Crown A Thornz "REAL"

And after a lot of dedication, drive and determination the Crown A Thornz music video for “Real” has been released.  Please enjoy like we have.

Crown A Thornz: Behind the Scenes with Koray Salih

The holiday season goes by without a music video shoot?  Impossible.

My good friend Sterling Pache and I got a chance to connect once again this past holiday season to shoot not one, not two but three hip hop videos over the course of three days.  No typo.  Three music videos.  Three days.

How true it is that you don’t know your own limits until you’ve tested the mind, body and soul to prove what they can achieve if the desire and passion are in every fiber of your being.

Our first two videos were shot with the talented hip hop group Crown a Thornz.  A unique combination of hip hop with an infusion of soul and a dash of reggae to produce top tapping, hip shaking, soul moving beats.  Their conscious hip hop would make the Roots and Mos Def do a double take. 

Crown A Thornz is a group of driven creative talented artists that consists of Kolor Brown, the group’s producer, an emcee an artist and a barber, J Wyze know for his contributions to Toronto’s Flow 93.5 is also a poet and an emcee, and of course Eklipz the artist, painter, emcee, photographer, videographer and the man behind www.hiphop-homage.com.

When we teamed up with Crown A Thornz we had big expectations of the group.  In the time we spent together they did nothing short of shatter every one of our expectations from a creative perspective, a performance perspective and a dedication perspective.  When we couldn’t find a way to get to Hamilton with all our equipment they hooked us up with a limo.  When we needed a restaurant to shoot in they hooked us up with an amazing restaurant.  When we need people to help out in the video they brought a crew.   They’re a quality group both on and off the screen.

Over three days we slept less than humanly necessary, carried more than thought possible, we shot more than we could believe and we produced some great quality footage.

While you may have to wait a minute or two more for the final video you have to check out the behind the scene shots found below to get a feel for what we have been up to and watch the behind the scenes video at the end brought to you by www.hiphop-homage.com!  Big PS!  Click on any of the images for the full size!!!

Special thanks goes out to….

Sizzle’s Caribbean Take Out

Working Proof Studios

Jason Laramee

Mike & Ruk Rajczak

Ravi Ramnarace

 

Go to www.koraysalih.com for more stuff!

Mt Eden Dubstep

I was just looking for Omen videos when I stumbled on to Mt Eden Dubstep.  I can only describe this as an act of fate as this is the sickest group I have discovered, by mistake, in a long while.  I had to drop everything and start painting when I heard the songs below.  All I know at the moment is that I can only find their music on YouTube.  Listen and fall in love with some thick, chunky, crunchy Dubstep.

"The Train Station"

 

Title: "The Train Station"

Medium: Oil on Canvas

Size: 10"x12"

The Train Station...

He released the thick smoke from his rusty lungs and it quietly entered the atmosphere.  A thin layer of smoke hovered above his head like a blanket that moved with his body.   He looked around the small train station.

“Anyone there?” he said.

He brushed his mustache and looked down at his watch.  Does this still work?  He pinched the watch between his tar stained forefinger and thumb.  He drew the watch closer to his left eye to inspect the second hand.  It was moving.

His cigarette dangled from his lips as his mind drifted off… to… the life… he had before.

“Hello!..... Helllllllooooo!!!” he said.

The words bounced off the walls.  

He turned his head to explore the room from his seat.  No one.  Just an empty train station.

What’s it been now?  Six months?… huh, maybe 8?  Probably not 8 he thought.

The dry air in the train station amplified his wet and heavy cough.  He reached for his pack of cigarettes as one still dangled from his lips.  Huh, empty. 

“I should give these up.  It’s been 5 hours and I’m down a pack,” he muttered.

He held the empty carton in his hand.   He closed the lid and placed it neatly beside him.  With his long arms extended he grasped the smooth seat.  Years of weary travelers had worn down the oak benches. 

Any day now, he thought.  

He was told that his train would arrive any day now.  He was told several times it would be any day now.  His gut tells him a little more time.  Trains aren’t this late, you use to be able to set your watch to a train.  The times have changed his mind pondered.

What he left behind was comfortable and easy.  This new path would be difficult but rewarding.

He brought the cigarette to his lips and drew another breath.  He raised his arm to scratch his withered neck.  The lamp that dangled from the ceiling illuminated his face.  The cigarette dangled from his lip as the smoke climbed up.

Any day now…

Head to www.koraysalih.com for more stuff.

Koray (Core-EYE) Salih

Toronto Fan Expo 2010!!!

Have you ever heard of FanExpo? Maybe you have? Maybe you haven’t. Imagine this… you’re in the Metro Toronto Convention Centre surrounded by every comic book dealer that exchanged your favourite comic books for every penny you earned, horror flick paraphernalia readily available, some of the biggest Sci-Fi stars in the world sitting at autograph booths… and several thousands fans, 10% of which we’re in costume. WHAT AN AWESOME TIME!!!!

