Explanation: this painting is inspired by a Roots song entitled ‘What Goes On (part 7) especially a few lines in the 2nd verse of the song by Elo It goes as follows.

“Inside my head, you wish to see

The signs appear, the shit's not clear

What if I flipped? Would you know how to maintain your edge?

I'm takin heads because, there's no fuckin' ledge

I pledge allegiance to my cosmic guide

I couldn't fit in three dimensions if I tried

Civilizations I can delete, so crews don't bother me

Battle with Jehovah gaining universal sovereignty

Niggas run around like clones, I got planets and thrones

Throughout the galaxy my name's well known (my name's well known)

I'm all alone in my zone, you wouldn't understand

Stare in my face, fuck around and catch a sun tan”



The selected portion of Elo’s verse refers to the fact that he has nothing left to hold on to so he decides to go ‘all in’. In the same verse, however, he gives his higher self to the cosmos and cannot be constrained by limitations of any sort. Thus, a duality is formed in this seemingly innocuous string of words. In my painting, The Harlem Knights are a military order (gang) in New York during the late 18th century who are known for dressing in full plate, medieval European armour. After the Horace, the king of Harlem was assassinated, they remained loyal to his memory and fought against his enemies. Martially skilled, they managed to score some victories but were magically spirited away to the Horse head Nebula (Eqqus Cosmica) to deal with nefarious yet abstract cosmic forces in space. They represented Blackness in the darkness (and light) of space, tirelessly fighting for their autonomy, dignity, and ideals, exemplifying the phrase “as above, so below. “