NEW BUFF1 video "REAL APPEAL" feat. AB - produced by 14KT

WORDS FROM THE HERO

Peace, Man I am Glad I decided to take time away from music to do this HobbyshopHero site. I have so many people around me doing great things it would be an absolute shame not to have such a dope venue to share the things I do with my fanbase & Readers (what up Everyone!)

BUFF1 can not receive enough praise from me. The same goes for 14KT. I swear to (insert ? here) that these cats just cant go wrong. Buff has released 5 solo projects that I am aware of and thats on top of his work with the Almighty AML and There hasn't been one single song that I would consider "FILLER" or Skip (and those who know me know I got A Ichy Trigger Finger for that Fast Forward Button). Same goes for my man 14kt who's production is out of this world. (his Rhymes are super dope as well) When you hear A beat thats 14kt's it is impossible to not recognize. I was absolutely Blessed to have worked with him for one of my most personal tracks to this date "I WANT HER" from my sophomore LP "Crush Your System".

The 14kt produced / Dutchmassive Collaboration "I WANT HER" is now at this very moment among the TOP MOVERS in the magazine URB's NEXT 1000 contest thiny, GO VOTE if you like @t www.URB.com/Vote4Dutch

Needless to say it has been an absolutely breath taking year for the ATHLETIC MIC LEAGUE. Let me breakdown two personal situations I have had recently w/ A-SIDE WORLDWIDE'S catalog.

• After never hearing anything from NOW ON (besides HAIRCUT'S amazing Instrumentals) I Finally got to listen to one of their tracks "The Willows" and was blown away. I then proceeded to listen to the Album "TOMMOROW ALREADY" and it has not left my Walkman for 2 months Strait. I mean, This is one really really dope album from start to finish. I feel like a fool for never taking the time to check out the music which made me realise how many dope albums I must be missing, and how many dope artists have no Idea how much they would love DUTCHMASSIVE due to A Lack of crossing Audible paths...(sigh)

CLICK HERE 2 purchase "Tommorow Already" via i-tunes

• DJ HAIRCUT releases "Just aint Gonna work out" under the Alias MAYOR HAWTHORNE on STONES THROW - and I had no Idea until I had already been using the song as spiritual Aid copeing with a Break up. I had no Idea the Track I was listening to each morning and night was HAIRCUT's ALTER EGO and my man ASTRONOTE on the BEAT (I guess I had this remix for a long time) hahaha.

In Closing I am blessed to be surrounded by such talented and humble cats. I am so proud of Buff for taking the leap of blind faith by leaving his 9 to 5 & following his dream! Imagine if all the albums and songs you love never existed because the artist spent all his or her time working a dead end job and put music on the back burner. Be Sure to SUPPORT the music you Love by purchasing the albums. I dont care if you download ish for Free.... Once you do and you decide that you love that album. Go show that love and support and if you really cant afford the 10 dollars which is complete understandable in these times, then support by putting as many people as you can onto the album and get them to purchase it.

I wanna end this by saying next to "RAIN DANCE", "REAL APPEAL" is my favorite Track off of BUFF's Latest album. So Im glad they chose this for the next video!

I wanna say whatup to STEPHANIE! ESTES - "WHAT UP! STEPH LUVA!" and I wanna Say what up To my man Kendal! "WHAT UP! where's my Replacement Joint? I havent forgotten the loss of once hahaha" PEACE AND ENJOY THE VIDEO!



BUFF1 "REAL APPEAL" feat. AB produced by 14KT
NEW VIDEO from the Classic album "THERE'S ONLY ONE"
DIRECTED BY JACKSON PERRY (of NOW ON)

CHECK OUT - 14KT
CHECK OUT - AB
CHECK OUT - JACKSON PERRY & NOW ON
CHECK OUT - BUFF1

The new full length album from Buff1.

Features appearances from Black Milk, Athletic Mic League and Now On. Production from The Lab Techs and Black Milk.

