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Griff Lamar: Return to Music

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By Chris Castellanos

In a genre of music that celebrates the constant flexing of sex, cars, money, and drugs, one artist, Griff Lamar, decided to take a step back before diving into the alluring shimmer of the professional hip-hop scene. Back in 2012, thousands of people knew Lamar when his song “Super Swag” played on BET’s “106 & Park.” Finding himself in a spotlight, which he had been so eager to grasp, Lamar wasn’t satisfied. For Lamar, there were voices where there weren’t any before, questioning his actions: What does my music mean? What am I saying? Will I be proud of what I have done with my voice? Lamar took a hiatus promising himself that if he ever was going to come back to hip-hop, it was going to be with something to say from the heart.

Fast forward to the start of 2019, Griff Lamar was featured by KRQE for his remake of Michael Jackson’s Thriller, staged at the KiMO Theatre. ABQ-Live had a chance to sit down with Griff Lamar and discuss how he plans to move forward in his return. 

Q&A

Can you tell us about yourself?

Griff Lamar, Air Force Veteran, college graduate, father. That should have been first honestly (laughs). Jack of all trades, I film my videos, I edit my videos. I write music, I have a very particular way of doing things that help me to accomplish what I want. I have a lot of ambition and it’s always been there. I am a person who makes it happen, if I want it I get it, nothing is going to stop me.” 

Can you tell us a little about your song “Super Swag”?

I was going to UNM during that time. To be honest, it was something to do. I had just gotten out of the military. Because of the military, I had the benefit of going to college. I was more focused on the music. With the success of “Super Swag”, I gained a lot of confidence — it was like I knew this is the route.

To be constantly working is something that seems embedded in our culture, especially for a creator. While on your break, did you feel a lot of pressure to get back to creating music, or were you content in your hiatus?

I have to tell you why I stepped away first: I was conflicted about the message I was giving. I was on that whole wave of doing what everyone else was doing. Being young in your 20’s living that life, going out, partying, drinking, smoking, all of the above. –it was conflicting for me because I may have been living that lifestyle, but it wasn’t something I was necessarily proud of. I had a daughter at the time and as she got older, I started to realize: What am I instilling in her? What am I going to tell her as far as what she should and shouldn’t do? She can look back on me and literally look me up on YouTube. That was a big part of it. I wanted to keep my morals whether or not I saw that quick success. 

I had thousands of views on YouTube, but I deleted them because I wasn’t proud of them. I didn’t know what I was going to talk about, but I knew that I didn’t want to talk about that lifestyle anymore. I didn’t want “Super Swag” to be my whole image and that’s it. There is so much more depth to me not only as an artist, but as a person and I didn’t feel that I had the opportunity or platform to really show that. I wanted to please everyone or not please but I wanted the approval. All [of] that made me want to step back. I want to make sure that I look back at what I did and be proud of it, even if they [fans] don’t like it.

In your new songs. “Energy” and “Talk About It,” the idea of a complex past keeps coming up. Can you explain why that is? 

Even during the “Super Swag” era, there were plenty of songs that were more emotional, that came from my heart that had to do with my personal experiences with relationships, but those didn’t get as much attention as “Super Swag.” I wrote “Talk About It” during the “Super Swag” era, and there were other songs that I planned to release. “Talk About It” was a song I never really got behind because it was also during a time when I was wondering if I wanted to keep doing this. 

Hip-hop and rap started out almost therapeutically to tell the stories of those who seemingly had no voice. How do you explain the shift from real-life struggles to a more materialistic brag? 

It’s always been a part of it, even back in the early ’90s and it was so easy to get swept up into it. It’s not like I was lying. I had girls, I had money, I had friends and that whole lifestyle– it was just an aspect of my life I never wanted growing up. I know I wanted to create, I wanted to be appreciated for my talents. That whole lifestyle was a product of my environment. All of us are kind of caught up in this space where we pretend like it is the best thing to live that way, but the reality is that we are using this to cope with our issues — that’s what I was doing. I’m not going to shun people for doing that, because I know, I lived it. I know how easy it is to get sucked into that. I just can’t glorify that kind of lifestyle anymore.

