Blockhead in Howeys book 2010
Mar 30, 2013
Mar 29, 2013
THE COST OF LIVING
Adam Cost is at a Basquiat exhibit at the Gagosian Gallery, a rare trip for him into a world he's never been welcome in or belonged to. But for the legendary graffiti artist, that may have to change. "I'm trying to be more legit, so I want my stuff in galleries," he admits. "I've just never made art trying to get in a gallery." As if to prove just how out of touch he is with art-world protocol, Cost—his real name is out there but we promised not to use it—asks one of the gallery staff if he can take a photo of the work on display. Rebuffed instantly, he saunters off with a slick smirk, reveling a bit in his outsider status, that he doesn't fit in. Not now, not then, and possibly not ever. New York City changes so fast it will be almost unrecognizable soon, which makes Cost's comeback all the more important. After years of nearly complete silence, "Gadfly COST" is active once again. Extremely active. Even though he's not divulging much about his past, present, or future conquests (we still don't really know if "COST fucked Madonna," as one legendary tag had it), this much is true: Cost—one half of the graffiti writing, wheatpasting antiheroes COST & REVS, the duo who forever transformed graffiti, street art, and even advertising—is finding his New York groove again. Still in its beginning stages, his comeback already has people taking notice, prompting bloggers to ask if the new posters, stickers, and tags around the city are from the real COST or some guerrilla marketing campaign for a new Starbucks flavor. Well, it really is him. But while he's not quite the recluse REVS is, Cost mostly avoids the limelight, preferring to let his work stand in for him. "You're not doing your craft for money; graffiti is about fame, really," he explains. "Which is a bad precedent if you plan on eventually earning a living as an adult. A [graffiti] writer invests so much time into racking paint, scoping spots, and scaling buildings, there's no time left for developing other skills. Beyond that, too much fame could be [counterproductive] in that you'll have entire squads of cops dedicated to getting you." He knows: A Queens judge once sentenced him to 200 days of cleaning up graffiti. This is Cost's paradox: He and REVS were shunned by the art world for being too uncompromising, and by graffiti circles for not being "real writers" (they got their names all over the city with a lot of help from a Xerox machine, pasting posters instead of tagging from scratch each time). Still, there's no arguing with the colossal impact the two made in the 1990s, and COST's work is coveted in the art world (he says he sold one piece for more than $30,000). So much so that his new posters are being pilfered right off the street. "It's not cool," he says about the vandalism of his vandalism. "I understand people are fans, but it's detracting from my life's work. It's like locking up a wild animal in the zoo if you take my art that belongs in the street and put it in a frame on your wall." Shaking his head and pulling down on the brim of his hat, he seems by nature a bit skittish and unsure—an occupational hazard, no doubt. "I mean, I understand the demand for my stuff," he goes on, eyes darting from piece to piece in the gallery. "But eventually it's going to drive me into the gallery world full time . . . which isn't a bad thing, necessarily." Once, the thought of having his outlaw art jailed in a posh Soho gallery made Cost bristle. Nowadays a little compromise might be in order. And no wonder: Nearly every anecdote Cost tells about his life in graffiti is booby-trapped with fallen comrades, off-the-record tales of his many friends who've wound up behind bars. "All of those stories were my inspiration for coming back," he says. Daylight fading in Chelsea, COST is about to punch in. He has a new female "bombing partner" now, ENX, who came on the scene right around the time his life "had sort of blown up" and a long-term relationship he'd been in was ending. "Graffiti never leaves you," Cost says. "You never really stop doing it. I just felt like the timing was right." COST and ENX will have artwork at Doyle New York's StreetArt Auction on April 8.
Mar 27, 2013
WAKE UP PEOPLE: Satanic Commercial
It's in plain site now no need to hold back any more. Check out this satanic Orangina commercial and you tell if this is right.
Air Jordan 1 Retro ’93 “Bugs”
It seems like the various “Bugs” flavored Air Jordan releases around the corner might have been better served as Easter releases, no? You’ll have to wait till after that holiday to get your hands on these bunnies though, as the Air Jordan 1 Retro ’93 sporting that colorway will release on April 6th. Stay with us after the jump to get the latest photo set on this hybrid pair and let us know how you like them compared to the Air Jordan 1 ’97 with its Air Jordan XIII style. And remember that if you’re looking for a pair, fine retailers like Social Status have got you covered.
Air Jordan 1 Retro ’93
White/True Red-Neutral Grey
580514-107
04/06/13
$120
sneakernews.com
BASIC
Mar 23, 2013
Mar 22, 2013
Mar 20, 2013
Mar 19, 2013
2 Dope Boyz
Check out Brown 13's Ep and Single on 2 Dope Boyz That's Dope!
Cover work by Sueworks
www.2dopeboyz.com
Cover work by Sueworks
www.2dopeboyz.com
Kilian martin vs Rodney Mullen
Just remember Rodney Mullen was the innovator of freestyle since the 70's.
Mar 17, 2013
Mar 16, 2013
Mar 15, 2013
WAVY x SUE
Here's a design I did for Wavy & Co. The Wavy Girl is killing the competition.
ACF description: Wavy & Co Outfit Of The Week Featuring Our Niky Crewneck Sweater, Slim Khaki Pants, Bred 4s And Our Wavy & Co TrillWave Beanies. This Whole Outfit Can Be Found Only At All City Fitted, Serving You Better Since 2006.
Get it at: www.allcityfitted.com
ACF description: Wavy & Co Outfit Of The Week Featuring Our Niky Crewneck Sweater, Slim Khaki Pants, Bred 4s And Our Wavy & Co TrillWave Beanies. This Whole Outfit Can Be Found Only At All City Fitted, Serving You Better Since 2006.
Get it at: www.allcityfitted.com
Ceremony x adidas Originals Crazy 8
The worlds of tennis and basketball shoes have crossed paths before, but this latest case is arguably the single most ostentatious to date. The Opening Ceremony x adidas Originals Crazy 8 Tennis takes an early Kobe Bryant Feet You Wear model and transforms it with a Nike Air Trainer 1-ish forefoot strap and a heel buckle whose closest analogy might be the Ewing 33 Hi. This Crazy 8 Tennis uses all the Knicks colors plus some striping borrowed from Opening Ceremony’s Stan Smith collabo and makes for one of the more eye-catching products you’ll find in stock at top-tier Three Stripes stockists like CNCPTS.
Mar 14, 2013
IZM Episode #133
Check out the Izm episode with a exclusive DJ Brown 13 interview and EP release.
turntableizmshow.com
Video streaming by Ustream
Video streaming by Ustream
Mar 13, 2013
IT TV
Mar 12, 2013
F.A.T. EP
Dj Brown 13 F.A.T. EP drops 03/13/13 free download at www.djbrown13.com
Canvas work, Photograph and Album design by Sueworks.
Canvas work, Photograph and Album design by Sueworks.
SUN CYCLE NYC
I met with the CEO of Sun Cycle to talk about my mock-up samples for the Sueworks x Sun Cycle collaboration coming this summer. Sun Cycle is a cap company that captures an era of style with thier five panle color way I'm sure u can find a cap that would combine with any apparel you my own, Stay tuned...
ZAR solo exhibition
Check out my homie's show "Extremley Flammable, Zar solo exhibition" April 20th 6pm-11pm
629- 38th Street Union City, NJ.
Mar 11, 2013
DEFTONES
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