MUSIC - VIDEO

"Bongo Jam" by Crazy Cousinz feat. Calista. Crazy Cousinz was formed in November 2007 as a producer collective consisting of two cousins (Flukes & Paleface) alongside two other members of the team (Kodi – Engineer/Producer & Play – Producer/DJ). UK house in full effect yall...Safari where you at homeZ? -Mr.-

RETNA AND EL MAC PT 2

"Ava Maria" (Salt Lake City) by Retna and Mac. Over 44 feet high, commissioned by Utah's FICE boutique. Money well spent. -Mr.-

INKED

It's been far too long since I paid homage to the wonderful world of ink...my bad. I present the art of the cover up. -Mr.-

RETNA AND EL MAC PT 1

Retna and El Mac collaborate on a piece for the RVCA headquarters. Creativity, what a beautiful process...I urge you all to indulge in its brilliance. Power to the artist, and those of you that keep the flames of culture alive. -Mr.-

FASHION

"Avinjo" by Adidas. Apple green frame with a single green stripe, green lenses...I'm sold. -Mr.-

FASHION

"Harrington" by Raf Simons x Fred Perry. Belgian designer Raf Simons teams up with Fred Perry once again to deliver the charcoal Harrington jacket. This seasons theme is 'metal,' and you can see its influence in the charcoal wool, the copper zipper and buttons, and the metal laurel logo. Top shelf...can I get an amen? Ima take it anyways. -Mr.-

FASHION

"Arnold Shirt" by Wood Wood. The Berlin boutique has come along way since its conception in 2002, and the Wood Wood brand has rivaled some of the boutiques more established labels. The Arnold is simple and clean, I'm not a big fan of messy. Denmark holding it down. -Mr.-

FASHION

"Thompson" by Clae. Clae shoes are like the 'grown up' kicks, the sneakers that get in to the 21 and older while the other brands hit the all ages. Look ma, my kicks are all grown up. -Mr.-

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Sir Ken Robinson: Do schools kill creativity? Wisdom over intellect, creativity over conformity...two very important distinctions that can make a world of difference in the way you contribute to your surroundings. For too long the intellectual, blinded by dictated thinking, has assumed a position of authority over the wise in a world that worships the conformist. All I've got to say is...the opposite of bravery is not cowardice, but conformity. In order to secure a progressive future we must shift our priorities and rethink the aspects of our lives that we so blindly assume are essential and important. A new way of thinking, educating and existing is long overdue. -Mr.-

ART FORMS

Parisian photographer/street artist extraordinaire - JR. Large-scale street art should be a visual staple in all urban landscapes. With a three-dimensional landscape defined by limitless canvas possibilities the two-dimensional canvas seems rather passé. Don't be restricted by your canvas, and don't let the definition of accepted art limit your creativity. I urge all artists WITH TALENT to help enhance the aesthetics of their surrounding environments. -Mr.-

COLLABORATION IS A BEAUTIFUL THING

"What You Do To Me" feat. Jim Jones, Billy Danze, and Nicole Wray. My favorite track on the album...just letting you know. Available on black Friday (Nov. 27/09). Don't sleep. -Mr.-

TILTED

In celebration of Nate's bday/graffitti party this weekend...I present Tilt. More to come... -Mr.-

MUSIC - NEXT

"Blakroc" is a collaborative album produced by Ohio natives Dan Auerbach(vocals/guitar) and Patrick Carney(producer/drummer) a.k.a The Black Keys. Blakroc features 11 collaborations with Raekwon, Rza, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Jim Jones, NOE, Mos Def, Nicole Wray, Pharoahe Monch, Ludacris, Billy Danze, and Q-Tip. The album was conceived after Damon Dash approached the duo in regards to laying a track with Jim Jones, while recording Mos Def stumbled into the session and entered the fold, several more artists followed suit and after 11 days of recording "Blakroc" was layed. This is what good music is all about, passion, talent and the ability to act in the now without a formula to follow. My faith has been restored. -Mr.-

