SOULAR ENERGY

In my research lately it has occurred to me that the most powerful life force on this plant is the human being that has melanin. Unfortunately those without the gift suffer from severe burning from the sun, skin rashes and other skin dysfunctions. (Kinda sounds like a Vampire right???) Well it has also occurred to me that those with the gift of melanin also have the gift of alchemy. Alchemy in it's most original form was studied by our Gods and Goddess in Kemit as their highest art form. It is basically the study of melanin (regardless of what wikipedia say) So all of us with the gift have the ability to be Alchemist. All we need to do is remember what we have forgotten after being asleep for thousands of years (those unconscious of their knowledge are asleep, but beware: do not attempt to wake up a sleep person, they could kill you). Remember is not as hard as some may think. It only involves exploring our own DNA which is encoded with our knowledge. But before i go off on a tangent lets get back to the melanin. Another beautiful thing about the melanin is it strongly connects us to the SUN. Not just the sun in the sky but the sun within us, our solar plexus. We have one of the most power forms of energy pulsating in our bodies. Opening up the yellow solar plexus chakra you can transmit the energy even stronger. Now that you have the jewel, what can you do with it? IT'S SIMPLE... LETS MAKE THIS RAIN GO AWAY... Come on my people we can end this NOW. Opening up or solar plexus, eating fresh fruits and vegetables to take in chlorophyll... IT"S EASY! Let's just band together and declare that WE determine the weather NOT the government and their chemtrail! LET'S PUT OUR SOULAR ENERGY INTO THE UNIVERSE!

-Hotep
The Hip Hop Mona Lisa

Back to Afr... Paris??

EVERYONE IN THE ART WORLD IS GOING TO PARIS... And by everyone I mean all the artist of color in America that I have come in contact with this year. My talented sistah and loving friend Janine Simon (if you really know whats god for you google her) was the first to hip me to the back to Paris trend. She put me down that Saul Williams, Beau Sia, Queen and so many others are going over seas to rekindle the artistic fire. It's like a new Renaissance. Except this time it's not DuBois or Baker or Baldwin, but rather the new age of young poets, writers, sings, visual artist and visionaries. I'm excited to see this new movement. I feel like it's what I have been waiting for... a reason to believe that the artist really are connected by a divine force. How else can one explain how everyone just picked summer 09 to escape to Paris. Also the word is that Paris is opening it's arms wide to all these beautiful artist and extending a warm welcome so that is even more exciting. I'm working on saving up so that Johnston and I can make our journey and backpack through Paris and then make a move to Spain. Hit us up if your down to make that move! Like I always say, the Peppermint is still grinding our gears...

-The HipHopMonaLisa

It's All Good in The Peppermint Hood

Well not really we have just been doing art. (Don't you hate ppl that write about doing art lol) Well here is a brief update on whats been going on...
-Johnston is living in South Philly and working on travel plans. He has numerous shows approaching that we will post up ASAP as well as a more concrete and stable band. The band is really growing into an amazing force. He will update later with more details.

-Mia is being Mia. She graduated from Temple with a degree in African American Studies (YESSSSS) and was the speaker at graduation (although she informed none of us lol) She t is working on travel plans, as usual and beginning to work on her next steps in her journey.

-Dr. Mother Covert, hmmm where do I begin. She has graduated for Eugene Lang College the New School for Liberal Arts with a degree in... PERFECTION. N but really she graduated with so many honors I don't even know where to begin. She has been accepted into quite a few grad programs but I will let her tell you who she decides. Not to mention she has been awarded grants and scholarships with more zeros then I could fathom. I'm so proud and excited about whats in store for her.

-Erin is another graduate, she graduated from Fashion Institute of Technology where she studied children's wear. Her final collection was show in the FIT fashion show and it was amazing. The show was incredible, I was blown away. Her work has evolved to be eco-friendly and passionate. In addition one of her dresses was purchased at an auction by the Ambassador to Ethiopia's wife. Erin also plans to travel soon and is working this summer in Conn.

-Olatunji is finishing up at University of the Arts but is wrking hard on some new pieces for a show in September. He is also preparing to expand his collection to our community overseas so look out for his work and his amazing spirit.

-HipHopMonaLisa is ready to finish off the year right. I am NOW officially a college senior and I am ready to kill this final semester. I was accepted into a program to study in Morocco and live there for 7 weeks. Also I wrapped up an amazing production of Shakespeare's "The Tempest" where I played Ariel. (Thanks again for all the love and support from the friends and fam) I'm now reading and working on my poetry because I am ready to perform again, it's been awhile but I'm back. I have soo many things I want to work on but I'm taking it one step and one moon at a time.

I will update more later as for now just know that the Peppermint is still here and we are still grinding our gears!

PHILLY WATCH!

Just the other day as I was strolling down the avenue I caught a glimpse of a Black brother holding a little man by the hand...and by little man, I mean...a toddler...possible the guy's son.

A few steps latter,I then witnessed a Black man cradling a baby wrapped in cloth, and looking both ways several times before proceeding to cross the icy street.

Hold on! There's one more. I saw another brother...I presume he could be 22, maybe 25...with a little man...this little man had bore his Spiderman bookbag as he walked to school.

My heart smiled, family.