Are there any influences in the music or crazy music video ideas from your experience in the Air Force? 

The Air Force introduced me to some really close friends. You meet people from all over and y’all bond up, you’re tight and then go our own ways. I’ve had some of my best friendship experiences in the Air Force because I lived everywhere growing up. This was the first time I got a chance to get familiar with the area. If you asked me where Central and Wyoming are, I could tell you — that was one of the best aspects of the military — a bunch of people in an unfamiliar area and we grew to know it as well as each other. As far as writing music, not right now. As I delve deeper to tell my story, I’m sure it’ll come up. 

Authenticity is another running theme in your music Can you talk about why that is important to you? 

I experienced this rare thing where everyone was my friend and no one was at the same time. I didn’t have anyone checking on me or asking how I was doing I had people asking if I wanted to go party or if I knew where the party was. No one cared about asking about me. They wanted to tell me about their cousin who raps, their brothers, sisters, uncles, their mom. They wanted to tell me about all these people who hated me and then I would see these people in person and they would make a beeline for me, shake my hand, pat me on the back and tell me I’m doing a great job. I didn’t know how to feel about it. I think everyone wanted to be cool with me because they didn’t know how far I was going to go. They would say how they really felt with friends, but in public show open support to me and it was confusing. I honestly had more respect to the people [who] stood by what they said about not liking me or my music.

The way I was raised, you communicate your differences. Communication was the way you bridge the gap between personalities and differences. It comes up in the music because it’s a reality. I’m not going to pretend I don’t have my issues, because I do, just like everyone else, but I am self-aware. I don’t get in my own way and if I do, I have people around me who are going to help me. 

What are your plans for the future?

I definitely wanted to shoot a music video for “Energy,” [so] I’m putting things together for that. I have a couple of other songs that have already been released that I am not actively pushing for I also plan to do videos for. I am starting a clothing line, and I designed my own logo. I am really trying to dig my hands into every aspect of this. I’m going to hit the ground running, go places. If you like good music, good art, I’m your guy. More than anything good work that I’m proud of. 

Griff Lamar’s new music can be found on Spotify, Apple Music, SoundCloud, and YouTube.  


     

2019 Summerween Costume Ideas

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By August Edwards

If you’re like me, you have no idea what to wear for Summerween 2019, and you love being the center of attention. I’ve compiled a list to help you achieve all of your Summerween dreams for Saturday, August 10th at the Salt Yard.

Courtesy of www.marthastewart.com

1)  Area 51-themed: Something (Twitter) tells me that this Area 51 raid is a hot summer topic. Come as an alien, a citizen with a heart of gold, or even the Air Force. We can’t stop all of you from storming this cool, trendy costume concept.

Courtesy of www.makeupbyrenren.com

2) Any animal, really: Let’s face it; we all might just end up here anyway. Have a pair of nondescript-animal-ears-on-a-headband laying around? Do you have paint or some opaque-ish substance to create a snout, whiskers, or smear under your eyes (in a raccoon-like fashion)? A fur-colored shirt? You’re good, my friend!

Courtesy of gmispace.com , scholastic.com, halloweencostumes.com

3)  A Teacher: Sexy! Knowledge! Scorn! Teachers have made some of the biggest impacts in our lives; let’s pay a hearty homage to them by putting on our best, homiest tie or ill-fitting slacks. Remember that sweater Mrs. Howard always wore? Feel free to spice it up and make our beloved teachers the best versions of themselves. You can even put one of those old apples on your counter to good use as a prop!

Courtesy of loudwire.com
4)  A Rockstar (Who’s Music You’ve Never Heard): We all know that one song—we don’t need to know their whole story, for cryin’ out loud. Slap on a wig, dabble with some spicy guy-liner, and carry around that ukulele that you store in your closet (folks will get the gist). If someone asks you about discographies, or whatever, you can always distract them by buying them a drink.


5) Your Favorite Brand Mascot: Did someone say “I’m sponsored”? Everyone will recognize you in that bald cap, white eyebrows to match the t-shirt, and an inexplicable, singular, gold hoop earring—that’s right, it’s Mr. Clean! Be the Geico Gecko of the ball while supporting the corporation close to home. 

