TOOFLY NYC

Heading to San Francisco August 20th for the Sisterz of the Underground 9th year anniversary. Gonna rock some live art, and kick it with the hommies. Hope to see ya’ll there!!!

Sisterz of the Underground (SOTU) is a community, network, and support system created by, and for, females who choose Hip-Hop as a form of expression. As an open Hip-Hop collective, SOTU aims to encourage the integration of different elements of Hip-Hop, use the elements as tools for education and social change, as well as provide opportunities to showcase the elements — such as the annual Sisterz of the Underground event.

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Back in NY. Finally get a chance to catch up on my flicks! We had a great time in at the 3rd Eye Open Hip Hop Festival in New Bedford, Massachusetts this past weekend. Shout out to Ben Glbarg for hooking us up! Thank youuuuuu:) Event was dope, piece came out fresh, and we had some delicious seafood wow! Now we know where New England clam chowder comes from:)

The official road trip painting crew for 2010: TOOFLY, VIK, YVEY, and SHIRO. Good Times!

DAY 1 3RD EYE OPEN HIP HOP FESTIVAL. “YEAR OF THE WOMAN”

Live Painting 8 X 24 foot wall…

Always happy when Shiro comes to NY for the summer. It gives us an opportunity to catch up on an entire year of projects, relationships and family:) Hommie 4 life right here. Summer is sOOooo busy for all of us trips like make all the difference in our lives. Love you Shiro!

Aight…time to get busy…tweeting away the process…

Photo opps for the the little kidz…

Shout out to Yvey who not only was our designated driver, but held down our booth and took flicks of our pogress. Thanks Yvey!!!

Making progress…taking mad breaks in between…it was HOT!

Love them skater kidz and their funky decks. This deck matches my piece…

mmmm’mmmm my favorite! Love DEL’S FROZEN LEMONADE ahhhhhhhh – yes save. Ice Ice baby!

Time to pull in the shade tactics to preserve our energy…

FINITO! 6-7 hours later…Wow, loved the colors scheme we chose to go with…still loving green and everything in between…that pink neon eye shadow was yummy….I gotta get me more…

VIK is sick with her letters…love it!!!

Shiro’s character was so on point with the event! Tough Love…Rise up Ladies! Sooooo Fly!

Very happy with this collabo, the crew, and the whole event. THE WALL WAS A SUCCESS!!! P.S. We were the only women painting at this event. Yes mam!

Back from the hotel, and refreshed for some final press flicks…

THE TOOFLY CREW did it again baby! They don’t call me an organizer freak for no reason! lol…

Finally ha a chance to take a stroll around the park. This was a huge event, there was so much to see, taste, and take flicks of…

WOW. some of the other artists/live pieces were beautiful! Especially this one…DOPE.

Art was everywhere…T-shirts, Skin, Paper…everywhere…

B-Boyzzzzz doing their thang on the vinyl…

Graffiti Letter Classics…

They def got a hip hop scene up here…without a doubt…

Shout out to all the artists of 3rd Eye Open. Wish I had all your names!

Made it to Jean Grae’s performance…but was beat. All we wanted was some seafood, and a pillow. Zzzzzz…..

DAY 2

Refreshed, and rested. Swam in the pool for a bit, and then hit the road in search of beautiful things, and relaxing views…

There’s nothing like an ice cold beer, or an ice cold ice cream during the summer…OMG 2 scoops! Sherbet….mmmmmm”

fresh breeze and a lake to sooth the soul, and soak our five’s…

Silly on the swing time!

We were having too much fun with the automatic setting on the camera. Lol! We couldn’t stop…

Got super duper lucky during lunch when we passed by a SEAFOOD FESTIVAL! What…OMG cold beers, Fish & Chips, Clam Strips, Lobster Rolls, Fried Shrimp, you name it…we had it:)

It was a beautiful day with the gals…

Before we knew it it was time to hit the road again, and get back to our regularly scheduled program. Pulled out the Brand Nubian album and zoomed out.

Switching it up left and right this year, and heading out of NY to see how folks in other city’s rock HIP HOP FESTIVALS. I miss the days when we used to take trips to the Philly BBOY BBQ to paint, and share a little slice of happiness with the Philly community. Those days are long gone now, but lucky for us the movement has grown and we can now travel to different cities. New landscape, new faces, and new organizers who know how to take care of their artists. Who’s rolling this year? The one and only VIK! – Her letters and pieces are sick. Love her work. Lucky for us they extended the budget and we are happy to announce SHIRO’S on board YAY!!! Yes mam, in NY for just 2 months and I’m dragging her to another city, Lol! Finally gonna get a chance to celebrate music, celebrate art, and most of all celebrate people together:)  NEW BEDFORD, MA see ya soon!!!

