This makes me happy, man. Official write ups and reviews have been coming in these last few days and people seem to have really gotten into this recent record. Last week, Tosten Burks, of indie website, PassionWeiss, went out of his way to stress the fact he thought I was angry. I got over it pretty quickly, but that was interesting. He still went on to give the music pretty serious compliments, so I appreciate the close listening. John Gotty and his Smoking Section really played a part in putting the album in front of their readers, with writer, Greg Writt, writing a glowing review. I can't thank those guys enough. Gotti offers me up weekly advice to keep going and making dope music. That shit gives me life, I can't lie. Then late last night someone hit me to tell me I got 4 out of 5 stars on HipHopDX, in their review. That's just wild. Big thank you to writer Brandon E. Roos.

This is fucking amazing, man. What a great idea. Besides a little video trickery what I love most about this is the amount of jewels the man drops. Simply put and eloquent in the same breath. Maybe the best thing guys like us can hear right now.

Shout to GoodsonNYC for the find.

I respect Joe a lot for an interview like this. From the same magazine that just blessed newsstands this week, a little something extra.

Cover Story Uncut

Feeling this a lot actually. Chambray and KAWS trademark motif embroidered across the entire thing. Strong. Available now through OriginalFake for cash money.

$261

Funny as shit.

Gorgeous, man. Need a nice new freestyle bike just to have. I'm nice on a bike! They're not even making this one yet but shit. Just perfect.

"Modification of Animal’s M1 tube Skavenger frame and features a custom 10.DEEP knuckle chain stay bridge, brown deadstock grips and a matching custom-upholstered leather cush seat. One-of-a-kind and currently not for sale"

link

Stream + download in all it's glory.



*Bandcamp download doesn't include bonus PUSSY video. For that you still have to grab it from here.

Fuuuuck. Video of the year thus far. Directed by Jason Goldwatch.

Really very excited about Shortie's debut. Complex pulls the trigger putting her on the cover with their usual flair.

Since bursting onto the blogosphere last summer with "Video Games," Lana Del Rey has become the most controversial woman on the internet. But over here at Complex, we've just been shaking our heads at the haters—with her haunting music and stunning style, there's so much about Lana to love.

On newsstands Feb. 7th but you can read the entire cover story here, or do what I do and support print.

A$AP/Jeremy Scott on the flip.

This is alright. I like it. The hooded goose feather-filled down jacket is both warm and lightweight, with multiple front pockets, and a nylon sleeve lining. The colors do it especially for me.

Available now, get here:

eYe Junya Watanabe
COMME des GARCONS MAN
22 Wyndham St.
Central Hong Kong

This is like an instant classic.

Props to Nahright

Great fanny-pack. What can you say.

terrysdiary

Game-changer. Starring none other than my best friend, 88-Keys.

Highsnobiety

Merging unmatched Akai Professional technology with the power of the iPad 2, the MPC Fly has all the capabilities that have made the MPC an industry standard: real backlit MPC pads, MPC Note Repeat and MPC Swing. The double-hinged design gives you the flexibility to produce tracks anywhere, while also acting as a protective case and giving you total access to your iPad 2 for normal uses.

Full interview and feature. We working out here.

Imagine losing all of your music, photos, and memories in one fell swoop. That's what happened to rapper Shirt this past year in Miami. The Queens bred wordsmith lost every bit of material he was trying to piece together for his album, profanely titled THE FUCK. Shirt is an interesting case study in present-day Hip Hop. He walks the line of DIY rappers who adopt a "by any means necessary" mantra while simultaneously fantasizing about the good life. The only difference is, Shirt doesn't walk the block for fodder. He attacks every opportunity possible. 

Read interview here

Download here *UPDATED* LINK
Executive Produced by T.SHIRT. Art by JJJJOHN.

I WANT IT ALL (Produced by The Letter L)
PUERTO RICAN RUM (Produced by Mike G)
OLD MAN ANGST (Produced by DJ Cool C)
MY BITCH DON'T EVEN LIKE ME (Produced by Brady Becklo)
COMING UP (Produced by Brady Becklo)
SOUTHSIDE PHANTOM (Produced by Maker)
I NEVER KNEW MONEY (Produced by Brady Becklo)
MOONSHINE (Produced by Steel Tipped Dove)
SECRET PARIS OF THE 30's (Produced by Steel Tipped Dove)
SUCCESS TO ME (Produced by Ayesroc)

Building with the boys. Details this week.

Props to Ro

Fun shit. I usually don't post these little studio clips but Rocky's flow is bananas.

Nahright

Journalism, ha.

Complex

This is pretty serious and I can respect it. I guess this list can look like anything to anybody but as far as like, what the world thinks, I think they got pretty close. Judge for yourself.

Go here.

17. Notorious B.I.G. 


The man born Christopher Wallace brought a swagger to hip-hop that other rappers today -- fifteen years after his death -- still can't touch. Considered by many to be the greatest MC ever, Biggie told complex and emotional stories through intricate rhymes that sounded effortless. Never contrived and never soft, he remains beloved by underground and mainstream fans alike. Just as his career was taking off, he was killed in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles, the details of which are still disputed. - Chris Walker

Consider this for a moment. Photographed by David Bellemere.

More here.

Feeling this. Simple and looks of good quality. Cowhide, with durable, black cotton canvas. Interesting backstrap design give you a couple optiona. Would probably work out best for little accessories and what nots.

$636.34

Whatever I choose to write here in my little box surely won't be able to stack up against the behemoth websites and news outlets who've called this performance trash. It's sad really. For months now, the girl has done her thing building buzz and anticipation with her big and sultry numbers, interesting videos and major label (Interscope) dealings. The kinds of songs that have been "officially released" are simply non-existent on mainstream radio nowadays, and in my opinion a true breathe of fresh air. The same kinds of songs that made us (myself and a few people I know), fall in love with her. Was I mad she booked SNL? Insulted, like some of these outlets are saying? Definitely not. Let that bitch breath.

