Listen: Mo' Wax - "Urban Archaeology Kickstarter Mix"

Back in May we shared some video footage of Mo' Wax head honcho James Lavelle discussing the re-lanuch of the label and its 21 year anniversary. As reported the James and friends were planning an exhibition titled Urban Archaeology - which would then be turned into a book documenting the Mo’ Wax discography and story alongside a Kickstarter campaign to fund it all. The campaign easily reached its goal and the project is moving full steam ahead.  To celebrate James and Matthew Puffet released a special mix spanning the label’s history featuring tracks by Blackalicious, Hiroshi & Kudo, Innerzone Orchestra, Divine Styler, DJ Shadow, Unkle, Air, Nightmares On Wax, DJ Krush, Dr. Octagon, Liquid Liquid and many more clocking in at just under an hour and a half. 

Tracklist:

UNKLE – Intro (Optional)

DJ Shadow - In/Flux

Air – Modulor Mix

Nightmares On Wax – A Nights Interlude

The Psychonauts – Circles

DJ Krush – Kemuri

UNKLE – Rabbit In Your Headlights (The Underdog Remix)

Dr. Octagon – Blue Flowers

Blackalicious – Alphabet Aerobics

Liquid Liquid – Cavern 

DJ Shadow – Organ Donor (Extended Overhaul)

Sam Sever – What’s That Sound? (Main Cut)

Hiroshi & K.U.D.O feat. DJ Milo – Return Of The Original Art-Form

Rob D – Clubbed To Death (Kurayamino Variation)

Divine Styler – Directrix

La Funk Mob – Motor Bass Get Phunked Up (Electrofunk Remix by Ritchie Hawtin)

La Funk Mob – Motor Bass Get Phunked Up 

Innerzone Orchestra – Bug In The Bassbin

Innerzone Orchestra – Bug In The Bassbin (Jazz Mix)

UNKLE feat. Ian Brown – Reign (alternative version)

Rob D – Clubbed To Death (Peshay Remix)

UNKLE – In A State

DJ Shadow – Blood On The Motorway

James Lavelle presents : Urban Archaeology - A Classic Mo' Wax Def Mix by Dale Cooper on Mixcloud

Video: FACT TV - Mo' Wax founder James Lavelle's Archived Collection Part’s 1 & 2

Mo’ Wax, was a huge influence when I was growing up and attending high school, the leftfield hip-hop label that brought you artists like DJ Shadow, and originally introduced "those in the know" to fashion brands like A Bathing Ape turns 21 this year. 

To mark the occasion, the label are planning an exhibition titled Urban Archaeology - which will then be turned into a book documenting the Mo’ Wax discography and story (a little more on that and the forthcoming Kickstarter campaign behind it, here). James Lavelle, who co-founded the label in 1992 and would later form UNKLE with Shadow, has an incredible – bordering on mythical, for fans of the label – lock-up used to store his personal collection of records, Mo’ Wax memorabilia and more, and FACT TV, along with DJ Haus of Unknown to the Unknown and various other ventures, went down to check it out.

So far two episodes have aired and as you’d expect, Lavelle has stories for days.  In part one James shares some stories about personal favs in his collection, his days working at West London record store Honest Jon’s, visual collaborations with Will Bankhead and Massive Attack’s 3D and more.

In part two we see James dig through some of the older and rarer material in his collection – DAT tapes and all – and talks about the major influences on the label over the years.

Video: 212 Interview with Futura

In this short interview with Futura courtesy of 212, the legendary graffiti writer talks everything NYC from what his favorite era was to what neighborhood is up and coming.  On a humorous note apparently ice skating used to be the cool thing to do to pick up the ladies.  The artist also discusses his recent collaborationwith Hennessy and his relationship with his kids. 

Show Opening: Futura - "Future-Shock" @ Valmorbida, NYC

NYC Graffiti legend, Futura, had his first major New York show in 12 years open yesterday on behalf of Andy Valmorbida and PM Tenore in the meat-packing district of the city.  “Future-Shock”, curated by Nemo Librizzi, is everything a fan of the artist could hope for and fans came by the droves.  Although this is a freshly created group of works, it definitely felt like a mini retrospective to those familiar with the artists work as viewers were treated to Lenny’s early 80’s style, to the signature atoms he is probably most known for, to his topographical renderings, to his most recent abstractions. The new paintings, of which there were many and massive in size, were a site to behold, representing a collective experience for the artist who chooses spray paint as his main tool. 

The venue was a large and uniquely lit space filled with hardcore fans, to major collectors, to celebrities, including Kool Keith and Fab 5 Freddy, to other graffiti royalty and the press. The model-esque Staff manned the space with a never ending supply of cocktails and wine as the night progressed and the space rapidly filled. A DJ supplied a mix of classic hip hop which added to the party like vibe and overall positive spirit you could feel lighting up the room. Of course Futura himself made time to sign all the aspiring artist’s black books that were in attendance and pose for pictures. 

In actuality I can’t really do the show justice via my words and photos so I beg of you to check it all out in person if you are in the New York area starting from today when it opens to the public at Valmorbida on 560 Washington St. The exhibition is presented with the support of VistaJet, Bombardier Aerospace and RVCA Artist Network Program.

Show Opening: Futura - "Future-Shock" @ Valmorbida, NYC - slideshow with music

Go Buy This: Futura Hennessy

Following the very successful 2011 collaboration with Kaws, Hennessy is teaming with graffiti artist Futura to launch their second limited edition bottle as designed by the living legend. To create his limited edition bottle, Futura drew inspiration from Cognac’s warm color palette, incorporating abstractions of his signature atomic motif. Look for these bottles at your local Hennessy retailer shortly.

