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SNEAKER FIENDS UNITE!

June 22nd, 2009

spike nike lee

SPIKE LEE was a sneaker fiend even before we knew what sneaker fiends were. The character Mars Blackmon was like one the freshest bike messengers evar in his crispy Air Jordan 1’s. He even rocked the joints the NBA had banned because there wasn’t enough “white” on the shoe (true story). If you haven’t seen ‘She’s Gotta Have It’ then you don’t know about the scene where Mars refuses to take off his Jordans during sex. That is the true essence of a sneaker fiend.

SPIKE LEE goes a step further to describe the relationship between Black men and their kicks in this scene from ‘Do The Right Thing’ where Buggin’ Out has his brand new Air Jordan 4’s scuffed by a careless white wearing a Larry Bird t-shirt. Hilarity ensues.

The Mars Blackmon x Air Jordan commercials are funny even today, and they are legendary ad spots. Back in 2006 the Jordan brand collaborated with SPIKE LEE again not only for visual media promotions, but for the release of the Spiz’zike shoe which mashed up several different elements from previous Air Jordan releases.

spizzikes

I can see the classic 6 tongue with the 4 lacestays, along with the 5 upper ventilation and laces toggle. The shoes have elephant skin print on the toebox and heels and in some freaky cases I think they have a glow in the dark outsole. Let’s not forget the 40 Acres and A Mule logo and the Mars Blackmon icon on the achilles’ support.

spizzikes

Spiz’zikes are that hypebeast shit and therefore typically outside of my usual pricepoints but since I was invited to participate in a panel discussing the overall legacy of SPIKE LEE on cinema, social and sneaker culture I thought I might treat myself to a pair. Let’s be honest and recognize that a 20th anniversary for a film like ‘Do The Right Thing’ can only happen once. Keep in mind this was a film that almost wasn’t even released at all.

Where’s Mars?
Brooklyn Honors Spike Lee

The Man and the Brand: Spike Lee Panel

Spike Lee Screening Room
Brooklyn Campus of Long Island University
DeKalb Avenue @ Flatbush Ave Extension

Thursday, June 25, 2009, 7PM

Featured panelists…

Nelson George
Michaela angela Davis
Kevin Powell
Roger Guenveur Smith
Danny Simmons
Dallas Penn (hells chea!)
Moikgantsi Kgama

spizzikes

Posted in 5 Elements, Blipsters = Hipsters, Fashion Faux Pas, Ghetto Celebs, iNternets Celebrities, Sneaker Fiends United, Straight Laced, T.O.N.Y., The Addict, When I Reminisce..., Wig Owners | 26 Comments »

Brand Nubian Queens…

June 21st, 2009

eritrea

I’m having fun with maps today. As I perused a map of the so-called Middle East I noticed that my favorite country for exotic women things, Eritrea, was actually chopped away to make for a country called Djibouti.

eritrea

Shit like this happens when you need to have a staging area to regulate the traffic from the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

But then I wondered to myself what the women from this privileged province might look like. The Eritreans always looked like well fed Ethiopians. So maybe the Djiboutis would look like Somalis, but not as crazy-eyed or down for piracy.

djibouti

The Djiboutis looked better than I expected. I should have known better though. They do have the word ‘booty’ in their namesake. From Berbera to Brooklyn, it’s all about Djibouti chicks for the win this summer.

djibouti
Hottentot Venus FTW!

Posted in BeYONCE's Hair, Lust = Love, No Boutros Boutros... Ghali, Talking Shit, Wig Owners | 13 Comments »

R.I.P. Style Fathers…

June 21st, 2009

iz the wiz

Rest in piece to Iz The Wiz. I never met this man but he was definitely one of the greatest bombers in the history of graff, My earliest memories of watching his throwups were on the old 6 trains that stretched from Pelham Bay Park down to Chambers Street.

When I was younger I spent summers with my grandmother in Co-Op City. My dad would be working O.T. and my mom was busy finishing up her undergrad work. I’m sure I wasn’t more than 8 yrs old at the time and I can distinctly remember seeing the throwups emblazoned on the outside of trains. As an eight year old all that colorful shit makes you think the subways are a magical, circus-like place.