3RD EYE OPEN. HIP HOP FESTIVAL. YEAR OF THE WOMAN!

Featuring: JEAN GREY • CLIMBING POETREE  • TIYE PHONEIX
Live Graff Art by; TOOFLY, VIK, & SHIRO,
Buttonwood Park in New Bedford, MA
Saturday, July 17, 2010 // 9am – 8:30pm // FREE FOR EVERYONE!!!
www.3rdeyeunlimited.com

PRESS RELEASE BELOW >>>

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Shout out to my homegirl B-Girl ARUNA from Rotterdam for rocking the GOOD WOOD X TOOFLY 2 finger Ring “Like Water” in her latest photoshoot to promote the WHERE MY GIRLS AT?! Exhibition in Rotterdam…

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Yesterday was A-MA-ZING!!! The Younity Spring Markit keeps getting better and better. Mother nature blessed us with a beautiful day full on sunshine and breeze. Shout outs, and much love to Father Tom, and the Lady of Sorrows family. Thank you for allowing us to shine and do our thang. DJ Ski-Hi, DJ Laylo, all the beautiful artists and designers, Rockafella, Full Circle Crew, 5 Crew Dynasty, Circa95, Younity gals, family, and everyone who came through and showed their support. It means so much to us, and we are so happy to share days like this with YOU!!!

Love all you guys!!!

It was a beautiful day in the neighborhood…

spring color and smiles…

DJ Ski-Hi on the 1&2’s spinning the best of Hip Hop, House, and more!

Let’s get this party started!

Time to shop! Handmade goodies, designer limited edition flyness…

Cutie pies!

Wasup Christine! Thank youuuuuuuuu

Shout out to Tina G aka PAPERSOUL for holding down the Toofly booth;) Photo by AM

What what…Chanel don’t play I want one! $$$

Ok I think it’s time we all did a fun fun colorful photoshoot! Just cuz…lol

UR NEW YORK CITY baby! Everyone need’s one of these in their crib – I got mine:)

MASAHIROOOOOOOOO….Wow your stuff is so sick! I need more feathers in my hair….love my suade purse too! thank youuuuuuu handmade goods are the BEST! Photo by: Ivette Garcia ©2010

Ill…

Antonio KEL5MH taking it back! Yes…Big Daddy Cane, James Brown, Stevie Wonder, and many more dope dope…

Hey! What you got there Mr? I’m not letting you miss the next one I want that shirt…haha ha!

FRESTHETIC got the goods! I want, I want, I want…

My sister Inks looking cute w/ her big sister’s new T! Photo by: AM

Marthalicia soaking in the sun, and getting busy on this beautiful painting. We got a Live Arts Corner planned for the nest one stay tuned…

Beautiful! Photo by: Ivette Garcia ©2010

Kelly! And all her cute little plush, and illustration works.

Loved these, I want, I want, I want…

Kids Corner time!

with lot’s and lot’s of bubbles…

SOHNUP did a awesome job of setting up an area for kids to make art. Thank you Aaron!!!

Shout out to Martha Cooper who came through to support before she hit up her NAME TAGGING Book release opening at Reed Space. Photo by: AM

Shout out to all the artists, and designers for creating such beautiful works! More flicks coming soon. TOOFLY, AM, INKS, JUNKPRINTS, FRESTHETIC, KELLY DENATO, URNEWYORK, DAVE CORTES, MARTHALICIA, SEE ONE, ANTONIO KEL5MH, MASAHIRO, EROTICA, ARIANNE ZAGER, KOOKIE KIMMIE TREATS, SOHNUP, BOWN SOAP FAMILY, and FREE5!.

DJ LAYLO ready to spin the breaks and get that linoelum blesssssssssssssed….

Kids love Linoleum! I gotcha on the next one kiddies…

Classic…

Youth team was focused! Rokafella is such an amzing teacher. Check out her classes on Tues 7-8:30 and Sun 6-7:30 $15 – Hybrid Studios 1828 Amsterdam Ave 3fl.

Thanks guys!!! Photo by: Ivette Garcia ©2010

CUZ Inc…got my back. BIG HUGGGGGGGZZZZ

THANK YOU EVERYBODY!!! Enjoy your summer, the great outdoors, family, friends, and your community.
with Love,Younity Arts Team : Toofly, Alice, Yvette, Shana, Diana, and our new gal Melissa!

