HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE I PRAY FOR INCREASE IN 2010.

A BATHING APE® IS AMBUSHED® ed!!!

info via hypebeast.com

Throughout the last few years, A BATHING APE® founder NIGO® and musical artist VERBAL have maintained a close relationship. Originally acquainted through a musical partnership with the TERIYAKI BOYZ (where NIGO® serves as the group’s DJ), the two now look to expand their horizons as they transcend music into fashion. VERBAL’s own brand, AMBUSH® Design, and A BATHING APE® puts together one of A BATHING APE’s most innovative and visually stimulating releases in some time, for a collection which releases January 2nd. We took this opportunity to discuss a number of different topics with NIGO®, as well as VERBAL and his AMBUSH® Design counterpart and wife, YOON. Ranging from the relationship between fashion and music, AMBUSH® Design’s approach to this project, to the current outlook of A BATHING APE®, this is perhaps one of the more introspective looks into the world of A BATHING APE® in recent times.

A good read and extensive look into the behind the scenes and brainstorming of the new brand AMBUSH there intentions and gameplan. Read entire interview HERE.

CHRISTMAS

Hope everybody's enjoying the holiday season. Its definately a relief to just relax and just think about all the things that need to be done. But today the day after christmas finally opened up the gifts.. of which I picked out. Now that christmas is officially over with I am back to the hustle and bustle of clients and design projects. This one I'm working on now I am actually excited to complete.. a change of medium and style I'm doing a series of 4 paintings for good friend Camille A. Brown. A talented choreographer and dancer, she commissioned me to create paintings they are all based off the song "It Was A Very Good Year" by Saycon actually really diggin the coo jazziness of the song too. So yeah a little behind gotta get to painting, all I've done was listen to the song about 20 thousand times.

O yeah and cool kids christmas download.. a teaser..

01 BBQ Wings f. Boldy James (prod. Don Cannon)
02 Catch of the Day (prod. Chuck Inglish)
03 Free Throws (prod. First Team All State)
04 Tires f. Boldy James (prod. Chuck Inglish)

DOWNLOAD: Don Cannon & The Cool Kids – Merry Christmas (FreEP)

TUX CHUCKS GOWNS AND SUCH

Flier Artwork by JUS INK info via The American Hype:

Trust us, you’ve been waiting for a [holiday] party like this. Something in New York City that actually embraces the people, the spirit and the cool of our fair land. A party that is about looking good, being with good people and just being good.

We’ve received word that, on Christmas Eve, there will be a party in TriBeca at a beautiful venue known as Mocca Lounge (78 Reade Street on the corner of Church Street) calledTUX, CHUCKS, GOWNS & SUCH and it definitely is about the cool of New York City. Plus,DJ Goldfinger will be at the musical controls.

So, now it’s about coming on down to Mocca Lounge and joining us for our holiday party. Sometimes it is about the HYPE!

Get the details at: tuxchucks@gmail.com

Futurus Misfit Maximus

Excited to post the Official Tracklisting and Artwork for the upcoming promo Entitled Shadez the Misfit/Futurus Misfit Maximus which will be up for download before the anticipated EP. My boy Shadez is def doing it big and I'm supporting him 100%. Support the Misfit...Support the Future!

Download the promo track:

Shadez the Misfit-Time Continuum

LUPE FIASCO ENEMY OF THE STATE A LOVESTORY

Download the mixtape by Lupe Fiasco to hold you over before the release of we are lasers. in which the word lasers in the album name stands for LOVE ALWAYS SHINES EVERYTIME REMEMBER TO SMILE. already have a few favorite tracks from him.

