Artwork inspired by Hip-Hop punchlines for my upcoming I Just Murdered The Alphabet exhibition.

As you can see in this artwork, I used my graffiti background to create all those hand drawn fonts for this art series.
◀ check the complete solo art exhibition.

Medium used: Hand-drawn with silver ink pens on 160g acid free art paper.

Hip-hop punchlines inspiration:
I’m not a businessman, I’m a business man – JAY-Z – Diamonds From Sierra Leone (remix)
Ghetto shit is my life – DJ ASSAULT – Ghetto Shit
I’m so gangsta I eat the cereals out the milk – LIL SCRAPPY – Gangsta Gangsta
Les aigles ne volent pas avec les pigeons – BOOBA – Rat Des villes

Character 13 | Original handmade drawing for my solo art exhibition I Just Murdered The Alphabet

Im a business man
JAY-Z

I don’t have so much money…
My business has nothing to do with becoming rich.
I mean, I am becoming rich, and it doesn’t take any material for that.
It is all about the knowledge and the experience you gain in the process.
Don’t get me wrong. I am no hippy.
Actually I hate hippies.
I’m Mega.

Hip-hop punchline inspiration:
I’m not a businessman, I’m a business man – JAY-Z – Diamonds From Sierra Leone (remix)

Ghetto shit is my life
DJ ASSAULT

I met DJ Assault once in Paris.
We made an insane after party where he came to do a turntable mix at my place.
Until the police came and get everybody out from my house…

Hip-hop punchline inspiration:
Ghetto shit is my life – DJ ASSAULT – Ghetto Shit

So gangsta I eat the cereals out the milk
LIL SCRAPPY

I don’t like sugar.
I eat a lot of spices and I’m hot.
Thumbtack Press from USA even did an interview based on my love for chili once.

Hip-hop punchline inspiration:
I’m so gangsta I eat the cereals out the milk – LIL SCRAPPY – Gangsta Gangsta

Les aigles ne volent pas avec les pigeons
BOOBA

Eagles don’t fly with pigeons.
Which one are you?
Can you even fly?
Don’t worry if you can’t because I will teach you.
It takes a lot of soul, so don’t forget to take it with you when you come to my flying lesson.

Hip-hop punchline inspiration:
Les aigles ne volent pas avec les pigeons – BOOBA – Rat Des villes

Artwork made for the I Just Murdered The Alphabet exhibition in Paris

I’ll draw more of those characters in an upcoming exhibition that will be presented in Paris in October 2012.
Yes I never stop.
◀ check the complete solo art exhibition.

Medium used: Hand-drawn with silver ink pens on 160g acid free art paper.

Hip-hop punchlines inspiration:
Tell these shorties reach for the stars – NAS – Purple
I stay in tune with the sun, stars and moon – AZ – Your World Don’t Stop
Keep your fantasy hot like fire – OL’ DIRTY BASTARD – Fantasy
Like short sleeves I bear arms – JAY-Z – Brooklyn’s Finest

Character 12 | Original handmade drawing for my solo art exhibition I Just Murdered The Alphabet

Tell these shorties reach for the stars
NAS

Everything is possible if you work hard for it.
You should teach your kids that.
Maybe you should not forget it yourself. You can make your dreams come true if your work hard enough for it.

Hip-hop punchline inspiration:
Tell these shorties reach for the stars – NAS – Purple

I stay in tune with the sun stars and moon
AZ

I never lose touch with my reality.
My reality might actually look really like your dreams.
And your dreams might look like my nightmares.

Hip-hop punchline inspiration:
I stay in tune with the sun stars – AZ – Your World Don’t Stop

Keep your fantasy hot like fire
OL DIRTY BASTARD

Don’t burn your wings with your fantasy.
Use your dreams to fly high in the sky.
And if you never give up, one day you may reach for the stars.
I swear you will.

Hip-hop punchline inspiration:
Keep your fantasy hot like fire – OL’ DIRTY BASTARD – Fantasy

Like short sleeves I bear arms
JAY-Z

I build my own weapons.
My favorite ones is a silver ink pen.
I carry it at the end of my right arm.
It produce a strange noise when I use it.

