Grand Royal Magazine
Grand Royal was the name of a magazine written and published by the legendary New York hip hop group, Beastie Boys. It was most famous for its article “Mulling Over the Mullet” in issue two, which increased the popularity of the mullet hairstyle. The group went onto record a song titled “Mullet Head” off the back of the initial articles success, on the flip side of their Sure Shot 12-inch single.
The very first issue of the magazine was indeed a Beastie Boys production through and through, all three members of the group had contributed to what would become the very sought after premier issue. By issue number six, the magazine had become more of
Mike D‘s venture than that of the two Adams. Ad-Rock went so far as to actually have a disclaimer printed inside the pages of the sixth issue. “I was a fashion (I mean, super model) in the first issue of Grand Royal. But since then I’ve had nothing to do with the magazine. So not only are my views and opinions not expressed, but I don’t agree with everything in the damn thing.”
Yet even without Adrock’s input, the publication grew from a limited initial print run 1993 to a worldwide phenomenon by the time it was put to bed in 1997.
Check out the MTV News coverage of the magazine from 25 years ago.
Paul McCarthy
Visitors to the future site of Hong Kong’s M+ Museum in West Kowloon will be greeted by a giant pile of feces – well, not literally. The monument of dung isn’t an alien territorial marking, but rather American artist Paul McCarthy’s contribution to an outdoor sculpture park commissioned by the museum. Other components of the sculpture park include a large trampoline re-creation of Stonehenge, as well as a giant cockroach paired with two downward-facing legs.
A$AP Rocky Rocks the Boat
On deck in his summer wear, A$AP rocks the boat in May’s issue Gentlemen’s Quarterly. Peep the interview above.
“I wanted to model when I was younger,” he says. “I was always into clothes and shit.” It’s a fact that’s constantly reinforced by his lyrics (Drop-crotch Jeremy Scott pants, bitch it’s Hammer time) and by menswear blogs that practically worship him. “I’m the man on those things,” Rocky gloats. “I don’t really look at them. Well, I guess I do, but only when I’m looking at myself. I inspire me.”
What Makes New York So Special
3 words for NYC from Cokau on Vimeo.
Check out this great video, shot and directed by the team over at Cokau who took time out to go around New York city, asking people, “What makes New York so special?” People were only allowed to answer in 3 words check out what they hand to say.
What are your three words?
Crash – Bowery Mural
Graffiti artist Crash completed his new piece over at The Bowery Mural, located in Manhattan. The Bronx graffiti artist spent last week inking the Pop-eye inspired piece on the Houston Street Wall. Which prior was home to Martha Cooper’s birthday tribute, which PONY USA previously covered, check that out here.
New York In Painting
New York City is a beautiful place to be in, with that said, it’s even more special when it is captured in art. Check out these wonderful pictures of various parts of the city captured in paintings. Try and guess what painting are where.
Azealia Banks – Yung Rapunxel
Check out the official music video from Harlem’s Azealia Banks titled, “Yung Rapunxel”. The song will no doubt be featured on the Harlemite’s highly anticipated Broke With Expensive Taste debut, stay tuned for more on the LP.
Claes Oldenburg In New York.
Currently on show at one of New Yorks best museums, the MoMA is a collection of work by the Pop Art sculptor, Claes Oldenburg. For those not familiar Oldenburg is best known for his public art installations typically featuring very large replicas of everyday objects. Other themes in his work are soft sculpture versions of everyday objects. Many of his works were made in collaboration with his late wife, Coosje van Bruggen.
Claes Oldenburg’s audacious, witty, and profound depictions of everyday objects have earned him a reputation as one of the most important artists of the 20th century. This exhibition examines the beginnings of Oldenburg’s extraordinary career with an in-depth look at his first two major bodies of work: The Street (1960) and The Store (1961–64). During this intensely productive period Oldenburg redefined the relationship between painting and sculpture and between subject and form. The Street comprises objects made from cardboard, burlap, and newspaper that together create an immersive panorama of a gritty and bustling city. The Store features brightly painted sculptures and sculptural reliefs shaped to evoke commercial products and comestibles. In The Store, cigarettes, lingerie, and hamburgers all become viable subjects for art.
Make sure you check out the exhibition before it closes in August details here.
