Pel's B!nk mixtape

To create "PEL's BINK! Mixtape", BINK! selected key songs from his massive discography, including hits with Jay Z, Kanye West, Drake, Dr. Dre, Faith Evans, Mary J. Blige, Mobb-Deep, and more. Pel deconstructed the lyrics, including the samples, and using a variety of mediums from wood, acrylics, and paint to gold leafing, brings the songs to life. Additionally, the visuals incorporate social, cultural, and political themes while unveiling Bink's personal inspirations and often life-challenging experiences while making these songs.

 

  

1-900-HUSTLER

Jay-Z 2000 

Giclee sticker and marker on phone booth 2017 

24.25 x 12 x 63 inches

 

This is a deconstruction of being a product of Reaganomics. The real hustlers are the ones with ultimate power. The matte and shiny giclee hand-cut stickers are all placed in chronological order from Nixon all the way up to Trump. There are also a variety of banks and defunct company logos seasoned in there. I gave the nod to infamous fictional drug dealers such as Tony Montana and Mr. White. The Product of Reaganomics advertisement was fashioned after the original ad that came with the phone. The word MDK is tagged on the side of the payphone because that was actually Bink's voice that was calling in on the record. All the stickers and work are on the inside of the phone to show that all the underhanded actions happen on the inside. I also started with Nixon as president because Jay Z was born in the Nixon era. 

  

 

I AM FORGIVEN

Pusha T 2013

Acrylic and oil on canvas 2017

48 x 60 inches

The smoking cherub is a reminder that none of us are free from temptation. The boy painted in all black, with blue hues representing "black and blue" marks or bruising that you may see after a physical altercation. I was inspired by Kerry James Marshall and authors Ralph Ellison (Invisible Man) and Ta-Nehisi Coates (Between The World and Me) and their literal interpretations of society's acceptance around the unlawful physical abuse regularly bestowed on the bodies of Black men.

 

 

 

 

CIGAR MUSIC

Rick Ross ft. Masspike Miles 2014

Branding, stain, shell casings, epoxy, acrylic, and giclee on plywood 2017

20 x 36 inches

 

The box is hand wood burned with different words from the song, giving a tattoo effect similar to that on the skin of Rick Ross. Vintage cigar labels are used and embellished with motifs of Florida, where Rick Ross hails from. The Copic marker hand-drawn woman nods to Cuban cigar culture while the poppies remind us of the colorful allegories rapped about via the drug trade. The caliber of the shells are .45, 5.56, and .308, with the words, give a break down that bad intentions come from a good place. Sometimes love hurts. 

 

 

WHEN THEY REMEMBER

Freeway 2007

Acrylic and spray paint on wood with enamel on mirror 2017

20 x 36 inches

 

A young man shooting a rock on his slingshot turns into a diamond (the shape of the diamond that Jay Z would throw up in the air). The diamond is made of a mirror to remind us that we are all reflections of our former selves. The grip tape on the board is the American punk rock band, the 'Misfits' logo. I did this to remind us that we all tend to be "misfits" at different times throughout our adolescent years. Under the skateboard, the colors flow from black to gold, from darkness to wealth, from nothing to something (or so it seems) with the calligraphic inscription "the future is now." 

 

 

  

WHO DO WE THINK WE ARE

John Legend ft. Rick Ross 2013

Spray paint, enamel, acrylic on glass 2017

36 x 12 inches

 

The woman on the bottle represents the woman who will not die blue in the Marvin Gaye sample 'If I die tonight.' The bottle used to describe the champagne is pouring out from the man trying to court her. The man who happens to be Mr. BigStuff is a reference used in another sample used in the song.

