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Celebrate Spike Lee’s 60th Birthday With His Top Five Films

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Celebrate Spike Lee’s 60th Birthday With His Top Five Films

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Shelton Jackson Lee, or better known as Spike Lee, is arguably the most important filmmaker of the past thirty years. From exploring colorism, race relations, crime, and other controversial topics, Lee has produced over 35 “Spike Lee joints” through 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks company. As the legendary filmmaker has just celebrated his 60th birthday, here are some of the best and most-defining works of Spike Lee’s career (in no particular order).

1. Do the Right Thing (1989)

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Probably one of the most stylish films to date, Do The Right Thing is a seminal Spike Lee joint. Set on the hottest day of the summer, the film explores the racial tension in the historically-black Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn with an all-star cast including Samuel L. Jackson, Ruby Dee, Ossie Davis, and a very young Martin Lawrence. Tackling issues such as racism, gentrification, police brutality, the film was way ahead of its time and could have easily been released today in the “Black Lives Matter” age. As his third feature-length film, Do The Right Thing was a major success for Spike, grossing nearly $40 million and garnering his first Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay. The film was even deemed “culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant” by the Library of Congress and inducted into the National Film Registry in its first year of eligibility, becoming one of just six films to hold this distinction.

2. Malcolm X (1992)

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Based on The Autobiography of Malcolm X, Lee’s biographical drama film about the highly misunderstood and mischaracterized activist is a definite must see. Chronicling his humble beginnings in Omaha to his involvement with gangsters in Harlem and his ascension and departure from the Nation of Islam, the film gives an honest portrayal of Malcolm X with insight to the good, the bad, and the ugly moments of his life without putting him on a godly pedestal of perfection. Spike’s superb direction and Denzel Washington’s sharp embodiment of the activist was widely praised.

3. Jungle Fever (1991)

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In this Spike Lee Joint, the filmmaker explores a tumultous interracial affair between a married black architect (played by Wesley Snipes) and his Italian-American temp which is highly despised by both of their families. Meanwhile, his crack addict brother is continuing to struggle with his addiction which is also taking a toll on the rest of the family. Although the premise sounds a bit messy, Jungle Fever is an effective film. Internalized racism and colorism are major themes of the film – topics typically overlooked in modern cinema although still a huge issue in the black community.

4. Crooklyn (1994)

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This semi-autobiographical film based on Lee’s childhood is instead shown through the eyes of a nine year old girl Troy. A departure from the his previous films which focused on serious issues (such as racism), Crooklyn was pretty light-hearted in terms of subject matter instead demonstrating growing up in Brooklyn the early 1970s. This coming-of-age tale follows the independent young Troy, the only girl in a a household of boys, navigating her way through the world. An added plus of the film is that we get to actually see children playing and existing outside (does this even happen in current times?)

5. When The Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts (2006)

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One of his few documentaries, When The Levees Broke is a look at the devastation of New Orleans following the monstrous wrath of Hurricane Katrina. Filmed three months after the hurricane hit and comprised of news footage, still photos of the hurricane’s aftermath, and first-hand accounts from the city’s residents, the documentary shows the suffering of those affected by the disaster while also criticizing the levees’ poor design and the government’s slow response. The documentary was also a critical success, winning three Emmy Awards as well as a Peabody Award.

Is Taylor Bennett The Restoration of an American Idol?

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Is Taylor Bennett The Restoration of an American Idol?

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Taylor’s Restoration Of An American Idol,  is his moment, but he isn’t awarded his rightful validation. According to DJ Booth, it is said Taylor is “creating music during the height of his older brother’s popularity, a peak that continues to ascend with his every step forward.” Even though they have the same last name, share a strong resemblance, and even vocally are similar in their music―it seems impossible for Taylor to escape his brother.

Taylor rightfully deserves recognition for his work and to not be defined in his brothers shadow. With the release of his project Restoration Of An American Idol, it’s safe to say Taylor has his own lane and he’s giving the world a taste of what he has to offer.

Here are three of the best songs on the short project, that has me riding with Taylor:

1. Intro (The Kid’s Alright) [ft. Princeton of Mindless Behavior]

Taylor raps on “Intro,” “I had to show him that I’m not LeBron/Can’t vote for no future that’s frivolous/My shoulders got broader, my music got smarter/I work like this shit is a privilege,”  summing up what many are thinking: Taylor Bennett is only famous thanks to Chance. While it may be true, it’s a statement that doesn’t give credit to a talented musician.

