Friday, 21 May 2021

LINKED UP 011

What You Didn't Know About Barkley L. Hendricks
The less celebrated side of the artist's career, his photographs, receive deserved attention in a new book. (NYT)

In the year 2018 BC (Before Celebrities), Cody, Wyoming, was just Cody, Wyoming. But then Ye moved in, promising jobs, a creative scene, and... a urine garden? (Cosmopolitan)

Gen-Z's Gucci Mane changed the game with his inimitable - and unprecedented - style, and after a slew of hits has morphed into a brilliant businessman. (NME)

After finally being released from prison last year, the artist has been busy working on multiple projects and is now gearing up to take his pioneering brand of West Coast rap to even bigger audiences. (Huck)

Lichen founders Ed Be and Jared Blake on Nas, DJ Rashad, Sylvia Striplin and more. (Ghostly)

What's the most red-sounding song of the 21st century? Scottish musician Sam Gellaitry is here to tell you. (VICE)

From every room you can see trees, sky, and mountains. (Sitting Pretty)

What a long, strange trip it’s been. (Esquire)

Artists need brands for funding. Brands need artists for authenticity. The stigma is gone. Does everybody win? (Fast Company)

The streetwear veteran will try to revamp the ailing mall brand. (GQ)

Why are mass market brands now gobbling up the creative directors that were once being hired into luxury houses? (Highsnobiety)

Model in a baseball cap: Chic, easy-breezy, sporty yet feminine.
Me: Garth from Wayne's World. (McSweeney's)

We met the man throwing down crazy tricks on NYC’s heavy rideshare bikes. (Jenkem)

Friday, 14 May 2021

LINKED UP 010

How Stüssy Became the Chanel of Streetwear
The brand is somehow 40 years old - and, perhaps, more surprisingly, making some of its most exciting clothes yet. (GQ)

From battered Vans to box-fresh Adidas, how did sneakers become an $80bn-a-year global industry? Sneakers Unboxed at the Design Museum has all the answers - including how to get really fat laces. (The Guardian)

Writer and filmmaker Lyle Lindgren discusses his new book recounting the forgotten story of Eddie Plein, an entrepreneur who changed the face of hip-hop - one gold tooth at a time. (Huck)

Horse Power is a pretty illuminating documentary from the folks at Complex about how a merry band of Polo-obsessed, working-class kids from Brooklyn known as the Lo Lifes made Ralph Lauren an inextricable part of hip-hop culture. (Oi Polloi)

A portrait documentary of the NYC hip-hop and skateboard scene in the years before 9/11 will be released on July 23. (Deadline)

When fandom meets creativity. (The Sociology of Business)

Ceramics collection releases - or “dirt drops” as one artist calls them - are getting more popular. (NYT)

While enjoying an idyllic lockdown in France, the 83-year-old artist has created perhaps his most important exhibition ever - offering hope to an injured world. (The Guardian)

The photographer on addiction, international investigations, and winding up in the MoMA collection. (Gossamer)

Looking to create abstract narratives in her work, the Dutch photographer pushes symbolism to evoke a range of emotions in the viewer.
(It's Nice That)

From Punjab to Puerto Rico, here's a snapshot of the world from last month. (i-D)

Here's May - the trees are really starting to turn a new leaf; spring time is officially here. Time to pull out the picnic blankets and find a shady spot with friends - happy park season. (Corridor)

Wednesday, 12 May 2021

LITERALLY BALLING

Literally Balling is artist Victor Solomon's ongoing exploration of the icons and totems of basketball - elevated in opulent form to celebrate the sport's evolution, omnipresence and parallel luxury context from antiquated mediums and processes. More here.

Friday, 7 May 2021

LINKED UP 009

Before he succumbed to a drug overdose at the age of 21, the Chicago rapper's emotionally vulnerable style took him from SoundCloud to massive stardom almost overnight. This is the story of Juice WRLD's preternatural talent, his rise to the top of the charts, and the struggles with substance abuse and mental health that ultimately claimed his life. (GQ)

Twenty-five years ago, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony took the real-life tragedy that surrounded them and turned it into something that transcended their genre - and made good on the promise Eazy-E saw in them. (The Ringer)

A self-made music mogul with strong ties to his community, J.Prince has left an indelible mark on the hip hop canon. Now, his children are continuing his legacy. (Dazed)

Recent hits by SpotemGottem and Lil Nas X show the power of extending the life of a single track, album be damned. (NYT)

Aaron Bishop selects his highlights from the UK underground scene including projects and singles from names such as DC, Central Cee, M1llionz and Enny. (The Quietus)

Burned out and flush with savings, some workers are quitting stable jobs in search of postpandemic adventures. (NYT)


Thrift shopping is popular online, but some are worried about the effects of overconsumption. (Vox)

The marriage of digital photography with social media has fundamentally altered the nature of photography for most Americans. (Emulsive)

"We didn't know which kit he'd show up wearing - so we painted one part of the parking lot blue and another red." (The Guardian)

When I think of Todd James' artwork, I think of the quintessential American artist. There are so many entry points, pop-cultural winks, sub-culture nods, a heritage of graffiti and cartoon, TV and even just mid-century abstraction. (Juxtapoz)

Down and Kay spoke to Sharp about Industry's treatment of youth, the importance of its soundtrack, and why they chose to cast unknown actors in the show's lead roles. (Sharp)

A soulful ode to the under-seen, the underappreciated and the critically-reviled gems of the Kino Sphere. (Oi Polloi)

There's a bottomless pit of stuff dropping on all streaming services this month (the likely culprit: Emmy nominations cut-off on May 31st).
(Monster Children)

May has arrived and - carefully, cautiously - we find ourselves out and about this month. (Drake's)

Thursday, 6 May 2021

TYSON - TUESDAY

The latest single from Tyson’s Pisces Problems EP. Be sure to check out her recent profile in The Guardian, as well as her previous musical project Panes.

Tuesday, 4 May 2021

MITCH EPSTEIN

Mitch Epstein is an American photographer who helped pioneer fine-art colour photography in the 1970s. Check out more of his work here.

Saturday, 1 May 2021

BRISTOL STUDIO

Cherry blossom print, triple-hem basketball shorts from Bristol Studio. Available here.