Mister Cartoon

LUCKY CHARM

2012-01-27T00:32:00.000-08:00

THROWBACK THURSDAY

2012-01-26T01:44:00.001-08:00

REBIRTH

2012-01-25T03:21:00.000-08:00

Here is a piece that was given new life.. after the original was done at the age of 16 and our client never planned on finishing the two outlines on his chest.

SHOW READY!

2012-01-24T07:27:00.000-08:00

CULTURA

2012-01-23T00:02:00.000-08:00

Check out this piece on a client who came in to get a piece to honor half of his heritage..

SOUL SUNDAY

2012-01-22T00:04:00.000-08:00

Today's selection for Soul Sunday's is "At Last" & "I'd Rather go blind" A tribute to
the Legendary Soul Diva Etta James. She passed away this Friday the 20th of Jan.

due
to complications of leukemia at the age of 73.  
Etta James (born Jamesetta Hawkins; January 25, 1938 – January 20, 2012) was an
American singer whose style spanned a variety of music genres including blues,
rhythm and blues, rock and roll, soul, gospel and jazz. Starting her career in the
mid 1950s, she gained fame with hits such as "Dance With Me, Henry", "At Last",
"Tell Mama", and "I'd Rather Go Blind" for which she claimed she wrote the lyrics. 
She faced a number of personal problems including drug addiction before making a
musical resurgence in the late 1980s with the album The Seven Year Itch.

She is regarded as having bridged the gap between rhythm and blues and rock and
roll, and is the winner of six Grammys and 17 Blues Music Awards. She was inducted
into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1993, the Blues Hall of Fame in 2001, and the
Grammy Hall of Fame in both 1999 and 2008. Rolling Stone ranked James number 22 on

their list of the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time and number 62 on the list of

the
100 Greatest Artists.  
 I'm including a clip from the movie Cadillac Records made in 2008. Written &
Directed by Darnell Martin.

Featuring Beyonce Knowles as Etta James & Adrien Brody as Chess. This film

explored the musical era in the early 1940's to the late
1960's.  Beyonce sings I'd rather go Blind in this clip & She kills it.. I highly
recommend you see this movie. 
The world lost another true legend but her legacy will continue. 
I walked down the aisle to "At last" playing so I will forever remember & treasure
this song.  
RIP- Etta James

Thanks for "Tooning"  in!  Stay humbled & embrace every moment.

Mrs Toons

2012-01-21T01:23:00.000-08:00

Check out this classic scene from Cheech and Chong.

REMIX

2012-01-20T10:16:00.000-08:00

Here is a remix piece on a client who came in to add to some lettering he got when he was a kid..

THROWBACK THURSDAY

2012-01-19T02:35:00.000-08:00

CRAFTSMANSHIP

2012-01-18T11:09:00.001-08:00

PLATINUM FAM

2012-01-17T16:20:00.000-08:00

Here is a recent video from the homies Jack and George over at Platinum Motorsports..

POWER TO THE PEOPLE

2012-01-16T00:10:00.000-08:00

Public Enemy came out to SkidRow yesterday & started a festival to raise awareness of the the conditions of the "Row" that have been overlooked for decades. . .

Peace to everyone who came thru to support mass consciousness !

-Respect

SOUL SUNDAY

2012-01-15T00:15:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Soul Sundays, it's that time again to share with you my favorite songs... Today's selection is "You've got the makings of a lover" by The Festivals -featuring Vaughn Price, Earl Moss, Woody Price, and Leon Thomas --" The festivals" never got the break they needed to succeed, but not for lack of trying and not because they recorded for mom and pop companies. They debuted on Smash Records with "I'll Always Love You" in the fall of 1966, which produced some mild rumblings in a few cities. Momentum increased in the spring of 1967 when Smash records released their best-known and best recording "You've Got the Makings of a Lover," a Earl Moss composition that highlights their vocal blend. The band (Sly, Slick & Wicked) from Los Angeles re-did the song in the '90s; that version inspired many to seek out the original by "The Festivals" that most listeners never heard when it was released because Smash records only promoted The record in select cities. I'm including Sly, Slick & Wicked's version too so you can check it out..... There was also another re-make done by one of our favorite singers Mayer Hawthorne many props to him. 40 yrs later to hear the younger generation like Mayer Hawthorne re-do this song is not only amazing Mayer Hawthorne adds his touch with retro soul & a contemporary twist. This young man is from Detroit & full of soul. In the music world he's built an impressive reputation for himself. He keeps the old sound alive. Check his music out. You won't regret that you did!! Hope you like today's selection, stay humbled & always embrace every moment. Love, peace & soul-- Mrs. Toons

TRAILER OF THE WEEK

2012-01-14T03:14:00.001-08:00

SOUND WAVE

2012-01-13T00:00:00.000-08:00

SKID ROW MUSIC FESTIVAL

2012-01-12T09:13:00.000-08:00

Hip-Hop Gives Back to Skid Row with Free 1/15 Concert feat. Public Enemy, Cypress Hill, Kurupt, King T, Kid Frost, Egyptian Lover + more.