2. Favorite Colors (ft. KYLE & Luke Tennyson)

Taylor raps, “I need them VMA’s it’s in my DNA/I ain’t no deity but I still contemplate / Complicate, conversate, me on that BET/MTV, what that shit meant for me,” His brother weighing heavily on his mind, his career and the track, he is showing that with both stress and competition it will bring upon success for him.

3. Grown Up Fairy Tales (feat. Chance the Rapper & Jeremih)

An unexpected feature by his brother, Chance, and Jeremih on this track but this shows that Taylor can stand out when working alongside artists who lyrically are amazing.

Many expected Taylor Bennett to dive deeper into his level of vulnerability in his music that no one really knows, especially after his sexuality announcement. However he doesn’t touch on that part of his life on the Restoration Of An American Idol, instead gives us bits of his life with a mixture of jubilant flows and multi-syllable rhymes. Even though people expected a bit more from Taylor, I think it works for the type of artist he is. Taylor told The FADER:

“Something that I always try to do is leave very open perspectives for anybody. Like I said, when I write , I try to write it for everybody. In the future, who knows? I think it’s all about experience and I try to write real-life situations, so if it happens, then of course. But if not, then I wouldn’t do it, ‘cause it wouldn’t be . [Laughs.] But I mean, in the future, like I said, there’s infinite possibilities, but you know when I wrote that song, I wrote it specifically about a girl and a relationship I was in.”

The Bennett brothers may share a couple of similarities but they are taking two different approaches in the industry and shouldn’t be compared. Taylor is experimenting. He is resisting the urge to follow trends and focusing on his wordplay, as well.Taylor Bennett has given me some great tracks that you might just catch me jamming to for the rest of the year.

5 Reasons You Need Lego Tape At Your Next House Party

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5 Reasons You Need Lego Tape At Your Next House Party

Legos, a wholesome toy that has inspired kids around the globe to build anything, has a new function for adults.

Nimuno has created what they call Nimuno Loops (boring) but they’re taking over the Internet with a different name…LEGO TAPE! It’s only $11 for a few rolls, so they’re fairly cheap. Nimuno even made a cute little video that shows all the different ways you can use it, but let’s chalk all that out the window. I see Lego Tape as a wave of the future, but in a more repurposed role. Here’s how you can max out your next party using Nimuno’s Lego Tape.

1. Keep L’s Rolled

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Imagine being at a party and not being able to roll up. You’re coming down from your high and the Jungle Juice is watery. Having a table with a few lego tape strips could make a difference. The Nimuno’s Lego Tape is flexible and there’s an adhesive strip on the back. If you fold the tape into a “V” while keeping the bottom of the “V” on the table, you’ll have a form-fitting rolling surface. You’re welcome.

2. Use It As Door Opening Stoppers

Let’s avoid having drunk people wander randomly throughout the house or out in the street. No one wants to see anything bad happen to anyone. We also don’t want to see stupid things happen. My suggestion: Throw a couple strips of lego tape across the doors so guests can’t just aimlessly open doors. Talk about the magic seal.

3. Keep Your Grip Locked On The Jungle Juice

Do you hate it when you are at a party and some drunk person runs into you, knocking over your amazing Jungle Juice concoction? So do I side eye. Well, there are two ways to keep your juice secured in hand. You can either A) wrap the lego tape around the cup so you have a better grip or B) use the lego tap as a non-slip surface when putting it down. Either way you want to use it, let’s keep the sloppiness for the drunkies.

4. Use It To Hang Decorations/Lights On the Wall

Sometimes it’s hard to find ways to hang lights and honestly who has the time to deal with stuff falling down and looking crazy. Cop up on some lego tape; it’s adhesive is sturdy and you can actually use the grooves to place strips of lights. Also if you wanna get really DIY, I suggest putting some thumbtacks or nails in the raised grooves to avoid having to damage your walls. Lego tape is the perfect solution for any surface.

5. Section Off DJ Booth

Again for the drunk people in the back, stay in your lane! But for those of you who are past speech recognition and just wanna be close to the DJ so you can tell them how to do their mix, we’ve got something for ya. Use the lego tape to set up a barrier for the DJ Booth, your party will run more smoothly and your DJ will definitely appreciate it.

Three Dates Action Bronson Should Consider For His Dating Series!

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Three Dates Action Bronson Should Consider For His Dating Series!

