The New York Times weighs in on hip-hop’s recent infatuation with the late Jean-Michel Basquiat, an artist who got his start in SAMO, a graffiti collective in Manhattan’s early-’80s downtown scene before becoming a famed painter. In the last two years Basquiat has been name-checked by the likes of Jay-Z, Nas, Kanye West, Swizz Beatz and Rick Ross, bringing his story and work to the attention of a new generation. Some choice quotes follow:

Fred Brathwaite, a k a Fab 5 Freddy, the longtime hip-hop impresario and former friend of the artist’s, said Basquiat’s sudden exposure on hip-hop airwaves coincided directly with the 2010 release of a Basquiat documentary. In addition to exposing the artist’s story to a larger audience, the film established a connection between Basquiat and hip-hop, by way of their friendship. “It made people in the hip-hop community realize we were tight,” Mr. Brathwaite said.

“Jean-Michel lived as the only black person in the room,” he said. “A Jay-Z or Swizz Beatz can relate to that as record executives.”

But references like that on the 2010 track “Most Kingz” describe a deeper connection.

Jay-Z begins a verse in the song with the couplet “Inspired by Basquiat, my chariot’s on fire /Everybody took shots, hit my body up, I’m tired,” and in later verses makes reference to the pressures of escaping the ghetto but not its stigma, something Mr. Sirmans says Basquiat, whose work was often regarded by critics as “primitive,” faced.

Read the full article here.

Amid a sea of foreclosures, advantageous skateboarders in Southern California have discovered a bright side. There is an almost endless concrete wave of abandoned pools. “Skaters Jump In as Foreclosures Drain The Pool” in today’s New York Times gives an account of a how skaters track new empties, and is accompanied by a few choice images. Draining pools provides an important service as well, clearing out often bacteria filled still water.

Another example from the article after the jump.

The NYT reports on skate shoes in this weeks Thursday style section. A revelation to us all? Hardly. The focus is on the style over function nature of most skate footwear. The speed skaters run through sneakers. And, just what’s cool. There is brief discussion of skates influence on the now typical rapper list — NERD and Lupe. Check it out for yourself here.

There is an interesting new article up on the New York Times website about the transformation of skateboarding in the last couple of years. They mainly talk about how it is not anymore a “white boys” sport at all. Definitely an interesting read.
Check it out here.