August 31, 2009

When I Can't Sleep I Play This:

Video: Jay-Z Rhapsody Ad



Niiiice! BP3 Sept. 11, 2009

Who Sampled That???: Gladys Knight & The Pips



Late Pass: Tsotsi

Quote Of The Day: Music


“The aim and final end of all music should be none other than the glory of God and the refreshment of the soul.”

-Johann Sebastian Bach
(German Composer and Musician. 1685-1750)

Video: Drake & Trey Songz – Successful



Don't we all want to be successful?

Video: Street Struck: The Big L Story (Trailer)

August 30, 2009

Late Pass: Dom Kennedy




New West! Los Angeles' own Dom Kennedy.

Who Sampled???: Isaac Hayes





LOL! : Great Pull Ups For Everyone



I'm all for getting a work out on but this guy is hilarious! Watch!

August 29, 2009

Quote Of The Day: Failure


“My imperfections and failures are as much a blessing from God as my successes and my talents and I lay them both at his feet.”

- Mahatma Gandhi
Philosopher(1869-1948)

On My Retro Ish !!! : Starter Jackets


"Yo! Where you get that jacket from?"

Starter jackets represented cool. It didnt matter what team you had but how you rocked that bad boy. With a fresh snapback cap to match you were official. In the winter with the lack of insulation you had to bundle up. But at least you looked fly! Right? At the height of their popularity Starter jackets were an ultimate jack move. NCAA teams like Georgetown Hoyas, UNLV Running Rebels, and Miami Hurricanes held high status. The cool cats had multiple teams while the regular dudes rocked that one Starter literally to death. If you never owned one you wouldnt understand. Real heads recognize.

Late Pass: Major Lazer



Dude in the cartoon kinda looks like Kool Herc.

Who Sampled??? : The O'Jays



When It Rains It Pours:



August 28, 2009

When I Can't Sleep I Play This:

Looking Forward To This:

September 19th you know where I'll be.

Video: Consequence x DJ Whoo Kid - Q.U.E. Another E.N.S.

LOL! : The Adventures Of REV X







Watch! Thank me later.

Quote Of The Day: Ambition


“Ambition is the path to success. Persistence is the vehicle you arrive in.”

- Bill Bradley
(Retired NBA Basketball Player and Senator)

Nike - Blazer High Premium - Selvage Denim




The above Blazer High started to drop in international doors last month but have slowly started to hit US base retailers now so look out for them at your local Nike dealers. The raw selvage denim is two-toned in a darker and lighter version with contrast stitching to mimic that of premium denim. Also notice the brown Nike emblem on the heel that mimics the hem stitch on a fresh pair of jeans. Other details include the white and red selvage piping (also seen in the picture on the jean cuffs) and a Levis-esque Nike tag in white and red. The black sole, swoosh, and heel box all provide just enough contrast to make these Blazers some highly-anticipated sneakers.

Who Sampled??? : Minnie Riperton





Late Pass: Jesse Boykins III



It's "Fallback" Friday so I thought I'd start off the weekend with the mellow sounds of Jesse Boykins III.

August 27, 2009

When I Can't Sleep I Play This:

Keri Hilson - Complex Magazine Spread








Ms. Kerrri Babay!

Air Jordan VI (AJ6) - Black - Varsity Red - 2010 Retro





After news broke that the Air Jordan VI (AJ6) Black and Varsity Red colorway would be re-released as a Air Jordan Retro shoe in 2010, Jordan fans and sneakerheads alike started saving money instantly so that they could pick up a pair. Here is a first look at the Air Jordan VI Black and Varsity Red colorway that will be released sometime in January of 2010. Michael Jordan wore these during the 1990-91 NBA Season where he claimed his first NBA Championship and second NBA regular season MVP award. This is the first time since 2000 that Jordan Brand has retroed this exact colorway of the Air Jordan VI. via marqueesole

Release Date: 01/2010
Style: 384664-061
Color: Black/Varsity Red

Late Pass: Cold Play - Strawberry Swing (Video)



This video is crazy!

On My Retro Ish!!! : Polo


This is my shit!!! Polo will forever be a personal favourite. Nothing beat rocking that exclusive piece and watching all your friends become jealous. In the day Polo was far from cheap. In Toronto you were limited to either buying from The Bay or the now defunct Eatons for that superior Lo. The quality was one thing but the exclusivity is really what did it for me. At a time where you had to make trips across the border to cop that Polo fix. I would be digging the racks at Marshalls looking for that flyness. I was dry cleaning my shit to keep it extra crispy. Still timeless and fresh as ever Polo still got it.

Quote Of The Day: Persistence


"Making your mark on the world is hard. If it were easy, everybody would do it. But it's not. It takes patience, it takes commitment, and it comes with plenty of failure along the way. The real test is not whether you avoid this failure, because you won't. it's whether you let it harden or shame you into inaction, or whether you learn from it; whether you choose to persevere."

- Barack Obama
President Of The United States

Who Sampled???: Quincy Jones





Video: Jay-Z Recalls How Record Labels Thought He Was ‘Terrible’



From MTV’s vaults:

“I went to every single record label, and they was like, ‘This guy is terrible. He’s nothing,’ ” Jay told MTV News prior to the release of The Blueprint in 2001. “I had to put [Reasonable Doubt] out myself, because nobody would sign me.”

That was back in 1996, when Roc-A-Fella records was born, not out of entrepreneurial expansion but, as Hova made clear, out of necessity. “I would press up singles and go to the record stores myself, collect $100, $200, come back, give them some more records,” he recalled. “It started like that.”

Jay wasn’t embittered by his struggle, though. If anything, it gave him a sharper perspective on the music business. “It made me appreciate it so much more,” he said. “No one gave me anything. They didn’t give me a record deal. I really just took my time and grew it step by step by step by step. I could have easily been like, ‘Maybe what I’m talking about ain’t right! Nobody wants to sign me!’ That would have stopped the suffering. But I didn’t.”

10 Movies That Made Me Love Hip Hop:





















Why use words when you can use pictures?

Video: The Making Of DJ Khalil’s “Kinda Like A Big Deal”

August 26, 2009

When I Can't Sleep I Play This:

On My Retro Ish!!!! : Ewing Sneakers






Honestly. Honestly. What can I say? I've been looking for a deadstock pair for years!!! Pardon the exclamation points but I have to stress that my search for these joints has been serious. I remember cats getting straight jacked for their Ewings. You were either throwing up a two piece or you found yourself walking home in your socks (TRUE STORY) With a re-emergence of all things retro don't you think it would be a good idea to bring them back ? (Hint, Hint) All My deadstock heads need to get at me. I need a pair in size 12 like yesterday.

Uno

Quote of the Day: Struggle


“If there is no struggle, there is no progress. Those who profess to favor freedom, and deprecate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground, they want rain without thunder and lightning.”

- Frederick Douglass
American Abolitionist, Lecturer, Author and Slave (1817-1895)

Who Sampled??? : Don Blackman


Jay-Z Covers XXL (October)



HIS STANDING IN THE GAME:

“But when I say I’m the best, I don’t say that outta my ass. I say that with all my stats behind me. I put that against anybody. I mean anybody. I really believe that… I believe in a lot of things. 
I believe that ‘SportsCenter’ is the best thing on TV. I shouldn’t have to prove it. But I do have these stats to prove it. I’m talking about real run. I’m not talking about years off. I’m talking about straight—boom, boom, boom—back to back. We’re not talking about heritage acts either. We’re not talking about respect what I’ve done. I’m talking No. 1 [albums] 10 times. The Beatles is the only one [to have more 
No. 1 albums]. They got 19, and if I get a surge of creativity, I could make nine albums next year.”

CRITICISM OF “D.O.A.”:

“I’m not hating on young people. Like, when people say that, I’m like, What are you talking about? It’s just stupid. I’m not hating on young people… I’m not Bill Russell, [saying] Michael Jordan ain’t shit. I’m saying Lil Wayne and Kanye are like LeBron and Kobe. My job as someone at the forefront of the game is to leave it in a better position than when I came in. Same way that Russell [Simmons] left it to me. ’Cause this thing saved my life. Literally. So I have a responsibility to it karmically. And after that it’s on you. I did my part. I made ‘D.O.A.’ I said it. I made the statement. I made the push. Here, y’all take it from here.”

HIS LEGACY AS FORMER DEF JAM RECORDS PRESIDENT:

“So if you ask me to grade my performance as the president, I’d say A-plus. No one can bat a 100. It’s impossible. I mean, everyone is looking at my shit. But if we really looked under the hood [of] every single [record exec] and the acts they put out in that time, I’d be comparable to anyone.”

- XXL

The Foreign Exchange - House Of Cards f. Muhsinah (Video)

KAWS x Michael Jackson Cover for Interview Magazine


New Jersey-born Artist Kaws was invited recently by Interview Magazine to work atop an image of Michael Jackson for an editorial piece on the late pop sensation. The final image is typical of Kaws’ unique style and features a ‘Bendy’ (a worm-like character who often appears in Kaws’ work) wrapped around Jackson which is reminiscent of previous work, most obviously the iconic reworking of Supreme’s Kate Moss tee.
Source: KAWS

Nitro Microphone Underground x Nike Sportswear Air Force 1 Mid







Japanese Hip-Hop group Nitro Microphone Underground get the nod of appreciation from Nike as they celebrate the 10th anniversary of their inaugural album. Having done collaborations in the past, this time around they focus on the Air Force 1 Mid. The shoe features some interesting notes from the tonal crackle print to the gold foil. References to the years are seen on the tongue as well. The shoes are set to drop next month in September.

August 25, 2009

R.I.P Aaliyah

Jan 16, 1979 – August 25, 2001

Video: Ghostface Killah Feat. Raheem DeVaughn - Baby

Video: Raekwon - House of Flying Daggers (feat. Inspectah Deck, GZA, Ghostface Killah & Method Man)

Nike - Air Max 95 - Sport Red Colorway




BAPE x Casio G-Shock - DW-6900 Watch




New A Bathing Ape (BAPE) and Casio collaboration for 2009, the G-Shock DW-6900 retain all the features that made G-Shock timepieces famously reliable: water proof up to 20 atmospheric bars, dust & mud resistant, and shock proof. A customized black casing labeled with “BAPE”, “Go Ape!”, and rainbow colorway of G-Shock emblem on front. Special engraving on the all stainless steel back, including 3 new motto “Time Is Money!!!”, “Time 2 Get Ill!” and “Time 4 Sum Akison!!”. Functional stop watch, multiple alarms and EL backlight with holographic imprint of BAPE gorilla logo. Limited to 1000 units and retails for JP¥ 21,000 (~US$ 205), the new BAPE G-Shock watch will be available at all BAPE retail locations and BAPE LAND chapter of ZOZO shopping network later on today. The watch will also be on sale at the newly opened BAPE online store starting tomorrow, August 26th.

BAPE - New York
91 Greene Street | Map
New York, NY 10012
TEL #: 212-925-0222

BAPE - Los Angeles
8001 Melrose Avenue | Map
Los Angeles, CA 90048
TEL #: 323-658-5400

Release Dates:
August 25th (Today!) - BAPE Retail Locations & BAPE LAND
August 26th (Tomorrow) - BAPE Online Store