Action Bronson will host his third series with Vice, this time on their Snapchat channel. As Hungry Hearts with Action Bronson airs, these are the top three dates he should consider when playing match maker and curating dates.

1. Raid a Grocery Store

Couples are timed to go on a shopping spree at the grocery store and then have to make dinner together!
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2. Stoner Cone

Build a cannabis infused ice cream cone together.
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3. Hot Wings Challenge

How many flaming hot wings can you eat before you or your date taps out?
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Any suggestions?

Feel free to comment below and be sure to check out Action Bronson’s new series Hungry Hearts with Action Bronson

wifisfuneral: The Sunshine State’s Rising Star

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wifisfuneral: The Sunshine State’s Rising Star

Hailing from a region where rap is seldom lyrically poignant or introspective, Palm Beach rapper wifisfuneral has come to fill that void.

Though the nearly 20 year old emcee explores familiar themes in his music (such as money and drug use), wifisfuneral’s approach is much more melancholic than celebratory. His most recent project – the twelve track mixtape When Hell Falls – is a musical testimony to his current and past demons, filled with fierce wordplay and grim production value that sharply differentiates the rapper from his peers.

Regarding the current state of Southern hip-hop, wifisfuneral finds the region’s domination and influence over the genre at the moment “refreshing” but – in a respectful comparison to others – considers himself as the “Waldo” of the region.

“I’m just the guy with the striped shirt out of everybody with the plain, solid colored shirts. I just don’t belong there. Like, I love it and I love everything that it gave to me. But I just personally don’t feel like I belong there. I personally feel like I’m in a completely different mind frame than rappers coming out of the South and that’s no disrespect to any rappers coming out of the South or any rappers that have come out of the South. I just have a different mentality.”

Before later relocating to Palm Beach, Florida, wifisfuneral (born Isaiah Rivera) lived in the South Bronx – the birthplace of hip-hop. Although his father was in a rap group throughout the 1990s, Rivera’s true introduction to hip-hop was watching the “Mo Money, Mo Problems” music video as a child. Captivated by Puff Daddy and Ma$e “flying around with those puffy ass suits” and the video’s overall exuberance, Rivera’s mind was set in that moment that he was going to be a rapper. With an eclectic top five including Eminem, Lil Wayne, Mos Def, Biggie, and MF Doom (who is tattooed on the rapper’s neck), Rivera ultimately cherry-picked the most redeeming qualities from his influences and turned them into his own.

He originally teamed up with his friend Gabe Guerra to form a rap duo entitled wifisfuneral. “We met each other when his best friend committed suicide and that’s where the ‘funeral’ part comes in place,” Rivera explained. On the other hand, the “wifi” – whose logo is tattooed on Rivera’s face – symbolizes the yearn for the music going universal. Guerra’s musical attention eventually turned elsewhere, becoming Rivera’s personal DJ under the moniker DJ Scheme; meanwhile, Rivera and the name remained.
As wifisfuneral started gaining traction on Soundcloud, the rapper was granted the golden opportunity of opening up for one of his favorite rappers: Earl Sweatshirt. wifi’s fiery performance of “Surrrf” (which had been in constant rotation in Earl’s camp, unbeknownst that its creator was the tour opener) quickly gained the Odd Future rapper’s attention who commending him for his music after the show.

“[Earl Sweatshirt] was like ‘Yo, you’re so dope.’ I thought he was talking to somebody else so I literally looked behind me,” Rivera confessed. “He was like ‘Nah, I’m telling you. Your shit’s hard.’” Despite being smitten by the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of having one of his rap idols praising his work, the harsh realities of wifi’s life quickly began to settle soon after; however, an even more special moment was soon to come.

“A week passes by and I’m broke as fuck sleeping hotel to hotel. And I’m just thinking that life is going to complete shit and that this rap shit is just not working out for me. And I go on Twitter randomly and I see that this nigga just co-signed on Twitter. It holds a very sentimental part in my heart and it’s like anybody’s favorite rapper coming to them and being like “Yo, your shit’s hard.” And that’s what I really appreciated about him. And he kept it mad authentic with me and he kept it mad real with me.”

As a self-proclaimed “Odd Future stan,” wifisfuneral was extremely appreciative of Earl Sweatshirt’s public co-sign. “Me and him, we don’t keep in contact with each other much or at all,” the rapper revealed. “But I know there’s a certain level of respect on his end and a major level of respect on my end.”

