Deep Concentration: Will Kasso

I told you guys last month that there would be some new beginnings around here, and our brand new podcast/interview series Deep Concentration will be a new chapter for this site and my own journey. Being a lover of podcasts and conversations, my aim for Deep Concentration is to have deeper conversations that will focus on the creatives that I have crossed paths with that either birthed new energy or just excited me as a fan and lover of the visual and performing arts.

For the first episode of Deep Concentration, I had a dope conversation with Trenton's own Will Kasso, who now calls Vermont home. I've been following his work for the longest, and have grown to know him over the last six years. He's one of the beacons of the Trenton graffiti scene, helping put the Trenton scene on the map, and is the founder of the S.A.G.E. Coalition, a community revitalization project that which was a major catalyst for today's arts scene in Trenton.

With his solo exhibition Urban Legend currently up at Artworks Trenton until August 31, I got to talk to him the night before the show's reception. Kasso didn't hold anything back, sitting with me for almost 90 minutes to talk about everything from his history as an artist in Trenton, NJ, the Gandhi Garden and that Mike Brown mural to the rise and fall of the S.A.G.E. Coalition.

You can stream the full episode via Mixcloud, or download it for free via iTunes and Google Play. You can also follow Deep Concentration on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. I want to send a major shout out to Deal - The Villain for letting me use "Legend Blue" on Deep Concentration. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please contact us over at deepconpod@gmail.com.

Share:

The Jersey Fresh Jam 2017 Needs Your Help

Trenton's Jersey Fresh Jam is coming up on its 12th year, and is in need of your help. The event is one of the only hip-hop festivals in the state of New Jersey, and is a hype way for multiple elements of hip-hop to converge. Hell, some of my favorite hip-hop relationships have been fostered at this event.

For 2017, the Jam needs $3,000 for paint supplies and sound equipment. They've opened up a Kickstarter to help them get it moving, and have some dope perks for people who pledge, ranging from exclusive t-shirts and a dope mix from DJ itsjusthahmad to getting your name tagged on the wall and even being able to rock a piece of your own at the event.

Check out the video below, which features JFJ organizer Leon Rainbow breaking down what the Jam needs this year, and if you are down to help keep this event going, please pledge. The sooner the better, as this Kickstarter ends on the 29th of July. For more details on the Jersey Fresh Jam, hit up jerseyfreshjam.com.

Share:

Leon Rainbow and Will Kasso Talk the History of Jersey Fresh Jam

This week, Trenton365 had Leon Rainbow and Will Kasso on the program to talk about the Jersey Fresh Jam, which will be back again for its 11th annual event on August 6 at TerraCycle in Trenton. They not only break down the history of the Jam, but the importance of Graffiti in both the art world and the culture of hip-hop. Trenton's been doing this, but it's always good to sit down and look back at the journey. I personally make it a point to hit the Jam for a bit every summer, and I think you should as well.

For more details on this year's event, hit up jerseyfreshjam.com.

Share:

Leon Rainbow: Politically Incorrect (May 2, 2014)

The one like Leon Rainbow's Politically Incorrect show kicks off tonight at Trenton Social (which is across the street from the Sun National Bank Center on South Broad). Here's a little insight on the show:

"The work in Politically Incorrect incorporates a style that had its genesis in a watercolor mixed media series Rainbow did in 2010 called Freestyle Fridays. In Freestyle Fridays he released a new freeform piece on his website each week for a year. These freeform pieces helped him to develop a style that incorporates complex patterns and designs with imagery and symbolism.

This style further evolved in murals Rainbow subsequently created, one in Trenton (on Clinton and Hudson Street), and another, sponsored by Miller Brewing, in the Fishtown section of Philadelphia (on Frankford Street). In Politically Incorrect, Rainbow is using the movement, style and color of his street work to influence his paintings on canvas, then working the canvases back into the street art. This back and forth cross-fertilization builds new styles and concepts with each piece. Politically Incorrect is an ongoing project."

There's an ill video shot at Miller Brewing that you can see after the jump, as well as a few pictures of what this will entail. Don't sleep, especially if you're into the Arts.

Share:

The Art of Wu (11/15/2013)

This goes down this Friday at Gallery 219. Proper tribute to the Wu. More details over on Facebook.

Share:

The Combat Jack Show: Marc Ecko

Via TheCombatJackShow: "Marc Ecko walks us through his extraordinary journey, how he came up from being a naive Hip Hop fan to becoming a household name, his run with Diddy, why Bobby Condors has him scared to blow trees today, the Barry Bonds baseball thing, why the education system has him mad and why you should run cop his book ‘Unlabel: Selling You Without Selling Out’. He’s not Che Guevara with bling on, but he’s Complex."

Share:

[video] Storm the Gates (10/06/2013)

And this is why SAGE is so necessary in the city of Trenton (and beyond).

