I just learned about Starks Laces and they’ve got a good idea going.

With the homogenization and mass-availability of streetwear and kicks, it’s hard to look original anymore.  Well here is one more accessory you can add to your ‘drobe to kick it up a notch.  Starks Laces, available in a slew of styles.  Here’s a few: 

quake blue for HUF:

tiger stripe camo:

classic tennis:

They’ve got a few collaboration laces with HUF and a bunch of other designs.  Before this, custom laces were pretty much limited to pink skulls, Care Bears and checkers from Hot Topic.  Starks is definitely a welcome addition.   

Of course, like any flossy new accessory, kids are gonna go crazy with the Starks.  Matching them, or mismatching them with their fitted caps and purple and green tee shirts.  Done in moderation though, I think these laces could be hot.  Especially when someone else is rockin your same shoes.

My favorite is the pair with the Tribe Called Quest “Low End Theory”, red and green stripes.  You can see those here.

ATCQ:

Tags: sneakers shoes streetwear starks tribe called quest huf

A few nights ago we rep’d another night at Hybrid Culture at Dragonfly on Santa Monica.  The homegirl Arianna Basco throws this night, getting together bands and visual artists for a night of creativity and general good times.

The CHILDREN section:

Arianna runs an art and poetry zine called Tard and Feathered.  They had merch and zines for sale:

Some bands played that I was actually really impressed with.  I’m not the kind of guy that goes to watch local bands, I usually get bored at concerts.  But these 2 bands really rocked their sets and played some good music.

Forcefield ON was on some happy, indie tip with 3 trombonists (yes 3 trombonists) and a frontman/keyboardist/guitarist jumping into the crowd to play his solo.  Good show.

When Vajra came on I was automatically turned off by the thought of a rock band with an MC, but I was pleasantly surprised to hear a unique style and some seriously talented musicians.  The guitarist (who bought a CHILDREN shirt) ripped an insane solo and the bassist and trumpet player both killed it.

I also met Ugandan rapper Saba Saba.  He was real cool dude and you’ll see him rockin his headphone tee he bought from me.  Good lookin out Saba!

All in all a good night.  I’ll post notices next time.

PEACE!

Tags: hybrid culture hip hop fashion los angeles

Many a DJ have searched for a good way to store their vinyl.  I myself have used many methods, including the classic milkcrates.  I then bought one of those metal racks with the wire shelves that you can get at Home Depot; that worked pretty well, but was really an eyesore.  In the end it was actually my wife who found the best storage solution for my records.

The Expedit bookcase from Ikea.  It’s totes perf.  The cubbies are about 13 inches tall and you can fit thousands of records on one of these things.

Here’s mine:

It’s a great price, too.  Just $149 for the big one and it look like a nice piece of modern furniture.  They also have a 1/2 version for just $79.99 which, when laid on it’s side, is the perfect height to put your turntables on top and your records underneath.

Another DJ storage problem I had to solve was what the hell to do with my speakers.  I’ve got 2 big ‘ol Peavey 12 inchers that sit on top of speaker tripods.  I run my turntables through those speakers, but they’re really too big to have out in my living room.  So, I decided to use the speakers as the stand for my turntable coffin like this:

They’re the perfect height.  It’s definitely not acoustically ideal to have the sound blasting out at my shins, but I really don’t play my tunrntables loud in the apartment anyway.  This way, my whole DJ setup only takes up about 10 square feet of floor space.  I’ve got my amp sitting vertically between the speakers and my tabletop cd player sitting on top of that.  I  keep my turntable “X” stand and my speaker stands down in the garage in the storage bin and take them out when I need them for a party.

And that’s how I store my gear.

Tags: music dj turntables records vinyl hip hop

Happy New Year everyone!

‘08 is here.  Seriously, WTF happened to ‘07?  I mean I know there were record temperatures this year, but there had to have also been record speeds.  I mean this was, without a doubt, the fastest year to date, right?  At least that’s what it felt like to me.

