KANYE WEST DEBUTS HIS 'DW' WOMENS FASHION LINE

This month Kanye West took his talents into another arena with the debut of his 'DW' clothing line—a line for women named after his late mother, Donda West. Russell created Phat Farm, Diddy did Sean John, and Jay w/Dame brought forth the street reflection fashions of Roc-A-Wear. However, West's efforts in the women's realm of fashion may be the first time a member/rapper/producer from the Hip-hop scene/industry/nation/generation, etc.

Whether you approve of his fashion sense as it pertains to the creations he's manifested in tribute to his mother, West, like a small crew of other Hip-Hop industry shapers, has pushed the boundaries out even further as to what talented young Black men in Hip-Hop can do.

PICK FROS NOT FIGHTS

Stumbled upon this art and campaign from the creative "frollaboration" company, Frolab. Don't know how old or new this work is but we're digging the message, artwork and slogan covered handbooks [what's in the handbooks?]. Eyrkah, Lupe, ?uest representing with a grip. Plastic black fisted props!





















































































So, go and "PICK FROS NOT FIGHTS"!

AIGA'S MY MTV: WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

THURSDAY 10 JUNE 2010 6:30–8:30PM

MY MTV: WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

AIGA/NY Presents: “My MTV: Where Are They Now?” and takes a look at the work and creative legacies of those that helped create MTV’s world-renown visual identity. 6/10/10, 6:30–8:30PM at Tishman Auditorium

FROM ELVIS TO LADY GAGA: PLAYING WITH SHOCK VALUE IN MUSIC

From NPR music:



Musicians have long used shock value to pump up interest in their music. Elvis Presley swung his hips, Ozzy Osbourne bit the head off a bat, Madonna sang about her nonexistent virginity and Marilyn Manson named himself after a convicted killer. But how much has shock value changed since the days when Osbourne supposedly bit the bat? And what would have happened if the Internet had been around?

The story is something of an urban legend, and that's part of its power, says Tavia Nyong'o, a professor of performance studies at New York University. No one had cameras in their phones back then, so the shock came from repeating the story. "Did you hear? Ozzy Osbourne bit the head off a bat!"

Read more.

DETROIT'S DANCE SHOW, 'THE SCENE' WITH NAT MORRIS... AND GUMBY

This is a real shout out to Detroit. With all the mayhem, devastation, and death the media claims to be running the city right now, here is something that hollers back to the “olden days” of the city. This was a time when jobs were plentiful and Mayor Coleman Young was still alive to see the city being run with love. The city has its own local television and radio station, channel 62 and 107.5 WGPR. And after you got off at the plant, you could hear MOJO, one of the baddest DJ’s ever to spin a record on the radio. But on the TV channel, you were privy to The Scene, the local dance show hosted by none other than the infamous Nat Morris. Young people gathered to show off their best moves, clothes and be entertained by the latest local group or national sensation.

Yeah, those were the days when the city popped. I’m not saying that there wasn’t any crime because that element of Detroit has been known for a long time in the place I like to affectionately call the D. But, in 1987, the community still stood strong. The Pistons reigned supreme in basketball; even against the best, Mr. Michael Jordan. There wasn’t a Hockeytown downtown, there was no Comerica Park or Ford Field, just Joe Louis arena, Cobo Hall and Tiger Stadium and the authentic people of the city who liked to have a good time after 5pm when the whistle blew for many at the Big 3.
The Scene was on and on this day, we were watching Gumby Live. Enjoy, Detroit.

-J.C. Brooks