THE LINSTER | Jeremy Lin

By: Billy No

One of the first few Asian American basketball players to light up the courts.  This young talent is just the beginning of many new faces that will grace the court.  This is not only about Asian Americans, but it’s also the on going evolution of basketball and how it’s global impact is just the beginning of what’s to come.

“Its’ time for Hip Hop artists to create an Epic Historical Album for 2012″ – Billy No

The notion that Hip Hop artists can only benefit from the publicity from a  ”War” with one another artist is long gone.  I believe more dynamic collaborations are in order.  I wish there where more Hip Hop artists collaborating more often   So far it’s been amazing start right off the mark!  I look forward to a new golden era in Hip Hop music, Hip Hop is a blend of beats that originate from so many different genres and ideas.  The essence of Hip Hop is a BLEND! Unify #blendamerica

A Great Book to Check Out

Tricia Rose

The Hip Hop Wars
what we talk about when we talk about hip hop–and why it matters

A progressive vision for hip hop

“Tricia Rose’s take on hip hop is smart, provocative, analytical, gutsy and shines with a righteous indignation balanced by love, compassion and economic, political, and social context.”
-Jill Nelson, author of Volunteer Slavery: My Authentic Negro Experience

“In this impassioned and brilliant book, Tricia Rose shows how hip hop has been harmed by both its friends and its foes, how the myths spread by both its attackers and defenders hurt the people who created hip hop in the first place.”
George Lipsitz, author of Footsteps in the Dark

Rose argues that the music that most embodies the hallmarks of gangsta rap- drug dealing, sexual excess, rogue capitalism and distorted, violent portraits of black masculinity-now dominates the airwaves and the media. While “conscious rappers” such as Talib Kweli and The Roots may receive enormous critical acclaim, it’s the rappers who employ what Rose calls the “gansta-pimp-ho trinity”-rappers like T.I. and 50 Cent-who sell the most records and, therefore, dominate the recording industry, TV, film, and radio. As a result, the most visible and most widely consumed hip hop sets forth a troubled vision of ghetto street life that not only defines young, already at-risk, black men and women to each other, but defines them to a large white audience as well, one which comprises 70% of hip hop consumers. In THE HIP HOP WARS, Rose shows that hip hop has become the primary means by which we talk about race and culture in the United States-and the conversations surrounding it deserve attention.

“A loving, smart, and searing critique from the pioneer of Hip Hop studies, The Hip Hop Wars breaks the impasse between those who always regarded the music as the source of our contemporary moral panic, and those hardcore defenders willing to justify anything in the name of ‘keeping it real.”
-Robin D. G. Kelley, author of Freedom Dreams: The Black Radical Imagination

Buy this book on Amazon.com

http://www.triciarose.com/buy_books.shtml

Congratulations to the Carter family!

While everyone is enjoying the latest track from Jay-Z and Kanye West, Shawn Carter also known as Jay-Z is busy becoming a Dad, congratulations!

Source: HYPETRAK

More collaborations like this should be a constant.  When two Hip-Hop titans come together and collaborate, it’s bound to create some legendary music.  Real Hip Hop’s far from dead! I truly believe that Hip Hop is about to reach a new level in it’s global reach and influence.  Two turntables and a microphone is how it all began, and now every kid in China wants to be the next JayZ or Kanye West.  Believe this, Hip Hop really hasn’t reached any peak or stopping point.  It’s a constant blend of individuals from similar backgrounds who keep the this love we call Hip Hop alive.

Jay-Z.com KanyeWest.com

A great album to check out

Check out the latest Album

The Black Angels - Haunting at 1300 McKinley

http://www.theblackangels.com

The photographs feature bright colorful spheres, neon cylinders, spastic light beams – each image revealing a mesmerizing pattern. Williams’ artistic decisions certainly complement the images, and the illuminated spaces are a stunning display of his meticulous skill.

via PSFK: http://www.psfk.com/2012/02/3d-geometric-light-graffiti.html#ixzz1lCFjqF3Y

Here’s a video with MMA Fighter Genki Sudo, not only is he a fighter but a pretty dam good breaker.  Pop and Flex!  It’s great to see a MMA fighter try new ways of promoting one’s self and also promote a great message “WE ALL ARE ONE” as the old saying goes, go big or go home.

You can also visit his official website: http://crnavi.jp/sudogenki/blog/

Genki Sudo (須藤 元気 Sudō Genki^?, born March 8, 1978 in Kōtō, Tokyo, Japan) is a retired Japanese mixed martial artist and a kickboxer who, up until December 31, 2006 competed in the Japanese fighting organization HERO’S and before that, the Ultimate Fighting Championship and Pancrase. He is notable for his elaborate ring entrances^[2] and unorthodox fighting style.^[3] His philosophy is “We are all one.”^[4] He is a practicing Buddhist.^[5] Signature moves include the flying triangle and spinning backfist. He is also an essayist, a musician, an actor and a dancer.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genki_Sudo

I started the company back in Chicago where I was born.  My intent in the summer of 1989 was to create a clothing line that best represented myself and background.  Growing in the city, I was exposed to all sorts of fashion billboards like Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, and Tommy Hilfiger in downtown Chicago and was really inspired by the power that these brands had over the masses.  At a young age, I began to realize that through photography I would have the ability to create an experience that would easily reach out to millions with one photo.  I then began to really practice my craft, training my eye to see what the professionals see and how they executed every idea in every fashion Ad.  Fortunately I was blessed with some creative ability that allowed me to create and design the logo and other designs for t-shirts.  So I worked at it, day by day in my mind, planning it out and developing a strategy in how to best utilize the resources that I had at my disposal at the time.