Following the high point of his career at that time, wifisfuneral began crafting his breakthrough mixtape Black Heart Revenge. The project – which features production Robb Bank$, Cris Dinero, and Henry Daher among others – is a diverse collection of hedonistic anthems (“It Don’t Matter” and “Love the Feeling”), apologetic tunes (“Yellow”), and introspective tracks exploring mortality (“Highway to Hell,” “Grim,” and “Life After Death”). Since its release in 2015, the mixtape has amassed an impressive 4.5 million plays on Soundcloud and brought notable attention to the rapper.

However, despite its success, the project arrived at a difficult point in the rapper’s life. Battling a harsh drug addiction during the mixtape’s creation, Rivera suffered a series of overdoses. “When I made Black Heart Revenge, I went to the emergency room like four times,” Rivera disclosed. “I pretty much thought I was supposed to be dead and doctors were telling me ‘I don’t get how you’re alive right now.'”
After a strenuous recovery, Rivera drew upon his experiences and channeled that energy into completing the project. Although death became a major theme in his later releases, the rapper revealed that his fascination with mortality stemmed from his childhood.

“The whole mortality thing has been since a kid and it just played a bigger effect as I got older because I actually went through shit. But even as a kid, I never understood the concept of death. I never understand the concept of dying. What never sat right with me was, why the fuck do we even exist if like we’re just here to die? It makes no sense to even living. That was just my conscious and my everyday mental growing up and then it just played a bigger part because with that mentality, I grew up not giving a fuck. Because I was like ‘Bet, I’m gonna die anyways.’ And I’m here where I am today.”

Following up Black Heart Revenge was no easy feat but wifisfuneral made sure to deliver with his latest project When Hell Falls. Reaching #17 on the iTunes charts (as opposed to Revenge’s #68 peak) and garnering positive reception, the mixtape was a major triumph for the emcee. In a difficult decision, he selected When Hell Falls over its predecessor, citing the mixtape’s stronger organization and overall “vibe” as examples.

“You can listen to [When Hell Falls] from start to finish and have an opinion, as opposed to listening to it from start to finish and then being like ‘I’m just gonna bump these certain songs,” he explained.

Since When Hell Falls‘ release, wifisfuneral has dropped visuals for its tracks “Antisocial Club” and “Hell on Earth” while also recently debuting a standalone track entitled “wya?” on Soundcloud. While secretive about his exact intentions and plans for the remainder of the year, the rapper vows to be on “some Wayne shit” by releasing a bunch of music throughout the year and also dropping a song on his 20th birthday (March 20th).

As his final words before departing, wifisfuneral depicts a stark contrast between himself and other rappers.

“I want the world to know that a lot of these rappers put on a big façade. They put a big imaginary picture of what they want you to believe they are. But with me, everything is 100% raw, uncut, authentic; right then and there, what you see is what you get. If you like it, continue on this journey and we gonna do bigger and better things. And if you don’t, there’s 7.5 billion people in this world and I guarantee half of them make music. I want people when they see my name and see my music on any platform, be open-minded. Listen to it. If you like, you like it. If you don’t like it, eff it. Whatever.”

We’re looking forward to see what wifisfuneral delivers in 2017. Be sure to follow him on Twitter and check out his Soundcloud to stay up-to-date with his music.

Nicki Minaj, Remy Ma Feud Shows Misogyny Is Embedded In Hip-Hop

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Nicki Minaj, Remy Ma Feud Shows Misogyny Is Embedded In Hip-Hop

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For the past two weeks, the internet has been buzzing over the highly-publicized feud between femcees Remy Ma and Nicki Minaj. After remaining more or less silent following Remy’s back-to-back disses “ShETHER” and “Another One,” Nicki Minaj successfully reignited the feud by firing back at her rival on the Lil Wayne and Drake assisted response track “No Frauds.”

Although a major topic of discussion in the hip-hop community as of late, the rap beef has garnered a considerable amount of scrutiny and mixed reception from the public. While some find the lyrical battle refreshing, others found the dissension between women as regressive; and, of course, some completely disregarded the abilities and musical output of the female rappers altogether.

Nonetheless, it’s important to note that the public perception of women quarreling in hip-hop goes far beyond Nicki Minaj or Remy Ma – the misogyny is embedded in the culture.

Women in hip-hop have long been overlooked and lesser appreciated as compared to their male counterparts. Often left out of conversations regarding the greatest rappers and rap beefs, female hip-hop artists rarely (if ever) receive their proper due.

