I love what RL does for kids, not to mention those little mixed models. Makes me want to have some of my own, but in due time of course. My question is how do you balance having your kids look fresh and fashionable, while also having them be humble and truly appreciate the clothes that they do have. This question is partially addressed in the Sewn for the Soul piece done by Street Etiquette. I imagine that at some point you have to set up a rewards system for your kids. Or do you feel like kids will inherent the work ethic of the parents, if the parents are able to spend a sufficient amount of time with them. Thoughts?
1906 was a pivotal year in the history of San Francisco. This was the year of the Great San Francisco Earthquake, forever changing the thoughts of Bay Area residents towards quakes and how solid the land under their feet was. This music video has footage of SF in 1905, a year before the devastation seen above struck the city. Telling. Its interesting to consider what things have changed and what things havent, as a current resident. Looking down Market street still had a similar feel of chaos mixed with amazement, the draw of a major city.
I mean what can I say, Young L got the beats. The flows are silly but the beat is serious, just as serious as the cinematography. My brother Sclusdale put me on the Aris Jerome vids and they hit hard, no questions. If I was an artist, there would be no question who would shoot my video. See more on his Vimeo.
Hes done Hard Knock Life, Stan, an old school dude, about the music n not the limelight. These types of production videos are always amazing. We get to hear the story of how the history was made. (Btw hes the one on the right of the picture.)
A bit late but the designs are ridiculous. This is the new wave of altruistic work. Its no longer about shit grey html websites but rather using good design to bring people to good causes, just like at BRUTE LABS. the BRUTES put me on to this site of designs. They are so clean and well done but are just as praiseworthy in cause as in design. Kudos.
I cant really put better words to it then Mr. James did. Ill leave it at that. OG source.
“No that isn’t one of my Du Bois quotes of the day, or even Camp Lo for that matter, this is from D-Lo’s, No Hoe Remix feat. E-40, Beeda Weeda, and Jacka. I wonder if this quote will ever find its way to Oprah? It would be great to see a Black woman with power cast her hand down a la Sofia cursing out Harpo. I’m pretty sure Oprah would be the pimp, not the other way around.
First off, seeing E-40 start off the remix threw me for a loop. When E-40 was young, he did have grindin type songs but he also had songs like “It’s All Bad,” “Things Will Never Change,” and “1 Luv.” So, even when he had hardcore lyrics it was buffered by songs with a message. 40 is now 40 years old. I always wondered what it would be like to be married with kids and come home to my wife after saying I have women of all races working on the track for me on a song (just a thought). I know E-40 has always done a good job of helping out new artists in the Bay and has opened doors for folks but he could have been a mentor in this case.
The reason for such concern regarding this song is that there are 400 sexually exploited minors in Oakland every day! Our communities have been torn apart by men abusing women violently, sexually, psychologically, and spiritually, as well as by the countless boys that have been lead astray that become broken men due to their exposure to violence and hatred. Seeing women tug on Jacka’s shirt as he talks about putting “yo b**** in a choke hold” and then puts a model in the video in a choke hold, is the most surreal sight I’ve seen in a video in a while. We have to see violence against women for what it is; violence. If a white man had a Black man in a headlock in a video, we would protest from the Bay to New York (at least I pray that we would). The jovial nature of the song makes violence, pimping, and the objectification of women go unnoticed even though the lyrics are so blatant. We must question ourselves as men, why are we always caught in this gender purgatory where we don’t act?
This is a classic example of what I call the “Chronic Syndrome.” When Dr. Dre released the Chronic, people always talked about how much they “loved the beats.” “Bitches Ain’t Shit” is the perfect example of a beat becoming a classic even though the chorus is “Bitches ain’t shit but hoes and tricks, lick on the nuts and suck the dick.” I understand that if you are an adult you can create almost anything and consume almost anything, but “No Ho” has been pushed and praised by extremely young fans. I’ve seen 8 year-old girls screaming, “We don’t give a fuck about no ho,” as well as seeing boys attack girls in middle school classes, so this song has direct experiences attached to it for me. I can’t differentiate the chorus from the interactions I see on Oakland streets, and in particular and even more distressing, our schools.