Originally we decided to head to this extravaganza just to be caught up in the moment of it all… to be swept up by all the excitement around the stars and heroes of our childhood. It delivered on so may levels. My sis and I head over on Saturday morning, 11AM, stood in a 30 minute line outside the convention centre… followed by another 30 minute wait in the convention centre. I think we knew from the hunger and exhaustion of the line alone that this was going to be an awesome day. Upon walking in, it delivered on so many levels. Comic books, amazing costumes… Adam West, David Cronenberg, Bill Moseley, William Forsythe, James Marsters, Heahter Langenkamp, Stan Lee, Ernest Borgnine, Dean Stockwell, Peter Mayhew, Michael Dorn…. It goes on and on… I’m not sure why we were so starstruck by these heros that we grew up with. I mean, they are people just like us… selling their autographs and photos for a price. Either way, it made my month… and I think I can speak on my sister’s behalf when I say we had an amazing time!

So, to the pictures… as mentioned, at the show there were several fans dressed up and decked out in costume. I had taken photos at this event, and I was going to post them...but I thought, how could I make these pictures a little different? By having fun with them! SO, I have posted three pictures to get your thoughts… to see if I should edit more like this moving forward. Write and let me know what you think.

Anyway, my recommendation for the future… attend Toronto Comic Con in March… don’t miss it… and wear your best costume!

Happy Wednesday!

Koray (Core-EYE) Salih

D-Sisive At Rancho

If you've been in conversation with me in the last few months, I’m sure you’ve heard the name D-Sisive once or twice. A Toronto based Hip Hop artist that’s just solid, and keeps at his music.

My favourite songs?

Up
Song to Sing
Glorious
West Coast

He was part of a lineup last Thursday at Rancho Relaxo… and I took this opportunity to see D-Sisive live!!! Originally, my only goal was to attend the show... but with some time and thinking, I decided to photograph the event. So I rented the lens I've had my eye on for the past few months and had some fun! For this shoot I decided against using flash, a challenge considering I had not done it before. This was probably not the best location to try this due to the low red lighting and low ceiling... BUT, how would we grow if we never tried. The show was solid, full of laughs and some great foot tapping beats!

Anyway, I've attached a couple of pictures from the event for your perusal!

Enjoy!

Koray (Core-EYE) Salih

Koray Salih Painting Sale!

It's time for my paintings to enter the lives of others so they can do for others what they have done for me. The paintings I've created over the past few years are now available for sale!

An easy decision? No....over the years I've been very close with the images I've painted, the deep emotions in each one... often times when painting, I felt like I was chipping away to reveal the story in each canvas. Why so much feeling? Once upon a time ago I learned from an old teacher that if you don't feel what you create then the onlookers will feel very little themselves. It is as a result of this I learned to invest myself into what I do.

Now, it has come time for these paintings to enter your lives and your space. Below I've listed out each painting available for purchase along with a price. Here are some quick notes about the paintings, and please make sure you read the note at the bottom of this list for final details.

-All mediums and measurements are listed below the painting.
-If you are interested in a painting, please e-mail me at info@koraysalih.com with the painting title in the subject line.

Title: “How I see it”
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Size: 30”x10”

Price: $350 SOLD

Title: “Too Much”

Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Size: 30”x10” 

Price: $350

Title: “Love is…"

Medium: Acrylic on Canvas 

Size: 20”x30” 

Price: $550 SOLD

Title: “Warning signs"

Medium: Acrylic on Canvas

Size: 24”x36”

Price: $700

Title:
Her: “Love me…”
Him: “I wish I knew how to.”

Medium: Acrylic on Canvas 

Size: 8”x16”

Price: $200

Title: “ten thousand words”

Medium: Acrylic on Canvas 

Size: 8”x16”

Price: $250 SOLD

Title: “when I grow up!” or "what may...or may never be"

Materials: Acrylic on Canvas

Size: 12”x36”

Price: $600

Title: "V for Vendetta...or Valentines..."

Size: 24" x 36"

Medium: Acrylic on Canvas 

Price: $600 SOLD

Title: "Speaking with the Soul"

Size: 24" x 36"

Medium: Acrylics 

Price: $700

Title: "Just cause I'm wrong, doesn't make you right!"

Size: 11" x 14"

Medium: Acrylic on Canvas 

Price: $400

Title: "You'll never know dear... how much I love you..." (Expressions Series)

Medium: Acrylic on Canvas

Size: 3' x 5'

Price: $1250

Title: "fury..." (Expressions Series)

Medium: Acrylic on Canvas 

Size: 36"x12"

Price: $700

Title: “…” (Expressions Series)
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Size: 3' x 2'
Price: $700

Notes regarding the paintings:
-All paintings must be purchased in person, and paid for with a certified cheque
-Prices are non-negotiable
-Image rights belong to Koray Salih