ALIFE Block Party August 13, 2007

UPDATE: SO MY SOURCES TELL ME THAT THIS PARTY WAS NOT REALLY A BLOCK PARTY. IF ANY OF YOU KNOW THERE IS THAT BENCH ON ORCHARD ST IN FRONT OF THE AMERICAN APPAREL STORE. WELL THAT WAS WHERE THE BLOCK PARTY WAS. I GUESS IN HONOR OF THE BENCH. AND THERE WAS A MISTER SOFTEE TRUCK PLAYING MUSIC.
MAYBE THAT WAS THE CONCEPT OF THE ‘BUSY DOING NOTHIN’ SLOGAN. THERE WAS NOTHING TO REALLY DO!

BUT I DID HEAR THAT THEIR PARTY WITH Q-TIP & MOBY SPINNING WAS CROWDED TO CAPACITY. NO ROOM TO GET TO THE BAR.

~f@ke

Music Alert ~ Gym Class Heroes August 13, 2007

They go by the name of Gym Class Heroes. And they are one of the hottest bands I’ve heard in awhile.

Considered to be an Alternative Hip Hop Band. An Alternative Hip Hop band are those who use live instruments, versus the traditional production tools used in Hip Hop.

The original members, Travis McCoy (singer) and Matt McGinley (drummer) first met in 97′ in their H.S. Gym Class - hence, the band’s name, Gym Class Heroes, which came together in ‘97. And the current members are Travis McCoy, Matt McGinley, Disashi Lumumba-Kasongo (Guitarist), Eric Roberts (Bass).

In ‘01 Gym Class Heroes debuted their first album “… For The Kids”. From ‘03 - ‘06 Gym Class Heroes have toured with the Van’s Warped Tour. Putting out two more albums, “The Paper Chronicles” (’05), and their most recent release “As Cruel As School Children” (’06).

Patrick Stump, a member of Fall Out Boy, one of the single “Taxi Driver” and invited Gym Class Heroes to one of their shows. After this meeting, the band decided to sign with Decaydance Records/ Fueled by Ramen.

Something that I noticed in the lyrics of some of Gym Class Heroes songs are Travis’s references to other songs by the band. Like in the hit single “Cupid’s Chokehold”, he says “and I know you heard the last song, about the girl that didn’t last long”, speaking about the song, “Makeout Club”. He has use this method in his writing for more than 10 songs over the course if all 3 albums.

Currently nominated for 2 MTV VMA Awards, Best New Artist, and Best Group. They also performed on MTV Live (which is how I was introduced to them) a few months ago.

Gym Class Heroes have a young Retro, Hip Hop, Pop, Alternative sound & look. You have Travis, who is covered in tattoos, from his neck down. He also has 3-inch ear plugs and a lip ring - not what an average rapper looks like. But he looks to be of some Hispanic decent, and rocks the common urban wears. Their guitarist, Disashi, is Africian American.

In their video for “Clothes Off”, they have their dancers Crunk dancing, and the dancers are Black. The people in the video are all in their early 20’s. And you can tell the band members are not old. Definitely a band that the 18 & older crowd can enjoy. They bring a fun feeling back to music. Travis can tell a story, showing that his lyrical skills needed the acknowledgment that it received. And the rest of the group makes the music sound so fresh and funky. “Viva La White Girl” has one of the most funkiest beats I’ve heard in some time. And when you hear the lyrics, as Travis has explained, it is not about being addicted to cocaine, it is about being addicted to music!!!

Like Levar Burton (Reading Rainbow) says, ” But you don’t have to take my word for it”.

VIVA LA WHITE GIRL (live- July ‘07)

CUPID’S CHOKEHOLD/ BREAKFEST IN AMERICA

NEW FRIEND REQUEST (for the Myspace folks )

CLOTHES OFF!!

SHOOT DOWN THE STARS

Hope you like ‘em. Cuz I luv ‘em!!

~f@ke

Alife x Puma August 13, 2007

Alife and Puma have teamed up to offer The First Round, a classic high top from Puma’s archive, executed in premium nubuck with a tonal gloss print. Offered in 2 colors: White & Black both colors feature a custom woven label on the tongue, four different fluorescent patent leather stripes, custom footbeds and 10 pairs of laces - 5 thin and 5 thick.

On sale in limited quantities this Saturday, August 18th exclusively at the following 10 locations worldwide.

