THE CHEATS FILES: THE BEST PHOTOS OF 2012 [PART I]
This year was such an amazing year for the Cheats Movement Blog and 2013 is only going to be bigger and better. I really pride myself on the photos that are posted on the blog and this is just a sample of some of my favorite photos of the year. Richmond, VA has so much to offer…I hope seeing these photos will get you excited about what’s going on in RVA and encourage you to keep pushing our amazing scene in 2013! Part I…WE SEE IT!
I have to start with the man himself…I took this photo right in my backyard – Henrico County. I stood in the pouring rain for about 2 hours and I would do it again just to photograph the leader if the free world – a few blocks away from my house.
Henry Rollins came to RVA for a show at the National and during his free time, he visited students from Art 180 at the RVA Street Festival wall. Though most of the kids were too young to know anything about Rollins, it was cool for old folks like myself and my brother Mikemetic to hang with him.
It was called RVA’s first Slutwalk but despite the “attention grabbing” title the message is something we should all support and this young man’s sign said it best, “Don’t Hurt Women!”
The G40 Art Summit brought some of the best intentional street artist to RVA. Aryz is one of the best in the world and here is a photo of Aryz taking a photo of his work! He was such a cool guy to follow around for the week. RVA Mag and Art Whino did a great job bringing in the best from around the world to RVA.
A Giving Heart sponsors the best Thanksgiving Dinner in RVA. This year was bigger than ever and it was an honor for the Cheats Movement Blog to be apart of such a great event. FYI: This was just half of the Richmond Convention Center floor.
Style Weekly brought in one of my favorite bands of all-time De La Soul to headline the Shadrock Music Fest. Despite the weather, De La rocked the crowd for one of the best performances of the year.
Surprise show of the year…Alabama Shakes at Friday Cheers. It was an epic show! S/O to Stephen for the hook up.
One of the highlights of my year was going to NYC to meet one of my heroes Bobbito Garcia AKA Kool Bob Love. Legendary NYC DJ and sneaker legend. I was able to hang with Bobbito in Brooklyn and photograph him playing hoops.
I was backstage with Trombone Shorty at the Richmond Jazz Festival.
One of the best shows of the year, Phonte (of Little Brother and Foreign Exchange) rocked the Happily Natural Day Concert at the Canal Club. S/O to Happily Natural and Tuesday Verses for one of the best events of the year.
The Cheats Movement Epic Dinner Party was a huge success! This photo shot by Nick Mastro! We had a wonderful day in Byrd Park and just an amazing time. I can’t wait for next year’s dinner.
Stay tune for part II.
WHY I LOVE RICHMOND TODAY: TEAM SLAPDASH IS ON THE MOVEMENT!
I’m always excited to meet young entrepreneurs in RVA. It doesn’t matter if you work in music – fashion – business – etc. – if you are doing something positive for the city and on your grind – I can appreciate that and, in a many ways, relate. I first worked with Slapdash at the RVA Music Fest: Hip Hop Hooray and it’s been love ever since. It’s one thing to be young and grinding in the hip hop scene – but what I respect about Slapdash is their work ethic promoting local hip hop events. Historically, RVA has struggled to maintain reoccurring hip hop events. That started to change in 2011 with the growing success of The Rebirth – FaceMelt Friday – and others that I know I’m forgetting (my bad). “Some” RVA venues (mostly notably The Camel – S/O to them) have really benefited for the attention that the RVA music is receiving theses days. That attention is also paying off for Slapdash creators Cain McCoy and Octavion Xcellence. Last weekend’s Slapdash event at the Camel, was not only supported by RVA hip-hop fans but also by some of the most talented hip-hop artist in RVA – (if they were performing or not). I will post all of The Cheats Movement Photos later this week but, “Why I Love RVA Today” — Team Slapdash. Below is a small preview of what is to come with my photos of the weekend — keep spreading the word about The Cheats Movement blog and LIKE THE CHEATS MOVEMENT ON FACEBOOK. RVA we are in this together!
TEAM SLAPDASH: CAIN, OCTAVION, PHYLECE, BELLA, SNEED
YFD IN THE BUILDING! DOE BOY DA DUDE & CHRIS HASKINS
RYAN FLOW, OCTAVAION, ARTIK PHREEZE
IVORY SNOW (S/O MR. MASON JONES – HELD IT DOWN ALL NIGHT)
CONRIZZLE – JUST RELEASED SOME NEW — CHECK THAT!
RVA Music Fest: Words By R. Anthony Harris
Check this out – I caught up with the man behind RVA Mag and RVA Music Fest Tony Harris at the end of night 1. It was about 2:00 AM and he was wrapping up a great night and moving into day 2. Check out his perspective on RVA Hip-Hop and why RVA Music Fest is important. Cheats Movement X RVA Mag at it finest. S/O to everyone standing up for the River City. WE R-VA.
The Vault: Random Photos From RVA Music Fest
Click HERE to see NEW RVA Music Fest photos — not yet posted. Click HERE to see RVA Music Fest photos of Best Coast and Girl Talk. Click HERE to see photos from RVA Music Fest Hip-Hop Hooray.
RVA Music Fest: Backstage with Noah-O and Streetz Deep
I caught up with Noah-O and Streetz Deep outside of The Camel before they killed it at the RVA Music Fest: Hip-Hop Hooray show. They got the streets (and MTV) on lock with their smash, I Got It. Support these hard working artist.
RVA Music Fest: Backstage with Best Coast, The Diamond Center, & White Laces
RVA Music Fest: Cheats Movement Photos of Best Coast and Girl Talk
RVA Music Fest Week continues on The Cheats Movement. Click HERE to see my photos of the Headliners: Best Coast and Girl Talk. The show was amazing and thanks to the good folks at RVA Mag I was able to get backstage for Best Coast (video interview coming soon). Girl Talk made me a believer…The hype is real.
RVA Music Fest: Hip-Hop Hooray at The Camel [History in Photos]
“We have created a historic night in RVA…something years from now I can tell my kids about and the folklore from this night will spread that September 10, 2011 was a great night for RVA Hip-Hop.” –Cain McCoy, Emcee & Slapdash Promotion.
Click HERE to see The Cheats Movement Photos from RVA Music Fest: Hip-Hop Hooray! Featuring: Cain McCoy, Artik Phreeze, Nickelus F, Conrizzle, SwordPlay, Noah-O, Streetz Deep, Young Richmond Outkast, Black Liq, Lord Slugg, The New Juice Crew, BC_Music1st, Emphasys, Lucy Freedom, DJ Dizz & more coming — check back often this week!
The Cheats Movement
