Baltimore Beings #12

"For awhile, fans of the project have wondered what actually happened to Baltimore Beings. To answer the question, I wasn't feelin' it. I love the idea -- what it could do, but the drive in my heart was not there. So I stopped. And I told myself that i wouldn't continue until I FELT the passion. Until I FELT the need to get the stories. And that time has come. I've raised my frequency in a way that allows me to have the knack for happiness. For equality. For LOVE. And that is the turn this project has taken. Love, is what we need. Love is what we lack and it's only love that keeps this going." -Keem Griffey

 Location: Harbor Place

"Love doesn't die. It's eternal. I've been in love and i'm still in love. "

 

Location: South Baltimore

"Unconditional love is achievable but it takes two. It takes effort. And if you don't bring that background with you...of love and happiness, it's going to be very difficult to find that unconditional love in that relationship because it takes a lot of emotional intelligence. And to get two people together with at least the same level of emotional intelligence, or that background of being happy...it's very difficult these days. The social demands or expectations will not facilitate that."

 Location: South Baltimore

"I love...my brother the most. We've been through the most together. We lost our father at a very young age. I was 10. He was 8. So we both, since that time, have tried to learn to cope with not having a father. We didn't always have the best relationship with our mother because she wanted to live her own life. So he's trying to find his way without a father being a young male and i'm trying to do the same being a young woman. My brother needed someone to look up to as a man but i needed an example of how a man is supposed to treat me and what to look for in a man. So I've been teaching him and he's been teaching me."

KAHLON Collage

In celebration of KAHLON--a party that I curate along with Abdu Ali--nearing its 1-year anniversary, here's a video that takes footage from each show, presenting a visual reference of what KAHLON is really about. All the sick video footage is courtesy of Keem Griffey and the video was edited by Brian Agamie. The performers captured are Abdu Ali, Butch Dawson, Dan Deacon, Buffa7o, Weekends, B L A C K I E, Jungle Pussy and Matic808. Get into it and be on the lookout for November's KAHLON lineup being announced soon! A special thanks goes out to anyone and everyone who's made KAHLON special! 

Baltimore Beings #11

Location: Fells Point

"Last Thursday I cried. I started thinking about my friend Karyn. She committed suicide. Umm.. it's alot going on right now. Tonight I was actually suppose to submit something to this magazine for this documentary. Somethings I try to ignore. You gotta like, deal with it. There's a lot of reasons why I cried. An accumulation of things. Stress. Not being happy. Wanting to give up. I'm not suicidal but of course we think of, "What if this was all over right now?" I could be in heaven right now and not have to deal with none of this bullshit (laughs). Foreal. That's what I think sometimes. But i'm not THAT unhappy with my life and self that I would wanna commit suicide. But like I said, my spirit is like.. Imagine a baby is in a mommy's tummy, kicking and screaming. Ready to come out. Ready to come out. My spirit is like "let me outta here." I'm ready to get outta here. You asked me earlier was I happy. I'm not happy right now. I do have happy moments. And I'm in an uncomfortable place. But i'm making my way. But I cried. it was like growing pains. My spirit was bleeding. It wasn't anything specific. It was just a cry. I felt better afterwards. I went to sleep (laughs). One of those silent cries. Those are the most excruciating ones. It's the soft little silent ones that you don't want anyone to hear. But I keep it moving."

Location: Chesterfield Ave

"I don't regret much. A lot of mistakes that I made actually saved my life. Like, me getting the times mixed up with my mans going to holla at him, actually had me going up the hill to hear the gunshots that killed him. I seen him down the hill on Luzerne and Monument. I hadn't seen him in a while. Since I was like 12. I told him I asked his mother about him and all that. He told me come holla at him around 8:30 because he had to handle some business. But I went up there, I shouldn't have been going up there. It was before 8:30 and I heard the shots. That happened when I was like 18."

