Inspiration and education

Dr. Dre fulfilling dreams

Dr. Dre is taking the community very seriously. Having finished his education without a degree, him and Jimmy Iovine have teamed up with University of Southern California by donating $70 million to create a program that allows to achieve a degree. The degree brings together business, marketing, product development, design and liberal arts. The education is targeting for talented students, of whom the pair hope to be working for them, even if not in music then in other areas. 

" I feel like this is the biggest, most exciting and probably the most important thing that I've done in my career. If the next start-up that becomes Facebook happens to be one of our kids, that's what we are looking for. " 

Whilst he is helping to others to achieve, he is also returning to his own original love, which is to make music. 

"I'm more inspired to go back into the studio now, beats is rolling, this (USC) thing is happening and it's incredible. Now I'm ready to go back to my first love. I'm going back to the studio. Not for any specific reason, but just to record because I love to record music. I'm going back in and hopefully the next Kendrick Lamar or the next Eminem walks in the door and I can work with that artist. I'm going to record forever. " 

Life is good for Dr. Dre, his time in the N.W.A is being made to be a feature movie as Universal has got a script for it and it looks like a project is going ahead. 

Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival

Adam MCA Yauch to receive special tribute

The announcement was made today in the official festival account that The Beastie Boys co-founder Adam MCA Yauch will receive a special tribute during the festival. The event is scheduled to run from July 8th to July 13th and will be holding a various of venues in different locations around Brooklyn New York. Launched at 2005, the festival has hosted many names from Hip Hop royalty. 

The producers of the festival simply state: " We couldn't go another year without taking time out to honor what MCA did to our culture and our music."

Adam Yauch passed away to a cancer at the age of 47 and he was a known musician, film director and human rights activist. After his passing Brooklyn showed the respect to one of their own by naming a park after him, where he learned how to ride a bike. 

The tickets for the event vary from $20 to $75 and can be purchased via Eventbrite.com

New releases

Kanye West performs in New York

Kanye West performed in New York's Roseland Ballroom in a set as a part of Adult Swim's Upfront Party. He performed the older songs from his career ad then astonished the audience by dropping couple of new songs, of which the titles are yet to be confirmed. The title of one song is presumed to be called "So Awesome". The song talks allegedly about Kim Kardashian. The lyrics say:" Why would you ever listen to the people trying to hate on you? Baby, you're awesome." 

Kanye also stated very clearly, that he is not happy with Saturday Night Live show. He was due to be in the show on the season finale this weekend, but he has now cancelled the show. Kanye says:" Hell nah, I ain't doing no mothafuckin SNL skits. This is my goddamn life, this ain't no mothefucking joke. That's it. Stop that shit right there." 

J Cole 'Born Sinner' moving dates?

J Cole has tweeted that the new album would drop on the shelves June 25th. The record will be released under Roc Nation and Universal. However, there are rumours that the album would now be released on June 18th. This will be the second studio album and has been produced by the rapper him self. 

No limits

Positive fashion takes over the mind field

 Urban environment breeds creativity, we see see it every day in music and fashion. Just because there is no nature as an inspiration wont mean that there is no inspiration; sometimes the roughest surroundings can create the most inspirational dreams and take the person somewhere, where no person has been before. That is what I call a leader.

I have had the privilege to meet one of those people, Timothy Lassiter, a young designer, who has taken the dream into the action and is creating a positive message through the clothing.

So.... really shortly, what happened.... I was clicking through the Facebook friends and saw these amazing pictures, there was only one word in my mind... WOW! I wanted to know more and arranged a little interview with this young star... and here are the results!



Me: Who are you and where do you come from? 

Timothy: My name is Timothy Lassiter. I'm the founder as well as the designer, a 22 year old designer photography enthusiast and student of graphic design at New England institute of art.




Me: Tell me about your brand and what do you represent?

Timothy: Touch The Sky Clothing Co represents the disregard I have for limits. I wanted the name to be something that inspired people when they heard it. We pride ourselves on being the alternative to ignorant fashion. Aiming to show people they can get to all their dreams if they take the necessary steps. 

Me: Why did you decide to start your own clothing brand?

