Actin' Childish

I'm a big fan of Community on NBC, and will be one of the first to cry if it doesn't return from it's current 'hiatus'. More specifically, I'm a big fan of Troy and Abed (in the morninggg). This man crush on Donald Glover and Danny Pudi led me to buying Childish Gambino's first album a while back as he's got some of the raddest lyrics out there. His new track is 'Heartbeats', from the album 'Camp', sounds like hip-hop infused Justice beats, which is muy bueno with me. Plus anyone that manages to drop "You give really adequate handjobs and its awesome" with no musical backing on Conan is a boss.

Here's the Conan performance



And here's his acoustic version of 'Got This Money'



He's almost better live than in the studio which says alot in the day and age when 12 year old hacks like MGMT are selling records. We've all been fooled into that experience once. I can imagine it'd be what its like to meet your favourite pornstar in real life. There's no way that thing is going to look as good out of the packaging as it did on your illegal download.

RR

Starting The Weeknd Early

I'm not much one for trawling the music blogs and Hypem for new tunes these days because, to be honest, I'm far too preoccupied freehand sketching new meme's to submit to memebase before screwing them up, throwing the paper in the ever rising waste basket and chastising myself "You think the moderators havent seen this before...nube". In addition to that, I'm even less inclined to listen to a whole album because who the hell buys music on iTunes unless their cold war era grandmother gives them a gift card for Ramadan. In all reality people my age are more likely to have shared memories of when Napster was shut down than the first hard copy CD they bought.

That being said, one release this week has really caught my eye (and yes, that is indeed what SHE said, but stay with me). I've been following The Weeknd since my felly mots at HCASH threw me their track 'The Morning' off their mixtape House of Balloons a year ago, which has some of the most radical lyrics and original beats I've heard in a while. Here it is for those who havent had the pleasure...



I was even more impressed to find out that The Weeknd is actually one Ethiopian/Canadian dude named Abel Tesfaye, and not just because I want to sound multi-cultural. The sound on the tracks is so well polished is sounds the work of a larger group. Plus how many Ethiopian/Canadian people do you know?! Yeah, thought so.

Yesterday Tesfaye released his new mixtape Echoes of Silence, which despite being a bit of an existential wank of a title is a seriously great listen through piece of work thats making a hungover thursday at work with the looming prospect of spending christmas on the other side of the world to my family a pleasing situation. I'm not sure even how to describe his style but I'm a big fan. The track 'Next' is current on repeat, just listen to the lyrics.



Merry Christmas folks.

Rad is Love

Rev Rad

Awesome

In all likelihood it's probably exactly what a film clip made by me and my mates will look like when I make it large in the hip hop world. I find it strange that there's no super babe in a bikini for him to roll by on his trike and throw a casual "awesome" at. It's the logical next step

XV - Awesome from Elie Smolkin on Vimeo.

Plus I've always felt compelled to rap, being the only black guy in my group of stereotypically dressed white friends and all.

Accessories are a Necessity

In these times of sartorial over-exposure it’s simply not enough to buy a designer suit and slap on an expensive watch, because money doesn’t buy class. Every rapper with a #1 single from the last 10 years has an Armani suit, a glovebox full of spanking new Rolexes, and still manage to look styled by their mother. How they wrangle their music video hot tub parties is beyond me.

The old what you wear vs how you wear it. It’s as black and white as the guy in the Turnbull & Asser shirt next to the guy who’s wearing the tee he got 3 for 10 at Jay Jay’s. Today I was wondering how a dood such as myself with skinny wrists can wear a watch without rocking a full shirt and avoid looking like the latter nube. The answer is man accessories, which should be a staple of all guys. We all have that mate that rocks rings, ties, bracelets, etc (not at the same time as that sounds a bit bent) to a T and nobody can pull them up on it.

For now this means some Kiel James Patrick nautical wrist business and a preferably 60s/70s material Patek Philippe, Breitling, or Rolex (watch is on lay away).

That’s doin it right.

That settles that...