FASHION

"Cats 5000" by Ray-Ban. Classic Ray-Ban design, classic tortoise gradient frame...what more can I say? Top billin! -Mr.-

FASHION

"Harrington Waxed Cotton Shooting Jacket" by Fred Perry. Fred Perry has teamed up with textile company British Millerain and released the waxed cotton shooting jacket. The waxed cotton gives the classic Harrington a modern look without reinventing the wheel. The plaid lining is a nice touch as well. In a nut shell - proper, real proper. -Mr.-

FASHION

"Blue Train Sessions Tee" by Supreme pays homage to the legend John Coltrane. Blue Train was an album released by Coltrane in 1957 at the Van Gelder Studio, classic! Supreme obviously has good taste. The tee is clean and simple - four black and white images on heather grey assorted in rectangular crops...boom. -Mr.-

FASHION

"Boston Super" by Adidas x Bodega. Boston's Bodega has reworked the old 80's running design and locked down a winner. The Super is a great mix of fabrics and colors that work well together, providing variety without being too loud or chaotic. Straight goods. -Mr.-

CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM

Oprah...I don't get it. Why give PR opportunities to people like this? By focusing on people like Sarah Palin you blindly promote her celebrity and provide PR for an individual undeserving of anyone's attention. View this interview and browse through some of the comments left in YouTube for a better understanding of the demographic Oprah is promoting and providing legitimacy to. Oprah is a rich white man, don't let the skin suit fool you. Does anyone out there even remember what true leaders look like? It's been a long time since the civil rights movement and people like Trudell and Martin Luther King Jr. It is frightening that this woman was so close to becoming Vice President of the United States. This post is dedicated to all you Oprah fans...read between the lines and be weary of who you choose to idolize. Once again...where's the standard. -Mr.-

MUSIC - VIDEO

"No Mans Land" by B.O.B. a.k.a. Bobby Ray. Dope track. I was wondering when Mr. Ray was gonna resurface. Taking it into left field once again, do your thing homeZ. -Mr.-

Download: B.O.B. vs. Bobby Ray Mixtape

MUSIC - VIDEO

"Wild International" by One Day As A Lion. For those unaware One Day As A Lion was formed by rage against the machine’s frontman Zack De La Rocha and Mars Volta drummer Jon Theodore in 2008. The EP is out now and the full length was scheduled for a 2009 release, no word as of yet. This is an old track, but the video's new to me. Once again, documentary style/gritty as hell. -Mr.-

FASHION

"Corduroy Snapback Cap" by Norse Projects. Denmark holding it down. Keep-it-simple-stupid, words to live by. Black corduroy, classic Norse tag, anything else would be over the top. -Mr.-

FASHION

"Jaggered Camo Gore-Tex" by BAPE. Slick and oh so sweet. Fairly standard as far as snowboard jackets go, what separates this piece form the rest is the detailing. The BAPE camo print (black on black) is subtle enough to add texture without being in your face...I'm not a big fan of camo. -Mr.-

FASHION

"Radiant" by GRN Apple Tree. Gorgeous...I'm talking Jessica Alba, no make-up necessary. Clean, vibrant design. I'm a big fan of GRN's new logo, and the colors work well against the black. The streaks, color strokes and lighting effects are top-shelf and are perfect examples of well structured design. Two thumbs up Brasil style. -Mr.-

FASHION

"Mountain Edition Hi" by Vans Vault x Knoll. Vans teamed up with design firm Knoll to remix the Mountain Edition Hi's. The upper shell is made of a synthetic fabric (I believe to be nylon) with a contrast logo panel. I'm not big on shine, a.k.a. anything vinyl, but these are subtle enough to fly below the radar. Comes in four colorways - black, green, purple, and blue. Solid. -Mr.-

