88 Keys - The Dealth of Adam
I’ve been thoroughly enjoying Adam’s Case Files for months so I was really looking forward to 88 Keys official drop. 3 years in the making, The Dealth of Adam has some appearances by some of my favorites like Kanye, Kid Cudi and Phonte. I really feel 88 Keys style of production with the old samples and nice cuts, while I’m not usually a hug fan of mic effects I can handle Keys rapping with them and enjoy it. The overall story is about ‘Adam’ trying to pull a honey, spending money on her, finally getting her home, can’t get it up, then he does and the girl wants round 2 but he can’t hang. Eventually he gets buck wild, and she goes off the pill, he gets stuck, trapped and it’s a wrap and it should have been wrapped. The lyrics are funny and good, the beats are great. The only thing I wish is that it was longer. I hope I don’t have to wait 3 more years for another 88 Keys album.
Dedication 3
For all those that may not be up on their mixtape game Dedication 3 released today. It’s DJ Drama & Lil Wayne’s third effort together and after all the hype it’s not disappointing. I’m probably Lil Wayne’s biggest critic while at the same time being a huge fan. Dedication 3 is filled with Barack O’Drama bangers and Weezy’s codine-fuelled, auto-tuned, idiot-savant genius. What’s there not to like really? The guest appearances from Jae Millz, Gudda Gudda and Canada’s Drake all add to the tape instead of overloading it and making it bad as with so many mix tapes. Get it here.
Issue 7 Live | Empty your Cache
Right on time as usual, issue 7 is now up live for your viewing, and I hope reading pleasure. I loved this image so much I changed it to the cover last minute. Beautiful shot of Lars Stoten in action. The main fashion feature this month is on Mjolk. I am seriously behind this collection, Lars is a great guy and a very talented designer. We also caught up with Black Milk, Edina from BPMW Agency, Sarah Kahn, an up and coming Parisian designer and New York based (Malin+Goetz). This issue is the least fashion intensive with some design, business, art and finally a music feature. I also want to thank Dexter Austria and Calvin Pais for their contributing this month on the ‘This is the Last time’ and ‘Olso - A new Look’ respectively. I finally spilled my tale of my first love in the Sneaker Diaries as well…ahh The Questions. I also took the chance to break down some of my favorite shawl neck pieces of the season. Be sure to read every word, look at every picture and enjoy every second.
Issue 7 Preview
It’s almost that time already. Just when I thought I was getting in the groove and it was becoming routine, turns out I just got slightly lazy and started focusing on other things a bit more. As is life and fortunately in online publishing with no other stakeholders, there are no deadlines officially. Also since the last issue launched a few dates into the month, I didn’t want to cut short their time to shine, so we are looking to have Issue 7 published around the end of next week or possibly sooner if nothing goes wrong. The issue is definitely the least fashion focused yet, while that is and has been the main topic for h(y)r collective, this month we talked to Black Milk about touring in Europe and his new album, Sarah Kahn, a French designer and art director, BPMW one of the most influential agencies in the business, (Malin+Goetz) and Mjolk. Lars, the designer of Mjolk was one of the most friendly and fun guys we hung out with back in New York, since I’ve become a huge fan of the collection and we are please to give an in depth look into him and his work.
And Then They Played Dilla
I know this came out a minute ago, but I just got my hands on it the other day. It’s really dope. Charles Hamilton goes hard on a couple Donuts beats I never thought would get laced up. Listen to Krispy Kreme Intentions and tell me you aren’t feeling hip hop right now. I’ve been listening to this beat and a couple others lately, ‘Don’t Cry’ especially so to hear a good rapper doin’ them justice is a treat. Even the tracks with no rapping are dope to listen to. Some nice changes and subtle extensions, rearrangements keep it fresh and more than worth listening to. I know there are a lot of Dilla fans that read and hopefully people are feeling Charles a little bit. I’m not totally on board with him, there are times he seems a bit cheesy but you can’t deny the grind and talent.
Friendly Fire
Fit: At 16, this guy is years ahead of the curve. (Lookbook.Nu)
Design: I’ve never been able to beat a Rubix Cube, but I want a Rubitone (SwissMiss)
Music: The election’s only a week away and Premier has the fever too (Inqmnd)
Video: 8 years later… (Jake Davis)
Bag: I think I like Porter’s latest offering, but maybe I don’t. I don’t know if I do (The Glade)
Black Milk Tronic Drop
In a music industry where Soulja Boy can turn his swag on and make what appears to be a lot of loot, all is not lost. This week marks the drop of Black Milk’s second solo album. I’ve been bumping it hard all night and I’ve gone through about 3 or 4 times now, it’s dope. The beats are fire, the lyrics are clever but still about ice, girls and making good shit. Basically from the first track until the first track comes on again, you get really good shit. This is about as real as hip hop gets right now, with only a couple guest appearences by Pharoahe Monch, Sean Price, Royce Da 5′9 and DJ Premiere, there are some heavy weights trying to keep up with the youngest in charge. Black Milk is providing some great lyricists with great beats lately, Elzhi, Guilty Simpson and Sean Price are all talented emcees, but without something hot to rap on, there is something missing. Definitely go out and buy Tronic tomorrow, and be sure to check the next issue of h(y)r collective. I had a chance to catch up with Black on the phone in between his European tour and release parties in NYC and at home in Detroit.
808 & Heartbreaks Sampler
I’m really looking forward to the release of Kanye’s album next month. Between him and Black Milk I like new music right now. While Ye’s newish sound might not have his OG fan base particularly happy, I really feel his direction and style. I feel strongly he has help keep music fresh and interesting, pretty much on his own. I like his new stuff as well. I do prefer his rapping. I actually think he’s a great rapper, and while he may never be able to top what he did on College Dropout, he is more than capable to kill most dudes with 16. That said, that isn’t what he’s doing and that’s okay because his heart is in this. He believes this is what is right and he’s putting everything into it, that passion makes me feel it and respect it, and who can really be mad at 808’s. So I thought I might as well give you what is out so far, Love Lockdown, Coldest Winter, Heartless and Robokop.
In John’s Bag
Next up is John hailing from Brooklyn, NYC. Keeping it short and sweet, I love to see a good Porter piece in there. Also a huge fan of the bag he’s chosen, also interesting to see another pair of nice ear phones. I need to step my game up. Got some nice bags to follow, thanks for keeping ‘em coming.
Eastpak x RAF Kit Pack Crinkle because I thought it was the most original bag I saw this year. I’m really into the texture, and you can’t go wrong with Eastpak. In the bag: Original Fake ashtray because I don’t want to litter! Porter x APC wallet because it’s got enough zippers and pockets. Alakazam! x Medicom slippers, so I can get comfy on the fly. Nike bonbon knit… PAM x Colab sunglasses… these are so dope, the tape in the middle! Bose in ear headphones are the best in ear headphones. If you use anything else, your ears get confused and forget what depth and bass in music sounds like.
Issue Six Live
Issue six is finally up. Enjoy. Nom de Guerre, WANT Les Essentials, Business of Buying, Komakino, Peter Taylor among several other pieces. Check out the Battle of the Oxfords in the focus section along with every single other page in the magazine. Enjoy. Less than a month to go until issue seven, hurry up and read.
Black Milk
This dude is hot to def. Black Milk is killing it, not just now, but for a while. I’ve heard a bunch of his production for Guilty Simpson, Sean Price, Elzhi, and of course, himself. He’s not only a talented producer but he’s legit with the mic in hand. I’d heard a few tracks of his album ‘ Popular Demand’ but today I finally picked up a copy. It’s worth buying, and I wouldn’t say that about too many records these days. Popular Demand is cover to cover one of the best hip hop albums I’ve heard in the last coupe years. I love his style of beats and samples, although lately he’s been moving away and using more instrumental percussion. His rhymes are witty, intelligent and appearances from Guilty Simpson, Slum Village, and Phat Kat are always good. As you can tell he’s coming from Detroit with those connections and also a fairly obvious Jay Dee influence.
Chromeo
Chromeo, the synth-electro-rock-pop duo (or something. who makes that stuff up?) that everyone knows and likes (or at least should) is in the midst of doing some clothing design. They’re teaming up with french label Surface 2 Air for some collaborative pieces. A varsity jacket, western shirt, hoody and another jacket to be exact. While Dave 1 and P-Thugg have completely different styles, they both seem to be pretty well dressed guys, so it will be interesting to see how things turn out. Judging on the way the collection of leather jackets that S2A produced with Justice, the Chromeo collection should be something to look forward too. Their next album, which they’re starting to record in November, will hopefully be good as well. (via Billboard)
Tivoli Audio
There are a few companies dedicated to making well designed products that also focus on the quality in which they preform. A lot of those products are featured here on h(y)r collective, so here’s another one, Tivoli Audio. The speakers, sub-woofers, and iPal components are some of the nicest in terms of quality and aesthetic design for their price. Tivoli has a goal of making the best possible products for the best price. The modern wood encasement gives these products a very homey feeling. The modern living quarters are generally small, compact, clean, and make the most of their price and size. Tivoli is dedicated to this modern customer. These speakers are available internationally, and now on hynee.store.com.
Charles Hamilton is the Truf
I like this rapper. He’s funny, intelligent, witty, he’s the future. Rappers have been making myspace and facebook references for a couple years now but Charles Hamilton grew up on it. He seems like he is one if the first from a new generation of artists that have really grown up in the Internet era and yet still come out with a sense of self and intelligence. Charles Hamilton has been tearing it up in my opinion. I’m not saying he is the best rapper out there, but you can’t deny his creativity, rhyming abilities and genuine passion for music. Although I do have to bring up an issue I have with Charles and his T shirt over dress shirt combos, that really needs to stop. Anyways for a small taste of what I’m talking about, have a listen to this track.
Kanye, Cool, 808, Stems
Kanye is dope, I’ve always thought so and probably always will. Whether he steals the awards show, literally, smashes cameras or makes great music, I’m a fan. With his highly anticipated 808’s and Heartbreak getting bumped up to release earlier than schedule I have a good feeling about the album. What’s actually cool is that Kanye has put up the different stems on his blog from Love Lockdown. You can download the 808, drums, vocals separately. He’s almost challenging people to see what they can do with the track which is pretty fresh, music industry 2.0 you might say. Anyways since I just started using Soundtrack Pro and Pro Tools in school yesterday I figure I’m pretty much all set to have a crack at a Love Lockdown remix. Stay tuned indefinitely to find out the result.