In fact, one of the earliest and most notable diss tracks in hip-hop history – “Roxanne’s Revenge” – was done by then fourteen year old Roxanne Shante in 1984.

Likewise, MC Lyte established herself as a prominent battle rapper as a teenager as well in the 1980s, even issuing a diss track of her own towards her rival Antoinette.

Outside of rap beefs, Lil Kim, Lauryn Hill, and Missy Elliott among others have made significant impact inside the genre but each of them are relegated to merely a “best female rappers” status. Women in rap are rarely celebrated for their efforts and Nicki Minaj and Remy Ma are no exception.

One of the most alluring features of the current rap beef was that for the first time since Minaj’s inception, it seemed that she had a viable opponent worthy of taking her rap queen crown. Sure, Iggy Azalea had some mainstream success in 2014 but she failed to gain credibility in the hip-hop world. Similarly, Lil’ Kim’s “Black Friday” diss was arguably as brutal as Remy’s “ShETHER” but she was seemingly past her prime. On the other hand, Remy Ma’s early release from prison and her reputation as a battle rapper granted her the perfect opportunity to usurp Nicki’s long-lasting monopoly over the female rap game.

Interestingly enough, some critics of the feud actually cite Nicki and Remy’s beef as regressive and misogynist in nature. For these naysayers, it is more empowering for female rappers – a minority in their genre – to stick together and support one another in such a male-dominated industry. This may be true and ideal in theory but it goes against the very things that makes hip-hop, hip-hop. The genre was founded and continues to thrive on competition as each rapper showcases their lyrical talents in order to earn them the title as “the best.” Having rivaling women forcibly unite for the sake of feminism is not only restricting female rappers from participating in an inevitable part of the culture but is also limiting women to “staying in their place” while their male counterparts are free to do otherwise.

However the rivalry turns out, the beef between Nicki Minaj and Remy Ma may actually be a good thing for women in hip-hop. From the focus on lyricism and a conversation that does not only revolve around one female rapper, something fruitful may arise out of the femcee’s beef. The respect for female rappers definitely will not appear overnight but this may actually be a start.

‘The Get Down’ Series Is Back, 5 Takeaways From New Episodes

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‘The Get Down’ Series Is Back, 5 Takeaways From New Episodes

The wait is nearly over. Baz Luhrmann’s Netflix original series The Get Down is making its return on April 7 with Part Two of the first season.

In Part One, we were introduced to a group of teenagers from the South Bronx as hip-hop and disco music made its rise in the 70s. It all began in 1977 with a young poet named Ezekiel Figuero. One night, Zeke and his friends met a local graffiti artist, Shaolin Fantastic who is aspiring to be a famous DJ. All sharing a passion for hip-hop and a desire to be successful led them to form a musical group,”The Fantastic Four Plus One,” which has since been renamed to “The Get Down Brothers.” But, these boys were not the only ones trying to pursue their dream in this narrative. Mylene Cruz, Zeke’s longtime love interest, wants nothing more than to make it out of The Bronx as a disco superstar, but she has to find a way to overcome the disapproval of her religious family.

The series may be fictional, but it does illustrate the real-life problems The Bronx was experiencing during this time: crime, corruption, and a crumbling economy.

Last Thursday, Netflix released a full-length trailer for the season’s second half and it looks like things are getting even more real in New York City.

Here are five things we’ve learned about the upcoming episodes:

1.) It takes place a year later.

According to the synopsis, Part Two is set in 1978, a year after the events of Part One. It’s only been about 365 days, but it seems a lot has changed for The Get Down crew, for the better and for the worst.

2.) There is growing tensions between the hip-hop and disco music scenes.

As we know, disco is currently dominating the charts and the clubs in the late-1970s. Hip-hop is only in its early stages; so early that it doesn’t even have the name “hip-hop” yet (Right now, it is being referred to as the “get down” genre). In the trailer, it is hinted numerous times how the “get down” genre is going to be the next great American musical genre. Obviously, we know that to be true, but are we finally going to see it happen in this season? We just might.

3.) There may be a Cadillac and The Get Down Brothers collaboration.

In the first half of the season, we learn Shaolin Fantastic has been and still is involved in some rather illegal activity. To fund his music dream, he sells work for kingpin..or shall I say, queenpin Fat Annie. Apparently, he does more than just satisfy her drug business too (yuck), which just adds to the list of why her son, Cadillac despises Shao. And the feeling is definitely mutual. In the trailer, Fat Annie can be seen talking to the two, demanding they cut a record together. Minutes later, we see Cadillac grooving his way down the stage as The Get Down Brothers stand behind him in disgust. I can’t wait to hear what this hip-hop/disco track sounds like.