John Wick Chapter 3: Parabellum takes the Series to the Next Level

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By Calgary Maez

As the third film in the action-packed, gun slinging, over-the-top John Wick franchise, “John Wick 3: Chapter 3 – Parabellum” takes it up a notch and continues the story where “John Wick: Chapter 2” left off. The series is best known for its clever use of fighting, cinematography, and cast of characters that draw moviegoers in, begging for more. 


The premise of the first film was simple; one man takes his revenge on those who killed his dog and stole his car, killing anyone who got in his way. Now, John Wick (Keanu Reeves) has to fight for his life after he was pronounced “excomunicado” for killing his target on Continental grounds, which is one rule you cannot break within the assassins guild. A $14 million hit on his head forces him to fight for his life and seek help from an old ally, Sofia (Halle Berry). John travels the world in an attempt to clear his name and make peace with the High Table, the leaders of the assassins guild, as they wage war on him and all of his allies. 

What sets the John Wick films apart from other action flicks is the cinematography. Every location is usually dark, which works with John’s character as he is most commonly known as the Baba Yaga: The Boogeyman. He fights from the shadows and when he emerges, all of the action is presented right in front of you. No “shaky cam” or unnecessary jump cuts are used. The camera always focuses on John during his fight scenes with multiple uses of angles and movements to really make the action cinematic. The locations used also stand out, especially New York with its use of neon colors and vibrant lighting. 

What makes John Wick terrifying to his foes is that he never pulls his punches and shows no mercy. He uses an array of weaponry and mixed martial arts against his enemies and always goes for the kill shot. This is what sets him apart from other action heroes because he mows down groups of assassins and mercenaries and can take any hits they dish out. The dogs in the film also take part in the action this time around and are specifically trained to take down the bad guys so John can put them down for good. 

“John Wick Chapter 3: Parabellum” is the perfect popcorn flick to be enjoyed with friends.  Reeves gives an amazing performance between his acting and doing most of his own stunts. He also works amazingly well with  Berry and together they bring a great new dynamic to the franchise. The film raises the bar with its great storytelling, amazing visuals, and cinematography, and of course, its outstanding action set pieces.

Poster courtesy of IMDb.


Annual Breakfast brings Albuquerque together to fight homelessness

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By Nichole Harwood

CLNkids held its annual breakfast Friday, May 10, raising money to continue its work serving the homeless community in Albuquerque.

Formerly known as Cuidando Los Ninos, CLNkids is a non-profit organization that helps families suffering from homelessness by combining high-quality early childhood education with proven support programs for parents.

Sponsored by a variety of businesses, the goal of the event was to raise $25,000, which would then be matched by the Carl C. Anderson Sr. and Marie Jo Anderson Charitable Foundation. Several guest speakers delivered speeches during the breakfast including New Mexico State Auditor Brian Colón and parent speaker Elizabeth Jaramillo. Both speakers passionately shared their personal experiences with poverty and homelessness, urging guests at the event to donate to CLNkids in support of its work for the community.

Colón spoke first, recounting his families past struggles with poverty and shared his experiences from a child watching his mother count out food stamps to a young man fighting to receive his degree. Colón told the audience that while his struggles were difficult, he received support from his local community, a community he said he saw coming together once again at the annual breakfast, continuing the fight against homelessness.

“When I got out of bed today, I knew it was going to be a great day because I knew that 500 New Mexicans were going to come together to lift up our community,” Colón said. “We’re coming together to see a vision that is different than what we have today — a vision where our children are cared for and we address homelessness in our community.”

Near the end of his speech, Colón shared and praised his experiences of CLNkids’ effective work, while urging attendees to donate.  

“Your success in life will always be directly proportional to the success you help others achieve,” Colón said. “We are now changing the trajectory for families for a lifetime, and let me tell you, Cuidando Los Ninos does it better than anybody else.”

Attendees of the event were given a glimpse into the eyes of a child whose family was homeless in the form of a video. The video explored the state of homelessness as a little girl awoke in a vehicle only to then get ready for school within the same vehicle. Throughout the entire clip, a loving mother did her best to encourage her young daughter, smiling and helping her dress before the two waited at a bus stop.

