2023 Art Basel Diary

This marked my third consecutive year at Art Basel, an extravagant weekend that stands as Miami's all-star celebration. Bursting with exclusive parties, captivating performances, and brand launches, it's safe to say I've grown accustomed to this luxurious escape from the chilly winters of New York City to the warm embrace of Florida.

Among the myriad events, one standout was "The Art of Hip Hop," commemorating 50 years of Hip Hop with a special performance by Fat Joe. The venue resembled a museum, adorned with rare Hip-Hop artifacts like photos, magazines, and artist clothing.

Venturing further, I explored the new BBC Icecream Store and witnessed the debut of Issue Number 2 of LeBron James' Springhill magazine. Despite the crowded venue, we navigated our way in with finesse (shout out to Tyree). The closure featured a surprise performance by the Boss himself, Rick Ross, providing an authentic Miami experience for those visiting from out of town.

The pinnacle of my Art Basel weekend was, without a doubt, witnessing Kelela's performance—an experience akin to a dream come true. Having missed her free show at Prospect Park earlier in the summer, this performance took place at the ICAM museum, my first visit there. The occasion was the grand opening of designer Dion Lee's Miami flagship store. The proximity to the goddess Kelela left me awe-struck. Apologies for the lack of photos; I promise to invest in a quality point-and-shoot camera soon. For now, check out the footage below for a glimpse into my Art Basel weekend.

On South Beach With Choszn

Our first interview of the year, we strolled down to South Beach and hit up a venue called The Smoking Pie. Peeping the scene and not knowing what I was getting into, there happened to be a showcase going on and I just so happened to have my camera on me. There was a singer there that caught my ears and I had to pull him to the side after his performance to get a word in. This is the moment I met Brooklyn by way of Broward singer Choszn.