SUCO DE LARANJA 100% FRUTA

Brasilian TV ad for do bem juice. CLASSIC! This ones for you Gramps. -Mr.-

CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM

Straight up and down - where's the standard? I live my life by a code, a standard of living that economically doesn't always pay off, but pays in full when it comes to the people that surround me and the growth that manifests through our exchanging of ideas, discussions, likes and dislikes. The reason I'm bringing this point up is because I love culture and everything that encompasses it, but am growing tired of the lack of taste dictating its present state. Sure, I could boogie to the West Indies, lime out, live ital and meditate like a Buddha, but something will always draw me back in the mix. Sure, I could work for a production company, record label or clothing line and bite my tongue every time poor decisions are made in order to secure longevity within the business, but fortunately - I have an opinion. We're in an age when film/television is reinvented, repackaged and resold, instead of being created, developed, and promoted. The music industry is more concerned with marketing campaigns than it is about talent and setting a standard of quality. MTV and Much Music promote reality television that is focused on twisted versions of reality that promote vanity, apathy and the worshiping of morons, instead of focusing on music videos or reality television that is progressive, creative, and groundbreaking. Worshiping false idols and focusing on our imperfections with vain interest rather than constructive criticism and suggestions for change - MUST END! True, art is perceived and its value is dictated by the individual, but we are capable of so much more. In essence, I am a rudeboy at heart, my thoughts are one step beyond, and it's time to call yall out. Where my rudies at?

First to be called out: Chris Brown and all his fans

Chris Brown is guilty of destroying Rihanna's face, point blank period. Now, before we proceed let me break something down for you...I've heard the argument that she must have provoked the incident, and to be quite honest I'm with Sean Connery when it comes to the business of laying down the law when called for, this incident however WAS NOT called for, and went way beyond justification. Now, back to the point...Mr. Brown is a)a monster for beating up Rihanna, b)a moron for his pathetic appearance on Larry King and c)a herb for not learning from his own personal experiences with spousal abuse (break the cycle homie...I mean, dang). Therefore I pose the question - why do we pay people like this any mind?

Conclusion: By worshiping morons we destroy the cultural fabric of the times. You know I'm a culture fiend...I'm just saying...why fuck with polyester when you can rock silk. It's all about standards - feel me!? -Mr.-

MUSIC - VIDEO

"Doowutchyalike" by Digital Underground. CLASSIC! I peeped this on facebook and had to post it up. Memories boy, beepers and starter caps - feel me!? All I gotta say is OAKWOOD DANCES. If you know, you know, if you heard about and never experienced...you missed out, smell me? -Mr.-

CINEMATIC DOPE

"Favela On Blast" (2008) written and directed by Wesley Pentz (Diplo), produced by Mad Decent.

For 20 years, a subculture has emerged in Brazil under society's radar. It is the culture surrounding 'funk carioca', a musical rhythm which mixes the American electronic funk of the 1980s with the most diverse influences of Brazilian music. 'Baile funk' is one of the most interesting musical movements in the world, but it comes from what is at times one of the most violent and poorest places in the world: the slums of Rio de Janeiro (favelas). This music is the personalization of the raw element. Bombastic rhythms coming from the American Miami Bass and samples are fused with powerful rap vocals using Brazilian slang. This documentary tells stories of sex, love, poverty, and pride among Rio's marginalized people. They have their own language, style, and heroes. It's a film that's fast, heavy, and violent like the city itself. -Mad Decent-

I haven't had a chance to peep this film, but will gladly jump at the opportunity. Two years ago I was lucky enough to experience Rio's baile funk movement first hand, in the favela environment as well as a club with 3000 strong. PLANTAINS! The favela was a little sketchy, but the sub-culture experience was beyond anything I've seen. I stumbled across this trailer and fell into nostalgia. Shout out to Sandro and Fahrina. Crazy. Gramps, where you at homeZ? -Mr.-

FASHION

"Flip Down Fitted" by Nitraid. The ear flaps aren't as bulky as most flip downs, which makes this piece a little more attractive to those shying away from bulky caps. The Nitraid logo is clean and classic, the grey/black is nice and neutral. Conclusion - top shelf like cookie jars. -Mr.-