Timothy: I actually started the line with my long time friend and silent partner Your'Majesty Gilmore when we were in high school in Feb of 2008. I started the line really because I didn't like the clothes people were wearing in my neighborhood. I felt if I could offer an alternative to the urban rock star fad I would be doing everyone a favor.

Me: Many wants to start their own business, I think it is a current climate in the business today, tell me what did you find difficult and what advise would you give to others who wish to enter to business? 

Timothy: My main difficulty was inexperience and lack of mentors. I had no one that I could go to and really get advice on running a business. Lol no one in my community had done what I was trying to do. I looked at the street businessmen and began to look online for people talking about how to be successful. I would recommend anyone starting a business to make sure their mental climate is positive. Research your field and do something you have a passion for.

Me: Where do you aim to take your brand?

Timothy:  I aim to make the brand a household name in America and internationally. I believe the brand has a global appeal we have something for everyone. I want to keep improving as a designer and artist as a whole.

Me: Who is your target group?

Timothy: The target market at this point is from 18-33 but we have been urged strongly to start producing clothing for the youth as well. We want the inquisitive, innovative young adult. 

Me: Where do you see the fashion goes this summer? 

 Timothy: I see an over saturation of animal prints coming lol, for Touch The Sky Clothing Co we'll have some cool things for the guys and girls tanks,tees, hoodies, a couple surprises.

Me: If you could change anything in your industry, what would that be?

Timothy:  If I could change one thing it would be the lack or originality like I said I've seen Enough leopard print this year for a few years. People want to compete by copying instead of creating. I live by "creation over competition" 

 Me: Where can people purchase your products and do you ship to other countries?

Timothy: The clothing can be purchased at www.touchtheskyclothingcompany.com and we ship everywhere

Make sure to keep your eye on this one, I have a feeling that this message will go far! 

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Something new, something old.....

Chris Brown features Aaliyah on "They don't know" single

Chris Brown has decided to copy cat Drake on his new single 'They don't know' by pulling a publicity stunt from his hat; he is featuring late Aaliyah on the single. 

"I got something special for my fans. It's called 'They don't know', all new stuff that's never been heard before. It's something special for my fans. " 

The single has some previously unheard vocals from Aaliyah and Chris Brown revealed that the video has already been shot. The new 'X' album is due to release on July 16.

After Drakes single 'Enough said' last summer, the family of the late songstress was left angry and they clearly claimed that they have nothing to do with the single. We are yet waiting to see what is the reaction to the Chris Brown project. 

So anything you can do, I can do better??? or is it just me who seems to think so... 

Eve to release a new album after 11 years

Eve is back in business. 

"Lip lock is the album I've always wanted to make and it represents me coming back into the game - lyrically locking it down. But I also like the title because it can be a play on words." 

She has spent the last few years in studio recording the album and is featuring Missy Elliot, Snoop Dogg, Pusha T, Juicy J and Chrisette Michele. After dropping her last album in 2002 Eve-Olution, she took a step back from the music and left Interscope Records still making one off singles. 

The album is the fourth studio album and it was released yesterday, May 14.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/lip-lock/id638374988

Changes

50 Cent cool with industry changes

50 Cent is admitting he is never going to sell 13 million records again. He blames this to the changes in the industry. 

In his recent interview with SXSW, he said:" I don't think anybody's gonna do it. It's a different business. It's a different business and I'm cool with that. There's nothing that can actually compare to when it's right, to what it feels like when it's right. Music is just dead right, that energy is just dead. There's a special kind of hot that you get addicted to and you chase it for the rest of your actual career." 

"When you are successful, there's a period of time you have to work through.  I just wanna win so I can feel how it felt like when it happened the first time."

In the interview 50 Cent also talks about the reality of the lifestyle artists are writing about. He rates Eminem, but talks about new artists who glamorize the life style he has been living. He would like the music to be real, written from the real back grounds, not from the ones that are made for the success to look cool. 

"Hip hop culture is a black art form, it's a black music. When ever you have someone from the different ethnicity to come in and he does it as well if not better than everyone else in it, it looses it's color. and that's why hip hop music is now pop music. " 

His latest project "War Angel" is available at his website ThisIs50.