4.) Mylene: New borough, same problems?

The final episode of Part One ended with Mylene moving to Manhattan. As they overlook the cityline, she asks Ezekiel: “You think we can keep one foot in each world?” referring to keeping her parents happy, while pursuing her disco music career. In the trailer for Part Two, we find out many doors have been opening for her. Mylene is really going to be a superstar, but her religious father appears to still be struggling to accept it. By the looks of it, she might just stop giving a f*ck.

5.) Ezekiel’s choices might cost him a fortune and I don’t mean just money.

Part One leaves off with our protagonist, like Mylene, contemplating being able to do two things at once: making music with The Get Down Brothers and having a government internship with Mylene’s “uncle” Papa Fuerte. In the trailer, Zeke has trouble juggling his two worlds, especially since neither one approves of the other. It is clear that in his heart, he wants to be an MC and his decision to follow his dreams might jeopardize everything else, including his home situation.

You Can Buy Ties Made Out Of Spider Silk

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You Can Buy Ties Made Out Of Spider Silk

Bolt Threads is a new startup that manufactures all sorts of ties and neckties out of synthetic spider silk. The company unveiled its first item on March 10, a limited-edition knit necktie. It will be available for purchase at $314.

The company raised about $90 million in venture capital funding and spent seven years of research with dozens of scientists, engineers, technicians and designers.

Would you be down to by a tie out of spider silk?

Frank Ocean Is Blessing Fans With A New Song Tonight!

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Frank Ocean Is Blessing Fans With A New Song Tonight!

It should be no surprise that Frank Ocean made his fans wait nearly four years for the highly- anticipated follow-up to his GRAMMY-winning debut channel ORANGE. Seven months after Blonde, Frank is already back to releasing new material and it’s slated to surface tonight!

According to HDD, Ocean will release a brand new single this evening (March 10) as an Apple Music exclusive. On top of his contribution alongside two-thirds of Migos on Calvin Harris’ new single “Slide,” the song’s title and production credits are not yet known. According to John Mayer, it can be best described as …”space reggae.”

The new announcement sees fans and celebrities alike fanning over the new release. Justin Timberlake’s most recent twitter rant solidifies this notion as he states, ” While I’m at it…Frank Ocean has the real Album of the Year with ‘Blonde,'” he tweeted, followed by the hashtag “not fake news.”

Timberlake immediately caught backlash for his allegations, but for once, we must agree that Frank Ocean’s ‘Blonde’ stunned fans, but maybe not for the best. It redefined the landscape of music genre’s positing him as a standout and limitless artist in this new digital age of music. From tracks like “White Ferrari,” “Nikes,” “Ivy,” and “Nights,” Frank Ocean was able to display his versatile artistry through a myriad of influences and perspectives.

Will his next track follow the wave?

Only time will tell.

Uncovered: Meet Toronto’s Soul-Baring Songstress Jessie Reyez

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Uncovered: Meet Toronto’s Soul-Baring Songstress Jessie Reyez

With the turn of the decade, Toronto has emerged as a major musical hub, producing the likes of Drake, The Weeknd, and dvsn among others. However, the male dominated music scene is about to experience some refinement with the arrival of a new soul-baring songstress: Jessie Reyez.

Hailing from the Brampton and North York regions of Toronto, the Colombian singer-songwriter’s original passion was hip-hop dancing; this eventually changed as the pain from a high school romance turned her attention to music. Penning her own material and performing around the streets and clubs of Toronto, Jessie’s music proved to be therapeutic as she was making a splash on the local music scene. Her musical success, nonetheless, was halted when Jessie’s family moved to Miami after their American visas were finally approved after a long 18 years.

After relocating, Jessie quickly took to bartending to make a decent earning but the emptiness from Miami’s never ending party atmosphere began to take a toll on her. Inspired to reignite her musical career, Jessie recruited a friend to help her shoot a music video for a song she recorded before leaving Toronto. After editing the video by herself and later releasing it to Facebook, a viewer referred her to The Remix Project – a Toronto based initiative committed to exposing marginalized youth to the creative arts. Jessie’s acceptance into the program and return to Toronto was instrumental in placing her focus back on music and ultimately receiving her big break.
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In 2014, Jessie Reyez stumbled upon The Remix Project’s founder Gavin Sheppard playing her song “Status” to Chicago rapper King Louie, who instantly fell in love with the track and expressed that he wanted to work with her before heading back home. After an impromptu jam session, their collaboration track “Living in the Sky” was born. Reyez continues to express her gratitude for the rapper’s support, stating “Chicago wouldn’t have known about me then if it wasn’t for him and I’m forever grateful.”

