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Inspiration board 43

Hey fam, I hope you’re well. It has been a rough one for me lately but trying to hold on to it. Check out some of these things that have been dope to me recently. Keep going.

Starting from top to bottom, left to right:

1. Major Taylor Iron Riders -video by The Pro’s Closet (Cycling/Fitness)

2. Odessa– Middle grade graphic novel by Jonathan Hill (book)

3. Giant Robot– Doc about an AAPI magazine/store (film)

4. Monica Martin– Vocalist, songwriter from the midwest (music)

5. El Michel’s Affair x Black Thought– I’m still somehow (music)

6. 1000% Me– Doc about being mixed by W. Kamau Bell (film)

7. Art of Cam Kendell from Fart Quest (art)

8. Hidari– Stop motion animated samurai (stop mo animation)

9. The Nakba– Educational video about the Nakba in Palestine (history)

10. Chang Can Dunk– Narrative film about personal goals (film)

11. Cymone Wilder– is an incredible lettering artist (lettering)

12. This Was Our Pact– All ages graphic novel by Ryan Andrews (book)

13.  Moon Girl and the Devil Dinosaur– Animated show based on comic (tv)

14. Endea Owens – Where the Nubians Grow (music)

15. Turning Red– Animated film by Pixar (animation)

16. The Last of Us– Post apocalyptic tv show based on video game (tv)

Did you miss the previous inspiration board? Here it is, plus a few more

Inspiration board 42

Inspiration board 41

What’s this? This inspiration board is one of the ways I stay inspired and sane through all of life’s trials, and tribulations, work, etc. I’ve been making inspiration boards full of films, books, music, events, people, artists, movements, and more for over a decade. Do you have an inspiration board? Please share in the comments.Who am I? My name is Rob Liu-Trujillo and I’m an artist working in kid lit, public art, and other disciplines. Go to my website, or follow me on IG or YouTube. You can also cop my first art book here.

August 2, 2023
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Chinese pioneers in Reggae, Ska, and Rock Steady

Wow, the more you know. I LOVED listening to this video and it just goes to show there is so many stories yet to be told. I did not know that VP Records stood for Vincent and Patricia-two Jamaicans who were ethnically Asian and mixed! Wow. This video talks about several Chinese pioneers in Jamaican music and who consider themselves “Jamaican”, that’s it.

Check out this video that expands on Patricia Chin, co founder of VP Records who are known world wide for distributing reggae and dancehall music.

Dig this? Check out this doc about Giant Robot Magazine!

August 2, 2023
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Feel Good Hour w/ Farbeon

Yo, i’m excited to be a guest on the “Feel Good Happy Hour” w/ my bro Farbeon (MC/DJ/Educator). I’ll be on next week on Friday Feb 10th. My dude hosts this show where he interviews artists, musicians, and educators about what they do, music they like, and what makes them feel good.
TUNE IN: On Bonfire Radio to hear it
Stream it here:
 

Dig this? Check out this episode of Rightnowish

February 3, 2023
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Stuff I’ve Been Listening to 23 – More Jazz

Nala Sinephro–space 4 (2021)
I’ve made a post about Jazz before but its high time for this new one featuring some musicians new and old. Straight ahead, fusion, funk, experimental, and a few things in between. Like Nala for example. I LOVE this track from her Space 1.8 album. She’s a harp player who gets it. This one features Nubya Garcia!
R+R=Now – Change of Tone (2018)
This is a super group w/ Robert Glasper, Terrace Martin, Christian aTunde Adjuah, Derrick Hodge, Taylor McFerrin, and Justin Tyson
Bobbi Humphrey– Set me at ease (1975)
OG Bobbi Humphrey on the flute and featuring the Mizell’s and Dorothy Ashby
James Mason– Rhythm of life (1977)
Found this joint via Egon and man it grooves!
Esperanza Spalding – Formwela 3 (2021)
Been following since the myspace days and love how she continues to play and grow
Lonnie Liston Smith–Bridge through time (1980)
You know, Lonnie has so many incredible jams. First heard this through The Conscious Daughters
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.
Emma Jean Thackray–Rain dance/wisdom (2020)
I love how Emma Jean mixes jazz with electronic, house, funk, and hip hop. Shout out to the UK jazz scene!
Horace Silver–I’ve had a little talk (1972)
Song for my father is one of my all time favorites but when I heard Osunlade play thisssss?!
Destiny Muhammad Trio– Blue in Green (2022)
Destiny is an ILL harpist and vocalist from the Bay Area! Dig how she plays Miles and her own!!
Alfa Mist – Galaxy (2020)
Alfa Mist is an incredible UK producer and piano player, peep this remake of Eddie Henderson’s classic
Madison Mcferrin– No time to lose (2017)
Madison is the next in line after Taylor and Bobby to show and prove. She can compose, produce, and sing!!
Did you miss the last installment of this series? 
 