Whew! Tired, but wired to chillax, and kick back for some margaritas, and shrimp fajitas….

Mmmmm’ sizzle sizzle, and the fire hazzard group tweets hah ahha!

GOOD TIMES!!! Next up: Philly Roots BBQ, Summer Stage with DJ Laylo, and Shana B-Day Crab dinner jam see ya’ll there wooohooooooo fun fun…

Celebrates Women in Hip-Hop

Join the lovely and talented Ms. Dee Vazquez, as we celebrate these fabulous Women in Hip-Hop: Aleesha Smalls, Karen Civil, TOOFLY and Martha Diaz.
with special co-host DEE VAZQUEZ (Sirius XM Radio/Hot 97/FUSE)

Wednesday April 14th, 2010 / 7:00 – 9:00pm

Martha Diaz ( Hip Hop Association, Toofly ( Artist/Designer) , Shayna D ( Sirius XM Radio) , Karen Civil, Ms Dee Vaskquez,( TV/Radio Personality ) Aleesha Smalls (Rocawear/Roc Nation)

Got a dope interview in the green issue of the Source Magazine for April 2010 check it…

Read the rest of the interview here >>> THESOURCE.COM
Shout out to Royce Bannon and Amy Aimstar for hooking it up:) You Rock. THANK YOU!!!

Big ups to my hommie Jay Maldonado for hooking up the full color flick taken at Afro Punk Festival last year for the interview! DOPE.

Finito! Ms Chocolate Illustration & type design by yours truly:) dropping March 16th on itunes. As Lil Jon would say…”YEAHHH!”

oh snap! Talib Kweli rock’n TOOFLY X METHODS NYC T’ in his new video ” In This World” from the REFLECTION ETERNAL Album with Hi-Tek check it…

Saturday March 6th, 2010

TOOFLY / YOUNITY ARTS booth & slide show presentation at:
Momma’s Hip Hop Kitchen
Saturday March 6th. 2-5PM
Hostos Center for Arts and Culture.
450 Grand Concourse (at 149th St.) Bronx.
FREE! and open to all ages.

www.mhhk.org

THE DREAM TEAM IS BACK!

amazing!

Slides looking DOPE!

Great backdrop images for the B-Girlz…

In the studio working on the final piece for Lil Jon’s Ms.Chocolate single featuring grammy winner R.Kelly and Mario. Gotta pay the billz! Shout out to Corey from Blacksmith for the pitch. More after the jump…”YEY-AH!“

wow guys, words can not describe how DOPE last night was. YOU HAD TO BE THERE!!! Turnout was amazing, the energy, the people, the art, the space OMG, I don’t know where to begin + I’m up way to early posting these pics, I’ve only had a few hours of sleep;( I’m gonna let the flicks do the talking. Sending a special special THANK YOU to all my peoples, friends, supporters, team, family, and everyone who came thru to share this  experience with all of us. STAY FRESH, and SPREAD LOVE…

WOMEN ROCK.

Ken! Thanks for coming, I was so happy to see you w/ the fam;)

2nd fl GALLERY…

Photo by Martha Cooper www.12oprophet.com

Jen One, and Abeni in front of my latest joint! Abeni thanks you for all your hard work on helping document YOUNITY!!!

FROZEN. I needed to re-name it…

ACB, always with us…

Amazing turn out both floors were packed!

peeps! Yvey & Jess thanks for all your help with the art sales!

Rokafella and Marthalicia beautiful souls…

Love it when kids stare at art…wonder what they wonder?

GOODWOODNYC always a hit!

PIECE BY NIZ. B-GIRLZ ASIA1, LADY CHAMP, AND AIKO. Sold to Martha Cooper;)

My sisters piece. INKS >>> handcarved mad work!

Laura Meyers, Sofia Maldonado, Lichiban…

Handmande book + Photos by Stephanie Land

Nani Chacon wood purses…Sold to Marlon;)

Martha Cooper

More flicks of art coming soon…

JAMES TOP, thanks for the interview:)

Shout out to FRESTHETIC who helped sponsor us on the sticker vinyl!;) Thanks Mikey, and Randy!

Oh shit…TONE! OMG can’t wait to see your flicks, your skillz are amazing!!!

I LOVE FLICKS!

Photo by TONE
The lovely DJ ELLE, blessed us with her selection! Got the breakers to boogie…Shout out to DJ Laylo who we missed so much! but helped us lock down the turntables. Thanks kid!

