Been messing round with gouache again lately to try something new. Still getting the hang of it but I enjoyed painted this one of who I imagine is a sister training other sisters on self defense because we need to be able to defend ourselves.
Dig this? If you like my characters check out my last character collage of figures from 2020-2024
Hey fam, I connected with the homie Darryl Harvey about this upcoming event in Oakland at the historic AAMLO library on 14th St. I hope to see you there. Darryl is from Chicago and started these events before th pandemic in the midwest first, then slowly building to other cities such as Cincinatti, Charlotte, Minneapolis and more. Not many folks in the Bay know this one since its brand new but I hope to connect our local Black author eco system to it. And I hope to make it out to the mother city-Chicago.
You can check out some photos and video from some of their previous event here.
Ok. These are fun to do to look back and share work that I reeally liked. As an artist I do a bunch of art and wear many hats but I dont always love every project. These are a feew that I love. Top to bottom, left to right. These are usually shared in December of each year I think, but hey-better late than never. #ArtVsArtist2025 #artVSartist
Dig this? Check out my most recent book Fresh Juice/ Jugo Fresco. Or check out the last time I did #artVSartist in 2023. Check that out here.
Jones (London, UK) – Giving it up Joe Hertz Remix 2020
I was out shopping with my son at a store when this song came on and I immediately shazam’d it!
What is this? This series is called “Stuff I’ve been listening to” and this is my place to share music that I listen to while I work, process, decompress, and live life. Some of it is new, some old. But I’m always listening. I share in the hopes that you will find something that inspires you. Please share with a fellow music lover. My name is Rob and I’m an artist and author from the Bay Area.
Darius Feat Duñe (UK) – Feels Right 2021
I came across this song recently and really enjoyed the synths on it. It grooves hard and I dig it!
Gavlyn & DJ Hoppa (Los Angeles, CA) – Stepping Stones 2020
I love it when hiphop and house collide like this. LA’s Gavlyn and DJ Hoppa really did their thing with this jam.
Astralblak aka Zulu Zuluu (Minneapolis, MN) – Jerkin 2019
I don’t know much about this group but I’ve enjoyed a few songs from them 🙂
Trackademics Feat 1 O.A.K. & YMTK (Oakland, CA) – Grab Somebody 2018
Town biz- Track, OAK, and Young Murph are all great artists from Oakland and Alameda-Bay Area.
Lyricl (UK) – When You Read This Atjazz remix 2021
I don’t hear this enough, great poets set to house beats. Loved this when I heard it. Maybe from Mr Choc or Shortkut?
Louie Vega & The Martinez Bros feat Marc E. Bassy (Manhattan, NY) – Let it go 2020
Louie Vega is a house legend and I came across this one on YouTube and love it!
Full Crate feat Gaidaa (Amsterdam, Netherlands) – A Storm On A Summers Day 2018
I know Full Crate from his work with Mar and I found Gaidaa via the YouTube channel COLORS. Awesome collaboration.
Aroop Roy (London, UK) – Todo Mundo Tem Amor 2020
This is an incredible mix of sounds on a house track. the vocal samples are an incredible touch too. Made for dancing!
Peven Everett (Chicago, IL) – Stuck Phil Asher Remix 2008
I’ve heard Peven through DJ Spinna and this is one of the first tracks I heard from Phil Asher (RIP). Incredible remix!
Fantasia Barrino ( North Carolina ) – Free Yourself JLMT edit 2016
We all know Fantasia from thee TV show but I’d never heard her with a house mix, also heard this through Twitch!
Brothers Maklovich feat Leven Kali (NYC/ Toronto) – Give Love To Get Some Waajeed Remix 2020
Ok, I know of A-Trak from the DJ Battle circuit before he became a record label owner, and found his brother through him. Waajeed through PPP, and I’m new to Leven Kali.
Mick Jenkins feat Ravyn Lenae (Chicago, IL) – Communicate prod by Kaytranada 2020
My bro Bounce put me on to Mick Jenkins years ago. He has a distinct and super swaggy flow. I found Ravyn through Spotify-incredible duo! And with a Kaytranada beat!?
DIG THE MUSIC? THERE’S MORE!
Ok thats it fam, if you dug this share it with a friend, comment with some musical suggestions, and if you want to support me you can do so at my shop. My name is Rob Liu-Trujillo and I’m an artist/ author from the Bay Area. Here’s one more gem…..
Nathan Haines feat Marlena Shaw ( New Zealand/ US) – Squire For Hire (Restless Soul/ Phil Asher?) 2018
I don’t know much about Nathan Haines except that I love when Jazz and dance music collide!! And so lovely to have the OG Marlena Shaw (California Soul!) on this too. That’s it, stay tuned…..
