TOM FORD 2008 SPRING SUMMER

CROOKS x MOSLEY TRIBES PIX

Late... but always relevant! Your dudes, JL with Matty G, Gomez Warren IV and Sneaker Steve... Matty and Steve are the braintrust behind the Crooks new tailored line... Yessir! Lookout for them in the August Magic... Gonna be craaaaazy!

BIRD WATCHING

SHANNYN SOSSAMON

I first saw this girl in "40 Days and 40 Nights" and was like, "I... I think I love you" haha!... Somethin' about her is just super sexy and really fly to me... Maybe it's cause it seems like we could go catch a Dodger or a Clipper game and she'd have a really good time in the sense of just following the game and enjoying the experience... wow... I have put too much thought into this one. Anyhow, on top of having extreme sex appeal, she's a talented actress and DJ's on the side... dope. You can catch her in "Rules of Attraction" and "A Knight's Tale". My first pick for my new "BIRD WATCHING" section... holler!

FIRST PLACE BAYBEEEE!

Thursday the Mets beat the Phillies, 3-1, to take sole possession of first place in the NL East

DIZZY'S IN THE SMOKING SECTION

CHECK MY DUDE DIZ OUT IN SMOKING SECTION: http://smokingsection.uproxx.com/TSS/?p=5654#more-5654

My man Diz Gibran is bubblin'... It's good to see my dude finally gettin his props! Me and Diz met back in undergrad at Florida A&M in Tallahassee... He was a real cool cat - super humble, very respectable and always had the dopest kicks! He was one of those kids that if/when he complimented your gear (did i just say 'gear'?) you knew you were fresh!!! We hung in the same circles, had girls in the same the clicks and family roots both in Cali and South Florida, so we'd always be runnin into each other...

I moved out to LA to finish grad school back in 2003 and of course Diz was one of the first cats i ran into... But it wasn't until 2005 that I first heard him rap. I was in love with the lyrics and could instantly relate, but honestly the beats weren't that hard so i didn't play his tape as much. Well, except for the track, "Authentic," which was actually featured in my boy Ty Hodges' film "Miles from Home."

At the Robot shoot last month Rob G. gave me a compilation of Diz' new music, all produced by my dude MoonShine, who I must say is another humble genuine dude.... I popped it in the deck on the way back to the pad and let's just say I didn't skip a track during the ride home. It was a tremendous feeling to see my "Niggas up on it"! Real talk, every track is dope! Moon's production is crazy and Diz' lyrics speak to every man. My favorite tracks are "Just Me", "Morning Light" and "Truly Yours"...

The music is timeless and authentic, and I like the way Diz and Moon are bubblin slowly... kinda like a good rock album... slow in the beginning then you look up a year later and it's platinum with multiple number one hits.

Check Diz out @ myspace.com/dizgibran

(Pictured above, top - down: Diz; Myself, Diz and Jav; Super producers MoonShine, Roy Hamilton and myself)

MGMT Soundtracks and Inspires Gucci's 2009 Spring Collection!

If you've kept up with my blog then you know I'm a huge MGMT fan... I believe music should take you somewhere, make you feel something, and inspire you... MGMT's music mos def does that. Their impact on Gucci's new collection is evidence of that. What's crazy is that these cats are from Brooklyn, (NOT Europe!) - influencing one of the world's leading fashion brands. To create a sound and style of music that serves as the foundation and dictates the shape and style of a brand is an accomplishment worth noting...

According to Details.com...

"Gucci’s press notes invoked "the new way in which youth and luxury can seamlessly coexist." The notion that there might be a new generation hungry for her wares has been Frida Giannini’s career impetus. "We don’t care about the old folks talkin’ ‘bout the old style," indeed. Except it wasn’t that "old" catwalk classic that soundtracked her show. Instead, Giannini enlisted MGMT’s "Time to Pretend" ("this is our decision to live fast and die young") to help put her own thumbprint on the heritage of the house.

The Brooklyn duo’s florid style dictated the shape as well as the sound of the collection. The lean tailoring and the neat little leathers that Giannini loves were sneakily overtaken by a creeping jungle of tropical flora and fauna, embroidered, appliquéd, or airbrushed to spectacular effect. Even the shoes weren’t safe. Never mind the embroidered hibiscuses, they also had brightly colored heels of crocodile. Those same flowers were also embroidered on a python jacket, beaded on a biker jacket, and printed trailing up the legs of white jeans. They were so exuberantly, almost vulgarly, lush as to raise a smile. (Giannini did, after all, say that her definition of the collection was "happiness.")

