End Of the Weak 2x World Champion, Osyris Antham continues to be mentioned in the same realm as Hip-hop's legends by Lupe Fiasco.
For those of you who have followed me and my journey in the NYC art scene, you know I always credit Nasiyr, better known as Osyris Antham, for me even becoming a member of Legendary Cyphers and becoming acquainted with most of the artist that I know today. From the first time I heard him rap at Nicholas Brooklyn, a small A variety shop, I immediately recognised his talent. I bring this up because recently well respected Emcee and Grammy-nominated lyricist has championed Osyris as one of the best Emcee in the world.
For those of you who have followed me and my journey in the NYC art scene, you know I always credit Nasiyr, better known as Osyris Antham, for me even becoming a member of Legendary Cyphers and becoming acquainted with most of the artist that I know today. From the first time I heard him rap at Nicholas Brooklyn, a small African-centered variety shop, I immediately recognized his talent. I bring this up because recently well-respected Emcee and Grammy-nominated lyricist has championed Osyris as one of the best Emcees in the world. Even putting his well-respected opinion on the line against veteran Emcee and Detroit native Royce Da 5’9”. So I thought it would be only right to bring back this moment I happened to be present and personally documenting for the culture. Below you can see the rounds for Osyris’ third U.S. title defense where he destroyed his competition in front of no other than Lupe Fiasco himself.
OSYRIS ANTHAM ROUNDS • End of the Weak 2019 US Emcee Challenge
Do you think we will get an Osyris Antham vs Royce Da 5’9” battle? Check out Mickey Factz IG Live to see how this all came about. The underground hip-hop scene hasn't seen this kind of buzz since another heralded emcee by the name of Joe Budden decided to challenge a top battle rapper.
If you want to check out the full performance for the EODubb (End of the Weak) MC 2019 U.S. Challenge just check out the link below. You can see performance from Mickey Factz, the whole End of the Weak family, the complete U.S. MC Challenge as well as a rare freestyle from Lupe Fiasco himself.
(Sidenote: I recorded this entire event by myself standing in one spot for almost 5 hours including waiting for the event to begin and guarding the best angle for the stream. lol, never again I should have charged them 5x for that. I was exhausted)
Over the last 20 years the MC Challenge has been held in over 25 countries across 5 continents. Over a dozen countries are active each year, with entrants competing in regional competitions and the winner advancing to the National Finals. Every year, each nation sends one champion to represent their country in the annual World Finals, where one MC is crowned the new World Champion.
Learn More About the World Finals
The first-ever MC Challenge was held during August, 2000 in the back of a restaurant in NYC’s Lower East Side and featured Immortal Technique and WebbaFied. Other Challengers and Champions include: Hasan Salaam, Jin, Iron Solomon, Immortal Technique, Pack FM, Pumpkinhead, Reef Da Lost Cause, Breez Evahflowin, C-Rayz Walz, Poison Pen and many more.
The MC Challenge was invented as the evolution of the MC Battle. We envisioned a unique competition that tests the most talented MCs on a wide set of skills. In the MC Challenge, contestants compete in five rounds: Beat Juggling, Written’s, A Capella’s, Cypha’s, and the crowd favorite: Freestyle Grab Bag.
During the event a panel of judges awards points for lyrics, creativity, stage presence, delivery and crowd reaction. We pride ourselves on the love of competition, the mutual respect and the talent level of the MCs who compete.
I sold my first large format print!
I finally feel like I can call myself an artist. I've hit the milestone of selling a large scale 30 by 45 inch print. I don't think I've been prouder of a piece of art that I've created. It's already on someone's wall, which is still something hard for me to grasp. I don't think I'll ever get over the idea of people wanting to own a copy of my work. The other hard part is properly promoting my work cause I have such a disdain for social media so this is me sharing my work and promoting my art in the best way I know how to... In a rant full of raw emotion and unrefined thoughts thrown into a caption. Lol
I want to also thank my muse @reignglobal been shooting with her for a little while now and it's been a pleasure to have some one be so patient as I took one a new genre of photography.
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For anyone who does want to own a print of this, it available on my site (large scale prints only) make sure you have the wall space. There is some customization as far as metal mounts, wooden frames, etc... So if you're curious go check it out, just hit the link to my site, and in the site menu bar hit “Shop” and then “Prints & Canvas”.
Also as I dive deeper into my creative bag I am open to doing some creative shoots within the realm of boudoir, street portraiture, and fine art as I study the medium more. This means I'm open to new subjects to be my muse but please don't get offended if I decline an idea. My time is extremely limited due to work and my part-time journalism yes I still run the front lines of the movement.
