John Witherspoon on steriods

Wale: fashion and hip hop

Think of this as the portrait of the artist about to blow up.

For the better part of the last year, the most important thing that came out of Washington, D.C. was the interminable run-up to the 2008 election. But for those with keen ears, the most exciting thing (all due respect to Barack Obama) has been an MC named Wale.

Lately, it's been 0-60 for the rapper (right). He’s gone from a budding artist spitting complex, fascinating rhymes on free mixtapes (check out his collaboration with DJ Nick Catchdubs 100 Miles & Running here) to touring with producer Mark Ronson (Amy Winehouse, Lily Allen) and getting signed to Interscope Records (via Ronson’s Allido imprint). He also did a guest rhyme on The Roots’ “Rising Up.”

But before the deal Wale began working on a little passion project called The Mixtape About Nothing, inspired by –- you guessed it –- Seinfeld. No kidding. No homilies to champagne, rims and drug dealing or bragging about sexual conquests. (OK, maybe some.) Just deft, rapid wordplay about Jerry, Larry David, Kramer and George (“My Costanzas stand like phantoms”). Oh, and then there’s that guest spot by Julia Louis-Dreyfus.

The Mixtape About Nothing, also produced by Catchdubs, is out Friday (download it for free here) and is likely just the beginning of the crazy awesomeness Wale has in store. If you want proof, check out the video for his take on Justice's “D.A.N.C.E.” after the jump.

To find out more, Listening Post chatted with Wale (pronounced “wah-lay”) awhile back about the importance of giving away music, working the Web, working with Pharrell Williams and making friends with Lindsay Lohan.

Nike Air Force 1 iD Bespoke by The Mayor

We recently interviewed The Mayor on his collecting habits and his 1000th pair of Air Force 1s. He’s added many more pairs since and yesterday his Air Force 1 iD Bespoke finally arrived at Nike Sportswear in New York. While the sneakers are just slightly different from what The Mayor designed, the outsole is suppose to be a solid red, they are amazing nonetheless. For the upper, dark denim is used to cover the entire base of the Air Force 1, red patent leather pops out on the swoosh, back tab and tongue label and for the lining a extremely lux brown leather. To finish off, the sole is icy translucent gum, old harness leather adorns the tongue and back of the shoes and on the lace lock MYR lasered in. Via Sneaker News

ALIFE x New Era - Ball Out 59Fifty Collection

When ALIFE first collaborated with Reebok on the original Ball Out Pump, it was a huge success across the world and soon became one of the most sought after Reebok shoes ever. Now ALIFE has taken the inspiration from the Ball Out sneaker to a New Era 59Fifty fitted cap collection consisting of a number of different colors all featuring the ALIFE logo on the front of the hat in large letters as well as a small ALIFE logo on the right panel of the hat and last but not least a New Era logo on the left panel of the fitted. Most importantly though each hat features the signature tennis ball felt material that has become a signature material from our friends over at ALIFE. You can pick up the hats now at ALIFE in New York City as well as ALIFE retailers worldwide.

ALIFE - NYC
158 Rivington Street | Map
New York, NY 10002
TEL #: 212-375-8116

> ALIFE

BKc Holiday Collection: BKc Wool Contradiction Shirt

One of the rising stars in The BKc holiday collection is the BKc Wool Contradiction Shirt, a tailored button down wool shirt with hidden satin color pop accents. The shirt retail at $140 and is now available at The Brooklyn Circus.

The Brooklyn Circus (NYC)
150 Nevins St
Brooklyn, N.Y. 11217
Tel: 718.858.0919
Hours: Daily From 12-7pm

The Brooklyn Circus (SF)
1521 Fillmore St.
San Francisco, CA 94115
Tel: 415.359.1999

The Brooklyn Circus (CHI) @ Solemates
2708 N. Halsted
Chicago, IL 60614
Tel: 773.327.7782
Mon-Sat 12-8pm | Sun 12-5pm

> The Brooklyn Circus

Nike Air Marty McFly's

I wouldn't call myself a sneaker head at all but, I love great design and innovation.
I have been scoping out the Marty McFly's for awhile and found a great picture online and thought that whoever gets there hands on a pair of these must be happy.
But, lets keep it in perspective though. These, or any shoe for that matter, is not going to get you or anybody mad play with woman at all!
Buy because you like them!
Not for the game!

Nike Zoom Kobe IV iD Featuring Mike Epps + DJ AM

Nike Zoom Kobe IV iD - Mike Epps + DJ AM from Freshnessmag.com on Vimeo.
With the Zoom Kobe IV iD coming up in a few days, Nike has created funny video featuring actor Mike Epps and DJ AM. The video also features a number of ‘cool’ sneakers including a pair of the Entourage Air Force 1s, and even a pair of Air Yeezys. Of course the Zoom Kobe IV iD makes an appearance as well.

Original Fake

The Original Fake Autumn/Winter 2008 collection continues to deliver strong cut and sew pieces that other brands can’t. Between the signature KAWS’ graphics and the premium craftsmanship on each cut and sew piece, it’s no wonder the Original Fake line has done so well this season all over the world. This newest piece is a Chomper Hoodie featuring KAWS’ signature “X” across the chest and the signature “Chompers” down the side of the hoodie. You can pick this Chomper Hoodie up in the near future at select Original Fake retailers.

> Original Fake

Jean Charles de Castelbajac vs. LEGO

JCDC VS LEGO from Four H on Vimeo.
Jean Charles de Castelbajac's whimsical S/S 3001 collection (related to his Spring/Summer 2009 collection). I dig the marriage of high fashion and popular culture (LV and Murakami/Stephen Sprouse) but pray tell, who is the audience for this line?!

