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Many people - those who knew him longer, who spent more time in his physical presence, and simply better writers - have paid due respect to the life of Dallas Penn. Consider this image & the words that follow my modest entry.

To try and capture everything Dallas was in one image is impossible. He was so many things to so many people: to me, he was a storyteller, a polymath, and probably the closest thing to a real-life urban legend. How does one capture a man who seemed to live a thousand lives in one lifetime?

So I decided to depict the thing I most associated with Dallas, which is also what I'll miss most about him - his joy, his humor, his particular, singular wit. That ineffable quality that was always there, no matter the topic or setting.

Dallas - I'll never be able to thank you enough for all the times we collaborated, for all the stories you told, for the laughs; for your feedback, your guidance, your support, and not least of all, your insights.

Deepest condolences to Mrs. Penn, the Penn family, and all of us who loved, admired and respected Dallas. He is greatly missed and never forgotten.

I hope you and Combat are having good times at the far reaches of the universe & the ascended planes. The Spaceship is sorely missed. And yet, as you told us so many times: it doesn't ever stop. INTERNETS!! Long live Dallas Penn!

(One last thing: if you knew anything about Dallas, he was not about celebrating people when they ascended; rather, he wanted to recognize them on their born days. And so, you have some time to prepare; but on Sept 28? The Godd Bootgoddd shall be honored; prepare however you may need!)

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Can’t believe it’s been five years. Dallas always said we should celebrate people on their born days, not when they ascend - and so, here’s my small tribute of remembrance.

I hope whatever realm you are traveling, the mysteries of eternity are treating you well. All love today, tomorrow, and every day after - as the saying goes, it doesn’t ever stop. #combatjackforever

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Hello everyone. I am very proud and excited to announce that I am part of the 2022 Birdcage Bottom Books Kickstarter! Smash that link if you don't need anymore info, but if you are interested, this includes:

The book, which is 8x8", 140 pages, perfect-bound, and includes 13 brand-new, never-before-seen illustrations that won't be published elsewhere; Bonus tiers that include a 24-page, 2-color risoprint process zine as well as a set of four, 2-color risograph prints on cream cardstock; and finally, a two-color BBB mini-poster and "misfortune." bookmark (still in progress) - these will be included in all orders!

Supporting this Kickstarter means supporting a really great small publisher + some other really dope artists. Much love & appreciation to past, current, and potential future supporters; this means a ton and I'm excited to see this years-long project finally come to life.

Big shouts to J.T. Yost & BBB for making this dream become a reality. Finally, I guess this means I'm now one of the "link in bio, cause I want you to buy-o my book" people... but link in bio, cause I want you to buy-o my book. Let's go!

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Tomorrow, Sons of Andre (@chumzilla x @jihadscorcese) drop "Dungeon of Doom" on @insubordinaterecords. If you cop a physical quantity, you might just be able to pick up a double-sided print by yours truly, printed on pearlescent paper.

Quantities limited, don't sleep. #LONGLIVESCORCESE

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“Portraits in Retrograde | No.4: DJ”, 2021 process video 02

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“Portraits in Retrograde | No.4: DJ”, 2021 process video 01

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“Portraits in Retrograde | No.4: DJ”, 2021 detail shots

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“Portraits in Retrograde | No.4: DJ”, 2021

~120+ hours, 60 on the sweatshirt alone, but I think it was worth it...

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Some words on the unexpected, tragic passing of my friend, Lorde Jones aka Scorcese Shells aka ZipSquad JihaD:

In 2011, my work for The Combat Jack Show had started to get some notice around the internets, and via @DJBenhameen, Shells contacted me, asking me to do a cover for a single. Emails and texts were exchanged; calls and conversations soon led to getting up in real life. This was the beginning of an almost decade-long, multi-project creative partnership, which morphed into a friendship, and for that I feel extremely lucky.

To know him was to know his energy, his excitement, his enthusiasm; to work on a project with him was to have him be your new biggest fan, a person who was always searching, always growing, always wanting to get better. You couldn't help but feel empowered when you talked with him. These may be cliches, but they were true in my experience with him.

