Rebel without a pause ...

"REBEL8 , the name , was first created by Joshy D. in 2000 . Mike Giant came up with the look : skulls , roses , and every thing in between . The clothing wasn't born until March 24 , 2003 when only a few dozen t-shirts were screenprinted .

Since the beginning , REBEL8 has matured and grown significantly , but continues to run off the same punk D.I.Y. philosophy it once started with . Our diversity in products continually expands making the REBEL8 brand more solid and complete . "



I discovered the brand a while ago and was quickly amazed by its distinctive and simple white and black prints . Later I discovered the artist behind the design through different websites featuring his productions .

Mike Giant first known as a tattooist is now recognised for his talent as an illustrator and a graffiti artist . Black ink remains GIANT’s specialty and whether his medium is concrete , paper or skin his signature style - made up of equal parts Mexican folk art and Japanese illustration - is unmistakable .



There is also that particular touch of burleque , mixed with romance , that brings back memories of the tatoos that were made during the first part of the last century , and all the imaginary around .




Look out for Skullz Press Compendium , the book he released in 2006 ( published by Upper Playground ) .



Otherwise you can check the links below :
www.mikegiant.com
www.digitalgravel.com/brandBio1060.cfm
www.rebel8.com
www.rebel8.com/PRESS/SUPER7/14/S7-14-content_1-BIG.jpg

Fire in the Sky ...

I hate campouts ...

I hate resellers ...

Jordan III Fire Red coming February 24th from what i know .

Pics Kenlu.net

Ride Low Homie ...

Lowriding began as a cultural element of Chicano Americans , part of the street culture of the American barrio where Mexican immigrants maintained a lively urban culture . Lowrider bikes, one of the most splendid and unique products of this culture, are a cross between the Harley and the cruiser bike , decorated with paint and chrome and streamers , found in any all-American hometown parade .

As you might surmise , lowriding bikes hug the ground . The highest points on a lowrider bike are almost always its two hand grips , just like you might find on its motorized cousin , the Harley motorcycle . The seat of a lowrider bike is down at wheel level and its pedals are sometimes higher than the seat ! These bikes are typically a highly individualized creation . Most of them are ridden with enormous pride by their creators , although you can buy some standard models and a few elaborate models in a good bike store , especially in cities of the American West .

Despite the fact that these bikes originated within the poverty of the barrio , lowrider bikes are anything but cheap . Makers of these one-of-a-kind creations regard their bicycles as much as an artwork and a mechanical marvel as a means of transportation , though part of the joy of creation has always been parading them down the street when completed—these are not pieces of art meant for life in dusty museums , for the most part . Each part is usually carefully selected for its utility as well as its beauty , with the resulting bike a breathtaking example of technical and artistic ingenuity .

Lowrider bikes are becoming a presence in more and more cities , perhaps made more "respectable" among the affluent bicyclists who drive the market by the increasing popularity of their cousin , the recumbent bicycle . As the baby boomer generation ages and feels increasing twinges of back pain riding on the dropped handlebars of road bikes, expect to see more and more lowrider and recumbent bikes alike .

And once you get your first basic lowrider bike, don't be too surprised if you find yourself flipping through the real or online pages of a lowrider parts catalog musing , "Hmm ... I wonder how that golden sprocket would look on my bike ?"Lowrider bikes have a tradition of creative embellishment and technical improvisation that calls out the artist and the inventor in many of us .What, really , could be better to evoke , especially if you're already a bike rider?

"Lowrider bikes history" by Alastair Hamilton - Photos from www.custombrigad.com ( paris night rides )

Jordan Brand Upcoming Releases ...

Lots of stuff coming from Jordan brand this year again . Indeed after the Jordan V tsunami , the III and I will follow . The Spiz'ike will be also released in its second color , but still does'nt do it for me . It's a mix between the best sneakers of all time , the Air Jordans III , IV , IV , V , and VI that were all advertised by Mars Blackmon ; the early sneaker freak- afrocentric - metropolitan dude created by Spike Lee at the end of the 80s , hence the name Spiz'ike .



