It was standing-room only at Rush Arts Gallery in New York City for Cey Adams's and Bill Adler's slideshow and discussion of their book DEFinition: The Art and Design of Hip-Hop last night (Feb. 26). Hip-hop culture and art fans packed the Russell Simmons–owned gallery to hear Adler and Adams discuss the art featured in their book. [Read my review of the book HERE.]

Adler and Adams provided biographical information on the artists in their book, discussed the impact of street culture to the art world, and shared anecdotes of the artists and their subjects. The gallery audience was rewarded with stories about Mary J. Blige, Mohammed Ali, Chuck D, Spike Lee, Dave Chappelle, Sean Combs, and many other hip-hop luminaries.

Several of the artists whose work is featured in DEFinition: The Art and Design of Hip-Hop attended, including photographer Janette Beckman, who shared a memory of a photo session with Slick Rick. "The gold and guns were his idea," she laughed. (Beckman has several photographs of the Beastie Boys in their early years at her website.)

Discussing his work with the Beastie Boys, Adams revealed that they are one of his favorite musical artists with whom to work because they have a clear vision of what they want design-wise or—as Adams corrected himself—what they do not want. Adams, who has not yet heard any of the new Beastie Boys album, said he looks forward to hearing what they've come up with.

As a postscript to the event, I'd like to give a shout-out to Derek from Manifest, who came to the talk wearing a custom-made "Listen to Paul's Boutique" T-shirt. Check out the T-shirt—available to purchase—at his website devoted to hip-hop culture.

Cey Adams and Bill Adler will be presenting a slideshow and discussion about their book DEFinition: The Art and Design of Hip-Hop this Thursday (Feb. 26) from 6 to 8 pm at Rush Arts Gallery in New York City. Fans of hip-hop design and music will have the opportunity to hear stories and ask questions about the designs and photos that appear in the book.

DEFinition: The Art and Design of Hip-Hop features a number of designs created for the Beastie Boys, including an unused Hello Nasty album cover that Adam Horovitz personally asked Ed Renfro to create.

At Adams's and Adler's book signing in Brooklyn last fall, which I attended, they shared stories about Sean Combs, Russell Simmons, Lil Kim, Beastie Boys, Run-DMC, Mary J. Blige and others that would be difficult to hear anywhere else. The two are truly privileged in their associations in the hip-hop scene.

For more information about the event, read the press release below.

One Night Event
Rush Arts Gallery / Chelsea
Thursday, February 26, 2009 from 6-8pm

Join the Authors of Definition: The Art And Design of Hip Hop, Cey Adams with Bill Adler in an informal conversation, slideshow and book signing.

Compiled by legendary designer Cey Adams, DEFinition: The Art and Design of Hip-Hop is the first serious survey of the visual work created under the banner of hiphop during the last 35 years. A boon to the eyes as well as the ears, hiphop -- according to DEFinition -- is a culture that has made its mark on everything from fine art to the label on a bottle of Hawaiian Punch, including fashion, automobiles, movies, television, advertising, and sneakers. DEFinition highlights the careers and artwork of such crucial hip-hop elders as Lady Pink, Haze, Run-DMC, Dapper Dan, Buddy Esquire, Spike Lee, and Snoop Dogg, as well as contemporary giants like Kehinde Wiley, Mr. Cartoon, Shepard Fairey, Dalek, Mike Thompson, Jor One, Claw Money, and dozens of others. Featuring more than 200 stunning photographs and illustrations as well as compelling essays by some of hip-hop's most seasoned voices, DEFinition illuminates the culture in a form that speaks to aficionados and newcomers alike.

Cey Adams is a hip-hop graphic artist whose career has taken him from bombing subway trains to designing album covers, stage backdrops, sportswear, and indelible logos. His clients include Def Jam Recordings, Bad Boy Records, Roca Wear, Adidas, Burton Snowboards, Coca-Cola, Moët & Chandon, Comedy Central, HBO, Warner Brothers, and many others. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Bill Adler was the original director of publicity for Def Jam Recordings and Rush Artist Management, where he promoted the careers of hip-hop legends Run-DMC, the Beastie Boys, Public Enemy, LL Cool J, 3rd Bass, and Slick Rick, and many others. Between 2003 and 2007 he was the owner and curator of the Eyejammie Fine Arts Gallery, an exhibition space devoted to hip-hop's visual arts.

BBC News talked with Adam Yauch at the Spirit Awards in Los Angeles. Yauch shared some details about the status of the Beastie Boys's new album.