As I worked on this illustration after learning of his passing yesterday, I was listening to his album "A World Only Gods Know", which was done in partnership with the ultra-talented producer @alphadavis. This will always be my favorite project of his - because of all the conversation and ideas we had around it; because of his vision and our collaboration. So many of his words now feel prophetic, especially the track “Goodbye Life”; “Goodbye life, goodbye to my seeds / Hope I watered your strengths, nurtured your dreams / Hope I, provide understanding, tried to be a better man..." Listening to this album, I can hear his humor, his joy, his pain, his struggle, his love.

There are many words that can be used to describe Shells, but the one I would choose is thoughtful. All his albums showcase the depth and breadth of the thoughtfulness he brought to the dedication to his craft. His thoughtfulness in how he approached his projects, from the merchandise to the overall vision, was something I truly envy. You could see it in the people he collaborated with; how he found them, brought them together, and uplifted them. In this regard and many others, he was a king amongst men.

And therein lies a dual tragedy: the obvious ones of a young, talented, intelligent man, taken much too soon; leaving behind his partner and his sons; his mother, having fought and beaten cancer, who has now seen two sons pass in less than a year’s time. It is a loss for his family, related by blood or related by music, and now we all sit here wondering how, and why.

The other tragedy is that it felt like he was just on the cusp of getting the recognition he deserved; the hard work was finally about to pay off. He was getting better with every single project; I had planned to text him this weekend telling him how great the Nation GVNG album was. His relentless drive left me in awe, and I was never sure how he was able to handle so many things at once. You had to realize how big his heart was to be able to take all this on. In a way, it is reminiscent of Combat Jack; another person, taken away from us much too soon, just as the cusp of a new gear, a new level of recognition, overdue and well-deserved, was on the way.

But now I’m left with remembrances and emails; my conversation is one-way with my friend, through his music. And so the only way I can think to honor his memory is to ask everyone to listen, share, and purchase his music (search Nation GVNG, Insubordinate Records, A World Only Gods Know, and ZipSquad on Bandcamp).

Thoughts of strength and love to his family, his friends, and to those of us lucky to have had him in our lives. Safe travels on your journey through the upper realms you have ascended to, Shells. Until we meet again.

ZipSquad, Scorcese, Nation GVNG, forever.

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I wanted to say thank you to anyone who took the time to view, like, share, or simply think and appreciate my "misfortune." series from last year. It means a lot that you were willing to engage with an idea that was rooted in death, darkness and despair in the year 2020, and I extend my gratitude to you.

I had this idea 13 years ago, and worked on it over the the last 3 years. My goal when I started this was to have it published as an actual book, and that's my current focus for the series. I won't be doing any new illustrations until that aspect comes to fruition.

I'll be keeping the "misfortune."-specific accounts (@somemisfortunes on Twitter, @misfortuneseries on IG, and https://misfortuneseries.tumblr.com/) as an archive of the series, as well as a place to post any news or reviews, if they arise. Thank you all again, & may your lives be lived with as few misfortunes as possible.

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misfortune. #088 - "Someone you care about seeks reconciliation." IG: misfortuneseries TW: somemisfortunes TMBLR: https://misfortuneseries.tumblr.com/

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misfortune. #007 - "It's up to you to clarify." IG: misfortuneseries TW: somemisfortunes TMBLR: https://misfortuneseries.tumblr.com/

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misfortune. #084 - "Find release from your cares,have a good time." IG: misfortuneseries TW: somemisfortunes TMBLR: https://misfortuneseries.tumblr.com/

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misfortune. #125 - "An angry man opens his mou-th and shuts up his eyes." IG: misfortuneseries TW: somemisfortunes TMBLR: https://misfortuneseries.tumblr.com/

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misfortune. #025 - "Your present plans are going to succeed." IG: misfortuneseries TW: somemisfortunes TMBLR: https://misfortuneseries.tumblr.com/

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misfortune. #060 - "It tastes sweet." IG: misfortuneseries TW: somemisfortunes TMBLR: https://misfortuneseries.tumblr.com/

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misfortune. #111 - "Good judgment comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgment." IG: misfortuneseries TW: somemisfortunes TMBLR: https://misfortuneseries.tumblr.com/