Dave Farnsworth
Is in his 30's, lives in East London but grew up in a small, yet particularly violent Town in Essex, on a diet of hip hop and casuals. In his time he has been an average DJ, an average MC, a below average graffiti writer, yet a particularly good barrow boy. He may of never won any trophies for his efforts, but he always thought it was the taking part that mattered. But only if you were dressed well whilst doing it! Dave has been a successful video editor for the last 14 years, working for the likes of MTV and even Cillet Bang! He also started his own blog - 'originalartform.blogspot.com', because he was frustrated that there were no magazines he liked to read anymore, and thought there were too many blogs by people that had just discovered Kanye West, Supreme and puberty. But a passing comment about Reeboks, builders and hipsters lead hotoneten to his door, and his faith in blogs was restored. The rest will be history.
Posts by Dave-Farnsworth:
My friends over at ‘Moving Music Management’ are looking for some unsigned talent, to get on board with a new hi-bred pop project, from producers Leo Zero & Richard Norris.
Between them they’ve remixed everyone from Florence & the Machine, Jack Penate & Bloc Party, to Paul Weller & The Police! Now they’re concentrating on this new project, and need some young unsigned singers and MC’s to get on board. So if you think you’ve got talent get in touch.
But a word to my soldiers holding down the endz, this isn’t a grime act. So only get in touch if you’re more Devlin than Dappy, or mor Jay Electronica than Jay-Z.
Good luck!
For more info contact:
http://www.movingmusicmanagement.com
http://www.movingmusicmanagement.com
Having been a fan of Emilski, since I first spied his now famous ‘Chicken Beef’ painting, at the ‘Crack & Shine’ launch, I couldn’t wait for his Debut Show.
So I strolled down to Tokyo Fixed Gear in Soho, to see what was on offer. As I made my way past silver platters piled high with fried chicken wings and a generously filled bucket of kronenbourg, I couldn’t help but feel underwhelmed by what was on offer.
It featured 2 sets of signs, all expertly hand painted and boasting the names of some of London’s finest local unlucky fried kitten shops. They were laid out in an interlocking formation, like some kind of fast food, World Cup match schedule, with one iconic chicken chain vs another. We couldn’t help but pick our favourites and pit them against each other. Surely ‘Morley’s’ would dominate with the efficiency of Germany, but I couldn’t help but root for an underdog like ‘Favourite’.
Also, hanging high above the grease was a limited edition ‘Chicken Beef’ T-shirt, which seemed to be a popular choice on the menu. It was just a shame there wasn’t more on offer, as I fancied some sides with my chicken. I guess I was a bit too excited by the prospect of such a witty artist’s debut.
Like the chicken shops featured in his work, I was enticed by the colourful facade, yet was left regretting it in the morning. But no doubt I’ll be back for more soon.
Check out www.topsafelondon.com for more info.
pubDisko are ready for the Summer, and ready for another session at the Star, with their special guests…
East London’s notorious Cut ‘n’ Shut Disco!
So if you haven’t been off on your hol’s yet, or you’re back with the blues, don’t worry pubDisko will either cheer you up, or warm you up ready.
By packing a fortnights worth of Disco, House, Acid, Hiphop and Balearica – all into one night!
This Month pubDisko have invited there friends from ‘Another Fine Mess’ (AFM), to help man the decks this month.
As resident and guest Djs take turns to man the decks, I guess it’ll be the pubDisko equivalent of a 5 aside match.
So expect cheeky back heels of disco old and Nu, along with great goals and saves of House and Acid.
I’m sure there’ll also be a few bookings of Hiphop and some halftime Balearica.
It’s not the winning, but the taking part. So come and start your weekend early with pubDisko!
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=123052277728310
Is auto tune not your bag? Did you never really feel Jigga? Are you finally bored of Mecca & The Soul Brother? Do you rap in the shower better than most of the Mc’s out there? Well done, you qualify for some ‘Grown Man Rap’.
Over the last few years I finally found myself at odds with Rap and Hiphop. There wasn’t anything new out there I could get into, and I finally found myself skipping classic tracks on my ipod! This is what a Beatles fan must feel like, I thought as I searched the net for slept on albums and rarities, to try and refresh my pallet for the music. But as I found sleeping dogs must be left to lie. So I turned to some of my old heroes, who were trying to give the young shavers a run for their money. But they came off like Richard Madeley dressing like Ali-G, or your Dad in an Ed Hardy t-shirt. Let’s just say I didn’t really make it past most’s intro skits.
Luckily I like to check out unkut.com from time to time. It was through the site’s human hiphop encyclopedia – Robbie, that I stumbled upon ‘Grown Man Rap’. Like myself it seems that a growing amount of artists, old and new were searching for something that they were missing in the music. Musically it’s a return to the ‘Boom Bap’ - raw beats and samples, stripped down instrumentals and some real rhyming, by rappers that will restore your faith in rap. It fills the gap between dirty south pimps, east coast coke barons and west coast backpackers. Remember when you had artists like CL Smooth, that weren’t on some ‘Gangsta Rap’, or Rawkus backpacker tip? Well grab your Tims, Nikes, stuff a marker in your jacket and put some ‘Lo on. Welcome to grown man rap!