DOWNLOAD

MAIDEN BRAND

The Maiden Brand is back at it with a cool set of old school matchbooks for the cigarette loving art school kid in all of us. ha sike. The matchbook packs go along with the basic aesthetic that is the Maiden Brand. Their new season of clothing not to give it away but I'll just elude to it through the word "throwbackery". take a look at their site and the tees more to come as usual

http://www.themaidenbrand.com/

LAZY OAF

UK based clothing line with the hand drawn quality reminiscent of artists on fecalface.com and has an aestetic in alot of their lookbook that reminds me of jeremy scott. Definately a great look on their part though also with a wide array products and toys. take a look at their look book. http://www.lazyoaf.co.uk/lookbook.php

Y-3 Black Friday

Too bad I'm not going to be in philly for black friday would have definately hit up the Y-3 store had a few pieces I had my eyes on. But shout outs to the Joan Shepp staff and my friend Yoko the manager of the Y-3 store. Will hit up after break however.

BRANDT IMHOFF

Drawings and prints by printmaker Brandt Imhoff. Friend of mine and I dig the stuff he produces, he employs a good use of form and spacial relations...ha enough of the art school jargin ..the work is just cool.

OWL CITY

Owl City - Fireflies from Carolina Alvim on Vimeo.

Was chillin at my boy tolu's photoshoot for the upcoming album Experience love and he put me on to this song. I dig the song but dig the video even more the simpleness and the wierd toys, reminds me of the world i try to create in my art.. added to my archive of inspiration.

TYRESE

TYRESE'S BMORE RETURN... DIGGIN IT

WHERE THE WILD THINGS ART

Art by THINKMULE, discovered it online and emailed him to learn more. I've seen alot of work about the movie "Where the Wild Things Are" but this one really caught my eye.. (the textures are crazyyy) I was glad to learn that theres an entire show showcasing this artists work this weekend.. If you're in Denver this weekend definately check out this exhibit.

31x36 inches big. Mixed media.

Where the Wild Things Art

About The Show

Illiterate's debut exhibit, Where The Wild Things Art, is a themed show originally proposed to Illiterate by artist, Max Kauffman. The theme resonates as both playfully simple and open to subtle complexities, much like Illiterate. Max, whose name happens to coincide with the protagonist in Maurice Sendak's book Where The Wild Things Are, worked in conjunction with the Illiterate staff to corral 30 ferociously talented artists from throughout Colorado and beyond to participate in this group exploration. With a title as their sole conceptual limitation, the artists were free to explore their own paths towards interpreting this challenge. A number of artists drew inspiration directly from Sendak's book and film, pushing and playing with its underlying dark moral tones and psychological angst. Other artists traveled well beyond the familiar imagery to create landscapes inhabited by more personal fantasies and creatures from within their own rampant imaginations. Still, some artists completely forwent this particular narrative approach, evaluating the meaning of the words themselves within the title to inform their work. Where The Wild Things Artists: THINKMULE, Adam Reker, Alicia Ordal, Allie Pohl, Andi Todaro, Andrew Hoffman, Brittany Gould, Chris Huth, David Sheets, Deadly Daisy, Delton, Gumby, Ian Millard, Karen Watkins, Katherine Rutter, Markham Maes, Matt Doubek, Matt Furie, Max Kauffman, Mike Gallegos, Mike Graves, Milton Milvon Croissant III, Moeh, Rachel Paton, Sander Lindeke, Sandi Callistro, Scot Lefavor, Whitney Wells, Yancy Crawford and more... "http://www.illiteratemedia.com/blog/view/279

SARAM X KID CUDI SHE CAME ALONG

O SO VERY DOPE

XO- ALL I HAD

XO "All I Had" (LaLa) from KENNY BURNS on Vimeo.

Good work from my boy Nabeeh Bilal doing the illustration and animation for rapper XO's song All i Had (LaLa). Check out more of his work at http://www.mynabeeh.com

DOWNLOAD VIDEO HERE

HOMEMADE FRESH

Im not huge on halloween but i saw this article and thought it deserved a nod. Sick homemade costumes. Not the ones where your mom wrapped you in aluminum foil and made you a leftover or put purple balloons on you and said you were grapes haha check it out.

http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/37142

LUPE!

