This year Prime Vice Studios has opened the opportunity for internships. It all started when we were approached by Riipen.com. They asked if we were interested in having virtual interns: Students who can work remotely on projects or special solutions for school credit. 

Riipen.com is a wonderful company based in Canada that connects businesses with college students for special projects. Employers can post projects and colleges also post projects that students are available for. The projects are approved by their professors, provide an opportunity for students to gain real world experience and provide some sort of business solution for the employer.

Due to the pandemic it has been difficult for many students to be able to do internships. Internships are sometimes required for graduating in certain programs. They also are a vital stepping stone in career development. Virtual internships are a great solution to this issue. Companies and students work remotely and without geographical limits while providing mutual benefit to both parties. We have had a positive experience working with Riipen and highly recommend them to employers and universities. 

This summer we worked with a student from Miami University, in Oxford Ohio who is working on her bachelors degree in Interactive Media Studies. A fascinating interdisciplinary degree designed to provide depth in theory and practice of interactive & digital design, development, business, innovation, and digital disruption. PVS had the pleasure of working with Jiamiao Chen, a junior in the program with a minor in photography. 
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PVS: Jiamiao, how was your overall experience interning with Prime Vice Studios?

Jiamiao: It was my first virtual internship, and I cherish[ed] this chance a lot. Before it, I [was] still a little worried about how it would work, but everything [was] good for me. This is a memorable experience for me, and I learned a lot.

PVS: What were some things that you learned working with PVS?

Jiamiao: First, on the most basic level, I learned how to communicate better with my supervisor.

Good communication can improve a lot of work efficiency. More importantly, I have learned the marketing strategy of a brand: 

I need to analyze the website design and user experience, as well as the content marketing of social media, identify the potential customer groups, and so on. At the same time, I learned about IP content. With Carlos' help, I found the direction of photography that I wanted to develop, and I developed my personal brand.


PVS: How are the things that you learned helpful for you and your professional career?

Jiamiao: During the internship, I have been reflecting on what I have learned in the past and thinking about my future career direction. For me, this is a good experience to understand my thoughts on digital marketing.

I also learned some relatively professional internet content marketing strategies. More to the point, Carlos showed me some different way[s] with my photography.  I will devote myself to building my own photography brand and making my own photos.  This will also be my future career direction.

PVS: You did an excellent job helping our company develop its user experience and e-business approach. Did you feel that you were able to use your expertise in a relevant manner during this internship? Are there any things you wished you would have gotten to work on?

Jiamiao: Yes, in fact, during the internship, I found that I was relatively sensitive to user experience analysis and e-commerce. Perhaps because I'm a deep internet user, I use social platforms a lot and have a certain sense of quality content. In the process of learning in school, I combined my past user experience and some professional knowledge, and I am glad that I can help your company with my skills. I think it was a good experience for both of us.

PVS: What were some challenges that you faced during your internship?

Jiamiao: Since this was my first internship, my presentation and PPT at the very beginning were more like homework assigned by professors in the school, which was immature. But with Carlos' reminding and help, I kept modifying my PPT to make it better.

During the process of editing the PPT, it was a big challenge for me to think about more individuals. For example, how to make [it so that it can be seen at a glance that] this PPT…is made by me, the selection of background pictures, etc., even with my own watermark on each page.

Every time I consider[ed] why I use[d] it, it [was] like a soul-searching process. It was as if every semester a professor would ask me who I am, what I was interested in, what I wanted to be in the future. Every time Carlos remind[ed] me to develop my personal brand, maybe knowing more about myself [was] my biggest challenge.

​PVS: What are some advantages that you felt you had during your internship?

Jiamiao: I have certain advantages in user experience analysis, content analysis and visual layout analysis of websites and social platforms because that's what I learned in school, and I'm a big fan of social media. More, perhaps because I am a Chinese student studying in the United States, I have my own different understanding of some content marketing under the intersection of the two cultural backgrounds.

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Kalani Caraballo is a comic book writer and a good friend of Prime Vice Studios. This year he started publishing an independent Hip Hop fanzine series called, “Street Dreams.”