Some wise friends of mine once raised the contentious issue of the quality of Lake Bell's position in the hallowed halls of babedom (schwing). While any rational man would see her value, haters gonna hate. What you can't hate is someone who knows how to drive radical cars, know what's under the hood, and does it all with a faithful dog by her side. End of discussion

OCTV Ep 1 Lake Bell from Rachelyn Remz-Porter on Vimeo.

Notice the song 10s in. That's why I'm the ordained Reverend of Rad.

Man Up

There’s just a certain way a guy should wear a suit, hold doors /pull out chairs, and learn to express themselves without words. It’s black and white; being the distinction between how it should be done and how the majority of us do it. At most, we each have fleeting moments of almost celluloid glory in which we address a moment perfectly in the most manly fashion possible. To do so we must also be at our sartorial best, as it goes hand in hand with feeling like a boss. Any guy with a fresh application of a choice cologne sporting a well cut suit can attest to having at lease one of these moments, I'd hope.

I’m feeling generally inspired by a film I saw recently which displays an all too good example of what I describe above in a way that only film can. To this we can never come close but I’ve put together a list of radical resolutions to head in the right direction. You’ll have to excuse the winter orientation. It’s been cold this week

Dunderdon is a Swedish workwear company that has one of the only stores I think a guy could walk into naked and walk out with everything they need including a hand carved penknife and leather insulated whisky flask. These days the Scandinavians are kicking goals in fashion circles. I imagine Swedish mine workers taking their overalls to be tailored before doing a 2 month stint below, because even in the dark they know they’ll look good.

From my brief experience of a white winter there's two types of guy you can be. Wet assed tearing the hem of your overpriced J.Crew suit whilst destroying a perfectly good pair of leather souled brogues in the snow OR the guy in the double breasted navy check suit powering through the slush in a powerful pair or Sorel snow boots. Don't be the nube.

Last, but definitely not least, here's the exact suit you should be wearing. No points for guessing why. Walk into a crowded bar in the west village on a cold night in this and the fairer sex will eyeball you like you're the first kid in high school to get his drivers license. Thanks to Duncan Quinn, some gents who are completely legit.

Just in case you don't know the man-spiration for all this, get in your car and go for an evening drive listing to this. Then man up.

Sydney Scene

I was informed by a relative last night that I blog about stuff overseas alot, when in reality theres so much to be stoked about in Sydney (as a side note, she also made me accutely aware that I'm a 23 year old dude living at home with my parents). So as a remedy to the first problem and a homage to the first, here's my favourite places in Sydney at the moment.

After divulging such info it's likely I won't be able to walk the hard streets of Sydney for a while (either due to the exclusive awesomeness of the information or my obviously inflated sense of self importance) and as such will be moving to New York, no biggie.

Suffice to say last weekend, being my last in Sydney, was a blinder and was full of all my favourite things (like Oprah's favourite things except all the audience gets is a hangover and scabs on their elbows). Let's do this.

Captain Billy's Crab Shack

Has to be my favourite shop in Bondi, seriously legit old school pool and cruiser skate decks, stocks Nike SB range, and there's an awesome Tee in there with a decal of a woman crying saying "If only my boyfriend would skate". Radical. If it's owner Lucienne Wunderlich is doing something wrong it's beyone me what it is. One of the mots picked up a beautiful Vision Gator pool deck from 1986 on sunday and we drove immediately to my new favourite skating hill to give it a session, long story short, he looked good. Stylin' even! Whats stylin' you ask? Take it away Mitch...


There's a clip thaty'll get a child star laid way into his late 20's/third stint in rehab. Well done sir.

Eau De Vie
I wouldn't mention this bar but apparently it's been written up as the some 'best hidden bar' or 'super secret find' or something lame in an SMH good food/drink guide so it isn't my fault if you see a guy there in a Zanerobe tee. Where to start, crystal scotch tumblers, private bottle lockers, the nice bloke who seats everyone, extensive cocktail knowledge, and the radical water dispenser. That being said the most important think you need to know about Eau De Vie is that he is your number 2 greaseman (number one sitting in my backyard bubbling away waiting to strike). If you don't know what I mean you're probably not one of my readership of 7.