And btw, I had a seriously rock ‘n roll NYE.  My wife, my daughter and I all got the flu.  We watched half of I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry and were in bed by 9.  I mean really, it doesn’t get more hardcore than that.

Anyway… 2007 was a big year for the fashion world and especially for streetwear.  Every kid I see now from about age 10 and up has got on a cool pair of skinny jeans and a pair of Vans or Dunks.  All-over prints and graphic tees (that actually don’t look bad) are sold at Target and Walmart.  There’s a skateshop at every mall (sometimes 3) and that exclusive Japan-only thing you couldn’t get before, it’s not so exclusive now.

If you walk down Melrose there are now at least 6 sneaker boutiques in about 8 blocks.  I mean that’s crazy!  Kicks Los Angeles, Capsole, 2 Sportie LAs, Kendo and the one across the street from Barracuda that I forgot the name of.  Not to mention Brooklyn Projects and Workmens which also sell kicks, plus Supreme, Flight Club LA.  Streetwear has gone bananas in 2007!

What else happened in ‘07?  Well, The Hundreds exploded.  There were 13,458 collabos (half of which Rogue Status were a part of).   9,672 new lines were launched.  Of the top 5 shoes from the top 3 shoe makers, there were 6,189 new colorways.  (These figures were researched rigidly and you can most definitely trust them.)

So what do we do?  How can we still be cool if cool has become so mainstream?  Because I’ll tell you something, the crowd on La Brea outside of Union and Undefeated these days is looking pretty unique-less if you know what I mean.  (You like that word? I made it up myself.)

We stay the course, I guess.  Pretty soon the lines that are dedicated will stick around and the ones that aren’t won’t.  Companies that thrived on producing what was hot at the moment will either have to move on or move out.  Ultra-hip clothes that go out of style in a matter of months will do just that.  And companies that make stuff that is cool and contemporary, but still classic and timeless will keep making those clothes.  I mean that’s the way it’s always worked, right?

So, I guess if you want to keep being cool just listen to the homie Napolean Dynamite: “Just follow your heart.  That’s what I do.”

On the CHILDREN front, we’ve got new designs in the works and we’ll be showing at Agenda and possibly other shows this year.  We’ll keep expanding and growing, because that’s what CHILDREN do. 

And I’ll leave you with this:  The new female mc Kid Sister featuring Kanye with Pro Nails.  There hasn’t been a good female rapper for a long time and leave it up to my favorite pop star, Kanye West, to break one.  I’m not sure if Kanye did the production on this track, but the beat is tight and it’s a fun song.  Don’t hate.

Have a great ‘08 y’all!

Tags: Streetwear fashion los angeles new year kid sister kanye west

Woooooorrrrrrrrd.

A couple of nights ago, CHILDREN represented at Soled Out Tuesdays at the Crash Mansion in Downtown LA.

Mr. Choc and Rhettmatic of the Beat junkies were spinning hip-hop all night.  Choc’s set was classic hip-hop, mixed well.  Some westcoast vibes, some Tribe Called Quest, some GZA… Rhettmatic’s set was choppier.  He was dropping beats more than mixing it seemed.  He played a reggae set towards the end.  I know Rhettmatic’s got mad skills, I’m not dissing him, it just wasn’t my flavor from him that night. 

(The DJ pics are from going.com)

Mr. Choc:

DJ Rhettmatic:

There were 4 vendors there: CHILDREN, Urban Economix,Temple Effectives and a booth selling Konscious and Evolve.

The homies Antwon and Significant, hip-hop heads to the core, of Urban Economix (dig the logo with the b-girl/graff artist in the skinny jeans):

Frank was on the scene repping 2 brands, Konscious and Evolve.  Both graphic tees with a nature/hip-hop vibe.  They had some real nice graphics. 

And the homies from Temple Effectives, Aaron, Apu and some others were KILLING it on the dance floor.  Here’s Aaron about to hit the floor and looking smooth in TE’s cut ‘n sew windbreaker and jeans.  I think he might kill me for posting this shot but I actually think it’s a tight picture:

The rest of Temple crew rippin it:

Something is funky wih my camera and I lost some pictures of the event.  There was graffiti on display from FAZE ands ABEL and I had some shots of other people at the event. Sorry fellas!

