soulaquatics

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Lupita Nyong’o photographed by An Le for Grazia UK November 2017

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A few shots from the last Soul Aquatics Jam Session (IX) in 2008. Stay tuned for more info about Soul Aquatics X, the final session in Philadelphia on January 10th.

Shots by Lenyon Whitaker (I think). 

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MGMT - Cool Song No. 2 directed by Isaiah Seret // Shot by Bradford Young. 

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Always be prepared for the big call. You never know when THE phone call is coming or who/what/where it’s coming from.   

Don’t price yourself into a gig, price yourself out of it. You never know what your client’s budget is. If you’re too far outside of it, you can always negotiate.   

Make sure you have a company name. People pay companies more than they pay individuals. 

Get a portfolio up online as soon as possible. Your clips should be awesome and easily accessible. Be present across multiple platforms.

 Work as well outside the matrix as you do inside of it. The internet is bursting at the seams with people trying to get chose. Don’t put all of your eggs in one basket. 

Educate yourself. Whether you can afford school or not, you should be reading and working your way through problems. Used books and library cards are invaluable.

Understand and accept the fact that at some point, in order to focus on your career, YOU WILL HAVE TO QUIT YOUR JOB!!! - Operative: “JOB" - Say it again: “JOB" 

You are going to be hungry, you are going to be broke, you may even be assed out. Consider it fuel for the fire. Keep hustling.

SHOW UP! Getting out of bed and off to a job is the most difficult part. Showing up is half the battle in the race for recognition. Get there and be on time! 

Get out and network. Meet people. Go out even when you don’t want to or can’t afford it! Being present is priceless. 

Learn Creative Budgeting: “How do I survive for 12 months on $6,000.00?" Cut corners. Look good. 

Happenstance can help facilitate the fulfillment of your destiny. (aka How your connections old and new can connect you: A + B = C and/or A + B = $$$).

Develop great relationships with people. Those relationships will foster clientele and feed your portfolio. They will also hold you down in the event you fall apart. 

Be emotionally and mentally prepared for the job. Don’t talk yourself out of it. Claim it: “I am worthy of this opportunity" 

You don’t always know what you’re doing. That doesn’t mean you don’t know what you’re doing. 

Don’t be afraid to sell everything. Pack a bag. Leave the rest behind. Sometimes you have to get rid of what you have in order to make room for what you really want. 

Be prepared to accept that you still won’t quite be prepared when the time comes to finally step out on faith. Do it anyway! 

Always “ship" on the designated date. (see: “Linchpin" by Seth Godin) 

Be prepared to cry every morning. It is NOT going to be easy. Being average is easy. That isn’t what you want. 

No one is going to hire someone to do something they can do themselves. You will get the call because you’re the one person who can do exactly what you do, as only you do. 

No does not mean NEVER. There are only so many times someone can tell you no.

Some people will accept you with skepticism/apprehension. Others are waiting with open arms. 

There is no such thing as CAN’T. Repeat after me. There is no such thing as CAN’T! Close your eyes and click your heels together three times. There is no such thing as CAN’T!!! 

Lean on your network and to allow them to lean on you. It helps to know that you are not alone. 

Seek therapy, wine & spirits, meds, or spiritual guidance. Seek friends. WOO SAH! 

25 Rules to Live by as a Freelancer or Entrepreneur

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Been keeping a running log of everything I like musically for the last 3 years. Give it a listen if you want a solid late-night work mix. 

Zone Out - The Official Soul Aquatics Playlist

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Did a video shoot with Selah Sue for Giant Step. Here are a few of the photos that came from it. 

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Jonah Lehrer explains why you need "Grit" (which is exactly what it sounds like) in addition to insight to drive your creative endeavors. 

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Azealia Banks, Frank Ocean, Oddisee and Iman Omari are just some of the awesome people being blasted at the Dream Factory today. 

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Sometimes the playlist is all over the place, sometimes it's tight, but the music is always dope. Take a listen!

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Teaser poster for the Blackstar Film Festival. Happening in Philly this August!

Blackstar Film Festival.

Film. In Color.

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The official Soul Aquatics playlist aka, what you should be listening to today.

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@Diplo is a hero. A thunderstorm broke out at the Roots Picnic this year, but instead of fret, he turned it into one of the most insane tent parties imaginable.

I got a chance to capture some of the madness, chat with him about his set and see Major Lazer live.

Insanity.

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The Official Soul Aquatics Playlist. 200% guaranteed to keep your day rut-less. Enjoy!

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People forget how influential Philadelphia has been in creating that classic jazz sound. The Blue Note era is over, but Philly is still hitting the jazz scene pretty hard.

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Tic Tac France - Worst Breath in the World by Ogilvy & Mather Paris of course. 

Great advertisement.

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The GrassROOTS Foundation Fundraiser with Black Thought, Rich Medina, ?uestlove, DJ Diamond Kuts, Spanky and more!

Shot by @RashidZakat.

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Made By Hand is a web series by the Bureau of Common Goods celebrating people who make things by hand.

Joel Bukiewicz of Cut Brooklyn painstakingly by hand in his Brooklyn workshop.

Check out the video, and check out the rest of the Made By Hand series.