Like the rest of the nation, I woke up this morning to an unfathomable reality. Despite our best efforts, the country has chosen hate and division. Those dystopian science-fiction novels don’t feel so far off anymore. Still, we at The Nerds of Color must soldier on. I’m doing that by participating in CTRL+ALT, the Smithsonian’s pop-up Culture Lab on imagined futures this weekend in New York City. Though, to be honest, I’m having a difficult time imagining the present, much the less the future.
Our second Fresh Off the Boat-inspired illustration today comes from the collective known as Point and Question, a.k.a. Jef Castro and SooJ Lee. Don’t forget to catch the premiere of the life and times of young Eddie Huang tonight on ABC at 8:30pm (sandwiching a new episode of Modern Family).
So the New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF) has come to an end, at least for me. This year, I helped put together the poster show which was a LOT of work. More than I expected, to be perfectly honest. But it was worth every sore muscle and second that was put into it.
As usual Goran, Rufus, Samuel, James, and Grady put on an amazing event. It was just so much fun to be a part of. I’m just going to let these pictures do the talking for me.
You may recall back in April, we let you know about the Old School Kung Fu Film Fest in New York City. To coincide with the films shown, the festival’s organizers commissioned the homey Jerry Ma — of Epic Proportions — to curate a little art show with world renowned artists interpreting their own movie posters for each of the films shown.
Well, this weekend, those pieces of art (and more) are going to be presented at Lincoln Center as part of the New York Asian Film Festival! Featuring the work a slew of NOC-friendly artists, including Larry Hama, Bernard Chang, Jef Castro, Ken Knudtsen, and John Jennings!
Check out the official announcement after the jump.
Last night, news broke across social media that legendary human rights activist Yuri Kochiyama had passed away. Official news sources were slow to confirm, but sadly, it was true. The world had lost another titan of history — less than a week from the day Maya Angelou was taken from us, no less. The universe can be cruel sometimes.
The Strength in NUMBERS train keeps rolling as we unveil the latest “variant” album cover to Chops’ massive Asian American hip-hop movement.
The latest Strength in NUMBERS album cover features master DJ from the 5th Platoon, DJ ROLI RHOillustrated by the art collective known as POINT & QUESTION aka Jef Castro (senior artist on Secret Identities) and his partner-in-art, SooJ Lee.
After the jump, download a high-resolution jpeg of the latest Strength in NUMBERS alternate album cover. Just right-click on the image and save. And remember to DONATE NOWto help make this project a reality!
The Strength in NUMBERS train keeps rolling as we unveil the latest “variant” album cover to Chops’ massive Asian American hip-hop movement.
The latest Strength in NUMBERS album cover features legendary DJ, turntablist, and mixtape master, the AZN Russell Westbrook, DJ NEIL ARMSTRONGillustrated by the art collective known as POINT & QUESTION aka Jef Castro (senior artist on Secret Identities) and his partner-in-art, SooJ Lee.
After the jump, download a high-resolution jpeg of the latest Strength in NUMBERS alternate album cover. Just right-click on the image and save. And remember to DONATE NOWto help make this project a reality!
Six years ago this month, five people gathered in a Brooklyn living room to pore through stacks of manuscripts and art portfolios in order to decide on what to include in a little project that would eventually go on to be known as Secret Identities.
I first met Chops back in 1999 when the Mountain Brothers were at the peak of their powers. They came down to Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA to perform at an event for the Asian Pacific American Student Union, a group I founded the year before. Needless to say, they blew the roof off of Webb Center and solidified APASU as a legit organization on campus. So after the show, and some late night IHOP pancakes, we bid the Bros — Chops, Peril, and Styles — adieu, and I was content with my signed Self: Volume One CD and brief brush with Asian American hip-hop royalty.
Fast forward a decade and a half later — and thanks to the wonder of social media — Chops and I reconnected. Weirdly, he remembered who I was. So we met up one chilly night in Philly earlier this year. That’s when he first told me about Strength in NUMBERSover some beer and cheesesteaks. He even previewed just the tiniest snippet of a track while we rode around in his big ass Buick. Instantly, I realized how historic this project was going to be. I mean, an MBs reunion alone would be game-changing. Now you’re gonna throw in 30 other artists (including the likes of Dumbfoundead, Prometheus Brown, Rekstizzy, Rocky Rivera and dozens of others)? What? That’s a who’s-who of APA hip-hop right there! Then, here’s the part that blew my mind. He wanted my help. Say wha?