Since then, Jessie Reyez has been developing her debut solo project. In August of last year, she premiered the music video for her first single “Figures,” which was produced by Priest and the Beast. The minimalist visual – featuring the singer sitting in a chair and emotionally belting over the mellow guitar strings – has garnered nearly 2.5 million views on YouTube thus far and brought considerable attention to Reyez as the next breakout star from Toronto.

Reyez’ latest track “Shutter Island” – released earlier this year – is a testament to songstress’ growth, vocally and artistically. Thematically similar to “Figures” as both reveal the singer’s post-breakup grief, “Shutter’s Island” is much less apologetic and even more intense. Its terror-inducing music video displays Jessie singing entrapped in a straitjacket in a glass box as she admittedly chants “You say that I’m too crazy, I guess you were right.”

Although there is no set release date, Jessie Reyez’ debut EP seems imminent. The singer’s raw and honest lyrics coupled with her powerful voice is helping establish her as a major up-and-coming artist who you should definitely look out for in 2017.

Aimé Leon Dore Looks To Nostalgic Uniform Sartorials For SS17

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Aimé Leon Dore Looks To Nostalgic Uniform Sartorials For SS17

Shop the full collection here.

Here Are The 15 Times It’s OK to Leave Immediately After Sex

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Here Are The 15 Times It’s OK to Leave Immediately After Sex

Here’s the thing about being an adult: You’re accountable for your actions, even when it’s not fun. That means that if you’re going to have casual sex with people, you should know the etiquette. The etiquette is mostly as follows: 1. Don’t try anything without their understanding and consent; and 2. Don’t get up and leave immediately afterward like you’re ashamed of what you just did. It’s 2017. We’ve all hooked up with people and no one expects you to spoon a sweaty stranger all night, but sex is not a drive-thru. If you do need to leave, the best thing to do is be honest and explain yourself (unless you’re leaving because you have another hookup to go to.) Here are some entirely valid reasons for leaving immediately after sex:

1. If there is an earthquake. Everyone who’s lived near a fault line knows that after the shaking stops, you’re supposed to get out of the building. It’s cool if you leave after this, although post-minor-natural disaster sex is probably really good.

2. You realize that you left your oven on.

3. The other person is now snoring in a way that, were you two closer, might push you to recommend seeking medical attention. Since you aren’t closer, it’s just an impediment to you falling asleep.

4. They start Tindering or Bumbling right in front of your face. Ouch.

5. You were having sex in the break room and it’s time to get back to those, uhh… all those reports. The annual reports. What a busy time for both of you.

6. If you happen to be a masked vigilante and justice need be served. It’s for the greater good and we will all understand. Eventually. When your identity comes out.

7. They only own one book. It’s Trump: The Art of The Deal.

8. To go get both of you guys food.

9. You were thinking about your dead childhood dog in order to make The Sex last longer and now you’re starting to tear up and you don’t want the other person to think that you’re crying after sex for obvious reasons and you really just need to get out of there.

10. You notice that they already have framed pictures of you in the house. You guys just matched on Bumble two days ago. How the hell did they print photos that quickly?

11. If they have asked you to leave. This one should probably be higher. Definitely leave if they ask you to leave! Or if they are giving non-verbal clues that they want you to leave. Like handing you your socks. And your keys. And your phone.

12. If your disabled, senior cat gets separation anxiety and really shouldn’t be left at home alone for long periods of time.

13. Their partner—whom you didn’t know about! Right? Right?—comes home.

14. If you realize that while you thought you were ready for it, you probably shouldn’t have hooked up with this person based on where you are emotionally, and it’s better for both of you if you don’t stay. What you can say is, “I’m so sorry. I thought I was ready for this, but I don’t think I should have done this based on where I am emotionally. It’s better for both of us if I don’t stay.”

15. Diarrhea.

The Overcame Foundation Will Change The City Of Brotherly Love

Zuliesuivie Ball
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The Overcame Foundation Will Change The City Of Brotherly Love

Overcame Foundation Will Change The City Of Brotherly-1
Chance The Rapper isn’t the only one that understands that the importance of improving urban and inner-cities by supporting the youth. While Chance has donated $1 million dollars to Chicago pubic schools, Leonard “Lenno” Chester, who grew up in West Philadelphia, organized a community dinner called March 4th Forward under The Overcame Foundation.