Yum Cha
Every one has their favourites, like asking Californians about mexican food, or New Yorkers about pizza, Yum Cha is one of the things I'll miss most about Sydney, some seriously efficient asian. Sea Treasure in Crown Nest know what they're doing, as do the brothers from other (asian) mothers down at the Fish Markets. But if you find that at 2am you have a drunken hankering for some MSG head on down to Golden Century near Chinatown and ask the 'eldest statesmen' to sort you out. Perhaps even cover yourself in moist towelettes and profess that you 'can't even see', because no matter what state you enter in you'll exit happy.

Spank Records
Just off Taylors Square, I only went to spank for the first time on the weekend. Rolling past the punters still kicking on from the night before, past the homeless dudes asking for change looking jeasously at the messed up punters, and into a haven of radical unheard tunes. A vinyl shop with decks up set up for personal listenig is a great way to lose an hour. I don't profess to have a great musical knowledge but I do like good music. So although I didn't see one name I knew, the staff notes on the dust covers were a good guide, 'spacey dub with vinyl scratching. nice' definately put me onto a good one.

That's enough for now, not because I'm over typing, but because I'm am at my job gettin paid, and here's a free tip; they don't pay me to blog, no matter how much this will later be referred to as the new new testament. Haters gonna hate.

I'll leave you with some pics of a truly monumental skate that was indulged in on saturday that involved pissing off many cab drivers. First up we have a mot getting a nice little boardwalk barrel with fresh vinyl in hand. Killer saturday.

In other news, St James church has got some seriously smooth paving out front for those with wheels 80dpi and softer.

Finally, the ever elusive land barrel, watch this space, soon to be a major national sport.

Brooklyn watching the sun come up

I know what you're going to say but it's already too late. 'A guest blogger, you must be crazy, don't dilute this stream of awesomeness with an outside influence'. But never fear humble and extremely loyal readers, this posts collaboration comes in the form of some audio/visual delights from none other than the lady killing, cocktail chillin, half head shavin, celeb blog bravin, moon man. I'm just assuming the number of people who frequent this here awesome blog is somewhere between 7-8 in which case you all know who I'm talking about. If no, move to Sydney and join our group of mates, hangovers are shared, banter is A grade, so are the ladiessss*, and if you did your math right earlier you'll know there's a midget in the group.

Anywho, this little gem brings together the three creative forces I've been enjoying recently, as can be seen below, illustration, good tunes, and hot chicks (because a beautiful woman is a work of art, wink face).


Example 'Watch The Sun Come Up' from Jasmine Hemsley on Vimeo.

This one is just Jay Z, any arguments? Good. Great.

Jay Z - "Hello Brooklyn" from Greg Solenström on Vimeo.

*Quality of ladies is subject to change at anytime without notification from Revere The Radical management. No responsibility is taken for stress/friends razz caused by association with sub par ladies.

Winter GTFO

Winter blows. The Australian snow is mucho average, its raining, and every day there's new photos in the news of people finding ways to avoid the Northern summer like they have no concept of how average it is in Sydney right now. Eff.

To prove my point, look at this photo of a punter catching some rays in England yesterday, then look out the window (unless you are in the Northern Hemisphere, in which case 'tan's pull the fan's').

There chilling, chi-llin chiiiii-llen, and then there's Jonesin'...

The Frog'est of Skins

We all know Oakley's Frogskins are severely radical. I can remember purchasing my first pair in Miami with a couple of the gentlemen, we all got different colourways, walked out onto Lincoln St, cruised past all the people drinking afternoon mojitos, took a right down Ocean Drive, and felt pretty damn cool (see photo below, regardless of whether I actually look cool, I felt like the Fresh Prince). The best part was that this was when they were re-released in 2007 and you couldn't get them in Australia yet so all the boys back home were frothing to get their hands on a pair, which they eventually did, but the bandwagon sign was already posted up (and there's nothing worse than thinking you're fresh then finding out your friends knew about it ages ago).

