I'm British-born Chinese from Bristol, UK. I’m LA-based. I’m a hip hop aficionado. After 15 years in London I moved to LA to pursue a new career and outlook on life.
Back in the 80s I was a DJ. In the 90s I contributed to the world's first street style exhibition at London's Victoria & Albert Museum. In 2011, I had my first interviews published. Today, I’m keeping busy with music, art, photos and writing.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Alright m'old China...?
Last week, I got my China visa issued in my passport...I'm getting excited.
Also, my four WrongWroks t-shirts (yes one..two...three....four shirts! But, hey one is a gift!) came in the mail from Canada. See the black one below of Doraemon in metallic gold! Word! Now, I thought WrongWroks was a Taiwanese brand, but I got schooled. Tony Wong is based in Vancouver, but has connections to Taiwan where he had a sell-out art show.
I'm so hot for WrongWroks right now! And I hear Colette is too.
Vancouver Fashion Week 2007
My last stop in Asia is Taipei. Mastercard is not gonna be safe! But how to avoid the fakes?
I got caught up in Murakami fever! I couldn't help it. As I drove on Sunset downtown the pink Murakami billboard looked down on me and the world...goading me...calling me!
Who else got caught up in Mura-madness? Pharrel and Nigo of Billionaire Boys Club fame were in town and Keanu Reeves was there last night too.
15 minutes of fame. I cornered Murakami with my UK-imported Kanye West "Stronger" 12". His assistant looked at me as he was doodling Mr DOB and said, "that's from the UK..." "You know your stuff", I replied. "It was my project", she said as she moved Murakami through the crowd that was closing in.
He's famous. I'm famous ;-)
Halloween goblins and ghouls I loved that it was Halloween weekend. As Britt said, it's an excuse for all the girls to dress like hoes! Hah, love it! There were some freaky folks out at the Murakami show...but I was too shy to get pics of all of them. Which are your faves...mine have to be the "Kitty girls", for all the right reasons. ;-)
Louis Vuitton x Murakami I survived the night without getting my LV jacket confiscated by the LV brand police...nope, mine wasn't made in Paris! (Paris wasn't cool enough in the 90s to design my velour LV baseball jacket. Hahhaa.) But, in the apres-party Japanese restaurant I had an incident with a Chinese girl and a glass of water. I was not best pleased!
A bit more trivia...I just read that Pharrel was LV's face for 2006 and BBC designed a range of sunnies for LV.
Special thanks to: Brandon Shigeta and Eric Nakamura (Giant Robot) for the additional pictures.
In 2003, I went to Hyde Park, London to see Murakami's show at the Serpentine. Tomorrow I swap beautiful Royal parks for downtown LA to see pretty much the same show it seems from what I read in LA Weekly today...
I wouldn't go as far as saying what the UK's Guardian newspaper did, criticising Murakami for a lack of art:"There's no sign of any internal critique, just a lot of very high-class production values ... not much art here, either only a feeble sort of entertainment."
But I will say this...I don't want to see DOB, the big Eyes, or the manga-esque statues with orbits of cum. No, I want to see the new stuff with "traditional Japanese materials and motifs; the updated twists on Buddha statues, scrollwork, calligraphy, screen painting and a 300-year-old dye technique called yuzenzome."
But I quite like those mushrooms...sorry Brittany ;-)
Dizzee Rascal posted news on his MySpace bulletin. Nike has organized a speed trial event with a gig attached. You have to race and qualify to win tickets?! The qualify times ain't no joke: 100 metre dash for guys in 17.7 seconds or gals 19.4 seconds!
That's ill...street marketing to get kids to get off their arses and participate to get what they really want...free concert tix to see the Grime King, Dizzee Rascal! Kinda genius really.
Here's wordfrom Dizzee himself, including the typos ;-) "Just wanted to let u know about an amazing opportunity coming up on November 17th. It’s Nike+ Supersonic: part race, part gig, part party – and I’ll be playing alongside another massive UK act still to be announced. Da only way to get tickets is to race for dem at Nike Speed Trials taking place across London – da fastest 500 girls n 500 guys get dem plus 2 guests tickets for deyr mates. Each trial has a massive party atmosphere – you may have seen da video of me showing how it’s done at Finsbury Park. Check it out and sign up yourself here: www.nikesupersonic.com."
Here's Nike's version "This Autumn, Nike invites active Londoners to push their pace through the sound barrier with Nike+ Supersonic. 1,000 runners. 2,000 guests. One night of music fuelled speed.On the night of 17 November 2007 at a secret London venue, London's fastest 1,000 will sprint a floodlit 1K course, cheered on by 2,000 of their mates, ending with an invite-only gig headlined by some of the UK's biggest names in music.Contenders compete for tickets at four 100m speed trials across London (12/10, 26/10, 2/11, 3/11). Each trial will feature motivation from live DJs and the opportunity to trial Nike gear. The next speed trial will be held at Crystal Palace, 6-8pm, 26.10.07.The fastest 1000 (500 guys, 500 girls) each receive a £200 race pack including an iPod nano, Nike+ Sport Kit and a pair of limited edition Nike Zoom Jasari. Plus of course two guest passes for their most dedicated supporters."
