JEFF HO x SHEPARD FAIREY and me our collaboration print goes on sale this morning 10am PST

read the whole blog at OBEYGIANT

Here's my segment:

When I was a kid in the mid 70’s skating the school yards in West L.A., hanging out a bit at the beach in Santa Monica, going by the Zephyr shop to get some Cadillac Wheels or to look at the boards, Jeff Ho was not in sight. Jeff Ho was an enigma. I never knew Jeff personally until many years later, but we eventually became good friends.



Something most don’t realize is that Jeff started the ZEPHYR skateboard team to help kids, mostly street kids, hoping to give guidance and care, to help steer them to good. A lot of those skaters would become known the world over, and Jeff not only helped those kids back then, he continues to this very day doing the same for so many, on the down low, out of the spotlight.



Jeff is worshiped around the world. I’ve seen people bow down to him in the middle of the street when they see him, swearing he is the all-time best surfboard maker (Jeff was inducted into the Surfboard Shapers Hall of Fame just a few years ago). He was a skater before he was a surfer- he is an artisan in the water, on the street, and with the board.


(the original photograph as it appears in MY RULES)

Jeff has more integrity than most anyone I have met. He is a living legend and a real icon. All these are reasons, on top of those you’ve likely seen in the “Dogtown and Z-Boys” film, why I approached Shepard to collaborate on this fine art screen print. We looked at the few portraits I made with Jeff that afternoon, a few years back. Shepard was really drawn to this one (no pun intended), the same one that appears towards the end of my MY RULES book, accompanied by Jeff’s essay. Shepard can explain more on why he picked this one, but I can tell you that I’m stoked to have done it again. I feel Shepard’s graphic representation of some of my photographs, in his icon-creating style, is an honor for the subjects as well as the collaborators, because the man is a craftsman and an intelligent, stand-up guy like few others in his field. Dig it.” – Glen E. Friedman

Limited edition, 300 of each of the two color ways signed by all three of us.

They go on sale 10am PST at ObeyGiant.com in Store under Prints.

My new collaboration with Shepard Fairey and ICE-T Releases tomorrow morning.

from Shepard Fairey at OBEY Giant:

Considering the outcome of Tuesday’s election, I want to lead off this Ice-T post with a fitting intro from his “The Iceberg / Freedom of Speech… Just Watch What You Say” album (featuring Jello Biafra below).

Ice-T has been making social commentary for 3 decades… here’s a little history on my connection to his music.

I first heard Ice-T in 1988 around the same time I had also just picked up Public Enemy’s “Yo Bum Rush the Show” album based on the Thrasher magazine description of Public Enemy as “the new punk rock.” I’d say that the punk rock description applies to Ice-T, who is credited by many as the godfather of Gangster Rap (though Ice-T gives proper respects to Schoolly D). The first Ice-T record I heard was Power which had only come out a few days before. The album opens with a hilarious skit in which a scuffle over Ice’s new Power album results in a gunshot wound and ensuing deliberation over whether to call the paramedics or listen to the new album… you can guess which way it goes. The album opens with the song “Power”which has the opening lyrics:  

“I’m livin’ large as possible, posse unstoppableStyle topical, vividly opticalListen, you’ll see ’em sometimes I’ll be ’emCops, critics and punks, never ever wanta see me in POWERWell, that’s too bad, Apocalypse Now I’m back and I’m madWe’re comin’, you’re runnin’ cold and cunningIce T on the mic, Top-Gunning”

Well, that opening line really stuck with me and ended up being the inspiration for the use of the word “posse” in my “Andre the Giant has a Posse” sticker a few months later. “Power” is my favorite Ice-T album, but he has several excellent albums including “Rhyme Pays,” “Iceberg: Freedom of Speech,” and “OG, Original Gangster.” Three out of four of those records have cover photographs by Glen E. Friedman. Glen and I both think that Ice-T is a very important figure in the golden era of hip hop who deserves to be celebrated for his contribution and exposed to a younger generation, so we collaborated on this image, which is based on an out take photo session from the “Power” era. If you only know Ice-T for his TV roles, do yourself a favor and check out the albums I mentioned. By the way, Jay-Z’s “99 Problems” lifts its chorus from an Ice-T song of the same name from 1993. Like I said, the guy is O.G.

Both prints are signed by me, Glen E. Friedman, and Ice-T. – Shepard

There is no doubt about it, Ice-T is a California legend. From a street hustler and thief, who took his moniker from none other than “Iceberg Slim,” this dude emerged as one of the most heavily West Coast inspired rappers of all time. When we worked together on his first three album covers and multiple singles, it was always a great collaboration of style, character, and purpose. Ice is a storyteller extraordinaire, a hustler on every respectable level. A true friend and as loyal as they come to those close to him. Respect due to this real icon and player, for telling his stories and sharing the culture in the way only he can. O.G. – Glen E. Friedman

Ice-T OG Red. 18  by 24 inches. Screen Print. Signed by Shepard Fairey, Glen E. Friedman, and Ice-T. Edition of 300. $70. Release Date: Tuesday, November 15 at 10AM (PST) on ObeyGiant.com in Store under Prints.