Throwback Thursday's: Futura 2000 with Fab 5 Freddy

Time to strap into your time machine for Throwback Thursday because this week we are going back to NYC circa 1982, a time when NYC subway cars had graffiti on them and hip hop was just starting out. Staring Futura and Fab 5 Freddy this 10 minute video seems to act as some sort of intro to street culture for the uninitiated masses from a very different time. Futura’s work was pretty much light years ahead of his peers, you could see it today and it would look as fresh as it did 30 years ago, can’t say the same for all the artists featured in this short.  Shot and edited by Dean Winkler and Stephan Gosweski with music by The Clash featuring Lenny and Freddy.

Video: "Outside In: The Story Of Art In The Streets”

The Art in the Streets exhibition has long come to a close but a new documentary has popped up by Alex Stapleton entitled Outside In: The Story Of Art In The Streets.  The 30 minute short features interviews with a huge portion of the artists who took part in the show including Mode 2, Risk, Revok, Ben Eine, Swoon, Shepard Fairey, Futura, Ed Templeton, Espo, Invader, Neck Face, Saber, Martha Cooper, RETNA and more. There are a lot of choice quotes buried throughout so if you are a fan of any of the above-mentioned names this is pretty much the definitive video I’ve seen on the show, and I’ve seen a whole lot of them.

OUTSIDE IN: The Story of Art in the Streets from Patrick Simpson on Vimeo.

Video: Futura - "Purple Passion" @ Jerome de Noirmont Gallery

Graffiti royalty Futura opened his latest show entitled Expansions at Jerome de Noirmont in Paris this week. A camera crew was there to capture a mural the artist created on site showcasing his signature abstraction mixed with minimalist spray paint techniques. 

Futura 2000 - Galerie de Noirmont - Paris - Live Painting from Guillotine on Vimeo.

Video: Here Comes The Neighborhood VOL 1.1 "Introducing the Walls"

Last week we brought you a preview of the upcoming series Here Comes The Neighborhood and if you took a moment to watch the video you are probably just as excited as we are to be watching the first episode which we now have below for our readers.. In the first episode founder Tony Goldman explains his vision for a town center, while Jeffrey Deitch, Arts Manager Meghan Coleman and Co-Curator Medvin Sobio offer their insight into the project's significance, taking us into the present day expansion. In addition, Photographer Martha Cooper and Miami based Mural Project Primary Flight weigh in.

Participating artists in this episode include: Kenny Scharf, Shepherd Fairey, Kunle Martins (Earsnot), Gaia, Shie Moreno, and Patrick McNeal from the artist collective Faile.

Featuring Original Music from: Hanni El Khatib, Ducky, Tommy Mas and Clams Casino.

HCTN VOL 1.1 "Introducing the Walls" from Here Comes the Neighborhood on Vimeo.

Video: Here Comes The Neighborhood Trailer

‘Here Comes The Neighborhood’ is a Short-Form documentary series focusing on the power of public art to uplift, inspire, and revitalize urban communities. The Pilot Season revolves around the district of Wynwood Miami, featuring a small army of internationally acclaimed and locally respected street artists, graffiti writers and muralists.

In 2009, urban planner Tony Goldman partnered with Jeffrey Deitch (Deitch Projects, MoCa Los Angeles) to create the Wynwood Walls. What began as a modest project  with a series of drab parking lots and factory facades gained steam quickly to became a breeding ground of murals from some of the biggest names in Street Art including Futura, Shepard Fairey, OS Gemeos and others. The Walls opened for Art Basel 2009, and now two years later the collection has expanded to include over thirty artists from around the globe, becoming one of the largest concentrations of commissioned public art murals in the World.

‘Here Comes The Neighborhood’ examines the project in the first person, using this season’s new artists and their commissions as a lens to explore a neighborhood in transition. The Series is framed by insightful overview and concluding episodes, providing the full scope of past, present and future. There to capture it all is legendary documentary photographer Martha Cooper, who has been photographing the walls since they began in 2009. Her photographs will also appear in a Special Edition Art Book “The Wynwood Walls and Doors” released in connection with this years new commissions and Art Basel 2011.

Several episodes of the HCTN series will release leading up to Art Basel Miami 2011. To keep up with the latest ones, make sure to check HCTN.tv.

HCTN TRAILER from Here Comes the Neighborhood on Vimeo.

Futura: AK46 installation video - Gallerie Civica, Italy

As mentioned several days ago Futura has some new work up at Gallerie Civica who are hosting "KINDERGARTEN", a group show featuring the talents of Tom Sachs, Futura, Mode 2, Os Gemeos, Kostas Seremetis and Delta. Sartoria was nice enough to share a short artistic video of Futura as he completed his “AK46″ installation.


KINDERGARTEN: Futura, "AK46" from Sartoria Comunicazione on Vimeo.

New Futura work

Today in Modena, Italy, Gallerie Civica is hosting the opening of "KINDERGARTEN", a group show featuring the talents of Tom Sachs, Futura, Mode 2, Os Gemeos, Kostas Seremetis and Delta. I'm liking these new Futura pieces hopefully he will continue experementing in large scale sculpture and painting on glass.

UNKLE x Medicom Toy Life luggage collection

UNKLE has teamed up with Medicom Toy Life to release a range of bags, there are three styles – a backpack, tote, and messenger waist bag (AKA Fanny pack). The bags feature imagery originally created by Futura over a camouflage print, with some natural leather accents on the upper and the zippers.

Available for pre-order now here.