▲ 853 r/Jamaica+1 crossposts

80s Kingstown by Beth Lesser

Beth Lesser photographed the explosion of dancehall in Kingston in the 1980s, at the heart of sound systems & a music scene undergoing transformation. She mostly documents Jamaican artists, DJs, producers, dancers and nights, including figures like Yellowman, Sugar Minott, King Jammy, Lee Van Clef, Sister Nancy, Tenor Saw and Ninjaman.

Her photographs offer a rare and intimate account of dancehall's beginnings and a culture that would quickly cross Jamaican borders to circle the planet.

u/Advanced-Total-1147 — 1 month ago

NYC Graffiti Icon Kunle Martins & IRAK NYC Crew

Reflecting on Kunle F. Martins' teenage years is akin to flipping through the pages of Larry Clark's "Kids." Although he was just 15 when the movie debuted in 1995, his adolescence in NYC mirrored the raw reality portrayed on screen.

Kunle left home at 16, immersing himself in the gritty streets of downtown Manhattan. He spent his youth skateboarding, shoplifting, tagging walls with graffiti, and running the atreets with older kids. His exploits as a prolific shoplifter and graffiti artist earned him legendary status in downtown circles. Known by the alias EARSNOT, he established the notorious IRAK Crew in the mid-90s. This collective carved its name into NYC's graffiti history going All City and significantly influencing street culture.

The crew, included members like Ryan McGinley, Dan Colen, and the late Dash Snow, ignited a 90’s downtown art revolution. Their raw creativity and documentation of wild nights and drug-infused parties left an indelible mark on the global culture, despite the destructive path that claimed the life of Dash.

The impact of this crew is evident as its members have showcased their work in art galleries worldwide and tagged iconic graffiti spots like the Brooklyn Bridge. SACE / Dash Snow and YEAR were the second to hit this spot after SANE and SMITH's late 1980s mark.
Though the IRAK crew has mostly disbanded since their peak, they remain one of the most pivotal groups in graffiti history. Today, Kunle continues to honor the IRAK legacy. However, his artistic journey has moved away from the streets as he now focuses on portrait art under his birth name, a reflection of his true self and a new chapter in his life.

u/Advanced-Total-1147 — 2 months ago

Bootleg Sprouse

Maison Booleg reimagines a south side staple with the legendary Louis Vuitton Stephen Sprouse Graffiti print originally designed by Marc Jacobs. Paying homage to Virgil's 2019 LV Pop-up in Chicago th3 bootleg dropped at LDRS1354.

u/Advanced-Total-1147 — 2 months ago

ALIFE NY

ALIFE was a legendary New York City-based streetwear brand, retail boutique, and creative ecosystem. Founded in 1999 on Orchard Street in LES by Arnaud Delecolle, Tony Arcabascio, Tammy Brainard, and Rob Cristofaro, it functioned as a pioneering cultural hub blending art, exclusive footwear, and community. The physical storefront doubled as an art gallery and creative workshop featuring massive graffiti installations, acting as an incubator for downtown NYC creatives and projects like KRINK ink. The brand hosted legendary intimate backyard live music concerts and cultural events featuring major artists like Drake, Nas, John Mayer, and Q-Tip. Their famous boutique at 158 Rivington Street—styled to feel like an exclusive mahogany-and-leather gentleman's club—was a global epicenter for limited-edition Tier 0 sneaker releases from brands like Nike and Adidas.

u/Advanced-Total-1147 — 2 months ago

Brooklyn Banks is NY skate Mecca that is not even in Brooklyn.

Keenan Forever. Huf Forever. Harold Forever. Mike Forever. 🛹

Designed by M. Paul Friedberg and constructed in 1972, the Brooklyn Bridge Banks became the epicenter of NYC Skateboarding from 1985 until the late 1990s. As the eventual main meet-up spot for skaters Downtown (Washington Square Park was the first), the small banks (between Park Row and Rose Street) and the big banks (between Rose and Pearl Streets) was a place that allowed skaters free reign where you could basically do whatever you wanted. Ironically, it was right next to the main police headquarters at police plaza but because it was hidden by large walls and off ramps on one side and the bridge on the other. It was a hidden urban valley where anything went. During these years anyone and everyone had to skate The Banks. For the locals it was their skatepark and for out-of-towners it was the first place to go when you visited the city. It was the warm-up spot before there was a warm-up spot and most days you would end up staying there the whole day because it had everything—from the small banks, granite curbs, a nine-stair with a rail, granite ledges, big banks, different-height wallrides, a ten stair and the big 13-stair rails.

via: Thrasher Mag

u/Advanced-Total-1147 — 3 months ago

Brigade NYC

Established in 2014, Brigade is a lifestyle brand firmly rooted in the raw energy and authenticity that is New York. The brand’s designs are grounded in its creative directors, Aaron and Sarah Maldonado upbringing with New York Puerto Rican and Dominican parents and being immersed in the hip hop and streetwear culture within the boroughs. Often times collaborating with local, models, artists, & talent the brand embodies a community & collective spirt that is valid in NY.

u/Advanced-Total-1147 — 3 months ago