It was one of the most talked about event of this summer, a secret concert with Kanye West at Brooklyn’s Skylight One Hanson during the middle of NBA Finals‘ Game 5. It marked the kick-off point for this year’s Heineken Red Star Access Concert Series with West’s G.O.O.D Music. Today, thanks to VEVO, anyone with Internet can view the 2-hour long festivities and clips from 4 songs – Jesus Walks, All Of The Lights, Flashing Lights, Good Life. To truly complete the aesthetic and the atmosphere of that evening, video artist Nam June Paik added an unique setting to the performance. All the while, the performance was captured by no less than 12 cameras rigged on site by director Kenzo Digital.

Video Credits:
Director: Kenzo Digital
Executive Producer: Scott Robinson
Production Company: RFI

First as a crooner and beat maker, Theophilus London is making his move into the fashion world this week. Not only the Brooklynite is now the newest spokesperson for Cole Haan, but as honorary guest on a number of fashion runway, including the DJ for Carlos Campos‘ Spring/Summer 2012 Collection Preview.

Photography: Poe for Freshness

Stones Throw is embarking on another Japanese tour soon, with bands Peanut Butter Wolf and The Stepkids at the ready to tear up the stage in Tokyo and Osaka. While the tour is still some months away in November, it is always good to plan ahead and avoid the last minute rush. Like other large musical events before,  Stussy will provide for the exclusive tour t-shirts on behalf of Stone Throw. In two colorways and accompanied by a special postcard, official release dates are still yet to be set but stay tuned here for the update.

“Authenticity is something that can’t be duplicated…” explains Big Sean in this latest video by adidas Originals. Filmed at the hip-hop artists’ recent performance at Irving Plaza in New York City, the clip is a part of All Originals campaign and its commemoration of the Iconics Collection – Gazelle (1968), Superstar (1969), Samoa (1977), and Campus (1982). Big Sean’s favorite, the adidas Originals Superstar, like the other 3 distinguished designs really stood for more than just athletic wears or sneakers. They were part of cultural consciousness through the 1970s and still are today in certain capacity. You can find all 4 of the Iconics Pack at adidas Originals retail locations near you. Meanwhile, a congratulation to Big Sean as My Last hits Gold with 500,000 units sold.

A time machine, with the pipes, electronic do-that, and the ubiquitous fusion reactor… In its introduction of the new Frogskin and Holbrook eyewear collection to Shanghai’s fashionable set, Oakley organized an outdoor event earlier this month. Aptly called “Rewind to the 80s”, arrived guests enjoyed tailored cocktails, h’orderves, and a special DJ set with, what else, but 80s hits. Among the mini-festivities on site, visitors were able to see the latest Oakley Frogskin and Holbrook editions on display, including the much talked about Blacklight Collection.  For the rest of us whose not able to attend, the collection will be available for purchase at select Oakley retail locations in the coming months.

You can call this t-shirt anything else but “in remembrance” of Notorious B.I.G. More accurately, its a celebration of the achievements he made during his short life. Just imagine all the “what if” scenarios if Biggie Smalls was still alive today? Would’ve Smalls overtake Jay-Z as hip-hop’s elder statesman? Would’ve Bad Boy Records dominate the industry? Would’ve we wait for Air B.I.G. 2 instead of Air Yeezy 2? Questions of which we will never know the answers to.  One thing is certain, however, without Biggie’s contributions, hip-hop will certainly be very different than how it is today.  Bad Boy Records x Supreme Notorious B.I.G. T-Shirt with “Ready To Die” album art is now available through Supreme retail locations and online store.

