Art! Art! Art! -- Giant Robot San Francisco: BEASTS!

If you like hip hop, you're bound to like art, and I'm not just talking about graffiti and urban art, though that's all fine and dandy too. I mean, I love it, of course. I still do graffiti and urban art from time to time, though not as much as I used to. What I"m talking about is modern art... I'm skeptical about calling it modern art 'cause that makes it seem like some Jackson Pollock paint-splashing art or something, but what I'm really talking about it gallery art that people are doing, like the kind of art Giant Robot San Francisco promotes.

Giant Robot is putting on a gallery right now in promotion of their book BEASTS!, featuring 100 pieces of art from the book, from a variety of amazing artists. I know it's a little bit late, seeing as the gallery opened January 17th, but it also closes on February 18th, so there's still time to visit, and I intend on going as soon as I can get a free day.

Scott Teplin - Loathsome Worm

There's a ton of great stuff here. The above piece is wicked but it comes at too high a price for me ($2000), though I would love to have that up on the wall. Art is an important part of the creative mind, which most underground hip hop artists quite understand. It's all about making something new. So, go! I feel that people shouldn't only focus on hip hop but also on the art that goes with it. It's a culture as much as it is a type of music, and though it may not be technically hip hop-related art, I think it is. I think it's a bastard descendant, and we should still embrace it. To each their own, but to everybody something.

Scott Campbell - Cliff Ogres

I also want that piece but it's also too much for me to buy ($200), and though it's ten percent cheaper than the other piece, I can barely afford rent this coming month, and thus I cannot afford to build an art collection of such awesome pieces at this point. Thus is life. There's a lot more awesome art where that came from, however, and you shouldn't miss this gallery! It is sure to be a fantastic experience with a bunch of eye-openers. Get inspired. Create.

Giant Robot San Francisco Official Website

Art Show: It's Our Year (2009)

I met Jimmy Hits when I went down to L.A. for West Coast Wig Out and he told me about his art crew, The Majority, and that they put on a monthly art show in Petaluma. Unfortunately for me, I have not been able to attend because the shows are all 21+, but they feature themed art by members of The Majority as well as live music. But the real kicker? It's a free art show, which means that you have no reason not to check it out. There's another one coming up this month on the 24th, and since I can't go, you should. Check out the flier, go to the show, say what's up to JHits for me, and have a good time!

This time though, I'm going to try and get the owners of the venue to let me in on the pretense that I'm a member of the underground hip hop media and that this would be good exposure for their place. We'll see what comes of it.

West Coast Wig Out

West Coast Wig Out, presented by GameMusic4All.com, is an all-day music festival showcasing California's amazing lineup of Nerdcore Hip Hop music. The brainchild of Anthony "Genoboost" Ruybalid, West Coast Wig Out intends to show that the East Coast isn't the only place to find nerd music festivals. In his words, "I want to organize a show like this to help get the nerdcore and vgm scenes more organized around Southern California. Also, to put on a big fun show for people to enjoy and for these acts to gain more recognition and fans." With such a fantastic lineup to boot, the show can't be less than absolutely fantastic.

Scheduled to perform: Zealous1, Super Barrio Brothers, Sudden Death, Nomad, MC Mega, MC Cheshire Grin, Maja, Legendary wizard, IllGill, GOSHone, Chubby Chasers, A_Rival, and more. Links to artists' music is available on the official WCWO webpage (a link is provided below).
Below are a couple questions I had for Anthony regarding the show:

Me:
Why should people attend this show?
Anthony:
"People should attend the show for a few reasons. One, people who love video games will meet many other like minded people, including the performers, who are all video game lovers. Two, people who aren't big fans of the sort of music being played on the radio may find more common ground in these underground hard working musicians who only care about getting their music out there. Three, It should just be a good old fashioned awesome show with lots of talent!"
Me:
What's in store for the future of GM4A's show promotion?
Anthony:
If this show is successful we hope to be doing many more shows in the future around California, mostly in my home base of Los Angeles though. Hopefully shows large and small, and encompassing more styles such as chiptunes, and VG rock.
Me:
Anything else you'd like to say about the show?
Anthony:
The only thing I have to add is that this will be the single biggest show for nerdcore in California to date. It will hopefully mark the beginning of many more amazing shows! Also bare with us as this is the first all day event we are organizing!

When and Where:
12PM-1AM November 15th, 2008
@
The CIA
11334 Burbank Blvd
North Hollywood, CA 91601

The show only costs a measly $10, so if you're in the area, don't be shy, don't be cheap, and come support the Nerdcore hip hop scene. If you're interested in other events and music that GM4A is putting out, check out their website. There are VG music compilations, nerd music news, and much more.


West Coast Wig Out Official Website
www.GameMusic4All.com