This had to be the icing on the cake. Ya’ll had to be there to experience the energy in the room, it was so gooooooood!

I love breakers…

ROKAFELLA came thru w/ the breakers crew thank yoooooouuuuuuu sweets!!!

What! Jen One doesn’t play…Love her style.

I get so happy to see all of ya!!!

Dopeness…

GOOD TIMES!!!

Shana and Diana, luv you guys!!! Thanks for all your help;)

My mighty suspect brothas…

Shout out to Emilie from Caprise Magazine, and Samia Grand Pierre from Highsnobette for all your help:)

AFTER PARTY TIME!!!  LET’S GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO…

Jenevieve, Cece, Erin, Lichiban, and Marthalicia wall installation downstairs. THANK YOU! Photo by Martha Cooper

After party at SUTRA NYC who always has our back. See ya at the FRESHER closing party!!! Details coming soon…
BEHIND THE SCENES FLICKS

B-Girl Be 2009 Block Party included Mainstage Performances, MCs, Spoken Word, DJs, Dance, Live Mural Painting, Film, Food and an Art Marketplace! Featuring local, national and international artists including aerosol artists Motel7 (Capetown) and Toofly (NYC); MC Eternia with Chesney Snow (Canada), DJ Chela (NYC); spoken word poet Tish Jones; Akira Johnson; Bloody Black Eyes; Ill Chemistry; Black Pearl; and the Twin Cities All-Stars: Katana, Maria Isa, Indigo, Desdamona, performing onstage together for the first time in twin cities hip-hop history!

FINITO! Got my piece done early so I can rock my style’n photography skillz. Here are some of my favorites….

Fall back now you don’t know me!

MC BIG TARA is a B-girl and MC with the Anomolies Crew, Fox Force 5, Shoten Zenjin and the House of HOWL. Born and raised in the Lower Eastside of NYC, she was influenced by the dance and music culture of her neighborhood. She has graced many stages across the country including the Apollo, BB Kings, Lincoln Center and the Manhattan Center and has worked with the Roots, Erykah Badu and LL Cool J to name a few. After receiving a public service award from the New School University, she decided to dedicate her time to helping non-profit organizations further serve marginalized youth. She has been working in community outreach for over 10 years and believes it is crucial to help guide our youth to live absolutely happy and productive lives.

LOVE YOU BIG TARA!!!

These girls were FLY! Their outfits wen’t great with the shoot;) YEAH BABY!!!

WLR…

Amanda Lopez, was also getting her shots in for THE GIRLS GOT KICKS! Photoshoot…

Amy Campion

Little Minniapolis Girls…

My new STEEZ was a hit…

MOTEL 7 ( Capetown ) Welcome!!! I thought I was fast, this girl went all out…

PROPS!

AM going high…

and stencil’n it up…

B-GIRL AIKO! See ya soon in SF;)

AIKO (Aiko Shirakawa) started street dancing at the age of 11 in the parks of San Jose, CA, and performed by the age of 15 with her group, Quick Style, opening up for Ice T in 1983. This began a long list of performances for Quick Style, who opened for many major bands and singers in the Bay Area of California. In 1995 Aiko began to teach street styles to youth in San Jose at the local youth centers and still does to this day. Aiko has been teaching after school programs for the past 7 years for YMCA and Catholic Charities. Over the past 16 years of teaching street dance to the youth, she has been writing a curriculum to add to her classes so that her students can embrace the history of hip-hop and how it can be better than what the media has portrayed it to be. Aiko has taught street styles everywhere in the States, including B-Girl Be 2007 in Minneapolis, MN; Street Science 2008 in Holland; and the film documentary release of All the Ladies Say in New York, NY in 2009 (she is one of the leading Ladies in the film). “Hip-Hop has been there for me and has saved my life; I will be here for Hip-Hop for the rest of mine.” —Aiko

It’s not easy triple threating it, You gotta have a heart, you gotta be original, and you gotta have style! We’re about to set it off…WATCH OUT!

Trinity sold like HOTCAKES!

The new team: MAMA made it! wooohoooo…

SHEVA + RUKUS + RUST

Shout out to CHICAGO who was in the house! Repping hard every year…

Well behaved women seldom make history! >>> Well said!

Shout out to T-Rose! Our wonderful host for the week. Made us some protein shakes, drove us up in the PLAY DATE Cadillac, and overall blessed us with mad love. Thank you T!!!

mmmm dinner time. The chicken curry was slamming! Time to rest, and get some energy for the DeCipher jam…

Photo by B-FRESH >>> More at: CITY PAGES

DJ CHELA on the 1 & 2’s

DeCipher This showcases the very essence of hip-hop dance: the ability to freestyle in the cipher. The 2009 B-Girl Be Block Party After Party with DJs and live drumming as locally and nationally recognized female hip-hop dancers take their turn in the cipher sharing their specific skills and raw energy!