Lyrically it’s pretty gully, they don’t claim to be some ‘Avon Barksdale’, but more like a Wee-Bey. Sean P puts it best when he raps ‘I’m a thousandaire’. Although they love to touch on the past, and represent Polo and Tims, they’re not too stuck on it. This isn’t Jeremy Clarkson, grumpy old man rap. There’s a genuine hungriness for the music, they’re not rapping to earn money from ring tones or letting German techno producers produce tracks for them. Which is probably why is sounds so fresh, with brand new material from ‘new’ artist like Mayhem Lauren and ‘Roc Marciano‘. Who’s (Roc Marciano) new Album ‘Marcberg’ has me reaching for the rewind like it was ‘Illmatic’. The fact that he also produced it himself makes it even better. Remember when a group’s DJ used to produce the music?
A good introduction to ‘Grown Man Rap’, would be to check out ‘Rest In Power’. A mixtape dedicated to Guru produced by East New York’s PF Cuttin. Let’s hope Guru’s death will not line the pockets of unscrupulous business associates or create tons of beef records, but will help ignite an interest in ‘real rap’.
EAST NY RADIO 11: “REST IN POWER GURU” by farns
http://www.myspace.com/theungang
http://www.myspace.com/thirstinhowlthe3rd
http://www.myspace.com/bootcampclik
After weeks of agonising about making the right decision when casting your vote, we thought we’d make your election night choice simple.
Choose pubDisko!!!!
We promise to ease you into your night with some chilled balearic and hiphop sounds, before cranking up the volume and the pace with electro acid house and disco, as the night of ballot counting continues.
Before the final vote is counted and the final record spun, we promise to pay a little tribute to Malcolm McLaren. Love him or hate him, you had to rate him. R.I.P. a risk taker.
No other pubDisko is offering it’s constituents such a broad choice of quality music. Make the right choice and choose pubDisko!!!
A Night of disco, acid, house, hiphop, old skool electro, post punk and balearic music.
www.ultradisko.com
www.starofbethnalgreen.com
Last year one of London’s more colourful salons had it’s Soho doors rudely shut for them.
Cuts was started in the early 80s by the recently deceased style icon, James Lebon and Steve Brooks. It was always known for it’s cutting edge (pardon the pun) approach and developed it’s fair share of cult styles, from the ‘Boxer’ cut of the 80’s to the ‘Buddha’ in the 90’s. Frequented by the likes of Goldie and Mark Moore, many the mover and shaker has been through cuts’ doors for one of their trade mark scissor crops. Although it moved location a few times, it spent most of it’s time on Soho’s Frith Street. The salon would be better known to hot110 readers, as the place that pimped ‘Faking It‘ graffiti writer ‘Bakus’, for Rarekind’s Daser.
The atmosphere was somewhat like a camp Desmond’s at times, and at others more like an episode of Minder. Musicians and fashion designers would get their hair cut next to shifty geezers, while the salon would share a joke at a staff members expense, and the door would be a turnstile for Soho’s panhandlers and eccentrics. Cuts was a refreshing answer to the chain salons with their herbal teas and expensive product ranges (whether the staff wanted it or not).
The sudden move was apparently due to some bad management, but the staff banded together in record time to relocate and continue Cuts as, ‘We Are Cuts‘. Their new home is tucked away behind dean street and seems a lot swankier than their last, but minimal walls and stripped wooden beams aside, it still seems to have the same warm chaotic charm as before. They’ve even acquired enough chairs for all their loyal clients! So if you’ve ever wanted your hairdressing experience to be more than sitting rigidly in a chair, listening to ‘Hed Kandy’ and ‘Chilled Ibiza’ Cd’s, or less intimidating than braving one of Shoreditch’s arty salons, then I urge you all to make your next appointment at Cuts, and I wish them all good luck.
We Are Cuts
7 Royalty Mews
Dean Street
London W1D 3AS
020 7287 3337
On a recent trip to Melbourne I was blown away by all the Graff down there!
So I couldn’t resist whipping my little digital camera out and filming some. This may not the best video, but it does show the sheer amount of trackside Graff in Melbourne – and this was just one line!
It’s hard to believe that the authorities hate (and I mean hate) illegal graffiti over there, with the sheer lack of buff going on. But graffiti is on their (Australia) list of things that they want to filter from search engines, along with any reference to drugs or bomb making. The council also offers ‘Graffiti Small Grant Schemes’, to businesses and property owners, which can be used to buy climbing plants and anti-graffiti paint. Although the streets were also smashed, the council have been trying to combat graff with graff, via their ‘Do Art, Not Tags’ project. The idea being that if every graffiti hotspot is covered with burners, then it will cut down on ‘unsightly’ throw ups and tags.
Owners of buildings with existing Graffiti and (ahem) ‘Street Art’ adorning their property walls, can choose to apply for a ‘Street Art Permit’. This permit allows them to keep the old work, as long as it meets council guidelines and commission new work. Every piece needs the permit number marked alongside it, to escape being cleaned off by the council.