Caraballo’s storytelling entrepreneurship is an inspiration. We interviewed him for our Creator’s Corner blog segment before and are happy to build again to celebrate his latest issue, especially since we are also big Hip Hop heads. Enjoy! 

PVS: When we last connected you were involved in writing and publishing comics. You are now publishing an independent fanzine, "Street Dreams." Please elaborate on this project. What inspired you to do a fanzine about Hip Hop?


Kalani: Back in 2017, when Prodigy of Mobb Deep died, I remember driving home from work and hearing DJ Clue on Power 105. Obviously because of the day's events, he was playing Mobb Deep and Prodigy's solo music, not just the singles, but the obscurities. I remember Clue played “Young Love”, which was a White Label song, that has a Prince sample that never got cleared. But hearing “Young Love” made me think of a certain mixtape that I had seen in my cousin’s collection called "Mobb Misses." "Mobb Misses" was a full mixtape of unreleased Mobb Deep music that DJ J-Love put together.

I couldn’t find it on Youtube and had to search for it, ended up buying a download off of J-Love’s site. From there it just led me down a rabbit hole of exploring and looking for older mixtapes. My downtime from Dummie Comics was spent scouring the internet for these things. After Mobb Misses, I started focusing on looking for DJ Doo Wop mixtapes, and just re-fell in love with the mixtape culture. I remember just wanting more information on these things and there’s not many interviews with DJ Doo Wop, or many mixtape DJ’s in particular.

I had come up with an idea for a Podcast, but not many people around me were as enthused or knowledgeable when it came to mixtapes. Same time, I realized there are a million podcasts in the world and I couldn’t see myself balancing comic books and managing a podcast. So I put the idea of doing interviews in the back of my mind, and then the pandemic happened.

I ended up getting furloughed, and had quite a bit of time on my hands. In the beginning of the pandemic I was working on comic stuff, completed some art, and I was reading these comic book fanzines “Bubbles" and "Strangers." From reading those two fanzines I got inspired to do Street Dreams. Around the same time DJ Doo Wop & Tony Touch announced they were going to do a Instagram Versuz battle with the freestyles from their mixtapes. It was just the right time. 

PVS: In the first issue you interviewed several DJs and talked about some of your favorite mixtapes. What are some things you discovered about that industry & culture that you didn't know before?


Kalani: To be honest, I went into not really knowing much about the industry/inner workings of the mixtape game. I knew more about certain tapes, freestyles, and little history here and there. But for the most part, a lot of the information I was hearing was very new. For instance, we interviewed J-Armz, who is a very popular Instrumental DJ. If you listen to Hip Hop Mixtapes from 2004-2010 or so, you’ve heard his signature jet fly by sound before the drums kick in. I didn’t know that he was often re-creating the instrumentals you’d hear on his mixtapes. Hearing that blew my mind, because the beats sounded exactly the same. When speaking to DJ Butter, I didn’t fully understand how the mixtape game was in Detroit/MidWest, being that I’m from New Jersey. Same time hearing the Doo Wop and Big Pun story also blew my mind too. It was an honor to get to sit down and fully pick everyone’s brain in the issue on their respective mixtapes. I truly got more than what I bargained for. 


PVS: What can people expect when they pick up a copy of SD?


Kalani: First thing they can expect is Hip Hop. I’m a Hip Hop Head through and through. This fanzine is packed with well thought out content. You’re not going to see anybody with rainbow hair grace our pages. From the readers of the first issue, a lot of them said they’ve gone and listened to the mixtapes that I had written about, we’re putting people on to more than what they’re being fed to them by the mass media.

This fanzine is truly for the culture. We’re talking about things that may have been forgotten, while also shining light on the current. Same time, we aren’t just interviewing emcees, we’re also interviewing people doing great things within the culture as well. I feel like right now, Hip Hop is truly in a renaissance. We’re witnessing something truly magnificent. There's a new era in Hip Hop, and Street Dreams is here to document it. 


PVS: The first issue of SD came out this summer and has gotten some interesting attention. Tell us about how this passion project opened up new opportunities for you or others involved in this project.