Supreme – New York
274 Lafayette Street | Map
New York, NY 10012
TEL #: 212-966-7799

Supreme – Los Angeles
439 North Fairfax Avenue | Map
Los Angeles, CA 90036
TEL #: 323-655-6205

Stussy is teaming up with Low End Theory and Teenage Engineering for a Make Beats Contest. Aiming at bring together talented beat-makers, rappers or DJs for a creative competition to show off their skills, the contest has already commenced yesterday with the requirement for contestants to upload their original tracks via Soundcloud’s Stussy Make Beats Drop Box. Deadline for the competition is September 14th and it is open to creators around the world. The organizers asked submission be  original instrumental beat that is at least two minutes long.All of the uploads will be judged by Stussy, Low End Theory and Teenage Engineering.  One lucky winner will receive a paid trip to Los Angeles to perform with Low End Theory,  a release of their own LP,  and goods from Teenage Engineering and Stussy.

Heineken Red Star Access landed in Chi-Town this past Monday for a show at the Alhambra Palace, featuring Roc Nation artists Wale and Melanie Fiona. The free event was hosted by Adrienne Bailon, with beats provided by D-Nice. Canadian-born R&B chanteuse Melanie Fiona was first to take stage, performing songs from her 2009 hit debut album The Bridge, as well as new music from her upcoming release. D.C. native Wale, the beneficiary of a solid Chicago fan base, tore through songs from his sizable mixtape catalog as well as cuts from his album Attention Deficit. Check out multiple images from the show following the jump.

Unconventional musical instruments are certainly not new, just check out Nike Sneaker Synthesizers by Japan’s HIFANA. Jesse Chorng‘s The Syntheshredder, however, maybe the first to incorporate an entire skate bowl. The UCLA graduate student devised a 20-foot in diameter skate bowl embedded with sensors right beneath the skate surfaces. This alteration will transforms any rider to be a potential musician as well every time he or she take a spin in the bowl. After the initial built, Chorng is at the final but crucial stage – the actual process of adding the necessary components for the bowl to become a full fledge musical instruments. And this is where you can help. By pledging $1 or more on The Syntheshredder’s KICKSTARTER page, you can assist Chorng in completing his project. Those pledging $15 or $25 will receive a FREE digital download of the resulting music mix from The Syntheshredder. $30 or more will get the first limited press of the music on a 12-inch vinyl. The fund raising period is due on Friday, September 9th. Visit KICKSTARTER page for more information.

In between acrimonious Tweets from Tyler the Creator to Bruno Mars and appearance of Lady Gaga as alter ego Jo Calderone, last night’s MTV VMAs filled the air wave with stunning surprises, like the supposedly impromptu “Otis” performance from Jay-Z and Kanye West. But seasoned Kanye watchers knew something else – the performance might yield a glimpse at the yet-to-be-official Nike Air Yeezy 2. From its first appearance on Black Mamba film set with Kobe Bryant and a semi-official viewing on the stage of Coachella music festival, fans already seen plenty of the black variant of Air Yeezy 2. Last evening’s festivities were quite different, however. It marked the debut of the design’s Zen Grey colorway, making it 2 of 3 colorways based on the original Air Yeezy.

In the honor of legends from both coasts, Supreme, along with P.Diddy’s Bad Boy Records, will be releasing a set of t-shirt and key chain as a tribute to the late Notorious B.I.G. Like those on the Thrasher x Supreme collaboration, these design will feature the most memorable image from the hip-hop icon, the infant portrait which served as cover art on Biggie’s debut album, Ready to Die.  Expect these to be one of the most sought after items in Supreme Fall and Winter 2011 Collection.

Release Dates:
August 25th (Thursday) – NY & LA
August 27th (Saturday) – Japan
September 1st (Thursday) – Online
September 22nd (Thursday) – London

Reebok Classics and Swizz Beatz, in town for the PROJECT trade show, put on a concert for 500 friends and VIPs at Mandalay Bay’s Moorea Beach Club on Monday, August 22nd. Swizz, ever the enterprising ambassador for his brand, wore Reebok Ex-O-Fits and a matching snapback cap during his performance. He was joined on stage by Funkmaster Flex, who provided beats throughout the show, while dance performances were provided by the runners up from America’s Best Dance Crew. The evening was capped with a surprise guest appearance by Chris Brown, decked out in Kamikazes and a Reebok Classics denim vest. Check out multiple images of the event after the jump.