The Jordan TV commercials made by Spike Lee at that time , were one of reasons of the rising popularity of the Air Jordans ( not forgetting Tinker Hatfield vanguard design ) . In the same time Spike Lee , with a little support from the Oregon company , was given the means to do five memorable movies : She's Gotta Have It , Do The Right Thing , Mo'Better Blues , Jungle Fever and Malcolm X .


Thus , with the success of his alter ego Mars , and with his talents revealed to the world , he left a black-concerned print on the sneaker icon forever .

Photos : Shaman_King

"I have a dream ..."

Because things are far from being perfect yet , take the time to remember the fight of Martin Luther King and the persons that took part in his pacific movement , and think about what you can do to be a better man or a better woman . The condition of being colored skin is still a nightmare for some , which is not acceptable anymore .

STAND UP ! SPEAK UP !

French feature from my mate : http://mrikmyselfandi.blogspot.com/2007/01/i-have-dream.html

Lundi 13 Janvier 1997 ...

... 10 ans déjà tête de mule ! T'es quand même ma niéce adorée .

My 2007 ... a Colette exhibition

"The bridge between one year and the next is always a time of relection, a brief moment of standstill where we remember the past and picture ourselves in the future , with all our dreams and hopes . To celbrate its ten year anniversary , colette asked to different artists , illustrators and graphic designers , to express their view of the new year ."

Proceeds of the sale of original artwork will go to WWF aiding the protection of nature and environment . Colette as always is on point with what's in the air , when everybody in France says 2007 is going to be a key moment for environment , with the french elections but also with the hope for a ratification for the Kyoto protocol by the great USA ( let's remember Russia ruled by mobster Vladimir "Polonium" Poutine has signed the protocol in 2004 , what's up GW ?) .

Well at least it's a good idea to begin 2007 proposed by the Paris Urban Chic Grocery , better that announcing a tons of ultra limited-10th birthday-high priced stuff to come ... well we know that it will follow ... it's a store first , isnt it ? .

Personally I discovered the store nearly ten years ago on a TV fashion show , on french channel Paris Premiére , and I have to say I was quickly seduced by the concept of the grocery ... a 1997 compact Le Bon Marché . Of course with the seeing of the products sold there and being 18 , I didn't find I could be really a direct client of that store . But with the the anticipation of streetwear getting to the next step , Colette has developed stong relations with a more urban youth . Books , music , toys , clothing and of course sneakers ... the store leads you from one good thing to another , via the strangest things sometimes .

I finally ran by the store for the release of the Nike Dunk Stash to check the whole thing . Since then , I have regularly visited the store with a lot of pleasure . Yeah yeah , there are the $10,000 watches and jewelry which I am not comfortable with , but the woman behind the store has decided to give to that place a special power to reunite the streets and the elite clientele . This is how I got , one night , the most beautiful ... no the second most beautiful smile ( excuse me miss ;-) ) before going back home , and telling during two hours how that girl looked exactly in the flesh to mine .

THE ARTISTS:+41//DIY, Amber B, André, Peter Arkle, Base, Gary Baseman, Louise Bonnet, Lovisa Burfitt, Christophe Brunnquell, Thomas Campbell, Mori Chack, Claw Money, Claude Closky, Alexandra Compain-Tissier, D*Face, Amy Davis, Paul Davis, Iris de Mouy, Jean-Philippe Delhomme, Florence Deygas, Ben Eine, Experimental Jetset, Fafi, Faile (Aiko Nakagawa), Shepard Fairey (Obey Giant), Laurent Fetis, Futura, Genevieve Gauckler, Jochen Gerner, Groovisions, H5, Richard Hart, Misha Hollenbach AKA Roland Korg AKA Brian Damage, Jim Houser, Cody Hudson, Ich & Kar, Indesignwetrust, James Jarvis, Jeremyville, Juju’s Delivery, Kaws, Kuntzel+Deygas, Matthieu Laurette, Thomas Lélu, Michael Leon, Kevin Lyons, M/M, MadeThought, John Maeda, Eiko Maekawa, Marjo-lain, Ryan McGinness, Olivier Millagou, Mike Mills, Jean-François Moriceau & Petra Mrzyk, Takashi Murakami, Yoshitomo Nara, Norm, Marcus Oakley, P.A.M., Parra, Mark Pawson, Bruno Peinado, Josh Petherick, Alexandre Pierson, Pierre la Police, Steve Powers, Silvia Prada, Jo Ratcliffe, Craig Robinson, Riad Sattouf, Zakee Shariff, Simone Shubuck, SK Lam, Skki, Andy Smith, So-Me, Soledad, Supermundane, Tado, Ayako Takagi, Pierre Le Tan, Ruben Toledo, Sophie Toporkoff, Modern Toss, Julie Verhoeven, Megan Whitmarsh, Sam Winston, Andrew Jeffrey Wright, Wrongwroks.