The goal of the video was to buck the stereotypes that often revolve around homelessness showing a different face to a problem that affects over 500,000 people in the United States, according to the 2018 U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Annual Homeless Assessment Report.

When Jaramillo took to the floor after Colón, she continued where the video left off, advising viewers to not stereotype and categorize those afflicted by homelessness. Instead, she asked the audience to consider the different circumstances an individual can find themselves in that can lead to homelessness —  regardless of age, sex or education. Jaramillo emphasized the point by passionately sharing her story regarding homelessness and her children, highlighting her education and work experience and how both were unable to stop her and her children from losing their home when circumstances spun beyond her control.

After telling her story, Jaramillo told the audience about her experience with CLNkids and how their programs helped get her life back on a positive track. She ended her speech thanking CLNkids for their help while crediting them for making a significant impact in her life.

“It is essential that CLNkids gave us the resources that we needed to get back to where we were before,” Jaramillo said.

After thanking attendees for joining the breakfast and their willingness to donate to the cause, Jaramillo ended her speech before the attendees prepared to donate at the end of the event.

“I hope you guys continue to contribute and support CLNkids because it’s not doing anything but creating more positive outcomes for your community,” Jaramillo said.

Photos by contributing ABQ-Live photographer Michael Griego Jr

Avengers: Endgame celebrates 11-years of Marvel

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By August Edwards

After 22 movies, the world’s most excruciating soap opera has come to an end with “Avengers: Endgame.” What has compelled us to watch and re-watch for over a decade, has left us with victories, individual and shared, to celebrate.

We all know the good guys are going to win at the end, which might be welcome encouragement with the knowledge that we’ll have to sit through three hours and one minute to receive a payoff. The mystery of Endgame — or, the potential for spoilers — for those who haven’t seen it yet, does not lie within the overall arc of action, but within the emotional resonance, each character brings to the screen.

Does it warrant the length? Of course, because of how it is. Everything about this film is significant. Substantial. Even the subtleties (whatever “subtlety” means within this franchise) are grandiose; characters that are bound to have minimal screen-time still beg us to savor every moment they deliver—and it is easy to do so. “Endgame” moves fast. The humor is nuanced, the jokes land. While transitional moments rely on laughs to keep the story moving, this does not obscure the dark moments that are paced long enough to solicit tears.

Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Captain America (Chris Evans), Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), namely, cannot find a way to live with the past; they are haunted to the point of torture. Unlike “Infinity War,” Thanos seems to be more of a plot device than a real obstacle. This could be for many reasons; we already know what his motives are, and, simply put, he’s already done what he’s done. In this fashion, Thanos becomes a metaphor for what the Avengers are fighting.

We are at an age where “spoiling” is a sin. I will not share anything about the film that might upset somebody, but I would like to share what “Avengers: Endgame” has taught me about spoilers in light of how our heroes battle demons from the past.

We’re afraid of losing the particular feeling of raw emotion that comes with experiencing something for the first time. We might even put pressure on ourselves to feel something to the degree at which we believe it should be explored. We recognize a smaller payoff in finding out the secrets before we’re meant to. Not only do we react with anger, but we are also filled with a sort of grim realization — that, in context, the feeling we’ve long awaited just won’t hit the same.

While we can’t go back in time and fix the past to how we would like it to be, we can choose what we do with our present. The Avengers in Endgame has provided a compelling argument for living each moment to the fullest, even if we think we know what the outcome will be.

“Avengers: Endgame” is enjoyable. Watching noble characters we love to fight for what they love is, without a doubt, inspiring. It is freeing to be able to cry and laugh next to someone who is also crying and laughing in the same darkness with the same glow emanating onto their faces. I think these feelings can be accomplished even if something has been spoiled. It might all depend on how present we are.

Poster courtesy of IMDb.

Albuquerque Event makes a Stand Against Child Abuse

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By Nichole Harwood

Albuquerque families and children were brought together in a united effort at ABQ Party Space on April 30 from 4 to 7 p.m. for Blessed and Beautiful’s 4th Annual “Hands are for Hugging NOT Hurting” event, honoring children who have been lost to abuse and violence.