As a teenager who copped his fair share of tags on the inside and outside of subway cars I found it strange to still see Iz The Wiz throwups on the outsides of the ancient G trains that I took to get to Brooklyn Tech high school. Who was this dude, along with NE a/k/a MIN ONE and QUIK that had kept on getting up in the system even though now it was hard as hell and if you were caught you had the book thrown at you?

Years and years of aerosol art has finally placed Iz The Wiz’ soul in the air. Do something silently defiant and slightly illegal for Iz The Wiz this weekend. He definitely would have done the same for you.

lo 4 life

There was a lot less coverage of the passing of Boostin’ Billy. As a matter of fact there was no internets coverage as far as I’m concerned. I got a message from one of the 2nd Gen Decepts that Boostin’ Billy, a co-founder of the Lo-Lifes had passed away. I haven’t had the chance to confirm or deny this story from the Lo-Lifes perspective but as soon as I do I will let y’all know the deal.

I did not know Boostin’ Billy personally but his name does ring bells. I’m sure he was one of the many young men that I encountered on the Deuce back in its Black youth heyday and the latter years of the Latin Quarters. To this day I still wear my Polo I.T.’s more out of respect for all the brothers that passed away to obtain and maintain this level of fresh. This is my lifestyle for life.

It was a wild thing to see my dad pass away a few years ago. He was such a lion I expected him to live forever. So it goes for all giants and lions and great influencers. Our time here is ridiculous and short. Respect to all of those that have left their indelible mark on our minds and in our hearts. These people are the fathers to our style.

iz the wiz

Posted in 5 Elements, Ernie P, Ghetto Celebs, When I Reminisce... | 6 Comments »

EPIC. HANGOVER…

June 19th, 2009

dos equis

This saga started with some of the Go In Brothers. Ruffian, Sandman and the kid Jackpot. We linked at a non-descrip bar on Grand Street in SoHo for the pre-game.

I started off with Belvedere and tonic because I don’t play that shit.

go in brothers

The event later this night was some shit put on by Dos Equis which has the illest commercials in the game right now.

At the spot the Go In Brothers were caught up in the flashing lights of the whole scene. I lost contact with them early as I finessed my way up to the roof deck level of the party. They had a swimming pool in the lower level of the building and I even considered going swimming, but then I realized that if a Puerto Rican and a Chinaman were both in the pool along with me I would end up with an ear infection [ll].

So I passed on swimming with the Dos Equis girls for hanging out with my two fists of Stoli and grenadine on ice (compliments of Dos Equis, but of course). Fools were getting tipped over at this party. There were easily several thousand people in the entire building. Many were there for the DJ sets of Bobbito and ?uestlove but most looked to be ad agency runoff cornballs. There were some dames though. Just hard to quantify with all the lames (myself included).

^ Yes, I have not removed my ‘Media’ pass since Roots picnic FTMFW!

^ Franz from the Ruck Down Records mailroom.

^ I have no idea what performance art these chicks were up to, but whatever it was shouts to Dos Equis for the almost nip slip (yes Janet Jackson).

^ LeBron might could need to start drinking Dos Equis like this dude.

^ Dame.

^ Lame. Major PU~ when your night ends in handcuffs, police handcuffs.

On to the next spot which would be club Sutra on 1st and 1st. My homie from forever GudTyme was hosting along with DJ Rob Swift. GudTyme is the dude who gave me my early taste of showbiz back when he used to tour with the X-Ecutioners. One time at a Lil’ X video shoot I made the cardinal mistake of any entourage member by hitting up the craft services before the talent. I haven’t been invited on a music video set since.

*Sidebar: I left the craft services alone at the Roots Jam Session even though the honey turkey slices and Swiss cheese was caaaaaaaaaallin’ me.*

So back to the matter at hand which was to keep getting my shit fucked the fuck up. Gudtyme and Swift laced me with drink tickets. I felt myself having a hard time pushing back the fourth K-1 and tonic. I was waterlogged at this poiint and I had to drive home to Freeport. Good for me that once I left Manhattan the rest of my flight home was via highways.

Call 2 Earl? NEVA!

Here’s some more pics of the DP nightlife shenanigans…

^ My mans-n-them GudTyme.

^ No wifing in the club, now gimme $20!

^ PU~ to having your eyebrows in shape, but your mustache hair on 1,000. Shorty on the right is definitely the nuttgoblin because she looks like she’s heavy into nutt gobbling. BTW, it was her birthday.