They also have tees to go with the collaborated sneaker

North America:
ALIFE NYC - New York
158 Rivington Street, New York,
NY 10002 - TEL: (212) 375 8116
HOURS:
Monday - Friday: 11AM - 7PM
Saturday: 11AM - 8PM
Sunday: 12 NOON - 7PM

ALIFE LA - Los Angeles
451 N. Fairfax Avenue, Los Angeles,
CA 90036 - TEL: (323) 655 2093
HOURS:
Monday - Friday: 11AM - 7PM
Saturday: 11AM - 8PM
Sunday: 12 NOON - 7PM

ALIFE BC - Vancouver
350 Water Street, Vancouver,
B.C. V6B 1E5 - TEL: (604) 685 6400
HOURS:
Monday - Saturday: 11AM - 7PM
Sunday: 12 NOON - 5PM

Europe:
Slammin Kicks - London
Patta - Amsterdam
Colette - Paris

Asia:
Black Chamber - Singapore

Australia:
Highs and Lows - Perth
Provider - Melbourne

NYC Hospitals Say ‘NO’ To Baby Formula August 11, 2007

As of Aug 1st, 2007 the 11 NYC Hospitals run by the City’s Health and Hospital Corporations(see full list below) will be banning the free formula samples that new mothers receive in the hospital. In return, all new mothers will be encouraged to breast-feed (nurse) their newborns.

No longer will you get the free baby tote bag with free baby formula ( similac, enfamil), and promotional offers for it.

Instead, you will get is disposable nursing pads, a cooler to store your breast milk bottles, and a baby tee that reads “I eat at Mom’s”.

This new rule takes effect during World Breast Feeding Week.

At the Bronx located hospital, Jacobi, who’s been promoting new mothers to breast-feed since 2005, says that 25% of 2,200 newborn babies are being breast-fed each year. There are about 21,000 babies born each year in the 11 hospitals.

The City Health Officals want to promote the benefits of breast-feeding to all women.

However, those women who request formula will still receive it.

Health experts say that breast milk reduces the risk of common childhood infections, asthma, diabetes and obesity. Breast-feeding also lowers the risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, anemia and osteoporosis in mothers.

Studies have further shown that breast-feeding burns up to 500 calories a day, which helps women recover from pregnancy faster and counters symptoms of postpartum depression.

Health professionals say it is especially important to introduce the baby to mother’s milk within an hour of birth to teach both the mother and newborn.

The infant-formula industry said it supports encouraging more breast-feeding, but is opposed to banning distribution of product samples.

Below are the hospitals that are under the Health and Hospitals Corporations:
The Bronx
North Central Bronx Hospital
Jacobi Medical Center

Manhattan
Harlem Hospital Center
Bellevue Hospital Center
(both of which have excellent Birthing Centers)
Metropolitan Hospital Center

Queens
Queens Hospital Center
Elmhurst Hospital Center

Brooklyn
Woodhull Medical and Mental Heatlh Center
Kings County Hospital Center
Coney Island Hospital

To learn more about Breast-feeding please click here

I am a supporter of breast-feeding. The fact that you are giving your child a healthier way of growing, is something I think all new mothers should consider to try, at least once. When you breast-feed you give your newborn your antibodies, which helps build a stronger immune system.

The only thing that I was disappointed with when I gave birth to my daughter was that the 1st 6-24 hours that you spend in the Recovery Room I was not asked if I was planning on breast-feeding. And as a result, they automatically put all the babies on formula, which lowers the mother’s chance of having her newborn successfully latch on (take) to her breast milk.

There are those mothers who think about things like “Oh, if I breast-feed then I will not be able to smoke or drink?”. Well… Yes you will not be able to smoke. But, you will be able to drink in moderation, so I have read. If you click here you will read what health experts have to say about mothers who have the occassional drink.

~f@ke

Souled Out NYC 3 - Aug 11th August 10, 2007

Step your sneaker game up… At Souled Out 3 you can trade and sell your kicks, as well as buy from over 30 vendors. And nothing but exotics & Limited sneaker runs here. There will be free giveaways all day long, (yes all day this is a DAYTIME EVENT NOON - 7 THIS SATURDAY) Complex, Yamez, King Cut, & Iron Lyon will be spinnin’ joints to make you get out of your socks… Come through early as these events tend to get packed, as well as bring some spendin’ cash for some rare new kicks…and some lucky rsvp’s in attendance at the event will be chosen for some FREE SNEAKERS!!!

Read more about this event & RSVP here

Admission $10
*RSVP does not guarantee entry
~f@ke

BX Stand UP!!!! August 10, 2007

I went to Marble hill yesterday morning & was sooooo pleased to see that my BX residents were doing the damn thang.

Unfortunately, I can not share the love of fashion & style that I witnessed (forgot my camera)

But as the saying now goes “Respect My Fresh!”

1. Saw a fellow waiting for the $ train @ 170th street rockin The Compostion Nike Dunk HI(FRESH!!!!)

2. Saw anotha kat rockin a “I Love NY” tee (which I’ve been seeing in many colors) in Neon Green with the Men’s Nike Dunk HI White/Neon Green (coordinating) on the Grand Concourse & Burnside Ave

3. Saw anotha yung fella rockin the Black/ Red Air Bakin’ (I had them in all 3 colors back int he 90’s & got them in White/ Blue now - Wow I forgot I had them til just now) with the black Batman tee on Third Ave & 141st

4. On a Sad note, I saw a Big Woman (she wasn’t no girl) wearing a bright green halter top with a mesh tube top (LOL), with some jean short shorts, and the same-color green slingback kittenheel shoes, with (I’m SORRY) a PURPLE WEAVE!!!!!!!! that was curled in an up-do. I didn’t know what to think, but all I could say was… She gotta man in BROAD DAY LIGHT and he ain’t trying to leave her side.

