CHAINLINKS 062: Fatboi Sharif

With the 10th anniversary of The Chain happening this month, we've relaunched Chainlinks, a series we started back in 2017 to give our friends a space to share the stuff currently inspiring them — music, film, books, or anything else they wanted to recommend to the world.

For Chainlinks 062, we have rapper Fatboi Sharif, whose work Rolling Stone has described as "punctilious, every-word-counts lyricism... like GZA’s Liquid Swords, Ghostface Killah’s Supreme Clientele, and RZA’s Gravediggaz work all congealed in a thrilling sonic stew." Sharif will be performing at The Chain’s official 10th anniversary celebration, April 19th at Elsewhere in Brooklyn, NY (presented by Saint Vitus Bar), along with Swing Kids, Trace Amount, Venus Twins, and Body Stuff. Get your tickets!

Begotten (1989)

A one-of-one film that, every time I watch it, and it's been a ton, LOL, the feeling it gives my body and the energy and inspiration I'm left with on a creative end is unmatched. It's something that I constantly recommend to people and when they ask me to explain it I always say you just gotta watch it on your own and let it have its way with you. I'll say, it's something that will stick with you after you watch it and you'll wanna return to it and every time you do you'll get something new out of it.

Pig (1998)

The feeling and emotions I always get from this one carry extreme weight. Just 23 minutes long, it punches deep like a two hour epic and it leaves you wanting more. Directed by Nico B. and Rozz Williams, this twisted tale starts in the land of the unknown and as time ticks it leaves you on the edge of your seat where, when it reaches its final frame you'll feel exhausted like you just ran down a two mile street at top speed on the hottest California day ever but in the most extreme way possible but you'll wanna continue that race and won't wanna see an end in sight.

Haxan (1922)

Visually stunning, a film that has stuck with me for years and remains to inspire on the aspect of how it makes me feel and it constantly getting me in a zone to create whenever I watch it. A silent film that speaks volumes across the board.

Trash Humpers (2009)

Harmony Korine's perhaps wildest work. I actually saw it for the first time like 5 years ago after years of being a fan of Korine's work and it instantly reminded me why he's one of my favorites. The film is odd, extreme, and honestly I didn't fully know how to feel about what I saw after first viewing, but it had me in a trance that stayed with me after and for me that's what true art is all about.