taji ameen
Wildstyle with Clayton Patterson
For this week's Mahal, I got to experience the Wildstyle and Tattoo Messe, a traveling carnival of odd and extreme tattooing, circus culture, and avant-garde body art, through the lens of Clayton Patterson. Over the last few decades, Clayton has been...
Rolling Blunts with the OG Dutch Master and T. Kid
For this week's Mahal, alongside VICE's other regular weekend column, Weediquette, I hosted a blunt rolling contest between Baltimore rapper OG Dutch Master and New York's T. Kid. After hearing all the hype about Dutchy, namely his rapping skills and...
Jade's Roll
For this week's Mahal, in honor of the recent warm weather in New York City, I bring you Jade Katzenellenbogen's photographs of even warmer people. Here is what she had to say about the series: "I've learned over these past couple of years how...
Hanging with John Joseph of the Cro-Mags
John has lived many lives, overcoming every possible hardship known to mankind. The experience has transformed him into a super-natural being. Nowadays, when he is not raging the stage with the Cro-Mags, he spends his mornings feeding the homeless in...
Clayton Patterson's Music Week
For this week's Mahal, I got to talk music with legendary Lower East Side photographer, Clayton Patterson. Over the decades, he has documented just about every memorable show in Lower East Side and today is still getting out there and seeing relevant...
Hanging with Slick Eastwood
For this week's Mahal, I was invited to see Slick Eastwood perform his comedy act in Bushwick, Brooklyn. A few days later, Slick and I met up again in Downtown Manhattan to lurk the streets and discuss his creative process.
The Serra Brothers
For this week's Mahal, I got to chat New York City skate history with the Serra brothers. I first met Ivory and Shelter when I was 10 at Riverside skatepark. Soon, I discovered Ivory's photographs of just about every New York Legend from A to Z and...
Spring Roll
For this week's Mahal, I got my film developed. The winter has stretched far and deep into the crevices of New York City. However, now that frostbite is no longer at its peak, the lurkers have finally returned to the streets. As tradition dictates...
Ben Kilpatrick's Tri-Coastal Photography
For this week's Mahal, I got to talk with Ben Kilpatrick about what it is like to travel the country, photographing on and off his skateboard. Check out some of his most recent work and read our conversation about how NYC and LA inspire different kinds...
Cheney Orr's Fleeting Youth
For this week's Mahal, I got to meet up and talk photography with Cheney Orr. When he is not traveling the Middle East, “hunting for light,” he can be found tramping around New York City, documenting its youth and culture. Take a look at some of his...
Clayton Patterson and the History of Tattooing in NYC
For this week's Mahal, I met up with Clayton Patterson to discuss the history of tattooing in New York City. He has been photographing the tattoo scene both in New York City and around the world for over three decades and just recently hosted the book...
Taji's Mahal - Costa Rican Roll
For this week's Mahal, I decided to get our last roll of film from Costa Rica developed to reminisce about the fun times we shared with my aunt and her friend Hitch last month. I think it's safe to say that Costa Rica is the happiest place in the world...