Jay Electronica :: Exhibit C

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It’s Third Week of February… and yes, time is flying. My habits have had me stuck to google reader, google buzz, researching…etc… and filtering through all the inspirational mess that lives on the internet. I think I’ve reached another threshold of being overwhelmed by my own ambitions. It’s not so much a complaint, but more so a reminder that, you’ve gotta stay paced.

Ever since I moved, I’ve accepted that it takes time to transition, and that it’s not as quick as I originally anticipated. When you have personal deadlines and don’t meet them… a sense of disappointment sorta settles in, and you gotta face the fact that in a way you sorta failed. But at the same time, you gotta recognize the small success that happen a long the way, and not be so hard on yourself.

This month, I was supposed to be banging out the 2010 demo reel… But with this transition and all, things definitely took a turn, and I’ve gotta be a little more patient. Remind myself that I shouldn’t look left nor right.. That’s the thing about the internet though… You’re engulfed in so mo much inspiration, it’s easy to lose sight of your own voice, and easy to try to imitate, or elaborate on what you think is dope. Another thing is that I’m surrounded by hustlers... My circle involves some fantastic people, and it seems everyone is always stepping up their game…. So no matter what, I can’t fall, or fail. I gotta keep up and stay with the pack.  It’s difficult to not compare your progress.  How else are you going to measure your success, if you don’t take into consideration what’s dope out there? I applaud those that don’t give a fuck and do it on their own terms (Dave Choe, Levi Maestro, Saber, Nick Ngo, etc…).

Right now though, this is just what’s on my mind.  I’m inspired by a lot of things, and the other night, I came across a video about a business development consultant.  He was saying that, you’ve gotta “narrow you’re focus..” and “deepen your expertise.” But for a guy like me, I feel like I’m able to tap into so many things, it feels wrong, NOT to exercise all my abilities.

I realized, I just gotta simplify a little more.  All those goals I have… I gotta refine them a little more and stay focused on what I’m good at.  (But my ego says I’m good at everything!)

On the top right hand corner of this site it says “Stab Labs, is a behind the scenes look into our culture, inspiration, thoughts & process.” So there it is.. a behind the scenes look into my thoughts… not everything is perfect here. But the work ethic and dedication will always be.  All I want to do is inspire, and I’m just trying to figure out the best way to do that.

(The images above are mock ups of how I’m planning to utilize the studio space that I have.)

So during my search for the original j-Dilla artwork, I found some oldies but goodies.  ’05 was a big year for me, and I think I just kept beastin’ it every which way I could.  Above is a design I did of DJ Replay of The Bangerz/Free School, back when I was living down in LA for a little bit.  At the time he transitioned from interning, to working at some recording studio.. except, it wasn’t just any recording studio… I remember seeing platinum record plaques of Dr. Dre’s Chronic 2001 on the wall… I remember some dood playin some beats for Ryan, and the music went straight through your chest… damn.. the chronic 2001 was recorded there?!

Another quickie painting I did back at Meezy’s, which I later gave to E-Tone, who was the illy flash programmer there.  He made my first Stablished site live.…Shouts to E-Tone. It was so dope having turntables next to my work desk.  I’ll always have a set of decks in the studio. The Vestax PMC-07 Pro was a good look too…especially with that Mindtricks sticker on it.

Me and the brotha’ Dandiggity of PLSTK/BlindI/SanJose holdin down some Sapporo’s at some fashion show in SF with the Conn533 crew…. Sup Diggity! He’s PR’ing for the upcoming brand PLSTK… and they recently got a new design studio/office also in SJ.. check their blog! PLSTK

And damn!!!!! This is extra old… I think Tommy of Universal Grammar, who’s now throwin PST with Sake1, had a night where he offered me the opportunity to do a live painting at Sofa Lounge in SJ, where the original Music Machine took place.. Damn i miss that place… illy circles went down there.. and of course dope beats by the best… Goldenchyld, Nick Ngo & the rest of the Bangerz…

And this right here is an actual PHOTO, that Dandiggity took of me, back in maybe ’04….  the first, Always Classic photo shoot.

Somethin’ i found while digging for the original J-Dilla artwork… A poem with a to-do list, incorporated into a random design…  Documenting is soo worth it, years after it’s created.

THE PROCESS ::

So Back in 06′, I was freelancing for a game company, and postin’ at my boy’s Tone & JP’s in the Filmore area.  While I was making this, I made sure to take screen captures of the process.  These are stills from the Fallen Soldiers Project.  Check that out if you haven’t, it’s a tribute to Hip-Hop Greats..  I gotta rummage through the old external drives to find the hi-res  screen captures, so ya’ll can see the process & detail.

It’s that time of the year, and I wanted to re-release the Dilla digital painting in the form of a t-shirt, for the heads that really want one.  After all the projects that have come out of here, this has still got to be my most favorite and prized.. Details are being refined still, but i wanted to put this call out, to give folks a heads up.  There will be a PayPal page up soon, so if  you’re interested, holla at me with your name, and size.. and I will get back to you with more info.

TAKING PRE-ORDERS NOW!!!!

E-mail if you’re interested

Gramatik :: “Loungin”

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We’re in the building. Moving is a B—-.  All that dust, is still stuck in the linings of my nostrils.  But you know what…. it’s all good, cuz I can still smell success! A Big thanks to Don, Kurl, and Kateri for helping with the move.  Couldn’t have done it without ya’ll!

It’s been a good first month of 2010, and though the move has set me back a little bit, we’ll get everything dialed in here asap, so that we can commence the plan of all plans. Stab Labs went from the backyard studio, to the upstairs loft at Connoisseur533, to the Mission flat, and now SoMa loft.  Stay Tuned ………

_Ra

Stablished Projects + The 2015 Journey