Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Bike Snob NYC Unmasked

After nearly 3 years, Eben Weiss, the infamous BikeSnobNYC has revealed his identity...

"Over his nearly three years of obsessing over, satirizing and deftly puncturing the sport of cycling, the anonymous blogger Bike Snob has made his worldview clear. He loves to ride his bike. He wants you to ride, too. Just maybe not on those florescent wheel rims. Or pedal against traffic. Or with your helmet on the handlebars. And even if it's not fashionable, he'd like you to consider using brakes.

Such style and safety points are well known to the readers who log on daily to the Bike Snob's sharp-edged and fetishistically detailed Web site: bikesnobnyc.blogspot.com. The site established the Snob as an acerbic sports blogger, earned him a monthly column in the prominent U.S. cycling magazine Bicycling and won him admirers like seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong."


And speaking of Bike-snobbery, check out this amazing footage of Danny McAskill in Chamonix, France...

Fakie nose-wheelies down a hill? REDICULOUS!!!

Source

Monday, March 29, 2010

Pop Life Exhibition


Currently the Pop Life exhibition is on at the Galerie der Gegenwart in Hamburg. Among others, art by Andy Warhol, Damien Hirst, Jeff Koons, Takashi Murakami and Keith Haring is on display, bringing together a superstar cast of artists in one exhibition. Check out the video recap here above and if you have time, pass by the exhibition, which is on until May 9th.

Here is a full list of artists, who’s work is on display: Ashley Bickerton, Maurizio Cattelan, Tracey Emin, Cosey Fanni Tutti, Andrea Fraser, Keith Haring, Damien Hirst, Martin Kippenberger, Jeff Koons, Sarah Lucas, Edouard Manet, Takashi Murakami, Peter Nagy, Richard Prince, Pruitt & Early, David Robbins, Reena Spaulings, Elaine Sturtevant, Gavin Turk, Piotr Uklanski, Meyer Vaisman, Andy Warhol.

Source

Coincidence or Inspiration?

Here's another example of this little thing called skateboarding influencing the mainstream world...

Sunday, March 28, 2010

American: The Bill Hicks Story


“Bill Hicks Story. This groundbreaking new documentary uses a stunning new animation technique to tell the story of the modern cultural icon Bill Hicks.”

Selectism

Dead Meat Camo Tuxedo Jacket

This is my kind of sh!t right here...

Italian label Dead Meat put out a camo tuxedo jacket with an etching of (what appears to be) a naked lady on the inside.


Source

Thursday, March 25, 2010

A-Trak Speaks...

... And he definitely knows what he's talking about.

"A-Trak is not an uncommon name in this crazy music industry. We all know this humble story of this Montreal-er - a multiple DMC Champion handpicked by Kanye West to be his touring DJ, co-founder of Fool’s Gold Records, a pioneer in this electro dance scene, an avid twitter-er, a renowned hotel reviewer and the list goes on. EIKNARF and Asian Dan in collaboration withMedia Contender & Kloud had the opportunity to be invited into Alain’s apartment/studio to get a candid view into how he got to where he is, what it took to get there and where he is going."

Monday, March 22, 2010

RSVP Gallery x Billionaire Boys Club Lookbook

Here's RSVP Gallery co-founder Don C. in the RSVP Gallery x Billionaire Boys Club Lookbook.

"Season 10 BBC/Ice Cream has landed at RSVP Gallery, so to show you the collection, we put together an RSVP x BBC/Ice Cream lookbook – complete with looks for both guys and girls.

Any questions regarding the BBC/Ice Cream Season 10 collection at RSVP Gallery, or to purchase any of the pieces, please call – 773.770.6666.

**Special Promotion** For BBC/Ice Cream purchases over $125 a free Glow in the Dark Book by Kanye West is included."

More images here.

RSVP Gallery x AMBUSH Glow In the Dark Chains

In true Neon & Nonsense fashion, RSVP Gallery has teamed up with Ambush Designs to create an exclusive Ambush x RSVP Glow-in-the-Dark POW! chain series. The POW! pendants are a matte pale green in light. In darkness, the pendants glow. The capsule collection includes two different Glow-in-the-Dark POW! chains.

Both chains are for sale EXCLUSIVELY at RSVP Gallery.





Source

The Homie: Chris Gibbs


Jake Davis continues his Test Shot series and features this time Chris Gibbs, owner of Union LA and local style icon. If you have ever met the guy in person, you see right away that he has a very personal way of styling things. Always unique and it always works. Check it out!