Sponsored by local businesses, the event provided free food, games, and prizes for attendees. Additionally, many special guests within the Albuquerque community came out to the event to lend support for the cause including professional development team New Mexico Runners and local professional fighters such as Matthew “Papitas” Esquibel and Aaron “Angel Baby” Perez.

Event coordinator Chantelle Martinez said that there was a tremendous effort to ensure that attendees and their families would be able to attend free of charge. The goal of Blessed and Beautiful’s 4th Annual “Hands are for Hugging NOT Hurting” was to not only celebrate the lives of the children lost to abuse and violence, but also to honor the children of families and show them that they are unique and loved.  

Science teacher with Marie Hughes Elementary, Natalie Trujillo, gave a speech to attendees before performing a duet with her eight-year-old daughter, Adelina Garcia, where the two sang “Dancing in the Sky” by Dani and Lizzy, paying tribute to the lives of the children lost.

Trujillo encouraged attendees to put their foot down and be a voice for child abuse victims and those who can’t speak for themselves.

“Let’s help make a profound impact on a child’s life by doing something as simple as defending them,” she said. “Think about it. If you are uncomfortable or too afraid about getting involved in something so serious, imagine for one moment how a child must feel. They’re probably scared, ashamed and alone. That can change if we can learn to work together to report child abuse.”  

In addition to building community awareness around the effects of child abuse and how to prevent and report it, the event held a talent show to continue their significant focus on celebrating children. For the talent show, every participant received a prize. Children performed several different acts including duet dancing and singing for onlookers. The show was all inclusive, and attendees embraced each child’s talent.  

With an enthusiastic and engaged crowd in attendance, Martinez hoped that those who left the event went home knowing that they were loved while appreciating the difference a community can make when they come together.

“I want guests to understand the effects of child abuse and to know that every second with their kid is special. I want them to embrace the moment, love their kids and have fun with them,” Martinez said. “The days go by fast, and you never know what’s going to happen tomorrow.”

Photos by ABQ-Live intern Naomi Romero

Photos edited by ABQ-Live photographer Gabriel Aro

Aveda Presents Annual Fashion Show for Charity

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Aveda Institute New Mexico held its annual Catwalk for Water Saturday, April 27 introducing Albuquerque to a fashionable under the sea experience while raising money for a great cause.

By Nichole Harwood


With doors opening at 6 p.m. patrons of the fashion community flooded into the National Hispanic Cultural Center ready to watch models decorated in makeup and clothing designs created by Aveda Institute New Mexico’s students’ catwalk down the runway to promote clean water awareness.

The performance was made possible through a partnership between Aveda Institute New Mexico and Charity: Water, a non-profit organization that provides clean drinking water to people in developing nations. Additionally, business partners in the community donated gift certificates and prizes to a raffle held throughout the show with proceeds from the raffle being donated. These business partners included Amore Pizzeria, Garcia’s Kitchen, Two Cranes Bistro and Brew, Remedy Coffee, and Showtime Barbershop.

Aveda Institute New Mexico Cosmetology Instructor Dillon Spranley said the charity message resonated strongly with her, as she believes it’s an eye-opening experience for many individuals to realize just how fortunate they are to have access to clean water.

“For me, I think it’s a great cause to raise money for this and not just for something locally within our country,” Spranley said. “I think it’s part of Aveda’s mission to help the world and so I think this is incorporating that.”

The show began around 7 p.m., and the crowd made their way excitedly to their seats before being introduced to the Youtube video “Water Changes Everything” which was quickly followed by a speech going over the importance of clean water.

After introducing the premise of the show, the lights were darkened in the auditorium as the first group of models took to the stage. From there audience members were immersed in a creative performance filled with diversity ranging from drag performances from Nadia Deleon, Kuwani and Liviana to the live artist Ilashone who created a masterpiece before attendees eyes.

Throughout the show, the audience was educated on not just the importance of clean water but the work of Charity: Water who provide solutions to countries that don’t have access to clean water by creating drilled wells, spring protections and BioSand filters that help generate clean water to communities around the world.

