Curated by Shawn "JAY Z" Carter, JAY Z's Life+Times is a digital experience covering art, sports, music, fashion and culture.

Pony Ranch tocan folk lo-fi apoyado en bases electrónicas y guitarras acústicas.

Pony Ranch empezó siendo el proyecto de un tipo -Carlos Cuesta- y un ordenador -Mauna Kea-. Tras la incorporación de Josué Coloma (A.K.A. Alozeau) a la guitarra, Mauna Kea ha quedado relegada a programar bases en el estudio
Pony Ranch play lo-fi, loop-aided, acoustic-based folk.

Pony Ranch started as a solo project for a guy -Carlos Cuesta- with his computer -Mauna Kea-. After the addition of Josué Coloma (A.K.A. Alozeau) on guitars, Mauna Kea stays in the warm safety of the studio to work on its loops and stuff.

Born and bred from the streets of New Orleans, Louisiana, enter into the game, 20-year-old August Alsina...

With the love and hustle of the Crescent City running through his veins, August is eager to follow in the footsteps of the NOLA music legends that paved his way. His recently inked deal Def Jam Recordings looks to be a great step in the right direction, but music wasn’t always in his future. 

August learned at an early age that drugs and money could make you, or break you. With both his father and stepfather battling crack addiction, August’s mother moved their family to Houston, Texas in search of a fresh start. But Houston provided no happy ending. For years a young August endured a home life plagued by drugs and violence. At just 14, he got word from New Orleans that is father, August Sr., lost his battle with drugs and alcohol. 

In an attempt to escape his reality, August took to Youtube, where he posted dozens of homemade performance videos. His clips covering Musiq Soulchild, Lyfe Jennings and others went viral, generating millions of views in just over a month. It seemed that he was finally taking his first steps toward a bright future in music, but just a year later, reality hit home when his best friend was shot and killed in the streets of Houston. As quickly as August appeared, he vanished form Youtube, back to the real world. With tensions mounting at home, 16-year-old August was kicked out. Alone, he returned to New Orleans and took to the streets, selling drugs as a means of survival. 

With his older brother also in the streets hustling, it wouldn’t be long before August learned that the addiction to money could be as deadly as the addiction to drugs. Just days before August’s 18th birthday, his older brother was gunned down in New Orleans East, another unsolved murder in one of the nations most dangerous cities. “I never expected them [the police] to find his killer”, August explains. “People die everyday in the streets of New Orleans. Unfortunately, death has become a way of life,” but not for August. His brother’s death became his motivation to not become a statistic, but to pursue his musical aspirations on an entirely new level.

Under the guidance of Noontime Unlimited (management and production company), August relocated to Atlanta in 2011 to begin carving his own musical path with his life experiences at the center of his artistry. He recently teamed up with Hoodrich/MMG’s own DJ Scream for the release of his debut mixtape, ‘The Product’, which spawned the internet and radio buzzing anti-love single, “Sucka” which features fellow New Orleans crooner Lloyd. 

Yet to reach 21 years old, with already a lifetime of experiences behind him, August is living proof that your past doesn’t have to dictate your future, and that life’s hardships can be the motivation required for success. With Grammy Award winning singer/songwriter The Dream prepping August’s debut project for release through his Radio Killa/Def Jam imprint, the path to success has been laid. Look for August to make 2013 his official coming out party.


Founded in 1811 following a bequest from the art dealer and collector Sir Francis Bourgeois, Dulwich Picture Gallery is England’s first public art gallery. The collection is housed in a purpose-built gallery designed by the influential Georgian architect Sir John Soane and boasts one of the finest collections of Old Masters in the world including important works by Rubens, Rembrandt and Van Dyck. It also features a number of significant Spanish and Italian artists of the Baroque era and the largest collection of Poussin paintings in the country. 

A modern extension designed by Rick Mather was built in 1999, adding a café, educational facilities and lecture theatre. The Gallery now receives over 120,000 visitors annually. As well as the permanent collection, the Gallery also hosts a number of temporary exhibitions throughout the year.


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