Jen One was killing it! Be a part of instant creation as improvisational elements come together with some of the most talented female breakers, poppers and hip-hop freestyle dancers in the country.

Featuring Aiko, MimotheGreat and Venus Fly Trap Crew; with performances by AnnieUp, B-Girl monArc, Yonci Peaceful Jameson, Alissa Paris, Amy Sackett, Sarah Savengseuksa, B-Girl Seoul Assassin, Kim Sorenson, and Ti-en-T, and Legend ROKAFELLA!

Always inspiring to see these women rock and keep it alive. Budget cuts suck, especially when the organizers that gave life to the HEART & SOUL of B-Girl Be are not longer on board;( You can feel, and see the “DIFFERENCE”. Regardless of some minor mishaps, at the end of the day our community has to keep events like this alive. There’s a new generation that still needs platforms like this to represent, and come together to exchange new ideas. Money or no money true activists will continue to hold it down. I was happy to see some new talent brewing. Electro Funky Flowz baby! I’m diggn’ it!!! We missed our crews from the past B-Girl Be’s specially MELISSA, MARTHA COOPER, NIKA, ARUNA, VENDETTA, ASIA1, LADY CHAMP, MARTHA DIAZ, FAITH47, LADY PINK, QA, FEVER, SHIRO, SILOETTE, and PHEM9. We rocked it ONE LAST TIME, but It wasn’t the same without ya!!! To all the new folks who came thru to represent PROPS! Our hommie Big Tara did great! Motel7, Annie Up, PANDORA wow you blew me away w/ your skillz! DJ Chela, Eternia, Lori from Female Sneaker Fiend, Amanda Lopez w/ the Photo skillz, and many many more…I gotta get folks names right. Shout out to the ladies who had our back during the trip; MELISSA for organizing all the DOPE ladies to represent! AUTUMN for hooking us up w/ the goodies, and T-ROSE for being a wonderful host! THANK YOUUUUUU

Friday September 18th. Intermedia Arts walls at the Twin Cities, in Minniapolis MN. MISSION: Lock down your spot, gather your colors, and sketch in your piece!

Glad I didn’t go crazy with a 20 foot piece like in years past. Wanted to experiment a little with some new designs, hang w/ the crew, and enjoy taking photos…

JEN ONE! We repping NYC this year baby, ready to rock the walls, and hit that linolium

Different sponsor this year…CLASH. Not bad, didn’t mind it. Came w/ good caps too…

My B-Girl hommies 4life! Legend Rokafella, and BIG TARA! Stretching for the SHEro show…
ROKAFELLA
Hip-Hop dancer/choreographer Ana “Rokafella” Garcia was born in Spanish Harlem where she grew up with a strong Latin background. At the age of 16 she began going to clubs and doing back-up dancing for freestyle singers on the local NYC party scene. Her hip-hop dance style became her bread and butter when she began street performing with such crews such as The Transformers, The Breeze Team, and the New York City Float Committee. Rokafella has taught workshops at NYU and Howard as well as neighborhood high schools and community centers. The non-profit company she co-founded with her husband, “Full Circle Prod”, serves the community with educational performances and multimedia urban-themed performances. She is presently producing a documentary based on the challenging lifestyles of female breakdancers featuring b-girls from all over the world. She believes this culture was born to help urban youth get through the ups and downs of life with something to hold on to.

Motel7 from Noraway came thru to represent for the overseas artists…she’s a sweetheart!

Leaving the finish for the BLOCK PARTY!!!

Back from Minniapolis! here’s a few flicks from the gallery exhibition entitled MAMA SAID KNOCK YOU OUT!

Friday 9.17.09

Mama Said Knock U Out!, an upcoming gallery exhibition at Intermedia Arts, will showcase 28 female artists from around the world who use their visual voice to empower, inform and organize. These women are employing Hip Hop culture as a means of expression, connection, education and social and political activism globally.  This group exhibition will include work in video, photography, painting, sculpture, film, and textiles. Nationally recognized photographer and Huffington Post contributor Lauri Lyons (New York) will produce a commissioned installation in the main gallery as part of the exhibit.

KNOW THYSELF – SOLD!!!:( Bummer I always feel sad when my stuff sells, I get so attached…

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