rap

LIVE: RAURY + OSHUN

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DC duo OSHUN claimed Brooklyn last night and gave a 30 Days in LA performance New York City would be proud of. Full-time NYU students Niambi Sala and Thandiwe, are 19 and 20 and spent their Monday night performing at the Sayer's Club in Hollywood instead of studying for exams. Not even old enough to get past the bouncer, they wow'ed the crowd with their cohesive performance and intuitive energy. From their bio: "The name OSHUN pays homage to the Yoruba river deity (Oṣun) and her sisters (Iyemoja and Oya) who all represent elements of femininity and womanhood." 

Their performance was a seamless transition to indie rapper blog darling Raury (also just 19). Since he released "Indigo Child" in 2014, Raury continues to fascinate with October's "All We Need." He cries for revolution and liberation and shares stories of teenage romance as he bounces through his set in the intimate venue, bringing a rush of young Stone Mountain, Georgia energy to the tired old Hollywood space. Each song had it's own moves making the album seem like just the cliff notes and the performance the full book. Fantastic choices by RB Sound Select.

RAURY at the SAYERS CLUB for 30 DAYS IN LA

OSHUN at the SAYERS CLUB for 30 DAYS IN LA


FIVE 4 FRIDAY

a weekly roundup of the things I am vibing with (with SOOO MUCH terrible punctuation because it's friday and i don't give a frick).

#1 THUMBS

'i can run the world from my mama's house'

the first single off this has been stuck in my head for weeks. folk-y chords line the background of this not-even-barely-average rap 'WORLDS TO RUN' by los angeles rap entity Busdriver with Anderson .Paak and Milo (he opens with them mellow raps that make it a must-listen track for me). The whole project has so much to offer and I can't wait to sit with it while editing photos this weekend. Also, the track in this music video, 'MUCH', speaks to my heart as someone who is ALWAYS doing too much... and has me all cocky singing the hook out loud all day. Just listen dang it.

#2 30 DAYS IN LA

the based god has blessed november

30 days of fantastic shows courtesy of Red Bull Sound Select, curated by tastemakers who know their stuff (KCRW, Fake Shore Drive, Manifesto to name a few). The only sad part is that I can't catch em' all. This week, I hit up the Joey Bada$$ show at the Belasco Theater and that was super fly. Next week, I'm signed up to attend Club Vinyl at Amoeba—and they added the darling Andra Day who I've been obsessing over for months now (there's still tickets for that I think). planning on hitting up Soulection (I'm feeling the new Goldlink) tomorrow night and a few shows later in the month as well, Raury and Jazz Cartier being the highlights.

#3 AFI FEST

obviously—the cool kids are all going to afi fest. i learned my lesson last year when as an intern i was asked to watch someone's computer and refresh it once every minute while he waited for AFI fest tickets to be available. this year, i was ready. i signed up, got me some tix and plan on spending some quality hours inside the chinese theater watching some of the best new cinema for freeeeee. i'm sort of most excited for JAMES WHITE. it took the 2015 Best of NEXT Audience Award at Sundance, and director James Mond is nominated for a Gotham award for breakthrough director, but honestly, i just have a giant crush on Christopher Abbott. i'm not a real film nerd—obviously.

#4 CAVANAUGH

"You're not taking food off my table, I owe 200 hundred grand in back taxes"

Open Mike Eagle and Serengeti are Cavanaugh. Open Mike Eagle, is an LA staple and local fans can be heard singing his lyrics over the guy himself when he performs. Serengeti is the Chicago rapper who is one third of Sisyphus, a collaborative project between him, Sufjan Stevens and Son Lux (so dope, if you don't know it treat yourself to it this weekend). check out Cavanaugh's nuanced music video for 'Screen Play' featured on NPR.

#5 HYPERTUBE

HYPERTUBE

HYPERTUBE

This an experiential speakeasy event Nov. 7th and 8th in Highland Park. I'm mentioning it because it's one of those very Los Angeles things that no one tells you about until you see cool photos of it all over Instagram. I know very little about it except that there are four 'exploratory' drinks, some art, and some food. Rumor has it they have color changing drinks and drinks that come with a pick axe to break through the ice. Swing by after if you didn't get a ticket before they sold out. Expect a full report, a la 'the wrong way to consume alcohol.'

NOW TELL ME WHAT YOU'RE DOING THIS WEEKEND.

30 DAYS IN LA: JOEY BADA$$

30 DAYS IN LA IS A MONTH OF 60 CAN'T MISS ARTISTS IN VENUES THROUGHOUT LOS ANGELES.—which if you live in LA and don't know about, then you must have not left your house or used the internet in weeks. It also means you probably found out about it too late to buy tickets so feel free to live vicariously through these photos.

The Joey Bada$$ show last night was LIT. LA locals Warm Brew set the night up right and then G Herbo aka Lil Herb brought that Chicago heat. Then Joey Bada$$ maintains a stamina and energy throughout his entire 20 track set that can only come from years of conditioning (or maybe 30 Red Bulls). The place was packed, the energy was electric and of course, the raps were straight fire. 

JOHN GIVEZ

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When you want to do a thing but you can't find the opportunity to do that thing, you create that opportunity yourself. 

My friends and I did that. We started a magazine. We created a place where we could share the things we are passionate about. We can make the photographs we want to make. We can tell the stories we need to tell. It is a place where we are slowing down to appreciate what's often taken for granted and stopping to examine what we can no longer ignore.

Our first feature was the talented and raw Oceanside rapper John Givez, who is about to release his latest album 'Soul Rebel.' While, the photoshoot below was an honor for me to do, it doesn't stand alone. Read the story of what it means to be a soul rebel written by RayNeutron for Typical Mag. 

JOHN GIVEZ / emaritraffie.com
“My music is for rebels. One thing about rebels is that there are rebels with no cause and rebels with a cause. But even that cause can be misinformed.”
— JOHN GIVEZ

HEATH MCNEASE

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Singer-songwriter/rapper/actor/director/self-proclaimed fashion icon Heath McNease graced Los Angeles with his Georgia self and I had the pleasure of snapping a few shots of his handsome face. We shot all around Hollywood and then in Lincoln Heights. Here are my favorites.