Upper Playground, in addition to working with Obey to spread their street art propaganda supporting Barack Obama, have commissioned a number of their regular artists to create Obama prints of their own. 

To me, it is a stroke of genius that the Obama campaign commissioned Shepherd Fairley of Obey Giant to create an image for the campaign.  In the same way that a company like NIke would use street art to target a demographic, the Obama camp recognized that they could use the same principle and create credibility among young, “hip” people. Amazing.  The prints below are an extension of the same idea, except these were done voluntarily. 

< By David Choe

   By Morning Breath>

Here are more Obama  prints by Sam Flores, Alex Pardy, ISO50, and Burlesque. 

After spending a few months sifting through new jazzy/hip hop albums and finding only mediocrity and forgettable tracks, I am excited to announce the release of The Renaissance, the new album from the legendary Q-Tip. He comes with a soulful, rich sound, reminiscent of Little Brother and U.K. Broken Beat. Out Nov. 4th.

Q-Tip- You

Dj Mark Farina releases the latest volume of his hugely influential Mushroom Jazz Series this week, along with a collector’s item:

“To celebrate the release of Mushroom Jazz Vol. 6, we are merging the old and new world. On top of being able to pick up Vol. 6 on CD and LP, fans can also pick up a limited edition Mushroom Jazz Vol. 6 USB Mixtape. The USB comes preloaded with Mushroom Jazz Vol. 6 on 320kbps MP3s and a special digital booklet.  Like an old school mixtape Mark Farina would hand out at gigs, this limited edition piece will have fans frantically searching.”

Buy It Here.

A few words on the songwriting process from The Album Leaf, an ambient electronic project that is by turns beautiful, subtle, melodic, and purposeful, but certainly not traditional.

SS: What was your inspiration for writing this record?
Jimmy: Pretty much everything in my life. Like where I am. I never really know where everything comes from. I just get inspired by everything, and it comes from there. Everything just kind of happens. (Source)

Writings on the Wall for example; from the day that I wrote it, I’d always heard vocals on it. And then when everything was recorded and I heard it instrumental, it sounded really good to me just instrumental. That’s what The Album Leaf actually is: it’s what I feel and how I feel it. (Source)

The Album Leaf- The Light

“I see my paintings as something that’s been injected with a lot of energy yet flat and 2-D. I love painting with a sense of freedom and letting the work evolve organically. It’s not preconceived, it’s really off the top of my head and building on what I’m feeling at the moment. Living in the “Now.”  -Rostarr

Check out the whole collection Here.

“This New Jersey native was initially inspired by England’s take on the sound of Detroit, but eventually tracked techno back to its Motor City innovators. When he began listening to music, however, it was the sound of early-’80s synth heroes like Devo, Severed Heads and New Order alongside early hip-hop, jazz and 60s Hindi film soundtracks.”

Check out his new electro-synth masterpeice, “Double Night Time,” featuring Jeremy Greenspan of Junior Boys fame on vocals, out on Environ Records.

Morgan Geist-Ruthless City

MGMT? Aeroplane? Together? Belgium’s hottest electronic duo and Brooklyn’s indie darlings get their Prince on. Finally.

MGMT- Electric Feel (Aeroplane Remix)

As seen after the (dope) Talib Kweli show in downtown Ft. Lauderdale…  Love this shirt..

And now, a word on the “struggle…”

Talib Kweli- Get By (Remix w/ Mos Def, Jay-Z, Kanye, and Busta)