TRACKLIST:
01 THERE'S ONLY ONE
02 GOODNESS MUSIC
03 BEAT THE SPEAKERS UP
04 DREAM STREETS
05 MAN UP ft Vaughan T
06 I KNOW THE SECRET
07 THE SKY
08 CLASSIC RAP
09 LOVE THE LOVE ft Tres Styles
10 NEVER FALL ft Black Milk
11 RAIN DANCE
12 NUMBERS CAN'T MEASURE ft Now On
13 REAL APPEAL
14 ELECTRIFYING MUSIC MAKER
15 GOIN' NOWHERE
16 ONCE

AVAILABLE NOW!

First 4 Figures releases Limited Edition SAMUS PHAZON SUIT (METROID PRIME)

Samus Aran's Phazon Suit

If you want this, you're gonna have to act quick. There are only 1500 pieces being made and they go for $225. You can make your pre-order now at First4Figures, as the statue will be released on July 9.

[SOURCE - TOMOPOP]

"With the unique color scheme of black helmet and red visor, the Phazon Suit is awarded after defeating the Omega Pirate. Both Samus’ suit and gun are infected with pure Phazon. This gives the Phazon Suit an ability to protect Samus from the deadly effects of the deadly blue substance and shoot the Phazon Beam when standing in pools of Phazon. Just when Metroid Prime is defeated, the Phazon Suit is stolen and used to create one of Samus’ greatest enemies, Dark Samus!"

First 4 Figures is extremely proud to present the ultimate version of the Samus Aran's Phazon Suit.

First 4 Figures has used the official game files in order to create an extremely accurate recreation of the Phazon suit, with pose inspiration taken from official Metroid artwork.

Looks incredible on its own and really completes a display when put together with the Varia suit and Gravity suit statues.

We completely reengineered the original Varia suit model to make the Phazon suit by casting it entirely in transparent resin, adding over 25 LED lights through the suit and finished it off by adding a mirror base which really shows off the lights. When the lights are turned off, an internal IC chip allows for the lights to fade out slowly.

The statue is hand finished and hand painted with metallic paints to give an authentic representation of the suits. Comes packed in a foam interior full colored box with a card of authenticity.

The Phazon Suit is highly limited at just 1500 pieces worldwide.

WORDS FROM THE HERO

Now that I think about it, I don't think I ever got over the fact that The Hero of the METROID series "SAMUS" was A Female. Dont get me wrong, I loved playing as Faith in Mirrors Edge and I had no problem when FINAL FANTASY x2 was an ALL FEMALE Cast but for some reason I just still cant cope with the Idea of that Manly looking suit being protective armor for Miss Samus and not Mr. Samson hahahah. Is it just me or have pictures of this Light up SAMUS FIGURE been FLOATING around the NEW for well over a year now?... I guess the release date is finally around the corner (JULY 9th) to be exact. Unfortunately I do not think I am going to be dropping $250 on this amazing Limited Edition PHAZON SUIT piece. Oh well, more for you guys hahaha. PEAAAACE!

HsH

J-Ramm / Kolon Productions / Nutsons / Clark F - PRODUCED IN NORWAY (feat - Frank N Dank, illa J, Leaf Erikson, Baatin, Shawn Jackson, etc)

This is the first release in the "Produced in Norway" series on Plastic Strip Press, a new series showcasing talent from the Norwegian music scene on quality vinyl and digipack CD format.

J-RAMM // KOLON PRODUCTIONS // NUTSONS // CLARK F

LISTEN to the OFFICIAL SNIPPETS!