Source

Thursday, March 18, 2010

The Smallest G!!!

Kanye hooked up these super-fresh photos of the newest member of the G.O.O.D. Music Family, Don C.'s first newborn son, Don Crawley III...

Wasup Nephew!!!!

DC-3PO, Donnie Smalls

Kanye and Don got the basketball...

...and I got them skateboards for whenever u ready lil G!!!!

World Premier Event: "Give Me My Money Chico"


LRG has been working on their first full-length skate video "Give Me My Money Chico" for the last 3 years, and now it's finally being released! It was filmed all over the globe in world famous skate spots in Europe, China, Australia, the U.S. and more...

The World Premier Screening will be@:

The El Ray Theatre
5515 Wilshire Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90036

April 1, 2010
8pm

LRG Headquarters


I got invited down to Orange County, CA to check out LRG's new Headquarters (on Jordan Tuesday).

About ten years ago back in Chicago, my boys Woody and Happy were doing the regional marketing and promotions for this new upcoming brand called LRG. They were just starting out with a few jackets, hoodies and T-shirts, and now they have this new huge facility that shows the growth of their company...

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Quintin x Jasper: Phase II Coming Soon...

Stay tuned...

Nike SB Trainer II: Ferrari Murakami Edition

I saw this posted on Sneaker News...

"A little while back, Ferrari Murakami, aka Ibn Jasper of Kanye West consultancy fame, designed a Nike SB Trainer II. This crazily coloured sneaker has risen in status thanks to there being only two in existence. One thing that comes to mind is if there was a female Ninja Turtle, this might have been her shoe. It’s a mix of olive and neon greens with pink and red accents that had to be blocked perfectly to make any sense at all. via Revive"






Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Scarface: The Fierce and Fabulous Life of Pretty Tony


A story about healthcare and the perils of male modeling...

Thom Browne 2010 S/S Collection

A small selection of Thom Browne’s 2010 spring/summer collection brings forth some notable styles from the heralded American designer. Among the pieces sure to illicit a great deal of interest is a hooded vest in yellow, marked by a series of long horizontal straps. Another piece joining the releases include a lightweight polka dot parka. These will be great for those Spring bike rides...



Source

Monday, March 15, 2010

Consequence: Movies On Demand Mixtape

G.O.O.D. Music x NahRight.com x Universal Motown Present....
Movies On Demand
Consequence
Co-starring Kanye West, P. Diddy, Q-Tip, Common, Pharoahe Monch, Talib Kweli, Kid Cudi,Maino,The LOX, Rick Ross,John Legend, Asher Roth, Tony Williams & Spree Wilson

Produced by Kanye West, Q-Tip, Statik Selektah, Lee Bannon. Clinton Sparks, Mr. Attic & Ed Roc
ALL SCRATCHES by Statik Selektah

Available on iTunes March 16th!!!

Consequence featuring Common & Talib Kweli - G.O.O.D. Music (Produced by Clinton Sparks)

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Android Homme 2010 Accessories

For Spring 2010 Android Homme introduces some new sneaker styles, as well as their new luggage collection. In terms of sneakers they have released new models, much simpler in terms of aesthetic than previous models. The luggage collection is a new addition of the brand, and includes duffle bags, as well as small pouches.





Source

Friday, March 12, 2010

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Ibn Jasper: "Jasper" Cap Interview

Here's an interview I did about the inspiration for, and creation of, the Quintin x Jasper 5 panel fitted cap. Check it out...

Words and interview by L. E. Flores

"Ibn Jasper is the man behind some of the most influential men in fashion. A skilled barber, he was the most sought after hairdresser in his hometown of Chicago before a then obscure Kanye West was added to his clientele list. Now, over a decade later, Kanye West’s relies on his image consulting and Lupe Fiasco says he gets as fly as him (“Paris, Tokyo”). We recently caught up with Ibn to discuss his collaboration with the Quintin hat company, his style influences and how he inspires his G.O.O.D Music family."

Persona Magazine: How did you link up with Quintin for the collaboration?

