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December 30, 2010

Kanye West's New Video...WTF...mannnnnn.

Remember when I posted the photo clips of this video and said it looked serial killer-ish at best? (Check out the post Monster Creativity?).  Well, let's just say one view was enough.  Peep it below.  The Illuminati theorists will be screaming about this one.

December 28, 2010

Speechless - Alicia Keys featuring Eve


A. Keys is back to work with a new joint featuring Eve. The track, the second collab from these two (the first was 2007's "Gangsta Lovin"), entitled "Speechless" is an ode to her baby boy, Egypt, hence, the Egyptian inspired photography. ;).

The track is classic A. Keys.  Nothing that she hasn't done before but, it is sweet. :)

Listen to song below or download "Speechless" via Hulkshare by clicking HERE.

December 17, 2010

Tis The Season To Be...Fresh, Part Deux.

For Her: Utilitarian Chic and Heavy Metals.


William Rasts' Fall/Winter 2010 runway show forecasts an ode to utilitarian style all the way down to the feet.  The shoes displayed above and below are huge staples of this winter.  Lace ups with military-esqe flair (i.e. tassels, buckles, perforated patterns, etc.) are combined with platform soles and 4-5 inch heels to embrace the officer look.  Pairing these boots with leggings, long tees and military style jackets or even a pair of your favorite boyfriend jeans would make for a rugged girl look.  Of course, these functional boots are not strictly relegated to pants; they look just as awesome when paired with skirts. 

I personally LOVE the William Rast perforated lace up booties but, at $398.00 they could be a bit of a price stretch for some.  Take a peek at the other boots I've pulled. Your feet will be pleased. :).


William Rast - Fall/Winter 2010 Collection
Perforated Lace Up Booties
$398.00 USD
Available at: Shop Bop.





Aldo - Videtto Peep toe
Colors: Black, Brown
$110.00 USD
50% off - New Price: $54.98
Available on www.aldoshoes.com or by clicking HERE.


Aldo - Winebrenner
Canvas Lace Up Heeled Ankle Boots
$137.92 USD
NOW - $82.75
Available at: ASOS





If there is one thing that plenty of women spend money on without a second guess, it's manicures and pedicures.  What better gift to give this holiday season than a trip to the nail shop and a pretty color to call your own?  Metallic polishes are my favorite shade right now and Chanel's newest polish - which is from their Spring 2011 La Vernis collection, Steel, is dark enough to give a hint of attitude and at $23.00 its a perfect stocking stuffer for your favorite girl on the go.

To purchase Chanel's La Vernis "Steel" Polish, head on over to the CHANEL  cosmetics site.

If you desire warmer hues or something a bit more metal-like, check out OPI's Lucerne-tainly Look Marvelous or Dior's Vernis Nail Enamel in Czarina Gold.   





Dior - Vernis Nail Enamel in Czarina Gold
$21.00 USD



OPI - Lucerne-tainly Look Marvelous
$8.50 USD
(for a .5 oz bottle)




HAPPY SHOPPING & HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Peace. Love. Fresh.

XoXo

Chan.Lo.
 

December 15, 2010

Live Shows Shawty: Dom Kennedy, Sore Losers & Angela Carter.


Hive Society, Scrubs University, and the folks at  Unkommon Kolor have come together to support Toys for Tots and to showcase some hot acts for the Cali-2-Texas Toys For Tots Tour headlined by Cali-based artist, Dom Kennedy.  Folks in Houston and in D-town, Texas will be pleased with additional appearances by Le$ Carter, Mookie Jones and the Sore Losers.  

Tickets are $15 for General Admission and $10.00 with a Toy donation.

For presale tickets in Houston (12/16/2010) visit: Cali-2-Texas Tour - Houston
For presale tickets in Dallas (12/17/2010) visit:  Cali-2-Texas Tour - Dallas






Recording artist, Angela Carter along with promo companies Clout World and 9Eleven Studios present the Local Expressions concert with various artists including: EyeSee3, Miss Keke, Broadway and Micah Seth to name a few.

The concert is open to the public and people of all ages.

For more information and to view videos of some of the slated artists visit: www.acartermusic.com

Deck The Halls with Boughs of GIVING.



The Ladies at Edge Magazine are hoping to team up with YOU to give one family a very Merry Christmas. 
Edge is asking for donations to acquire basic household needs and wants for the Ramirez family. 

Every little bit helps and your generosity is most appreciated.

To donate via credit card or Paypal, click on the link below:



Peace. Love. Joy.

XoXo

Chan.Lo.

December 14, 2010

Mainstream Releases...The Good, Bad, and the Awesome.


Tank releases his 4th studio LP, Now or Never, on December 14th.  The R&B crooner (responsible for "Maybe I Deserve", "Slowly", "One Man" and the hit "Please Don't Go") shows tremendous artistic ability and of course, sex appeal, in the latest release.  As a Tank fan, I know I'll be purchasing a copy however, I don't see this as his break-out album.  Help from big names Chris Brown ("Foreplay") and Drake ("Celebration") are appealing but, not Top 20 records. 

Bottom line: Awesome disc. On point production. Beautiful lyrics. But, it still isn't what Tank needs compete with the artists he writes for.  However, I truly hope I'm wrong.

For the record, he didn't include A FEW tracks that leaked late last year and early this year.  One such leak entitled, "Lost In You", that he dropped in 2009 would have been an awesome addition.  Tell me if you agree by clicking HERE to listen.

Business Worthy Tracks:

"Sex Music"
"Celebration" feat. Drake 
"Emergency"
"Keep It 100"
"I Can't Make You Love Me" 




Ciara's release of Basic Instinct as a follow-up to the 2009's Fantasy Ride comes on the heels of critic's and artists alike questioning her love for the music that made her a star.  I've listened to a few of the tracks from Basic Instinct and while the usual superstar producers (Tricky Stewart and The Dream) work their usual magic, the end results are exactly what you'd expect.  Nod inducing but, not repeat worthy. 

Ciara has yet to find the hit that propels her into studio sessions with the producers that create anthems for breakfast and with songs like "Girls Get Your Money," an ode to girls, and how they, you know, get money, doesn't do anything to bring her out of the cookie cutter mold she's been stuck in.

"Ride" and "Gimme Dat" are reminiscent of her first album yet, they pack a punch that, I wish, could have been reproduced throughout Basic Instinct.

I truly hope Ciara can hit the nail on the head one of these days.  Never say never.

Business Worthy Tracks:

"Ride"
"Gimme Dat"
"Yea I Know"



I'll have to admit that I did chuckle when Diddy announced this project as "...ushering a new movement" oh...almost two years ago.  February of 2009 to be exact. As of Saturday, I was no longer chuckling.  While it isn't the deepest reflection of musical talent (Diddy's attempts at singing are...interesting) I'd have to go on a limb and say this is Diddy's best production piece in years.  The underlying theme of a conflicted playboy and his relationship woes are brought to life with the addition of Kalenna and ex-Danity Kane member, Dawn Richard.

My only qualm lies in the fact that eleven of the sixteen track LP are with features from other artists.  It makes me wonder how a Dirty Money concert could even occur.  Nonetheless, Diddy capitalizes on the trend of highly danceable hip-hop fused with bass heavy beats.  The melodic voices of Kalenna and Dawn blend well and additional song birds Chris Brown, Usher, and Trey Songz add additional harmonies along with their male points of view.

Diddy made Last Train To Paris a digital story and despite the slew of features and a few questionable lyrical choices, I for one, am on board.

Business Worthy Tracks:

"Looking For Love" (Feat. Usher)
"Hate You Now"
"Your Love" feat. Trey Songz (this one is a bit explicit...you are forewarned)
"Hello, Good Morning" feat. T.I.
"I Know" feat. Chris Brown and Wiz Khalifa
"Loving You No More" feat. Drake

ADDITIONAL RELEASES TODAY:
Michael - Michael Jackson
Kandi Koated - Kandi
Love Letter - R. Kelly
White Blood Cells - The White Stripes

December 10, 2010

'Tis The Season To Be...Fresh, Part I.

For Him: Shoe High...or Hi.


Now, there is good news (yay!) and bad news (boooo!).  Good news: I spotted these Fragment designed Nike Dunk Hi's and I loved them. Not only because Dunk's are one of MY favorite sneaks to rock but, because of the ode to my favorite color.  The purple and black/blue contrast make for an interesting combo that pops but, doesn't have too much flash.  My favorite part of this design may be something you've yet to notice:  The left shoe utilizes purple as its majority color with black serving as the secondary color. The right shoe bears the same...in reverse.  Both shoes are etched with the fragment logo on the heel.  Fragment has also designed the Air Zoom All Court Low's , which weren't my favorite but, to each their own.

Now, for the bad news:  These kicks will be releasing in extremely limited numbers as an overseas exclusive on December 18th, in Beijing and Tokyo with only limited number of pairs coming to the U.S. So, if you want them, now may be a time to create that ebay account, call in a favor, or book a flight to Beijing.  Shi?


(Above and Below: Fragment Nike Dunk Hi (Fragment Design)
Colors: Black/Purple
Also available in: Pink/Yellow and Navy/Red




Images courtesy of: www.nicekicks.com and www.kidulty.com


For Him: Cartier - The Gentleman's Sunglasses.


I love a man who can wear some shades.  That being said, I spotted the Vintage Cartier Sunglasses below and above (rocked by none other than Kanye West) and I did some investigating.  Turns out these puppies will run you about $1,100 USD so, if you have an extra stack, go ahead and try to find these limited specs.  However, there is still plenty of Cartier for those of us with smaller budgets.  Check out the pieces I've pulled below and get some for that special guy. :).



