This morning I was browsing through my e-mails and one of the hundreds I actually decided to open was from one of my favorite online streetwear sites. They were featuring a callabo between a streetwear company called Rocksmith and that ol’ Wu-Tang Clan thing. I was kinda feeling what I saw, had thoughts of maybe copping a few pieces. Then, I had to pumpppp the breaks when I saw this (on the right):

(Image via HypeBeast)

Which right away reminded me of a shirt I bought about 5-6 years ago from Manifest Worldwide. (Reason I remember the brand is I remember how the owner of the brand, personally handled each order and questions that I had.)

(Image via UGHH)

Now, not only is this a complete ripoff job of the Manifest shirt, but they neglected to add Masta Killa (I know why, but STILL). Now maybe Rocksmith didn’t know about the Manifest shirt, but considering it was one of the first “list &” style shirts, I have my doubts about that. I guess streetwear shirts are as original as rap itself, which is kind of ironic.

Microsoft recruits a sampler and a sampleree (now word!) in the form of Common & Afrika Bambaataa for their latest TV spot.

Personal tech note: I got a demo of the Zune software last month, and its not bad at all, if you are all about discovering new music, check it out you might prefer it over itunes.

While catching up on my ish, I noticed that Yung Joc is currently on a tour sponsored by Crocs.. really now?? Nothing says Hip-Hop elite like a tour sponsored by Crocs. Makes a Lugz sponsorship seems real nice.

On that Wall Street Journal tip, I just hope Mr. Joc gets his Crocs checks cause uhh it’s not looking too good for that company.

Damn, we’re haters around here.

To prepare the world for their debut Bored of Education (reminds me of the Reason shirt), which drops 9.2.08, Brooklyn Academy just put out a mixtape, Summer School hosted by DJ Haze.

Tracklisting:

1. Ashes feat. Tools and Mokeout (prod. by Thoro Tracks)
2. Role Call feat. Wordsworth (prod. by Khrysis)
3. Matters feat. Lego (prod. by Unknown)
4. My Life feat. Sha Stimuli (prod. by J. Cardim)
5. Doin’ It ’08 feat. Fresh Jones (prod. by Brady Becklo)
6. Told U feat. Vinnie Paz (prod. by Ruler)
7. Funeral (prod. by Will Tell)
8. Fool’s Gold (prod. by Shuko)
9. Brooklyn Goonery feat. Poison Pen & Blitz (prod. by Etik n Clint)
10. Fiyah feat. Castro (prod. by I See On & Block McCloud)
11. The Last Passion (prod. by Snowgoons)
12. Seven Sins feat. Raw Dawgz & Killah Priest (prod. by Shawnecy)
13. Leaves in Autumn (prod. by Sick Doctor)
14. Park Slope Boys feat. Illzburry Doeboy (prod. Beat Brewers)
15. Bored of Education (prod. by Haze Attacks)
16. Haze Outro

Summer School Mixtape

To celebrate the release of the album Brooklyn Academy is having a party:

Brooklyn Academy release party feat. Jean Grae, Sean Price, Scram Jones, DJ Evil Dee, DJ Eleven, DJ Eclipse, and many more.

Doors: 9:00 PM • $10, $5 with a copy of the album • 21+

Poster after the jump.

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Check out this crazy clock.

Burntpiano passed this on when I didn’t have sound, now with sound I realize its completely post worthy. Only the Japanese would come up with something so hypnotizing but that’s still a clock. For those of you not in the know, Uniqlo is a Japanese store with its US Flagship (and only) store in Manhattan. The best way to summarize the store is H&M on crack and steroids.

Dude got jokes. They need to do this with a bigger name next time though.

Haven’t posted anything in gear in a while so here goes. Insightful video from Karmaloop TV on the founders of one of the top “streetwear” labels.

Via sneakmove

Now, I’ve messed with FL Studio a few times, but I’ve always wanted to really bang out some beats on a proper Music Production Center, or MPC. These guys are living my dream of engaging in sampler-based combat, in this fantastic video for producer/DJ Egadz‘ song “What We Are Destined to Do”:

And here Egadz recreates the song live on an MPC:

And the video is just the tip of the iceberg. I’m a sucker for producers creating beats on the fly and the web is full of vids of them doing just that. Here’s a choice selection of videos of beatmakers producing with the MPC

Just Bleezy on the MPC:

Pete Rock plays with the MPC, and makes a beat out of Pat Benatar’s “Love Is A Battlefield”:

Damu the Fudgemunk (of Y Society) recreates DJ Premier’s beat for “Classic (Better Than I’ve Ever Been) on the MPC 2000:

Damu used to have several videos of him recreating beats by the likes of Pete Rock & Da Beatminerz but he seems to have taken them down. Anyone know the deal with this?

We don’t post much about fly sneaker/clothes around here but we know it when we see it. Given how much we’ve been posting about YO! MTV Raps’s 20th anniversary lately, I thought I’d highlight the awesome PUMA/YO! cross marketed gear that’s been coming out. This isn’t everything, just my favourites.
First, the Dre & Ed Lover kicks:

The Big Daddy Kane Puma Clyde:

The Shan sneaks:

The YO! MTV Raps hoodie:

Puma put together a nifty little flash site to promote this line of sneakers and threads. You can see more of the Puma/YO! clothing line there as well as read some bios of the rappers and DJs promoting the line. It also measures its loading percentage by “freshness”, which gets a lot of points in my book.

I’m aware some of this is old, but I still think this is pretty dope.

If it was possible to OD on Wu-Tang related stuff today at ML, today would probably be the day. We’re covering ALL the spectrums! (Dont be surprised if you see next: a Wu-Tang Hockey team)

Not gonna lie, those belt buckles are pretty dope. Don’t be surprised if you see one of these on copped!