Share:

Windows of Soul 2 (9/13/2013)

SAGE is making it bigger this year. Montgomery Street, look out! Find out how YOU can submit your art. Full details down below.

Share:

Jersey Fresh Jam 2013 (8/10/2013): Official Flyer

Everything you need to know about the 2013 Jersey Fresh Jam is right here. The official Pre-Party/Vicious Styles Crew art show goes down at Gallery 219 in Trenton on August 9th. The Jam take splace at Terracycle in Trenton on August 10th from 12PM-6PM, with over 50 artists painting live, as well as a number of live performances from Black Collar Biz (with the Blackout Kings), Tone Liv, Molly Rhythm, Rich Quick, and plenty of others, with the official Jersey Fresh Jam Afterparty going down at Artworks in Trenton that night. There will be a food drive to benefit Mercer Street Friends, and it will be a dope-ass event all around. Hit up the Facebook event page to get more info and let the folks know you're coming out. I'll be in the house live-blogging because that's how I do. HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!!!

Share:

The Combat Jack Show: Mike Holman

Via TheCombatJackShow: "On the latest episode of The Combat Jack Show, we start off with Parfit from Ambrosia4Heads, and we get a serious history lesson courtesy OG Michael Holman, best known as the creator of the short lived but incredibly influential early 80s hip-hop show Graffiti Rock. As a co-founder of the experimental band Gray with Jean-Michel Basquiat, Hollman waxes poetic about what made Basquiat such a force not only then, but to this day."

Share:

The Combat Jack Show: The Glen Friedman & Theotis Jones Episode

Via TheCombatJackShow: "OG photographer Glen E Friedman, the only man who can claim to have captured the definitive moments of the early days of hip-hop, skateboarding and punk rock waxed historical poetry on this episode. If you’re sleeping on him, peep Glen’s covers for seminal albums like ‘It Takes Nation of Millions To Hold Us Back’ and ‘Yo! Bum Rush The Show’, LL’s ‘Bad’, The Beastie Boy’s ’Check Your Head’ and of course, Ice T’s ‘Power’.

On top of knowledge facts, Glen goes at Dallas Penn’s Republican dreams and meat loving ways while giving less than %1 of a fuxs.

The Loud Speaker Network very own Theotis Jones stopped by to put a voice to the name and breaks down why he continues to visually bring heat to The Combat Jack Show."

Share:

The Artpocalypse (12/21/2012)

INFO

Share:

SAGE COALITION Presents Presume the Unpredictable (11/09/2012)

Dope project from the SAGE crew going down tomorrow night at Studios at 219 in Trenton. Kasso is about to kill it with this one, with the likes of Rich Quick, Hustle Emcee and more. Hit the Facebook event page.

Share:

Windows Of Soul (Sept. 21st-23rd 2012)

Kasso and the crew previewing the dope "Windows Of Soul" project, which is going down on a block of East Hanover Street in Trenton, from the 21st-23rd of September. Love that S.A.G.E. is forming like Voltron to bring CULTURE like this to the city. All art is being submitted - worldwide - so hit the jump for the flyer and info on how to get things sent out. Good to see Black Collar Biz performing on the 23rd of September as well. Truth.

Share:

Jersey Fresh Jam 2012 Itinerary

Hopefully if you're in the tri-state area, you're goign to be hitting up the Jersey Fresh Jam tomorrow, August 11th, sometime between 10AM and 8PM. I just wanted to break a couple of things down regarding the events that will be taking place...

Share:

Jersey Fresh Jam Pre-Party (8/10/2012)

Hit up JerseyFreshJam.com for more info. For those unaware of the area, this isn't far from Quakerbridge Mall on Route 1.

Share:

[preview] The Atelethon (6/09/2012)

The Trenton Atelier, in conjunction with Trentonian TV at Trentonian.com, will have its first 24-hour Atelethon from 10 a.m. to 10 a.m. June 9 to 10.

Share:

The Atelethon (6/09/2012)

I feel weird breaking this down as all of the information is there, but this is dope. The heads who made the Trenton Atelier what it is need a new home. This Atelethon, which I believe the Trentonian is helping throw, will feature everything that made this spot dope, from live music/poetry/dance to art workshops. 10AM to 10AM, starting June 9th. I'll make it through there at some point. Help raise some funds!

Share:

[preview] The Combat Jack Show ft. Dallas Penn (4/25/2012)

Should be a movie. Via TheCombatJackShow.com, art by @theotisjones.

Share:

Black Collar Biz "Soul of the Message"

You saw the video for this earlier this week, and I figured I'd drop the track today, as the Soul of the Message event goes down TONIGHT at the 219 Gallery in Trenton. The boy Biz has been a big supporter of the local Trenton Arts scene, and will be performing at the event tonight. He flips Jay Electronica's "Dear Moleskine" instrumental into a nice theme for this event. Dude's wise beyond his years - enjoy this one.

DOWNLOAD Black Collar Biz "Soul of the Message"

Share: