The night I met Kanye West...
Life is funny…
Life is fragile..
Life is real.
So my life has had it’s twist and turns for the better and for the worst. This time around, I’m fortunate enough to not have much, but I can still share enough, to maybe provide joy or hope, for those of where I come from. That being said, those who know me, when have I ever needed to tell a lie. I didn’t intend on meeting Kanye this night, but it happened. Our encounter was very brief yet powerful as it was meant to be. So here goes the story of the night I met Kanye West…
Earlier this summer I had the opportunity to meet an artist named Bamoozie, at Vinnie Styles during his art show. Our intro was in passing, but there was an automatic connection of tribe shit that went down just off our intro to one another. He mentioned he had a solo show coming later this summer and I should pull up. Based off his work he had presented at Vinnie’s, there no question I told him I’d be there.
Fast forward to Saturday, August 28, 2021, Bamoozie was ready to showcase his solo show titled; THEREZ A KINGDOM COMING held over at Be Electric Studios in the Bushwick area of Brooklyn. Upon arrival, I didn’t know what to expect, but I set out just as I’ve been doing all summer on my dolo missions pumping The ATTIE Project. I pack my IKEA bag with clocks and hit the road spreading the word of The ATTIE Project. It was a few days before my Granny’s funeral, so I’m protective of the energies I’m surrounded with, but off the strength of who Bamoozie is, not only as an artist, but a human being, I knew the night was bound to be filled with an extraordinary experiences…
- THEREZ A KINGDOM COMING -
Thai (@daddy_Shango)
I arrive at Be Electric studios to what reminded me of a DREAM. I was taken away, with this sense of, I’ve found home. THEREZ A KINGDOM COMING was truly like walking into the the mind of an artist. It was a DREAMLAND. Clean, yet I knew there was an underlying spec of dirty that I was yet to discover.
Photograph by The Art Hub NYC (@thearthubnyc)
Photograph by The Art Hub NYC (@thearthubnyc)
Photograph by The Art Hub NYC (@thearthubnyc)
I spoke with Bamoozie to have an understanding of what the messages were behind his showcase. He said this show represented the coming of a greater force. There’s currently a shift amongst society and its a time to understand along with the evil must come good, what will you be doing when that time comes. The Kingdom represents the second coming, of whoever, whatever you deemed that greater power to be, but just know, they are on their way. Bamoozie shared this was his forst attempt at a more conscience approach behind his showcase. Not to diminish his artistry in any form, Bamoozie’s work is filled with profound messages as well as conversation to follow. To approach such powerful perspective or topic, he’s been reading more scriptures and coursing his way through his life, and his understandings, & now was the time to allow himself to express this part of his mind, journey, story.
Bamoozie by The Art Hub NYC (@thearthubnyc)
We gathered by the breath taking centerpiece titled, ‘When Kingdom Come’, where he shared the full meaning. The piece amongst his other work at the show explained it all. It questions who, what, where will we be as people when it happens? as well as individuals; what will you be doing? Some will be angry so they’ll be punching things, some will be playing games, ancestors will be looking on as they knew this time would come. the look on the face of the authority figure in the painting as he looks onto whats coming his way, says it all. the expression of the man rebelling against the authority says it all as well, in a sense of, i told you this day would come or your time is up…it’s our time now.
‘When Kingdom Come’ by Bamoozie
Bamoozie’s solo show was a hit. he sold a number of original pieces, his mom bought a clock from me, and the support was as genuine as it should have been. vibes were on point, held down by the sounds of Shxlton, johnny p, and keenyn omari. be electric studio was most certainly electrified that evening.
THEREZ A KINGDOM COMING
- “we on side, huh, we outside” -
The event was grand. I met Bamoozie’s family, made new friends, even ran into a few old friends the same night. I posted outside Be Electric Studios throughout the night where I encountered strangers and told them to stop on in and check out the cool experience. In doing so, I saw an old buddy from my SOHO daze Irv Oh, strolling out in front of the event space. Last time I saw Irv, he pulled up to my instillation at the Bishop on Bedford Gallery in Brooklyn, summer of 2018 with Al Diaz, otherwise known as the legendary SAMO. Irv runs the TMJ Art Collective in SOHO and is also in charge of the SOHO art walks which he cultivated right before the pandemic and since, has been able to take the art walks from city to city around the country, soon to be around the globe. He’s been a positive enabler as to who I am an artist today and has been telling to be apart of his gallery since 2017. Through my own doubts, I failed to take on his offer at the time, in fear as though I wasn’t ready.