Now, how often do women still say that niggas ain't shit???
Well yea...you know...niggas ain't shit.
Niggas will continue to conduct themselves as such, until they are fed up with themselves.

But these Kings I saw walking the avenue...hmph...
[Of course I don't know the content of these men's hearts...and though I am not a soothsayer,I find it not admirable so much as I do respectable that these men appeared to be responsible. I can only pray that the moving portarits I saw were honest, and not simply the responses to a mandate.]
Nonetheless,I smiled.

There ARE some screwed up men out there!!
Within the same breath, I must declare that there are a handful of men that love their kids, and ensure the best for them. You know this.

I just wanted to share my glee...
yea...its pretty phun...but, SELAH!

Shalom.

Johnston Michaels

YOUR SHOOTING BLOWS ME!

one thing that has been bothering me for QUITE some time is seeing the art school photographers/mediographers using their cameras to shoot 'homeless' people.

I am not sure of what these kids' intentions are with these stills.
but I'm sure they've found some larger implication to validate their strides.

it's still not something I like to witness!!!

My general distaste for the practice is combined with my annoyance of these photographer running with a concept that is sooo trite.

I am not a film man;I guess there is something rather compelling about using clean shots & decent composition as a platter for something that is everything but pristine...

I just don't like the idea of exploiting an individuals destitution...their 'homelessness' for my ART CAUSE...ya know?

It really blows me son!
That's all.

Eat that.
=)

-Johnston M.

So you haven't heard... Where the f*** have you been? (lol) Clearly not roaming the galaxy with the rest of the the free thinkers and artistic minds! Nonetheless the universe is shifting and producing cosmic sounds that all ears must hear... The sound can most effortless be coined MUZIK.... yea gud muzik! "The Social Class" by G-Five Clive has been released and the buzz is massive. People up and down the east coast have been bumping G-Five in their Ipods since last week and trust me YOU wanna be down. I love to hear fresh music from fresh astist.... and G-Five is a breath of fresh air. (even in the thick pollution of the DMV) Hailing from Uptown DC, Clive has a sound all his own with other unique artist that are a breed all there own. Working with The Clientele as well as Arafat Yates, Cinima and Fundemental, G-Five has produced his 3rd mixtape to much success and he says he is very proud of the outcome. It came pretty naturally and was like a cipher when everyone came through. G-Five says his favorite songs are "My Black People" (My Fave TOO), "Adrian II" and "Bond, James". AND he is on his underground grind... the only kind of artistry that can be respected in this age of mechanical reproduction and inorganic stimulation. But enough talk... there is no need to talk about art. It should be enjoyed and invested in, engaged with. So here is the link, listen for yourself. Become a fan!

BTW, G-Five would like you to know that he is a Humanitarian... really, he is!!! Stay tuned for an interview with the man himself... It will be Phresh!!!
http://www.zshare.net/download/52480493be4233 26/
-The Hip Hop Mona Lisa

ThinkPoint for Yo MAMA!

Sooo, it's 3:47 am...and I was sitting on my bed-Indian style, rationalizing and combing out some of my thoughts- AKA- settling down for bedtime.(Sometimes the best reflection is interviewing yourself.) After several minutes of probing myself, my mind began to warm up...which probably isn't the most lulling thing...but whatever...we can never think TOO MUCH!

I often wonder what Today's thing is.
During the early 1800's we have Gothic Revival; during the 1800's America was influenced greatly by the advancements of the Victorian Era; after the end of the Civil War, there was a boom of Blacks baking up some poetry and composing serious musical literature-challenging preSet ideas of what quality Western art was, and there was also the Art Nouveau movement; during the 1920's we have the Harlem Renaissance along with the Art Deco movement...and you can fill in the gaps in between and beyond.

Maybe it's because we have textbooks, pictures, the History Channel,and Wikipedia to higlight and (skim over) the advances of the past. But I have trouble naming significant artistic movements of the last ten years.(besides the Neo soul thing, the hipster/Blipster craze, and the reworked/retouched talkbox/synthesized/70's-80's revival thing.)
I am making reference to original movements.
Yes, we have many phenomenal artists, but nothing I can say that has remained consistent across the board.

During the conversation with myself, I discussed the affects iPods, microwaves, cars, vertical cities, computers, and I realized that we don't have as much space as people had even 100 years ago.

If you look at any of the old pictures of Manhattan in 1901 or even 1929...shux even in the 60's...you will see that a lot of streets were larger, more open, and there were not nearly as many buildings...and the same goes for Detroit, Philadelphia, Baltimore etc...
People were probably inspired to concoct a lot more when they felt that they had not yet arrived at a state of stability or completion. There was so much space. The physical space, influenced their mental space.
They were able to see.

Today, I think we have trouble seeing beyond what we see. [hmmm...think about it]
Those of us that do pride ourselves in going as far left as we can, playing with different textures, tastes, and sounds- have to work hard to see beyond what we see.
Most people of today, probably feel trapped with all of the amenities available.
My God, it's a blessing to have so many luxuries...but it can surely destroy some good ole creativity.

I am not sure if my hypothesis is correct. But I think it is a provocative idea.
So think on it.
And in the mean time...try to create something.
K?


Your beloved,
Docteur Johnston Michaels