For those lovers for all skin that is froggy James Jarrett, a bloke with time, patience, and an even greater appreciation for shades than Miles Davis, has posted his collection of Frogskins online for $38,000. The set of around 70 includes a full set Supreme kits, Kaws bangers, Joel Madden's personal pair plus the rarest Frogskin on the market - The Eastern Boarder 3D (limited to only six pairs in the world). For an interview with the guy and his motivation and strategy behind the collection, check here.

Here's some of the fly'er of the collection

Happy Hip-Hop

Rappers and Hip-Hop artists are a dime a dozen, and for that we should be grateful because amongst the "yeah bitch you sure gon git it when I make that cash, blah, blah" crap there's many a gem. Who, six months ago, would predict how fast people like Theophilus London, Kid Cudi, and Drake would rise to be best sellers? They're the new kids on the block but they're becoming mainstream as hell real fast, and by that I simply mean that they're getting massive exposure. However for every guy that makes it, which these guys have through pure skill, there's got to be 1000 'lil', 'big', or 'young' (insert other name) artists going on about about the rides they dont have, champagne they dont appreciate, and chicks they could never get unless they scored a recording deal.

Gilbere Forte is just appearing on the radar, in that he's getting enough exposure for someone in Australia to hear about a dude from Philadelphia. He mixes, sings, and produces, which is in an admirable thing in todays music world. His mixtape 87 Dream is awesome from what I've heard off it, and like the first time I heard London's This Charming Mixtape, there should be an exciting release from him in the near future.

 

Have a listen to:

I Know my Love

and 1st Floor produced by Aislyn of Passion Pit.

Hot Chick Viewing

If you havent seen Fired Up! get on that stat or you'll be out of the loop in hangover banter for the next month. You'll be prohibidado. I said it in spanish, how much clearer can I be.



And thats just the cut scene at the end. If you aren't quoting the whole movie in the next week we're done.

Come to think of it if you haven't been watching Peak Season as well we can't be friends anymore.
Wait, am I sure about that? *Stares at Amanda* EVER.

Winter Sessions

It's hard to place the appreciation of who is pushing the envelope of extreme sports at the moment. On one hand you have people like Rob Dyrdek and Kelly Slater with their Street League and Rebel Tour respectively, and on the other you've got Red Bull, throwing some serious events like the X-Fighters and No Limits contests. All of these ae promoting tatted up dudes to go bigger and harder, which is awesome. But is it necessary? No matter how hard they go, no matter how many feet Travis Pastrana jumps in his rally car, a well made video with crisp shooting, soundtrack choice, and heart will always win. On opposite ends of the spectrum, Endless Summer II and Modern Collectve, stylistically they look amazing, and with a story/soundtrack to boot. At the end of the day we're always going to sit back down and watch the enduring favourites over Fuel TV anyway. Thats why I was so chuffed when I saw this (even though Red Bull do have their finger in it), it takes the same old shit and makes you say 'wow' again. Like that time I bought the underwear where your junk becomes the trunk of the elephant.

"Hey baby I got a surprise for you"

"A sexy surprise?"

*whips off pants and makes an elephant noise*

Sigh *rubs bridge of nose*



Pretty cool huh?! Pun intended... and executed. I'm out

Micro Pig

Long has pet selection been a tedious battle between women coo-ing over the white fluffy rat/dog and you eyeing up the proud looking german half-breed, already imagining it's explosive power on attack, the radical outfits you can get it, and the inevitable cruising (I mean that the creep way) down at the local park. Please notice how I consider the only viable pet a dog... a cat is not a pet, it's an annoying black hole of attention that would best serve as a footrest.

And until now, in man's quest for companionship, these have been our two options, but no more. I've just stumbled across perhaps the coolest idea for a pet ever that is guaranteed to you Vincent Chase quantities of ass down at the dog walk park. I'm almost too stoked for words right now. Introducing everyones new favourite household buddy, Micro Pig.

Can't you already imagine it?! The day arrives, a small, but not as small as you had imagined, box arrives at your house with an instruction 'Give him a good home'. I will, you think.

