While the Afro-Punk street kids are picking out their outfits for the festival, figuring out their hairstyles, and working on their best tricks and dance moves, I got the chance to meet some of them and learn what they’re about and how they live their passions.
One exceptionally fine June day, a bunch of us converged at Jazz Tattoo, 212 Greene Ave in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn.
Here’s how it went down:
I first met Monique McWilliams, Miss Mo, at Jazz Tattoo in Clinton Hill Brooklyn. She is a freelancer in the art world who has worked for Spike Lee and Sesame Workshop. When I asked her what Afro-Punk meant to her, she said, “Being young and growing up in an all white neighborhood and being picked on for talking “too white” or “acting too white” or listening to “too white” music and now I can just be myself as an individual as I’m older. [Afro-Punk is] a cool movement. I really enjoy the people of the movement more than anything else. I think this movement is bringing out really good people and opening other people’s mind to the bigger picture of life.”
Tattoo Slim is one of the artists at Jazz Tattoo. Born and raised in Clinton Hill and joined the shop in January. A member of the growing number of black tattoo artists, Slim says that they all are definitely trying to make it into the industry, which is not that black friendly. They are becoming part of the mainstream thanks to Urban Ink, which is showing more black tattoo artists. Jazz is one of the top guys in the industry and he’s trying to make a way for everybody else here.
What would the AP Movement be without tattoos? Slim thinks the movement is cool. “It’s cool to see everybody get together and try to develop something and build. It makes people understand that there is more than what’s out there. I just like how it networks the young black minds together. We don’t really have that many things that will show what we’re really trying to do. And we’re trying to do something.”
James Blackmon! (Queue music)
He’s just another cat in the world trying to struggle and make it up that ladder. He’s originally from Connecticut, but now he’s in Brooklyn, also working at Jazz Tattoo. He’s a singer, model, actor, and manager of Jazz Tattoo.
Afro-Punk is showing our community that there are other things out there, says James. We shouldn’t be limited to the things that people around us are just showing us. Expand our horizons, our knowledge of music and art…and the world!”
James will be at AP Fest 2010 and he’s looking forward to every minute of it. “It’s like sensory overload! I’m looking forward to the energy. The artists are connecting to each other too. We’re finding a common bond, and it’s a great thing because we can help each other out.”
Daoud Abeid is a co-owner of coup d’etat BROOKLYN, the graphically bold company that is well known for the t-shirts reminding us to “TEACH THE BABIES.” Their brand philosophy follows the principle “live to change something.”
“Afro-Punk is churning up the sediment in a lot of ways. I have a lot of new friends and cool people that in a lot of ways happened through Afro-Punk. Going to someone’s show and seeing Game Rebellion. I’d see them around Brooklyn, then I saw them perform and we became more acquainted through Afro-Punk shows. Now that’s family! Those are brothers of mine. There are a lot of other people who I have discovered, being attached to this movement. I know a lot of people now who are friends who were just at Afro-Punk festival and now they are best friends. It’s a true story!”
So as you can see. The Afro-Punk Festival is about more than just good music. You may meet your next best friend, your next band mate or your true love. So. Don’t. Sleep!
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