90210 - Wale (prod. by Mark Ronson)
Dedicating this to…
Thirty years ago today, the American Embassy in Tehran was seized. The 444 days that began on November 4, 1979 deeply affected the lives of courageous Americans who were unjustly held hostage, and we owe these Americans and their families our gratitude for their extraordinary service and sacrifice.
This event helped set the United States and Iran on a path of sustained suspicion, mistrust, and confrontation. I have made it clear that the United States of America wants to move beyond this past, and seeks a relationship with the Islamic Republic of Iran based upon mutual interests and mutual respect. We do not interfere in Iran’s internal affairs. We have condemned terrorist attacks against Iran. We have recognized Iran’s international right to peaceful nuclear power. We have demonstrated our willingness to take confidence-building steps along with others in the international community. We have accepted a proposal by the International Atomic Energy Agency to meet Iran’s request for assistance in meeting the medical needs of its people. We have made clear that if Iran lives up to the obligations that every nation has, it will have a path to a more prosperous and productive relationship with the international community.
Iran must choose. We have heard for thirty years what the Iranian government is against; the question, now, is what kind of future it is for. The American people have great respect for the people of Iran and their rich history. The world continues to bear witness to their powerful calls for justice, and their courageous pursuit of universal rights. It is time for the Iranian government to decide whether it wants to focus on the past, or whether it will make the choices that will open the door to greater opportunity, prosperity, and justice for its people.
Voyeur last night with Ivey, Hanna Beth, and Matt - the place is fucking wild! It’s been a crazy week… month… season… life? Sometimes you’re too busy living life to take a breath and look around and try to explain where you’ve been and what you’ve done. It wouldn’t make sense anyway, not to anyone who isn’t there, not even to yourself, because the morning after, everything has changed and you can spend a lifetime trying to figure it out and piece it together, or you can just keep going like a rocket ship down a rabbit hole and see where it takes you.
Last night, on the three-year anniversary of the party that was started at LAX by Steve, AM, and Mark, was the final Banana Split. The night was sort of a memorial for DJ AM, and some of his best friends (and some of the best DJs from around the world) came out to honour him - DJ A-Trak, Cut Chemist, Z-Trip, Justice, Steve Aoki, and a lot of others spun for their homie. I had just started hanging out with Mark, and Steve, and Adam when the night started, and it’s wild to think that it’s been three years… how much has changed but also how fast it’s happened. I went with Ivey, Hanna, and some other friends - we only stayed for a little while but the vibe was like I’ve never seen before and it was really good seeing everyone, three years of friends and memories.
(photo via flickr)
PURPLE HAZE by Gary Simmons
Fuck yes! If you’re driving down La Brea the Undefeated billboard is impossible to miss - this is the 23rd original work created for the store, with previous pieces created by famous street and gallery artists including Raymond Pettibon, KAWS, Barry McGee, Dennis Hopper, Terry Richardson, Kenneth Anger, Jose Parla, and more. Each piece so far has been amazing and it’s impossible to choose a favorite, but this is on the top of the list. Gary is my friend and mentor - he changed the way I thought about art as an object and art as it relates to my own life, to a great extant I wouldn’t be an artist today without his influence. Check out Undefeated for previous billboard projects.
