Can I please have some help with ideation? Topic: Hip Hop/ Grafitti

[OldJake666]

Hi,
Every year Airbrush.com does a paint off. The rules are you have to submit an airbrushed painting following the topic description. Last year I won second place and I'd love to compete again this year as I have improved a lot.
The problem:
This years Amateur topic is Hip Hop/Grafitti. I'm like the whitest kid ever so I have absolutely no idea what to do. I was looking at some of El Corro's old stuff for inspiration but I can't figure out how to incorporate Grafitti into my dark style.
I was hoping that (as a lot of you are into the hip hop/ grafitti culture) that you can help me think up something cool.

Here are the rules:
http://www.airbrush.com/forums/tm.aspx?m=333928

To give you an idea of what it is, here are the ones they've done in the past:
2007 Beach:
http://www.airbrush.com/forums/tm.as...nt+off&#260302
2006 8ball:
http://www.airbrush.com/forums/tm.as...nt+off&#151217
2005 Old School Flames:
http://www.airbrush.com/forums/tm.as...int+off&#42716

Thanks everyone, it's much appreciated!

[aph]

Help you think? You mean think for you?

No offence dude but sounds like the real problem is how your approaching the subject.

If the subject is Hip Hop / graffiti, then think for yourself and work out what you think about this subject.. then go from there. I wouldn't let the topic denote the 'style' of your art, thats just a waste of time emulating something to fit in.

Anyways, hope that helps. Good luck.

[OldJake666]

No I don't want you to think for me. I just need some help visualizing what I could do. I know pretty much nothing about hip hop or graffiti and would just like a clearer understanding of what I can be done.
I've seen some awesome stuff that's graffiti but not necessarily hip hop and I don't want to get disqualified for not fitting the topic.
Check this out:



This were all done by Henry Pykko, an airbrush artist from Sweden. He has a very evil style that he incorporated well into his graffiti but I don't know if this would be acceptable in the competition. Also it must done with an airbrush and not a spray can big things are pretty much out of the picture.

[Justin.]

Look up Feerik.

[Grief]

its time you apply for some Handsome Boy Modeling School



and then you need to get your street art on:
http://www.woostercollective.com/

don't try to make any art that isnt honest to who you are or the final piece will only be a shallow reflection of your own disinterest. find a way to make the work truthful to who you are and it'll always be a success.

[OldJake666]

Thanks for all of the help guys, I'll make some sketches and post them up.

[Bhrazz]

Something happened to me when I read this thread.

Thank you everyone, I was waiting this moment for a looooooooong time!

[Jasonwclark]

Dig these cats
Play the music while you paint


Atmosphere

Lyrics Born

Blackalicious

Aceyalone

[FlipMcgee]

I was hoping that (as a lot of you are into the hip hop/ grafitti culture) that you can help me think up something cool.

Research:

There are four pillars of hip hop culture: Graffiti/Writing, B Boying/Break dancing, DJing and lastly M.C.ing/Rapping.

Get Inspired: http://www.riotsound.com/Graffiti/art-gallery/

Know the icons (here's a couple):

Shake yo booty!:

[Jasonwclark]

Just let the music do the work for you. Throw a little James Brown and Curtis Mayfield into the rotation and you'll be alright.

Others you might want to check out...

Project Blowed, A Tribe Called Quest, The Beasty Boys, E-40, Hieroglyphics, Quannum, RBL Posse, Outkast, Beat Junkies, Swollen Members, 2Pac, NWA, Too Short, Common, Pharcyde, Wu-Tang, Rhyme Sayers, Redman, TI, Gangstarr, Mos Def, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, The Roots, Bob Marley, Eek-a-Mouse, Living Legends, Zulu Nation, Medusa and all her friends...

And remember, every genre has it weak links, don't let them deter you.
The Book of Human Language by the Ace Man and Mumbles is one of my all time favorite albums, check it out if you live near a decent record store. It reminds of something that Homer or Taliesin would have done, if they were born in this century.

If you like music that makes you nervous, go listen to Immortal Technique: Watch Out

[FlipMcgee]

You can airbrush hip hop Jake Kobrin! Believe in yo self!

.

[Dose206]

Flip - great Qbert vid that you posted, the first one in the silly suit.

Jason - some great musicians that you posted.

Jake - also check out 12 oz. Prophet

[OldJake666]

Well thanks for all of the help guys but at the request of the admin I'm going to enter the Pro category. The topic is paint something the size of a quarter (about 25mm) or smaller.
He said:

Jake, step up to the plate bro and move to the PRO Division. Make all of us ABU'ers proud!!!!!!!!

Painting something that small is no problem at all.

[lumar]

do a commentary piece on how shit hip-hop has become, and how its more about getting rich and impressing people than about sweet rhymes. than it used to be, anyway.

listen to lupe's new album, from what i can tell its about the same thing. (only liked 3 songs on it though)

[el coro]

"hip hop" or graffiti lettering is a discipline that requires years of application to truly understand. i can say that its roots can best be traced to French art nouveau, graphic design fundamentals, and fontography. there are plenty of people who have done dark stuff over the years, probably some people worth looking at are like the seventh letter guys down in Los Angeles. REVOK, SEVER, my homie SABER all kind of blazed that style back inthe late 90's. as far as what you can do with the medium, and people to look at for inspiration, maclaim crew http://www.maclaim.de/ are some of the illest throwing down right now, my homie the mac http://www.elmac.net outta phoenix kills it.
but thing is, like i said, in order to be able to really rock a competent graf style, and not come off like some clumsy art student takes years. hope this helps. good luck.-c36

[AlexC]

listen to some phat beatz like DJ Shadow ( all 'xcept his last album, the outsider=( ), and prefuse 73 is also pretty dope.
Personally I dislike Hip hop, but Trip hop takes my cup of tea