Mathematics: RZA+Colbert= HELLYEAH!

The RZA

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor Michael Moore

That dude the RZA from the Wu-tang Clan dropped this book The Tao of Wu today as "a unique book of wisdom and experience that reaches from the most violent slums of New York City to the highest planes of spiritual thought by the RZA, hip-hop's most exalted wise man." The book is built around major moments in the RZA's life when he was faced with a dramatic turning point, either bad (a potential prison sentence) or good (a record deal that could pull his family out of poverty), and the lessons he took from each experience. peep the video for his hilarious promo appearance on The Colbert Report.
holla!
-gM

that Del and Tame1 joint is in stores, fam!

here's some behind the scenes footage i got from Del on Facebook. This track ended up as the iTunes bonus track. Parallel Uni-Verses is out now, and should be available at Best Buy or your local indie shop. don't complain about hip hop, support the real stuff (ah what the hell, you can still complain... but please cop the real stuff!). click the pic to listen to samples and/or cop it at Amazon.
holla!
-samax
ghettoManga.com
comics.hipHop.news.art.culture

Brand new Champ on the Way

My new book Spontaneous: 2009 (due out in time for Indy Comicbook Week in December) will have a short Champion of Children story (about 8 pages) in it designed to explain in a very simple and hopefully entertaining fashion what Champ is all about. we always worked very hard to make it a book that both adults and kids could read and enjoy, so i decided to include it in Spontaneous (which is NOT an all-ages book by any means!). if all goes according to plan (or even halfway according to plan) i will reprint the story as part of a Champ-centric book for the kids in 2010. so hopefully adults who cop my book will also be tempted to give Champion of Children a try. so, i said all that to say, here's a quick portrait of our star that i did before diving into the pages. hope ya'll like it!
stay tuned...
-samax
ghettoManga.com
comics.hipHop.news.art.culture

EMCEES! Rhymefest Wants YOU!

that dude Rhymefest is giving you a chance to jump on the Scram Jones beat for Give It To Me and spit the illest 16 you got! the emcee who drops the best verse will ride 'longside Fest on the track on his upcoming album El Che. but don't drag your feet, fam! contest ends October 27th!
for full contest rules and blah blah, hit up RubyHornet.

good luck, ladies and gentlemen!
ghettoManga.com
comics.hipHop.news.art.culture

thank God it's Wednesday!

due to my personal moratorium on $4 comics, i never got a chance to read Wednesday Comics, but all i've heard is people gushing about how awesome it is. to help save myself from the temptation to buy it, i didn't even look through any of 'em ('cause i KNEW i would pro'lly cave in if i did). but word is DC is on the brink of dropping an 11 x 17 hardcover collection of the 12 week series for $50... it won't come out until may, and i'm sure a cheaper paperback will drop after that, but at least i can relax, knowing i will have the option of getting them without letting them torch my wallet. maybe NOW it's safe to peek at my friends copies...
holla!
samax

Has Anybody Read This Book?

I'm considering buying this Tokyopop OGN called @Large about an internet gaming cafe with a notorious recording studio upstairs, and the geeks, rappers, techno-ninjas, thugs, wannabe's and undercover cops that tend to collide there. I've had the link on this page for awhile, so i don't know if anybody else bought it already and read it. i have gone back to this joint several times to consider copping it... the reviews are complimentary... based on the art on Amazon, it looks pretty cool, but has anyone read it? if you have, let me know: should i buy it, or what?
holla!
-samax
ghettoManga.com
comics.hipHop.news.art.culture

Hardcore Anime Series headed for Live Action Feature

according to Anime News Network, Hiroya Oku's ultraviolent manga-turned-anime sensation Gantz will be making another leap as not just one but two live-action movies starring Kazunari Ninomiya (Letters From Iwo Jima)and Ken'ichi Matsumaya (Death Note). Japanese filmmaker Shinsuke Sato (Sunadokei aka Sand Clock) is directing the project with Yusuke Watanabe (20th Century Boys) writing the screenplays. for more info, go here
holla!
-samax
ghettoManga.com
comics.hipHop.news.art.culture

deviation # 89 (Black Women in the Future)

Niobe by Bielegraphics
one of the things i liked about the Matrix universe is the presence and prominence of black people in the future (hell, Cornell West sat on their high council). also, it seems like they have gotten better at women achieving positions of power too. anyways, here's a portrait of Jada Pinkett Smith's character, Niobe (Captain of the Logos and all-around badass). i dunno what kind of success the Warchowskis had with their comics, but i hope they do more Matrix comics... anyways this is my Deviation of the Day, by Bielegraphics. dude's mustard... you should check him out if you get the chance!
holla!
-samax

great interview...

Oprah's one-on-one interview with Mike Tyson.
enjoy it while it lasts...

