As I get older, I love coming home and digging through old photo albums and yearbooks.
Digital photography is great, but the quality will never be the same.
I saw an interesting article in the NY Times about the recent attention being paid to packaging, especially shopping bags. You've probably seen the Saks new identity and the striking bags on the streets. David Lipman, who I used to work for, is featured for the work he's done re-positioning Lord & Taylor. I've always been a fan of premium bags, and have been collecting them for a few years. Luckily, its come in hand for my friend Matteo's forthcoming book on bag design.
Best Xmas present has to be tickets to see my favorite comedian, Ricky Gervais, live n' direct at the Madison Square Garden in NYC. If you don't know him, he created the TV shows The Office and Extras... pure self-deprecating genius. I guess he's so big in America now that tickets just went on sale for the July 18 show. Get em now, while you can.
Hope everyone is having a good holiday season.
I'm not really into the commercialized Xmas thing, but I have to say I have a soft spot for this time of year.
I guess its dates back to the days of old... no school, snow (growing in up DC), and hot chocolate.
My parents also went the extra mile to make Christmas special for us as we were growing up. I'll never forget '85 when I was 7 years old, and getting a pair of Air Jordan 1's (pics to come!). That was special.
Anyway, here are 2 of my favorite tunes that get me in the mood. Even if you don't do the Xmas thing, I hope you can appreciate the music. Enjoy!
Al Jarreau 'My Favorite Things'
Vince Guaraldi 'Christmas Time is Here' (Charlie Brown Christmas)
Vince Guaraldi 'Christmas Time is Here' (Instrumental)
Thanks to everyone who came through and made our end-of-the-year party a great success.
Stay tuned to MFT for more great photographs courtesy of Jay Lew, and look out for something special in early January featuring the legendary Leroy Burgess.
Some early holiday love dropped through the post...
If you didn't know, Tretorn is back. The Swedish shoe brand was popular in the 80s and have recently been acquired by PUMA. They are doing some cool things, including collaborations with shops like Opening Ceremony.
Thanks a lot to my man Miguel at Flavorpill for this little gift. He's always hipping me to the best stuff coming out of his hometown of Detroit. Ghostly International is one of my top labels at the moment for overall quality. Check this great USB stick they did with MOSS. It comes loaded with music too. Shouts to Sam Valenti as well.
Shouts to Nick, Damien and David at Twelve Bar clothing in LA/London for always keeping me informed. Lets connect soon!
The Slimane-reign at Dior might be over, but you can still get some remaining pieces.
It's nice to see a new blog from the Paris/NYC design agency Work In Progress. They are doing some of the nicest design work in the fashion industry for my taste, and you know Self Service is amazing.
The much anticipated T Magazine site is finally here. Beautiful.
I'm happy to be involved with my friend Mike's blog at YouWorkForThem. If you don't know it, YWFT is an amazing online bookseller focusing on art and design.
Speaking of Joerg at Beinghunted, he's just done an interview with James Lavelle. The Surrender stuff is looking really good, big up to Earn and Andy. James is still working with 3D (of Massive Attack fame) who was always one of my favorite painters.
Its the holiday season again, and time to celebrate 1 year of MFT- the club night. It was around this time last year that we came up with the festive offshoot to Rude Movements with PUMA. From the amazing Taylor McFerrin/Karizma collaboration, to Tiombe Lockhart and Recloose, its been a great year.
I'm excited to have one of my favorite producers back in the house to celebrate with us. Waajeed was one of the original guests at our first Rude Summer Series 4 years ago. Since that time, he's cemented himself as one of the top beatmakers of our generation. He recently released the War LP on Fat City featuring Dilla and others, and is finishing up his second Platinum Pied Pipers album. Joining him will be extended member of the Bling 47 crew, including the talented lyricist Invincible and new PPP vocalist Coultrain.
Upstairs, my man Jeff and his Staple Design posse will be holding it down. Should be a big night, the complimentary Tiger Beer flows at 9pm. RSVP to secure your spot.
A few outtakes from the War LP photoshoot courtesy of Dustin Ross.
Back on Shibuya FM for another edition of My Favorite Things. Great new music from Pete Rock, Recloose, Taylor McFerrin, Leon King (he's big!), and Reel People. Click below to download the 'no vox' version for your iTunes.