Kalani: The Fanzine took on a life of it’s own. We got added to Cornell University’s Hip Hop Collection. I know they have Afrika Bambata’s record collection in there, among other Hip Hop artifacts. In doing the magazine, we also curated a Mixtape, which in turn kinda makes me a Mixtape DJ even though I don’t scratch (laughs). On the mixtapes, I prominently feature my friends that are incredible MC’s.  I put their Freestyles/Songs as Exclusives. Shout out my guys Genuine, Jus J, and Phace. For Street Dreams Volume 2, we enlisted NZO (FKA Enzo Amore on WWE) to host our mixtape. After issue 1 was released a lot of people started reaching out wanting to be in future issues. My life has truly changed. I’m on an interesting ride with Street Dreams. I’m having fun with this, and trying not to overthink it and really be in the moment.  


PVS: Thanks for the honor of including some Prime Vice art in the second issue. What made you want to include that Loso Perez cartoon in this issue?


Kalani: Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to print it in the Fanzine. I thought that comic was a great piece. In the Inner City, Barbershops are a temple, it’s like going to church. You find out everything in the barbershop. In Hip Hop, being fresh all usually starts with your hair, and the barber is an essential piece to your freshness.

The art style just reminded me of Hip Hop, I could see that one panel being a poster in barbershops. Plus, I feel like it’s insanely relatable (laughs), I feel like we’ve all been there at one point in our lives. It’s a dope piece, and I thought it added to the overall vibe of the fanzine. It’s inspired me to want to add more Hip Hop centered comics to future issues. I really want to bridge the gap between Comics and Hip Hop. To me they’re both one and the same. 


PVS:   Street Dreams issue #2 is about to come out and there's word of issue 3 in the works. Besides the cartoon contribution from PVS what are some other things that people can look forward to in the latest issue?


Kalani: Readers can look forward to another issue of great Hip Hop content. I feel like I’ve truly outdone myself on this issue. Pick up Issue 2, you will not be disappointed! 


PVS: How do you see this series growing in the future? 


Kalani: Remember how people used to call The Source the Bible of Hip Hop? I see us being the new Bible of Hip Hop. I just want to see constant growth and progression. All I could really hope and ask for. 


PVS: Thanks for taking the time to interview with us. Please drop your handles and how we can cop copies of your fanzines!

Kalani: Follow me on IG @k.caraballo. You can purchase your copies of the fanzine through the online shop, Streetdreamsfanzine.bigcartel.com. We have printed and digital copies available. 
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@streetdreamsfanzine

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This year Dragon Con 2020 events were hosted virtually. I had the honor of doing a panel  Latinx in Fandom to represent. We had a discussion to talk about the world of nerdom, comics, movies and fantasy from our perspective. I was joined by fellow New Yorker Alex Fernandez, an incredible  independent film maker. 


Check out this lively discussion where we go in on all about all types of fun stuff. 

Peace,

Loso P

Shoutout Atlanta is part of the Los Angeles based Voyage Group of Magazines and flagship publication, VoyageLA which was started in 2015. They have since grown to almost a dozen cities, generated millions of page views and helped tens of thousands of entrepreneurs and creatives share their stories.  They produce engaging content and have a vibrant community.

Recently they have reached out to Prime Vice Studios for an interview aimed at creating meaningful and inspiring conversation. Click the button or picture below to view the whole story. Enjoy!

Peace,

Loso F Perez

Tales from La Vida: A Latinx Comics Anthology was an amazing project to be a part of. Curated by Latinx professor extraordinaire Fredrick Aldama and with contributions from a vast ensemble of sequential artists (including myself 😁) this book is an important testament to Latinx representation in comics. This anthology continues to resonate with people far and wide. 

Recently I was contacted by Angela M. Sánchez a cartoonist, writer and magician whom did the honor of doing a review for Tales from La Vida: A Latinx Comics Anthology featured my comic “__-American.” Angela did a wonderful job with this write up and I am forever grateful for being a part of this anthology.