Solar Midnite track for the New moon movie. Goin to see this dude in concert tomorrow kinda hype.Anticipating the new we are lasers album. This song solar moon is Lupe's first commercial release. He wrote in a recent post that he was given a secret screening of the New Moon movie and drew releference and inspiration from it for the track. " I pulled in vocalist and bassist Graham Burris and acclaimed musician Matt Nelson to help fill it out my vision musically and "joila" Solar Midnite was born"

I'm glad that New Moon chose to pick Lupe for the soundtrack that was unexpected but a good look.

DOWNLOAD

NOISETTES X KANYE WEST

Free mixtape download, discovered this London based group a while ago because of the lead singers dope style. But yeah diggin their song especially Wild young Heartbreaks. This mistape is just remixes of Kanyes 808's album definately check out their exclusive music also

Download here: NOISETES X KANYE WEST

ATTACK OF THE THINKING CAPS

Some shots from a picture book that I constructed detailing the scenes from the day hats took over and forced thoughts.

Uniforms for the Dedicated

Yeah so I stumbled on this clothing line via hypebeast and was interested in their quirky imaginations blended into a fashionable aesthetic. their style is is definately out of the box..in other words pretty dope. The boxes on their heads reminded me of when I would use box shaped objects in imagery to liken it to the mechanics of the brain (ie: televisions, microwaves, blenders yeah it was out their might bring it back). But for some reason This video also reminds me of the movie "Magic In the Morror Fowl Play" from the 90's, some weird dreamlike movie where the ducks are english majesty (or something weird like that)

The covers kind of cheesy but hey it was the 90's

But besides the point Uniforms for the Dedicated is a dope brand

Check out their music also and gallery

http://uniformsforthededicated.com/

JOHN WILLIAM FITZPATRICK

Video by John William Fitzpatrick, been following his work for a while and had the pleasure of meeting him at Campus Philly 2 years ago. Looking forward of seeing new work from this artist.

SOLE JUNKIE

Custom Shoes Tutorial from Paulo Canabarro on Vimeo.

Having an "inspiration day" as I often like to call it.. where I go to Barnes and Noble for the day and just draw, coming up with new ideas. Chillin' with an expensive cookie and a stack of reference materials on the table with me to draw inspiration from. Got tired of the books I had and went up to the arts section and was paroozing when I came across the Sole Junkie book. I was impressed since I had previously known from myspace when I use to customize sneakers and look at other artists work.. chatting with him very briefly on twitter after the encounter I learned that the book had actually come out earlier this year. The spreads in the book are sick and display his meticulously painted sneaker designs. The video above is a step by step tutorial on sneaker customization, this would have been very rare a few years ago when many artists often thought it to be a secret not shared with others as if it was a secret formula. These days the information is for the taking its just all about how you use it.

As I was writing this I remembered that in the sneaker issue of DV8 Magazine my sneakers were actually shown next to Sole Junkie's. Something that I was very proud of especially since I was still learning at the time and to be pictured with these great artists. (JUS INK & SOLE JUNKIE bottom right)

So if you're in Barnes & Noble anytime soon pick up Sole Junkie the custom kicks of Steven Cedre! read up and get inspired.

B MAC- I DO

Up and coming rapper from jersey, my boy B-Mac follow him on twitter- http://twitter.com/bmacobama44

SHADEZ THE FUTURISTIC MISFIT

Shadez the Futuristic Misfit or the Frequent Flying Spaceman, whatever you want to call him is definately one talented dude. Pictured above (next to Nigo duh.) Shadez is leaving his mark in the music world as an experimental hip hop artist spitting cool flows to to sick beats a mix of hip hop some rock and indie also known as good music as we know it. I remember I first met this artist over some myspace messages talking business about some collaborations but little did i know that this clothing designer was so multifaceted in art, music and fashion. Also designer for Bape and Converse at a younger age this teenage soon 2 be mogul is making his name in all fields..not too shabby. I like the part in his interview on CORDLESS SHOW where he gave his definition of his name Shadez: "Shadez meaning shadow in God's light" Keep an eye out for Shadez ...get up on it.

Myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/shadezthemisfit

TOLU @ THE SOUNDCHECK

My boy Tolu performing at The Soundcheck @ Santos nightclub in NYC, Come thru.

THE MAIDEN BRAND

Maiden from Madison Dyer on Vimeo.

I think just about everyone I know is doing it pretty big right now whether it be music, art, fashion, etc..everyone is doing it up. Art students Mike Perry and Woody Harrington are the founders of The Maiden Brand judging by the logotype that was made up already I'm seeing big things from the pair. The video introducing the two as artists and designers has the feel of two kids playin in a screenprinting studio but these kids are actually producing some sick stuff. Me being their mentor of course, know a thing or two of what they have up their sleeves so just stay tuned.

Olu's Bliss

Chilled wit my boy Gbenga aka Olu's Bliss this weekend caught up on life talked about new business ventures and networking collaborations etc. n ate at iHOP of course. Dude is reppin hard for the Africans haha nah but his music is sick mad soulful..makes you wanna bob ur head n vibe out.

free download link: http://twiturm.com/neu2

dig it.

COLORS IN THE AIR

Yeah so I was looking for a new screen printer for Jus Ink and I got put on to this dude pat from my boy Gbenga. So I messaged the dude and we exchanged creative views and the magic is happening now and of course this dude has his own side hustle. Hes the drummer of the band Colors in the Air who just released their new album titled Floating Vessels. Well I guess side hustle could be an understatement these guys just got off the warped tour and are about to release a music video, guess you could say their doing it big haha. Anyone who is doing what they love and has a passion for what they are doing I'm definately behind them a hundred percent. So the drummer Pat Williams has a clothing line coming out called LKPT which stands for Lockport..where he's from. We set up a collabo deal where he takes a fraction of Jus Ink clothes to sell and I take a fraction of LKPT clothes to sell so that we can introduce each others clothes to Philly and upstate NY. Loving the support ..the more you give out the more you recieve God is love..REV RUN ..nah chill..JUS INK.

Check them out: http://www.myspace.com/colorsintheair

CANADA

Chillin in Canada this summer seeing for the first time what it had to offer. Although I didn't get the chance to hit up all the cool spots that I had planned I did get a ride on the flat escalator in Wal Mart. Maybe its just me but we do not have these in America well at least not on my side of the tracks, had to take a pic of my bro riding it (felt like it was something wrong with putting kids pics on the internet under the age of 18 so i gave him that cartoon eye..idk it felt right). So other then the "futuristic" escalator I was actually impressed with niagara falls watching the light show from the ferris wheel in mini vegas was kool. Next time I hit up Canada Im definately gonna check out Toronto and all the sneaker spots and music scene maybe meet the cast of Degrassi haha.

^^                                    ^^ (me dont kno why my eyes r so chinky)

O yeah and I was too cool for those lame ponchos 

WAY 2 GO MISSING THIS ONE

         [^^ feeling this album art]

As I arrive in Canada early this morning trying to see whats good around here i find out that today was Summerstage in New York Central Park featuring Chester French Qtip and Little Dragon. Good job although I just discovered the two Chester French and Little Dragon I'm definately diggin their individual styles : Chester French basically the ultimate white boys but diggin it cuz their being themself and bringing their own flavor into the industry. Little Dragon jus got up on them seems real futuristic to me something I'd imagine people listen to in the future..based in Sweden their sound is a strange lullaby that is so new that they could go anywhere with it and itd still be exciting. also diggin the style of their video...

Fortune

love the cut paper look.. o yeah almost forgot Qtip he already I diggs his tunes my bro from queens..okay so I dont him personally but Im sure we'd kick it.

