CRISIS MAGAZINE EVENT DEFIES AEG CEASE AND DESIST, REMINDING FANS OF WHAT CAMP FLOG GNAW USED TO BE [LA WEEKLY ARTICLE]

Camp Flog Gnaw, the brainchild of Tyler, the Creator, originated as a block party on Fairfax street in Los Angeles to celebrate the release of his new album, Goblin. When the city declined, Tyler took matters into his own hands, giving birth to the first Camp Flog Gnaw in 2011, across the street from a Lil Wayne concert in a small parking lot. Since then, Tyler has utilized his growing influence to spotlight emerging artists, food vendors, and brands, fostering a safe-place for like-minded people to converge.

Tate Canyon, a longtime festival attendee and creator of Crisis Magazine, found his introduction into Los Angeles' culture through Camp Flog Gnaw while living in the Bay Area. Years later, after moving to LA in 2021, stricken with inspiration, Tate, at the age of 20, hosted an impromptu listening party for Tyler's album, CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST drawing a massive crowd to his small apartment complex on Fairfax Ave. Tyler himself  even attended the event, pulling up to the event with his friends in a large Rolls Royce, giving Crisis Magazine a huge stamp of approval in the local scene early on.

Now 23-years-old, Tate has remained dedicated to Crisis Magazine’s audience and  craft, committing to counterculture just as his influences Tyler, the Creator, Jackass, and Big Brother Magazine had. Crisis Magazine is  curated by Tate Canyon but also includes  several other artists, including Julio Flores, “July Flowers” their head writer & co-producer; Alex Rimmer on graphic design; Tris Soldati & Sae Vista on videography & photography, as well as Araya Persons, Nick Yusi, & Layne Takashi as the hand-drawn/physical artist team. Many notable guests have been seen in each issue with examples like, ASSPIZZA (Austin Babbitt), Mike Cherman (MARKET), Jaden Smith, Dominic Fike, Denzel Curry, and more.  

Crisis Magazine's slogan, "By any means necessary & against all odds," encapsulates their determination to thrive as a magazine in a day and age that is less interested in print and more interested in social media. Despite the challenges, Tate and his team stay at the forefront of LA streetwear, independent artists, and music culture by incorporating multimedia, diverse art forms, and staying connected with emerging trends in streetwear and the LA community.

CAMP CRISIS, an event organized by Crisis Magazine, exemplified this approach. Featuring a free-entry daytime market, limited edition magazine sales, s,mores for attendees, the event culminated in an evening rager with DJ sets by LEFT-BRAIN of Odd Future and Tate Canyon, himself, an open liquor and dab bar presented by PLUG PLAY, and special guest performances by RIMERA  performing unreleased tracks off his upcoming album Jazz Punk, TGBEAM performing hits like ‘Bitchiest’, sheluvsprxda closed out the night by performed a remix of ‘Souljia Boy’ iconic track, “pretty boy swag”, & “Igwe Aka” closing the night with a vibe.

While promoting the event, with just two weeks before the event, Tate and Crisis received a cease and desist from AEGPresents and GolfWang. The irony was palpable, as Flog Gnaw Carnival started from a place of rebellion and with a spirit of local celebration. Flog Gnaw started as something for those who felt left out, those who felt like they were left knocking at the door, and those who wanted to have a good time with like-minded individuals. Flog Gnaw started as a celebration for a small subset of music culture that revolved around SoCal, skating, and straight up raging.

With AEG now suing small parties in the LA area that reference Flog Gnaw, they inadvertently passed the torch to Crisis as the new subset of counterculture in the area.

With over 500 attendees, CAMP CRISIS on Harper Ave became a major success, offering a safe and memorable experience for Camp Flog Gnaw attendees and the LA community. Looking ahead, Crisis Magazine remains fully independent, with a new magazine slated for 2024. In the spirit of Tyler's "fuck em'" attitude, Tate and Crisis Magazine continue to forge their path, providing the community with a unique and unforgettable night, reminiscent of the original Camp Flog Gnaw experience. Keep up with Crisis Magazine on their socials and take a look at their CAMP CRISIS recap video below.

• Ryan Leutz

  LA WEEKLY