Shades of Grey by Sari El Khazen

“Indeed, by giving some sort of graphic balance, or at least cohesion, to the rush of stimulation that constitutes the present-day world, Sari proposes in his seemingly chaotic pictures that we need not feel as if continually and permanently plunged into cataclysm. These paintings and drawings are no mere illustrations of discord, but are also demonstrations of resolution. The resolution may be partial, incomplete, and reliant as much in acceptance, even delight, in such discord as fear of it. But there is method in Sari’s madness. He knows and struggles with global insanity no less than we do – given his residency in and devotion to his native city, perhaps more – but he has clearly found a way to tame, or at least harmonize, the forces of conflict, if not in reality, than at least in the visual realm, where fantasy can prove exemplary. Sari is not necessarily trying to make sense of an insane (not to mention insensitive, or insensate) universe; but in these riotous images he does infer that some coherence remains, and that there also remains a place for us human beings and our quaint but appealing notions of humanity. However painful these clustered apparitions may be to behold, in the end they promise us some place, some relief, and perhaps a dash of reason.”

Peter Frank, Art Critic

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Interview with the cast of “Papa”

Bambadjan Bamba and Mathew Elam stopped by the studios of LA Raw to discuss their upcoming project Papa.
Papa is a short movie, Bambadjan’s rendition of his personal experience as a young African immigrant caught between the challenges of defining himself in his host culture and the struggles of coming of age in a home dominated by a stoic and unwavering father.
Bambadjan Bamba is an up and coming Hollywood talent hailing from the Cote d’Ivoire. He started his movie careers as an actor and is mostly recognizable through the current Snickers candy bar ad where he features alongside the legendary Joe Pesci. Bambadjan work includes noticeable appearances in the big screen such as Chris Rock’s “I Think I Love My Wife”, but more consistently in television where he’s been on most of your favorite shows: ER, CSI, Law And Order, The Sopranos, Bones, NCIS: Los Angeles, just to name a few…
Beyond his Hollywood aspirations, Bambadjan Bamba is not shy about his attachment to his roots and strong desire to be part of this new generation of the African diaspora who want their story to be told and most importantly wants to tell it themselves.
To make life of this project close to his heart, Bamba, as he is fondly called, sought out among others fellow Ivorian thespian Souleymane Sy Savane, who has recently co-starred in “Machine Gun Preacher” with Gerard Butler, to play his father and 2010 NAACP image award nominee Matthew Elam, his sidekick of the day, to play himself.
While his cultural background and chops as an actor would naturally justify Souleymane Sy Savane ability to relate to his father’s character in PAPA, Bambadjan found out creator anguish was at its peak when it came down to not only resist the temptation of taking up the part of himself and at the same time find a young black actor who would not only reproduce a neat African accent but also understand and project the pressures of being a first generation teenage immigrant in quest for self assertion.

Talking about looking for one self in another, LA born Matthew Elam, 16, was just that. Matthew who had made his marks playing a young South African in a stage version of Sarafina had already perfected an African accent and, as any teenager that has walked this earth, completely understood what it meant to want a voice for one self even though the greater challenge was to actually to immerse himself into this specific lifestyle.

Matthew Elam who is ever thankful for his acting debuts at the Amazing Grace Conservatory, an organization that offer performing arts training and opportunities to youngsters in areas and times where art education are greatly needed, comfortably bridges Bambadjan’s ode to his father with the universal experiences of needing to belong, middle child blues, coming of age and the parent Vs Child love-hate relationship that plays out in that power struggle.
PAPA is Bambadjan Bamba first film as a writer and director and has been selected officially for the 21ST PAN AFRICAN FILM FESTIVAL February 7-18, 2013 in Los Angeles at the new RAVE Cinemas 15 in Baldwin Hills.

By Sophie Dave

Winter Cover Artist – (curtiss king at house of blues with Murs)

Fashawn Champagne & Styrofoam Cups

GET IT HERE

Champagne wishes, and thirty white…styrofoam cups? Fashawn from the westside returns with a brand new mixtape called Champagne And Styrofoam Cups. 

The new project is a thirteen track mixtape featuring appearances from K-Young, Wiz Khalifa, Mr. Muthaf***n eXquire, Kobe and TL Cross. The 24-year-old Fresno, California is releasing his first mixtape in over a year since Higher Learning Vol. 2. 

There’s no telling when we will be able to get to hear more from this XXL Freshmen, but this mixtape should absolutely hold you over. Get a listen and download to the joint down below.