• CLICK HERE 2 Purchase the (Digipack) CD
• CLICK HERE 2 Purchase the (gatefold 2XLP) Vinyl
  

This release features four different up and coming producers from the Norwegian hip-hop scene

• J-Ramm (Jørgen Ramm)
• Kolon Productions (Intact & FLG /Erik Norderval og Joakim Martinussen)
• Nutsons (Erlend & Haakon Mjømen Knudsen)
  
• Clark F (Marius Haugan)
  

They all have in common (with Nutsons as an exception) that they are part of a new generation of Norwegian beat producers that has grown up on the music of Jay Dee & Madlib and the sound from Detroit and Los Angeles - compared to the earlier beat makers in Norway, more influenced by New York producers like DJ Premier, Pete Rock and Large Professor.

Many of the producers have worked tightly with foreign artists, either living abroad or hooking up through MySpace and this album showcases some of the collaborations with American, Swedish and English names such as Frank N Dank, Baatin (of Slum Village) Shawn Jackson, Leaf Erikson, Johnny 5, Organism 12 Niamh Mc Cartney and Illa J.
Also some of the best Norwegian rap acts are featured such as Loys Doy, Onkl P & Jaa9, Budbringer, Follo Pluss, RSP, Freakshow and Toby Tones.
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About the artists:
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J-RAMM

J-RAMM (the artist formerly known as J-Rose) is a rapper/producer hailing from Tønsberg, Norway. He has been producing beats for 5 years for various artists such as Dudley Perkins, MED, Frank N Dank, Shawn Jackson, Phat Kat and various Norwegian artists. He is an official member of the rap collective Ville Vestfold.

More info: www.myspace.com/jramm99

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Kolon Productions (FLG & Intact)
Kolon Productions consists of the two beat junkies FLG & Intact who has been producing and DJ`ing since 1999, when they sold their soul to the drum machine. They have worked with various artists such as Super Smash Bros, Slum Village, Leaf Erikson, Dutchmassive, Main, Freakshow and more.

More info: www.myspace.com/kolonprod

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Nutsons
Nutsons are two legendary brothers hailing from Oslo, Norway. They have been active as DJ`s, record collectors and producers on the scene in Norway for more than 15 years and have been DJs for everything from Dirty Oppland to URO. They released their first and only release, the Sleaze Cheesebourg EP in 2002 to critical acclaim.

More info: www.myspace.com/nutsons

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Clark F
Clark F hailing from Tønsberg, Norway have been producing beats for more than ten years for various people such as Green Lantern, Dorthe Skappel (!!), Nils M Skills, Evig Poesi. He is an official member of the collective Ville V.

More info: www.myspace.com/clarkf

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About the Produced in Norway series: For the last years the number of releases of quality Norwegian hip-hop and experimental music on CD and vinyl has declined, even though there are more talented rappers and producers than ever before. Digital technology has allowed new artists to merely MP3 their tracks, after they are removed from the MySpace playlist, most of the music disappears. The Produced in Norway series tries to document the vast landscape of music laying on dusty harddisks all around the country.

Go to www.plasticstrip.no for more info, soundclips, coverart and how to get this release.

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WORDS FROM THE HERO

You have Absolutely no IDEA how exciting this is for me and how proud I am to be able to finally post this project up! Tho the project is kinda like A double edge sword for me, my love for my friends and fam completely out weights my desire for exclusive rights or being the 1st to release something. It all started back in 2005 when my good friend and Fam LEAF ERIKSON (DETROIT heavyweight) put me onto my current favorite beatmaker of all time .....
INTACT! of (KOLON PRODUCTIONS)...

I met Intact during the time I was starting to record DISC 2 of the highly anticipated (never released) album MUSIC 2 SLEEP TO. I was lucky enough to get about 7 tracks from Intact which are doper than your favorite Producers best Battle Beats. Among those tracks is the 1st single off the RE:release of Crush Your System - "THOUGHT" produced by INTACT b/w "Shuffle Step" (feat. Buff1 & Finale) produced by Samiyam which will be released as a Limited Edition Seven Inch.

