It got Better

I love some of the people I work with in the music business. Cuz Joe and Freddy Madball of Black n Blue productions have built an amazing brand in Hardcore with the annual BNB Bowl. Last year I thought it couldn't be done any bigger and this year they did something unimaginable. They made it twice as big. They sold out Webster Hall for the weekend with the reunion of Hardcore legends Judge. The weekend was kicked off at Santos Party House where Danny Diablo threw his annual "ill Roc bum rush" show. That was headlined by Skarhead and Bulldoze. The rest of the weekend was a giant party with moshing, east village food and after party's in the LES. A real hardcore extravaganza.Check out some pics I snapped below.

Mike Judge

Webster Hall BnB Bowl 2013

Hoya Roc (Madball)

Lord Ezec watches as Mackie Jayson (Cromags) schools Rigg Ross (Crown of Thronz)

Eye Ra Haze girls with photographer Lani Lee

Frank 151 and the Lower Left

Last month I ran around the city a lot. I hope to get some more writing work done before the summer begins because I can feel a lot of good parties an vibes coming in the very near future. I spent a fun evening at the Bowery hotel for the Frank 151 Chapter 51 book release Party. It was put together by the books publicist Sydney Reising who did a great job at making sure everyone was having a good time. Got to hang with Estevan Oriol that night and meet some really great people in the industry.

Ricky Powell & Stephen Malbon

Myself - Lysa Cooper - Estevan Oriol

A week later I swung by Wooster Social club to hang with my west coast homie Bobby Tribal where he and Luke Wessman curated a showing of West Coast art work. Some of the heavy hitters included: Risk, OG Abel, Chuey Quintanar, Sal Elias, Maxx 242, Franco Vescovi, Tim Hendricks, Carlos Torres, Steve Soto, Placaso, and of course Estevan Oriol. It was a big party with a group of people you dont get to see in lower Manhattan everyday. They should definitely do that event again soon.

Writings and Paintings

I got to go to a few shows this month and attend a few openings. The first was for painter/actor Federico Castelluccio who had his oil paintings displayed in a group show at the Diverse Visions show hosted at the Diego Salazar Gallery in Queens. If you have seen any of his paintings check out his website here, he is a gifted artist.  The next event was for two writers I am proud to know. Sacha Jenkins and Howie Abrams who together penned what will forever be a piece of metal history. They released "The Merciless Book of Metal Lists" this month. An amazing collaboration that humors, critiques and gives awesome anecdotes on some of the greatest players and pieces of metal music culture. Buy a copy here.

Yvonne Schaefer & Federico Caselluccio

L-R Me-Howie Abrams-Skam Dust- Mike Malbon

March behind the Camera

I got the opportunity to get back to direct a music video for Eye Ra Haze freshmen release. The track "New Beginning" is asking about some form a a "re-start" within relationships. I chose an unfinished multi-million dollar home in upstate NY for the location. A metaphor of the bands path. Thinking with the right care and money behind them they could unleash their true potential. I worked again with my favorite director of photography, Bliss, and for HMU we had the amazing Tara Pagliara, and hooking me up with the wardrobe, styling and BTS photos was the incredibly talented Lani Lee. The video drops at the end of May. Be on the look out for it by joining the bands twitter, facebook, or hitting up their webpage. To buy the single on iTunes just click here.

110 A.M.

January 10th (1/10) 2013 my partner and I launched our website for 110 Artist Management and will begin putting our experience behind a new group of talented young artists. We are adding to our 1 sheet in 2013 an eclectic group of photographers and directors to manage. We are more than excited to announce working with long time friend and associate Estevan Oriol. We hope to add something big to each artists career this year and build a lasting relationship with them through hard work and creativity.
Click HERE for the website where each artists page has a PDF download presentation deck. If you are looking to book anyone from us we can be reached directly at our contact page. (LINK HERE)
Video credits: Fat Joe & Chi Ali - Dir. Mike D'Angelo + Beyonce - Dir. Blake Farber + Last Call Brawl Dir. Jeff Pliskin 

Ryan Gosling © Estevan Oriol

Dennis Hopper © Estevan Oriol

© Lani Lee

© Lani Lee

Snoop Dog © Jeff Pliskin

Danny Diablo & Diablofest 2012

Two weeks before the world was supposed to come to and end NY Hardcore legend Danny Diablo hosted his second annual Diablofest in lower Manhattan. This year it was at the studio at Webster Hall and the headliners were the Beatnuts and Crown of Thornz. Diablofest is for music fans who can appreciate both hardcore music and hip hop. Danny does his best to make the event packed with artists who are up on stage to show the crowd a good time. Rebel Ink was in the building snapping photos of the performers and those in attendance that wanted to show off their ink (there were plenty around). The event was only 1 month after Danny Diablo released his fourth hip hop record and the first on his own label; Ill-Roc Records. The release party for the album titled "The Blood of Eden" was hosted by Skam Dust and held at Tammany Hall in the Lower East side. The venue was packed and along with DJ Coz spinning the record, live performances were mixed in from a few artists who showed up to support the hardcore legend. Panic, Lord Willin, and Eye Ra Haze hit the stage rocking the crowd keeping the evening full of entertainment. Check out the flicks below. "The Blood of Eden" is available now on iTunes. click HERE for a link.

Skam Dust, Jaysaun, Vinny Stigma - Diablofest

Danny Diablo - Diablofest

Crown of Thornz - Diablofest

"Big Ju" The Beatnuts - Diablofest

L-R Don Capria - Danny Diablo - Alex Shenitsky

Danny Diablo & Rat Bones

Panic, Natasha Singer (Eye Ra Haze), Skam Dust

Winter Inspires

I spent the month of December cooped up indoors working on a screenplay. It is a short film that I pitched to a few producers and will get behind the camera again to direct in 2013 with Onetencrew Films. The story is the perfect piece to ink during the cold winter days. It tells the tale of a broken man, estranged from his family, showing up to to face them again to deliver a eulogy at his brothers funeral service. I'll be posting again once casting is complete.