The streets is on fire and a boy's blood spills over on the platform I stand on everyday to go to work.

I am Sean Bell.

I AM SEAN BELL, black boys speak from Stacey Muhammad on Vimeo.

a must.

On February 2, 2000, Songha Thomas Willis was shot to death outside a Philadelphia nightclub. He was 27 years old. The takeaway? A $400 gold chain. It’s the story that lies at the heart of Pitch Blackness, the first monograph by photographer and inaugural Aperture West Book Prize recipient Hank Willis Thomas, Songha’s cousin. It’s also a story that, sadly, occurs all too frequently across America. What makes Pitch Blackness so affecting is that Thomas explores not only the immediate effect of his cousin’s death on his family and friends but also the skewed perceptions of race, sexuality, gender roles, and economic empowerment that contribute to a cycle of violence.
The book consists of six distinct, yet cohesive parts, giving it a novel-like quality. It also includes two illuminating essays on the historical context of Thomas’ work from René de Guzman and Robin D. G. Kelley.
We start with pages from the Thomas-Willis family photo album, which are some of the most powerful images. They set a nostalgic, wistful tone, as they show Hank and Songha transform from babies to toddlers to handsome young men with easy smiles, constantly surrounded by various aunts, cousins, uncles, brothers and sisters. The wistful tone ends abruptly, replaced first by a newspaper clipping reporting Songha’s murder and then images of coffins, graves, tears, furrowed brows, mouths hardened into grim lines, scans of the autopsy report and the medical examiner’s photo of Songha, post-autopsy. It brought tears to my eyes and made me wonder how Hank was able to compose himself enough to take photos throughout that period. Or perhaps taking photos was the only way he could begin to process where he was and why.

TPS RADIO.

My brother and his cohorts have a radio show. He just sent me his latest promo for it. This is my uncle and I. Gotta love it.....
If you are interested in his work go to TPS Radio in my links.

Jason Samuel Smith

I came across this video today and was so excited! Jason is an old friend of mine from Back In The Day... I think we met when he first relocated to LA from NY. He and another homie, Ahmad would come to the spot I used to DJ and bartend at called the Temple Bar in Santa Monica ( a LEGENDARY club now closed ). Anyway, he is a talent. Enjoy...

KPFA 94.1 Multimedia Project.

I produce a radio show on KPFA with a group of amazing folks. We bring a variety of ideas, visions, sounds, and stories to our show. This is a show that was produced as part of a multimedia training. This piece is an hour and is quite different than what we usually do but take a listen if you are so inclined.

Full Circle on KPFA 94.1 Fridays at 7pm.
My story is the third....

Full Circle - December 19, 2008 at 7:00pm

Click to listen (or download)

Android Homme.

My boy Jav is doing his thang! Check this interview out here.

Brianna.

i love this lady. she's cute.

Disco Unusual Social Club.

This is some artwork for my dear friend Lono Brazil's event in Chicago. I have yet to make it out there but if I know Lono...the shit is sexy. Also check out his online mag..TURP
I added a couple pics of him from his modeling days for the ladies. You know my man is handsome and the apple don't fall too far from the tree... the last pic is his son, LB the third! Just beautiful.

Stunning.

Kwesi Abbensetts

Ant.Vala on KCRW. Get you some.

Amazing Track.

Gavin Boyce / Dwele

Dimitri From Paris.

This is by far one of my favorite classic disco (w/a few new school gems) mixes of all time.

Two of my 2008 loves.

lykke li

santogold

I have this silly application on my phone that let's you bling everything and anybody. This is my feline friend Earl Grey. He's dope. Don't be scared of the teardop though, he hasn't killed anybody...except maybe a bird or two. My dude is a lover...you see him chillen with his lady friend...oooohweee!

N.E.R.D.

Dahlak of ill-literacy.

Black Genius.

Frotteurism

I dont think Im alone when I say this has happened to me. I didnt realize there was a psychological term for this until today...
Even though the word makes me giggle the disorder is quite sad.

Frotteurism: Men have a paraphilia called Frotteurism when the focus of their sexual urges are related to the touching or rubbing of their body against a non-consenting, unfamiliar woman. Usually the male rubs his genital area against the female. Most commonly, the man chooses to attack in a crowded public location and then he disappears into the throng of people. Frotteurism usually begins in adolescence and the abnormal behavior tends to decrease when the man reaches his late twenties.

This is a video an old friend of mine put together. He has been logging his world travels and this is just a small clip of the places he has been. I love the accompanying poem the most. I relate to him in his understanding that our reality of the world is everchanging and that we are just a small drop of water in it. While I have traveled many places, I long to fly so much more than I do now. What is most important to us? To me? It seems material objects, career goals, and day to day life issues keep us from exploring the world the way God intended us to do. I need to make an adjustment! :)

Indigenous People's Day.

I love my family. We really know how to have a good time.