Hip-hop punchline inspiration:
Like short sleeves I bear arms – JAY-Z – Brooklyn’s Finest

Artwork for the solo art show called I Just Murdered The Alphabet

If I can give you one advice it would be: “Live for your dreams”.
And of course work, work, and work.
You can not do anything great without a dream, and only hard work allows you to make your dreams come true.
◀ check the complete solo art exhibition.

Medium used: Hand-drawn with silver ink pens on 160g acid free art paper.

Hip-hop punchlines inspiration:
Entre ciel et terre c’est le diable qui tend la main – ORELSAN – Entre Bien Et Mal
Moet drinking marijuana smoking, sweet dweller – NAS – Represent
Cause bitch I’m back – SLIM THUG – I’m Back
Get ready to die, tell God I say “hi” – THE NOTORIOUS B.I.G. – Unbelievable

Character 11 | Original handmade drawing for my solo art exhibition I Just Murdered The Alphabet

Le diable qui me tend la main
ORELSAN

This punchline comes from a french hip-hop artists called Orelsan.
It translates as follow :”Between heaven and earth is the devil who reaches out.”
I shake the devil hands every day, right before I punch him in the face.
Then I go back to my artworks. There is nothing he can do about it because I’m not really a religious person.

Hip-hop punchline inspiration:
Entre ciel et terre c’est le diable qui tend la main – ORELSAN – Entre Bien Et Mal

Moet drinking marijuana smoking
NAS

This is the fantasy.
People see me during my art exhibitions and they think that my life is really glamorous.
Actually my daily life is not.
The reality is more like Water drinking, chinese noodle eating.
By the way, I live and work on my art from Indonesia. One of the fact bout Indonesia is that the country doesn’t like people using drugs. It could be ok but they put people who smoke ganja in jail, which is not nice for me.

Hip-hop punchline inspiration:
Moet drinking marijuana smoking, sweet dweller – NAS – Represent

Cause bitch I’m back
SLIM THUG

I never left, but I’m back.
This is how awesome I am.
I do things that you thought were not even possible.
But don’t worry, I’ll show you how you can become a cool person too.
First of all, you need to buy one of my artwork.
Hang it in your living room (bedroom is ok but only if you are a sexy girl).
Call your friends and they will confirm. You became cool…

Hip-hop punchline inspiration:
Cause bitch Im back – SLIM THUG – I’m back

Get ready to die tell God I say hi
NOTORIOUS BIG

Whoever your God is.
Don’t get angry at me. You should know that we are all going to die one day.
Just get ready, and live your life to the fullest.
Death always happens sooner than expected. Avoid future regrets by doing the things you really want to.

Hip-hop punchline inspiration:
Get ready to die tell God I say hi – NOTORIOUS B.I.G. – Unbelievable

Character I drew for my art series I Just Murdered The Alphabet

I worked on this series of artworks during more than 6 months of hard work with a total dedication.
◀ check the complete solo art exhibition.

UPDATE: You can now buy this original artwork here.

Medium used: Hand-drawn with silver ink pens on 160g acid free art paper.

Hip-hop punchlines inspiration:
It’s time to stand up and fight for what you believe in– ONYX – 2 Wrongs
How many dead folks this art resurrected – COMMON – The 6th Sense
It’s where you at – RAKIM – In The Ghetto
It’s like a jungle sometimes – GRANDMASTER FLASH – The Message

Character 10 | Original handmade drawing for my solo art exhibition I Just Murdered The Alphabet

Time to stand up and fight for what you believe in
ONYX

You don’t have to wait to fight for your life.
Fight now and make your dreams come true.
It’s all up to you.
So stop to complain, shut up, and start working.
Because yes, to make your dreams come true is a lot of work.

Hip-hop punchline inspiration:
It’s time to stand up and fight for what you believe in – ONYX – 2 Wrongs

How many dead folks this art resurrected
COMMON

This art makes you live forever.
If you are already dead, those artworks will bring you back to life.
The only thing you have to do is to open your eyes.
Which is harder if you are already dead.