And that’s Soled Out Tuesday in a nutshell.  BIG ups to the homie Bernardo for inviting CHILDREN to  be a part of this event.  Thanks, dawg.

Tags: fashion streetwear hip hop tee shirt los angeles DJ break dancing

This Tuesday, December 18, CHILDREN will be downtown at Soled Out Tuesdays at the Crash Mansion, 9pm-2am.

1024 S. Grand Ave.

Los Angeles, CA 90015

Beat Junkies legends, DJ Rhettmatic and the ever-dope Mr. Choc will be mixing live.  Streetwear brands reppin like Temel, Honor the Brand and of course CHILDREN will be there selling their goods.

Contact me about guest list.

Hip hop and streetwear… isn’t that why we’re here?

Tags: streetwear fashion los angeles hip hop

Whoever it was that said not to put all your eggs in one basket, Jigga was listening. First it was the Jersey Nets, now the hip-hop living-legend has invested, through the company he is part owner in: Scion, LLC (not the car subsidiary of Toyota, dumbass), in the clothing brand Artful Dodger. That’s bananas. Who would have thunk it?

A reported $15 million was payed to Scott Langton, founder of Artful Dodger, who will stay on with the company. I THINK it’s the same Scott Langton that designs the upper end line “Scott Langton,” but I’m not sure. And apparently, googling “Scott Langton” does not provide the answer. Did I say Scott Langton in this paragraph enough? Scott Langton.

I’ve never been a fan of Artful Dodger. In fact, I’d be embarrassed to wear it. The stuff is way elaborate; all-over prints, gold foil, embroidery, different color fabrics, etc. It’s pretty damned flashy. But that’s just me and I’m not the one who just got paid 15 million! An, I admit, it’s a good name.  So, I say mad props to Scott Langton on the payday and nice work making it happen for yourself. I will be there one day very soon. You just watch!

With the American Gangster soundtrack (anyone listened to it? how is it?) released just a couple days ago and the acquisition of a thriving clothing line today, it would seem that J-Hova is definitely having a solid week.

Btw… Jay-Z is NOT wearing a sombrero in the picture above.

Tags: Artful Dodger Jay-Z hip hop streetwear fashion tee shirt music

When Chamillionaire dropped a couple years ago or whatever with Ridin’ Dirty, i thought he might be the whackest MC to come our way in a long time. That song was so annoying and they played the hell out of it. His voice, the lyrics, the beat, everything about it was a terrible song.

Howeva!… Hip Hop Police is DOPE! Now, I know this song is old already, but it really hasn’t gotten much air play in LA and I think I only heard it once.

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The first 11 seconds before the beat drops is whack, then he comes in sounding like 50 Cent with the “go go go go go.” But after that, it’s the bomb. It’s got the kind of beat that makes me think of commercial hip hop from like, 2001. It sounds like Gza’s “Breaker, Breaker.” Almost like a wannabe Premier beat. Straight 4-4, bob-your-head rap.

The rhyming is on point, too. It actually sounds a lot like The Lifesavas song “Hellohihey,” where he’s having a conversation with his own ego. Also a really good track. Check it out if you’ve never heard it.

And on top of all that it’s got a verse from Slick Rick who seriously blesses any track he spits on. Remember Street Talkin’ with Big Boi? Hotness.

I now know what all the Chamillionaire hype was about. I guess the record execs at Universal that signed him might know a little something about skills on the mic.

www.wearchildren.com

Tags: music hip hop chamillionaire slick rick streetwear

I’m sure you’ve heard of some the websites that sell streetwear: krudmart, karmaloop and others. I just wanted to give a shoutout to my homie with the underground, grassroots, real deal, independent, hot ***, hardcore, old school, new school, dopeness:

El Mercado

Check them out.

Thanks.