I just saw this on Engadget and thought it was bad-ass.

The famous German graffiti artist, Daim created a way to make 3 dimensional art by setting up cameras around him while he drags around a sensor that acts like a “marker”.  The cameras track the movement of the “marker” and software translates that movement into lines in all 3 dimensions to make 3D graffiti. 

It’s like digital sculpture graffiti.  Pimp.

The future!  Check the vid:

Tags: art graffiti daim

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

A couple years ago I was dying for a pair of Jordan IVs.  But as we all know, anywhere they were available they sold for $350-$400.  My wife however was not aware of this and so when she found a pair on eBay for $90, she ordered them for me 2 years ago for Christmas.  Direct from China.

Aren’t they beautiful?  Works of art, huh?  They’re perfectly balanced.  They’ve got the perfect blend of retro and future style.  They’ve got just the right amount of bulk that your jeans hang right on them, but you can also wear them with shorts.  And they looked REAL, man!  Even the box and the plastic hang tag and the little Jordan postcard… the whole thing.  It looked so legit, I thought maybe they were really real. 

The problem (besides the fact that they’re fake) is that they are a 9 and I wear a 9.5 (my wife was hella bummed when she learned that she got me the wrong size and even more bummed when I had to tell her they were fake).  These fake Jordan IVs were sitting in my closet for TWO YEARS!  I could never figure out if I should sell them, throw them away, give them away or what.  Finally, last week I broke them out and tried them on again.  They were definitely a little small, but not so bad.  And even though they’re fake… damn, they look fresh!  Alright, I decided, I’ll wear ‘em.

After just ONE DAY this is what happened to them:

One day!  Literally falling apart at the seams.  And it wasn’t a rough day either, just a couple hours walking around The ‘Dena.  Any questions I had on whether these Jordan IVs are real or fake were answered right then and there.  FAKE! 

So the moral of the story is: don’t buy Jordan IVs for $90 on eBay from China.  Spend at least $350.  That way even if they fall apart, you can tell yourself they’re real… I mean they cost $350, right?

Tags: streetwear sneaker jordan fashion

As many of you may have already peeped on some other streetwear blogs, Original Fake is doing a series of gear based on Spongebob Squarepants.  What the hell is up with that?!  I mean, seriously!  I don’t really like to write blogs that just diss, but this is too much.

Do you know anyone who would wear this: (pic from Highsnobiety)

?

I mean, yeah… it’s got kind of a cool Kaws spin on it, but it’s still Spongebob.  You know, the same Spongebob that’s on all the boys’ underwear and pajamas from KMart?

Obviously, the homie Bob is down with some big timers in the fashion world because he also got a signature sneaker form Bape.  Check the Bapesta Spongebobs: (pic from Highsnobiety)

Who are they fooling with this stuff?  I’m the first to admit that my opinions on fashion can be swayed when new trends emerge or companies I like do something that I thought I didn’t like.  I mean I never thought I’d be wearing tight jeans.  But these designs are obnoxious.  they totally lack any aesthetic value.  They remind me of the Alife Sesame Street tees I wrote about a while back that, by the way, I haven’t seen even one person wearing.

On the real those shirts scare me little.  Imagine having lunch or a conversation with someone wearing one of these, their manboobs staring you down.

Till next time.

Holla!

Tags: streetwear fashion tee shirt Bape Original Fake Spongebob Squarepants

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

Merry Christmas everyone. 

The season of giving and receiving has wound down and with just 1 hour and 41 minutes left until December 26th, my wallet is empty and my stomach is full.  It’s back to the grind tomorrow and my little 4 day slice of heaven is coming to a close.  I shopped, saw The Golden Compass at The Grove, ate espresso-chocolate-chips pancakes from The Griddle, hung with the fam and got not-enough sleep.  It was good times.

Next weekend will double as a UFC fight night and a second mini-Christmas party for the homies who didn’t get their gifts today.  And I’ll for sure have something written about George St. Pierre’s slaughter of Matt Hughes and Wanderlei’s utter annihilation of Chuck Liddell at UFC 79… but that’s another blog. 

Statistically speaking, it was a good holiday season for the retail industry.  People were shopping and thank God I got some of what was bought.  If you read my blog you probably know I like my streetwear clean and simple and that I like FUCT, Upper Playground and New Balance (amongst many other things, of course).  Looks like wifey was reading my blog because she got me all three.

I got this shirt from Upper Playground:

This one from FUCT:

And the pimpy velcro New Balances from Undefeated which I KNOW I saw on Freshnessmag or Highsnobiety, but for some reason I can’t find the image now.

I got my wife the Made Me tights from Karmaloop:

and also some things I picked up a the Insight sample sale here in LA.

What’d you get?

Merry Christmas everyone.  Back to the grind.

Holla!

www.wearchildren.com

Tags: streetwear christmas fashion los angeles tee shirt sneakers

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

With so many streetwear boutiques popping up all over Los Angeles it’s hard to be cool anymore. I mean it’s no secret where you got that hoodie from anymore. You can get that tee shirt anywhere and they sell your dunks at Urban Outfitters. However, I still love clothes and the stores that sell them. So this will be the first in my series of reviews of streetwear stores in the Los Angeles area. Exciting, huh?