Hip-hop punchline inspiration:
How many dead folks this art resurrected – COMMON – The 6th Sense

Where you at
RAKIM

Watch the sky because this is my playground.
Watch the ground because it’s where I come from.
Watch the stars because it’s where I will be.
Watch your wife because I…
Just keep an eye on her, that’s a friendly advise. She is cute though.

Hip-hop punchline inspiration:
It’s where you at – RAKIM – In The Ghetto

Like a jungle sometimes
GRANDMASTER FLASH

It’s like a jungle all the time.
The imaginary characters I draw have decided to build a community based on animal instinct and freedom.
They have relocated to the tropical forest of Borneo to build their dream, and live the life they want to.

Hip-hop punchline inspiration:
It’s like a jungle sometimes – GRANDMASTER FLASH – The Message

I just murdered the alphabet is an inspiring art series I did for a solo art exhibition

The characters I drew for this series are part of an imaginary tribe who lives in the jungle of Borneo.
They chose to build their own utopia and stick with it.
◀ check the complete solo art exhibition.

Medium used: Hand-drawn with silver ink pens on 160g acid free art paper.

Hip-hop punchlines inspiration:
We don’t believe you, you need more people – JAY-Z – Takeover
We don’t work with no cowards – LIL ITALY – We Ain’t Hard 2 Find
I’m a man with needs that need fulfilling – BRAND NUBIAN – Love Me Or Leave Me Alone
This is my ghetto story – SWIZZ BEATZ – Ghetto Stories
Spit it for the city – NOTORIOUS B.I.G. – Spit Your Game
Ask Beavis, I get nuttin Butt-head – BIG L – 98 Freestyle

Character 9 | Original handmade drawing for my solo art exhibition I Just Murdered The Alphabet

You need more people
JAY-Z

Can you act alone?
Because if you don’t speak with passion I don’t believe you when you talk.
You can bring your friends but I probably won’t believe them neither.
Please keep in mind that I am doing all those inspiring artworks by myself.
I don’t need more people because you already believe me and my drawings.

Hip-hop punchline inspiration:
We don’t believe you, you need more people – JAY-Z – Takeover

We don’t Work with no cowards
LIL ITALY

I can not work with cowards.
I don’t want to work with people afraid to face the consequences of their decisions.
That’s why -most of the time- I work alone.
Beside, I don’t have a religion.
But I believe in karma.
To me, that’s just logic. You have to accept the consequences of what you previously did.
No need to be afraid.
Just do the right thing.

Hip-hop punchline inspiration:
We don’t work with no cowards – LIL ITALY – We Ain’t Hard 2 Find

I’m a man with needs that need fulfilling
BRAND NUBIAN

I try to fill my needs everyday.
If you think about it, I don’t have many needs.
All I want is to stay free.
I don’t care about getting rich or getting famous.
After all who knows… Time will tell.

Hip-hop punchline inspiration:
I’m a man with needs that need fulfilling – BRAND NUBIAN – Love Me Or Leave Me Alone

This is my ghetto story
SWIZZ BEATZ

What’s yours?
Those masked characters I drew for this series are part of a whole art saga.
This is the imaginary story of a group of suburban kids who left France for Borneo.
There they are going to build a community based on animal instincts and freedom.
Without any formal education, they use hip-hop quotes as a basis to create their own philosophy.

Hip-hop punchline inspiration:
This is my ghetto story – SWIZZ BEATZ – Ghetto Stories

Spit it for the city
NOTORIOUS BIG

I used to spit it for the city.
Now I spit it for the jungle.
I am currently based in Indonesia where I live near a tropical forest.
I like all the lizards, snakes, monkeys, and other wild animals.
I don’t really like the mosquitoes, but they don’t bother me much.

Hip-hop punchline inspiration:
Spit it for the city – NOTORIOUS B.I.G. – Spit Your Game

Ask Beavis I get nuttin Butt-head
BIG L

Ask Beavis.
I like to get nice and round butts.
I like to get slurpy heads.
I like the MTV animation series Beavis and Butt-head.
To be honest, I don’t have a TV. So I can’t watch MTV or any other channel.
I guess I can keep staying focus on getting a lot of the other things I like.

