Ghost in the Machine

Portraits channel rock's finest using cassette tape

Erika Iris Simmons’ one-year foray into cassette-tape portraiture happened after noting how similar the coiled, stringy reels of old cassettes resembled Jimi Hendrix’ hair. Since then the 26-year old self-taught artist has added similar likenesses of Kurt Cobain, John Lennon, Patti Smith, Michael Jackson, and other legendary musicians and icons to her impressive body of work. Simmons, who lives in Atlanta and works under the …

Siku Ya Baadaye

The latest "Afropean" music videos from Congolese artist Baloji

The images and sounds of Europe and Africa clash in Congolese artist Baloji’s new music video “Siku Ya Baadaye.” His video reflects his sound, a blend of hip-hop lyrics with distinct African instrumentals, that has made fans of other hybrid genre musicians like Vampire Weekend and Beck. Calling himself “Afropean,” the Congo-born and Belgium-raised artist is quickly becoming known for both his stylized music videos …

The Big Butt Book

An ode to the gluteus maximus in a new coffee table book

I like big butts and I cannot lie. As a female constantly preoccupied with how mine looks in pants combined with my experience living in Brazil—the very land that invented the thong bikini and where baile funk girls become overnight celebs based just on the girth of their behinds—I find Taschen’s fatty tome “The Big Butt Book” fascinating and a must-buy for discerning and refined …