Link : www.colette.fr/my2007

The Rebirth Of Cool ...

It's not that hard to do a sweet looking shoe : get a classic shoe and get the good persons involved .

Thanks to former niketalk retro forum moderator AirRev hired in 2003 or 2004 , the brand has set up an interesting reedition program of its classics , far from the actual products of the brand . I don't know much about the real part of the job AirRev has done for Puma since , but knowing the tastes of the man , I am pretty sure this trip back in the roots of the brand was in his brain just the second after he received a call from the brand executives .

First Puma has called back the man himself , two time NBA Champion , Walt"Clyde"Frazier , probably the best New York Knick ever , and at least the flyest , to represent the signature shoe in its original 1973 form in a worldwide tour , between Tokyo , NYC and London .

Then they have proposed various interpretations of the Clyde , including the Clydezilla (a special shaped clyde who was specifically produced in Japan back in the days which explains the reference to Godzilla) . The b-boy roots inspired them to make the totally crazy Yo! MTV raps . And later they did a an Easter pack and a Bonnie and Clyde pack (hence the nickname of the player) , before collaborating with the Crooked Tongues to release 3 color schemes , one being the winner of the custom CT contest that was set up this last autumn .

The alter egos of the classic named Suede (different shape) , Suede Mid , and Basket (leather version) were also released in the mean time .

With the benefit of an incredible buzz on the Crooked Tongues forum (AirRev UK connections ?) , and the limited distribution , the Puma Clyde has succeeded its comeback .

The releases continue with a wonderful rainbow pack . Yes it's simple but suede and solid colors do it for me .

Links :

http://freshnessmag.com/content/features/files/0705/puma_clyde/index.php

http://www.solecollector.com/news/2005/12/stry_st_pumaclyde.html

http://www.crookedtongues.com

http://www.nba.com/history/players/frazier_bio.html

“Say it Loud—I’m Black and I’m Proud.”

When singing was more than getting paid a good amount of money .

James Brown " The Gofather Of Soul" 1933-2006

Check Supertoug's interesting feature :

. http://supertouchblog.com/?p=1800#more-1800

. http://supertouchblog.com/?p=1758

More at : www.godfatherofsoul.com

Ride Or Die , the japanese way ...

Seems Tetsuo's neo tokyo ride in Akira has inspired some in Japan . Far from la dolce vita , big scooters are the new toys of the japanese youth . Using the codes of the custom culture , they buy their retail scooters , then get some modifications done on it . Wheels , paint , seats , bumpers , tires , .... it's up to you to show your good taste or your total crazyness .

Most are based on the common japanese models like the honda forza , fusion and silverwing , or the yamaha maxam , majesty and grand majesty .

I was already a big fan of the west coast low rider culture ( cars and bikes ) , which style is totally different from the more technologic japanese custom culture , but I have to admit it only took me several pics to get the growing effect on that trend too . I officially want one .

Let's ride !

Links :

. www.nihoncarandbike.com

. www.zokeisha.co.jp/scooter/sexxxim/members

. www.transcooter.jp

Revenge ...

... Afro Samurai is another story using the endless theme of revenge , that will bless the screens soon . No need to understand what a grown man , who has seen his father killed by a mysterious man called Justice , would be ready to do with a sword in his hands .

Long time after memorable Jim Jarmusch's Ghost Dog , classic Quantin tarantino's Kill Bill , RZA was logically chosen for making the soundtrack , which seems full of promises listening to Q-Tip & Free Murder - Just a lil dude ( who's that) single .

Samuel L. Jackson is also part of the project , as he is one of the producers and that his voice was used for the main character of afro samurai . Choosing this bad ass mo fo , was also another good thing . Always get a jedi by your side you must !

Check the website for more info , pics and videos : www.afrosamurai.com