One of the greatest hip-hop groups in LA History is reforming this weekend for special performances at the Coachella Art and Music Festival. Our very own RYO1 of Ghetto Dojo sat down with the one of our all-time favorite emcees to discuss Los Angeles, Jurassic 5, Coachella, Chali’s art, and his favorite taco, which hasn’t changed since the last time we asked!

Interview with recently arrived L.A. artist Chrystal Seawood by Justin Johnson of ImMovingtoLA.com.

What is the title of your latest series and what’s the concept behind it?
The Trichotomy of 5 Cents is my latest series that explores the motives of African American entertainers who voluntarily performed in the humiliating character of Blackface.

In the series I examine three distinct forms of motivation: Greed, Passion, and Obligation.

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RYO1 of Ghetto Dojo sat down with graff legend Joe “Prime” Reza to talk about his past, present, and future. And of course his favorite taco spot.

If you love music and know how to read, you read Jeff Weiss. Maybe not intentionally, as he writes for Esquire, The Los Angeles Times, LA Weekly, Rolling Stone, Spin, Pitchfork, Wax Poetics, The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Billboard, Knife Collector, Entertainment Weekly, Dance Teacher Magazine, Resident Adviser, NME, to name just a few. He saves all his good stuff, however, for his own blog, Passion of the Weiss, which recently named Cartoons and Cereal the best hip-hop song of 2012.

What’s your favorite taco?
This is a very sad story about a taco. I was unaware that you could develop an emotional relationship with a taco, but in hindsight, I loved the soft chicken tacos at El Nopal more than any of my second cousins. Three months ago, a callous philistine of a new owner transmogrified the once juicy but never greasy tacos, into brittle and withered husks. El Nopal remains open on Motor and National, but the tacos now taste like spicy Frisbees.

This leaves the only sensible answer: Ricky’s Fish Tacos, a little stand that operates on Virgil and Sunset. It is the perfect taco: mix a little salsa verde, crispy lettuce, crema, fresh tomatoes, a steaming corn tortilla, with a buttery flakey fillet of white fish. It was the taco equivalent of Rickey Henderson in his prime. And just this week, Ricky announced that they are shutting down operations indefinitely. I’m crestfallen.

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The other night I was out to dinner at The Pikey (former home of the Coach & Horses) when I tasted the best new hot sauce I’ve tried in a long, long time. While there are countless high-quality hot sauces out there, this sauce had exactly what I look for in a spicy condiment– an intense hit of heat that doesn’t linger, along with a complex flavor profile that enhances but does not overwhelm. Gindo’s Spice of Life is made right here in Los Angeles by bartender and entrepreneur Chris Ginder. I immediately rushed to my computer to ask Chris a few questions about his unique product, which I predict will be in every American home by the year 2015.

What’s your favorite taco?
I’d have to say Ricky’s Fish Taco’s. I’m addicted to them.

What do you think is the key to a perfect hot sauce?
The trick is to find that perfect balance between heat and flavor.
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Poesia Transcend is a Bay Area based artist pushing the limits of graffiti art both through his own work and with his influential website, Graffuturism.com. This Friday he curates the Graffuturism show at Soze Gallery in the Arts District of Downtown Los Angeles.

What inspired you to create Graffuturism? Where do you want it to go?

Initially I started graffuturism to share work that I appreciated and talk to some artists that maybe didnt fit in the normal box of art. Now as it has grown I don’t feel that I need to push it into any one direction. It has always been organic and I would want it to remain growing wildly in whatever direction it wants.

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Kone is a producer from East Hollywood, CA who makes intriguing and unique beat-driven music that is released on Alpha Pup records. Even in LA’s incredibly diverse hip-hop scene, Kone is an iconoclast who leads and never follows. Today, just in time for Dia De Los Muertos & Hallowe’en, he gifts us with a free download of the track above: KONE O’ DEATH. We got the chance to do this quick Q&A with Kone, and started it off with our #1 question…

What’s your favorite taco?
Alright if I tell you guys you can’t all blow up my spot, ok? At 4th & Western in Koreatown there is a carwash, and inside this carwash is a taco stand called Crunchy Sea that makes hands down the best carwash fish taco you’ve ever had in your life. Make sure to get that chipotle salsa. Wash it down with a Thai iced tea.
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Aaron De La Cruz is an artist living and working in San Francisco, California. His show earlier this summer at Known Gallery was one of our favorites of 2012, and showed that his unique style works at every possible size and dimension you can imagine. There are no limits to what Aaron can do and it will be exciting to watch him blow up worldwide in 2013 and beyond…

What’s your favorite taco?
Burrito all the way! Pollo asado and carne asada mixed with re-fried beans and sliced avocado. Sin arroz , queso y cebolla por favor.
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This Saturday, October 20th, Gary Baseman opens up his creaky vault and showcases for the first time selections from his vintage Hallowe’en photo collection dating back to 1915. Baseman’s collection of over 1500 photographs has been the inspiration for a series of haunting original paintings, special edition prints, installations and videos. This multi-media exhibit will celebrate not only Baseman’s favorite holiday, but the debut show of the newly founded KK Gallery on Chung King Road. Preview images of the show are included below, but first we just has to find out Gary’s favorite taco. So, Gary, what’s the scoop?

Don’t know if this was my favorite taco but it was the most challenging and actually pretty delicious was the Worm Taco (pictured above) I had at the Chincuil Mole festival in D.F.

If I want cheap and good and close Al Pastor Tacos, I go down the street to LA Brea and Olympic to El Chato.

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It’s the taco’s turn for a national made-up food holiday, so who better to speak with then Gustavo Arellano, author of Taco USA: How Mexican Food Conquered America, essential reading for the taco lifestyle.

Your favorite burrito in the USA is Lucy’s drive in on Pico, and we know about your advocacy and love of the Taco Acorazdo at Alebrije’s Grill, but what’s your favorite taco spot inside the LA city limits?

I don’t really eat tacos in Los Angeles–if I’m in LA, it’s either burritos, Thai food, or one of the new places. Usually, I’m eating at King Taco because my family has this obsession with the place that I personally think is a Proustian response to our blessed childhood stuffing ourselves into a truck and driving off to Eastlos and Montebello.

What will reach middle America first– the korean taco, or authentic regional mexican cuisine?
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