We caught up. He had some powerful words which stuck with me the most that night and they were, “…I’ve asked God to take of those around me first, then come back and handle me, until then I will be ready and patiently waiting, but please God, take care of them first….”. I froze. His words were so high-powered, it hit me and I had to thank him, for I was one of those people he was asking for. Last time I seen Irv, ATTIE was in earlier stages but the art was created through my artist friends. I too was an artist yes, but I still hadn’t found myself in my journey. Fast forward to Saturday, we were able to bond on the moment. Irv stepped in and enjoyed the Kingdom as well…
(Portraits by Nikai Wells, @niikaiwells)
Photograph by The Art Hub NYC (@thearthubnyc)
- donda, donda, donda -
The Night went on and people came and went, but in passing there he was…he actually saw me! came to me, pointed me out, complimented my sweater, i complimented his jacket. Told him who i was, and explained the attie project to him. he was an automatic fan. he saw the vision. he congratulated me, and said keep it up…i was so star struck in the moment, i wasn’t even thinking about donda, but there was this understanding we shared in our moment, my mind went blank, i couldn’t think of anything to say, but wanted to tell him everything…right then, visual artist, NikIA WELLS CAMe up to us, and caught the moment….and just like that he said, it was nice meeting you perry. i’ll be seeing you soon, and went about his way…
Photograph by Nikai Wells ( @niikaiwells)
I spent hours at Be Electric that night. The vibes were only right. THEREZ A KINGDOM COMING was a sure enough reason to see who-else was going to be a part of this journey. Great conversation with, Andrew Stern, Founder of Be Electric Studios, the Rage-n-Release running crew, a BX native and fitness enthusiast Josh, followed. We all came together to speak on Mark Zuckleberg and the ‘Meta-Verse’, Bushwick’s transition in the past 20 years, and everything else under the sun. I closed the night out not only with connections, but a new found sense of Tribe.
- off the grid -
sunday I wake up to a message from my friend calvin, who asked if i heard donda yet. i told him honestly i’ve had the dropbox for weeks now but never tuned in. he said he couldn’t stop listening. Few hours later my homie wayne xavier hits me from over in nc, and says he shed a tear somewhere throughout the album, i said wow! haha, i gotta tune in. it was to my surprise, i then found out kanye dropped the donda album that morning. i didn’t listen to the album until later that day where some friends played a few tracks outside smokey vale, babrer shop and gallery over on vanderbilt, later that evening.
By Monday I gave the album a listen and to no dismay, Kanye did it again.
ye has been an influential figure in my journey for over 20 years now. I remember watching an mtv special with him around the time college drop out was released, and ye was speaking about his art. he said he had the ability to see a beat in his head. i was lost, but little did i know how much of an influence we would be to each other in the future. now it’s all coming together. not just for myself, but everyone mentioned in this passage. Kanye in particular, has been on the radar or the public’s eye for 20 years just the same. he faces ridicule with every decision he chooses to allow go public, and continues to be an influence through multiple forms of artistry.
Donda came at the right time. For me, I took this album as an understanding of where Ye may be in his journey. Some pointers if I may, this album doesn’t consist of bragging rights, or popularity points, this album had a message. This album spoke of God, and family, amongst all the trials and tribulations Kanye faces just being Kanye. Through it all, Kanye is proving he will remain relevant no matter the circumstances, however this time around, he has a purpose, and a message to go along with his story. Donda is a fusion of all the Kanye’s we’ve experienced throughout the years. His witty, thought provoking lyrics, vibrant sounds mixed with enough melancholy of emotion, and groundbreaking collaborations from past and present artist, shows he is still capable of making timeless works of art.
I can relate to donda because, it’s my story just as well. kanye has lost the closest person he ever knew in this lifetime. in doing so, his life has taken it’s twist and turns. Through it all, kanye still managed to find a source. that source being, god. I didn’t know what his last album was getting at, because i wasn’t allowing myself to hear the message he was delivering. it wasn’t until donda where i was finally able to relate or connect the dots..
In my journey, battling addictions, fighting demons, I’ve had to come to the same crossroads a few years ago in my own life. When this happened, I had to choose up. Choose what I wanted to become of myself, where I wanted to be, so on so forth. God, as well as family, was my source. Through it all I stayed true to my faith and who I was and the greatest things started to happen. I too shed a tear at some point throughout the album because there was this sense of connection. Ive been a Kanye fan for decades and it it was all making sense. I too can see the music as he once stated, and i look forward to whats to come with this here new vision.
- i know god breathed on this -
in closing, the attie project was created as my form of creative expression. this is my kingdom. anytime you log on play your favorite song, album, and indulge. it was made to be a modern day immersive experience. this is my da vinci code. my cryptic way of delivering the message. if you didn’t shed a tear at some point during donda, it’s ok, you aren’t there yet, you have to keep going. we can relate on other topics. i can assure you, I really met him. whether it was the physical form of kanye, a metaphysical encounter, it happened. I was there, he was there and it all went down that night. when have i ever told you a lie? i told him every thing i know, all while knowing nothing at all. this is my story this is my truth. to my gemini brother, until we meet again….this is how it all happened, the night I met Kanye West.
s/o
Bamoozie (@ih_maj_in)
Patrice
Nikai Wells (@niikaiwells)
Keenyn Omari (@keenynomari)
Shelton (@shxlton)
Johnny P (@johnnypanga)
The Art Hub NYC (@thearthubnyc)
Thai (@daddy_shango)
Kenny (@monalisa_kenny)
Rage-n-Release (@rageandrelease)
Irv Oh (@irvohh)
Calvin (@calvinsierota)
Wayne Xavier (@nolsinc)
Donda
Joshua (@vibewithjoshua)
Andrew Stern (@beelectricstudio)
Marguerite Gibson
Lisa (@themuseumofmodernart)
Kanye (@kanyewest)
TMJ ART’S COLLECTIVE (@tmjartscollective)
Be Electric Studios (@beelectricstudio)
The ATTIE Project (@theattieproject)
- THEREZ A KINGDOM COMING -
- BLESS -