January 7th, 2012

Dubbed as both the Operation Skid Row Music Festival and the Occupy Skid Row Music Festival, on January 15th Chuck D and Public Enemy along with a dozen or more (mostly old school LA) hip-hop acts will put on a free concert for the down-on-their-luck residents of Los Angeles’ desolate Skid Row district. The list of other performers for this wonderful free all afternoon event, that will also be open for free to anyone from anywhere who wishes to attend, includes Cypress Hill, Kurupt from the Dogg Pound, Mellow Man Ace and Zzyzzx, King T, Rapper’s Rapp Group, Sir Jinx and General Population, OG Kid Frost, L.A. Posse, and the Egyptian Lover. What makes this concert significant is that all of these artists have agreed to perform for free as a an unselfish token in this new year for the homeless population of LA’s famed Skid Row area which contains one of the largest stable populations of homeless persons in the USA. A 2011 study estimated that Skid Row’s population was at over 4300 people!More

As with so many of the worthy events and happenings associated with Skid Row that I hear about this one too is also linked directly back to General Jeff – the longtime LA hip-hop figure, friend of Amoeba, hip-hop golden age recording artist, & community activist/tireless supporter of the rights of LA’s Skid Rowcommunity. General Jeff (real name Jeff Page) is Resident Director for Central City East/ Skid Row & is on the Board of Directors for the Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council as well as being VP of Outreach and Communications and is always down to volunteer his time, skills, and endless energy to the worthy residents of Skid Row with whom he has worked on behalf of for years. This morning I caught with General Jeff, who was up early busy at work while listening (he informed me) to the late great LA hip-hop artist Mausberg’s Non-Fiction album.I asked General Jeff whose idea it was for this wonderful festival and how it all came about? “The “Occupy Skid Row” Music Festival came to me from Chuck D of Public Enemy. He was already working on a book with another great Skid Row activist Pete White of LA CAN (Los Angeles Community Action Network). Chuck D came to Skid Row last year on that project and he and I re-connected after all these years. The last time I saw Chuck D was when I was with Rodney-O and Joe Cooley and we did a couple of shows in Denver as P.E.’s opening act,” he said continuing, “We exchanged contact numbers again and Chuck mentioned that he was feeling the positive energy coming out of Skid Row but felt that it needed to be bigger. He offered to use his “rep” in order to shed more light on our community’s issues. He felt that the best way to do this was via a concert. We initially choose the summer of 2012. Obviously, we couldn’t wait that long!”

On the same date as the concert, January 15th aka Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday, that book that Chuck D and Pete White were working on titled Freedom Now will have a book launch event at LA’s Grammy Museum (across from the STAPLES Center) from 10am until 1pm. “Chuck contacted me and said that immediately after the book launch, he wanted to come to Skid Row and do the concert. Keep in mind that he told me this only two days before Christmas. That meant that we only had two good weeks to put this thing together,” said Jeff of the impressive work that went into this last minute event. “Luckily, my name is still good in the rap game. As I reached out to the talent, all of whom I consider good friends, not one of them hesitated after I told them what we were trying to do. They all wanted in! As a matter of fact, we’re expecting more acts than we have time for. Some of the groups are flying in from out of town just for this. Spending their own money on plane tickets, knowing that they aren’t making anything. Simply wanting to give back. This event is about hip-hop giving back. We’ve had interest from other big name stars, but they haven’t confirmed yet but by the time the show happens they’ll probably be right there.”

What is even more impressive is that none of these acts expect to or asked to get paid when Jeff told them that it would a 100% non-fiscal event (no money at all being exchanged – just goodness & good vibes). Everybody performing agreed that it should be a free concert for all the old school hip-hop fans, as well as the homeless folks that will be in attendance happily reported Jeff. “One big happy family, from all walks of life. Led by a true pioneer, Chuck D, who said “With all the ‘Occupying’ going on all over the world, it’s important that Hip-Hop use our collective voice and join in the worldwide movement. That’s why Hip-Hop will ‘Occupy’ Skid Row on January 15th!” Following a half hour press conference the talent packed music festival will run from 1:30pm until 5:30pm on Sunday January 15th in downtown LA’s Skid Row district (follow the crowd and the sound of the music to find the stage). For more exact information follow @GoSkidRowGo on Twitter. As Jeff added, before getting back to work this morning, “So imagine, free concert, big names, positive energy and a good cause- what more can a person ask for?” Indeed!

STAY FRESH

2012-01-11T09:26:00.000-08:00

Check out the new color ways of the Alomar that drop this Month!

-STORE-

DO THE RIGHT THING

2012-01-10T00:03:00.000-08:00

ROUND TWO

2012-01-09T00:31:00.000-08:00

SOUL SUNDAY

2012-01-08T00:26:00.000-08:00

Welcome back to Soul Sunday's! Today's selection is Linda Jones "Hypnotized" Linda Jones has an amazing voice. Both Aretha Franklin & Gladys knight have made it clear that she was one of the greatest female artists they have heard. I read something interesting after doing research on this song that when Linda Jones Recorded "Hypnotized" which was given to her by George Kerr. They were in the studio and she said lets run it down. She was still learning the song. George Kerr told the engineer to hit the record button, One take was all it took and that was it. He said she sang it so good it gave him goosebumps. She wanted to re-do it because she was saying "Hypnotized" with an "M" instead of "Hypnotized" with an "N". George Kerr wanted to keep it the way it was & didn't change it. He said Linda Jones was so upset she cursed him out. Amazingly that single take, mistake & all was one of the greatest singles of the sixties. Released on Loma records in 1967. Many re-makes were made of "Hypnotized" by Bloodstone, The Elegants etc... but my favorite version of this song is by Ms. Lady T , Teena Marie. She kills it. Sadly, that both of these talented woman were taken too soon and are no longer here but their music continues to live on. Please check out other songs by Linda Jones, "That's when I'll stop loving you, " I'll be sweeter tomorrow" & "I Do" Hope you like my selection!Thanks, for checking in. Stay humbled...

-Mrs.Toons

TRAILER OF THE WEEK

2012-01-07T00:15:00.001-08:00

EVOLUTION

2012-01-06T00:50:00.000-08:00

THROWBACK THURSDAY

2012-01-05T01:27:00.001-08:00

GREEN EYED LOVE

2012-01-04T09:52:00.000-08:00

N.Y. RAISED

2012-01-03T00:03:00.000-08:00

Loyal Client Blaise came through to add to his collection and pay Homage to the streets of New York!

NEW YEARS DAY CRUISE

2012-01-02T08:22:00.000-08:00

Check out this video I found of the biggest Cruise day of the year.. This was filmed at the Majestics Car Club Picnic.

Look out for more photos of the other picnics and cruises going on yesterday.

SOUL SUNDAY

2012-01-01T21:33:00.000-08:00

Today's Soul Sunday's selection is "The Madlads" They were once known as "The Emeralds" after Discovering that another group had the rights to the name Deanie Parker came up with the name "The Mad Lads." The Mad Lads (members John Gary Williams, William Brown, Julius Green and Robert Phillips - who replaced Harold Thomas on the day of the session after his father forced him to do a paper route rather than go down to the studio) The Mad Lads (members John Gary Williams, William Brown, Julius Green and Robert Phillips) Julius Green and Robert Phillips did not want John Gary Williams to rejoin group after he had completed his military service claiming he was too bossy. William Brown and STAX co-owner Jim Stewart made them reinstate him. Later on one of the members of the group had been imprisoned for cheque fraud. After all the trials this group has been through. The legacy of the music still inspires people today. I found this old school crazy footage of The Mad lads singing acapella to "Don't have to shop around" it's a Bizarre sequence from a 1975 slapstick exploitation film called "The Down town Strutters". Directed by William Witney. If you ever get a chance check this movie out. Happy New year, wishing you all love, peace & soul for 2012!!
Mrs Toons

TRAILER OF THE WEEK

2011-12-31T01:42:00.000-08:00

DIAMOND LIFE

2011-12-30T02:30:00.000-08:00

The Homie Tony D. came through to add to his collection..

TOP SHELF

2011-12-29T01:12:00.000-08:00

We just got our new shipment of the only the only product we use when we are running a stencil for a portrait or protecting the original artwork drawn directly on the skin.

Thanks to H2ocean for making the best in Tattoo Products.

2011-12-28T00:44:00.001-08:00

A LEGEND IS GONE

2011-12-27T01:00:00.000-08:00

Here is a photo of a young Walt standing next to Howard Gribble’s Impala that he worked on. Photos by Howard Gribble.

We just had a Big Loss in the Kustom Culture!

Walt Prey

He Striped my 59 Impala "Penny Lane"below

Who has the balls to stripe in white?

Dying Art, what a loss!