Train Makeover: Anime, Living Room and Homeless Shelter Edition

the days of New York City-style “train-bombing“, the practice of entire train cars getting completely spray-painted with tags and murals, anime & manga characters have been the favored choice of graffiti to the Japanese. Pink Tentacle compiled a very neat selection of train exteriors and interiors over the past several years. While the anime’d out trains are cool, the Japanese seem to be the most accepting to advertisers too. Ikea recently decked out a Kobe train in textiles like ALVINE BUKETT curtains and BLÅHÄGG blankets.
Turning train-cars into more comfortable habitats seems to be a theme for the Chinese too. They’re turning old subway cars into homeless shelters. Decked out with bunk-beds and heaters, they’re being used to accommodate refugees from the latest of deadly earthquakes. We’re only wishing Ikea could sneak a truckload of house-warming wares into the new temporary homes.

Furby Vs. Mike Mo.

The Berrics just released the newest Battle At The Berrics.

Terry Kennedy in the New Skate 2 intro video

Skate 2 Intro Cinematic from shad lambert on Vimeo.
Terry rolling the dice along side a star studded cast in the new Skate 2 intro!

Supra Skytop Wins Sneaker Of The Year!

When Muska first had his vision for a stylish sky high shoe, a lot of people had a little laugh and thought he was crazy. Well, looks Chad just got the last laugh. Complex just officially named the Skytop the Sneaker Of The Year!

The Hundreds & Disney

streetwear brands have been coopting the likenesses of animated characters, specifically Disney characters, for decades. So it’s really interesting to hear that The Hundreds will be collaborating with The Walt Disney Company on a limited run collection. The LA and SF shops have already been made over with the Disney collection - anyone in the area who’s been to the stores, let us know what you find.

via STREEThing

The Hundreds blog

© Orli Sharaby for PS

Sex organs of technology

There’s a video from the O’Reilly group where Joshua-Michele Ross interviews Kevin Kelly. Kelly discusses the rise of large scale co-operation and the similarity between technology and biology. A couple of quotes:

Socialism 2.0. We don’t have very good terms for what we’re seeing. Collectivism, communism, socialism which have negative connotations in American politics but in fact that’s what a lot of this is: Cooperation on a large scale. Elevating the common collective good and the individual at the same time. That’s the difference with communism which was about bring everyone down to a level.

…What does technology want? It wants us to be happy, it wants our co-operation. Right ow we’re the sexual organs of technology. It wants increasing diversity, increasing complexity, increasing energy density (efficiency), increasing specialization… The patterns that we see technology follows are the same patterns biology and evolution follows. In biology there is extinction, in technology we find that ideas and technologies remain and they are very hard to extinguish… There is almost no extinct technologies.

Radar O’Reilly

The story of my fall and come back!

Im sorry to everyone that does read this blog....As you know, this is my personal journal on my life and like everyone else I was burnt out. But, I am back and rejuvenated. So I hope you are ready to read more interesting views and outtakes of my life.

I will be doing more interviews and personnel profiles more often. I think it more interesting to hearing the news from the horses mouth.

My next interview will be Thrasher funds.
I have written once about them, but I want to revisit them and talk about their new and upcoming season of Thrasher TV.

all coming soon!

Bansky: The Village Pet Store

NOTCOT: Banksy's Village Petstore & Charcoal Grill from Jean Aw on Vimeo.
With rat murals across the city and animatronic fast food pets, Bansky's Village Pet Store swept New York by storm, creating a whole new fan base to his mysterious set of work. Notcot's video (above) is almost as good as having attended the show.

BRΙΕFC(eramic)ACE

Although business documents are swiftly transitioning from paper to digital, there's still room for innovative briefcase design. Case in point, Alexandros Stasinopoulos's high-tech concept for BRΙΕFC(eramic)ACE. Though clumsily titled, the case is a sleek, hardshell container that makes extensive use of Zirconium Oxide, an extremely rigid though rarely utilized form of ceramic.
The project looks to reconcile the primitive nature of ceramics (think traditional terracotta and porcelain) with its rather impressive physical attributes. Zirconium Oxide ranks second only to diamond on the hardness scale and resists scratches and abrasion far better than conventional plastics. The large ceramic pieces on either side also provide limitless space for creative design variations. The briefcase also employs leather straps for closure and handles for a supple, tactile counterpoint to the ceramic.

Alexandros Stasinopoulos is a Greek product designer trained in Italy and Holland. Though still in the conceptual stage, the BRΙΕFC(eramic)ACE recently won the iF Concept Award at the 2008 International Forum Design competition. Check Alexandros' website for more on the cases and his other creations.

Visvim Ballistic 20L Red FIL....army look a like!!!

I was looking on hypebeast today and found a bag run mage by visvim....and it looks like an Army bugout bag. Now I have had an army bugout bag for awhile now (because I am in the army) and it has served me well . I just never thought that I would see it being recreated by a street wear brand. touche!

its a great copy!

the hundreds and disney

THEHUNDREDS // DISNEY // THE LOST BOYS from Bobby Hundreds on Vimeo.

Bobby Hundreds goes behind the scenes to talk about how The Hundreds latest project alongside Disney manifested and a sneak peek into the upcoming line due to release this Thursday December 11th. The goods will be available at both THSF and THLA with only a handful of other accounts landing the entitled “Lost Boys” collabo. Retailers include Premium Goods (Houston, Texas), The Reed Space (NYC, New York), Palace 5ive (Washington, D.C.) and Shoe Gallery (Miami, Florida). Stay tuned for a more comprehensive look at the product.