"The Boyz Are Bleeding For My Book", As I Finish Printing The Last Pages and Make Some Final Corrections

I watch in anticipation as the last pages of my book roll off the massive Litho' Press. Could I be ever so close to the real finished product? I spent more than a year on post production getting everything sorted and dialed in. Along the way learning about the entire printing process and how in depth it is. I needed to make a last minute materials change on the Deluxe Edition cover art because it was not looking super-duper fresh enough. Now it looks top class, almost too good. Cats are going to flip out when they see the OG hand styles. These are a few of the boyz in the factory that helped make my book. While printing the last few pages of my book, one of the guys busted his eye wide open. He slammed into one of the big machines and got knocked out; he had to go to the hospital only to return to work later that day to help finish printing the final section. Now that is the kind of commitment I wish most people had. Big up to all the people at Formsxpress who helped in the production of my book. The Final Stretch is here.... Enjoy-

Book-Pre-Print Video w/ Original Music by P.H.Fat (© Jared Aufrichtig)

Check out this short video I made for my book promotion, it shows some of the print process that most people don't see. While working on the production and printing phase of my book I have gained vast publishing knowledge and was quickly educated on how in-depth the whole print process is. The cats from P.H.Fat hooked me up with a splendid track that I knew would work, even before I started editing the clips. Big up for the beats...

Hope you enjoy,

Safe-

The Definitive South African Youth Culture Book Is Almost Here!!!

On a recent trip to the printers, to sign off the last of the Litho plates, I found out that they were doing the first make ready's for the Komori Lithographic Printer that will be printing my book. This is one crazy piece of machinery, it coasts more then 50 Million Rand and took them almost the entire month of January to ship and assemble. It had to be moved in sections because of the size and weight as well as having to used a massive crane to get it in the factory. So when I saw the preliminary proof sheets being set up I got a bit excited and I was all over it in a heart beat. I got in there like a pro, checking the designs, color and bleed with the print master and crew like i was the big boss man. Over the last year I have learnt so much about the postproduction and printing process. I am so glad I ended up doing the whole thing myself, it might have been a ruff road but the path i have taken has been enlightening and educational to say the least. I will start launching the book at the end of the month with a series of launch events and exhibitions, fallowed by a small national book tour. Look out for the real deal ting' dropping soon until then I'll keep you posted.... Enjoy

Another Day At The Printers: The Final Stretch Is Here!!!

I went to the Printers twice last week and I'll go through today as well as later in the week. This has gone on for the past six to eight months. They say in the print biz for every ten pages the work and job load grows exponentially, so you can imagine what my 720 page book must have taken to make. But now we are finishing the final stages of the print process. I am printing my book with Formsxpress here in South Africa because I feel it will have more worth having been about, developed, designed, and made here in SA. I will be printing a 1000 (Litho)copies of the First Edition of my book; there will be two different cover variations. Both are limited editions and will be signed as well as individually numbered. In a few weeks I will get the first copies of the Deluxe Edition of the book (The African Luxury Edition designed by Kris Hewitt aka 'Kronk' will follow in a few months). The cover art for the Deluxe Edition was designed by Tyler B. Murphy with a little inspiration from me. There will be only 120 copies and it is looking, "Too Good, Too Good, Fantastic" (to quote Russell Peters).

There will be a Pre-Launch for all the cats involved and a massive Cape Town Launch as well as yes, an After Party for all u socialites and bash animals. Don't fret I'll keep all the people well posted... Safe-


Here is an image of one of the foil stamp blocks we got cut for the Deluxe Edton cover. The other images are a small number of the numerous proof sheets I have to sign off to be plated and prepped for print and a shot or two of some of the the stupidly expensive print equipment that will be used to print my book.