Hip-hop punchline inspiration:
Ask Beavis I get nuttin Butt-head – BIG L – 98 Freestyle

New artwork for my art series called I Just Murdered The Alphabet

My characters from La Société Des Griffeurs could be you.
If only you had balls.
◀ check the complete solo art exhibition.

Medium used: Hand-drawn with silver ink pens on 160g acid free art paper.

Hip-hop punchlines inspiration:
Y’all don’t wanna fuck with us – CAPONE-N-NOREAGA – Y’all Don’t Wanna
The pictures I paint make the Mona Lisa look like fake art – GAME – Letter To The King
It’s goin’ down – YUNG JOC – It’s Goin’ Down
We S.T.U.P.I.D. – MAC DRE – Get Stupid

Character 8 | Original handmade drawing for my solo art exhibition I Just Murdered The Alphabet

Yall dont wanna fuck with us
CAPONE-N-NOREAGA

But we will do it with you.

Hip-hop punchline inspiration:
Y’all don’t wanna fuck with us – CAPONE-N-NOREAGA – Y’all Don’t Wanna

I Make the Mona Lisa look like fake art
GAME

I don’t pretend to make art.
If you ask me what I do for a living, I breathe, I draw a lot, and I probably should sleep a little bit more.
My artworks are the result of my lifestyle.

Hip-hop punchline inspiration:
The pictures I paint make the Mona Lisa look like fake art – GAME – Letter To The King

Goin down
YUNG JOC

It’s going down baby.
And I make you come.
Both times.

Hip-hop punchline inspiration:
It’s goin’ down – YUNG JOC – It’s Goin’ Down

We stupid
MAC DRE

What do you think?
When I say “we stupid”, I mean that me and the characters I draw have not received a traditional education.
Still, we are self-taught.
I learned how to speak 5 languages by myself, I learned how to draw by myself.
I also like to write fictions, articles for magazines, and interview interesting people.
Everything is possible as long as you work for it.

Hip-hop punchline inspiration:
We S.T.U.P.I.D. – MAC DRE – Get Stupid

New handmade artwork for my I Just Murdered The Alphabet series

Another character for an extensive series of drawings for my new art project.
◀ check the complete solo art exhibition.

UPDATE: You can now buy this original artwork here.

Medium used: Hand-drawn with silver ink pens on 160g acid free art paper.

Hip-hop punchlines inspiration:
The one like five divided by four – JAY-Z – Jigga My Nigga
Nigga I can’t lose the whole city’s behind me – YOUNG JEEZY – And Then What
Knocked out so many teeth the tooth fairy went bankrupt – BIG L – Let ‘Em Have it ‘L’
You ain’t a leader what? Nobody followed you – BIG L – 98 Freestyle

Character 7 | Original handmade drawing for my solo art exhibition I Just Murdered The Alphabet

The one like five divided by four
JAY-Z

You do the math.
I don’t want to put any ego on the table.
I live my life to the max. Everyday I do what I love, no matter what happen.
You can struggle with your finances, your environment, but life is great. As long as you give up. Follow your dreams and you will live a life worth it. When you start to become what you want to be, you become more than a simple human.
You become a human with a soul.

Hip-hop punchline inspiration:
The one like 5 divided by 4 – JAY-Z – Jigga My Nigga

Nigga I cant lose
YOUNG JEEZY

The whole jungle is behind me.
This art series tells the story of a group of kids who went to the jungle to built an imaginary society.
They build a community based on animal instincts and freedom.
Without any formal education, they create a philosophy based on hip-hop punchlines.

Hip-hop punchline inspiration:
Nigga I can’t lose the whole city’s behind me – YOUNG JEEZY – And Then What

Knocked out so many teeth the tooth fairy went bankrupt
BIG L

I do it because art is my life.
Some people ask me how I can spend 6 months locked in a room, working on an art project.
What’s the point?
I could be richer if I wanted too. I have a big enough background in the industry to find a good job as an art director in an advertising agency.
I don’t want to, because what I will achieve is a successful career without a boss.
Then people ask me why I live in Bali.
As a matter of fact, my career would grow quickly if I moved to NYC. But I don’t want to be a trend in the art world, I want my career to grow step by step, because what goes up too fast will crash down.
People tell me it’s impossible, but I’ll prove them wrong.
I will take over the world step by step from a bedroom in a little village in Bali.
Time will tell.