Beasties promise 'strange' record
By Damian Jones

Beastie Boys bassist Adam MCA Yauch has revealed their forthcoming new album has taken the rap collective in a "bizarre" new direction.

"It's a combination of playing and sampling stuff as we're playing, and also sampling pretty obscure records," he said of their eighth studio LP.

They have tentatively named the record Tadlock's Glasses, after a former tour bus driver, who was once presented with a pair of glasses by Elvis.

The band are set to tour in the summer.

Speaking to BBC Five Live at the Independent Spirit Awards in Los Angeles, Yauch said the collective are currently putting the finishing touches to their new album.

"We're tweaking some mixes and we're going to master it in the next couple of weeks," he explained.

"There are a lot of songs on the record and there are a lot of short songs and they kind of all run into each other."

The record comes nearly two years after their Grammy Award-winning instrumental LP The Mix-Up.

Of the title he explained: "We had a bus driver years ago who used to drive Elvis' back up singers.

"His name was Tadlock and Elvis gave him a pair of glasses which he was very proud of. So for some reason that title - Tadlock's Glasses - has just been bouncing around."

Although no firm release date has been set for the record, Yauch said the Beastie Boys would return to the UK for a series of tour dates in support of the album later this year.

A fan wrote us to say she spotted Adam Yauch at the opening reception of Bill McMullen's exhibition Hype, Hustle, Ripoff at the Constant Gallery in Los Angeles yesterday (February 21). McMullen has designed material (logos, album art, posters) for the Beastie Boys and Oscilloscope Pictures. McMullen's exhibition will show at the gallery through March 28.

See photos of Yauch at the exhibition opening at FLICKR.

Yauch was in Los Angeles to attend the 2009 Film Independent Spirit Awards, which were held yesterday as well. Oscilloscope Pictures's film Wendy and Lucy was nominated in the Best Feature category (The Wrestler took the award).

[VIDEO REMOVED]

At the end of January, Mix Master Mike performed at a private party during the SnowSports Industries America Trade Show in Las Vegas. The party, which was sponsored by Skullcandy (an audio products maker), included performances by Snoop Dogg, Rahzel, and Super Natural. Both Mix Master Mike and Snoop Dogg have been enlisted by Skullcandy to develop their own headphones design. Mix Master Mike's design will be specifically for professional DJs and is expected to be available for retail in Fall 2009.

Ricky Powell is making one of his classic photos of the Beastie Boys available (again) on a limited edition T-shirt at Japanese clothing company KIKS TYO. Powell's photo, which captures a moment from the Beastie Boys's 1987 performance on Soul Train, can be ordered on a white or black tee at KIKS TYO's website. Only a limited number of shirts are being made, and they're not cheap. If you want one, you need to pre-order through the web site by February 15.

Related posts:

• Beastie Boys on your chest
• Ricky Powell's wearable art

Yauch at the Knicks-Trail Blazers game, December 2008.

Adam Yauch is unwinding from all his hard work on the Beastie Boys's new album by taking in some basketball. He was spotted at the Knicks-Cavaliers game at Madison Square Garden earlier this week, as well as the Knicks-Trail Blazers game a few weeks ago. At the latter game, Yauch found a minute to talk with Jill Martin (see video below).

Video Transcription

Jill Martin: It’s time for “Give Me a Minute,” and look who we have here: MCA of the Beastie Boys. And I know you have a lot of Garden stories. What’s one that stands out?

Yauch: Ah, well we played here with Run-DMC. And one time we gave out 50 cameras to the audience and shot a film here.

Jill: That dvd. And actually, Run-DMC’s here tonight.

Yauch: Yeah, Run’s over there. I see Run.

Jill: I was going to ask you. I know you play a lot of pickup basketball. [Who’s] another rapper that doesn’t stand a chance against you on the court?

Yauch: That doesn’t stand a chance? I don’t know, I don’t know. I haven’t played against too many. I’d like to play with Run. I’ll probably take care of him. I don’t know.

Jill: I know you recently released a documentary—a basketball documentary. Tell us about that.

Yauch: Yeah, it was about high school players. But we shot it in 2006, so a bunch of those players are in the NBA now. Jerryd Bayless from the Trail Blazers was one of the players we covered. Kevin Love, Michael Beasley. So a bunch of first-round draft picks.

[Run walks into frame]

Yauch: Hey, what’s up bro! [Yauch and Run embrace.]

Jill: Hey, look! A reunion here! And it’s pretty cool…

Run: [gesturing at Yauch] I know this guy!

Jill: I know. They’re recording an album coming out new—coming out next year.

