Archive for December 19th, 2007
T-Shirt Line – Free Gold Watch
Lupe X Complex Interview
Cooley High
On the Chicago MC’s first album, “Food and Liquor” he told the story of a hustler’s life, and death. Now that character is resurrected and joined by two more for Lupe’s more concept driven follow-up, “The Cool.” In the outtakes from our December/January interview, Lupe does his best at describing each character (we tried to understand) but you just may have to buy the album to really get his drift.
By Richard “Treats” Dryden
Photograph by Fredrik Skogkvist
Complex: You had a song on your first album called “The Cool”. Tell me about the concept behind it.
Lupe Fiasco: Yeah, it was produced by Kanye West and it was about a hustler who gets killed and comes back to life and digs his way out of his own grave and then goes back to like the neighborhood that he grew up in and eventually winds up, at the end of the song, getting robbed by the same gun that he got shot with by some little kid. So it’s very macabre, very dark but I always wanted to do that record, to tell that story of somebody who comes back to life, that kind of manifested itself into “The Cool”. And “The Cool” went on to be like the inspiration for the next album. I thought that storyline, that kind of macabreness, that kind of spookiness, you know, leant itself to be even deeper, to be just like one part of a whole kind of storyline. So I put a little bit more thought into it and kind of expanded on it.
C: So would you say that this album is darker than your first?
Lupe Fiasco: Oh yeah, it’s much darker just on the strength of the situation that I’m in, in life right now is kind of a happy period. It’s a lot of success but it came with a lot of sacrifice and having my pops pass away and just recently having an aunty pass away and then having a friend pass away, Stack Bundles, a rapper in New York who got murdered out here and then to also have my partner get locked up, to get 44 years, all that stuff came along with the situation. It made the setting for me a more darker because I’m a little bit sad.
Continuing his ascension up the Hip hop production ladder, Khrysis (whose previous production credits include Jean Grae, Big Pooh, Masta Ace, Sean Price, Smif N Wesson and Little Brother) teams up with Nike to provide the soundtrack for Nike’s newest documentary, “LACED”.
Nike set to make a documentary celebrating 30 years of Nike Basketball history. For this film feature, familiar faces in the basketball and sneaker cultures such as Pee Wee Kirkland, Benny Gold, Dave Ortiz of DQM, and Bobbito Garcia were interviewed to talk about the different aspects of basketball and sneaker communities. The film goes in depth with streetball, sneaker art, fashion, and more.
Khrysis, one half of the underground powerhouse “The Away Team”, recently released the sophomore album titled Training Day. Khrysis supremely handles all of the production duties on Training Day and while The Away Team’s chemistry is undeniable throughout, they introduced an unofficial third member, Nervous Reck, and also collaborate with Dilated People’s Evidence, Sean Price, Black Milk, Supastition and Darien Brockington on Training Day.
The Away Team’s sophomore LP, Training Day, was released on 10-30-07 via the Hall Of Justus Music Group with distribution by Fatbeats.
For more information visit : http://www.nike.com/nikebasketball/laced/
Very Good E-Shopping Directory
ALife – Alife style like no other.
ASOS – ASOS (formerly as Seen on Screen) sells the latest womens and mens fashion, celebrity clothing and designer clothes. Also the hottest accessories, jewellery, shoes, cosmetics, skin and hair care products.
Anno Domini – Boutique store located in both the South and West end of London. Home to brands such as Criminal and Paul Frank.
Becker Surf – Surf shop which has been in business since 1974. They stock Nike SB as well as sneakers from a few other companies. Decent selection with good prices. Carries a lot of clothing and accessories as well from all the popular urban skate companies.
Boundless – Great shop located in Brooklyn with carries many of the latest brands and styles. Everything from 10 Deep, Crooks & Castles, Alife, Ducksworth, Married To THe Mob, The Hundreds and much more. If your in the NY area stop in or shop in their online store. A lot of fitteds for sale.
Become Fitted – Visit Lionel and the guys at Become Fitted for some fresh fitted caps. Carrying only the best brands Become Fitted is a sure stop for all those hat junkies. Carrying such brands as Estate LA, Upper Playground, Official, Dissizit, Elm Company, Grn Apple Tree, Mighty Healthy, Diamond Supply, Coat of Arms and SSUR.
Get the Rest at http://www.sneakerobsession.com/shops/