With all that said shoot me an email (it's in my bio) and shout out to all the creatives out there keep doing what you do best!
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The piece temporarily being called “Liberte”
5.24.21
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https://www.issakhari.photography
#issakhari #digitalpainting #art
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#budoir #nude #freethenipple #woman #artist #visualart #emotion #blackwomen #melanin #reignapiim
Gary Vaynerchuk broke my Twitter Spaces! (My first week as a beta tester)
So I've been granted the honor of being among the first few hundred people to beta test Twitter’s newest feature Twitter Spaces. I don't remember exactly how I found Twitter spaces (you have to be following someone who hosting or speaking in a room to see the feature) but I was definitely in love with the user interface and sound quality in comparison to the clubhouse app. So before I get into how Gary Vaynerchuk broke my Spaces, I'll give a run down into what I like and what I feel needs improvement before launch!
So I've been granted the honor of being among the first few hundred people to beta test Twitter’s newest feature Twitter Spaces. I don't remember exactly how I found Twitter spaces (you have to be following someone who hosting or speaking in a room to see the feature) but I was definitely in love with the user interface and sound quality in comparison to the clubhouse app. So before I get into how Gary Vaynerchuk broke my Spaces, I'll give a run down into what I like and what I feel needs improvement before launch!
At the time of this post, the Twitter Spaces beta feedback group is a very small group of people, so for you to experience the feature for yourself, you’ll need to find and follow a beta tester. (hopefully, you’re already following me.) If you’ve used the clubhouse app you be fairly familiar with the audio chat interface. Though the moderation tools are as well fleshed out yet, however, the host feels very much in control of their space. Unlike the seemingly unlimited amount of people who can jump on a mic like in the clubhouse app, you are limited to 10 additional speakers. No one is sure how many people total can populate a space but I am sure we have plenty of time to test that out.
Sidenote: much like the Clubhouse audio chat app, only iPhone users are able to utilize the feature at the moment. I am hearing the iPad is getting the ability soon.
Ok most of you are really only here because you want to know how Gary Vee broke my Twitter Space, lol.
So boom. I startup a twitter space, I think it was my second time hosting a room. After about 15 minutes of chatting with some of my followers and other beta testers, Kayvon from Twitter jumps in we start talking a little about my periscope days. (Kayvon is the founder of Periscope, which is owned by Twitter.) The thing is Kayvon is pretty popular so lots of people start jumping into the Space. The only way right now to find a Twitter Space is to follow the host, follow someone who has been given speaker privileges or get a direct link to spaces. So as Kayvon’s following starts to pile in and people start asking questions the room starts to become pretty popular turning my little “dinner party” into a town hall meeting. Things are going great people are spending limited time "on stage" and asking some great questions But little did we know Gary Vaynerchuk found the space! So Gary decides to screenshot the Space and shoot it out to his timeline and all hell breaks loose. lmfaooooo. My Space quickly goes from 3-4 people requesting to speak to Kayvon to about 40 all at the same time. At this point, this system is getting pushed to its limits because listeners are spamming the request button to get my attention, and some people who were granted speak privileges are getting kicked. Plus the UI isn’t designed to efficiently sort through 40 requests at the same time. So as I’m vetting each profile while simultaneously moderating and greeting each person who joins the convo, the tweet from Gary Vee is shared inside the space and we all realized what going on. so for about 15 minutes tech enthusiasts, Journalists, etc.. are flying into the space until Kayvon leaves, and then the room goes back to normal, or at least I thought. Turns out for the next 4 days the Twitter team was trying to figure out why 2 out of every 3 listeners would get kicked from the room when I brought them up to speak. Which I called the “Issa Khari bug” since my space was the only account that this was happening in. I haven’t seen Gary jump in since but he did jump in fellow beta tester Kyle Harris’ space later on that day and came up to speak on the “hustle” culture which was interesting, to say the least. lol
I think the best thing about the whole situation is that a lot of feedback was submitted from the experience and created the opportunity to see what would be needed for larger accounts to utilize the feature. My Fellow beta testers as well as myself have made several suggestions like co-hosting and some better moderation abilities, like muting individual speakers as well as the whole room. I do want to say the Twitter team has been incredible with reaching out, they are regularly in the rooms and even come up to speak from time to time to listen to feedback in real-time. It reminds me of my Periscope VIP experience, with a great line of communication and genuinely listening to those who cultivate communities to be a significant voice in how these apps are shaped. I’ll give an update down the line as the app gets some new features which I'm hearing should be rolling out soon. So that’s about it for now, let me go start up another space, go find me on Twitter!