Location: Northeast Baltimore

"My biggest fear is dying and accomplishing absolutely nothing. Just dying before I could say i actually had a purpose. Before I can tell the world there was some purpose to me and why I was actually here. If I die before I can give the people that care about me and want me to succeed any proof of success or victory.. If I die before then.. *sigh*. I dream about it. It sucks. I don't want to leave this earth without leaving my son with nothing. That's the worst thing I could think of."

Baltimore Beings #10

Location: South Baltimore

"A year ago, I moved with my parents. They both have problems. They decided that they wanted to be parents three years of my life. That was the most miserable time of my life. They screwed it up. They helped me do nothing."

Location: Inner Harbor

"I was in the Air Force. I got so messed up man. Really drunk. That night I left my suitcase in the cab. So I didn't have any papers. Any orders. Nothing really showing who I was. I was technically in the country illegally so they were trying to lock me up. I'm at the station in Istanbul fussing with the officials there. Just so happens that there were some Army guys there. They heard what was going on. So they snuck me around the corner and took me into this garage looking thing. He said the only thing that could stop me from going to jail is for them to sneak me in the country and on the plane. So they threw me in the back of this pickup and put all of these bags on me. When we go to the runway they told me jump out and i literally ran on the back of the plane and they shut the door. That next morning, I wake up and I hear all these sirens man. Everyone is wondering what's going on. There was a plane crash that killed 14 officers. I was suppose to be on that plane. But since I left my suitcase in the cab, I had to sneak on the plane that left the night before because I would've been in jail otherwise. I was sick man. My name was on the manifest. The Air Force called my family and told them I was dead and everything. Getting drunk saved my life man (laughs). I always questioned what my purpose in life was. He saved me for some reason. I'm taking care of these two kids right now, though. Love them like they're my own. Maybe that's it."

Location: South Baltimore

"When I was younger I feared being away from my parents. Really was. I used to carry pictures of them in my bookbag. I didn't want to be away from them. I used to cry almost everyday."

Photos: True Laurels at the New York Art Book Fair

Over the weekend, True Laurels was fortunate enough to be featured in Printed Matter's New York Art Book Fair at MoMA PS1. Thanks to MoMA's "The Classroom" program, we were able to get a room to ourselves for an hour, turn it out and bring True Laurels to life! Abdu Ali DJ'd a sick set ranging from mashups of FKA Twigs to Baltimore Club classics like "Bring In The Katz" before giving an impromptu performance of "Mad Ambrosia". Theresa Chromati projected animations of her "Human Hair Fetish II" project and photography from past issues from Keem Griffey and Olivia Obineme was featured as well. We also debuted True Laurels Vol. 5 along with some exclusive cassettes of Matic808's Laurels Mix. Olivia Obineme came through and got some great shots. Check them out below and see some more over at her site, Strangers With Style! 

Special thanks to everyone who helped make it happen! <3

Baltimore Beings #9

Location: Pratt St.

"My mind is my greatest asset"

Keem Griffey: What do you regret the most?

"Not speaking it."

Location: Howard St.

"I want to fix myself before I worry about a relationship. That is one thing I believe in. You got to worry about yourself first before you can do the same for someone else, ya know?"

Location: Northeast Baltimore

"I'll be honest. I was in PG County just on some spending the night shit and I couldn't really sleep well. I didn't hear any sirens. No helicopters. None of that shit. Shit was weird as fuck to me! (laughs). I am a legitimate city person. I don't see myself wanting to live anywhere but a city. The convenience. If I get up, and say fuck it I want to go to the corner store and get me a soda and some chips, I can do that! Or if i hear the ice cream truck and want a soft cone ice cream, I can get that. I don't want no Mr. Jolly's shit. Ice cream and Nachos. What the fuck type shit is that! (laughs). This is all I know. Breakfast sandwiches and chicken boxes. You end up loving it. Even though you hate it once you realize how fucked up it is. But at the end of the day it's still you. You can't let it go"

Follow Baltimore Beings on Instagram: @BaltimoreBeings

Baltimore Beings #8

Location: Eutaw St.

"People get stuck. Become a victim of circumstance. They start feeling sorry for themselves. Baltimore, being the kind of city it is, it makes them a little deterred from their goals and dreams. And thats the worst part: seeing people do that to themselves." 