Ice-T OG Blue. 18 inches by 24 inches. Screen Print. Signed by Shepard Fairey, Glen E. Friedman, and Ice-T.  Editions of 300. $70. Release Date: Tuesday, November 15 at 10AM PST on ObeyGiant.com in Store under Prints. 

New Shepard Fairey x Ice-T x GEF collaboration

Out here in LA for the week [last week] working on a few different projects, got it started with the guys from "Love Letters to skateboarding" and @lancemountain on sunday, then monday over at Studio Number One for four hours signing these new ICE-T art prints that are a collaboration with Shepard Fairey @obeygiant and my homie Ice-T... Limited edition joints based on my photograph will go on sale later this fall, is my guess, but i just signed up my share... #ICET #OG #ShepardFairey #Obey #collaboration #inspiration #art #originalGangster #pimpinainteasy #sixinthemorning #RhymePays #Power #Darlene #WestCoast #HipHop #Rap #CoCo #Chanel #dadtimeAGAIN

A photo posted by glen E. friedman Ⓥ (@glenefriedman) on Sep 1, 2016 at 3:24pm PDT

New collaboration of mine of Keith Morris with Shepard Fairey will be made available Tuesday

I have approached Shepard with ideas for collaborations as often as he's approached me. This latest was a no brainer and we've been discussing it off and on for a couple of years now. Finally with the FLAG and OFF! shows in full gear, Shepard agreed this would be a great time to do one with our old friend, and inspiration, Keith Morris.

Yes, Keith was Black Flag's original singer, and yes he was one of the founders of the Circle Jerks, as well as a few other side project bands, and now he's currently in a really great band called OFF!

As I said, he's currently doing the "FLAG" thing with Chuck Dukowski, Dez Cadena, Bill Stevenson, and Steve (from All), They are playing lots of the old BLACK FLAG songs they all know so well and performed for several years in the late 70's and early 80's. I saw them play a great show a few weeks ago. (I was worn out for days after enjoying that set!) In fact it was while I was out in LA doing some work (I went with Shepard & Amanda Fairey, actually), among other things, and signing all these prints! Anyway, I think these came out really cool. (In fact I'm thinking a Dukowski collaboration may have to happen as well, not too far down the road.)

Check out the blurb's from Shepard and Keith below along with links to where you can get one of the limited edition prints if you're interested.

from OBEYGIANT.com

I’m a big fan of all of the bands Keith Morris has fronted… Black Flag, The Circle Jerks, and OFF!. My first punk show was the Circle Jerks in 1986 in Summerville, South Carolina. I illustrated this image from one of Glen E. Friedman’s photos of Keith around 1981 0r 1982 playing with the Circle Jerks. Glen also shot the Circle Jerks’ “Golden Shower of Hits” cover which is in the collage in the lower left. Keith was kind enough to write down all of his favorite song titles from all three bands to incorporate into the collage.

-Shepard

I was approached by Glen E. Friedman asking if I’d be interested in collaborating with him and his friend Shepard Fairey on a poster using a photo he had taken a coupla’ dozen yrs. ago. I was familiar with Shepard and his work as we’d hung out at 2 or 3 art exhibits, seen various pieces of his including giant images of Henry Rollins, Ian McKaye, Glen Danzig and others at the KROQ punk gig out in San Bernardino and had been to his art space when he threw a flyer/poster/punk rock art shindig. Shepard and I talked about color schemes and seeing as I’m a fan of Rick Griffin who started off drawing comics for Surfer Magazine, posters for the Fillmore West and John Van Hamersveld who was responsible for the Beatles “Magical Mystery Tour” album cover and some of my favorite handbills for early gigs at the Shrine Auditorium in the late 60′s I wanted to use some of their color examples…………4 days later we were going to print.
-Keith Morris



18 x 24 inch screen prints, signed by Shepard Fairey, Glen E. Friedman and Keith Morris. Three different colorway versions available.

Release date: Tuesday September 10, 2013 at a random time between 10 and 11am PST in the PRINTS page of the store. Limit 1 version of each colorway per person/household.


Further notes: Keith also mentioned his love of “Germs” blue, so I made a color variation inspired by that as well as the psychedelic vibe and my usual color palette.
-Shepard



KEITH MORRIS (4 COLOR)

18 x 24 inch, 4 color screen print. Signed by Shepard Fairey, Glen E. Friedman and Keith Morris. Numbered edition of 200. $75. Limit 1 per person/household.

KEITH MORRIS (BLUE)

18 x 24 inches, 3 color screen print. Signed by Shepard Fairey, Glen E. Friedman and Keith Morris. Numbered edition of 150. $75. Limit 1 per person/household.

KEITH MORRIS (RED)

18 x 24 inches, 3 color screen print. Signed by Shepard Fairey, Glen E. Freidman and Keith Morris. Numbered edition of 150. $75. Limit 1 per person/household.

Release Date: Tuesday September 10, 2013 at a random time between 10 and 11am PST in the PRINTS page of the store.