Vintage Cartier Sunglasses
$1,100 + USD
Limited Availability
(ABOVE AND BELOW)
Santos De Cartier Rimmed Sunglasses
Available in Platinum and Gold finish. Grey or purple polorized lenses.
$850.00 USD


Santos De Cartier Rimmed Sunglasses (Sport Collection)
Steel finish, composite grey lenses.
$490.00 USD


images courtesy of www.upscalehype.com and www.cartier.com




December 8, 2010

Diggy Simmons Freestyle Steez.

Diggy Simmons recently held an impromptu freestyle performance at the Sneaker Pimps tour stop in NYC.  If you didn't know, Sneaker Pimps is a traveling exhibition  which features over 1,500 pairs of rare, limited edition, vintage sneakers.  In addition to the shoes, the stops also feature sneaker inspired artwork and photography.

Nonetheless, Diggy hit the mic fierce.  I still can't believe his voice is changing...or that he said the N word.

Peep the freestyle below
(especially the line about 1st grade and tax forms...POW)
and visit
Sneaker Pimps for more information about the tour and the sneakers they feature.










Monster...Creativity?

K-Weezy (aka Kanye West) released snaps from the set of his video for the heavy-weight "Monster" track featuring Jay-Z, Nicki Minaj, and Rick Ross.

I'm all for creativity but, this kind of looks...well, serial killer-ish.

Take a look at the pics below courtesy of the folks at www.hiphopconnection.com

To view more images and hear more from Rick Ross, check out the article at AllHipHop.com




December 7, 2010

Kandi - Haven't Luvd Right ( Official Video )

Kandi Burress (of RHWOA fame) released the video for her single "Haven't Luvd Right" this week in preparation for her upcoming album Kandi Koated, in stores December 14th

I'm Not a huge fan of Kandi the singer but, her ability to write and produce is supurb.  The ballad, produced by Chuck Harmony (he also produced Rihanna's dramatic piece, "Russian Roulette"), and the accompanying video are an ode to Kandi's late fiance, A.J., who passed away last year. 

I wasn't prepared for the tear jerker effect so, have your tissues handy.

Peep the video for "Haven't Luvd Right" below, and make sure to check out Kandi Koated Kuts for more snippets of the forth coming album.


December 3, 2010

"Hello" J. Rhodes, 80's Baby Short

J. Rhodes and the 80's Baby camp released the video to Rhodes' single "Hello" yesterday and the response has been enthusiastic to say the least.  The Shai track was unexpected and incredibly well sampled.  Take a look at the video for "Hello" below.  

I told you bout this producer/songwriter/rapper/engineer/MR. EVERYTHING a few days ago.  If you don't remember the piece or, if you've yet to read it, check it out HERE.  

Make sure to support the movement on Twitter by following @J_Rhodes and by heading over to YOUTUBE.

*Note: J. Rhodes shows off his dance moves around the 3:00 mark. Hilarious.



December 2, 2010

*New Freestyle* GhostWridah - "RunAway".


The homie GhostWridah released a new freestyle this week entitled "RunAway" via his WridahBlast email list.  A freestyle from G over the classic Cube "Today Was A Good Day" instrumental is sure to make you listen and appreciate.  Lyrical ability is always evident in GhostWridah's work and freestyles are apparently not exempt. 

"I am far from your average adjective, I'm a pronoun and
I am to my city what Michael was to Motown
...A legend."

After one line...I really shouldn't have to tell you to download this.


Download the freestyle on Usershare by clicking HERE.

Check out www.ghostwridah.com for more.

December 1, 2010

Dear Marilyn...


Recently peeped a piece on www.necolebitchie.com on Nicki Minaj and truthfully, I paid more attention to the sweater she rocked than to the words on the screen.  As a lover of old movie starlets, I had to know who made the awesome-ness that is this sweater.  I had to search no further than the brilliant

The sweater is a bit pricey but, its undeniably gorgeous and would work with a multitude of looks.  It shall be bought.


(Above and Below)
Betsey Johnson - Betsey Babe Tunic (STYLE IB55062)
$268.00 (USD)
*Note shipping is FREE on all online orders!


 

Photo credits: www.necolebitchie.com (Top); www.betseyjohnson.com (Middle and Bottom)

I'm On Edge! Literally.


The good folks at www.edgemagazinesite.com launched their second installment of what promises to be an EPIC online magazine.  Stuffed with celebrity pictorials (Lance Gross, Enitan Bereola II, Bei Maejor, Coco and Breezy, etc.) interviews, fashion tips, and more, EDGE magazine packs a serious punch.

Check out the site and follow them on Twitter: @EdgeMagazineLLC


*AHEM*: Also, the site features yours truly getting a little up close and personal.  Check out my articles by clicking on:


They hipped ya'll to my government name... ;). Nice to meet cha.

Peace. Love. EDGE.

XoXo

Chan.Lo.