Hip-hop punchline inspiration:
Knocked out so many teeth the tooth fairy went bankrupt – BIG L – Let ‘Em Have it ‘L’

You ain’t a leader, nobody followed you
BIG L

Come on, you know that you are not a leader.
You don’t believe me?
You don’t even lead yourself.
Choose your destiny.
Stop complaing.
Draw your future.

Hand made artwork inspired by the rapper Big L famous hip-hop punchline.

Hip-hop punchline inspiration:
You ain’t a leader what? Nobody followed you – BIG L – 98 Freestyle

Artwork hand drawn for my solo exhibition I Just Murdered The Alphabet in Paris

For those artworks I spent 6 months of my life, with no TV, no parties, no friends.
Just my girl.
◀ check the complete solo art exhibition.

Medium used: Hand-drawn with silver ink pens on 160g acid free art paper.

Hip-hop punchlines inspiration:
You get pissed on like pregnancy tests – CASSIDY – Battle VS Freeway
Put a quarter in your ass ‘cause you played yourself – BEASTIE BOYS – Hey Fuck You
If money talks the whole world ‘bout to hear me out – JAY-Z – Money Talks
Mulher Coca-Cola só pressão não desenrola – RICARDO E ESQUISITO – Mulher Coca-Cola

Character 6 | Original handmade drawing for my solo art exhibition I Just Murdered The Alphabet

You get pissed on like pregnancy tests
CASSIDY

I made your wife pregnant.
Nowadays I am working on several artworks at the same time and it really takes a lot of my energy.
I easily become angry at everything, and everybody.
Except my girlfriend of course.
She is the boss after all 🙂

Hip-hop punchline inspiration:
You get pissed on like pregnancy tests – CASSIDY – Battle VS Freeway

Put a quarter in your ass ‘cause you played yourself
BEASTIE BOYS

I saw the Beastie Boys live in Australia once.
It was pretty cool and they made a couple of songs with Snoop Doggy Dogg, who was also part of the music festival.
I bet you’re gonna spend one dollar before the end of the week.

Hip-hop punchline inspiration:
Put a quarter in your ass ‘cause you played yourself – BEASTIE BOYS – Hey Fuck You

If money talks the whole world ‘bout to hear me out
JAY-Z

As for me I draw my own money.
And I got more paper than you.
Day after day I draw on paper that I will later sell in my next exhibition.
This is totally legal.
We call it art.

Hip-hop punchline inspiration:
If money talks the whole world ‘bout to hear me out – JAY-Z – Money Talks

Mulher Coca-Cola so pressao no desenrolla
RICARDO E ESQUISITO

I used to live in Brazil for a year.
I love Brazil.
Brazilian girls love me.

Hip-hop punchline inspiration:
Mulher Coca-Cola só pressão não desenrola – RICARDO E ESQUISITO – Mulher Coca-Cola

I Just Murdered The Alphabet is an experimental typography art project.

◀ check the complete solo art exhibition.

Medium used: Hand-drawn with silver ink pens on 160g acid free art paper.

Hip-hop punchlines inspiration:
I got my mind on my money and money on my mind – YOUNGBLOODZ – Mind On My Money
Try to read my mind you might get wet – SNOOP DOGG – Oh Sookie
Smile for the camera I got supersize swag – SLIM THUG – Smile
You got a hole in you n you bleedin’ so it’s not like I’m just callin you pussy for no reason – BEANIE SIGEL – Problem
And I can go on and on and oooon but who cares? – GNARLS BARKLEY – Who Cares?
I got 99 problems – JAY-Z – 99 Problems

Character 5 | Original handmade drawing for my solo art exhibition I Just Murdered The Alphabet

I got my mind on my money and money on my mind
YOUNGBLOODZ

And money on my mind.
Actually this is not true.
Money doesn’t make you rich.
I think that experience and knowledge are the true treasure we have to look for during our life.
On this aspect I am already healthy, and I hope to become very rich before I die.
What you buy in this world will stay in it when you die.
The knowledge you acquire, and the experiences you live are in your soul forever.