Special Thanks to Jae Bueno & Howard Gribble for the photos..

THE FUTRE IS HERE

2011-12-26T00:04:00.000-08:00

I seen this in person a while back at a Microsoft event.

Look out for whats coming next!

SOUL SUNDAY

2011-12-25T00:14:00.000-08:00

Welcome back to Soul Sunday's, since it's christmas today's selections are "Santa Baby" by the the famous "Sex kitten" Eartha kitt & Mariah Carey's "All I want for Christmas is you "Eartha Kitt died in New York, where she was being treated for colon cancer. She ironically died on christmas day in 2008 at the age of 81. She was best known for her portrayal of Catwoman in the Batman television series of the 1960s.She was one of the few artists who have been nominated for Tony, Grammy and Emmy awards.When miss kitt was diagnosed with cancer She refused to give into the disease, brazenly continuing to flaunt her attributes. Eartha kitt was a product of slavery & rape. Her mother was black & Cherokee who lived on a plantation & her father was white he raped her mother and she was born. Eartha's mother gave her away at birth & even though she was an orphan and had a rough childhood she didn't allow that to stop her from becoming successful. I'm including Mariah Carey's video. Watch her kill it with her high falsetto voice & old school looking video.Happy holidays from our Fam to yours! Stay humbled!Mrs. Toons

TRAILER OF THE WEEK

2011-12-24T00:10:00.000-08:00

NECESSITIES

2011-12-23T00:29:00.000-08:00

If your getting some last minute gifts today.. Come by Undefeated and pick up some fresh stocking stuffers!

THROWBACK THURSDAY

2011-12-22T00:10:00.000-08:00

DOWN FOR THE CAUSE

2011-12-21T00:08:00.000-08:00

“We have a Few clients that travel globally to support the movement, in total only 3 people have been tattooed in NY LA and Thailand, the mad man Aaron ricey Williams is one of them. Here is his latest tattoos paying homage to his parents and upbringing on the chest and a rescue mission on his back “Colonel Save A Tattoo ” at your service.

Thanks pimp safe flight back to OZ...”

FINAL TOUCHES

2011-12-20T02:16:00.000-08:00

Andaz 5th Avenue

485 5th Avenue at 41st Street, New York, NY, USA

SOWED NOT TOLD

2011-12-19T00:30:00.000-08:00

The Homie Big Paulie came thru to add some more work to his collection...

2011-12-19T00:10:00.000-08:00

Here is a ReMix piece from this weekend..

SOUL SUNDAY

2011-12-18T00:54:00.000-08:00

Welcome back to Soul Sunday's! Today's selection's are "I'm Gone" & "Lee Goofed" by Shirley & Lee. Their debut single "I'm Gone" was written & produced by Dave Bartholomew, imperial's writer/arranger/ producer. "Lee goofed" was a comeback for "I'm Gone" Early in their careers, Shirley & Lee became known as "The Sweethearts of the Blues," a nickname given not for their personal relationship, but for their romantic sagas of their songs, which often bordered on telling a fictional soap-opera storyline about two lovers. Their fans would buy the singles simply to keep up with the continuing story of the two sweethearts. The story continued with the very next single, "Shirley Come Back to Me," a heartbreaker released in early 1953, followed by "Shirley's Back," later that year. This happy theme continued through the happy ending for the next single, "The Proposal" & "Two Happy People." after the story telling through their songs they decided to change it up a bit with "Let the good times roll". Shirley & Lee parted their separate ways in 1962-1963. In 1974 Shirley joined another group and called themselves Shirley & Company & created the disco hit "Shame, Shame, Shame" a very big transition from the other songs she did.... I'm also including this song. The video is a trip very old school.Happy Holidays & stay humbled.

Mrs. Toons

2011-12-18T00:12:00.000-08:00

2011-12-17T16:22:00.000-08:00

puttin'n work in the NYC...

DAY TWO

2011-12-17T01:09:00.000-08:00

TRAILER OF THE WEEK

2011-12-17T00:58:00.000-08:00

APRIL 13 1949 - DEC. 15 2011

2011-12-16T10:43:00.000-08:00

Christopher Eric Hitchens (13 April 1949 – 15 December 2011) was an English^[7] author and journalist^[8] whose books, essays, and journalistic career spanned more than four decades. He was a columnist and literary critic at The Atlantic, Vanity Fair, Slate, World Affairs, The Nation, Free Inquiry, and became a media fellow at the Hoover Institution in September 2008.^[9] He was a staple of talk shows and lecture circuits and in 2005 was voted the world's fifth top public intellectual in a Prospect/Foreign Policy poll.^[10]^[11]

