This Soundcheck is brought to you by naps, locs, kinks and coils (like everything else on this site!). dead prez released a video for a song this week called “The Beauty Within” that celebrates the beauty of natural hair. With lyrics like, “Real Black girl, I salute your existence,” this is definitely a new favorite in the Garden. Watch the official video below and support these honorary earthBrothas who support us. Some of the lyrics: this Hollywood world so pretentious every other girl got a perm or extensions but you don even rarely wear lipstick still your beauty is...

photo credit Devin Dehaven earthSista Kirei Na calls Leela James’ Music one of her favorites. It was on James’ debut album, entitled A Change Is Gonna Come, that was released on ‘05. In the lyrics to the album’s lead single, “Music”, James laments the current state of contemporary popular music. She condemns the glorification of materialism and misogyny that has often been attributed to the lyrical content of contemporary R&B and hip hop songs while pleading for the return of the artistry, dedication, and sincerity displayed by musicians of earlier decades....

He says he’s an EccentricSoul with a vision. And from his imagination he tells stories of the unseen.  Indeed. As an artist of photography, Remy constantly, seeks to elevate himself creatively by stepping outside of his fine art comfort zone and manifesting his style for fashion and couture. And he seeks out women and men who DARE to step outside the box with him. All of his models agree that when they work with him, he definitely takes their ports to another level. Remy employs colours in their vivid and primary forms. He exploits their richness to enhance the passion in his captures....

by earthSista Nfinite Being in front of the camera inspired me to step behind it. I absolutely love photography, and I often get the urge to shoot. In those moments I call upon my muse, Hafsa. On this particular shoot I wanted to showcase her natural beauty. We shot in various spots on campus (Agnes Scott College). It was a beautiful day…hot and humid but Hafsa took it all in stride and managed to look phenomenal in the midst of the heat. I like both looks that Hafsa did…one was a little edgy and sexy, and the other was natural and Afrocentric. We had a wonderful shoot…it is always...

Beauty heard about the Garden, purely by chance. She was interested immediately. A very real and down to earth sista, Beauty simply lives life to the fullest as she searches for her place in. She is a woman always on the move as she explores various venues for her own creativity, while providing support for the creative endeavors of those closest to her. Beauty loves being in front of the camera and she eagerly seeks the opportunity to create provocative and striking images as you can tell from he recent captures in the sun. As soon as can fit it into her busy schedule, Beauty will create a new...

“i believe art can change the world. let’s make a difference. i’m tryna do work that looks like no other. i’ve done magazines, album & book covers, but my current passion is fine art.” “i’m currently workin in natural light. god’s illumination on Black skin is magnificent 2 me.” “Black people need 2 see images of ourselves w/ humanity. women beautiful regardless of size, shape or complexion. men strong, sensitive & loving. parents & children caring & happy. couples in love in warm intimate moments. us as lovers, sensual...

A pictorial moment of the images Beauty and I sought to capture on that overcast day. I wish we could have done more but I think these final few works portray the feel I wanted to portray. Bookmark on Delicious Digg this post Recommend on Facebook share via Reddit Share with Stumblers Tumblr it Tweet about it Subscribe to the comments on this post

If you recall, I did a post a while back about Rainy Days where I talked a little about the idea I had for a picture set for the portal that I didn’t get to take because it was a cloudy, rainy day. But there was this moment…like…from God, where the sun poked through the clouds. It wasn’t for long; 20 maybe 30 minutes. But it was a blessing. It was moment. And we captured it. There will be a full set on the portal. Thank you. Bookmark on Delicious Digg this post Recommend on Facebook share via Reddit Share with Stumblers Tumblr it Tweet about it Subscribe to the comments...

It rained at Mas Camp. I’ve talked about this place several times before but It may be shutting its doors soon and there were so many spots I wanted to shoot in that I never got a chance too. I was fortunate enough to have a model who would come with me and it had been so hot and sunny for so many days that I thought it would be a perfect opportunity to create a new set for the portal. I wanted to do the shoot in the kitchen of this joint. The windows had been painted blue and when the sun hit them it creates a very artsy, very dramatic feel on the images. But you need a lot of sun for a...

Meeting her by chance was truly a treasure. Tai will be one of the models for the new web portal we are building which will launch in midJuly. We are still working on concepts for her images. Any ideas? Bookmark on Delicious Digg this post Recommend on Facebook share via Reddit Share with Stumblers Tumblr it Tweet about it Subscribe to the comments on this post