Run: I love the Beastie Boys! We toured our whole life. I used to sleep on their bus. They let me sleep on their bus. Remember that?

Yauch: Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Jill: Here’s the big question. He said that he could beat you on the basketball court.

Run: I don’t know, I don’t know.

Yauch: Let’s go right now.

Run: He has an unorthodox game. I wouldn’t doubt it.

Beastie Boys have concluded their work on the remastered version of Paul's Boutique and launched a new website design at Paulsboutique.beastieboys.com [DEFUNCT SITE]. At the new site, you can listen to the remastered songs and order various packages of the album with mp3 downloads, vinyl, a crazy-big poster, and a T-shirt. (Where's the commemorative plate?) Most exciting, you can download the band commentary [DEAD LINK] for Paul's Boutique immediately.

If you're a web geek, you might be interested to know that the audio at the site is coming from Top Spin, Ian Rogers's new audio venture. You can watch a video of the Beastie Boys with Money Mark that Rogers recorded yesterday and read Rogers's thoughts on Paul's Boutique at Topspinmedia.com (reproduced below).

Happy 20th, Paul’s Boutique
Posted on February 3, 2009

I don’t think any album has actually changed the course of my life as much as Beastie Boys’ 1989 masterpiece, Paul’s Boutique. Therefore it’s with tremendous pleasure and pride I announce you can purchase a deluxe edition of this classic album –

Wait, before I go into that, let me share my Paul’s Boutique story. We’ve all got one and you can share yours in the “User Photos and Stories” section of PaulsBoutique.BeastieBoys.com, but if you’ll indulge me for a few lines I’ll share mine here.

1989, my best friend Ryan Timmons and I were headed to the Warren Dunes in Michigan from Goshen, Indiana, where we grew up. There was no record store in Goshen, so we convinced my sister to stop at Concord Mall so we could shop for music. I can remember distinctly Ryan looking at the rack of tapes and letting out an excited, “Hey! There’s a new Beastie Boys record!” And I remember just as clearly me looking at him like he just admitted to digging Vanilla Ice and saying, “So?” He bought Paul’s Boutique (on cassette) that day, I bought Honey Bubble by Tar Babies.

Now I don’t mean to dis, but you have to remember that Beastie Boys were these beer-swilling pop stars who had disappeared as far as I could tell. No one was looking for another Licensed To Ill in 1989. Or at least I wasn’t.

Lucky for me Ryan hated Paul’s Boutique. For whatever reason he gave the tape to me, and for whatever reason (curiosity? boredom? destiny?) I played it. But I didn’t just play it, I sat down on the floor of my bedroom with headphones on, opened up the lyric sheet, and dove in. It would be an exaggeration to say my life changed at that moment but it would be an understatement to say I simply liked it — I was mesmerized by Paul’s Boutique. I played it, literally, to death, I wore the tape out and had to buy the CD. It felt as if someone made an album out of my record collection (from Cash to Sly to Mountain to The Isley Brothers) and it was these punk rock hip hop skateboard kids from NYC who took drugs and seemed to love music just as much as I did. I identified with it even more than the punk rock records that seemed to be made by kids just like me. Not only was it cool and accessible, it was musical, complex, and unattainable at the same time.

It was also a relative failure. After selling six million-plus for Def Jam Beastie Boys had jumped to Capitol Records, spent a ton of money, and not managed to find one commercial hit. The record peaked out at a few hundred thousand records and the band never even toured. There was a bit of critical acclaim as the album was discovered randomly but Beastie Boys’ Paul’s Boutique was located very near purgatory; the album had too much depth for your average Licensed to Ill fan and us music nerds who avoided pop music weren’t exactly looking to Beastie Boys for our latest fix. That was respect the band would earn over the next ten years, their cache was near-zero at the time, at least from my point of view as a kid in Indiana.

Just a year later, Zoe was born. I was a few weeks shy of eighteen, working two jobs and just started college full-time. I don’t remember much about that first year of Zoe’s life, but I remember distinctly pacing around the living room in our Section 8 apartment in the middle of the night, Paul’s Boutique playing, me singing along, trying to calm a colicky baby.