I know 4 isn’t a lot of people. But I don’t dscriminate on going to other boros and when I’m in Harlem or in BK, people rep they boro in a very nice way. Growing up Uptown (Harlem & The Bronx), & Queens, people slept on the Bronx. And always thought I was from Harlem, because they said I didn’t dress like a BX girl. And when I ask them how do Bronx people dress, you get a vague, they wear this, or they wear that, but growing up and going to High School out in the BX, I can honestly, say that I thought BX kats could dress. But, that wasn’t true. When I started having the “Bronx people can’t dress” discussions more & more I noticed, that they had a point. It is not too often that you see someone rockin a sick outfit and I’m not talking about 2006 - 2007. I’m refferring to ‘98 - ‘05.
It makes me angry, b/c there is alot of potential in the BX streets, but I am happy to see that the youngsters are holding it down, and the OG kats, like myself, Truly Curveous & DOPE! have kept it consistent.

With that being said, I’m going to be have post on the fashion in the streets of The Boogie Down Bronx!!!

~f@ke

Kimora Lee Simmons August 10, 2007

So, I see the verdict is out on the new reality series. So far I’ve seen that it’s 50/50 out there in the blogging world about the 1-hr premiere of Kimora: Life In The Fab Lane.

I enjoyed the show. Honestly, I thought the shit was going to be saturated, but it was good. I love that she showed that she is just that… Fabulous. And she does it flawlessly. From being a Mom, to a Boss of successful female urban clothing line, Baby Phat. And also having a beauty line & the newly developed BARBIE!!!! (Take that, Bitchez!!!) What Black woman have we ever seen get a Barbie created after them? Umm, NONE!!! Yes, there are the Afro-American Barbies, but the are made based on a region, there is a theme behind those Barbies ( I worked @ FAO Shwarz in H.S., so I know 1st hand that there were no black women who had a Barbie made after them). Whether you think, it’s sleezy or not. There are NO Black Dolls out there created from successful women or men for that matter.

On the premiere episode, they show how Kimora is discussing what she expects her Barbie to look like. And when she meets with Mattel, she emphasizes to them who she does not want a “Kimora” doll, she wants the word ” Barbie” attached to her doll, because… had it been a white woman in there discussing a Barbie they would have the Barbie name at the end of the Dolls name. She also emphasized how she wanted the doll to have darker skin. The Kimora Lee Simmons Barbie® is apart of the Adult Collections, which are the collectors editions. The doll is about $90.00.

On the show, Kimora is filmed juggling being a mother to 2 daughters and a boss of a multi-million dollar company. She introduces her company as all being young. And continues to say that yes, they may not have the experience, but someone gave her an opportunity and she is doing the same thing - giving her Baby Phat staff a chance. I commend her for saying that. Yes, she maybe demanding, and assertive, but the way she interacts with her staff ( @ least on the 1st episode) showed her as a somewhat down-to-earth-boss. Sometimes with the celebrity status and the money, you might get a straight-up Bitch of a boss.

I liked that her daughters made her a cupcake as a treat for her photoshoot. And as messy as it looked she ate that mamma-jamma ( I thought she wasn’t gonna eat it, lol). And when she had the meeting with Mattel, she took her daugthers with her (when you got it like that you can do that) and as she was discussing business, her daugthers interjected - not in a rude ‘Mommy I want this’ whining rant, but in more of an assertive-just-like-my-mommy tone, on what they thought their mother’s Barbie doll should look like.

Those of you can say, oh she doesn’t really care for her daughters, but I think otherwise. The fact that her daugthers are that intellectual to hear adults converse and have an opinion and be able to articulate themselves, AND!!!! Kimora address her daughters with motherly attention and not brush them off like they are a burden to her is what all Mothers should try and do. It annoys me when you see mothers with their children and when the child asks for something, they get yelled @ b/c their mother is soooo busy with whatever she is doing. Then don’t take them with you!!!

My other favorite part was when she confronted her Ad guy and he’s all stressed out b/c her lawyer says they went over budget and he is telling her he didn’t. And he says something like, he has not quit b/c of her and she says ‘well, if you want to quit, then, quit. But then you will be a quitter’. Now, are those inspiring words or what!?!?! LOL But later he comes to her home and tells her what the budget actually is and she is all mellow yellow.

~f@ke

I’m Baaaaaaaackkk!!! August 10, 2007

I am so happy to be typing away and giving you guys some more to read.

Can I ask 1 tiny thing… Give me some comments!!!! I would love to get some feedback. Do I ramble on too much? Do you want to read some more literary stuff, in between all the smaller weekly posts?

I will make a promise that in the coming weeks I’ll be delivering some interviews of folks who have Independent companies and have GREAT products to offer us

~f@ke