Location: Charles St

"Once I realized that no one gives a shit and people are going to judge you regardless, and you can do whatever you want with your time and like, once I became myself, I became empowered and just, happy. 'Cause it's like, nothing is stopping you from ANYTHING. Nobody's rules. The only thing that limits you is money. I mean, because that's just how it is. (Laughs)"

Location: Kenyon Ave.

"I love my twin sisters so much. They're my world. They're 11 now."

Baltimore Beings #7

Location: Howard St.

Keem Griffey: What have you been listening to lately? 

"Random commercials. Like I'll skip the music and go to the commercials (laughs)."

Location: East Baltimore

"My son makes me happy. He's six years of age. Another thing that makes me happy is being a clown. Living life out loud. Without a care. Not worrying about what the critics have to say."

Location: Downtown Baltimore

"My last relationship is a thing that should've been in a movie. Yeah. The shit you see in these Tyler Perry movies, I should've been one of those girls. The heartaches. The fights. Anything you name, I've gone through it. Rape. Domestic violence. The real kind. Not just pushing and head mushing. Scrapping. Straight scrapping. Everyday. So, I'm emotionally drained. It's been like that for the past two years. And people tell me to let things go. No. You can't let shit like that go. Plus that shit has made me a stronger person. All those fights, all that shit that happened. All the side bitches. All the beefs I had to go through. The bitches I did lose. The bitches I was friends with. I'm extremely grateful for my last relationship. It's unfortunate that I had to go through the things I went through but I'm happy for it. It makes me the person I am now. Can't nobody take that from me."

Baltimore Beings #6

Location: Downtown Baltimore

"Me and her have 3 kids. I got 8 all together with 4 different women. But I got 3 with her. She's the love of my life. I'd do anything for her. And she'd do anything for me. One time she beat a woman halfway down the street."

Location: Howard St.

"One of the best times of my life was when i went to Pittsburgh to see the Steelers."

Keem Griffey: You know you're going to get killed right? 

(Laughs)

Location: Brehms Lane

"Im only 17 but I want to be a doctor. I want to help people"

Dad screams from the back:

"Yes! He wants to be a doctor. For real!"

Follow Baltimore Beings on Instagram: @BaltimoreBeings

Baltimore Beings #5

"I want to be an investigator. I want to be in the lab."

Keem Griffey: Do you like school?

"I hate school."

"I hate to see someone down. If I see someone down, I'm down. I hate to see someone out of their normal character. If I call you family or a friend, I want you to wake up smiling. If something is wrong, let's go fix it. Right now. Growing up, I saw people upset all the time. That shit sick yo. I used to be an upset person, yo. My father had a talk with me for like three hours. You feel me? It was days when I ain't have no job. No money. No grass to get high (laughs). Just seems like ain't nothing getting fixed for real. He told me 'Yo, you gotta keep grinding. You have to find a reason to smile.' And I enjoying seeing people smile. Even if it's me just buying you a piece of candy. Give a nigga a dollar. He's smiling. He's happy. His day just got better. Even if I'm dead broke, in the house with no money but I give someone a call and they sound excited on the other end of the line because my name popped up in their phone. That's something I can die with. That ability."

"I love my job man. It brings me joy. I can tell it brings joy to the people I sell my fruit to.Yeah, that's what I'll say. I feel like I have a purpose. And it's not the GREATEST job in the world but it's my job."

Follow Keem Griffey on Instagram: @keemgriffey

Baltimore Beings #4

Location: Northeast Baltimore

"When I come home from school I do my homework. Then I get my mommy and daddy to check it. Then I ask to go outside and ride my bike and play outside with my friends." 

Location: South Baltimore

"I'll be happy when me and the girl that I'm in love with can finally spend some real time together."

Keem Griffey: What's holding you two back from spending time with each other?

"I mean, we do sometimes but it's just like...My phone is messed up right now and her's is messed up right now so it's hard for us to get in touch with each other."