Stuff I’ve been listening to 22: Instrumentals

Stuff I’ve been listening to 21: Raps

Stuff I’ve been listening to 17: Soul

Stuff I’ve been listening to 19: UK Artists

Stuff I’ve been listening to 20: Remixes

Keep listening to new and old music. There are tons of great artists still coming out with music. If you’re not sure where to look, check out your local DJ, playlists, mixes, and your local independent radio stations.
Takuya Kuroda– Do they know (2016)
I came across Takuya through vocalist Jose James and always dug this track
Amel Larrieux – Try your wings (2007)
Love Amel since Groove Thory, since Infinite Possibilities, Bravebird, Morning. Peep this remake of the Blossom Dearie song from 1958
Yussef Kamaal- Live at Brownswood studio (2016) Individually these cats are amazing but their joint album “Black focus” is incredible.
Agggh, there’s so many great jazz records. Some you might of slept on or never heard of are artists like Meshell Ndegeocello, Kokoroko, Yazmin Lacey, Melissa Aldama, Grover Washington, or Butcher Brown. I wanna give a special shout out to this legend though.
Roy Hargove – Poetry (2003)
This was the first album that really got me hearing how dope Roy was, then I started to see his name with so many other great artists. Rest In peace brother Roy! Stay tuned for the next “Stuff I’ve been listening to” and drop a comment if there’s someone you recommend!
January 8, 2023
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Inspiration board 42

Yall, it gives me so much pleasure to share some of the things I’m seeing, hearing, feeling, reading, learning from, and getting inspired by. PLEASE check out some of these people, things, etc and get inspired!!! Here are they are left to right, top to bottom.

1. Snapdragon by Kat Leyh (graphic novel) Witches, Queer identity, etc

2. Eve Ewing (Author/Educator) writes about super heroes, school closures, and science

3. Vamos! by Raul the Third (Picture book) Bilingual literacy, Latinx, kids lit

4. A Tradition of Violence by Cerise Castle (podcast) LA Sheriff gangs, journalism, police brutality

5. Sebastian Mikael’s new EP Phileo (Soul Music) Soul, hip hop

6. Pinocchio by Guillermo Del Toro (Animated film) stop motion,

7. Alvin Irby founder of Barbershop Books (Interview) activism, literacy, black boys

8. I am the Subway by Kim Hyo Eun (Picture book) train, humanity, working class

9. Nala Sinephro’s album Space 1.8 (Jazz music) jazz, experimental jazz, harp

10. Abel Cruz’s fog nets (Water) BBC, World hacks, water crisis, fog nets, peru

11. Sibylline Meynet (Artist) illustration, gouache, artist

12. Afu Chan’s Outer Darkness (Artist) comics, illustration

13. Ovarian Psycos (Documentary) cycling, women’s rights, trauma, women

14. Noni Sessions (Activist) East Bay Permanent Real Estate Coop, coop’s, land, activism

15. Coop Conversations (Podcast) Cooperative housing, podcasts, coop’s, alternative housing

16. Teach the Children the Truth by Marisa Villegas (Podcast) Ethnic studies, Raza Studies, education

Did you miss the previous inspiration board? Here are a few 
 
What’s this? This inspiration board is one of the ways I stay inspired and sane through all of life’s trials, and tribulations, work, etc. I’ve been making inspiration boards full of films, books, music, events, people, artists, movements, and more for over a decade. Do you have an inspiration board? Please share in the comments.
Who am I? My name is Rob and I’m an artist working in kid lit, public art, and other disciplines. Go to my website, or follow me on IG or YouTube.

You can purchase my book “Art of Rob” here

January 5, 2023
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Stuff I’ve Been Listening to 22 – (Instrumentals)

Wha gwan? I got hip to this group through my mom who loves “The New Birth”. This group “The Nite Liters” is an off shoot or sub group of the New Birth and its the band I believe. Anyway, dig it. LINK . If you’re new. Every year I share some music that I love from many genres. The core is Black music. Take a listen to these instrumentals and beats! The Nite Liters – KJee (Louisville, 1970)
Slept on this album. I dig this beat. Alchemist has so many bangers across his career. Link to listen.
The Alchemist – No Window Tints (FETTI) (Los Angeles, 2018)
 

Don’t know much about Peruvian Pysch or the hisory of cumbia, but I love this instrumental version of “Botecito” by Los Orientales de Paramonga. I wrote about this song back in 2014 here on the Muphoric Sounds blog.

Los Orientales de Paramong- Botecito (Paramonga Peru, 1972)
 
This entire LP is headphones/ ride out music. One half of the Stuyvesants, brother Allmos made this dope album. Aromas is my favorite song off this.
Allmos- Aromas Naturalle (Portland, 2017)
 
Kokoroko is an amazing band lead by trumpeter Sheila Maurice Grey from the UK and I love their mix of jazz, high life, funk, and everything in between.
Kokoroko-Age of Ascent (United Kingdon, 2022)
 

Love this dude DJ Harrison. First heard him via Ivan Ave from Oslo. He’s a multi-instrumentalist from Richmond Virginia and is also a member of Butcher Brown. His bandcamp is full of incredible beat tapes like this. Pen Eyes 9 is my favorite.

