On this episode of Art To Empire, we're sitting for a deep dive with visual artist & graffiti writer NAM, who is 1/3 of the Illuminaries collective, known for producing several large, in-your-face, public murals around the East Bay and beyond. Influenced by the first wave of graffiti styles and artists that migrated from cities like Chicago and New York in the 1980s. We're talking the path, methods, missteps and business behind the scenes of his journey turning his artwork into a business.

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guest @illuminaries

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On this episode of Art To Empire, we've got a timeless lyricist and an experienced business conductor in one, with David Kelly aka Cap D, from rap group All Natural in the guest seat. After 5 releases with his group, and another 4 as a solo artist, Kelly ventured into the legal world, often working on sports related business, eventually leading him to his current position as head of business & legal at Golden State Entertainment and the Golden State Warriors NBA franchise. Tune in!

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On this episode of Art To Empire, we've got the homie Kamau from Brasil in the guest seat. The Sau Paolo native, currently in California, has worked in both the skateboarding and music worlds professionally for 20-30 years. Having already been a pro skater since 1998, Kamau released his first music project in 2002 and has never looked back. Growing his career from humble roots hosting gigs and earning small checks playing shows around town with his rap group, he built momentum, a band and a plan that would take him on tour internationally. We break down the successes, mistakes, tips, tricks and experiences that helped him take his arts and build them into a career.

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host Tion Bukue @bukueone

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On this episode of Art To Empire, we're sitting down with Beau Bautista, director of Bay Area based Blue Dog Events. After many years in the music business concentrating in audio production, in 2004 Beau began conducting fundraiser poker tournaments all over Northern California, raising over $14,000,000 for non-profit organizations in the years since.

On this episode of Art To Empire, Oakland, CA visual artist & muralist Steven Anderson. From Graffiti and Public Art to Portraits and Abstract works, Steven's work is known for bold colors and intricate details - for maximum impact, wherever the canvas. He's produced countless large format mural projects for brands like Gatorade, Under Armour, NBC Sports and LYFT, as well as smaller formats including illustrating children's books. On this episode we dive deep into everything that went on behind the scenes, as he grew his empire from a hobby into a sustainable business.

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On this episode of Art To Empire, we're sitting with photographer Ben Liebenberg, currently serving as Director of Photography and lead photographer for the NFL. Ben's prolific portfolio spans sports, music, portraits and television - shooting countless high profile events including the Olympics, NFL Superbowl, MLB world series, US Open, the Cali Comm hip hop tour and beyond. He's earned no less than four Emmy Awards for his work in television and we're thrilled to break it all down on this episode. We get into the journey of how it all came together, from lessons and misconceptions, to tips and best practices - we peek behind the curtains of the business of being a photographer.

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On this episode of Art To Empire, we're sitting down for a chat on graffiti, hip hop and more with San Francisco-based graffiti artist and rapper Dregs One. Dregs hosts the podcast History of The Bay, which explores the Bay Area's rich culture in rap music, graffiti art and local history. Dregs' vast knowledge of Bay Area culture is supplemented by guests who tell their own unique stories of participating in these worlds.

host @bukueone

guest @dregs_one

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On this episode of Art To Empire, Urban Aztec • Jesse Hernandez (@UrbanAztec) is a visual artist born and raised in the SF bay area. He is most widely recognized for his street art murals, vinyl toys and diverse illustration work combining stylistic influences from both graffiti and ancient indigenous culture. In addition to recently collaborating with Tom Morello of Rage Against The Machine, Hernandez’s artwork has been featured in projects by Marvel, Warner Bros, DC Comics, Rolling Stone, Juxtapoz, Run the Jewels, 311, Primus, Oakland Museum and more. Hernandez has shown art in galleries and museums around the world and his mural work can be seen in Oakland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Mexico City and Amsterdam.

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host Tion Bukue @bukueone

guest Jesse Hernandez @urbanaztec

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On this clip of Art To Empire, rapper/producer/label head Blueprint is in the guest seat. Print and Bukue get into the biggest misconceptions about going fully "independent" as an artist / musician.

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Guest @printmatic

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On this episode of Art To Empire, we're sitting down with Stash ICU - artist, advocate, curator, production manager and beyond in California's graffiti and street art community since the 90's.

Stash Maleski is the production manager and founder of I.C.U. Art, an art production company specializing in murals and art exhibitions by artists that started on the streets in the graffiti world. Their work has included mural campaigns for Marvel's Black Panther franchise, as well as the recently released Hulu show Dear Mama. ICU has produced hundreds of murals all over the United States dating back to 1993.

Stash was also the program founder and curator of the Venice Art Walls - a legal graffiti art park in the Venice Beach, Los Angeles. Stash has been a leading advocate for graffiti artists and muralist rights in both LA and the Bay Area.

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