SCANTRONS TURNED OVER PENCILS DOWN

Call nike butter cuz their on a roll! haha the new back to school kicks inspired by the infamous scantron's that I am sure everyone has had to use at some point in their academic career. Last year it was the composition book pack which got a few nods, however I think these releases become more novelty then wearable ..just something kool to look at..but it excites me that nike is keeping up the tradition of releasing a new series of back to school sneaker whenever it becomes that time of the year again... also with the valentines day nike they always release..just brings me back to middle school when everyone would anticipate it and then rock them on vday and then never again for the rest of the year. i guess thats the problem you cant really just rock a pair of valentines day uptowns with the heart on the back on like...groundhog day haha.

ROCSTAR BRAND

Been on hiatus for a few days on business in New York meeting with boy Ace for the upcoming JUS INK 1984 line..just vibing off each others ideas just a fusion of artistic genius..haha but definately getting up on some other brnds of course researching and seeing whats out there came across the like ROCSTAR apparently an asian brand based in tokyo...mayb ill even be able to meet up with them when I head down there next year. almost forgot heres the link...http://www.rocstartokyo.com/collection/ 

I love the photography in this line the asian poses and the raw textures good stuff.

MIXTAPE MADNESS

Somebody's status on facebook after the BET awards was "if Jamie Foxx can say Maxwell get him a little moist, then Trey Songz gets me moist" lol. kinda faggody but still funny. nah but this guy makes good music ever since he came out wit the song "Gotta Make it" he's been doin his thing but all said and done the mixtape is online for the downloading so get on it.

DOWNLOAD: http://www.mediafire.com/?25wjdozur5i

While on the topic of mixtapes I meant to blog about the Cool kids free mixtape online. It dope I feel like they just went in the studio one day didnt have nothing written down ..no song titles but just started spitting from track one to 21 its dope tho.

DOWNLOAD: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=Q95AY96W

...diggin the cool kids graphic too

JAPAN

So In Japan everything seems like its meant to be fun.... thas why I cant wait to go next summer.. i feel like an immigrant coming to America (Fieval Goes West) "In America there are no cats and the streets are paved with cheese"..yeah if you never saw the movie its about mice comin to America with the promise of cheese paved streets. but Im losing focus..my bad. So researching for my upcoming packaging and branding project a friend  sent me a link to the johnny cupcakes website. i guess he recently went to japan and was awed by their cool packaging..as was I just lookin at his snapshots... heres one for example..

Come one where else other then japan would this packaging fly...I'm sure not in America. 

Oh yeah and not to mention the fashion in japan...my dude hakim told me to make sure i come back rocking some japanese sneakers (ie: YOHJI YAMAMOTO Y3'S)

TOLU'S AYO MUSIC FULL VERSION

Yeah so I promised the full version of Ayo Music and here it is. I like the way it came out in the end Brendan Banks did a good directing and pretty much all the work ha. Even though like most artists he's not completely satisfied with the entire work ..who is.especially since I'm sure he's going to be the premiere filmaker whos going to change things up..but yeah I had my little cameo in the video too bad I was playing a regular person and didnt get my little JUS INK in the bottom like Tolu and Boss did. but check it out hit up his music page.. http://www.myspace.com/rbsingertone Definately check out the other tracks by this artist also the lyrics and vocals are sick..quality music.

SMILEZ DISGUISE POLO

Workin on this polo shirt for producer Smilez..you could say commissioned but i pretty much did watever I wanted as always. he said make something kool incorporating the name smilez.. ehh Im working it in somehow haha. its pretty much a huge cartoonish master of disguise type shirt ..fun ..kool for the whole family..iight Im done. well to keep you updated about stuff in the future..I got a shirt design for producer and singer Andre Jahlil (heres his site check it out hes also a photographer did a pretty kool shoot wit jim jones www.andrejalilproductions.com)and also the JUS INK ACE 1984 series coming soon..an uber 80's pack equipped with the acid wash and hightops..basically an homage to everything that 1984 stood for and the accomplishments made in that year whether it be music, fashion, sports, entertainment ya digg.  But yeah you'll hear more about that.