Hip-hop punchline inspiration:
I got my mind on my money and money on my mind – YOUNGBLOODZ – Mind On My Money

Try to read my mind you might get wet
SNOOP DOGG

You might get wet.
Where I live in Bali people are quite superstitious. Most Balinese people believe in black magic and supernatural powers.
The black magic priests are called “Dukun” and pretend that they are able to read my thinkings.
I hope they can’t, because mine are sometimes really kinky.

Hip-hop punchline inspiration:
Try to read my mind you might get wet – SNOOP DOGG – Oh Sookie

Smile for the camera
SLIM THUG

I got supersize swag.
The funny part of doing an exhibition is the relationship with some of the attendees.
I have to say most young people who come to my art shows don’t buy artworks.
All they want is a cool picture with me.
Especially if the art event takes place in Asia.

Hip-hop punchline inspiration:
Smile for the camera I got supersize swag – SLIM THUG – Smile

You got a hole in you
BEANIE SIGEL

I make you bleed before your periods.
I make you bleed after your periods.
I make you bleed. Period.

Hip-hop punchline inspiration:
You got a hole in you n you bleedin’ so it’s not like I’m just callin you pussy for no reason – BEANIE SIGEL – Problem

I can go on and oooon but who cares?
GNARLS BARKLEY

I already try to do it every day of my life.
Illustration and art are something I couldn’t leave without…

Hip-hop punchline inspiration:
And I can go on and on and oooon but who cares? – GNARLS BARKLEY – Who Cares?

I got 99 problems
JAY-Z

Actually I got 102 problems.
102 is the number of drawings I did for this series.
The artworks were a series of visual problems for me.
What you can see are the solutions I found…

Hip-hop punchline inspiration:
I got 99 problems – JAY-Z – 99 Problems

I Just Murdered The Alphabet is a solo exhibition of handmade drawings inspired by hip hop lyrics

This series is a good place of inspiration for the people who enjoy hand-drawn sign paintings.
This drawing is a remix of one of my acrylic paintings, mixed with typography works.
◀ check the complete solo art exhibition.

Medium used: Hand-drawn with silver ink pens on 160g acid free art paper.

Hip-hop punchlines inspiration:
Power to the people no delay – PUBLIC ENEMY – Fight The Power
What a beautiful day to be free – THE PHARCYDE – Summertime
It’s mathematics – MOS DEF – Mathematics
I leave your brain stimulated – NAS – It Ain’t Hard To Tell

Character 4 | Original handmade drawing for my solo art exhibition I Just Murdered The Alphabet

Power to the people no delay
PUBLIC ENEMY

Stop complaining and take the power.
Don’t wait.
Whatever you want is possible.
When I was younger I had no formal education and no money.
I decided to follow my dreams, and to become one of the top-notch illustration of today’s generation.
I’ll keep fighting until my dream comes true.
You can do the same if you want to.
Turn off your TV and start working.
That’s all it takes.

Hip-hop punchline inspiration:
Power to the people no delay – PUBLIC ENEMY – Fight The Power

What a beautiful day to be free
THE PHARCYDE

Today I received a nice package from Dr Cotton.
It contained 3 awesome t-shirts for me, and even one for my girlfriend. What a great way to start the day. Thank you doctor 🙂
Today my girlfriend resigned from her job and will start to work 100% freelance.
Today I am working on an art collaboration with Jon Burgerman. I will show you the result in July, so make sure you come back for more information.
Tomorrow I go to Singapore to meet the owner of SUP clothing.
Today is a good day.
It’s now or never.

Hip-hop punchline inspiration:
What a beautiful day to be free – THE PHARCYDE – Summertime

It’s mathematics
MOS DEF

And you can count on me.

Hip-hop punchline inspiration:
It’s mathematics – MOS DEF – Mathematics

I leave your brain stimulated
NAS

To leave your brain stimulated is one of the goal I intend to do through my artworks.
Hopefully, my art will inspire you to wake up every morning and create more.
Paint the world around you with the colors you love.
I can guarantee it will look better.
At least for you…

Hip-hop punchline inspiration:
I leave your brain stimulated – NAS – It Ain’t Hard To Tell