But as one Melbourne resident found out, the work can still be cleaned off by other artists. As they discovered their beloved Banksy was ‘ruined’ by ‘vandals’.
Although it’s a way to cut down on the council’s cleaning bill and a cynical attempt to seem a hip city, Melbourne has put some thought into it’s plans and at least recognises pieces as art too, and not just stenciled works. Even though it’s another case of cherry picking from the culture to suit it’s own needs, I wonder if London would ever be as discerning? If you agree with legal sites or not, maybe a similar scheme would have saved some of our Hall of Fames, that have recently been snatched from us.
Big up to Obese records, for trying to school a brother.
http://www.obeserecords.blogspot.com/
There are other paint shops, but they never got back to me – so they can get the gas face!
Last year I made my way down to the ‘Crack and Shine’ launch party, but all I had to show for it was a stolen proof, a hangover and a vague memory that my mate sold his bike to some French dudes for 20 quid. So in an attempt to make amends for not writing about it, I tracked the man behind it all down for a little chat. Now if only finding the French guys with my mates bike was as easy.
So on a cold December evening I made my way down to ‘Cracked’, the first showcase of artists represented by Topsafe. The venue was a surprisingly swanky affair, away from the warehouses and the Supreme capped liggers of the East end and situated down a Dickensian cobbled stoned court yard behind New Bond Street. The opening must have been a very English interpretation of 80’s New York, with quite literally people from different sides of the tracks, coming together amongst the luxurious surroundings of the near by wine bar. In true ‘finger on the pulse’ fashion, I caught up with Mr.Freddie Forsyth as he was taking the show down, giving him time on reflecting on how it all went.
DF: How did ‘Topsafe’ come about and how did you gather the artists you represent?
FF: Topsafe came about as a natural progression from Crack & Shine. I worked closely with a lot of creative people involved in the real graffiti movement and I saw an opportunity to start something which distinguished itself from street art galleries and high end contemporary art galleries. I wanted to work with artists who have a strong graphic look and fresh concepts behind their work. The prints we produced show that there are references to graffiti culture but hopefully the quality of the work shines through. I also wanted to broaden the appeal of the brand by adding some foreign guys – so having the likes of Finsta, Egs, Horfe, Honet and Seb Gorey really added something different to the project.
DF: How would you defend your artist against critics that brand them ‘artfags’?
FF: I’m not sure it can be said of anyone involved, that they are ‘artfags’. All of the artists have spent a lot of time out there doing illegal graffiti, so I don’t think it would affect them if any one did suggest that. Looking further than that, the majority of these artists have a passion and talent for creative disciplines away from graffiti that they wish to pursue, so I don’t think street cred is solely their agenda when creating work for Topsafe or any other commercial venture.
DF: What made you put together ‘Crack n Shine’ and what were the biggest obstacles you faced when you were creating it?
FF: I just wanted to produce a beautiful and interesting book about a culture which I have followed since I was a teenager. The length of time we had to wait for content got very frustrating, but it was all worth it in the end – the feedback on the book from outside of graffiti has been really positive. So it was nice to feel like people appreciated it and learnt about the culture. I think the best thing to hear is that people have read the book, and have a new understanding of why people go out there and do it – it doesn’t seem as mindless as they had initially thought.
DF: What plans are there for yourself and Topsafe? Will all future projects be under the ‘Topsafe’ banner?
FF: Topsafe has a very exciting year or 2 ahead of it. The relaunch of the website is happening in February/March and we are making 2 films to promote the launch. The films are not just about the painting but more about the people in London who own the surfaces the artists are painting on to.
There is also an upcoming Emilski pop-up show in London somewhere in the summer. Emilski is a very talented artist, he has so many good ideas and he takes his work very seriously, so I’m sure the show will be a great success for him.
As well as that we are moving in the direction of working with brands that we admire, producing collaborative products and events. The first of these is with Tokyo Fixed Gear and Bagjack. That will happen in April 2010. I don’t think the Topsafe banner will always be a part of it. I want to help the artists involved do the projects they want to, so it’s not always necessary to put a brand to it. But Topsafe will always be the name for any collaborative work. As long as people we admire, and want to work with can see what we’re doing – then I’m happy. Asides from that I am working on a new book with Will Robson-Scott, a magazine and building up Topsafe as a brand. My own goals are divided between these 3 projects and a bunch of other ventures so I’m hoping it will be a fun and very successful few years ahead.
DF: We’ll sure it will be. Good luck for the future mate.
Warning…Shameless self promotion…
If you’re wandering around East London this Sunday, and want to get away from tourists buying ancient Nokia chargers, Thunder Cat VHSs and old pairs of mismatched Nike dunks from smelly blanket sellers, then you couldn’t do much better than heading to The Star Of Bethnal Green for UltraDisko’s first Pub Disko!
Pop in for a beer and a roast and listen to Hot110’s elder statesman, alongside the ultraDisko team playing disco music both old and new, hiphop, old skool electro, post punk, house and balearic.
Less effort than a disco and not as taxing as a pub quiz – Pub Disko is just as much fun!
Free Entry
4pm to 12am Sunday 24/01/10
359 Bethnal Green Rd.
London E26LG
020 7729 0167
