Lafayette Anticipation associate curator Anna Colin talks to artist Tyler Coburn about Ergonomic Futures, a speculative project engaged with art, design, science, anthropology and writing. In this interview, Coburn discusses the research, production process and network of collaborators of a multilayered project ultimately concerned with the futures of humankind. Anna Colin: When one comes across your museum seats Ergonomic Futures (2016—) in contemporary art exhibitions—and soon in natural history, fine art, and anthropology museums—they look… [read more »]
Global .Wav | Sexy Flexxy’s Kenyan Cruise
Kenya, 2006 – There’s a Gangsta Rap Video formula sheet floating around America somewhere, dictating the ratio of bikinis to bling, to cash money, and the like. Over the years, a mass of generic rap videos filtered down from said formula can be found in every corner of the world, creating a cringe-worthy buildup of the highest order: A cacophany of ass-exposing hoes and flashy cars, from Warsaw to the West Bank.
This global “G” rap phenomenon is undeniably crap.
Flexx, hailing from Kenya, is one of the few rappers around with a video that’s not trying to be high-def, high speed, or full of the usual hip hop status signifiers. In the intro, we find him chilling in a brick and aluminum hut with his boys, discussing the female form (or something) for 37 seconds before the music even starts. When he’s distracted by a blue mesh, swirly-patterned skirt, he begins his attempt to pick up ladies walking down a dirt road in Nairobi—sans Lamborghini and club lights—with a few smooth moves and lines. In other words, he creates zero embarrassing moments. Plus, the track is awesome: what a fucking relief!