Hitchens was known for his admiration of George Orwell, Thomas Paine, and Thomas Jefferson and for his excoriating critiques of, among others, Mother Teresa,^[12] Bill and Hillary Clinton, and Henry Kissinger. His confrontational style of debate made him both a lauded and controversial figure. As a political observer, polemicist and self-defined radical, he rose to prominence as a fixture of the left-wing publications in his native Britain and in the United States. His departure from the established political left began in 1989 after what he called the "tepid reaction" of the Western left following Ayatollah Khomeini's issue of a fatwā calling for the murder of Salman Rushdie. The September 11 attacks strengthened his internationalist embrace of an interventionist foreign policy, and his vociferous criticism of what he called "fascism with an Islamic face." His numerous editorials in support of the Iraq War caused some to label him a neoconservative, although Hitchens insisted he was not "a conservative of any kind."^[13]

Identified as a champion of the "New Atheism" movement, Hitchens described himself as an antitheist and a believer in the philosophical values of the Enlightenment. Hitchens said that a person "could be an atheist and wish that belief in god were correct," but that "an antitheist, a term I'm trying to get into circulation, is someone who is relieved that there's no evidence for such an assertion."^[14] He argued that the concept of god or a supreme being is a totalitarian belief that destroys individual freedom, and that free expression and scientific discovery should replace religion as a means of teaching ethics and defining human civilization. He wrote at length on atheism and the nature of religion in his 2007 book God Is Not Great.

Though Hitchens retained his British citizenship, he became a United States citizen on the steps of the Jefferson Memorial on 13 April 2007, his 58th birthday.^[15] Asteroid 57901 is named after him.^[16] His memoir, Hitch-22, was published in June 2010.^[17] Touring for the book was cut short later the same month so that he could begin treatment for newly diagnosed esophageal cancer.^[18] On 15 December 2011, Christopher Hitchens died from pneumonia, a complication of his cancer, in the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas

Check out the Book "GOD IS NOT GREAT" and expand your mind!!

TOP DOGG

2011-12-16T00:31:00.000-08:00

Here are couple images of the Piece we just Painted..

Thanks to Hunter and Armen Djerrahian

www.armenexpo.com

OPEN LATE

2011-12-15T09:07:00.000-08:00

Here are a couple fliks of the session last night and detail shots of a sleeved that was remixed..

On our Loyal Client from Toronto.

THROWBACK THURSDAY

2011-12-15T08:52:00.000-08:00

IN A DAYS WORK

2011-12-14T00:22:00.000-08:00

DAMMMN!

2011-12-13T00:40:00.001-08:00

NY STATE OF MIND

2011-12-12T00:07:00.000-08:00

On our way to the NYC to kick off this Tour!!

SOUL SUNDAY

2011-12-11T00:12:00.000-08:00

Today's Soul Sunday selection is Donnie Elbert "What can I do" & Have I sinned"Donnie Elbert was born on May 25, 1935 in new Orleans, LA he recorded his first successful song on the Deluxe label entitled ‘What Can I Do?’ with the song hitting number 13 on the R&B charts and number 61 on the pop charts. After recording a few more songs for Deluxe label, in 1959 he finally charted with the song ‘Have I Sinned’. Donnie wrote the song based on a relationship that his best friend was in and was caught ‘cheating’. The woman involved in the relationship found out and left him. In a conversation with Donnie, the friend told him how remorseful he was about his ‘cheating ways’ and how sorry he was about losing a ‘good thing’ he had with her. Donnie had stated to the friend that he had sinned but the time the story was being told and completed, he began to hum and formulate the melody of the song in his head. He wrote the song, remarkably, in minutes...I remember growing up to this song. The picture in my head is so clear of when my parents use to have house party's In their garage with their friends. Donnie Elberts songs playing while they were dancing with their hands up to their chest, hands like a fist moving side to side very smooth.. These friends had names such as Chuco, Chica, Gata, Gato, NightOwl, GreenEyes, etc..The girls had long hair with feathers like Farrah Fawcet, their make-up was done with white eye shadow, thick black eyeliner, a lot of blush and the black plastic bracelets all the way from their fingers to theirs elbows. The guys had on either brim hats or hair nets with their hair smelling like three flowers, wearing Dickie's with creases so sharp you can cut yourself, black house slippers or Stacey Adams.. Some of you can relate and most of you might think that was a dysfunctional childhood.. Looking back and even though I was young I remember these times and being so infatuated with the music the sound & the words.. I'm thankful to have experienced those times and embrace the lifestyle it entailed. Hope you like my selection. Stay humbled.
- Mrs. Toons

TRAILER OF THE WEEK

2011-12-10T00:06:00.000-08:00

WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE IN?