The Overcame Foundation is currently in Philadelphia and Baltimore, but is moving fast to other cities. The mission of the foundation is to support the unsupported youth of inner-cities by becoming a platform in which youth can embrace and showcase their talents, whether it be in the arts, sports or conventional academia. The organization focuses on the underprivileged youth and young adults who have the talent, but simply do not have the financial means, support or motivation to succeed.

“I am truly blessed to be in this position to influence my community. Being from 60th street and having an event at Mt. Carmel Baptist church was monumental. I just want to change my community, and provide them with information and resources that is needed for us to march forward in life”, says Lenno, founder of The Overcame Foundation.

Lenno invited an array of speakers and acts to perform at the dinner as a means to inspire and motivate not only the youth, but the community at large. Acts included a word from Rev. Dr. Donald D. Moore, a spoken word composition from Khadijah Fofana, a live painting delivered by Dyymond “DWHPP” Whipper, accompanied with a saxophonist piece from Edson Gravil, encouraging words from State Representative Joanna McClinton and a keynote speech from the well known, Dr. Wesley Proctor.

The atmosphere of the room was filled with joy, smiles, shiny eyes and gratitude from one to another. In a buffet style, food aliened the walls and people filled in every imaginable space in the room. In other words, it was a huge success. With this being Lenno’s first annual community dinner, it’s amazing to fathom how much bigger it will grow.

One thing for sure, two things for certain, if you came to that dinner no knowing anyone, you left knowing someone who was willing to lend you a hand.

If you are looking to donate or support the unsupported, visit The Overcame Foundation for more information.

Photo Credit: Brandon Ballard @suavesoldier and Jesse Rosenstein @jrosenstein

Everything You Need To Know About Drake’s Playlist ‘More Life’

Mike Cook
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Everything You Need To Know About Drake’s Playlist ‘More Life’

Drake’s last album Views smashed every streaming record known to man with an astonishing 20-track record that will make his upcoming project a norm for the Toronto native. The “project playlist”  More Life was originally slated to premiere this past weekend on Episode 39 of OVO Sound Radio on Beats 1, but March 4th has come and gone. Unfortunately the rumors surrounding More Life have surfaced and left fans to inquire about the possible release date. For months, fans have been tantalized by the prospect of the playlist through constant delays, track snippets and OVO Sound Radio episodes that promise that it’ll drop “soon.” More Life ‘s release date is still yet to be specified – but it looks set to be imminent – and almost certainly out this month.

But before the album drops, let’s take look a closer look at everything you didn’t know was important.

  • More Life  is a “playlist,” not an album.  “I want to do a playlist,” the Toronto rapper said about the project, “I want to give you a collection of songs that become the soundtrack to your life. “It’s almost like a radio show. I basically asked myself ‘What if I did it like OVO Sound Radio but every song was a new Drake song?’ It’s more like an evolution of a mixtape. After Views, I was inspired and I wanted to keep the music going and get people inspired.”

  • Featured tracks: Although the official tracklisting for the playlist has not been released, it’s safe to say that Drake’s four most recent tracks will be featured on the playlist which of course include “Hush Up The Silence,” featuring WizKid, “Fake Love,” “Sneakin” featuring 21 Savage and “Two Birds One Stone.”
  • The title of the project is inspired by Vybz Kartel, one of Drake’s favorite artist, which was cited in an exclusive interview with Nardwuar, borrowing its name from a Jamaican slang phrase to wish someone well. Drake is renowned for having Dancehall influences in his sound from his collaboration with Popcaan on ‘Controlla,” while also mentioning Mavado as  standout influence in his artist development.

https://twitter.com/the6Track/status/829006929917771777

  • The rumored features for More Life have surfaced thanks to producer and former collaborator Nineteen85 who recently gave some insight into the context behind More Life. “…he (Drake)’s trying to call it a playlist because he has a bunch of people in a space, hanging out. He’s so aware of what everybody else is doing musically that he likes to introduce new music and new artists to the rest of the world.” Rumored features include 2 Chainz, Rae Sremmurd, Bryson Tiller, Trouble and Gucci Mane and The Weeknd – the most recent artist that will probably feature on the project.

Stay tuned for more! In the mean time check out the potential tracklisting below!

Know About Drake’s-2

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