Now, between the time we met and now, There were a few Roadblocks and changes made (1 of them being the Rawkus 50 project which derailed my plans for Music 2 Sleep To disc 2) I later Recorded an Album with ALL INTACT Production and Titled it QUIT WORK MAKE MUSIC and then as Im sure most of you know.... my Macbook Crashed and I lost everything I had done the past 2 and a half years. What people do not know about the situation is by loosing my MACBOOK I also lost all of the stuff I had on my external Hard drive which was bounced to the macbook the 2 or 3 months before the Crash during my attempt to remove Windows Parrallels and Install Logic Studio Pro (LONG STORY).......

To make a long story short, Domination Recordings is re:RELEASING a REVAMPED version of my Rawkus release "CRUSH YOUR SYSTEM" which will feature the Single mentioned above plus a few other Bangers I have managed to keep from everyones ears and inboxes (which is hard being I Love to share my music as I make it). On top of CRUSH YOUR SYSTEM (The Physical Version) I will be releasing my new (major) album in the FALL which will feature 7 joints from INTACT that will make heads explode!!!! of those, will include "THOUGHT" (version 2 featuring LEAF ERIKSON) & "GROW" (version 2 featuring LEAF ERIKSON, BAATIN & WILL WIDDOSS) - The album will also feature production from DAVID LUKE, SOTU the TRAVELER, KOEN of BLOCNOTES, IllMIND, SAMIYAM, M-phazes, CROUP, MARVELOUS & ASTRONOTE + more. Only thing that is not for Certain yet is if this release will be titled "QUIT WORK MAKE MUSIC" or "THE NEXT FINAL FANTASY" either way it is my best work to date and my most personal and precious work, Ive been working on this project since 2004 and have Held off on releasing it for a number of releases (which I know producers hate) but I played my cards smart and I will win with the hand I have in the end thanks to my and everyone I worked with's patience.....

So it is A wonderful feeling that INTACT and FLG along with so many more Talented Producers are Finally about to get some shine!!!!! so Go ahead and check the snippets in the YOUTUBE video Below and Check all the myspace LINKS and purchase this ALBUM!!!!!! it is AMAZING

HsH

[UPDATED] CLIPSE x KAWS verses PET SHOP BOYS x FARROW

The official 1st single from the upcoming
Clipse album Till The Casket Drops

Clipse f/ Pharrell “I’m Good” (Produced by The Neptunes)

DOWNLOAD “I’M GOOD”

Click HERE to listen to the MP3...

Click HERE to download the MP3...

_____________________________

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• http://www.kawsone.com
• KAWS WIKI PAGE
  

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WORDS FROM THE HERO

Its more than apparent that this single needs no attention from the HERO of Hobbyshops but Truth is I have always been A Fan of Clipse as well as Pharrel (The NEPTUNES / N.E.R.D.) now. I wasn't really feeling the last joint that was released by the Clipse that KAWS was involved w/ but Im really feeling this joint.... More so the Production! is on some Original Neptune, Pharrel type Flava.

Now, Im going to come off as A "Hater" but I dont get the hype around this KAWS cover and if you've been reading for a bit you already know that I am a BIG fan of KAWS artwork! but Im not going to go Ape Ish over Some Stock Fonts and A Cover that looks like it was made in POWER POINT in like 40 seconds.... You can't slap 2 Trademark Kaws "X"'s and get love.....

Im hoping that the Album Cover is done in more taste..... Like the KANYE'S "GRADUATION" cover..... That's on some ill ish right there!!!!!!

Anyway! Dope enough Song, but the whole Marketing Technique is kinda weak.....Not enough Effort was put into the collab for there to be soooo much hype around it. Now you wanna See A Dope Marketing / Music Collabo

Pet Shop Boys special boxed vinyl edition

11 TRACK album w/ 11 Separate pieces of Vinyl for each track

Tho it is $300 dollars, I gotta respect the love and thought put into this project in a market where Vinyl and CD's just dont move...

