Upski is the Chicago born activist who wrote Bomb the Suburbs and No More Prisons, two influential books that helped shape turn of the century thinking about Hip Hop, cultural identity, and youth issues in America. He is coming back to town to promote his new book, Please Don’t Bomb The Suburbs which will hopefully kick-start and guide a new generation of activists.

Graffiti Artist Turned Organizer Billy Wimsatt Charts Rise and Future of Obama Movement, Author Wimsatt hits the road for a book tour through 12 swing states. Equal parts Hip-Hop memoir, razor-sharp analysis of the current political climate, and self-help manual for the progressive movement. Featuring a limited edition designed poster by Erik DeBat “RISK”. Special deal: Book + Poster = $25 or, Individual Books ($15) + Individual Poster ($20) – Special Guest Appearance!

Chicago, IL. Friday, September 10, 6pm. Chicago Urban Art Society

B-Real takes a hit on stage at Lollapalooza

More photos from Lollapalooza weekend Click Here

Erykah Badu sings the hell out of Lollapalooza

Everfresh: Blackbook gives readers a behind-the-scenes view of graffiti.

A TAXPAYER-backed publishing house has produced an $80 glossy coffee-table book that glorifies graffiti vandals who have defaced Melbourne.

Melbourne University Press is releasing Everfresh: Blackbook The Studio and Streets; 2004-2010 next month through its Miegunyah Press division.

The book includes pictures of trains, walls and public spaces daubed with illegal graffiti.

One image shows a vandal spray-painting a section of Flinders St station.

The book focuses on the vandalism of nine so-called street artists who share a secret “studio” in Collingwood.

Its foreword describes the work of the vandals – known as Sync, Phibs, Reka, Rone, Wonderlust, Prizm, Meggs, Makatron and The Tooth – as “a fusion of explosive colour, intricate line work, iconic characters and visual stories that can be appreciated not only in the streets and laneways of their native Melbourne, but around the world”.

Metro trains spokesman Chris Whitefield condemned the book.

He said graffiti and vandalism cost the company about $11 million a year, adding: “It’s despicable behaviour. Graffiti contributes to the perception of safety.

“It’s illegal and can have serious consequences for offenders caught.

“Our staff work very hard to quickly remove graffiti from across the network.

“We work with Vicpol to catch people in the act and prosecute them.”

Melbourne University Press would not comment on the book.

From: Sunday Herald Sun August 04, 2010