Up top is, "Blue Jeans", where she hit her prettiest notes of the night. It's her second performance of the evening and far more comfortable than her first of, "Videogames", where she moved and sounded nervous as all hell. It happens. The machine moves fast nowadays, what more can you say. I certainly wouldn't attribute it to any lack of talent. You forget Lana wrote these incredible songs. Performing them right is gonna take some theatre. We'll wait. Born To Die in stores Jan. 31st.

Hard. The unreleased Staple one I wear might have a little bit of competition.

link

Always thought snowboarding looked cooler... until this video. Best of 2011 shit and it's gorgeous. Nothing like coming down a mountain.

Field Productions

Simply a great read and inside look into a downtown NYC and Streetwear behemoth. I've actually never owned a Supreme piece in my life but I have a feeling I will soon. Educate yourself.

Being sovereign – the supreme ruler of culture – is the brand’s unofficial mission statement; everything is appropriated, recontextualised and refitted in Supreme’s hands to be made better. (Not the least of which is the fire-truck red box logo ripped from the oeuvre of Barbara Kruger.) Chinos are constructed with military-grade reinforcement, hats are made with a sturdy square brim, and T-shirts are twice as thick. They’ve carefully chosen to cross-pollinate their homegrown image with unhip but timelessly macho brands like Hanes and The North Face, worked with blue-chip artists such as Jeff Koons and Christopher Wool for their art-deck series, and built ad campaigns around a motley crew of celebrities that have no direct connection to skateboarding, including Kermit the Frog, Mike Tyson and the pop star Lady Gaga. 

Part I

Part II

*Photo up top probably my favorite from the current Fall/Winter collection.

Was on an interweb run and found a few artistic instances I can respect on the other side of the world. Nothing but some paint and imagination.

One of my favorite things in the world is an intelligent look into street music. Jon Caramanica is that fucking guy at the NY Times.

It’s been so long since the once-legendary rapper Nas lived up to the promise of his early albums that the base expectation for his new music is disappointment. So it’s been jarring recently to hear him on Hot 97 (97.1 FM in New York), on a new song, sounding like the rapper he was in the mid-1990s: wise, with a sharp eye for detail; pouring phrases together in dizzying jumbles; and showing off the pain that throbs beneath the calluses formed by years of exposure to the streets. 

Rick Ross Made Me Great

If you aren't too busy at the strip club or the A-Trak show or the pool hall or the hot dog spot or whatever you people do on Friday nights nowadays, tune THE FUCK in.

Go here.

Let's try this again. Bonus cut. Record produced by Ryan Rasheed.

New album, The Fuck, drops this Tuesday the 17th.

Shout to Vimeo for the freedom.

This happens often. I'll watch something, think it's particularly douche baggy, though gain from it, then feel well now I should probably share it in hopes someone else will gain from it. That sort of shit, this fits into that. It's like life in a sense. This post is about life. If you can get past all the bullshit, you can learn something.

*Just finished. Actually really enjoyed it.

Another year, another stellar lineup for festival music's opus. I need to just have something else super important planned that week in Cali to give my ass an excuse to fly out. Fuck. That 2nd night with Radiohead opening...

Tickets for the 3-day pass are $285 and go on sale Friday. More info.

Well, damn. No one was expecting this. Just gorgeous. Produced by Pharrell, mixed and mastered by Mike Dean.

Featuring his 2-day old daughter's first little cries, too...

Download here


"You don't yet know what swag is but you was made in Paris, and Momma woke up the next day and shot her album package. The last time... the miscarriage was so tragic, we was afraid you'd disappear but nah, baby, you're magic. There you have it, shit happens... you're a child of destiny...you're the child of my destiny... you're my child with the child from Destiny's Child... that's a hell of a recipe."

I've come to really love this shit. Ross first verse, the hook, that Drake line of the year, "BITCH YOU WASN'T WITH ME SHOOTING IN THE GYM." Fuuuuuck. So tough.

If you don't have that new Ross mixtape, trust me you need it. Download here.

Maybe the most anticipated mixtape/street album in a long, long time. Leave it the beloved boss to bring that shit home top of the year. Dropped at 3:05 today. Miami shit.

Seriously one of my favorite records bubbling. Shout JscottandShit. Kish ate part of my banana bread recently, too. So there's that.

Pretty masterful if I can say so myself. God damn it seems like everyday I'm posting something else from this kid. I'm happy he's doing his motherfucking thing. Flow and writing is really fucking tough and everything about this record screams good taste. New album Blue Chips dropping soon.

Download here

You might care you might not but I'm giving you the option ha. Brings me back to the Nostalgia, Ultra album. So fucking good. Interesting kid, too. Curious to see where he takes things.

Good boots. Strong, fly shit. Horween-sourced Chromexcel leather and a branded Vibram outsole. Whatever the hell that means.

You can buy them if you get this site to work.

Jimmy talks a little bit about what it means to him to be a Harlem, New York kid. He's pretty high and shit and it's on the serious side but it's done well.

Produced by Mike G. The Fuck, new album coming soon.

“The Fuck” sessions, were stolen out of T.Shirt’s car in Miami this past December, along with his MacBook Pro and other valuables. No individual protool sessions meant the songs could never be changed. No updated mixes could be produced, no TV or “clean” versions of tracks could be made, and basically songs had to be released as they were, or scrapped and recorded again from scratch. The album was about 94% done. This is that album.

This post has no subject matter except for the fact I think Shorty looks beautiful. Happy new year to you.