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UPDATE / EDITED after ORIGINAL POST DATE (
6/18/09)
I just came across this KAWS post over @t [SOURCE -weburbanist] and decided to copy-N-paste it into this CLIPSE x KAWS post. Tho I still don't understand all the hype, maybe this will be new material for some of you who may have been wondering why there has been so much noise around this collabo. So Everything From this point on from the pictures to the words below and above them is all taken from weburbanist

Featured Artist Profile: KAWS

Where do fashion, art, graffiti and cool all intersect? In the mind of KAWS. The New York-based artist, who is referred to as Brian Donnelly by his mother, has been on the cusp of what’s cool, big, important and great about commerce-driven art for decades.

Taking Risks

(images via: ARTST)

But before KAWS was designing album covers for Kanye West and expensive vinyl toys for high end Japanese and European stores, he was risking life and limb pasting his own work over billboards, subway ads and phone booths (illegally) in New York, Tokyo, Paris, Berlin and other major cities.

Anything great involves taking some risks. And KAWS was onto something great that was about to be big.

KAWS’ Art Goes Mainstream

(image via: ARTST)

KAWS’ reworkings of The Simpson’s (called The Kimpsons) and his remixing of Mickey Mouse are his two most enduring images. Images of a KAWS-ified Krusty The Klown began appearing everywhere–not just billboards and ads, but on T-Shirts, sneakers and in toy stores. The remixes, the original art, the toys, the posters–they all featured the same thing: a KAWS Skull.

KAWS’ Own Brand of Art

(images via: ARTST)

Like Andy Warhol’s iconic Campbell’s Soup cans, what began as an ironic parody became an international brand.

Serious Fun

(images via: ARTST)

If the graffiti writer as Art Star is a two sided coin with Banksy’s political paste ups on one side, KAWS’ art and commerce cohabitation sits firmly on the other. And while KAWS’ work certainly lacks the lasting effect of Serious Works Of Art, what he lacks in political punch he makes up for in fun.

And, when the art’s this good, that’s a great thing.

HOUSESHOES speaks on CHARLES HAMILTON

FOR MORE READ MORE INFO ON THIS "CRAP" GO TO

WWW.RAPPERSIKNOW.COM
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PHONE CONVERSATION between Sweeney Kovar & Charles Hamilton



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My Favorite CHARLES HAMILTON lie of ALL TIME IS.....

"The Yancey family and the Hamilton family have A VERY good relationship"

Hahaha, I had to Strike that to be very clear for those who aren't very "Quick on the drawl" that the words between those two RED QUOTES are LIES
. It is ASHAME that all this HYPE is gonna make Alot of you people Curious about his Music now and want to hear this album of his due to him disrespecting the memory of the late James Yancey. I do not doubt for A second that Sonic was influenced by and had love for Dilla, but as SWEENY said and we are all thinking. If you really wanted to pay respect to the Yancey Family and/or take care of them on the finacial tip. You should have gone about it in a quiet and personal manner, not public, there was no need to let it be known to anyone outside of your personal circle what your intensions were and there is absolutely no Excuse to have put his name all over your record and then the worst part of the Situation, LIE ABOUT HAVING A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP w/ HIS FAMILY.

ALL the PEOPLE who HAVE any OUNCE OF curiosty about YOUR NEW ALBUM should DIRECT THAT ENERGY TOWARDS listening to and PURCHASING the BLACK SPADE album "To Serve with Love" being that you JACKED HIS PRODUCTION w/ HIS VOICE ALL OVER IT AND CLAIMED IT AS YOUR OWN even AFTER YOU WERE CALLED OUT.

• http://www.myspace.com/blackspade
• PURCHASE 2 SERVE w/ LOVE on AMAZON
  

Black Spade responds to Charles Hamilton
by Mademonarchs

Im not spending anymore Time, Energy or Webspace on this cat.....Peace to BLACK SPADE for Dropping my favorite Record in a loooooong time and also for being so humble even after SONIC the COMPULSIVE LIAR ......... lemme Stop...... Here is the Final Proof that this cat is just a herb.... CHARLES HAMILTON you officially get the GASSSSSS FACCCCEEE!!!!