2011-12-09T00:05:00.000-08:00

CUSTOM TATTOOS

2011-12-08T03:36:00.000-08:00

KOOLSVILLE PRESENTS:

2011-12-07T12:45:00.000-08:00

Here are a couple shots of Jack Rudy's ArtShow over at KOOLSVILLE!! Thanks to Jae Bueno for the photos..

Check out the rest of the show Here..

LADIES CHOICE

2011-12-06T00:02:00.000-08:00

GET YOURS

2011-12-05T16:07:00.000-08:00

Check out the Latest LA Woman 2012 Calender released by: Estevan Oriol

SOUL SUNDAY

2011-12-04T02:14:00.000-08:00

Welcome back to Soul Sunday... Todays selection is Bobby Taylor & The Vancouvers "Does your mama know about me" Tommy Chong from Cheech & Chong co-wrote this song & played guitar for this band before he became a comedian. "Bobby Taylor & The Vancouvers Originally known as “Little Daddy and the Bachelors, or "Four Ni**ers & a Chink” Changed their name because of the politically correct 1960's.
Tommy Chong who is white and Chinese wrote this song because of his experience of discrimination while growing up as a young man and marrying his first wife, a black woman. When I first heard this song I didn't realize the history. I always thought it was a gangster telling his lady does your mama know about me.. I guess this song can apply for many couples that don't have their parents approval of their partner whatever the situation is.

I'm including a male version & a female version by The Supremes which is also a big hit!! I also found a clip of Cheech & Chong performing this song live at a casino last year. They get down!! Check out other versions of this song by "The 21st century", "Jermaine Jackson" & "The Harletts".....Hope you like my selection... Stay humbled.

Mrs. Toons

TRAILER OF THE WEEK

2011-12-03T00:49:00.000-08:00

KOOLSVILLE PRESENTS:

2011-12-02T01:23:00.000-08:00

Come thru and check it out Homes!!

THROWBACK THURSDAY

2011-12-01T01:29:00.001-08:00

RIDE IN PEACE

2011-11-30T12:01:00.000-08:00

Our good Friend Cintrone came through to add a piece to his collection to celebrate the life of a fallen friend and business partner.

REMEMBER THY FATHER

2011-11-29T00:00:00.000-08:00

JACK RUDY ORIGINAL

2011-11-28T00:21:00.000-08:00

SOUL SUNDAY

2011-11-27T00:05:00.000-08:00

Today's soul Sunday artist is Mr.Gene Chandler "Rainbow" He has a sound that makes you want to bust out your Stacey Adams & get your groove on...
Gene Chandler (born Eugene Dixon, July 6, 1937, Chicago, Illinois)[1] also known as "The Duke of Earl" or simply "The Duke", is an American R&B and soul singer-songwriter, producer and record executive. He is one of the leading exponents of the 1960s Chicago soul scene. He is best known for his million-selling hits, "Duke Of Earl," and "Groovy Situation," and his associations with the Dukays, the Impressions and Curtis Mayfield. A Grammy Hall Of Fame inductee, and winner of the National Association of Television and Radio Announcers Producer of the Year Award, and the Rhythm and Blues Foundation's Pioneer Award, Chandler has had more than thirty chart hits. Hope you like my selection! Stay humbled... -
Mrs. Toons

Artwork done by "Boy" from Longo (R.I.P)

TRAILER OF THE WEEK

2011-11-26T01:13:00.000-08:00

THE UNTOLD TRUTH

2011-11-25T00:05:00.000-08:00

THE REAL THANKSGIVING

2011-11-24T15:13:00.000-08:00

The sad reality about the United States of America is that in a matter of a few hundreds years it has managed to re-write its own history into a mythological fantasy. The concepts of liberty, freedom and free enterprise in the “land of the free, home of the brave” are a mere spin. America was founded and became prosperous based on two “original sins”: First, the murder of Native Americans and the theft of their land by European colonialists, then subsequently slavery. This grim reality is far removed from the fairy tale version of a nation that views itself in its collective consciousness as a virtuous universal agent for good and progress. The most recent version of this mythology was expressed by Ronald Reagan when he said that “America is a shining city upon a hill whose beacon light guides freedom-loving people everywhere”

DAY OF THE DEAD

2011-11-23T00:52:00.000-08:00

PLAY FOR KEEPS

2011-11-22T11:44:00.000-08:00

MUGSHOT

2011-11-21T02:46:00.000-08:00

Our Homie Greg B. is back from his solo Show in Germany! Here are a couple flicks of the show and you check out more of his work on his site below.

