James Brown vs Ali in No Mas’ Rumblevision

October 30, 2009


It's been 35 years since George Foreman and Muhammad Ali met on Zairian soil for their "Rumble in the Jungle"—or as some would have it—the Fight of the Century. NYC-based clothiers No Mas are celebrating the anniversary of Ali's victory with Rumblevision, a series of animated shorts in which artists like David Rathman pick and mix pivotal rumble moments (the rope-a-dope, the press conference, the epic TOK) in bluesy watercolor. Illustrator James Blagden on the other hand, goes off on a pretty amazing and fantastical tangent for his short, staging an entirely re-imagined rumble where James Brown goes toe to toe with Ali in a puff-sleeved, flared-leg onesie. It's really more of a soul-powered dance-off than a real fight, and kind of like what Celebrity Death Match, might look like if you crossed it with America's Best Dance Crew.

James Brown vs Ali in No Mas’ Rumblevision