Photo of the Day • December 14, 2020 • #TakenOniPhone
#TakeOniPhone
EXIF: 1/120 • F/2.4 • ISO 160
Camera: iPhone 12 Pro
Lens: Ultra Wide Camera
Edit: @lightroom
Preset: ISSA ”Sudan”
SnapChat/IG/Twitter: @issakhari
12.13.20 • New York City, NY
EXIF: 1/120 • F/2.4 • ISO 160
Camera: iPhone 12 Pro
Lens: Ultra Wide Camera
Edit: @lightroom
Preset: ISSA ”Sudan”
SnapChat/IG/Twitter: @issakhari
Protesters Riot in Brooklyn Over Walter Wallace Jr. Shooting
Walter Wallace Jr, who was shot 10x in West Philadelphia on October 26, is the latest Black Man to be killed by police. The incident has thrown more fuel ton a fire that has burned all summer nationwide which started with the death of George Floyd. Wednesday night a crowd of a little over 100 demonstrators took the streets of Brooklyn in a pure rage smashing windows, throwing trash, and lighting whatever they could find on fire.
Walter Wallace Jr, who was shot 10x in West Philadelphia on October 26, is the latest Black Man to be killed by police. The incident has thrown more fuel ton a fire that has burned all summer nationwide which started with the death of George Floyd. Wednesday night a crowd of a little over 100 demonstrators took the streets of Brooklyn in a pure rage smashing windows, throwing trash, and lighting whatever they could find on fire.
Wallace, who was said to suffer mental is illness has not only pushed the divide between the Black community and law enforcement further apart. But it also strengthens the call for better training of officers across the U.S. in addition to less-lethal options and professionals within the mental health field to answer calls of distress instead of armed officers. Though these riots in Brooklyn won't solve the problem by any means, it seems to display the lack of patience from those who feel they have no other means to get the attention of those in power.
Behind The Scenes: Photoshoot with Nestreya, Jasmine Nichole & Reign APIIM
I had the pleasure of shooting these beautiful Black Women for the Black-owned business Goddess Body. Nestreya, Jasmine Nichole, and Reign APIIM. I've known Jasmine Nichole for years and was my first time formally meeting Nestreya. Of course, those who follow my Instagram account, know I've been working with Reign for the last few months… she is literally my neighbor.
I’ve been pushing myself to do more live streams as I’ve been missing in action on not only my YouTube channel but my popular Periscope account. It’s been crazy in 2020 for everyone so I as we all try to close out the year of Covid strong. I decided to live stream my latest photoshoot.
I had the pleasure of shooting these beautiful Black Women for the Black-owned business Goddess Body. Nestreya, Jasmine Nichole, and Reign APIIM. I've known Jasmine Nichole for years and was my first time formally meeting Nestreya. Of course, those who follow my Instagram account, know I've been working with Reign for the last few months… she is literally my neighbor.
Let me know if yall want me to continue doing the photoshoot live streams? Also, I been thinking of picking a day out of the week to do a photo walk of NYC.
Please go check out the model’s Instagram accounts listed below.
Nestreya: http://instagram.com/nestreya (also check out her Youtube, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCL6qMAGejiomo39SaUt5x5w)
Jasmine Nichole: http://instagram.com/jasminenicholeofficial
Reign: http://instagram.com/reignglobal
Goddess Body: http://instagram.com/goddessbody
ISSA KHARI: http://instagram.com/issakhari
(To catch these live streams follow me on http://twitter.com/issakhari)
Street Style at New York Fashion Week 2020 Fall/Winter
Here are some of my favorite photos from the streets outsides New York Fashion Week 2020 Fall/Winter. “NYFW The Shows” at Spring Studios in SoHo is the Heart the Annual New York City annual Fashion Week Showcase. The famed studio at 50 Varick Street will be hosting over 55 designers this year, featuring the likes of Tadashi Shoji, Jeremy Scott, Rebecca Minkoff, Raisavanessa and Nicole Miller.
Here are some of my favorite photos from the streets outsides New York Fashion Week 2020 Fall/Winter. “NYFW The Shows” at Spring Studios in SoHo is the Heart the Annual New York City annual Fashion Week Showcase. The famed studio at 50 Varick Street will be hosting over 55 designers this year, featuring the likes of Tadashi Shoji, Jeremy Scott, Rebecca Minkoff, Raisavanessa and Nicole Miller. I’m known for my journalism and street photography so of course, I’ll be shooting the real show, the style of today’s bloggers, models and designers who inspire what eventually hits the runway.
I’ll be updating this blog post throught out the week so check back for more shots .
-Issa
Starting your photography journey can be both exciting and overwhelming.
Here are five essential tips for beginners to help you get the most out of your photography journey: