more than our ears. So let’s have a little video-fest, shall we? Why not kick things off with a little Badu? I had the pleasure of seeing her live earlier this year, and she gave me everything...

Nobella's Lookbook: LotusLove

Nobella’s Lookbook: LotusLove

Posted by vincent in Fashion & Glamour Naturalle on September 12, 2012 | No Comments

JEW’EL Jew’el is wearing a red and white polka dot button up collared blouse, and a black pencil skirt accentuated with two vertical zippers that taper around the knees.  She is really rocking this retro look; it’s classic, chic, and cool.  Her shoes are red patent leather sandals with a corkscrew heel.  Ms. Jew’el finished her look with a red bandanna and a two-tone brimmed straw hat.  All of her jewelry was provided by NOBELLA CREATIONS...

Nate Tyler and "a woman's true self.."

pgp304: Nate Tyler… "a woman’s true self…”

Posted by vincent in The Pangea's Garden Project on October 31, 2012 | No Comments

“I love the things that make our sisters who they are and I do my best to capture that with my lens. Shooting with me isn’t so much about posing as it is about capturing a moment in time of a woman’s true self. I call it the transition point. That spot when a woman goes from angel to sinner, from happy to sad, from afraid to brave.” an excerpt from Nate Tyler’s Artist’s Statement Tyler’s works are explorations that walk that line between art and glamour. Running the gamut from tongue-in-cheek to high drama, his images reflect levels of versatility and...

Kwentonza & Tundae Mena… the beauty of an intense real

Kwentonza & Tundae Mena… the beauty of an intense real

Posted by vincent in The Afrosensual Aesthetic on August 27, 2012 | 2 Comments

“I enjoy using my body as a canvas. I’ve been Blessed as of late to have the opportunity to put this canvas in front of a camera. Hoping that my Artistic expression will have the chance to appeal to broader audiences, also with this opportunity, my hope is that an interest will be sparked in my fellow Brothers or Sisters. That you will be inspired or moved to artistically express yourself in a way that you haven’t before.” -Kwentonza Kwentonza’s very presence draws your attention and inflames your imagination.

NubiénTS_04

NubiénTS_04, originally uploaded by truecolorvince.

Via Flickr:
"...so I tried to do the seven-minute shoot like Kwesi, but seven minutes became fifteen and then 30, 45…what can I say, earthSista Nubién was inspiring..."
pangeasgarden.com/projectblog/pgp302-my-first-seven-minut...

20 Questions with RaeOfLite

20 Questions with RaeOfLite

Posted by vincent in EarthSista Q&A on June 8, 2012 | 1 Comment

Impulsive and vibrant, her upbeat manner is positively infectious. RaeOfLite is ALWAYS smiling and laughing. This adventurous sista is never afraid to try new things and share ideas. She seeks the unusual and grabs onto the unconventional. She searches for truths in the nooks and crevices of those dark little places that most might find to disturbing to explore. She thinks weird is cool and commonality is lame. And when it comes to those dark spaces, its always good to have RaeOfLite by your side. 1. How would you describe your personality/outlook on life? I am mostly calm, but I can be vibrant...

Erykah speaks out on Flaming Lips

WGO? Erykah speaks out on the Flaming Lips feature?

Posted by vincent in What's Going On? on June 8, 2012 | 1 Comment

Erykah Badu is NOT happy. The video that we shared with everyone earlier this week is not the one she is happy with. Most online spots like YouTube had pulled it down as a result. Its a raw and daring piece of work BUT as she stated, it is not collaborative vision and was broadcast without her or sister’s approval. So should we pull it as well. We’ve already dropped the link to the video itself. Should we delete the feature altogether? As many of you may have already seen, Badu took to Facebook to let everyone in on the open response to Flaming Lips front man Wayne Coyne. ‎3:33pm...

Flaming lips with Erykah Badu and Nayrok Udab

Flaming lips with Erykah Badu and Nayrok Udab

Posted by vincent in Soundcheck, The Afrosensual Aesthetic on June 4, 2012 | 2 Comments

Erykah Badu, her sister Nayrok Udab and indie rock band The Flaming Lips came together to create an edgy, controversial video remake of Roberta Flack’s “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.” Directed by George Salisbury, the controversial video features Erykah nude, but it is her sister who bares her breast and ass as Erykah’s body double. Excited by the spectacle of the project, Flaming Lips’ front man Wayne Coyne (who has a reputation for filming music videos in the buff and posting nude images of his wife on Twitter) posted Twitpics of Nayrok from the video shoot;...

UdoU… Indigo, an undercover afrosensual

pgp:297 UdoU… Indigo, an undercover afrosensual

Posted by vincent in The Pangea's Garden Project on June 2, 2012 | 2 Comments

I draw inspiration from the midnight sky. Beneath the deep blue and violet sky I create. I am a sensual earth mother. Perceptive. Intuitive. I am Indigo. A divine amorous nature spirit..nymph. My body is most comfortable infront of a lens. I pose for the camera as if my lover is operating it. Through nude self-portraits I have gained a deeper understanding of myself and my body. What pleases me, what doesn’t. It is almost like masturbation, self-love..self-discovery. When my lover blinks and the light flashes there is immediate release. This is my therapy. I am both uninhibited and bashful. ...

Black Venus, Vol. 1 – an artist’s statement

Black Venus, Vol. 1 – an artist’s statement

Posted by vincent in The Pangea's Garden Project on June 2, 2012 | No Comments

“From Harlem, New York to Togo, West Africa, the portraits in this book were created in celebration of the black female, represented by women who are amongst the Venuses of the world. Wives, mothers, daughters, sisters, girlfriends, rebels — they are exposed yet wrapped in the memories of their past, the histories of their ancestry. They bear the individual cloaks of their present and future as women of color. The project puts emphasis on women who do not trap themselves in the artificial societal ideals of beauty and who take strength in their body and heritage.”

Malcolm X Fest 2012 - a grassroots celebration in the ATL

Malcolm X Fest 2012 – a grassroots celebration

Posted by vincent in Events & Event Photos, PGTV, Soundcheck on June 1, 2012 | 1 Comment

It started here. People gathered together to enjoy the music, dancing, and the fellowship of family and friends. Enterprising black men and women hawked their wares to curious, the hungry and the cultured. Children were on the swings with parents watching over them. Brothers promoted their politics. Artists promoted their works. Sisters crafted magic with hair. Families relaxed on quilts and blankets. It all started here. The Malcolm X Festival in Atlanta is an annual celebration of Malcolm X’s message of human rights and self-detemination. It is the 23rd year that the Atlanta Chapter of...

SolAnjel embraces the madness

SolAnjel…embracing the madness

Posted by vincent in EarthSistas on May 28, 2012 | 4 Comments

“There’s a method to the madness… The madness is mine!!!! Muahahahaha!!!!” Overwhelmingly chaotic in a very real and seemingly carefree way. That is SolAnjel…and that is not SolAnjel; not all of her anyway. An overcast day slowly became a rainy one. It was a refreshing sprinkle, just enough to wash away the dramas of the day while quenching the thirst of the urban flora. In a delapidated factory space with big windows, brick walls and a broken door, she strutted and preened and smiled and got naked. Just beyond door way the drizzle provided a polite shower. The big...

Artist Spotlight: N'Dambi Siva

Artist Spotlight: N’Dambi Siva

Posted by Sepia in The Afrosensual Aesthetic on May 15, 2012 | 2 Comments

N’Dambi Siva is an emerging photographer that received the first camera as a gift from a close personal friend at age twenty-two during a road trip from California to Texas.  With that chance that was available, this just happened to be every day.  To this day, Siva still owns and actively uses that camera, and draws great inspiration from James Van Der Zee, Roy Decarava and Carla Williams. Ukweli (Swahili for “Fact”) is the first semi-nude/nude series of Siva’s young career, which focuses on the raw imperfections of people’s perfect selves. Shot with digital and film cameras (And even...

World Natural Hair Show Spring 2012

World Natural Hair Show Spring 2012

Posted by vincent in Events & Event Photos on May 14, 2012 | No Comments

“Natural hair hasn’t been this popular since black people started wearing Afros in the 1960s. And today, there are more natural hair enthusiasts than ever before.” –Kalin Thomas, The Atlanta Voice “This event gets bigger every year. We’re different from the Bronner Brothers International Hair Show because we focus on bringing out your natural beauty, with no weaves and no harsh chemicals that have caused so many health issues and hair loss,” said Calla Johnson to Atlanta Voice reporter Kalin Thomas. Johnson is CEO of Certified To Be Natural and a representative for the show’s...