We would like to congratulate our buddy Ricky Watts on the launch of his brand new site http://www.rickywatts.com

Ricky is DOPE with a capital everything so go on click the picture, go buy some prints throw him in an art show if he’s not busy do whatevs just support!  You can also read Mr. Watts’ 5 finger discount interview here.

Lower Branch loves music!  What we love more than music itself is when music smashes itself into visual art.  Santa Cruz based MC and Rec League member Proe recently dropped this gem “Don’t wake the Babies” off the upcoming  album “Be Brave Gladiator” available Jan 1st, 2012.  The images are something out of an internet nightmare that went absolutely right and had you up in the morning like “whoa, that was ill.”   Shot in a Richmond District dungeon in an undisclosed location where if you knew they’d have to  kill you………. with whiskey shots!

“Make love, make war, make art, make out, out, out out…….”

“I dont consider myself a photographer im an artist…I grew up around graffiti, taggin Muni, black books, Drawing & writing lyrics.”

Damien Grew up in San Francisco’s Mission District back in the day when the streets of the Mish weren’t so forgiving, long before the hipsters were allowed to move in and pedal their fixies freely.  Back in a time when random dudes like yours truly would have knives pulled out on them followed by a line that meant business “take that shit back to the aves. whiteboy.”  The Mission is still the Mission, will always be the mission but it’s nothing like those days throughout the 90’s.

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If you have not heard of ARYZ you are asleep or maybe even just dead all together. I thought I would give him even more run after his recent October run via our friends at Juxtapoz. Since most of us will not be headed to Spain anytime soon I figured I’d bring Spain’s finest to you. Check the video above of Aryz and his mates doing what they do best and (CLICK HERE) to see some of Aryz’ older flics from last year.

Trevor Traynor from John Coyne on Vimeo.

Trevor Traynor is a well trained genius behind the lens, whether it be digital, film or video my man is well versed. T2 started honing his skills in the darkroom way before he was wrecking shop on the digital age and it shows in his work.

Check the awesome interview put together by John Coyne above and (CLICK HERE) to see more works from the lens of T2 including the damn near famous Method Man shot and more from Lower Branch!

This is why Jeremy Fish RULES!  Still one of our absolute favorite artists in SF.  Peep this throw down over the Aesop Rock track pigs, hidden cut from none shall pass which also featured Mr. Fish’s artwork.  Check game.

Aesop Rock Pigs

Check out this mix from the buddy Gus Cutty also featuring an unreleased Fist Fam track off the new Panama Jack EP produced by the ever elusive Conceit!  Featuring tracks from Ghostface, Action Bronson, Pete Rock and Smif n Wessn.  Go, go now click the picture.

Robert is a good friend of ours and when we came across this amazing-ness courtesy of Purebred Productions we had to share. Be sure you show them all love by stopping by Robert’s and Purebred Productions’ pages on face book and hit them with some likes. The same can be done for Lower Branch as well, but you’ve already done that.

(Purebred)
We were inspired to create a series of portraits with Robert after he jokingly said, “I’m owning the rainbow. I like the bright colors, my paintings are usually brightly colored. I have said that when I get cut I bleed rainbow, which is funny for a guy who only wears black.”

Indeed.

photo: Jason Mitchell
sets/retouching: Stacey Ransom
awesomness: Robert Bowen

Robert Bowen

Candy Coated opens Aug 13th

Featuring all new work at Lopogallery

go to http://lopogallery.com/ for details!

Yo, what makes Rey Res the shit? I dunno, but if you have more than five minutes with the man you will soon realize he is one of the most super talented humble human beings on the planet! He is smart enough to know what an ego is but twice as smart to not care about it.

Read More and catch the new video with Dj Custo ( Click Here )

Stevie Jablonsky rules as does Isaac Bidwell.  I would like to introduce them both and tip my hat to Stevie as the newest contributor to Lower Branch.  Check game!

Lower Branch’s July 22nd Anniversary Show at 111 Minna is rapidly approaching and the list of artists keeps on growing.  Among them is New York based artist Isaac Bidwell.  I personally have had a chance to meet with the talented artist a few months back at a show here in SF and was excited to here that he was participating in the Lower Branch Anniversary show.  Isaac is new to the Bay Area art scene, so I put a little Q and A sesh with Isaac together so you can all get to know him a little better

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