If you remember (of course you remember) “Last Call” off The College Dropout, you might remember KanYe reflecting on Damon Dash’s stark career advice, “make sure it’s not wack.” Dame has seemingly started taking his own advice with his latest creative endeavor, the aptly-titled BlakRoc project. Last week, I stopped by the DD172 space in TriBeCa for a reception and introduction to the project, to which I was thoroughly impressed. A slew of NYC’s current and emerging creative community were in attendance- shouts to Emeka, Timmhotep, Sky, Jet Audio, RTNC, GFC, Ski Beats, Va$hie, and everyone else who was in the building.[All the flicks were taken by the omnipresent Mel D. Cole, which you can check out HERE.]
- me and the homie RTNC @ DD172.
Roc-A-Fella is no longer a company, but remains as an idea- and while it might be immediately difficult to fathom the words “Dame Dash” and “creative” within in the same sentence, but as one of the hip-hop industry’s most aggressive marketers, he has an uncanny ability to unite the right ingredients and catapult movements as a byproduct. It’s his specialty, and he’ll always be recognized for it. (That, and the skit towards the end of “In My Lifetime (Remix)”- “it looks two flies came out ya mouth with no wings!” Classic.)
I honestly don’t doubt this- giving am attractive-and authentic- platform to the likes of Jim Jones, Jay Electronica, Curren$y, and The Mighty Mos Def, and curated through the lens of Coodie and Chike can only result in art with pure intention. Press release and Zoe’s CC video below.
Moments cannot be manufactured and once passed cannot be recreated. The DD172 space is an artistic epicenter where every passing instant becomes one of consequence and Creative Control is the lens that brings those glaring moments into focus. Creative Control, the brainchild of Directors Coodie and Chike and media mogul Dame Dash is an online media network bringing you original web series and music shot by the artists themselves. The series Sessions at DD172 will be an exhibition of talent caught candidly as they pass through the space curated by Dame Dash. Spotlighting artists like Mos Def, The Black Keys, Zoe Kravitz, and commencing with the release of the Black Roc Project, Creative Control will view the cross section of talent of all genres from every angle. See the full project as it launches.
Creative Control-Zoe Kravitz from Creative Control on Vimeo.