FASHION

"Outdoor Zip Up Hooded Sweatshirt" by Supreme. Clean lines, quality detailing, 100% cotton...simple, yet effective. Supreme holding it down once again. -Mr.-

FASHION

"Playful Border Tee" by Clot. I'm feeling the color palette with this one. At first I doubted, now I believe. Quality craftsmanship, subtle detailing, a nice piece all around. This Hong Kong based lifestyle brand is definitely worth keeping an eye on. -Mr.-

FASHION

"Turino" by Creative Recreation Italy Collection. Look ma, my kicks are all grown up. Hand made wrinkled leather, gum rubber sole...low profile, yet high profile - feel me!? Available in black, with a moderate price tag of $295(US). Brilliant! -Mr.-

MUSIC - VIDEO

"Knocked Down" by The Cool Kids. This is the last track off The Cool Kids/Don Cannon mixtape "Gone Fishing". Bangin right? Once again...raw, documentary style gets the salute. In an age of reality television and YouTube networking, why waste money on an over the top video? If the beat bangs - keep it simple. -Mr.-

Download: Gone Fishing Mixtape

MUSIC - VIDEO

"Simple As" by Kid Cudi. Nothing beats vintage footage. Yeah, yeah, I know digital SLR's and HDV cams are revolutionizing the game, but come on now, VINTAGE! My dads wedding photo looks like half the hipsters downtown...who would think? -Mr.-

FASHION

"Top Beanie" by Perks and Mini (PAM). Nothing new, just nice to look at. Quality is key for a product as common as the beanie. Set yourself apart...feel me!?. -Mr.-

FASHION

"Melton Wool Award Varsity Jacket" by Wings and Horns, from the Fall/Winter 2009 collection. Straight goods...no curves whatsoever! Can I get an amen? Melton wool body, leather sleeves, shawl collar...a beautiful piece. The cut and sew quality is second to none, not to mention clean. Also comes in blue wool/brown leather. -Mr.-

FASHION

"High and Dry" by Deluxe. Even though the market is over saturated with plaid button downs and prints, it's refreshing to see a piece that distinguishes itself from the same. The high and Dry illustrates this quality. The detailing is subtle, yet effective, and the fabric selection is rich and bold. I'm sold. Deluxe holding it down. -Mr.-

FASHION

"Everybody Flood Leather" by Alife. Part of the 2009 Holiday collection. Clean, solid design. The vintage leather selection sets the standard, the cut and sew quality seals the deal. I'm not a big fan of Alife's brighter, more comical designs, but when it comes to their finer pieces...top shelf. -Mr.-

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

"Mercury, Autism and the Global Vaccine Agenda" Once again...I'm just saying. Before you jump to the conclusion that video's like this promote "conspiracy theories", and assume a defensive stance based in blind faith with no real reference other than disbelief...take a moment out of your precious day and research. Fu$k Perez Hilton, OV movie guide, clothes and music blogs for just ONE day and dedicate that time to tapping into the vast resources of information available on the world wide web. I'm neither pro, nor con, just an open minded seeker dedicated to anything beneficial to mankind as a whole. Health care is a joke, big pharmaceutical companies are motivated by profit rather than healing, and most of you are too lazy to ask questions. Wake up! -Mr.-

Interesting note: This video was from a conference in 2005.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

True or false? You tell me. I'm just saying...be aware of all the possibilities before you draw conclusions. -Mr.-

SOMETHING FOR THE FELLAS

This little clip is from the Supreme Book Vol.5 photo shoot for the Autumn/Winter 2009 Collection, shot by Terry Richardson, and featuring the lovely Rosa Acosta. I stumbled across this fine piece of documentation and had to post it...sorry boo, but they say sex sells. -Mr.-

WHERE MY RUDIES AT?

"Soldier" by N.E.R.D. feat. Santigold. Big tune! Where my rudies at? I'd like to extend a thanks to all those who came out to the Skalloween party and showed their support, and those of you brave enough to try something new...obviously N.E.R.D. and Santi are on the same page. Safari where you at homie? If you build it, they will come. -Mr.-

Download: Soldier