I’ve worked with countless young men throughout West and East Oakland and when I have conversations with them about their relationships and interactions with women and they reiterate the sentiments of this song, I just want to give them a hug because an essential human bond is being severed. We can talk about turf unity all we want but if young men and women are at odds and physical and psychological warfare is normative, we are missing the biggest issue facing our communities. If young and adult men really knew what their mothers, grandmothers, sisters, cousins, aunties, friends, and girlfriends have gone through, they would sing another song. I know D-Lo is young; trying to have fun, and make money but there is a ripple effect. E-40 and Jacka are O.G.s and young men take heed from them. When misogyny is validated by men they see as having made it, they follow the formula.
I’m not writing to make it seem that I am holier than thou because I grew up on Too $hort’s Cocktails and Snoop’s Doggystyle, but I’ve had so many Black male mentors (my dad, godfather Bill, Coach Johnson, Coach Booth, Mr. Green, Burl Toler II & I, Mr. Thomas, Mr. Smith, Dr. Wade Nobles, Dr. Goddard, Mr. Cavil, Dr. Akom, Dr. Ginwright, and several others) that I’ve been demanded to always speak in manner that benefits the welfare of all people, especially those of my culture and background. Refraining from devaluing women is unfortunately a process for men in this country. Even though I don’t perceive myself as a disrespectful person or a man that treats women badly, I know that I am still in recovery from patriarchy and hyper-masculinity, thus my daily actions and words must set an example to other boys and men in order to transcend male stereotypes. As older men, we must set an example at all times because we don’t know who we can influence or those who have yet had the opportunity to have a mentor or man guide them in the right direction.
This is dedicated to every young man I’ve taught. Keep treating women, your family, friends, and yourself with the utmost respect and love. Deliver a message of peace because violence and destruction only dimmers the prospects of life.
It sucks for that bruh. He got called out but thats the problem with being the marginalized. The black dude has to react and stand up in the face of bigotry but then ends up getting his ass handed to him… tisk tisk tisk
Thanks to the Starting 6 for the Tip. The video is cute but my take away is you can never miss that opportunity to talk to the cute girl cause it might never come around again.
Jkissi and Trav always hold it down over at StreetEtiquette. The style is impeccable but they are now taking it to the next level conceptually. I spend a good deal of time with C+ spinning wheels on style and its social implications, how dressing like a gentleman links with acting like one, and how to translate style to the next generation without leaving a bourgeois taste in your mouth. Sewn From the Soul is wrapped in the answer. The key to the translation of the style message lies in history, and knowing your own. Though moving higher and higher in the ranks of fashion moves you towards a more sartorial, but also, white affluent and European place, knowing that so many powerful people that look just like you have used these same stylistic choices, and others, to convey their message before you puts you back in the driver seat. This is the key to fighting the choking paradigm, using their things with our swag to level the playing field. Hats off to Street Etiquette and everyone involved, hopefully I will be able to pick their brains one day, one day soon.
In just three decades, obesity rates have more than tripled for children aged six to eleven. These kids then have a 70% chance of becoming overweight or obese adults. With significant cuts continuing to be made to physical education programs, the need for intervention is clear.
RUN! works by creatively incentivizing running to get students excited about physical fitness and to learn its value in their lives. Students get points for every lap they run over one mile and every time they beat their personal best in the mile. At the end of RUN!, each point becomes a raffle ticket entered into a drawing for prizes.
The all-inclusive RUN! boxes will make it easy for schools to use RUN! to reinvigorate their physical education curricula. In three weeks our pilot school saw a 232% increase in the number of miles run, 124 personal-best mile times beat and 1,988 laps run by 400+ students. All for the cost of a $50 iPod shuffle, proving that minimal intervention can have a huge impact.