It's day 1 and you take your new little buddy for his first walk, the beginnings of a close bond between micro pig and man. Walking with your head lowered to avoid excess attention, you feel a nagging hesitation;

"What if people think this is weird, some sort of new fad? Or even worse, what if they don't think I'm worthy of owning a Micro Pig?!"

You raise your head and see a cute girl in cutoff jeans and loose guys Rolling Stones singlet standing ahead of you, mouth agape. Your heart plummets...
"OH...MY...GOD...he's so cuteeeeee"
Jackpot

Becoming a big thing in the UK, these radical fellas grow to be 12-14" tall when fully grown, about the same size as a Cocker Spaniel but infinately cooler. They are apparently really clean, can be house trained, and will apprently (and this is the best part) "sit on your lap while you watch TV so you can scratch their bellies" according to the Little Pig Farm UK.

Can you tell by my in-depth Micro Pig research that I'm half way towards a purchase? Because it's happening.

Are you feeling light-headed yet ladies? You will be.

Local Gods

At some stage during our youth we were all in the basement of a friends house sneaking beers from their dad, reading playboys, and argueing over who was better at Mortal Kombat on Super Nintendo. Good Times.

"I feel just like a local god when I'm with the boys, we do what we want"

Truth.

Scotch (no longer on rocks)

Because sometimes quietly enjoying a fine oak single malt scotch while listening to the crackling of a cuban rolled cigar just doesnt do it for you anymore. It's just isn't arrogant enough. You need to take it to the next level. But what does the man who has perfected arrogant, and written the book on smarmy do next. Accessorise, thats what. It's the reason a man pays an extra £30,000 for the carbon fibre trimmings on his new Aston Martin while using it as a town car, won't accept his Patek Philip losing more 1/100th of a second per day, and won't settle for anything less than the mose efficient and arrogant method of iceing his scotch. No longer will he be held back by plebeans and their cubes, spheres of ice are the man's way forward.

Last night over a cold fine oak 12 year with a friend I remembered McCallan's Ice Ball machine and how drinking my $13 scotch on cubes just made me feel cheap. And as I wiped the corners of my mouth clean with $100 notes I vowed to never do injustice to fine liquor again.

And that, kiddies, is how aweome is born, along with some kind of gravity and something about copper. I started reading how it works but was distracted by how good I was for drinking fine scotch with an ice sphere. If you don't follow, that's really good.

Dark and Dawn

We all have that one friend who is always up on the trends. Probably the first guy to start wearing skinny jeans and cardigans in 2005, moved onto a pair of point toe leather shoes, maybe even a waistcoat in there at some stage. Equally at home in a tall tee and kicks as a pair of tailored chino's and dress shirt. But all this time you're wondering 'Where the fuck does this guy get the money for all this?'. The answer, my friends, is probably blowjobs. It's the foundation of our economy, if only there were more blowjobs we could move on from all this 'recession' business. But I digress.

Next time your scenester mate stops next to you on his fixie (coincidentally the moment you realise that your friend has finally gone too far), flash some of your new man jewelery and push him down a steep hill and watch his shock/jealousy/fuck I wish I had brakes face. Man jewelery is a 'thin ice' subject. As is it's application, one wrong step and it's 'DJ Pauly D in the house' as you realise that rosary beads and dog tags were definately the wrong choice. The right choice, if I may, is this collection from Dark and Dawn from Tyler Durtschi in LA.

This stuff definately deserves the title of radical. Simplicity in design and execution (...insert joke about my game with the ladies last weekend...). Yeah, just like that.

Organic Styling

In the age of bling and show, big chains, rosary beads, and dog tags do little more than tag the wearer as a prize douche. But this is well covered territory. What about those who wish to have something for the neck that doesn't automatically give the wearer the unnerving urge to tell 'bro's' to 'chug' their 'brewski's'? Here's an option, the good people at Good Wood NYC have provided you with some choice and well styled adornments for your neck.

And here's the best part, order it online and you never have to get off your ass. I'm not trying to make anyone feel lazy, it's entirely understandable, C.S.I. Miami is on tonight, and that show rocks. Although it did lose its mystery when i found the script.