FORMAT MAG Interview w/ Artist: Patrick Martinez

WORDS FROM THE HERO

In the words of (Name this Rapper/Producer in the Comments) "Yo this kid is Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice"

Patrick has been making quite a name for himself on the LeftCoast and its Niiiiiiiiiiiice to see him transcending the statelines and getting the love he is Due! I was Excited to see FORMAT MAG just did a Interview w/ PAT.MAR. so I figured I would help extend the audience because his work should be seen! his stuff reminds me of my man Mark from http://runtheline.blogspot.com/ whom I will be doing a huge feature in the coming days /week!

• http://www.myspace.com/patrickmartinez
• http://www.patrickmartinez.com/
  

Patrick Martinez

INTERVIEW w/ FORMAT MAG (by Jesse Ship)

Like so many kids growing up in the Pasadena Valley in the early ’90s, Patrick Martinez‘ formative years were shaped by bumping hip-hop in beat up Cutlasses and b-boy movies like Wildstyle and Style Wars. While graffiti is still an essential influence on Patrick’s artistic expressions, he has traded in his Montana cans for Windsor Newton University brushes. Influenced by city life and urban decay, Patrick seeks to bring supreme beauty to things that we might find flawed or broken.

“I wasn’t about gangs, I was about art and producing it, but I can understand the complexities of street life and it’s big in my subject matter.”

Format: You mention in your bio that your discovery of Hip-Hop at a young age is part of what inspired you to create art. In your opinion, what is it about Hip-Hop that often inspires young visual artists?
Patrick Martinez: I think it’s the culture that inspires. The dance, song, and visual arts are strong in any culture, I think. I knew about all of the elements of Hip-Hop and that pumped me up but to be honest everyone around me was bombing, piecing, or gang banging. Some rapping and b-boys, but it wasn’t on some wild style shit. I could look at an issue of Can Control for hours, picking apart characters and letters. Graffiti has a strong place with the youth. I think that’s why it appealed to me at an early age. Sketchbooks were not enough. The visual was always my language. I never talked much in school, only when I had to start speaking about my pieces.

Format: Did you have a tag as a youth? Do you still practice graffiti today?
Patrick Martinez: Yeah, I used to be into going to the yards and spending crazy hours there when I was younger. I was into bombing a little from time to time—freeway spots, roof tops nothing crazy. My brother was the ‘let me get my name on everything in sight’ type bomber. Then he started stealing, breaking into cars etc. He actually just got out of prison; he was the crazy one. I was more interested in drawing and painting. You can see some of that graffiti influence in my work, I think. I’m just into creating now. I don’t specifically use graff as my vehicle for expression anymore; I paint canvases and work with many different media but I do use graffiti in my art arsenal. I could never deny graff; it’s deep rooted. There are more serious graffiti artists out there, it’s not a game in that scene, there is much discipline involved. Cats especially in Los Angeles are really doing it. Thinking back now, I had can control and I did decent work. But these dudes now are killing it; the work on the streets looks great. I’m always breaking my neck looking at beautiful work.

Format: Do you still enjoy Hip-Hop today? Who are some of your favorite Hip-Hop artists?
Patrick Martinez: I enjoy all types of music. In my car CD-player now (since I don’t have an iPod) on heavy rotation: Little Brother’s Minstrel Show, Amy Winehouse’s Frank album and the Back To Black album. J Dilla’s The Shining album, some random mix tape and Arcade Fire’s Funeral.

Format: How has the change in the style of Hip-Hop over the years affected your art?
Patrick Martinez: It didn’t really change much about my art. Graffiti and Hip-Hop music are in my roots because it fueled me when I was coming up but I wouldn’t say it’s the main catalyst for my art-making now. When I do speak about Pop Culture or Hip-Hop, I find myself making fun of something or someone. I think the radio is garbage right now.

