Save 3/42019
Expansion
- Alias
- GARGANT
- Class
- Cover Artist + Engineer
Prologue
I overcame many obstacles and hardships in my life. It was a period of transition, discovery, and personal development. I witnessed many friends come and go, family moving on, and the shifting of values in the world. But I also discovered a passion and a purpose in creating.
- Entry 01
Creating was my sanctuary and my expression. I decided to quit my role as Server Owner at CloudCrux, and explore new avenues and possibilities. I devoted myself to music, art, photography, and video making, honing my skills and talents like never before.
I created my first well-crafted song of my own in 2017. It was called GTA over a BlackCivic beat. 2018 was a tough but transformative year for me; I filmed my first music video that summer, flew to LA by myself, and upgraded my equipment with my own money.
LA was an amazing trip that taught me how to depend on myself and collaborate with other talented music artists. We had a blast, just vibing, living, and creating. I was creating a catalyst.
Fig. 01Personal Portrait (2016) - Entry 02
AH! HERMES
Ah! Hermes was created in 2012, but 2019 was when we turned it into a collective of local and international music artists and producers. We were a versatile group with different skills and talents. I was an engineer, videographer, and a facilitator who helped some members record and produce their music.
My room became Tetra HQ, where we had meetings to inspire and support each other creatively. We also partnered with Audius to participate in virtual concerts and other platform features. It felt like we were exploring a new frontier after Soundcloud.
Fig. 02International Artist Collective (Winter 2019) - Entry 03
TIMELESS
Timeless was created in 2019. It was one of the most ambitious projects started with me and my friends like brothers, Jay and Eddie. It had been a dream long before it became a reality. Take Initiative, Model Excellence, Live Efficient, Start Something. That was our motto.
We wanted to brand ourselves in a way that reflected the authentic spirit of some young, hungry, New York natives. We learned how to screenprint from scratch, sold out every collection. I took most of the photos with my Canon. It was an unprecedented detour that truly paid off.
Fig. 03New York Clothing Brand (Summer 2019) - Entry 04
Fig. 04Joven Freestyle, Tetra HQ (Winter 2019) Fig. 05New York Clothing Brand (Summer 2019) - Entry 05
In late 2019, I stepped on the stage for the first time in my life. It was one of the most exhilarating and unforgettable experiences I ever had. The event was a small one, organized by a friend of a friend. I was there as a photographer, capturing the moments of the other performers. But I also had a chance to showcase my own talent. I performed a feature that I had written and rehearsed. It was my only set, but I'm glad I did it. I felt a rush of adrenaline and joy as I shared my words with the audience.
Fig. 06Tetra Performance, Brooklyn (Shot by Joven) (Fall 2019) - Entry 06
Fig. 07Timeless Shoots, Charlotte (Summer 2019) - Entry 07
YOUNG ADULT
Young Adult is the result of a collaboration between Yeeevs and me, dating back to 2018. We remastered it for Audius in 2019, showcasing our best skills and talents. This project reflects our years of hard work and dedication in rapping and engineering. The cover art is from the same day I snapped the selfie below.
Aside from engineering this project, I am also featured on two tracks, Medievil which was produced by MXXXY, and Run It Up! produced by the legend, Whiskey Ramone.
Fig. 08Yeeevs - Young Adult (Fall 2018) [Cover Shot 2016, Yeeevs HQ] - Entry 08
Fig. 09Kamifonzo - Crash Nebula (Spring 2018) - Entry 09
The year 2019 marked the zenith of this epoch. After completing my education, I accelerated my ambitions. After the recharge I felt in going to LA the first time in 2018, I returned to LA for the launch of Stay Sunny by Holland Izz, had a successful launch party for that as well. We founded Timeless in that same summer. When I came back to New York, we transformed Ah! Hermes into a formidable musical collective. It was a splendid culmination of what we had cultivated in the previous years.
Fig. 10Kyle Driving & Beatmaking, California (Summer 2018) - Entry 10
Throughout this year, I focused on creating cover artwork for various clients while also exploring other artistic mediums. I was still finding who I was at the time. I simply found it difficult to make art for myself, to express my own vision and feelings if it wasn't disguised through art I had done for others, but I was learning.
Fig. 11Cover Artwork Compilation (Summer 2018) - Entry 11
Fig. 12Holland Izz - Sunny Tapes Vol 1 (Summer 2018) - Entry 12
This photo captures a moment when I was indulging in my passion for DIY fashion. I had a knack for transforming plain band t-shirts into unique and edgy pieces by bleaching and distressing them. I would resell the shirts on online platforms like Grailed and Mercari. At the time, I went over to Yeeev's crib to get some help to shoot the shirts, although many shots were left unused, there are still gem portraits from this day archived.
Fig. 13Portrait at Yeeevs HQ, Bronx (Fall 2016)
End of save 3 · 14 figures
