FILTER Issue 36

From collaborative hip-hop albums to starring in high-budget studio movies to Emmy-nominated television performances, Mos Def has always been able to shed the expectations applied to hip-hop artists in attempts for a fuller, diverse artistic career. Yet, even among all these transformations, Mos Def has still been able to produce creative, intelligent music designed not only for enjoyable listening, but powerful philosophic and political thought. Now, on the heels of releasing his fourth solo studio album, The Ecstatic, Mos Def joined FILTER for a discussion on the responsibilities that hip-hop artists have towards their fans, the importance of not becoming larger than life, and plans to release a documentary film on the obscure rock band Death.

Also, in our tributes, we revisit the newly reformed Dinosaur Jr. as they chronicle the moments that made them split as a band, and take one more look at the magical world created by Bill Waterson in his cartoon strip Calvin and Hobbes. Married screenwriting couple Dave Eggers and Vendela Viva discuss the collaboration process and their new film Away We Go. Elsewhere, we examine the fruition of Jack White’s new band The Dead Weather.

In addition, we go sleepless nights with Danger Mouse, Sparklehorse and Dark Night of the Soul, catch up with Hockey outside of the rink, talk word-art with artist Wayne White, and recall The Great Escape Festival recently held in Brighton. Plus: Major Lazer, We Were Promised Jetpacks, Those Darlins, Miike Snow, Tortoise, and EndNote drawn by Moby.

COVER
The Artistry and the Ecstacy: Strife in Marvelous Times with MOS DEF


FEATURES
We Dreamed a Dream: Sleepless Nights with DANGERMOUSE, SPARKLEHORSE, and DARK NIGHT OF THE SOUL

THE DEAD WEATHER: No Shelter From the Storm

Fancy Talk: The Art of WAYNE WHITE

F-STOP
Shorthanded Goals: HOCKEY Off Ice

TRIBUTE
It's a Magical World: Remembering Bill Watterson's Revolutionary CALVIN AND HOBBES

DINOSAUR JR.: Extinction is Not Forever

SOUND ESCAPES
THE GREAT ESCAPE: The Festival Future is Brighton

GETTING TO KNOW
MAJOR LAZER
WE WERE PROMISED JETPACKS
THOSE DARLIN'S
MIIKE SNOW

YOU SHOULD ALREADY KNOW
TORTOISE

FLICKER
AWAY WE GO: A Conversation with Screenwriters DAVE EGGERS and VENDELA VIDA

ENDNOTE
by MOBY