Quotable...

"For true artists every design has a piece of their soul in it. This is true, but being a starving artist is not fun or romantic."
-Trish R. Schaefer
Graphic Designer
Contemporary-Native.com

Start the Day off Right ---->

Scream Phoenix by Cannibal Ox
people rarely speak about hipHop as being uplifting, particularly grimy underground New York hip hop... but i can honestly say that the Cannibal Ox ode to resurrection Scream Phoenix did a lot to help me get through a very difficult patch in my personal life. the overlapping Phillip Glass samples by El Producto provide the perfect backdrop for the poetic language of perfectly unbalanced flows of Vast Aire and Vordul Mega.
dope...
-samax
ghettoManga.com
comics.hipHop.news.art.culture

Davey D interviews Pharoahe Monch

Davey D interviews the mighty Pharoahe Monch in oakland.

Black Panther is Getting GOOD!

i've found myself really enjoying Black Panther lately! T'challa's sister has taken up the mantle of the Black Panther, but T'challa still features prominently in the story, as he's recovering from his defeat at the hands of Dr Doom and plotting his revenge. In an interview with CBR, Black Panther's new writer- novelist Jonathan Maberry- reveals that his take on Black Panther will be about not just the Panther, but the entire Wakandan Royal Family. i've also enjoyed the way Maberry weaves international political intrigue into his stories, something that reminds me of venerated Black Panther scribe Priest from the previous volume. click the pic to read Maberry's interview with CBR, and don't forget to sample the free preview of issue #9 which is in stores now!
holla!
-samax
ghettoManga.com
comics.hipHop.news.art.culture

At the Top of the game like the Score board ---->

Thug Melody by C-Rayz Walz
my first exposure to C-rayz Walz was on a song called Battle for Asgard off the classic Cannibal Ox spinner The Cold Vein where he opens his verse with the open-mouth declaration "Battle for Asgard, and we fight as gods"... C-Rayz reminds me of the rappers that had me mesmerized as a kid, weaving in and out of real and imaginary life so much, it's not clear if they would be more at home in an action movie or a Saturday morning cartoon.

Elephant Guns by C-Rayz Walz
Walz raps about all the same things that keep me yawning when other rappers do it (guns, women, how awesome they are, etc), but he does it like he just got back from another universe! he also laces in so many unexpected phrases and ideas that he's impossible to sleep on. when i bought Ravipops (The Substance) after recognizing him from his Can Ox cameo, it was probably a couple years old. Still, it very rarely came out of my ceedee player for awhile... and much of the time, it was spinning on repeat, playing Thug Melody or Elephant Gunz, both of which feature Walz spitting fiercely over beats by Belief (who is nice wit' it). if you like emcee battles, freestyle rhymes, or want an introduction to real hipHop, you need go no further than this super-prolific emcee... if you like these songs, rotate over to his mySpace page or twitter, and see what he got for you... anyways, hope y'all enjoy!
holla!
-samax
ghettoManga.com
comics.hipHop.news.art.culture

Ghost In the Shell 2.0

Ghost In The Shell 2.0
this joint's gonna be on DVD October 26. you need this in your life, people...

she's got Moxie!

ayo! that girl Dawn Okoro got some new tees based on her painting Moxie. 30 bones plus shipping, and it's all yours... get one of these joints off her website, DawnOkoro.com
holla!
-samax

Jive Turkeys Need Not Apply...

even though i'm mad busy right now, i will not risk getting my African-American Bloggers Union Card* revoked by neglecting to inform you that Black Dynamite debuts next week, although i'm sure you already know. there's no point going into the details of the story, since you really just wanna see Michael Jai White slap people and cuss a lot, which goes without saying. the trailer's here if you need your Blaxploitation fix, or man up and wait for the opening on October 16th.
holla...
-samax
ghettoManga.com
comics.hipHop.news.art.culture
*there is, to my knowledge, no such thing as the African American Bloggers Union... so don't ask.

Start the Day off Right---->

Simba by J.Cole

gettin' ready for that new Rakim...

being a grown ass man and a hip hopper at the same time can be tough. thankfully, Rakim will assist you with his new record The Seventh Seal, which is soon to drop. here's a couple free cuts to keep you together while you wait:
Rakim ft. Maino - Walk These Streets (prod. Needlz)
and
Jadakiss & Rakim - Euphoria
word.
ghettoManga.com
comics.hipHop.news.art.culture

What do Sarah Palin and Wolverine have in Common?