www.gregorybojorquez.com

SOUL SUNDAY

2011-11-20T00:09:00.000-08:00

What's up its Mrs. Toons! My selection today is Minnie Riperton she killed it on soul train with her 1975 single "Loving you" she was born as Minnie Julia Riperton on(November 8, 1947 – July 12, 1979) was an American singer-songwriter.She was married to songwriter and music producer Richard Rudolph in 1972.
Minnie riperton was known for her unique voice especially in "loving you". Which I think she paved the way for singers like Mariah Carey. She also made hits like "Back down memory lane" ,"inside my love" & "every time he comes around"

In January 1976 Riperton was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a radical mastectomy. By the time of diagnosis, the cancer had spread and she was given about six months to live. Despite the hard prognosis, she continued recording and touring. She was one of the first celebrities to go public with her breast cancer diagnosis, but did not disclose that she was terminally ill. In 1977, she became spokesman for the American Cancer Society. In 1978, Riperton also received the American Cancer Society's Courage Award which was presented to her at the White House by President Jimmy Carter. She died young at the age of 31 on July 12, 1979. Leaving two children behind. Life is short, embrace every moment! Stay humbled.

TRAILER OF THE WEEK

2011-11-19T00:03:00.000-08:00

ALMOST ONLY COUNTS

2011-11-18T00:01:00.000-08:00

SKID ROW TATTOO CERTIFIED

2011-11-17T00:33:00.000-08:00

The only "After Care" used for every tattoo done in our shop...

IN MEMORY

2011-11-16T01:44:00.001-08:00

CADDI RIDER

2011-11-15T00:22:00.000-08:00

DEVILS KNIGHT

2011-11-14T00:00:00.000-08:00

SOUL SUNDAY

2011-11-13T00:42:00.000-08:00

What's up it's Mrs Toons here Showcasing the classy East Coast soul singer Ralphi Pagan "To say I Love You".... Even though Ralphi Pagan was from the Bronx, he is most famous in Los angeles. His music was embraced by chicano's on the west coast. Hope you like my selection.

Ralfi Pagán (1947–1978) was a Bronx, New York-based Latin soul and salsa singer of Puerto Rican parentage who was active from the late-1960s until his untimely death in 1978. He specialized in soul ballads sung both in Spanish and English and released five albums during the 1970s. He is well known for the duet with Sylvia Robinson entitledSoul Je T'aime and for his solo reworking of Make It With You previously recorded by David Gates andBread. In 1978, he was mysteriously murdered while on a promotional tour in Colombia, South America, a tragedy which remains unsolved to this day.

TRAILER OF THE WEEK

2011-11-12T00:15:00.000-08:00

IS YOUR CAR SANCTIONED?

2011-11-11T02:01:00.000-08:00

COMIN AT YOU

2011-11-10T01:19:00.000-08:00

THROWBACK THURSDAY

2011-11-10T00:51:00.000-08:00

REAL HIP HOP

2011-11-09T00:26:00.000-08:00

CHECK OUT THE NEW PUSHA T ALBUM!!

WE'RE ALL MAD HERE

2011-11-08T00:36:00.000-08:00

A WAY OF LIFE

2011-11-07T10:13:00.000-08:00

Dj Nino Brown came through to make some progress on his chest plate..

SOUL SUNDAY

2011-11-06T00:32:00.000-07:00

What's up it's Mrs. Toons! My selection today is.
Barbara mason vs. Shirley brown
"Woman to woman" &
"From his woman to you"

Before the infamous Female rap battles like
Nicki minaj vs lil Kim
Mc lyte vs Antoinette
Lil Kim vs foxy brown
Roxanne shante vs queen latifah....

There was a very famous old school battle version of Barbara mason
& Shirley brown "woman to woman" but it wasn't over who had the hottest lyrics or who was the baddest chick. They were fighting over love,the love of one man & who was #1 in his life. Barbara Mason made a comeback to Shirley Brown with "From his woman to you" Not sure til' this day if they were really battling but they were very convincing & touched a lot of females who could relate... You tell me who wins this one?? The wifey Or Sancha??My opinion the wifey always wins..
Barbara Mason (born 9 August 1947, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an American R&B/soul singer best known for her 1965 hit song, "Yes, I'm Ready".
She was also known for singing about sexual love and infidelity with a freakness that was uncommon for a female soul singer in the 70's. She sang songs like "Bed and Board," "she's got papers" and "Shackin"... She also made so many known hits like "oh how it hurts", "you never loved me at all", " I am your woman","I need love" she was real and knew how to touch her audience.
Shirley Brown (born January 6, 1947, West Memphis, Arkansas) is an American soul singer, best known for her million-selling single "Woman to Woman" which was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1975.
Hope you like my selection!

