Know Your Roots Know Thyself

Time and achievements can often control the conversation of debating the best artist of all time. The typical may mention greats like Michelangelo, Pablo Picasso, Van Gogh, and the list can go on and on. Much honor and respect to them for paving the way but a name like Virgil Abloh will be cemented in history for eternity. 

  Jean-Michel Basquiat was born in 1960 in Brooklyn to a Haitian father and a Puerto Rican mother. Visiting museums, libraries, and the botanical gardens in the city growing up, curated Basquiat’s affinity for art. When he was 7 he was hit by a car while playing in the street. During his recovery, his mother entertained him with an anatomy book called Gray’s Anatomy. 

Beyonce’s “Formation”, Rihanna and Calvin Harris’ “We Found Love”, Lady Gaga’s “Just Dance”, Snoop Dogg’s “Sensual Seduction", Ciara’s “Work” ft. Missy Elliott, or Jennifer Lopez “I’m Into You” are all or some of your favorite music videos right? Well the woman behind these music videos is Melina Matsoukas! Matsoukas has been directing music videos for high profile stars including Jay z, Beyonce, Snoop Dogg, Katy Perry, Pharrell, Rihanna, Solange, Ciara, Missy Elliot, Lady Gaga, Lily Allen, Christina Aguilera, and Ne-yo since 2006 and the ones we’ve named are only just a few. 

Felix Gary Gray is a black film and music director who is respected by many in the entertainment industry. You may have watched films like Friday, Straight Outta Compton, Men In Black: International, are just a few films he has directed so far in his career. Director Gray has also directed very popular music videos for very popular artists. Such as “It Was a Good Day” by Ice Cube, “ Waterfalls” by TLC and “ Ms. Jackson by Outcast, just to name a few. 

You ask, "What is an artist?" The genuine meaning, however, refers to anyone who engages in any of the creative arts, such as a sculptor, novelist, poet, or filmmaker. My opinion may be a little different, but I think Madam C.J was an artist in addition to doing many other things. Knowing how to create hair products is, if anything, an art when it comes to hairstyles. I am aware that Madam C.J. receives a lot of admiration for being the first self-made millionaire in America, but we frequently overlook how inventive she had to be to accomplish part of what she achieved.