Every New Years Day on Coney Island’s shores, the Polar Bear Club takes a dip in frigid waters. It is their beliefs that a winter ocean swim, can boost a person’s stamina and immunity. This event has been going on since 1903 and has always signified a fight against illness.
I met Marco “Blue” Johnson in early 1994. This was right after Dallas Austin dropped Yall So Stupid from Rowdy Records. I was spending a lot of time developing my skills as an artist… and I linked up with Menelik, Karl Injex and Wayne Briggs. They had formed a multimedia company and enlisted me as an illustrator. We were working on everything from clothing designs to brochures. One day, a collective of cats from DC had come through the doors. Their team was called 2620 and was spearheaded by Kenny Burns. Each member had their own aspirations but they rolled as a single unit. I remember there being so many of them that I couldn’t remember their names. It didn’t matter in the beginning because, Kenny did most of the talking. But as they secured themselves in Atlanta, I began to see who they were.
When most people think of Coney Island, they think of an amusement park… or one of the largest tourist attractions in Brooklyn, New York. But when you look towards the West past the Parachute Jump, there’s a skyline of projects over 30 blocks long. Three avenues wide with the ocean on all sides and each building standing at least 16 stories or more… this would be the Coney Island on which I was raised.
The word is... aint no one dying over spilled ink!
I could follow the White Rabbit for the rest of my life and still not get through the Matrix. So I've decided to let the damn thing get away, while I pull over and think this all through.
Out-sourcing myself and working with others has been great but, it's not helping my creativity. It's not separating me from the rest of the pack becuz most people want the same things. So I've decided to free myself from the freelance shackles and take a more personal approach. •
For an indefinite amount of time, I will be drawing things that excite me. Some will make sense, others will just look good, but all of it will be my ideas. If you're looking for artists to hire, you can still hit me up becuz I know too many great ones. Or if you like, you can check my Pushers & Inspirations and do some searching of your own.
