I started a slideshow on Flickr from random photos that I could use in a collage for a punk show with a band that uses lots of words to describe their music: Muslim, Pakistani, Bollywood are a couple. The slideshow turned into a project about identity but really, this was a last desperate attempt to be inspired. I did create a new collage for the Madison show on the 2009 Taqwa Tour.

The end product was kosher enough not to matter. This, though, does.

The Epic Migraine

The Alphabet Angel was originally, the a statue in Ulster Scotts according Flickr. Before that, it started as a community identity project, an idea I like, so I ripped the concept and picked out a new school version – street art.

Scumbag Art

Rural buildings, farm art, and straight up country scenery mixed with the grassroots reproduction of President Obama’s campaign art. The idea is to bring some soul to the neat concept one can study at a distance in the news or by reading the book.

Press play to watch the slideshow.

Lyrics to Mos Def “History”

Kweli say, Everybody act according to the season that they born in
Some in the night some in the morning
Some at noon
Some in winter some in June
Its all cool,its a natural
The science is a jewel
For me and mines yours and you, let’s move

tell ya little brother I’m out

Yo, I was born in a season where the world was quite and cold.
Celebrations were going on.
Some were happy, some were sad, some felt bad from being good, some felt good from being bad.
The feelings past and changed but they never leave, they here to stay.
Holiday holiday happy birthday teenage love the first cut run deep.
So long flesh this is the brooklyn streeets.
Year of the ox, 7 and 3 MD,the history.
Every soul’s got one of these.
It’s where you been and where you be.
And without understanding you cannot proceed complete
It start then it end
Then it just go ’round again, again.
Again and again brand new.
Again and again so fresh.
Again and again newness.

[Kweli]
I was born in the decade of decadence where they worshiped what they have.
Ford was president do the math.
The war was ended when the North Vietnamese
Stormed the city of Saigon.
We was like bye we was gone.
Let bygons be bygons.
I’m gone spread love it’s the brooklyn way.
Where they hug you with the firearms sidearm.
Like new school clothes, Black Star official.
Smash when we do the shows.
Facts no mystery.
I’m down with the crew like Mussolini in Italy.
I rock with the Roots like the giving tree.
Powerful bigotry at work.
Me and my people got history rappers dumb it down considerably.
We get it poppin’ like a hit chorus.
The flow is historic.
They can’t get rid of us,
Ubiquitous.
And we lay the law like Leviticus.
Ten years ago we made history so they missin’ us.

[Mos]
And don’t call it a comback in particular
Even if it blend into ephemera
Or fade into peripheral
Transition of the minister’s original
We’re broadcast clear without diminishing
Black Star, stove top burners
Soul temperatures, administers, alkalines, aminos and minerals essentials
Served over Dilla time signatures
It’s miracle material
Remember it’s right now foreverness