TRAILER OF THE WEEK

2011-11-05T00:47:00.000-07:00

PRESS PLAY

2011-11-04T00:43:00.000-07:00

Check out the homie Estevan in one of his latest interviews..

SEMA

2011-11-03T00:20:00.000-07:00

Here are a few fliks from Day 1.

ELLE MEN CHINA

2011-11-01T23:56:00.000-07:00

Here is the layout and interview in the latest issue of EllE Men China.
Thanks to Elle Magazine for the Love and Support.
Look out for the next Asia Tour!

XXL INTERVIEW

2011-11-01T20:34:00.000-07:00

Behind the artwork on some of your favorite hip-hop albums, tatted on your favorite rappers and even on the cover of this month’s XXL Nas issue (shameless plug) is a man that needs no introduction.

Los Angeles-based tattoo artist Mark Machado, widely known as Mister Cartoon, is one of the game’s most respected artist of this generation. Responsible for such art as Eminem’s famous Hailie portrait on his right arm, vehicle design works for Oscar De La Hoya, artwork for Cypress Hill, and a long list of others, the canvas is far from empty for this West Coast innovator.

XXL recently got a chance to chop it up with Mister Cartoon, who is currently on tour, to touch on a gang of topics including his favorite self-created piece of work, working with Vans OTW, Eazy E, his top five favorite emcees and designing the Nas cover. Light work!—Ralph Bristout

XXLMag.com: You’re currently on tour. How’s the experience on the road been going so far?

Mister Cartoon: It’s difficult and challenging packing my tattoo shop into a suitcase; I have to focus and meditate to be in a positive mind frame tattooing out of a hotel suite. The good thing is I used to tattoo out of a garage in the hood back in the day. Showing my face in different parts of the country helps me stay relevant and stay on my toes.

As a Vans OTW Advocate, how did your partnership with the brand come about? What’s the experience been so far?

I have been wearing Vans since I was kid, [so], it was a natural collaboration because I love the brand. OTW is a premium line of Vans that’s the best to offer and they let me do what I want to do. The first [style] drops [at] the end of the month.

You had camaraderie with Eazy-E in the early 90s. How did you two link up?

I linked up Eazy-E— I approached him at a carwash in the harbor area and he gave me three album covers to do.

What were they?

MC Ren’s first album (Kizz My Black Azz) Penthouse Players and Above the Law (Black Mafia Life).

How was it like working with him?

Eazy-E was a California icon and you knew he was from the street. He owned a ’63 Impala hardtop and had a brand new BMW with paper plates. [Plus] he was a top-notch womanizer.

Got it. Do you have a favorite piece you’ve worked on? Whether an album cover, tat, collaboration, etc.

My wife’s back piece and my kids are my greatest works. [Laughs] I guess Eminem’s tattoos, 50 Cent’s back, and there’s a bunch of work on great repeat customers that I trip out on.

Speaking of, who are your favorite rappers or musicians?

No. 1 is Jay-Z, No. 2 [is] Snoop Dogg, No. 3 Young Jeezy, No. 4 Cypress Hill, and No. 5 Hittman.

How was it designing our XXL cover?

It was important that we celebrate creativity so, when doing this project, I freestyled the artwork like Nas freestyles lyrics. When I work, I [usually do that] so [in essence this was] back to true hip-hop, no need for computers.

What word of advice would you give those seeking a similar career path as yours?

My advice is to get a proper apprenticeship. Don’t ask to get paid, learn under [an] OG. Keep your mouth shut [and] ears open. [Keep] opinions to yourself [and] be original. In a world where everything has been done beforehand, remember there’s no substitute for hard work and practice. Nothing in this world is given to you.

GERMAN BRED

2011-10-31T01:04:00.000-07:00

SOUL SUNDAY

2011-10-30T00:39:00.000-07:00

TRAILER OF THE WEEK

2011-10-29T00:41:00.000-07:00

SOLD OUT!!

2011-10-28T15:18:00.000-07:00

Shoe Biz - www.shoebizsf.com
Kicks/HI - www.kickshawaii.com
Kick/HI Guam
Fresh Out The Box http://freshouttheblog.blogspot.com/
Blends LA - http://blendsus.com/blogla/
Blends Costa Mesa - http://blendsus.com/blogoc/
Blends San Diego - http://blendsus.com/blogsd/
Vans DQM General - www.dqmnewyork.com
MIA Skateboarding - 229 9th St, Miami Beach, FL
Primitive - 17060 Ventura Blvd Encino, CA

THROWBACK THURSDAY

2011-10-27T00:06:00.000-07:00