Barracuda… Melrose’s finest vendor of upper-end streetwear. Great tee-shirt selection you don’t see everywhere else, interesting kicks and an eclectic mix of brands make this store a must-see stop when out shopping. (I’m always forgetting to take pictures of the outside of the store)

You walk in to the girls’ section on the bottom floor where brands like Insight, Stussy, Gentle Fawn, and many more grace the racks. They’ve got a nice collection of denim and tees for girls and probably the best selection of tops, sweaters and jackets I’ve ever seen. Every time, I go in there there’s something awesome I want to buy for my wife. Barracuda does a really good job buying clothes that are unique and hip without being too weird and unwearable. They’ve got uber-hip, over-sized, 80s style girls sweatshirts, fitted jackets and more.

Head upstairs to the men’s section and there’s more clothing hotness for yo ass. Barracuda always has a big selection of Stussy tees and caps… always. They’ve also got tees from RVCA, Insight, 2K, and a bunch of other brands I can’t remember. Whether you’re looking for some soft, slim-cut tees, or some standard, stiff streetwear type stuff, Barracuda gotcha covered.

Barracuda also has a kick-ass shoe selection of not only Nikes and Adidas in rare colorways, but higher end Varvatos Converse, and other shoes like that.

Like the women’s section downstairs, the men’s selection of jackets and hoodies is dope. They’ve always got nice numbers from Stussy, FreshJive and others. They recently were carrying a dope black on black camo-ish jacket from Quiksilver, not a brand you see in most boutiques like this.

While I was there they were having some crazy dope sale. Like 50% off AND buy 2 get 1 free on shoes and tees or something like that. I’m not sure if that sale is still going on, but you should definitely check it out.

Lastly, Barracuda has a whole special section dedicated to LA-based line Kazuo. Kazuo is a cut ‘n sew line with simple graphic tees and clean, bohemian-modern shirts, jackets and more. I didn’t like this line too much when I first saw it, I thought it was kind of boring, but after a while it’s definitely grown on me. The pieces are classic with a just a touch of strange.

So that’s Barracuda in a nutshell. Definitely stop by if you never have. While it’s not strictly a streetwear store, I’d say it’s the most unique store of it’s kind in LA and there are always great finds there. The best store on Melrose for sure and arguably the best boutique in LA.

Barracuda

7600B Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90046

(323) 852-7179

www.wearchildren.com

Tags: streetwear los angeles fashion barracuda boutique kazuo stussy

Alrighty… this past weekend, CHLDRN was in San Diego for the Thread Show. It was a lot of fun and a big success. Many, many people showed up to get their shop on and some retailers were in the house as well. Food was served, drinks flowed and money was spent. Good times, good times. (All photos by me).

The event was at the San Diego Air & Space Museum where they had old airplanes and spacecraft on display. Definitely not the first place you’d expect a fashion event, but it was actually pretty cool. It was held in a big room with a glass dome ceiling and massive, old military aircraft suspended above us.

Upper Playground was in the house. Well… not really, but their logo was:

In true fashion-world style, the drinks flowed and the art was displayed. Tee shirts and accesssories really compliment Heineken and art-gallery graffiti, don’t they? What would a trade show be without them?

A good bartender ALWAYS organizes his bottles largest to smallest.

The CHILDREN booth was in full effect. Slangin shirts and what not. We were stationed right next to PONY (yes, PONY, as in the shoes). Who were showing their new Winter collection and signature Chris Brown shoes. They had a Chris Brown model in black and yellow that I actually thought was pretty hot, but I would NEVER wear shoes that said Chris Brown on them! No offense to you, Chris. You’re a talented, dude. But that’s just not my style.

You’re humble founder with a retarded look on my face:

Wifey helping set up and looking sexy:

This is the first time a model has modeled my clothes. Pretty sexy if I do say so myself. In a non-gay way, of course. (Bad picture, I know.)

Some of the homies in the house were Andrew and Daniel from The Ampal Creative:

Ampal is a fast growing, independent hat line. They manufacture their own New-Era style fitteds, Fedoras and more. Cool dudes with a cool product. The hat scene has just been drowned by New-Era and a new entry to the game is a welcome addition. Support the new, people. It’s where the future lies.

Also in the house was Free Gold Watch. Mixing it up with streetwear and a little Hollywood couture styling, FGW is fast rising. From where I was standing, they looked like the busiest booth at the show. Nice work, fellas. Here’s Matt from FGW rockin’ the Tiger tee and reppin’ their signature dice:

Here’s one of FGW’s racks. The guy with his back to the camera here is Mike from POP! which carries both Free Gold Watch and CHILDREN down in San Diego.

Overall, the show was a big success and a lot of fun. CHLDRN sold somoe gear and got picked up by it’s first outside-of-LA store which was awesome and made the trip worth it by itself (Thanks Mike!). I’ll spread the word for sure on the next one if I go.

Holla!

www.wearchildren.com

Tags: streetwear fashion tee shirt thread show san diego boutique free gold watch ampal