I've had this joint on repeat. Funny how one short freestyle can have so much soul to it. Love her collabs w/ Blue Lab Beats. Farah is an ill singer songwriter from the UK. Follow her journey.
Hey, this brother yU of “Diamond District” has been underrated and not mentioned enough. He is a dope Emcee and producer from the Washington Dc area. More of his music here.
Dig this? Check out “Stuff I’ve Been Listening To-More Soul”
Bay Area! All this talk about birthright citizenship has been part of a long legacy of racism, and leaving vital information out of history books. Its a part of why I’m such as advocate for young people learning about ethnic studies.
Dig this? See this podcast interviewing the founders of Eastwind Books (Historic AAPI Bookstore).
This isn’t new. But, because the cheeto is back I’m reminded that it we all must speak up when able. I’m not going to hit every issue, I’m human. But over the course of my life I’m going to try many times.
Why Fuck ICE? “Immigration and Customs Enforcement” is not being used in this current onslaught of raids affecting real people to protect America. They are wielded as a tool like cops and immigration laws to reinforce a harmful narrative, a story. That story says Black and Brown people are the cause of poor and working class White Americans’ problems. Why do they reinforce this BS? To rile up White folks and others so they are emboldened and to distract them from the fact that the billionaire class is robbing them and us blind. Jobs have been going over seas where they can pay them less w/less worker protection for decades. Its about keeping some pointing the finger at migrants instead of realizing who is screwing them over. Its also about putting fear and terror into the hearts of hard working everyday people of color in the US. And it is about good ole white supremacy.
When you need to debate with anyone (Blk, White, Latino, Asian, etc) who is applauding the current raids bring up some things. Talk about the 1% vs the 99%, race, class, what this country will pay for (War/Genocide) and what they pretend to have no money for (universal health care, housing). Seek independent and trusted news sources outside and within social media. Watch and think: Who’s narrative is being highlighted, and who is has a distorted voice or no voice at all?
If you’re an artist, make art. If youre not an artist, share art that informs, engages, etc. Lend your support to grassroots organizations and people working to protect migrants who have legal, civil, and human rights by donating time, money, or other means. Know this is a racist legacy of attacks going back centuries in the US of A. Latinos, Black folks, Aapi communities, Arab, and white allies have fought back and won victories before and they will again.
Dig this? Check out “Empire is Built on Genocide”.
This is the second time I’ve had the honor of having one of my books on the AALBC 100 best Black books list! Aalbc is one of the oldest websites supporting Black authors, bookstores, and a larger literary community. A stamp of approval from them is pretty awesome!
Ok, here you can see “Fresh Juice” included among a bunch of picture books, middle grade, and YA book written and /or illustrated by Black authors. I see a bunch of familair names there as well as some Bay Area friends such as Tiffany Golden, Maya Cameron Gordon, Angela Dalton, and Jessica Jones.
LINK to check out the other books on this list!
Dig this? Check out these reviews of the Fresh Juice/ Jugo Fresco
Yo, got to paint this little one right before the holidays last year and forgot to share it! I only do a few children’s portraits a year but when I do its always fun because these are original pieces of art that will be in someone’s home! Thats big! This little one is a mixed kid w/ a family from the Midwest and it was a joy to paint him. Shout out to the friends who commissioned this for their folks as a house warming gift. Here’s some process below.
Dig this? Check out the last collage of family portraits
Check this out. Last year I was inviteed by my publisher Lee & Low Books to participate in an event called the California Association of Black School Educators conference, otherwise known as CABSE. These educators were from Sacramento, the Bay Area, Los Angeles, so many cities. I pulled up at a nice hotel in Napa (North of Oakland) to meet Veronica Labarca who is the head of educational sales over at Lee & low. Above is a photo of us and , lord forgive me I dont remember the sisters name but she was super sweet.
There were various workshops for the adults who work with kids and here are some photos from the main room where the founder and other educators spoke.
Here are some photos os Veronica setting up the Lee & Low Table. And when I tell you thy’ve got a lot of multicultural books, they do. They probably have the most out of any publisher because they’ve been doing it for so long. It was a honor for my book to be included among some of the books I remember seeing when I first began in the biz and some of the new ones.
This is when me and Veronica did a presentation for the audience. She spoke about the power of multicultural books to not only advance the literacy levels of children of color but to reach kids of all stripes with stories many publishers wont put out. I got to talk about Fresh Juice/ Jugo Fresco and a bit about why I started working in kid lit.
This is special right here. This brother and several others came up and got a book after the presentation and thats always cool to meet new people interested in the stories. I’m a part of it, but its really about the story. Anyways, check out what the CABSE are doing! For folks who work in education, if you have a conference you feel I would fit in with, hit me up. Info@robdontstop.com.
Dig this? Check out these photos from my visit to the Texas Book Festival and you can watch actor Da’Vine Joy Randolph read my book here.