Recloose / Can It Be / CDR
Simbad / After the Dance (Bugz mix) / Raw Fusion
Soil & Pimp / AIE (Cobblestone Jazz mix) / Brownswood
Lady Alma / Pressure / Especial
Roland Appel / Changes / Sonar Kollektiv
KemeticJust / In The Morning (Volcov mix) / Xenithsound
Reel People feat Darien / Alibi / Papa
Shape of Broad Minds / Jazz / Lex
Pete Rock feat Jim Jones / We Roll / BBE
Large Professor / Slick Money / Paul Sea
Leon King / You Will Never Know / CDR
Cinematic Orchestra / Child Song (Taylor McFerrin mix) / Ninja Tune
Download MFT Radio 2 (zip file, 60mg)
If you are in NYC this Wednesday, check out the Giant Step Holiday Party featuring a great line-up. Its for a good cause, so come out and make a donation.
Just touched down from a great trip through Europe. It was a fun time with my man Has exploring new cities and hooking up with old friends. I'm usually not cut out for these extended journeys, but thanks to all of our gracious hosts (and also to Samsonite on the new rolling luggage piece), we felt right at home.
Here are a few outtakes.
Amsterdam/
Amsterdam can be a bit blurry sometimes.
Big up to Nirit and Dave for taking care of us. They are working on an amazing documentary about women in hip-hop called Say My Name. They always seem to be travelling around the world shooting short films and commercial work for people like Wieden and Kennedy.
KC the Funkaholic is one of the best dj's and knowledgeable music people I know. But it seems like he's always to busy running Kindred Spirits and working at Paradiso to actually play music! He is also rumoured to have coined the genre name 'Gabber' back in the day. Thanks for the great Brazilian record.
Good music, as always.
It was a nice suprise to bump in Knox Robinson over there. He is managing the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, who are on tour with Mos Def and making some big noise. He's also got a cool project he's developing out of South Africa called Blk Jks. Check it out.
I was really sad to miss two studio visits this time around. Delta, one of the originals...
and the boys at Machine, always turning out funky typographic work.
Next time!
Rotterdam/
This was about as much of Rotterdam as we got to see unfortunately.
Big thanks to Guido who hooked up the gig...
and Lucky Dubz, a dope illustrator and DJ. You guys have a cool crew, I hope to come back for a proper visit soon.
Vienna/
Claus is the main man in Vienna. He is helping to run the Sunshine Records label, and organizing great events with his Loud Minority Crew. They are in love with quality hip-hop, especially the Detroit stuff.
The party was in a really cool old basement that looked out to the underground subway. We took it until well after 6am.
The Loud Minority girls-- Myriam, Doris and Ella...
Shout out to my fellow giant Fabian. He is making some good music with his twin brother as Circus and Twin Towaz.
Berlin/
The view of the TV Tower from our friend Atilano's place. Atilano is involved with some very cool projects like last year's Loud Graphix event with Nike and releasing music like the new project from Erlend Oye, The Whitest Boy Alive.
Spent a lot of quality time with my friend Mode 2, who recently moved to Berlin from Paris...
Mode is making moves as always, and recently has done some cool projects with Lee Jeans, which is really being resurrected in Europe.
I have been in touch with Dirk Rumpff for years, so it was great to finally make it to Berlin. In addition to be a full time doctor, Dirk has been running the Offtrack Radio program for several years. He always puts down a quality selection of new music. He's also working on some tracks with Jazzanova's Roscoe that are sounding BIG.
I did a little guest spot and short chat on his radio show, you can download it here.
One of the coolest spots in Berlin is The Firmament, run by Joerg Haas of BeingHunted fame. They carry a lot of the top Japanese brands like Visvim, Original Fake and Head Porter Plus. I also got to meet Errolson who designs the Acronym clothing line.
Honeyee Mag in print.
Only in Berlin can you utilize an empty space for merely aesthetic sake. This really nice boutique APARTMENT in the MItte lures you in with a vacant ground level, only to descend down the spiral staircase in to a world of labels like Bernard Wilhelm, Undercover and Common Projects.
Respect to Simon, running NORT Berlin. And generally just running things. Thanks for showing us around!
Paris/
Cafe de Flore has the best onion soup.
Shout to Hamed, a great photographer, filmmaker, and tour guide.
And the girls-- Stephanie, Isabelle and Rita.
And especially Has for making it a great trip! Credit him with most of the these photos.
Have you seen the new Belvedere Vodka TV spots? They've enlisted Terry Richardson to shoot a downtown party scene with the likes of Vincent Gallo, and other cult figures like the Irak crew. Kinda crazy, I heard it cost $20 Million to make.