She offered her Tropicana club kids jeans in dégradé shades of sunset or printed with palm fronds; shirts decorated with toucans and parrots; perforated-leather safari shorts…The guy in the parka and striped jeans, fresh off his Vespa, looked almost out of place. He was from Giannini’s old world. Now she has geographically relocated to a fantasyland of rich hippie/gypsy chic. Although the relative restraint of black-and-white jacquard tuxes with their tone-on-tone embroidery harked back to earlier collections when Frida was finding her way, the huge amethyst-and-malachite belt buckles she showed them with were definitely picking up signals from Planet MGMT"

ESPY Night... Nas Album Release...

After hittin' the red carpet at the ESPY's with my dude Matt Kemp of the Los Angeles Dodgers, we hit up Cabana Club where your dudes JL hosted the Nas Album Release Party... Here are a few pics from that night... (Pictured above, Keri Hilson, Matt Kemp, Buttahman of MTV Jams and the homies Jes Meza and Jennifer Freeman

Supra 2008 Non-Skate Collection

For cats like me who do not and cannot skate... but look like it!

These red kicks are craaaaazy! I got my man @ Fairfax on speed dial waiting for these to come in. Word is that they were supposed to hit stores early this month... Now we're lookin @ late July for the silver Skytops and early August for the red ones... Can't wait! Hit up factory413.com and suprans.com for more 411.

According to HighSnobiety.com "The non-skate collection by Supra has had much success in previous seasons. Their new collection is more colorful than previous ones, which stuck to black and white. Also they have added some models to the line-up. You find premium leathers, lots of patent and other premium details on the Supra NS collection, which brings the brand from the skateboard to the street, at least that's the idea."

Book of the Month

"Driven by Eternity" by John Bevere

This book was given to me by one of best friends, Anthony Thompson - this gift changed my life.

METS WIN 10TH STRAIGHT!!

Just wanted to share this with you.

Diamond Supply Co. "Legends Pack"

Diamond Supply Co. "Legends Pack"

I gotta have this Hank Arron T-Shirt! Hank's rockin' a Diamond Fitted in the pic... dope!

Hank, along with greats jackie Robinson, Willie Mays and Dodger legend Don Newcombe, inspired our Nation and ignited the Civil Rights movement through their performance on the field. Their play and efforts transcended their sport and helped to challenge and change our country. These are my heroes.

"My motto is to always keep swinging, whether I am in a slump, fielding badly or having trouble off the field. The only thing to do is keep swinging"
- Hank "The Hammer" Aaron

Fly transcends time...

So I'm boarding the plane, headin home to visit with the fam during the MLB All Star Break... In the front row, there's an elderly white woman who must have been in her late seventies... She was with a crew of older folks all sittin in first class... So I walk by lookin real bummy, with my summer uniform on, u know white-T, red Crooks hat, basketball shorts (with the pockets!) and a fly pair of Jordans. The lady looks down @ me and says "Nice shoes!" I was all thrown off... And said, "Yeah, u got good taste." We shared a smile. The rest of her party stood up to peep the AJ-1's and then all these older white folks start co-signin! Hilarious... Its the small things that can make your day. Not only was I surprised that she spoke, but that we, generations apart, connected for a split second... I guess it just goes to say, that fly is fly, fresh is fresh and cool is cool... Fly transcends time and anyone can put a smile on your face.

Mr. Waraire Boswell - The wb-collection

Definitely one of the illest American designers of our time... I never go to an event that requires a suit/jacket without the personal consultation and guidance of Mr. Boswell (Yes, ESPY's are tomorrow)... The designer's selection of quality fabrics, great attention to details and personalization via his custom creations has garnered huge interest from the general public, media and celebrities.

According to Boswell, what sets him apart is his motto that, 'Less is more'.

Pictured above from top down: WB, Models, BD @ the ESPY's last year and JL

Peep his new 2008 collection: wb-collection.com

Can't believe I'm blogging a Jordan Fusion...

