New film on the way directed by a close friend of the artist. Check out the details below…

In his short career, Jean-Michel Basquiat was a phenomenon. He became notorious for his graffiti art under the moniker Samo in the late 1970s on the Lower East Side scene, sold his first painting to Deborah Harry for $200, and became best friends with Andy Warhol. Appreciated by both the art cognoscenti and the public, Basquiat was launched into international stardom. However, soon his cult status began to override the art that had made him famous in the first place.

Director Tamra Davis pays homage to her friend in this definitive documentary but also delves into Basquiat as an iconoclast. His dense, bebop-influenced neoexpressionist work emerged while minimalist, conceptual art was the fad; as a successful black artist, he was constantly confronted by racism and misconceptions. Much can be gleaned from insider interviews and archival footage, but it is Basquiat’s own words and work that powerfully convey the mystique and allure of both the artist and the man.

Check out the trailer below…

Reebok’s steeping forward with more footwear inspired by legendary artist Jean-Michel Basquiat. Check out some images of upcoming pieces from their Fall/Winter release, and their inspirations, in the gallery below…

Reebok has been paying tribute one of New York’s most prominent and pivotal street-artist-turned-neo-expressionist, Jean Basquiat, with a great collection of footwear inspired by Basquiat’s work. While we had previously released information on some Jean Basquiat Reebok Top-Down that were available on colette, here is a deeper look into the collaborative Fall/Winter 2009 collection with references to Basquiat’s work. The art work adapted for this season include the Mitchell Crew, Quality Meats For The Public, Pegasus and so forth. Working on some of Reebok’s classic silhouettes such as the Top-Down, Classic and the Ex-O-Fit Hi, the Reebok collaborative sneakers are not just shoes but wearable art for your feet. Check out the kicks with their corresponding paintings and get your very own dose of Basquiat this season since his paintings are much harder to get to.

For more info, click over to the article on FreshnessMag.

via theurbangent.blogspot.com

Just when I thought Reebok was done theme-ing there kicks after Basquiat, they come out with another variation. The Reebok X Jean-Michel Basquiat are the latest to be redone Basquiat style. I think they would look dope with this, just my opinion…

Pics inside…
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A lot of sneaker companies have be going retro for a while, but its never enough to just bring back a classic shoe there needs to be a twist. Reebok has just re-released its 80’s Ex O Fit with a Jean Michel Basquiat inspired design. The combo makes sense, an 80’s classic shoe blended with an 80’s icon.

Details have not been forgotten with the Basquiat’s trade mark crown placed on the top lace loop as a functional ornament. Crisp white midsoles are used on the black model while the white model uses classic gum sole. Currently available through Atmos.

via Freshness Mag

F1rst Person has been a good friend of ours for a minute. You might recognize him as one of the models for our Basquiat Tee. He’s been on the grind for a while now too, as both a rapper and producer. Check out his new video for his joint “Seeing Is Believing,” off of his The F1rst Move mixtape, below. Be sure to look out for cameos from Dom and I too…

The official video for F1RST PERSON’s debut single “Seeing is Believing.” The song is produced by F1RST PERSON and the video is directed by Joey Angerone. This is the first professional video for F1RST PERSON and is his first single from the acclaimed mixtape THE F1RST MOVE.

Download the full mixtape here: F1rst Person: The F1rst Move mixtape

Shouts to Daru Jones, who sent me this photo he took with international Jazz artist Esperanza Spalding after a recent show. He’s rocking our Basquiat Tee, that you can purchase by clicking here.

Check out some music from both Daru & Esperanza after the jump…

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Our “Since I Was 17…”(Basquiat) Tee is featured in the current issue of XXL, with 50 on the cover. We’re part of their holiday gift guide, “The Cool.” Check out the feature below….

Shouts to the homies Coffey and Smiley for making it happen.

Remember that Basquiat painting that I told you a while back was for sale? It’s been taken off the market, after an auction at Christie’s last week. Check the info below…

NEW YORK — A painting by Jean-Michel Basquiat has been sold for $13.5 million at an auction in New York City.

The 1982 painting, “Untitled (Boxer),” was consigned to Christie’s auction house by Lars Ulrich, drummer for Metallica. Christie’s didn’t identify the buyer.

The painting shows a black heavyweight fighter with his arms thrust in the air against a white graffiti-filled background. It surpassed its pre-auction estimate of more than $12 million.

Definitely out of my price range, for real.

For a more accessible piece of related art, check our Basquiat tee.

The other day my boy, Drummer/Producer Daru Jones hit me up about a show he was doing with Black Milk. He knew we were getting ready to put out our Basquiat tee and he wanted to rock it that night. He just hit me with the video from the show. Check it out below…

Click here to purchase our Basquiat tee. For more info on Daru, check out his myspace page or his blog. Also, you can download his latest mixtape, Spirit Drumz, Chapter 1 after the jump…

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