 

 

ALL I NEED

Jay-Z 2001

Metal 2017

20 x 36 inches

 

This piece represents Jay-Z's rise to power and his unbelievable fortitude and successes despite the tremendous odds against him. This piece was welded with the same material and watertight integrity utilized by naval ships to create that same resilience. The diamond in the middle represents the "Roc" which is an ode to the record label started by Jay Z and Damon "Dame" Dash. Special thanks to award-winning US military shipbuilding contracted welder Hamza Atoi

 

 

 

JAY Z INTERVIEW 

Hit Boy 2012

Acrylic on canvas and engraved wood 2017

60 x 48 inches

 

The chair hangs from the ceiling to depict the descent of "Hova" or Jay Z from "heaven." The literal interpretation heavily focuses on Jay Z being on a hip-hop pedestal. The carvings on the chair represent all of Jay Z's things during his rise to hip hop immortalization. The American flag represents his Roc Nation affiliation and the sociopolitical climate, heavily influenced by race relations in the United States. 

 

 

ALL ON ME

Dr. Dre ft. BJ the Chicago Kid, JusTus recording 2015

Engraving, currency, wax, acrylic on wood 2017

39 x 38 inches

 

Dre's most personal song on the 'Compton' soundtrack. The wood shims represent the unseen foundation as they are usually covered up by flooring and the walls but play an integral part in leveling the respective objects they sit behind. The words that are etched and painted in the wood hail back to the mantra Dr. Dre continued to repeat throughout the song, to advise the listener that even though he was seen to be successful, he still had a long way to go. The money is placed wearing over their respective shims to let you know that as much as we are looking for the money, the money is also looking at us to see what we are going to do with it. The money represents 2015 with a $20 bill and 15 $1 bills. The wax represents popular figurative language "burning the candle at both ends" meaning, exhausting oneself to completion.

 

 

JODECI FREESTYLE

Drake ft. J. Cole 2013 

Marker, graphite, and acrylic on wood 2017 

32 x 39 inches

 

After Drake's line, this piece shows what happened, "I'm in your girl's ear planting seeds…" The wooden pallet was used because they are used to carry weight, just like Drake's words in a woman's ear. I wanted to keep the style loose as an ode to my sketch style when jotting out rough ideas.

 

 

DEVIL IN A NEW DRESS

Kanye West ft. Rick Ross 2010

Acrylic, denim, and gold leaf on canvas 2017

60 x 48 inches

 

The devil is torn. He was once the right hand of God and now the epitome of evil. The idea of the devil once being an angle is shown by the hints of blue and white that peak through the harsh red and black tones. The new dress is represented by the tattered gold leaf. The raw piece of selvage denim represents a divergence from one's righteous path.

 

 

ONE SHOT DEAL

Beanie Sigel ft. Redman recording 2005

Acrylic on canvas 2017

48 x 60 inches

 

The skull used is the same model as Warhol's "Skull." The idea of life coming to closure through the candle being out and the idea of life in its background being depicted by the grapes. Even though the grapes are alive and celebrate good tidings through wine, they are still lying because they have been picked. The red-toned canvas is a nod to Redman, while the tally is representative of the artwork on Beanie Sigel's 'The B. Coming' album that the song is on.

 

 

 

 

 

SANTORINI GREECE

Rick Ross 2017

Acrylic and gold leaf on denim, with plexiglass and plywood 2017

36 x 36 inches

 

This is a deconstructed look at Santorini, Greece. The gold leaf represents the sunlight reflecting on the water separating the heavens and the water. Selvage Italian denim was used as the canvas to reflect the raw depiction of cultural growth. The loose deconstruction of the infamous pictures taken of Santorini reminded me of the conversation that even if it is seen, it is still out of reach, as Rick Ross notes in his song.

 

 

LIVING BETTER NOW

Jamie Foxx ft. Rick Ross 2010 

Acrylic on canvas 2017

48 x 60 inches

 

This piece depicts the old to the new parallel through the comparison of Rick Ross and Biggie Smalls (sampled used in the song). I further compared old to new by referencing a picture of Biggie in a Coogi sweater with a rubber band around his hand as he was counting money. The new component in that conversation is the Christian Louboutin sneakers that the subject is also referenced in the song. The hands on the Vacheron watch that is on the wrist of the subject point to Biggies Death 3/9. Rick Ross's line "Never lay my Jesus piece face down" represents the gratitude expressed before starting the day.