The Brilliance!

HTTP://WWW.THEBRILLIANCE.COM

We’re really internet and we’re really back. A website about things Benjamin , Chuck , Virgil , and various friends & guests think are interesting. Little-to-no specific focus, a bit odd, speling errors, and incredibly culturally relevant.

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Jay-Z, Dear Summer!

Yes. So smooth, and so much better than your favorite rapper. Like Sway said a long time ago, his flow is so on point, it just sounds like he’s talking. For real. I believe this is track off of Bleek’s new album… Which sorry, I don’t really see myself buying. But THIS song, its almost like I just want to shake Jay’s hand and be like ‘thanks’. Everything he has touched lately is just gold. Perfect lyrics and just a classic concept song right here. I would quote something real quick out of this song, but, the whole song is a hot verse. The line about taking another boat…this dude truly is the JFK of his game. Check the link below (allhiphop.com!), RealOne player again… Yeah, two ‘rap’ posts in a row. Whatever, we’ll hit you with some ‘art student’ stuff in a few.

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Common’s Corners Remix with Scarface and Mos Def!

The thing about this track right here… Is from a lyrical standpoint, it could be played in the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s, and today and be brilliantly relevant. And that’s all besides the fact it has a cold-ass beat, Kanye’s hook is so fresh, and the fact that 3 straight-up LEGENDS are on it… Just perfect. The beat is so…perfect. I certainly hope no one out there still thinks of Kanye as any sort of ‘rookie’ anymore, the dude is pure genius. Any way, the track is super smooth… This is the hip-hop music that I just love. THE BRILLIANCE! loves it too. Check the link below to the track, RealOne player is needed. ***UPDATE, check the video here, thanks to Anson on that…

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John Houshmand’s Organic Urban!

Thanks to Mav for reminding me of this guys stuff… I really love some of his work. In fact, Item No. 0026 (see image) is one of those pieces you could design a whole room around. It would stark white room, off-set by the ‘powerful’ or maybe ‘strong’ looking stuff John does. His stuff blends so well with the whole super-white, super-stark, super-modern, super-unnatural spaces that I have grown to love. His trademark is of course the blend of glass and steel with super ‘heavy’ looking vertically cut tree trunks… I could get all ‘art-student’ about his work, but I’ll just let you check his site before I embarrass myself. He also has a 5000 sq ft show room on the ‘cusp of Soho and Tribeca’ (cusp?!)… Check his slightly annoying site and his store. THE BRILLIANCE! loves this guys stuff. Thanks again to Mav.

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Tokihiro Sato Photographs!

I really like these. Tokihiro’s stuff is so… Ghostly looking, but in such a perfectly non-threatening eerie type way. I don’t know, I’m not describing it very well. If I had three words, I would use Ghostly, Clean, and Calming. He achieves this effect by doing super long exposures and actually getting out and waving around a flash-light by hand, pretty incredible when you actually look at the detail. His stuff is currently on exhibit at the Art Institute of Chicago until May 8th. So it looks like I’m a touch late, as usual. Check it out there, or check my super helpful Google link below to find his next exhibit. You can also buy his 39 page book on Amazon.com. I’m still a bit amazed by how he actually does these photos.

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Kicksfinder!!!

Have you seen Kicksfinder yet? Brought to you by Freshness Mag, KicksFinder is a really helpful tool to…well…help you find kicks. For you ultra-white people who aren’t so ‘in the know’, that translates to “Shoe and footwear search tool.”.......Ha…Anyways, the search format of KicksFinder is really unique in that it lets you sift through thumbnail images and titles of shoes. Great eBay results. Really well thought out and put together, KicksFinder is the place to be if you’re searching for a rare Dunk or Jordan…No luck however if you rock Birkenstocks or White Keds.

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Deanne Cheuk! Mushroom Girls Virus!!

I guess I’m leaving it up to Ben lately to post things other than art-related news, but there are a lot of good things going down! Deanne Cheuk, art director of Tokion Magazine as well as an accomplished and amazing artist on her own has finally made for sale her new book ‘Mushroom Girls Virus.’ Ltd. SIGNED copies are available online at the link below. The book sold out in less than 4 weeks across Europe and Japan, so better grab one fast. I did…This is the FIRST and ONLY edition that will be published. Full color, 64pp with gatefold poster insert, full color end papers, fully embroidered hand glued linen cloth cover. 22.3cm x 27.5 cm. This is a MUST-HAVE if you collect art books or need something fresh for the coffee table. THE BRILLIANCE loves Deanne. Tokion is cool too.

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Knewseen ‘Horror Series’!!

Joshua Lucian Rickenbaugh. This dude is an obsessive madman. No, seriously. His new book ‘Horror Series’ contains 600, yes, 600, drawings he has done over the last several years. That, my friends, is a lot of drawings. Each page displays four drawings and it is a beautifully simple book. Josh sent me a copy as well as some originals and there is just something about his work…It is so recognizable but so incredibly random. His sheer consistency blows my mind, not to mention the compositions and dedication to his own work that really makes him set apart. You can buy the book at his site Knewseen or online at YouWorkForThem.

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‘One Hundred Seasons’ / Tiffany Bozic!!! A modern master…

In my personal opinion - Tiffany Bozic may very well be the most talented and unique artist around right now. She is doing her thing like it’s nobody’s business. Like my title said, she is a modern master - nobody can argue this. Her brilliantly detailed paintings coupled with intensely emotive subject matter is something that VERY few people can even come close to. BLK/MRKT tipped us to the closing of her exhibition titled ‘One Hundred Seasons’ which is happening Saturday, May 7th at 8PM - 6009 Washington Blvd., Culver City, California 90232. See the link below for some more details on BLK/MRKT, Tiffany, and the show. Wow.

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Cam’ron, Any Way You Want It!

Why am I the only person really talking about this track? And I’m late! For real, I haven’t heard anyone else really mention it. Cocky, brash, arrogant, and perfectly smooth, Cam’ron Jiles. This track is fantastic, yes… Fantastic. Talking about his medical aliments over a sick sample of Journey’s ‘All Night’ track? Always new. Cam’ron is so fresh right now, Purple Haze is still in heavy rotation for me, that CD is stacked with tracks, stacked!! Anyway, I need more than just the minute long snippet of this track from Kay Slay’s Let The Games Begin Part 4. Much respect to Cam… Medallions in my ear, whips on my fists, houses on my wrists!

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EQ3 Furnishings!

Good variety within their lines, really affordable, and excellent quality. I know of EQ3 from their flag-ship store which is only a few blocks from my place… I think it’s their flag-ship store anyway. Either way, they have some really fresh stuff. Similar pricing to IKEA but way far better quality in my opinion. I’m partial to the ‘Replay’ sofa, but in white or black rather than that red they always show it in, or maybe mint… And honestly, I wouldn’t have it in my current home, I feel like a lot of their stuff is for homes with concrete / poured resin flooring. I guess that’s just how I envision it. So check EQ3 at your local gallery or check it on their site, good stuff.