Thankfully for everyone, Beastie Boys were far from done. They continued to reinvent themselves, playing live instruments and making another classic in 1992, Check Your Head. My fan-dom continued and in 1993 I moved the discography I’d been maintaining on Usenet to this new thing called The World Wide Web. I kept the Beastie Boys Web site up religiously as a fan through the release of Ill Communication in 1994 when I put up video of Beastie Boys live on Letterman before it aired on the West Coast. After that, I got a call from Beastie Boys management, John Silva (actually Bethann Buddenbaum, who was tipped off to my site by the only guy in the building with a computer, Jason Fiber, who was working for Dave Allen at World Domination at the time). I figured they were calling to shut me down for copyright infringement but John, forward thinking even then, said, “Are you crazy?! I wanted to know if you’d do this for *all* our bands!” I started a little consulting business charging John and Old School Ron Stone $8.50/hour to build Web sites. Laughable today but living in family housing in Indiana in 1994 it was just fine.

I spent a little time on Lollapalooza in 1994 and made friends with Beastie Boys. Mike D had Grand Royal, Yauch had Milarepa, and this Internet thing just might be useful for those low-budget endeavors. I was, of course, excited to be able to help in any way. Late in the year they asked if I’d come on tour with them in the spring of 1995. I was in grad school studying computer science at the time but made a decision to be done with that about five minutes after their invitation. Tour I did, and then moved to LA where Beastie Boys were at first the only people I knew, really.

So as I was saying…

I don’t think any album has actually changed the course of my life as much as Beastie Boys’ 1989 masterpiece, Paul’s Boutique, and it’s with tremendous pleasure and pride I announce you can purchase a deluxe edition of this classic album, complete with DVD-style “director’s commentary”, limited edition eight foot long poster and t-shirt, lossless remastered audio in addition to the MP3s, and interactive album art, all via Topspin’s technology at BeastieBoys.com. Hopefully you’ll agree it’s the treatment the album deserves.

If you already know this album, I hope you’ll appreciate the excellent remastering and hearing the band recall those days. If you skipped over this one, well, I envy the experience of sitting with this album for the first time. Grab the below to throw the album on your blog or Web site and maybe even read the 33 1/3 book for some serious back-story. Sampling laws shut albums like this out of existence. Enjoy of of the crown jewels of the era.

The very fun Paul’s Boutique Web site was created by the fine folks at Prod4Ever. Thanks to Jon, Jon, Greg, Nick, and everyone else over there for getting it and making it happen. Thanks to Jen Hall at Silva Artist Management for being the glue that holds this project together. Thanks to Jesse Ervin and Cory Ondrejka at EMI for fighting the good fight from within. And thanks of course to Beastie Boys and John Silva for, well, for everything. Always a pleasure. Thanks for believing in me fifteen years ago and for believing in Topspin today.

ian c rogers
Topspin

[VIDEO REMOVED]

For those of you who like to create Beastie Boys-themed wallpapers and other arty stuff, visit the Beastie Boys publicist's website at Nastylittleman.com for two new publicity pics of the band, offered as high- and low-res downloads.


Photo: Nathanial Hörnblowér


Photo: Ricky Powell

NYC-based band TV on the Radio confirmed the official line-up for the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival on its Myspace blog in advance of the official announcement. Beastie Boys are among the artists performing at the festival in Manchester, Tennessee, on June 11-14.

The full line-up is below:

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Phish (2 Shows), Beastie Boys, Nine Inch Nails, David Byrne, Wilco, Al Green, Snoop Dogg, Elvis Costello (solo), Erykah Badu, Paul Oakenfold, Ben Harper and Relentless7, The Mars Volta, TV on the Radio, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Gov’t Mule, Andrew Bird, Merle Haggard, MGMT, moe., The Decemberists, Girl Talk, Bon Iver, Béla Fleck & Toumani Diabate, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Galactic, The Del McCoury Band, of Montreal, Allen Toussaint, Coheed and Cambria, Booker T & the DBTs, David Grisman Quintet, Lucinda Williams, Animal Collective, Gomez, Neko Case, Down, Jenny Lewis, Santogold, Robert Earl Keen, Citizen Cope, Femi Kuti and the Positive Force, The Ting Tings, Robyn Hitchcock & The Venus 3, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Kaki King, Grizzly Bear, King Sunny Adé, Okkervil River, St. Vincent, Zac Brown Band, Raphael Saadiq, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, Crystal Castles, Tift Merritt, Brett Dennen, Mike Farris and the Roseland Rhythm Revue, Toubab Krewe, People Under the Stairs, Alejandro Escovedo, Vieux Farka Touré, Elvis Perkins In Dearland, Cherryholmes, Yeasayer, Todd Snider, Chairlift, Portugal. The Man., The SteelDrivers, Midnite, The Knux, The Low Anthem, Delta Spirit, A.A. Bondy, The Lovell Sisters, Alberta Cross

Tickets for the festival are available HERE (on sale on February 7).

Update: The official Bonnaroo site now has the line-up posted.