I haven’t blogged in awhile but let me update you on the latest project to utilize not only my photography skills, but my writing skills as well.

This story is kind of interesting because neither the photography nor the artist write-up was meant for Phatboi “The Global Zoe” to use for his album EP, but yet was meant specifically as use for as a spread in a underground magazine issue. Once I showed Phatboi how the pictures came out he immediately wanted to save one for use as his album cover, so we ended up sending the magazine some other pictures to use instead.

On the flip side, the whole reason I was doing a photoshoot with Phatboi in the first place was because I was also writing an article on Phatboi for the same magazine. Long story short, without getting into offensive detail, someway somehow my article didn’t make the magazine (most likely b/c it was too long but I haven’t talked to the editor about the article mishap since then) and when Phatboi read the article they used in the magazine compared to mine that was left out, to say the least he was upset.

Anyway, further down the line next thing I know Phatboi is distributing his EP around the state and when I finally get to see it not only is my photography on the front, but my write-up is on the back as well!

It goes to show you that people still appreciate when hard, passionate work is put into a project and as a human being you can’t help but to respect that and know that passion of work is a rare trait in people these days. In the end, my work didn’t go in vain and actually probably came out better because more eyes will see the CD than ever would have the magazine! Phatboi hustles hard so I know his work and mine will get into everyone’s hands if he has anything to do with it!

Much love, Carlos

ARTICLE WRITE-UP:

On January the 1st 1804 Jean-Jacques Dessalines, leader of the Haitian Revolution, declared an Independent Haiti. It marked a long end to French rule and slavery over the country in which Haiti now stands as the only nation to this day to be born from a slave revolt. Fast forward to a little over 200 years later and 700 miles northwest to the coast of South Florida and a new type of Haitian Independence, dubbed the “Zoe Movement” , can be seen emerging primarily through a art form that thrives off its ability to rebel and unite, hip hop. As with any new movement, a few stars quickly emerge from the multitude that follows with one of those young rap stars being an artist by the name of Phatboi, commonly known in the streets as “The Global Zoe”.

“The Global Zoe” stands as a most fitting addition to Phatboi’s name being that most movements are rarely heard outside of their walls of origin, but with this moniker, Phatboi immediately is letting us know that his music is much bigger than South Florida. On the cusp of the release of his new EP, “The Red & The Blue”, a six track teaser preceding the release of his official LP “Haitian-American” dropping in 2010, Phatboi quickly ends any speculation that his music is just a “fad” that can only be boxed inside the borders of the Zoe movement. With songs like “Do U Better” & “Beat It”, Phatboi shows us that he knows how to deliver music that strikes a cord with his lady audience while tracks like “Allergic 2 Dirt” and “Gotta Hustle” present the songwriting ability that’s lacking in most artistry of today. The only true reference to the Zoe movement is Phatboi’s feature on the summer hit “Imma Zoe” by Black Dada, which mainly manages to show that although he makes his music for everybody, you best not forget that his connections with the Zoe’s still run that deep. Like it or not, as long as Phatboi is around the Zoe movement won’t be disappearing anytime soon.*

PHOTOGRAPHY BEFORE:

EP AFTER: