RIP Abbey Lincoln

Jazz Vocalist, actress, revolutionary. You'll be missed Abbey Lincoln! Check the video of her and Max Roach below, from We Insist! Freedom Now.

Abbey Lincoln and Max Roach

Rest in Power RAMMΣLLZΣΣ

Its with great sadness that we say goodbye to one of the most influential philosophers, visual artists and MCs of his generation, Rammellzee. He was a prolific artist who's visual style influenced graffiti writers around the world and his flow influenced everyone from the Beastie Boys to Cypress Hill. His collaged sculptures and large scale paintings always reminded me of how infinite the universe is and the power of combining the mundane into something profound and beautiful.

Rest in Power MJ

On the one-year anniversary of Michael Jackson's death, lets revisit DJ Jazzy Jeff's amazing tribute compilation, "He's the King, Im the DJ"! Collaborating with UNDRCRWN, the artwork features a great portrait of the King of Pop and Jazzy Jeff. Download it here.

DJ Premier Keith "Guru" Elam Tribute Mix

Rest in Power GURU. Your work is a living legacy and testament to your life. Miss Info also uploaded Mister Cee's tribute he did on Hot97. You can download it here.

Keith "Guru" Elam Tribute Mix by DJ Premier Blog Radio on Mixcloud

RIP Teddy Pendergrass

Rest in Power Teddy Pendergrass!

RIP Jeanne-Claude

Rest in Power Jeanne-Claude! The world will miss your creative vision, boundless energy and love for life. Like all of their projects, these were intended to be temporary, a quality at the heart of the artistic enterprise. Whether executed in oil drum or brightly colored fabric, the art of her and her husband, Jeanne-Claude said, expressed “ the quality of love and tenderness that we human beings have for what does not last.” -from the NYTimes

Happy 51st Birthday, MJ!

Happy Birthday, Michael Jackson! Brooklyn knows how to throw a birthday jam!! "Happy Birthday to ya, happy birthday to ya, happy birrrrrth-day!" 08.29.09 - Michael Jackson Birthday Celebration: Spinna x Spike Lee @ Prospect Park

RIP Baatin

35-year-old Baatin, co-founder of the game-changing hip hop group Slum Village with his high school friend J. Dilla (RIP), died yesterday in Detroit. After their sophomore album, Trinity, Baatin left the group only to rejoin for their upcoming September release, Villa Manifesto. Our thoughts are with his family and the community in Detroit. Rest in Power Baatin!

RIP Dash Snow

Artist, photography, graf writer, and downtowner Dash Snow passed today. His work captured the raw and unfiltered comedy and tragedy of raging downtown NYC through polaroids, collage and his most (in)famous works the Hamster Nest, a "performance" piece where he and his friends basically do a sh!tload of drugs, throw a raging party, and tear up phonebooks, pillows, mattresses, etc. Another creative life claimed by heroine. Our thoughts are with his family and young daughter. Check some of his polaroids here.

VIBE Magazine Folds

Its been a rough week for Quincy -- first Michael passed and now Vibe has gone under. Thanks to a late nite taco run at La Esquina last nite, I was informed that Vibe Magazine, founder Quincy Jones' answer to a black Rolling Stone, has folded. Gawker has the full story here. In an interesting twist, NME.com reported today that Quincy Jones has plans to buy back the magazine he started in 1993.

RIP Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson died today in Los Angeles of cardiac arrest. Words cannot describe the sense of loss and sadness the world feels today. He was 50. Thank you, thank you, thank you Michael Jackson for sharing your gift with the world! Download DJ Ayres' incredible Michael Jackson career mix here.

Michael Jackson - Rock with you

RIP Farah!

After a lengthy and public battle with cancer, Farah Fawcett died today at the age of 66.