Ibn Jasper: The collaboration with Quentin came through My-kel Monroe. He has a relationship with Sam Lamb, who owns a factory in Downtown Los Angeles and they’ve made a lot of stuff for a lot of local and international brands. [Sam] also had started the Quintin hat company. Me and My-Kel were talking, he has Personamagazine.net and I have my own blog, and brainstorming for different ways of marketing, promoting, and monetizing on our web sites. He brought me down to the factory and said “I know you do fashion so I just wanted to bring you down to let you see all the stuff that [Sam Lamb’s] factory could do.” And that’s when I learned about they were doing the Quintin hats. I know they did the 5 panel fitted, which is the hat that they got patented. So we were just going back and forth and coming up with ideas, and we came up with the idea to do the hat to be an accessory to go with the Louis Vuitton sneaker.

PM: Where did you draw you inspiration from in creating “The Jasper”?

IJ: I drew the inspiration to create “The Jasper” from Kanye’s collaboration with Louis Vuitton. The high-top shoe he named after me was the main inspiration for the design.

PM: Did you have any creative influence in the Louis Vuitton “Jasper”?

IJ: Yea. Just in the terms of, Kanye would like let me see all the stuff he was working on and you know, I’d put my little two-cents in. At the time he was designing it I didn’t know that he was gonna name it after me. He actually surprised me with the name. When the names actually got released on the Internet, he called me that morning. He was just like, “Oh! You didn’t see the names? Oh, you didn’t know I named it after you?” He likes to surprise people and stuff like that. I just put my little two-cents in because I’m like, part of Kanye’s creative control team.

PM: How is the Quintin “The Jasper” different from other popular fitted caps?

IJ: It’s a 5 panel fitted. A 5 panel hat is a military inspired cap that was made popular by Polo Ralph Lauren in the 90’s. The Polo 5 panel hat always had an adjustable strap in the back. Quintin actually got it patented. They used the baseball cap binding with the fitted format, which is the reason I wanted to do it with this company because they were the only company that could make this cap.

PM: How do you feel having designed your own product?

IJ: A sense of accomplishment. I feel like I’ve had a child a little bit, definitely a sense of accomplishment. If feels good to have something that was just an idea and seeing it come to fruition, being able to hold it in your hands.

PM: Did the design process spark an interest for future collaborations? Possibly your own line?

IJ: Correct. This is the first step in my grand scheme, to test the market and see how the public will receive it. Definitely more to come from me. I’m in my mid-thirties. I’m an old-school cat. I’m not like all of these young cats who talk a lot. I’m not going to divulge all my details.

PM: You began you career as Kanye West’s personal barber, how did you grow to become his image consultant? Do you have a greater influence on Kanye?

IJ: It’s the same thing. You have to consult the person before you cut their hair. Think about your relationship with your hair stylist. Does the person just do your hair, or are they like your friend, your consultant, and psychiatrist? I’ve been Kanye’s barber for 14 years, so I’m like a part of his family.

PM: How big is your influence behind the scenes of G.O.O.D Music?

IJ: Ah man, you would probably have to ask the G.O.O.D Music artist that. I mean I’m cool with all of them so I guess I have a…I wouldn’t say a big influence, but I have some sort of influence. I’m cool with all of those guys. They ask for advice, I tell them. Sometimes they take it, sometimes they don’t.

PM: What sort of influence would you say you’ve had on G.O.O.D Music?

IJ: Just being an older dude because we have a lot of younger artist on the roster. Except for Rash, he’s like an old grandpa. Grandpa Common (laughs), put that in there though. I guess I got a little influence.

PM: You are constantly around some of the most influential people in music and fashion, has that affected your style?

IJ: Yes and no. It does because of the access. I do actually get to go to Paris and Tokyo. I get to go into the stores in those cities. That’s the ‘yes’ part. And then the ‘no’ part is, even though I do see that, I still have to vibe with it. You know what I’m saying? It still has to connect with my personal style. But at the same time, there would’ve been things I never seen because I wouldn’t have been able to go to Paris had I not been in the circle with those type of people.

PM: Tell us, how many trends have you had a hand in popularizing?

IJ: Definitely the comeback of designs in haircuts ‘cause of all the designs I was putting in Kanye’s hair.

PM: What are you ultimately trying to accomplish in the fashion industry and what would you want your influence to be?

IJ: I pretty much have my influence. I mean, with the things I’m planning in the future we will see what my influence will be. I can’t really say what it would be now. I’m just happy with dropping the first product, getting a good response. I’m working on phase two instead of phase three. The energy’s good and I’m just really happy with that. I’m just kind of riding it out.

Available @


Union L.A.
110 S. La Brea Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90036

Source