You've seen the clips of Korean B-Boy battles before on my blog...don't sleep! But to beat the French champs and various other crews is a big deal. Looks like it's time for another Seoul visit for Stevio. Hmmm, I wonder if the Cathay AsiaPass reaches South Korea? (And I wonder if Emily Chang from CNN will join me... >:-) )
Here's the battle in South Korea in 2006 (it's hooot to death, but dude leave the edits out!)
Collaboration fever has hit video game publishers now...2K Sports (aka Take-Two Interactive) have sponsored Peanut Butter Wolf's next Stones Throw records compilation. The oddly named "2K8: B-Ball Zombie War" ain't no joke. It's a 20-song banger with new collaborations from Talib Kweli, Q-Tip and MF DOOM rapping over beats by the late J Dilla.
The music will feature in Take-Two's roster of 2008 games. Nice one Stones Throw on this small step in the new business models for music. Cutting edge. Top it off with a real life basketball game and we're really getting the party on.
I drove around the block to find "The Point", a new sneaker showcase store on Cahuenga Blvd. that features Nike's iD studio too. In the back is a ball court that used to be kinda run down. Amazing what corporate money can do...
Nike and Stones Throw kicked off the tour with a 3x3 street basketball tournament. 16 teams made up of Stones Throw, sneaker kings "UNDFTD", Amoeba, my local vinyl emporium "Turntable Lab", La Brea Family (Stussy/Union), Fairfax Family #1 (Supreme/Hall of Fame), Fairfax Family #2 (The Hundreds/SLB/Flight Club), Blends, Proper, Greyone, and, umm, LVMH?!
Thanks to Britt for the heads up!
Don't sleep on the holiday tour dates across the US for the 2K8: B-Ball Zombie War tour.
The trainspotter in me loves this...Daft Punk revealed
But the artistry is in the appropriation and the layering and pasting into dancefloor bangers. You can't take that from Daft Punk. After all, if we frowned on sampling the whole of Massive Attack's 'Blue Lines' would've been..uh, in the bin! Bonsoir!
Kiki said that Kendo was having a Dunkxchange on Melrose. This is a traveling 'swap meet' for sneaker heads that I've mentioned before, so I went along to see what's it all about. Unlike the frenzied shopping at the Vegas et al events, this was a very tame affair, with a bunch of clothing companies too.
It was great pre-Xmas shopping with deals on Freshjive, Luxirie (LRG's female line...Irie...get it?) and some independent stores like Cultist and Dime Piece (cute girls..tee hee!)
So, the hunt was on....Kanye West wore some white unnamed sneakers. Who makes them? When will they released? Are they 1 pair of 1?!
All stuff is under my radar...until I get an email...Ato Matsumoto puts himself on the hip hop map . Good or bad?
Not available outside of Japan (and we all know how hard it is to work out a Japanese website without a translator ;-) ) Ato's sneaker is described as "a stunning, functional and beautifully styled piece of footwear...and features 2 velcro straps and comes in a mix of patent leather and regular premium leather".
Not available till 2008 outside of Japan, *&^%$ store in the UK has an exclusive distribution deal on the sneaker...for a mere $600 you can have a pair, but wait...it's on sale now for $400! I think that's pretty good value if you're a US size 9. That's the smallest size available. Lucky, really as I'm a US size 8!!
UCLA gets its own Ghostface Killa (Wutang Clan) rap concert tonight sponsored by Adult Swim (the adult-themed comedy rating for TV shows) and Korean mobile phone company, Helio. Students only?! Wahhhh?!
So the exclusive capscule NikeiD Gallery in the LES, NYC might be closing...and replaced by the NikeiD store inside Niketown!
I was confused as I made a booking for my consultation and the lady said that there was no iD store in LES. "Weird, I was there a month ago and it was definately open for business..."
So what is NikeiD? NikeiD is the feature to customize a range of Nike shoes: add your name or picture or other creative touches! I've dabbled with it online, but never pressed "BUY". May be it's time...?
Today is Blog Action Day...on October 15th, bloggers around the web will unite to put a single important issue on everyone’s mind - the environment. Every blogger will post about the environment in their own way and relating to their own topic. Our aim is to get everyone talking towards a better future.
My environmental consciousness finds comfort in avoiding needlessly imported products and goods whenever I can. What I mean is that I don't buy Australian or other far-off country's wine. California has amazing 'local' wines starting at really cheap prices (BevMo 5 cent specials?), so why import!?
The other thing I've started to do when I can is pay money towards a carbon-offset scheme when I travel on a plane. It's a practical way to contribute to programs that try to balance the global warming effect we all contribute to.
The next step has to be to switch to low-energy light bulbs...if Wal-Mart can make a conscious effort to stock them, the least we can do is buy them...although I've never bought anything from Wal-Mart. I'm kinda proud of that!
