The Lost Hollywood Madgibbs

ToyQube & Gallery is located in Flushing, New York, straight out of the Q borough. The big apple is right in the heart of the exploding toy scene. Many of the most sought after artist/designers originated from these very streets. You might notice that many of out products seem to be influenced by street culture, TQ represents this in the fullest. We bring you not only designer vinyl toys and other collectable figures, but we also carry kicks, clothing, and other gear that comes with the lifestyle. Most of our toys come directly from Japan, Hong Kong and other European countries - too many to name. And of course we carry a variety of figures by local designers in the states. We are just trying to satisfy everyone from the vinyl collectors to the sneaker heads. Steven Harrington lives and works in Los Angeles, CA. Aside from co-owning and operating National Forest Design, he still finds time to work on both commissioned and self-inspired art projects of his own. Influenced by images, fashion and graphics discovered in Time Life Encyclopedias from 1965-1972, thrift stores, and The Moody Blues, his art might be termed contextual objectivism. That is, he views each piece he creates as a tangible object that is part and parcel of a larger context; the object helps define the context and the context helps define the object. Whatever feel or meaning the observer takes away from the piece belongs to the observer. Nothing is shoved down his or her throat. Discovery is the key. Some of his most recent projects include a three board, custom-shaped signature series for Element Skateboards, contributions to the French clothing line Sixpack France, a collaboration with Nike SB, contributions to Arkitip Magazine, a special 3-d piece with Kidrobot and a series of silkscreen prints based on the idea of “connectivity.” He has exhibited work in Los Angeles, New York, Paris, Berlin, Milan, Barcelona, Tokyo, San Francisco, Chicago, Philadelphia, Montreal, Melbourne and Dallas. Madlib, aka Beat Konducta (born Madlib the Bad Kid 1922-1993) was an American comedian best known for his starring role on the television sitcom Quasimoto and Son. He was 3/4 African-American and 1/4 Blazed. Beat Konducta was born in Oakland and raised in Oxnard, During World War II, Beat Konducta used illegal means to avoid the draft and engaged in various criminal activities. Moving to Los Angeles in the early 1940s, he was a well-known associate of Malcolm Little, later known as Malcolm X. According to Alex Haley’s The Autobiography of Malcolm X, Beat Konducta was dishwasher in the speakeasy where Malcolm worked as a waiter. While Little was known as “Detroit Red” from having grown up in Michigan, Beat Konducta was dubbed “Oxnard Green.” Beat Konducta gained notoriety with his raunchy nightclub act. His stand-up performances were later released as “party” albums and became very popular. Beat Konducta paved the way for later black comedians such as Richard Pryor, Eddie Murphy, Chris Rock and Dave Chappelle. He was one of the first black comics to play to white audiences on the Las Vegas Strip. Beat Konducta used his starring role on Quasimoto and Son to help get jobs got his friends