Catwalk for Water ended with a finale catwalk featuring models adorned in mermaid attire with false gills and underwater themed makeup.

Before the finale Mark “Pardo” Gonzales thanked the staff and students of Aveda Institute New Mexico, as well as the attendees for their dedication to the charity cause.

“Seeing this kind of work from these students, these young fashion artists inspires me,” said Gonzales.

Video by ABQ-Live intern Raevin Richardson

Photos by ABQ-Live photographer Gabriel Aro

Native New Mexican Breathes Life into Fyre Fest

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Like many other Americans, New Mexico ZOZOBRA LEGO creator Robert Piñeda found himself invested in the 2019 Netflix documentary “Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened” that covered the history of the failed Fyre Music Festival. Unlike other viewers, however, Piñeda decided to breathe new life into the long dead project by using his talent to create an alternate ending to the “greatest party that never happened”.

By Nichole Harwood

Piñeda’s journey began after watching the documentary, covering the rise and fall of the failed festival. After watching the footage it didn’t take long for Piñeda to transform his inspiration into reality through his work. He began to create a mirror “Winter Fest” set with igloos and Lego mini-figures with miserable faces, reflecting the reality of the failed project. However, as Piñeda worked on his creation, he began to notice that the igloos he was setting up looked similar to the white tents that may have adjourned Fyre Fest if the event had a chance to happen. The thought shifted the gears in the Lego artist’s mind and set him on an entirely different path.

Piñeda decided to create a scenario that had never had a chance to exist, a place where Fyre Fest came to life.  

“I knew I could not only make a Fyre Fest with tents and figures looking miserable, but I could also make a set using the same figures partying like Fyre Fest actually happened,” Piñeda said. “I added as much of the of Fyre Fest highlights as I could fit: from the gourmet cheese sandwiches, Andy the man that would do anything for the release of the bottled water, Billy McFarland on his jet ski with this black shirt and hat, beds just lying around for the taking, Ja Rule, people taking selfies, and then it just continued to evolve.”

As Piñeda’s imagination continued to develop, he found himself adding humor into his creation eventually including a shark attack and a monster chasing a man out of a porta-potty onto the set.  

To make his set come to life, Piñeda gave each character a name and backstory. Additionally, to ensure his creation reflected the inspiration in his mind, Piñeda worked with two separate systems: one that allowed him to build the set online and the other that allowed him to build the set in real life.

With his imagination taking the lead much like his with the first ZOZOBRA LEGO project, everything came together, Piñeda said. After finishing his creation, the artist contacted Oren Aks, a poster creator for the failed project who also currently controls the Fyre Fest Instagram account.  After Piñeda reached out, Aks eagerly agreed to add the photos of the set to the official account.

“He loved it and thought it was hilarious,” Piñeda said with a laugh. “He wanted to know which character in the set represented him.”  

As an artist, Piñeda said that he always strives to ensure every project stands apart from his past creations. When Piñeda decided to bring Fyre Fest to life, he knew he was preparing to tackle a project unlike any before. The failed event was primarily driven by social media.  Piñeda said he was thrilled to test the boundaries of his imagination by creating a platform that would flourish through social media, as the event that had inspired it did.

Upon completion, Piñeda said he was pleased with his finished creation.

“This set was smaller, but it brought satisfaction knowing I could create a smaller set,” he said. “While it wasn’t as detailed as the ZOZOBRA set, it brought a different level of satisfaction to try something smaller.”

Piñeda is currently in the beginning stage of creating his third ZOZOBRA LEGO set and is excited to release it soon to the public. As a native New Mexican artist, Piñeda encourages other artists to chase their dreams and overcome obstacles as he has.

“Just do it,” Piñeda said. “Who cares if people don’t like your work. If it makes you happy, then it makes you happy. If you don’t think you’re good enough, then try to be different,” he said. Piñeda encourages aspiring artists to not only “just do it,” but to create their own style, adding variety to the artistic community. “If you’re not as good as someone else, at least your different. Eventually, you will create your own niché, your own followers, and your own market which will bring a sense of satisfaction.”

Video by ABQ-Live intern Raevin Richardson


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