Blog Action Day is about MASS participation. That means we need you!
Justice added an extra show in LA 'cause they sold out of Tuesday's gig. As I surfed the 'net aimlessly I hit Ticketmaster and grabbed some tix. Of course, I got purchase regrets later as I remembered Justice are on our mate's label, Downtown Recordings...
But, what can I say?! Justice does a banging show! It was the 90s again: pure hard beats and rave mentality. Just look at the stage set-up - just two nodding heads behind a console and a huge set of Marshall speakers! "God is a DJ" was written all over this show tonight. Look at these kids! (thanks to Caesar Sebastian for the pics...)
Live in gay Paris
The throbbing bass, the cutting guitar samples, the thudding bass. All threaded together to make the crowd explode! It was sooo energetic...some of it chemically-induced...but still very special night for those who got some tix. I had me some 4 tix from a mixture of sources and I wish all of them got used. What a waste of talent!
DJs Ruuul...I love this clip of an 'Ed Banger' party...I got that house tune on the intro. Nope, I ain't telling! Haha!
It was a sad, sad day. My Verona red 1975 BMW 2002 had to go to an vintage car home where it could be loved, instead of upstaged by my Audi TT.
I got up early on this Columbus Day off and drove 40 miles to Pomona. It's in the middle of bumble-fuck nowhere. Well, it's on the way to San Bernadino. Hate it! On the drive there were familiar landmarks: Alhambra, West Covina...and then it was all a blur.
BMW Classics Apart from the oasis that is the 2002ad workshop, I have to say Pomona is tres depressing - even in the sunshine there was just not character, or signs of any culture. I couldn't wait to get on the bus to downtown LA.
Silver Surfer And the bus is sooo modern it's called the 'Silver Streak' - it's a double-bus caravan with all mod-cons. I slept most of the way and then jumped on another bus to my 'hood simply by calling '1-800-Commute' to find the bus. That Metro bus had GPS maps on the screen so you wouldn't miss your stop! Craaaazy! Love it!
The Bronx River in New York has a hip hop heritage (with shout-outs on BDP's 'South Bronx' song on their 1988 'Criminal Minded' album), but the LA River can't be left out...
Each year the 'river' plays host to graffiti artists from the surrounding cities, who all congregate to show love, skills and talent on the concrete walls. This year the 'Meeting of Styles' event was rained off until this weekend. (Yep, hours of rain in LA caused the water to rise too high to allow the graffiti artists to do their thang!)
Deja vu? Made famous in car race/chase scenes from 'Grease' and 'TheTerminator 2', the LA River is really a huge concrete structure that channels water for miles north to south in LA and was the source of water before the LA aquaduct was built. Honestly, walking around it felt like a big sewer spill over not that there was sewerage. But still...!
Check out the video...
Meeting of Styles Some guys were painting with brushes...I had to ask, "how accepted is that by the other crews?" Imagine, these guys are using oil paints and brushes vs. the spraycan guys. It's like the original graffiti crews dissing the stencil artists; then the graff guys dissing the wheatpaste artists. But the oil and brush crew is ok?! The answer: "If the mural is wack it doesn't matter what, or how it's painted! If it's good, it's accepted." Hmmm.
Since the 90s, Meeting Of Styles has launched over 60 events in 16 countries across Europe and North America and attracted over 60,000 people?! That shows the power of hip hop and street art. On my visit there were mums with their kids there complete with wellington boots ready to roam the river bed.
Eurotrash Ironically, this very American event was inspired by events in Germany in the 90s. Damn, the Krauts are running hip hop! The strangely worded background story can be found here. In summary, it's something about an abattoir closing and becoming a bit derelict which attracted the graff artists. When the site was threatened by demolition, the graffing Krauts said: "Yo, that can't be real, we got to do something about that!" Image it in German ;-) See the history and images at WallStreetMeeting.de
Make Money, Money Big up to Make One for hipping me to this graffiti extravaganza!
I'm British-born Chinese from Bristol, UK. I’m LA-based. I’m a hip hop aficionado. After 15 years in London I moved to LA to pursue a new career and outlook on life.
Back in the 80s I was a DJ. In the 90s I contributed to the world's first street style exhibition at London's Victoria & Albert Museum. In 2011, I had my first interviews published. Today, I’m keeping busy with music, art, photos and writing.
"I love it when she calls my phone
She even got her very own ringtone
If that ain't love then I don't know what love is"
"Cupid's Chokehold," Gym Class Heroes
"...We give a f*&@ about status, who you are tomorrow, whether you beg or borrow or if you hit the Super Lotto, whether your girl looks like a minger or a Supermodel..."
"Wonderful Night," Fatboy Slim
"I wish I was little bit taller,
I wish I was a baller,
I wish I had a girl who looked good I would call her,
I wish I had a rabbit in a hat with a bat and a '64 Impala"
Last week, I got my China visa issued in my passport...I'm getting excited.