Location: A Skatepark 

"I love skateboarding man. There's no rules! I do whatever the fuck I want. You know, in other sports you have time. You got rules. Encroachments. Yards to go. I can only take it but so far but everyone's different (haha)."

Follow Keem Griffey on Instagram: @keemgriffey

Baltimore Beings #3

Location: Belair Road

"I was good in basketball. I went out for Lake Clifton's team. When I was in 10th grade I made varsity. I was playing with the big boys. I was on the playground one time and I told a guy to hold my soda while i played a game. Then I drank it man and i was gone. They had to rush me to Johns Hopkins. I was poisoned, man. I was done, man. I couldn't think. Couldn't talk. I didn't know where i was. I'm coming back around, though. I'm getting back around to be able to do stuff. I'm in a rehabilitation center. They never told me what it actually was. I'm glad they never did though because, to be honest, if they told me I was poisoned, I would've went back around there and killed him."

Location: Northeast Baltimore

"First thing I do when I get home from school is my homework! I like it 'cause I'm smart! But I want to be a basketball player when i grow up."

Keem Griffey: (laughs out loud) I think you can do that.

"I know I can."

Location: Herring Run Park

"The happiest moment of my life is repetitive. When I'm making music, it's nothing I'd rather be doing. True freedom, I can do what I want. Say what I want. All that. And that's the whole point of any form of art to me: a source of happiness and escape. A lot of people don't understand that. So many people pick up a microphone or a camera for financial gain. If I never make a dime from this shit, I'll have over 200 songs I can play when I'm 60-years-old and smile hard as shit. And even if only one person listened to the stories I've told thru JustUs' music, that makes me happy."

Follow Keem Griffey on Instagram: @keemgriffey

Baltimore Beings #2

Last week, we debuted a photo series by Baltimore-based photographer and True Laurels contributor, Keem Griffey, called Baltimore Beings. As promised, here is the second installment of the series with three new local faces and stories. Check it out: 

Location: Inner Harbor

"I fear nothing. That shit is all in your head man. And i hate when i hear that word. Being fearful is a disability (laughs out loud)."

Location: Noodles & Company

"My biggest fear when I was a child was my father not coming back to get me. I've had many friends that had the "Dad didn't come get me" story. I was always glad he came back. I knew he would but it was still my fear."

Location: Lombard & Howard St

"Worst part about being out here...there is no one out here to say, 'Hey Tony, you're doing a good job.' Or, 'Keep up the good work.' And maybe it's not "good work" but this makes me, me. Been out here since 2006, you know? Mom died in 2005. But it still hurts because i hadn't talked to her since 2004. 

Keem Griffey: What happened to your leg if you don't mind me asking?

"It was all drugs man. Shot myself so many damn times in the groin. I got an ulcer and it developed into gangrene."

------------------------------------------------

See more of Keem Griffey's work on Instagram: @keemgriffey

Baltimore Beings

Keem Griffey is a Baltimore-based photographer whose new "Baltimore Beings" photo series was featured in True Laurels Vol. 4. For the series, he approaches random people walking around the city and asks them about themselves, hoping to create some sort of comical and therapeutic relief. He says that in a blue-collar city like Baltimore, people can often be worn down by day-to-day worries so stopping them to ask about their lives can brighten their day. By sharing their stories, he hopes to touch other people whose experiences are similar, as well. 

We'll be sharing new installments of Baltimore Beings every week on True Laurels. Check the newest below:

Location: Pelham & Mannasota

Left: you know what i got to say? Motherfuckers better wake up now!

Right: It cost $0.00 to keep it Real! 

