K.u.d. tv was created in 2003 to bring some attention to the music scene in Washington DC. I came back from College and wanted to showcase the artists I grew up with as I reentered the music Scene in DC. I was recording live performances with Asheru and Black Berry Jones all round the city. Jones was playing his asr-x live and Asheru was peforming his new singles. I interviewed Asheru about his connections with Hip-Hop and education. Watching it now it makes me proud to witness how far he has gone with the concept. The instrumentals were provided by Decompose and add a grimy sp-12 sound that’s so warm. His beats would confuse me they were so good lol. I wanted to show off my 3d work so I infused my animations in the show. The video for “In So Deep” was a project from grad school. I loved the imagery and it still makes me smile remembering how I was the camera man and actor.13 takes of a fall cuz u aren’t sure what your cameras filming leaves bruises lol. The freestyle at the end was filmed at the 9:30 club. It was the biggest crowd yet and we all knew Jones was gonna wow em playing that asr-x. Ash brought Head-Roc and Kokayi on the stage and RBI brought in the sugar cuts. The crowd went wild and I went to the editing room.

kicking up dust tv episode 1 from Heron Gibran on Vimeo.

Black Broadway TV was created in 2007 after a trip to Amsterdam with RNL. We documented the trip that turned into a recording session. I wanted to record with Controverse after our success with “The Light”. I recorded a verse for Caprice’s upcoming album and began writing in the hotel room. I wanted to let the people over here hear sum Caprice music so I decided to borrow some footage. I wanted to do a video show again with all of my friends and try to bring us some viewers. Hosting the radio show at 89.3 fm was fun, but everything was now digital and visual. I decided to bring the cameras in there and film the rest of the crew to try to give the faces some shine. My shows would not be complete with out any art and I happened to be working on this soulja slim painting off and on. I go in detail explaining my process of making my medium for oil paint. The painting is finished now and on display at Artomatic. There is an improv freestyle from Boogie Man Ghost that gives me the chills. Times like this I’m glad I am behind the camera. Omar Retnu is pointing to things and Ghost must incorporate them into his verse. It is special to me because we used to do this all day as kids rapping up and down Black Broadway. No one will ever know how we got down if we don’t show them how we get down.

Black Broadway episode 01 from Heron Gibran on Vimeo.

I first heard Soulja Slim in college. No Limit was everywhere and everyone had his or her favorites. Soulja Slim’s first album was a favorite of mine. He made the cover of Murder Dog years after No Limit faded away and I instantly want to paint it. I hadn’t painted in years but I never seem to forget how to do it. I have been working on this piece for years. I would pick it up and paint everyday for a couple weeks, get it to a point where I like it, and paint over it the next year. I decided to record it one day. The final doesn’t look like this so it’s nice to have some record of the progress. I began mixing my colors. I think most people don’t spend enough time mixing colors and getting what they really see on their palette.
In College my sensei/professor gave me his painting medium. I can make my oils dry at such a fast speed I have to thin it out. It’s such an important to oil painting. The masters would paint in layers… its like Photoshop in a weird way. The painting is now hanging in artomatic.

Heron Gibran paints Soulja Slim from Heron Gibran on Vimeo.

Episode two of Black Broadway TV focused on a live recording featuring some of DC’s finest emcee’s including Kev Brown, Tabi Bonney, and The Package. The Els played live at the radio station and RBI pulled together a large group of Emcees for the show. Excerpts from the “Mind Power” workshops showcase DJ the DJ and Jacob Soul. These workshops brought so many good people into our circle and I’m glad those brothers gravitated our way. When Omar Retnu made that track we began the Hu-ron project. I was just listening to uncle Charlie before I left the house for Omar’s. When he dropped those keys I knew it was fate…so I wrote, “ I want the keys…to unlock my destiny”. I had the pleasure of going to Rotterdam and linking with my man D-Son of S.O.S. and brought yall into their lab. I uncovered some live footage of Complex and Omar Soulay performing “The Light”. It felt great performing with Controverse and the band in Amsterdam. This show never made it to the air so I’m glad you all can still enjoy it.

BlackBroadway tv episode 2 from Heron Gibran on Vimeo.