According to Hypebeast.com - Air Force One combined with Air Jordan VI to form the Air Jordan Fusion 6.

"The shoe comes in mainly white with perforated leather and the black tongue from Air Jordan 6. It seems to have a clear vinyl bottom sole with pink accents along the edge. A nice combination of different elements from both shoes. Set to release in 2009."

I must admit that I've been the number one hater on the recent release of the Jordan/AF-1 fusion series... hooooooowever - these are hard! The 6 is my all-time favorite Jordan and this shoe does a great job of restoring and preserving the integrity of the 6 and celebrates the OG color way via the pink/infared hits... Dope kicks. Nicely done.

BENTLEY... "EVERYBODY" NEW VIDEO W/ ANDRE 3K, SA-RA AND MR WEST

You are now rockin with the best! JL... Already!

We got the official party for the highly anticipated and controversial release of Nas' 9th album "Untitled".... Next Wednesday, July 16th @ Cabana Club in Hollywood, ESPY Night in Los Angeles... Who's comin' with me!?!?! lol! Let's go!

The perfect T-Shirt...

American Apparel's Sheer Jersey Loose Crew Summer T-Shirt...
I was super hyped up when i found this t-shirt @ American Apparel... I picked it up in every color - It's in between the classic V-Neck and Crew Neck shirt but it's a lighter jersey material and a little more tailored... I call it the "Deep Crew"... perfect for the summer... Stunners, jeans, chucks and this T-shirt... done.

...Please remove all chest hair and taco meat before rocking (see above pic)

LA Fashion - Hypebeast...

Props to my dude Bailey from Flight Club on Fairfax - on that "LA fly shyt"


Reel Styles - Los Angeles from Hypebeast TV on Vimeo.

DRAWN TO THE LIGHT...

LAMP GIRLS...

As found on Kanye's blog... "By French Photographer / Designer Marianne Maric. Marianne started in photography in 2001 . Her work has shifted gradually from shooting sophisticated outdoor settings toward a more tri-dimensional, sculptural approach to the female body."

These pictures resonate with me for some reason...

The Zune House

We hit the Microsoft Zune house tonight for the New Era/Travis Barker jump-off... LA's usual suspects of influencers were in the house, from the Famous crew to Taz Arnold... The gift bags were dope and appropriate... I left the place with a Dodger New Era fitted and a set of Zildjian signature drumsticks which I guess I'll be using on Rockband...

Pictured above, the homies Ibn, Naomi of Electrik Red and Jav.

NEW MGMT VIDEO

Definitely my favorite band right now...


Time to pretend music video

RITF "Summer in the City"

We shot the new Robot is the Future "Summer in the City" shoot a few weeks back... Pics are just now in and the collection is up and ready on robotisthefuture.com... Special thanks the my man Jav for producing the shoot... Of course C-Rob directed it and JL helped out with the vision. The whole fam came out and took part in the project; Diz Gibran, Moonshine, Rob G, Gomez Warren IV, Leo and even the lil homies from Fairfax came thru on their skateboards and got it in!

CONGRATS TO MY BOY RUSSELL MARTIN!!

Dodger catcher Russell Martin has made his second consecutive National League All-Star team and will be the Dodgers' lone representative in the game to be played at Yankee Stadium on July 15.

My dude Russell has quietly become the National League's best catcher... Truestar Media is working on a few projects with Russ... STAY TUNED!

Grand National - Drink to Movin' on

Dope video... This track is currently # 4 in my iTunes Top 25 Most Played

PONY COUTURE

Old School Pony City Wings. 

Available in four colors, they feature PPG uppers and midsole with the Pony “Subway” graphic. The designers were inspired by Pony’s Brooklyn roots, using the #2 train as motivation for the collection.These exclusive City Wings will be available in the Holiday '08 season at select Paris boutiques in limited quantities. They’ll be in the States in spring ‘09. 

I'll have my size 10's in green this week! Holla!

www.pony.com

Black Air Jordan III Collezione Pack Coming Soon

F.M. PHENOMENAL: Black Air Jordan III Collezione Pack



I know I'm a few days late... Thanks to my dude Mr. Jasper from the crib for breakin the news. If you're from Chi then you understand why we stay in "Mikes" daily!