IN PRAISE OF GRAFFITI

In December 1980, as editor of the Village Voice, Richard Goldstein invited a number of graffiti writers to the Voice offices for a Q&A and photo session. The result was the cover story, 'In Praise of Graffiti: The Fire Down Below'.

(Via Zephyr)

MATT SWEENEY & BONNIE "PRINCE" BILLY

'Resist the Urge' is taken from the new album Superwolves, out tomorrow.

THE KIDS

The Kids is the story of the young skateboarders who were plucked from the streets of NYC by Larry Clark to star in Kids, his 1995 cult classic. The documentary chronicles how they became overnight sensations, thrust into the mainstream spotlight. Some discovered transcendent lives and careers while others, abandoned and unequipped to handle fame, suffered fatal consequences.

The Kids will premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival this June.

SPANISH HARLEM: EL BARRIO IN THE '80S

More great work from Joseph Rodriguez. Shot in the mid-to-late '80s, these photographs of Spanish Harlem capture a spirit and a time that survived despite the ravages of poverty. Check out more from the series here.

ERIC B. & RAKIM – KNOW THE LEDGE

LINKED UP 007

Remembering Black Rob, The Husky-Voiced One-Time Saviour of Bad Boy

The rapper who gave us ‘Whoa!’ and other classics died Saturday at age 52. (GQ)

The Ice Cream Man Cometh

How Master P laid the groundwork for the No Limit empire with his 1996 album. (The Ringer)

New Documentary on Baltimore Club Heads to Netflix

Dark City Beneath the Beat is a new documentary celebrating Baltimore club music, artists and culture. (Crack)

Jim-E Stack, Pop Music’s Secret Weapon, Branches Out on His Own

Here, he speaks with long-time collaborator and partner, the musician Kacy Hill, discussing his creative process, the revelations made during the making of EPHEMERA, and a dream he had starring Kanye West. (Interview)

Gabber Eleganza: The Future Is Now

Inspired by the spirit of rave, FANTASMA is a new collection – or “icon” as the label calls it – by MCQ. (Crack)

Flossy Photos Inside Houston’s Most Famous Strip Club

Photographer Adrienne Raquel, who's captured the likes of Lil Nas X, Megan Thee Stallion, and Selena Gomez, takes us inside the mythic space of Club Onyx, where women reign supreme. (Dazed)

How We Made Christiane F – The Shocking Cult Film About a Child Heroin Addict

“Filming was banned at the station we shot at. So the cinematographer sat in a wheelchair, concealed the camera on his lap, and I pushed him around, following Natja cruising.” (The Guardian)

The Off-White Papers

Inside Virgil Abloh's trademark ballet. (NYT)

Spring Gear Guide

Spring is here, and with fresh air activities on the horizon, we’ve gathered some of our favourite items for spending time in the great outdoors. (Weed Sport)

The Healing Power of a Popping Vibe Corner

Jawns-loving Detroit Lion Romeo Okwara drops advanced gems. (Blackbird Spyplane)

What To Read: Tyler, Alex, and Serey Are Recommending Things

This week, we interviewed Tyler Bainbridge, Alex Cushing, and Serey Morm, three friends and curators who write Perfectly Imperfect, a newsletter about curated recommendations on clothing, books, movies, and more. (Substack)

PINK CELLS

Angélique Stehli’s photographs of prison cells painted pink. Read the story behind them here.

MY LAST DAY AT SEVENTEEN

American photographer Doug DuBois's portraits of teenagers coming of age in the town of Cobh, County Cork in Ireland. My Last Day at Seventeen looks at the bravado and adventure of childhood with an eye toward its fragility and inevitable loss. See more here.

TEKLIFE, GHETTOVILLE, ESKI

Dhanveer Singh Brar's new book Teklife, Ghettoville, Eski: The Sonic Ecologies of Black Music in the Early 21st Century explores the ways Black music can reorganise life in the city, making connections between footwork music in Chicago, grime in East London and Actress's experimental techno and ambient.

Teklife, Ghettoville, Eski will be published by Goldsmiths Press on April 27th.

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The Next 20: Who Will Shape Youth Culture in 2021?

A little over a year ago Highsnobiety and LYST launched their inaugural edition of The NEXT 20, an in-depth quarterly report ranking the next-generation brands and cultural pioneers on the rise. (Highsnobiety)

Tokyo’s Modern Vintage Archive: Meet Ozzy’s Vision

Vintage has been the buzzword of the fashion industry as of late. While rocking a pair of fresh-out-the box Yeezy Boost 350 or Air Jordan 1s used to be the biggest flex a few years ago, a rare band tee you found at a local flea market or your dad's closest is the new state-of-the-art style. (sabukaru)

Martine Rose on the Power of the T-Shirt

In an extract from Lauren Cochrane’s The Ten: The Stories Behind the Fashion Classics, the London designer talks raves, Brexit, and the versatility of a wardrobe staple. (The Face)

Vince Staples Chops It Up with Desus Nice

For a few years, Vince Staples was everywhere – and then the Long Beach rapper retreated from the public spotlight to focus on himself. Here, in conversation with Desus Nice, Staples goes deep on life off the Internet and growing into the person he knows he's supposed to be. (GQ)

Inside the Dirty Business of Hit Songwriting (Variety)

Art Sleeves Is a Record Lover’s Dream

Art Sleeves is not a definitive guide to the ‘best’ covers throughout history, and its creator will be the first to tell you that. (Monster Children)

Subway to Studio 54: A Bygone New York – In Pictures

Skaters, dancers, hustlers, boxers... Swiss photographer Willy Spiller prowled the streets of the Big Apple from 1977 to 1985, capturing characters from all walks of life. (The Guardian)

“It’s Horrendous, It’s Constant Failure”: Geoff McFetridge on the Pain of Painting

The Canadian artist and designer talks about the agony of working on an exhibition, the importance of legibility, and the limits of design. (It’s Nice That)

Yinka Ilori, MBE: Bow Down, Regardless

Yinka Ilori's eye-vibing public installations caught the attention of Her Majesty The Queen this year. (Juxtapoz)

Michael C. Thorpe: Meandering Thoughts at LaiSun Keane

Lockdown Helped to Create a New Generation of Young Black Birdwatchers

Plus, data shared with VICE shows that around three times as many 18 to 29-year-olds took up the hobby over the last year. (VICE)

17 HOURS WITH DMX

The photographer Matt Salacuse recounts an impromptu day spent with the rapper in 2008 that showcased both his charm and his demons. (GQ)

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Are Tastemakers the New Influencers?

The recent rise of Instagram moodboards, Letterboxd influencers, and consumerist newsletters has created a new type of influencer: the tastemaker who shares hand-picked, personal recommendations, and gains a cult following that loves their curations. (Lithium Magazine)

Earth Tones

Grace Wales Bonner and Marlon James in conversation. (SSENSE)

Aimé Leon Dore’s Teddy Santis Is New Balance’s New Creative Director

Santis is the latest example of a new trend shaking up the sneaker universe. (GQ)

Soccer Samples Streetwear and Likes the Fit

Juventus reimagined its look, P.S.G. partnered with Jordan Brand, and now Arsenal and Inter Milan are following suit. But soccer’s interest in design has little to do with the sport. (NYT)

An Inside Look at the Defining Moments of British Rave Culture

Who Say Reload collates the little-known stories of ’90s and ’00s jungle and drum and bass, with text and interviews by Paul Terzulli, featuring British legends such as Goldie, DJ Hype, Roni Size, Andy C, 4 Hero, and more, alongside photographs from Eddie Otchere’s extensive archive. (Highsnobiety)

Deb Never: Keeping the DIY Spirit Alive in Music

Deb Never is building a body of work that doesn't fit into any genre and denies easy categorization. She sings, produces, and plays guitar and piano, with the resulting songs including touchpoints from emo and grunge to rap and lo-fi indie rock. (Pigeons & Planes)

Of Note: Meet AG Club

The film school dropouts are bringing real rap videos back. (SSENSE)

Here’s the History of Basketball – From Peach Baskets in Springfield to Global Phenomenon

The first game used baskets as hoops and turned into a brawl. Soon after, basketball evolved into a pillar of American sports. (National Geographic)

Mall Core and Nostalgic Retail Design: Reflecting On the Vaporwave Aesthetic (sabukaru)

What Your March 2021 Looked Like

From La Réunion to Lagos, Saudi Arabia to Skopje, here’s part one of your snapshot of the world from last month. (i-D)

April Playlist + Mood

Here comes April – with its sun showers, early rising tulips and one month further away from 2020. Spring, the refresh, the rebirth – the time to put away coats, throw away clutter, and begin to shed the previous year. (Corridor)

The Revue, April 2021 (Drake’s)