[Scene opens to a panning shot of the everglades, but something is amiss, there is a car half sub-merged in the water]

LATIN DUDE: It seems the victim was dead before the car was put into the water judging by the deep wounds to the groin and neck.

HORATIO: Good, what else can you tell me?

LD: I'd say judging by the outfit he was on his way to some sort of sport practice...

H: Well I guess we'll have to tell his team [slowly takes off sunglasses and looks down at an angle] they'll all be playing injury time.

[Return to panning shot of the Everglades]

MUSIC: YEAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Don't worry they'll get the bad guy, and at one stage you'll yet again be duped into thinking the blond lab girl with the annoying voice that runs seemingly useless tests is hot. Don't be fooled, it say's right here in the script that she isn't.

NOTE: So I may have lied, judging by the amount of rappers wearing Good Wood NYC's product it's bound to feature on Jersey Shore soon. Shit, all is lost.

Au Revoir

Playmate Rides

You're intrigued, I can tell, the initial thought in your head is swirling around and you think "Is he talking about what I think he is?". Probably not, but I'm definately thinking it too now.

Today I was privy to a most radical revelation (Wayne's World Guitar Riff), one which I will make a concerted effort to transfer into a hobby in the future. Did you know that each year the Playboy 'Playmate of the Year' recieves a free car (with two exceptions)? Neither did I. This isn't an exhibition of my mechanical knowledge (which is limited to my big wheel) but rather to prove that fake boobs and low self esteem can, cometimes, help you win the minor jackpot. Let's all just forget the fact that they probably all sold these cars to fuel their prescription drug habit brought on by too much nipping and tucking. That Hef, what a guy...

In 1964 Donna Michelle recieved the original Ford Mustang in Playmate Pink.

Only to be trumped by Connie Kreski in 1969 with the original Shelby GT500 Fastback, still one of the greatest cars ever made.

A mere two years later (1971 for the non-savant's in the crowd), Hef mixed it up by giving the lovely Sharon Clark this Spectra Ski boat.

Fast forward to 1988, after a period during which many Porsche's and Jaguar's flew out the mansion doors, India Allen recieved this California Countache Roadster, which although looking and sounding like a Lamborghini, is actually a kit car (Hef saved on the badge and splurged on... let's say a Tiger)

Skipping past Anna Nicole Smith and Jenny McCarthy to 1996 when the leggy Stacy Sanches recieved this high priced gem...

Retro Babe: "Awwww it's so cute, but seriously... where's my Porsche?"
Hef: "Ha you always were funny, now you're fired... (noticing massing crowd) GROTTO PARTY"

Skipping Victoria Silvstedt and her boring Porsche Boxster, we reach Heather Kozar in 1999 with her Shelby CSX 4000 Series Cobra. Another classic ride.

And yes, I know that's a man driving the car, get out of my grill.

Finally, skipping to this years Mansion nug Hope Dworaczyk who recieved a BMW S1000RR motorcycle. Look at her sitting on it going "Vroom Vroommmmm... am I doing it right?"

Yes dear, yes you are.

The only selection porcess I can gather from the past selections is one of the following;

A) The girls pick their gift themselves, which speaks alot for the intelligence of playmates (The 1973 playmate got a Volvo wagon)
B) When it comes to selection day minions attempt to deciphes what comes out of gereatric Hef's mouth as he engages in another grotto orgy
C) Both at the same time, because in my mind that's what goes on every day.

Check out the entire list at Jalopnik.

Adios

Cudi = Hero

You know that moment when you discover that your hero, the one person you look up to for guidance and support, the pillar of your belief, if nothing but a mere human, weak to all the same temptations and tribulations of life as you? Well sack up, because this isn't that moment.

This is like when you saw Rob Dyrdek had produced Rob & Big, possibly the best reality show ever, while still being an awesome skater and all round funny fuck.

This is like when LeBron hit the floor on the court, the crowd goes into hurried whispers right before he stands up, drains a buzzer shot, looks you directly in the eye to make sure you know, he is that good.

This is like Cudi...


cudderisback from Decon on Vimeo.


If thats not one of the best things you've seen this week then I have to roll with you more often.

Peace I'm outta here