The article is published through SOLRAD, a comics journalism hub on the web that is focused on original content ranging from comics criticism, original comics, essays, interviews, and the promotion of small-press events and releases. 

The website is a wonderful platform for new, underrepresented, and otherwise marginalized creative voices along with being a commissioner of work from well-established cartoonists, critics, journalists, and authors.
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Click the button below for the full write up!

To honor Black History month, in January 2018 I started the tradition of #BAMRUARY, which stands for Black Awareness Month- February. For this event, Prime Vice Studios encourages artists to show off their talents by creating art that represents Black awareness and posting it online.

The first year, I started this event with doing Afro-Latino icons. This year I did three pieces on the undisputed pioneers of Hip Hop. They are portraits of DJ Kool Herc, Africa Bambaataa & Grand Master Flash. Being a Bronx native myself with a deep passion and appreciation for Hip Hop I wanted to pay tribute to the originators. ​
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Due to time constraints I was not able to run the whole gamut of 28 (29 this leap year) art pieces this year but I am glad to have noticed that other artists did go hard on BAMRUARY pieces this year.

Namely Alex Solomon & Kalila J @Leedleloodledoodles 

Alex Solomon is a wonderful illustrator whose work touches on various themes and aesthetics. This year he did beautiful black and white portraits of historical heroes with captions featuring biographies on each of them. See more of Alex’s work and follow him on social media @_alextheartist. 

Kalila J is a Philly based artist currently a first year BFA student at Temple University’s Tyler school of Art and Architecture. She is inspired by her hometown’s mural arts program, exploring how art can be used as a form of storytelling and expression.

Her BAMRUARY art this year was of Harlem Renaissance figures. The art style was inspired by Jacob Lawrence’s “Migration Series.” Follow her on social media @Leedleloodledoodles . 

This year I lost my beloved mentor, professor & unofficial godfather, Dr. Wilfred D Samuels. He was a deeply influential person in my life and in many ways the inspiration for #BAMRUARY itself. Apart from being an amazing and highly respected professor. He was the coordinator of the Black History Month events at the University of Utah for many years. These events which included speakers, special guests, art exhibits and more were under the label of Black Awareness Month during his tenure. Participating in and attending these events was transformative to me. I even had the honor of creating the poster art for one of the events as a student.

He was my first patron as an artist and a dedicated collector for many years. My esteem for him is unmatched and what he did for me I can never pay back. I can only pay it forward by being and doing my best. He inspired me to be who I am today; to be proud of my Black roots and to live life to the fullest. I am truly grateful to have had him in my life. 

To pay respects to his transition and to also bless #BAMRUARY2020 I made the following portrait in his honor. 

On the right side are featured two of his published books: Making Crooked Paths Straight and Encyclopedia of African-American Literature. Making Crooked Paths Straight was his last published book. It features his research on Olaudah Equiano (Gustavus Vassa).  Encyclopedia of African-American Literature was a book that I assisted him with and had the privilege of contributing several articles myself (bios on Claude Brown, Aaron McGruder & Zane).  It was my first publication credit! 

​Participating in that process of seeing such a massive piece of work come to fruition was incredible. To be an active part of creating something that people can read and use as a reference is a feeling I struggle to describe.

I am proud that  #BAMRUARY still lives on after only two years. I hope that it will continue to do so and inspire more and more people to join in on the action. I may not get to do 28 fresh art pieces every year, but I will always keep doing some to honor the tradition of Black Awareness Month. Rest In Power Dr. Samuels we love you and thank you for all of the beautiful things you’ve done in your life that has had a positive impact on so many people.

Peace,

Loso F Perez, MFA

@prime_vice

Prime Vice Studios are experts in creating original art for multiple purposes.  Custom stickers are a handy and useful way to get your message out.

Most people are used to using business cards but most people just either take your card and stash it or worst trash it. A good quality sticker with a cool image leaves a longer lasting impression.

Folks are much more likely to remember you with this awesome souvenir. Contact us to find out how to get yours done for yourself, business, brand, etc.

We work with stickermule to create high quality stickers for our customers and ourselves. Below are some of our samples. The banner below also gets you a $10 discount on your first order.