Panty Raid!

Not generally the biggest fan of dubstep, or stepping in general, I'm more of a skater. This ditty did catch my attention though. Serene dub

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

Mates are the Raddest

If there's one thing I enjoy more than an entertaining sunday coffee chat, a casual afternoon skate, or a session at the beach in high summer, it's doing any of those things with my mates. Having mates is the best. It's entirely understandable that those without any have an abysmal outlook on life. You know when you're having a terrible day a mates there to give you some quality banter, or to share the excellent moment you see a fat school kid fall over in public. Most of all, you know that when the HCASH worthy lady you were courting ups and dissappears like yesterdays news that they'll be there to remind you of the simpler days when the most important thing in life was winning Mortal Kombat on Super Nes. and making sure your friends parents didn't find the stash of porn you had under the house.

Apparently Chivas Regal recognises this as well, as they should. Because what's better than sitting about with some old mots and knocking back a couple on rocks?!*



*Nothing

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.

King of Cool

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.

Great Scott

Sure some may not be useful, or even liked by true enthusiasts, but you’ve got to take your hat off for a well done throwback. It’s a bit dated now but the Nike MAG’s that dropped in September for charity are a solid effort at recreating the originals rocked by Marty in Back 2 the Future II. Partly because we a) all secretly wished they made L.A. Lights in adult sizes (if this is news to you, keep strong), and b) nobody likes to do up their laces. Forgetting that these don’t actually lace themselves and you yet again have one more first world problem, these are a radical homage to the original, which let’s be honest when coupled with the hoverboard are the only reason we say this was our favourite in the trilogy.

For the launch of the show and the auctions (with all proceeds going to Marty McFly’s foundation) they recreated some of the memorable props from the film, which I’m sure helped people to keep flashing those paddles for a pair of kicks no doubt made in Taiwan.

Plus, Kevin Durant knows a payday when he sees one and it ain’t coming from the NBA this season.