Both Wolverine and Sarah Palin had to defend themselves against the mighty Katie Couric! being an actor, baby Huey did a better job standing up to Couric's steely gaze. maybe Palin should'a sent Tina Fey to play her in the interview.
oh well... live and learn...
-samax
ghettoManga.com
comics.hipHop.news.art.culture

SMASHING!

that dude Cully Hamner (Black Lightning:Year One, Red) will be at Baltimore comicon this weekend, for all those who plan to be in attendance, 'longside his Gaijin bredren Brian Stelfreeze, Karl Story, Doug Wagner, and Laura Martin. Cully and Colorista extraordinaire Laura Martin will have this limited edition She Hulk print with 'em for you to cop, so be advised! He's also taking pre-orders for commissions, so get more info from him at cully@gaijinstudios.com.
holla!
-samax
ghettoManga.com
comics.hipHop.news.art.culture

A Robot's Got NEEDS!

Threadless has these dope Teeshirts depicting a bored transformer thinking about gettin' his swivel on! this is an easy pick for T'ing of the Week (i know it's only tuesday, but what's gonna top this, really?). you can get it in sizes xtra small all the way up to XXXtra Large in men's and ladies' sizes for just $18, so click the pic so you can COP that joint! if you buy this, see me at a con, and i'll sharpie a Decepticon symbol on that joint for you for FREE! that's how i ROLL!
holla!
-samax
ghettoManga.com
comics.hipHop.news.art.culture

Nas speaks...

Nas on CNN speaking about his music and the open letter he wrote in reaction to youth violence in Chicago...
people focus on what they want to focus on. Nas writes about as much conscious uplifting music as he does gangster stuff. while i think Nas is downplaying the effects such art and music can have on an individual, i still think it is childish for people to go to a rapper and plead with them to change, as if it will make a difference. does this dude really believe there are no positive role models or music in hip hop? "Change the game, Nas! do it for the babies!"

c'mon, dude... imploring a rapper to change his music is like going to a baseball player and asking him to stop taking 'roids 'for the love of the game' without demanding that the league (that benefits from his inflated stats) crack down on it. a man is not going to do something that goes against how he makes his money. what you need to do is ask WHY does this violence happen, WHO benefits from the violence, and WHAT changes can we make to the conditions that contribute to violence. Nas does not benefit from violence, so stop questioning him. he actually is trying to USE his influence to curb the violence. and if they must focus on a Nas song, do they have to pick the WACKEST song he ever made? what is this, Fox News? so i injected a couple better songs, just in case you never listened to him, so you would know better!

anyways, as you can tell, i have a pretty strong and developed opinion about it... but what do ya'll think?

(Protect Ya Kneck)

Stone Coal Secret Santa by RoyalBoiler aka Brandon Graham.
please click to enlarge.
this is why i heart Brandon. this joint will serve as the back cover to an upcoming issue of his opus-worthy Image/ Tokyopop comic series King City. Brandon squeezes as much stuff into a page as possible, but it's not just a bunch of stuff, it's FUN stuff! his influences in cartoons, manga, hipHop, etc show on the page. i love reading his comics repeatedly... not just for the story, but to absorb the raw fun in the artwork! very inspirational as an artist.
holla!
-samax
ghettoManga.com
comics.hipHop.news.art.culture

If you're Going to BMore Comicon

be on the lookout for my friend and colleague Arie Monroe at the con. she will be packing her brand new DrawLikeCrazy Sketchbook, which i can recommend sight unseen because she is frankly one of the best artists you never heard of... like a lot of us, she's struggling to get to the next level of this art game, so if you're in Baltimore, go to the Baltimore Comicon and throw a few dollars her way. if this is your first exposure to her work, click the pic to get familiar at her blog.
holla!
-samax
ghettoManga.com
comics.hipHop.news.art.culture

(Mega)Sean Price leak

Figure Four by Sean Price (click the pic to listen/download)
holla...
-gM

Start the Day off RIGHT ---->

If I Ruled The World by Nas f/ Lauryn Hill.
bonafied classic!
have a nice day!
-samax

classic material

Fu-Gee-La by the Fugees

New CD Cover Artwork by FOOD ONE

here's the cover artwork to the Earthworms' upcoming album Midnight at the Capricorn by Jim Mahfood and Jose Garibaldi.

TGIF --->

holla!
-samax
ghettoManga.com
comics.hipHop.news.art.culture

McFarlane and Kirkman's new collabo

if you're a fan of Todd McFarlane or Robert Kirkman (or both), you pro'lly wanna check out this FREE preview of Haunt #1, their new collabo joint from Image. here's the sales pitch:
Daniel Kilgore is dragged into his estranged brother Kurt’s secret life of murder and espionage... by his ghost. With no training whatsoever, guided by the spirit of his secret-agent brother, Daniel must now solve his brother’s murder and save the world – or die trying! It all starts here, people: Witness the birth of HAUNT!
so here ya go! even if you don't care for McFarlane, you might have noticed Ottley (artist on Invincible) on the credits, too... so click the pic to peep the free preview, and let me know what YOU think... Haunt #1 will be in comic shops wednesday october 7th
holla!
-samax
ghettoManga.com
comics.hipHop.news.art.culture

Mos Plus DOOM equals...

Mos Def kicks it with his favorite rapper... so what should they call the inevitable collabo record?

She Rock Mics, You Wait to Exhale

staHHr - "Still Dope" VIDEO

this joint Still Dope (aka track 11 on DOOM's Born Like This )been breakin' my neck for a minute... now the video gives us a look at the fresh Atlanta (f)emcee StaHHr, and has me convinced that i need to cop her new plate Almost Neva Was. sample more of the dopeness off Stahhr's mySpace. props to my dude goldiGold for the artwork (actually album and teeshirt artwork), and for turning me on to this sister's music... please believe, fam: she's mustard! for now, enjoy her spit over a fresh DOOM beat!
holla!
-samax
ghettoManga.com
comics.hipHop.news.art.culture

When Video Games and Comics Clash

this looks dope! here's the sales pitch:
The only comic edited by a dimension-traveling cosmic cat in a superhero costume where video games and the mystical sequential arts clash in a whirling maelstrom of nonsense. Resolutely all-ages fun, Smart Bomb!! presents stories that begin and end in the same issue (no interminably tedious epics here) combined with posters, puzzles, special features and a letters page ruled over by a space worm as old as time itself, all wrapped up in a video games theme.
available for purchase right now at IndyPlanet.com [here]

Ladies and Gentlemen: Ghetto Man!

Wow... that dude Ed Mcmahon (RIP), longside adam west and burt ward... wow. this mess is funny, but messed up at the same time... ah, the 70's.

Comicbook World #38 Japan's Building Giant Robots... again!

Indy ComicBook Week is Coming

Girls Love Bad Boys... by Samax. click to enlarge
whaddup, Party people! haven't been that vocal lately because i'm in Deadline Purgatory, but i want everyone to be prepared because Spontaneous:2009 my artbook/sketchbook/freestyle comic, will most definitely drop December 30, 2009 in time for Indy Comicbook Week! if you're in Dallas, your comicshop will probably have it, if you're not in Dallas tell them to GET AT me, and tell them to get down with IndyComicbook Week!
Diamond (the too-big-to-fail corporation with a strangle-hold monopoly on comicbook distribution) has decided not to ship any comics on the week of December 30, so the fine folks at ICBW have decided to turn it into an Indy power grab! we're challenging fans, dealers and creators of comics to make the week of December 30th all about independents, and line the new comics racks with Indy Comics! so if you've been nursing a story forever, get off your can and get that joint together! if you got a wishlist a mile long, stop procrastinating! whether you make comics or just love them (or love to hate them!) click the pic to find out what you (yeah YOU!) can do to help make Indy Comicbook Week a success! don't forget to pass it on to your comicshop, follow the blog, and subscribe to the updates on Twitter, tough guy! now then... i gotta get back to the drawing board!
holla!
-samax
ghettoManga.com

Start the Day off RIGHT ------->

Ya Bad Chubb by Chubb Rock
ya welcome.
-samax

Free Preview- DIE HARD:YEAR ONE

click the pic to peep this dope FREE Preview courtesy of CBR. here's the sales pitch:
Every great action hero got started somewhere: Batman Began. Bond had his Casino Royale. And more than a decade before the first Die Hard movie, John McClane's just another rookie cop, an East Coast guy working on earning his badge in New York City during 1976's Bicentennial celebration. Too bad for McClane, nothing's ever that easy. Join legendary industry creator Howard Chaykin on a thrill ride that's rung up over $1 billion in box office worldwide and become the gold standard for classic action! Yippee Ki Yay!
yeah, this is one i've been waiting for! now the wait is over... this joint is in stores Wednesday, September 30.
holla!
-samax

Comicbook World #37- Can you say 'Tactile Holograms'?

those brainy jokers in the land of the Rising Sun are at it again! Holograms you can touch, the technology that makes sci-fi movies and comics so cool, is about to go from virtual to reality.
"Up until now, holography has been for the eyes only, and if you'd try to touch it, your hand would go right through," says Tokyo University professor Hiroyuki Shinoda. "But now we have a technology that also adds the sensation of touch to holograms."
the new holograms they are developing will use ultrasonic vibrations to provide a sense of touch when a user interacts with a hologram. still in the rudimentary phases, researchers foresee practical applications like virtual switches in hospitals and other places where contamination is an issue. I can imagine that we might see holographic control panels on cell phones, computers and even cars that can be customized by the user... comics/movie nerds have already gotten used to seeing portable floating keyboards, and holographic concubines... what other applications can we look forward to with this?
holla!
-samax