Format: How has your location on the West coast affected your art?
Patrick Martinez: I would say Pasadena was a great place to grow up in. I didn’t grow up in the craziest part of ‘Dena but there was drama almost always on my block. There were fights and shootings here and there, a strong gang presence with rival gangs, and all that drama. So I grew up with the knowledge of who was lame and who really knew what was up. I knew not to kick it hard with some of the gangsters that grew up on my block but I just kept it cool with them. I wasn’t about gangs, I was about art and producing it, but I can understand the complexities of street life and it’s big in my subject matter. My studio now is located on 6th St. in downtown Los Angeles in the ‘artists’ district’ which sounds nice, but the next block over past Central is skid row, which isn’t nice. That daily experience and coming into contact with different people/ personalities most definitely has an effect on my art.

Format: Can you cite any visual artists, past or present, that have strongly influenced you as an artist?
Patrick Martinez: The Spraycan Art book, subway art, comic books, animation, Wayne Thiebaud, Lucian Freud, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Futura, Jim Dine. Also the people I work with: Mr. Cartoon, LiL Lucky, Estevan Oriol, and Rob Abeyta.

Format: What drove you to pursue graphic design in school rather than fine art at first?
Patrick Martinez: I studied and majored in illustration along with taking classes in graphic design and fine art at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. The illustration program at Art Center offered representational painting and drawing which was big on concept. It just made sense to me. The Fine Art program was big on concept and applied theory so I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to connect to the everyday person at the end of the program. I like to take action, so I always find myself speaking through my art, I didn’t want to have to talk about my pieces too much to the viewer

Format: What is your favorite medium to work with and why?
Patrick Martinez: I’m all over the place. Neon, paint, paper bags, plastic army men, etc. I would say mainly acrylic paint, graphite, and mixed media, but it’s tied with white paper and ink. When I paint, it’s more about detail, energy, subtle changes in color, and complexities in color. Black ink on white paper is more direct and graphic for me. So it just depends on what mood I’m in or what solves the problem best. I also enjoyed the foam hands I just printed which were silkscreen on polyurethane foam.

Format: Can you talk a little bit about your landscape works? For example, the streetlight paintings?

Patrick Martinez: I did these paintings years ago. It was a series I called ‘Suspect Landscapes,’ meant to be landscape studies with weird unnatural elements invading it. In L.A, we always see the towers with satellites on the top of them but they try to dress them up and paint them like trees.

Format: Do you have any works that necessarily go together, that were shown together, or that are considered a series?
Patrick Martinez: Yeah I have some series of paintings. I’ll do a series if it calls for it, but other than that I draw, paint, then on to the next. I’m scattered and all over the place. You should see my studio. I don’t really think about them in relationship to my other pieces when I’m creating them, but when I step back and check the piece out I actually do think about how it’s going look with the other pieces. At the end of the day, everything is one cohesive unit, whether it’s a neon sign or a painting. The thought came from me and I think people can see that. I have scattered thoughts but all of them are relative, and that’s what my art will look like in a gallery context.

Format: Have you done any self-portraits?
Patrick Martinez: Yes, I have done maybe two. I actually did one that I’m ok with for the Scion Self-Portrait tour. It was fun looking in the mirror and painting myself. The light was always changing, so the color and value in the painting were as well. I think that kind of touch gave it a little more punch. No one wants to pose as a live model because people have shit to do, so I’m used to the photo reference. Painting or drawing from life is always refreshing.

Format: What are you working on now?
Patrick Martinez: Different landscapes of the city with my twist on them, along with portraits and other miscellaneous images. I have some shows planned this year so I definitely want to show all new art and ideas. I’m also working on designs for Stussy, Upper Playground, and working on the art direction for Estevan Oriol’s first photography book entitled L.A. Woman.