DJ Harrison- Pen Eyes 9 (Richmond,VA, 2021)

This whole LP is fire. Jahari Massamba Unit is drummer/producer Karriem Riggins and producer Madlib. Merde is my favorite track from the album.
Jahari Massamba Unite – Merde (Detroit/ Los Angeles, 2020)
 
Kiefer is such a dope musician. His work as a producer and jazz pianist is instantly recognizable when you hear it. Peep his catalogue.
Kiefer – Superheo (Los Angeles, 2021)
 

This is a dope cut from vibraphonist and vocalist Roy Ayers. Produced for the 70s Blaxploitation flick Coffy starring Pam Grier. Fans of Hieroglyphics will recognize this one from Casual’s first LP.

Roy Ayers – Brawlin Broads( Los Angeles, 1973)
I became familiar with “The Putbacks” through Hiatus Kaiyote and I dig the way they play alone and with other artists. This is my favorite track from this album.
The Putbacks – Hold on (Melbourne, 2018)

I grew up listening to this band and I love Sade. If you go back and listen, the band included an instrumental song on most of the Sade albums including their solo Sweetback album. Siempre Hay Esperanza is dope but this is my favorite.

Sade – Mermaid (United Kingdom, 1992)

Georgia Anne Muldrow, the producer and vocalist has a ton of records under her belt including an album by Elzhi entirely produced by her, and several instrumental LPs such as Vweto 2. This is my favorite from that album.
Georgia Anne Muldrow- Bass Attack Rap (Los Angeles, 2019)
 

 

If I were a producer I would add an 808 and some drums to this interlude produced by Lianne La Havas and Geo. Its my 2nd favorite track on this album. But as it stands, I would listen on repeat for days.

Lianne La Havas – Out of your mind (London, 2020)

That’s it, there are so many more like this snippet from Oddisee’s new material but thats it for today. If you like discovering new music check out some of these other posts I’ve made over the past few years. Remember, even though you may have a sweet spot for a specific era or period, there’s always great music to be discovered and appreciated. Some of its old, and some is brand new! The best way to hear that new new is through your local favorite DJ. Playlists are great too, but hug a human through your speaker.

Stuff I’ve been listening to 21: Raps

Stuff I’ve been listening to 17: Soul

Stuff I’ve been listening to 19: UK Artists

Stuff I’ve been listening to 20: Remixes

EDIT: Added later

ESG (Emerald , Sapphire, & Gold) – UFO Classic rock/hip hop shit
October 24, 2022
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Power Struggle (MC) Documentary

Yo, brother Nomi aka “Power Struggle” (Beatrock, Odd Jobs, Kill the Vultures). Bro is an educator, musician, and organizer who not only writes about the struggles of working class people and does it with incredible hip hop songs. Nomi is from Minneapolis but he’s been in the Bay for nearly 20 years and a comrade in this work to make art from the heart and simultaneously speak about the struggle for liberation whether it be specifically about Pinays, People of color, the Filipino diaspora, or young men of color. 

Listen to his new LP! Out on Beatrock music!

If you’re in the Bay tomorrow you can catch him performing and listen to his new LP in Frisco!
And if you don’t know him check out this short documentary about him by Eric Tandoc
Dig this? Check out this remix of Dead Prez’s “Hip hop” by Pele Durian Funk

August 18, 2022
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Inspiration board 41

Ok, here’s some recently inspiring stuff. Left to right, top to bottom. I make this as much to share with you as I make as a reminder to myself:
1. The illustration of Maike Plenzke
2. Taking Children by Laura Briggs-non fiction book
3. Esperanza Spalding- Songrights Apothecary and her recent albums
4. Jerome Masi – Artist/Illustrator
5. Brown Ambition Podcast-Financial literacy
6. The Cot in the Living Room– Picture bk about community/mutual aid
7. Light & Magic- ILM documentary series (special FX)
8. Art of Ami Thompson
9.Wendell & Wild-upcoming stop motion film (Peele/ Selick)
10. Art of Derek Laufman
11. New Kid- Graphic novel by Jerry Craft
12. Stuart NG Bookstore– specializes in “Art books”
13. Art of Leo Espinosa-illustration
15. Squid Game TV Series
16. Art of Chris Sickels/Red Nose Studios
Please check out the links and support these folks, things, etc.
Did you miss the previous inspiration board? Here are a few 

What’s this? This inspiration board is one of the ways I stay inspired and sane through all of life’s trials, and tribulations, work, etc. I’ve been making inspiration boards full of films, books, music, events, people, artists, movements, and more for over a decade. Do you have an inspiration board? Please share in the comments.

Who am I? My name is Rob and I’m an artist working in kid lit, public art, and other disciplines. Go to my website, or follow me on IG or YouTube.
You can purchase my book “Art of Rob” here
August 2, 2022
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