I called the album "Mind Bombin" not because im blowin people minds. Its is an ode to my youth growing up on the streets of the UK as a Graffiti deviant and yet it reflects the shifts in my socio/spiritual political outlook as i made my way out of the streets to the west coast of America.
BOMBIN; A QUICK CRASH COURSE IN DEVIANCY.
"Bombin" is a term used to describe going out and painting illegaly on a wall, train or some other form of private property. Bombin is a kind of fugitive act, claiming your personal presence amongst a landscape dominated by control and ownership. My crew and i known locally as T.C.K. (The Creative Kings) would go out on early morning Bombin raids to paint our newly created artwork on some pristine wall. The rush and feeling of accomplishment was addictive (as was dodging police), pushing the boundaries and refusing to live under the rule of law. The word would spread and before too long other Graffiti artists would come and check your work, creating both notoriety and respect. I was amongst an underground network of renowned artists that included the likes of Goldie (the now Drum & Bass icon), Madtempa (TRS) and Desire (TWC) to name a few.
In hindsight being engaged in this form of subversive activity gave me chance to look at and challenge the way our actions are governed and controlled. Most of us tend to simply accept these laws, unconsciously being given our prompts in life from a governing agent. Without challenging and in some cases breaking these laws we have no chance of discovering our own parameters as human beings and the full extent of our power. Our city streets,for example, the space some of us choose to inhabit, do not belong to us but those who govern us. We are in fact alienated from our own surroundings and our connection to time, place and earth. Individuality and personal presence are kept to a minimum in favour of efficiency and speed. The act of "Bombin" reclaims your space within the city and turns that which alienates and subjugates you into your freedom and your platform for expression.
MIND; DO YOU OWN YOURS?
Last year i went to hear a talk given by Chuck D, Public Enemys front man at Standford University. It was all great but one thing he said stood out to me.....
"Mind is the new Real estate of the 21st Century".
That stopped me dead in my tracks. Our attention is constantly being pulled at and fought for. Even if it for a split second if they have your attention they have you. Corporations and companies are constantly looking to set up shop in our minds with extensive media campaigns that play with subtle and not so subtle subconscious drives. In the same way that our physical space is controlled so too is our psychic space. In this type of environment i believe it is more important than ever to create autonomy over our own minds. The Mind is the last bastion of individual freedom, physical space being subjugated to the rule of law. But the more we let these influences into our minds and shape our behavior the more we surrender our sovereignty over ourselves.
This album for me is no different from those early morning bombin raids but instead of a pristine wall the territory instead is that of "Mass Mind", our collective psychic body, a landscape which is becoming more and more controlled by big business and less about the individual. Its definitely not about "blowin peoples minds" (i mean, please, im not that cheesy) but if it does that for you.....wicked. Its about the individual fugitive act of reclaiming personal power in the face of forces which do not want you to discover the fullest extent of your power, but to tap into it, siphon it off and redirect it. The mind when focused, empty (you try emptying your mind) and calm has no limits. You can do anything, make anything happen....truly......
.....but how deep does the rabbit hole go?
3b
Any replies to this posting please go to http://breakbeatbuddha.tribe.net
BOMBIN; A QUICK CRASH COURSE IN DEVIANCY.
"Bombin" is a term used to describe going out and painting illegaly on a wall, train or some other form of private property. Bombin is a kind of fugitive act, claiming your personal presence amongst a landscape dominated by control and ownership. My crew and i known locally as T.C.K. (The Creative Kings) would go out on early morning Bombin raids to paint our newly created artwork on some pristine wall. The rush and feeling of accomplishment was addictive (as was dodging police), pushing the boundaries and refusing to live under the rule of law. The word would spread and before too long other Graffiti artists would come and check your work, creating both notoriety and respect. I was amongst an underground network of renowned artists that included the likes of Goldie (the now Drum & Bass icon), Madtempa (TRS) and Desire (TWC) to name a few.
In hindsight being engaged in this form of subversive activity gave me chance to look at and challenge the way our actions are governed and controlled. Most of us tend to simply accept these laws, unconsciously being given our prompts in life from a governing agent. Without challenging and in some cases breaking these laws we have no chance of discovering our own parameters as human beings and the full extent of our power. Our city streets,for example, the space some of us choose to inhabit, do not belong to us but those who govern us. We are in fact alienated from our own surroundings and our connection to time, place and earth. Individuality and personal presence are kept to a minimum in favour of efficiency and speed. The act of "Bombin" reclaims your space within the city and turns that which alienates and subjugates you into your freedom and your platform for expression.
MIND; DO YOU OWN YOURS?
Last year i went to hear a talk given by Chuck D, Public Enemys front man at Standford University. It was all great but one thing he said stood out to me.....
"Mind is the new Real estate of the 21st Century".
That stopped me dead in my tracks. Our attention is constantly being pulled at and fought for. Even if it for a split second if they have your attention they have you. Corporations and companies are constantly looking to set up shop in our minds with extensive media campaigns that play with subtle and not so subtle subconscious drives. In the same way that our physical space is controlled so too is our psychic space. In this type of environment i believe it is more important than ever to create autonomy over our own minds. The Mind is the last bastion of individual freedom, physical space being subjugated to the rule of law. But the more we let these influences into our minds and shape our behavior the more we surrender our sovereignty over ourselves.
This album for me is no different from those early morning bombin raids but instead of a pristine wall the territory instead is that of "Mass Mind", our collective psychic body, a landscape which is becoming more and more controlled by big business and less about the individual. Its definitely not about "blowin peoples minds" (i mean, please, im not that cheesy) but if it does that for you.....wicked. Its about the individual fugitive act of reclaiming personal power in the face of forces which do not want you to discover the fullest extent of your power, but to tap into it, siphon it off and redirect it. The mind when focused, empty (you try emptying your mind) and calm has no limits. You can do anything, make anything happen....truly......
.....but how deep does the rabbit hole go?
3b
Any replies to this posting please go to http://breakbeatbuddha.tribe.net
posted inSURYA DUB 3 YR ANNIVERSAY Sat May 29th
- 0 replies