Location: Workplace

"Being gay is one of the hardest challenges I had to face in life and to be honest there have been times I wish I wasn’t just to make everybody I love happy. But, this isn’t about everybody’s happiness but my own and I choose to live the way I was born. It’s like trying to change my skin color! Love yourself by all means"

Location: Herring Run Park

"At this point in my life, I honestly can say I'm hungrier than I've ever been to make it with music. There isn't a minute of an hour in any single day in my life where I don't think about being successful in it. It's to the point it eats at me so much that I think I might lose my shit soon if I don't make it. I write like a madman and every time I use the bathroom to poop or shower, I usually come out with four or five lines to save in the notes section of my phone"

Follow Keem Griffey on Twitter: @KeemGriffey

True Laurels Presents: FLAT OUT

Next Friday, July 18th, marks the first installment of a musical celebration by True Laurels called FLAT OUT. The show takes place at The Manor (3503 Greenmount Ave) and will feature Baltimore rapper, JuegoTheNinety and a group of experimental sound artists: Bastiengoat, Bored Lord, Minivan Markus and Plaintext. In addition to music, FLAT OUT will exhibit work by local visual artists and is also a birthday celebration for myself and friend of the zine, Abdu Ali. There will also be a very special musical guest so don't miss out! 

About FLAT OUT:

FLAT OUT by True Laurels aims to present music on its own terms: unforgiving, exploratory, all-inclusive and style-twisting. This is a music showcase that, while using rap as a foundation, embraces the genre’s boundless trajectory where electronic and punk have began expanding its soundscape. The event also welcomes music’s inevitable future where aesthetic, gender, sexual orientation and cultural background are bases of origination, not alienation. We strive to bring dynamic musical and visual artists together to exhibit their unique talent while ignoring the pretense and remnants of the old guard that heavily cloud the contemporary arts culture. Curated by True Laurels’ founder and editor, Lawrence Burney, co-hosted by Abdu Ali and Keem Griffey, FLAT OUT is based in Baltimore—a fundamental premise to each of their creative outputs.

RSVP HERE or just bring your ass on the 18th! 

Diary: Chrissy Vasquez

From True Laurels Volume 4:

 Photo: Keem Griffey

Today I realize that I'm not like many people. As I've been told my entire life by many people. I'm similar to my music, my music is me. Different...astranged...created off earth. Where ever I go, my music goes with me. Journeys written into a melodic tune. It flows in my head through times of melancholy and when I feel joy it takes off into my body. Wave length. Taking off in to outer space. Let me go so I can free my mind. I swing my maschete full of treble cleffs, eight notes, do...re....me's...fa's...and sorrows. I'll blow you away baby, blow you away. Chrissy Vasquez. That's what they call me. I smile. As well, I'm hesitant. As I step on stage. The tune plays, I sway my hips and range my vocals with my hand. Strange voice. Numb and glazed. They didn't expect this, did they? Capturing pictures of the essence. Fifteen minutes...only fifteen minutes. Fifteen fucking minutes.

As they applauded, the noise filled up the room. The smell of drunk, the smell of fucked up...I still smelt a scent of love.

Love is universol. Love is all you need.

...

I grew up...without love. I grew up, with heartaches. The house on Rogers Ave, living bottom under the crack addict on top of us. I struggled. I've seen more than you think. You'd think the only thing I'd be witnessing in a child stage is the frog pad, and cartoon figures on the televsion screen. I knew what guns were before I even seen one, I knew what fear was because I scent it. I knew what pain was. It was all around me. Mami don't cry, I will protect you. The cops knocked the door down...

Love...love.........it's out here. Mami...do you hear me? Love...love.

He blacks out.

Follow Chrissy Vasquez on Twitter: @CHRISSYVSQZ

True Laurels Volume 2 Cover + Details

I'm proud to announce the details of True Laurels Volume 2! Copies will be sold at KAHLON this Saturday  at The Crown (1910 N. Charles St.) and there will be live sets by Abdu Ali, Butch Dawson, Neuport and Natural Velvet. Big S/O to Kristin Tata for illustrating the feature artist, Philly rapper Asaad. Others featured in the issue are B L A C K I E, Butch Dawson, Go Ddm, Rusty Burke, Kenny Evans and Al Rogers. Contributors for the issue are Brandon Soderberg, Kristin Tata, Olivia Obineme, Keem Griffey and FAM. If you can't grab a copy Saturday, no worries, it will be for sale in the site's shop Monday!