THE MUSIC THAT B-BOYS AND B-GIRLS DANCE AND BATTLE TO: FORCEFUL, PERCUSSIVE, FUNKY

Love this picture... and the classic life affirming quality of the uptempo Afro-Funk music listed. Check out the beats on NPR's web site at the below link.

Hit The Floor: A B-Boy/Girl Workout Mix

Hear Five Tracks In The B-Boy Canon

SAY IT LOUD: "JAMES BROWN/DOESN'T HAVE TO ASK-TO-BE-DOWN" (PART 1)

We came across these two slammin' illustration and painted portraits of the legendary Godfather of Soul. The above painting served as the cover of a double LP set entitled "Self portrait" (Polydor records). And this great illustration is apparently a promotional poster for a past concert. For which year this was created for and by whom we do not know. I wish we did though. for I suspect that the illustrator may have done other portraits and we'd love to see them.

JAMES SIMON AKA "THE BLACK WALT DISNEY" WITH SOOOOUUUULLLLLL!!!!!!!

If you've not heard of James Simon, well, today is the day. Now you have. Simon, a graduate of New York's renowned High School of Art and Design and the prestigious School of Visual Arts, would later be dubbed "the Black Walt Disney" by observers of his artistic talents, pioneering efforts within the arts and his groundbreaking body of work. He and his company, Wantu Animation (Wantu is Swahili for beautiful), was a powerful presence within the animation industry starting in the 1960's. His work appeared on the TV screen and into your life, most likely (if you're reading this and you're over 30), when you were watching childhoo classics Sesame Street and the Electric Company or the show Vegetable Soup. Simon founded Wantu Animation with Sesame Street being its first client after a stint at Paramount pictures as an assistant animator on the now classic Spiderman cartoon series. The company was founded with $250.00, borrowed.

But if you're reading this, you know that this is a place of not just art and design, but of music as well. And you should know that James Simon's work rode full steam ahead into the intersection of music and art in 1971. What he did and added to the communications convesation (if you will) has stayed, warmly, comfortingly in the hearts and minds of several Black generations of music and dance lovers who came of age, up and out of the troubled decades of late 20th century Black America. Wantu was tapped, by "the Don", legendary Soul Train TV show creator and Producer Don Cornelious, to create the distinctive and memorable opening animated title sequence for the show. The animation features a smokin', colorful, funky train- the "Soul Train"- bopping forward confidently along the "tracks", floating amongst the stars in outer space. The train. It took anyone, watching it pull into their "station", perhaps hoping for an hour's worth of refuge from "the struggle" and everyday hustle that was reality for most Black folk, along for a ride through "the hippest trip in America".

You can buy your funky funky ticket for your trip here.

Enjoy the ride!

AS SHE IS

A few years on and we just still love the cover photo for Ms. Key's album "AS I AM". Though the original cover has the title's type set horizontally across the top. This album stays in the player- on the laptop and has been since its release (like, it's playing right now). So due to some late night inspiration, behold, the post.

IN THE HOUSE

Above is Barry Gordy's famous house of hits in the city of Detroit, Michigan. And as most know today, this is where Mr. Gordy, Smokey Robinson, the Funk Brothers and many other stars to be worked and recorded what Gordy dubbed "theSound of Young America." In acknowledgment, respect and love of the "Motown sound" and the company's 50th year anniversary, look for more posts covering their album cover designs, photography and the logotype design of the that now recognizable Motown M. For now, peep the charming ("it had to be done because it had to be done because the idea just presents itself as an obvious graphic design and packaging design solution) and classics filled Motown: The Complete No. 1's.

Packaging design: Cool. Art direction: Hugh Brown, Michele Horie. However, as a lover of design and music, it would have been great to have constructed something that was built like an actual replica of the Hitsville U.S.A. house, similar to a doll house, with opening windows and door (ala The Doors recent deluxe box set design). But I'm sure the budget for something of that sort just was not in the cards. But I'm just sayin'- would of been that much cooler- next level details. You know? We designers are dreamers baby... and we're always dreaming big!

More on Motown to come.

"...'CAUSE... I KNOW YOU GOT SOUL...

...IF YOU DIDN'T YA' WOULDN'T BE IN HERE."

"Know we need it, soul power
We got to have it, soul power
Know we want it, soul power
Got to have it, soul power
Give it to me, soul power
We need it, soul power, we need it, soul power
We got to have it, soul power..."

"You need some soul, come on get some"

And no credit is needed for the above song lyrics... if you're reading this post, you should already know. And if ya' don't know ya' better ask somebody! Click the link above for more in this live concert film released earlier this year.