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Just Incase

After conquering the realm of cases for everything from iPods to guitars to skateboards, our friends at Incase are making a foray into personal bags, introducing the Nylon Messenger and Nylon Backpack.

Like thier iPod and skateboard case counterparts, these latest drops from Incase are indestructable and feature more compartments than you will know what to do with. The Nylon Backpack is spacious without being obnoxiously big, with enough room to fit a laptop, books and your drugs- I mean... pens and pencils, while the Nylon Messenger is a stylish option to Jeffrey "The Dude" Lebowski's briefcase. Like the Nylon Backpack, the Messenger is roomy enough to store a laptop and work supplies and features padded compartments, so don't worry about having commuters slam into you after rushing for the morning train.

The Nylon Messenger and Nylon Backpack are just two of the new bags Incase has hooked us up with, so check out the rest of the collection at Karmaloop here.

Deathwish Skateboards x Supra - Jim Greco Pro Model Suprano High

A match made in glorious hell. Supra teams with Deathwish Skateboards and the infamous Jim Greco to bring you the Deathwish x Supra Jim Greco pro model Suprano High sneakers.

Jim Greco is the personification of skateboarding; a fearless rock & roller hell-bent on destroying any handrail, staircase or ledge (even the occaisional unfortunate human being) that stands in his path, Greco has been pushing the limits of what can be done with a skateboard for the last decade. His segments and features in the Baker Skateboard flicks have cemented his status as the premier street skater of this generation, influencing the styles of riders across the world.

Some of today's sickest riders shred for both Deathwish and Supra, specifically Erik Ellington, Antwuan Dixon, and Ramiro "Furby" Salcedo, as well as our fearless hero Jim Greco. With Supra long reputed as leaders in the footwear field amongst skateboarders, and with this latest addition to an already beyond-comprehensible spring line, that reputation is about to grow larger and louder.

The Deathwish x Supra Suprano Highs feature many of the finer points of the previous Suprano editions, but like it's namesake pro and deck collaborator, these joints couldn't be tougher if grown in Siberian soil and rolled with scrap metal. One innovative new feature found on the Deathwish Supranos is a removable velcro ankle strap, adding to an already solid and comfortable ankle panel, allowing you to push yourself, your deck and your session to the limit and over the edge with more support.

Check out more of the latest Supra footwear and apparel at Karmaloop here, and prepare to have your mind blown after studying up on some Jim Greco video classics. 

Tomorrow Night!

As if a Karmaloop party needs any extra promotion...

Tomorrow night. A-Trak. Hollywood Holt & Mano. B.Rich. $10, Karmaloop models, championship pop bottles. Tickets are limited, so get your ass out of bed, go to www.wanttickets.com and get in where you fit in!

Rock, rock to the Planet RockSmith... don't stop.

 

Tokyo titans RockSmith pay tribute to some of the greats with three new tees at Karmaloop, namely OutKast, Nas and Young MC.

In our humble opinion, Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik, the debut album from OutKast, is not just one of the Top Ten hip hop albums of all-time... it is possibly one of the Top Ten albums ever made, period. With production all performed in-house by Rico Wade, Ray Murray and Sleepy Brown of Organized Noize, Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik not only introduced the world to Andre "3000" Benjamin and Antwan "Big Boi" Patton, but also to Cee-Lo, Big Gipp, Khujo and T-Mo of Goodie Mob. Beneath the graphic on The Playa Muzik Tee is text reading "Most Influential," and RockSmith is definitely "Claimin' True" with that statement.

People are quick to dismiss Young MC as a one-hit wonder following his relatively low success following debut Stone Cold Rhymin' which featured "Bust a Move," but the fact is... okay, we admit it. He was a one-hit wonder. That's not to say Stone Cold Rhymin' wasn't a fun party album back in the day, and the man does deserve credit for penning two classic hits for fellow old-schooler Tone Loc, "Wild Thing" and "Funky Cold Medina." RockSmith shows that it certainly believes credit is due in creating The Young MC Tee, applying a twist to Young MC's name ring from a photo circa 1990.

"Everybody's looking for something..." Well, here it is. The Street Dreams Tee, a tribute to the Nas single of the same title from sophomore follow-up It Was Written, is as vivid in color as the classic video with font vaguely reminiscent of graphic artist Keith Haring's later works. Initially labeled a "sophomore slump" album due to a more polished sound and lyrics centered around glamorized street life, Nas was labeled a sell-out and the album was critically panned by reviewers and fans alike. However, the album has undoubtedly stood the test of time, bearing classic joints "If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)," Dr. Dre-produced "Nas is Coming," "Affirmative Action," and "The Message." Expect The Street Dreams Tee to do the same and become the next future classic from RockSmith.

These three tees are just a sample of what RockSmith hit us with, so check out the rest of the line here for more Golden Age of Rap-themed tees, hoodies, denims and jackets.

This Boozeday!

Five more days!

If you have not picked up your tickets for the next Karmaloop epic, Golden Nuggets, get them now before you're caught between the rainbow and pot o' gold.

Featuring world-renowned DJ A-TRAK on the Infinity+1 tour in support of his latest mix, this one is guaranteed to sell out, especially with guests B. Rich and Hollywood Holt with his DJ and producer Mano on the bill.

Few tickets are still available through www.wanttickets.com for a very limited time, so cop those now at $10 before the scalpers swoop in and triple the price. The Estate's doors open at 10:00 p.m. and the madness goes until 3:00 a.m. for all of you 21-and-over folks. Remember, there will not be any lucky leprechauns to save you once the tickets go, so don't sleep!

WeSC Global Conspiracy

 

Ears around the office have finally adjusted to the thump provided by the WeSC headphones dropped last month... just in time for the Swedish giants to stop by and completely fuck our heads up with it's latest series of sweaters and cardigans.

Ready for the spring and possessing more high class than Jeff Spicoli learnin' 'bout Cuba and havin' some food, the Superlative Conspiracy's reputation of combining the best materials with unparalleled craftsmanship stands out with the The Croatia Cardigan, The Spain Sweater and The Guam Cardigan Sweater, as WeSC goes global for inspiration on these gems.

Made from 100% cashmere and without any red dots like a gift from George Costanza, The Croatia Cardigan is guaranteed to grab attention before the ladies start grabbing up on that irresistible wool. The unique color block pattern and button closure offers a stylish option to a jacket on those cooler spring days, warm enough to keep the wind at bay and light enough to throw on or off at will... but just one feel from the cashmere texture of The Croatia Cardigan and you may never take it off again. Same goes for The Spain Sweater, another 100% cashmere banger, brilliant in its simplicity and superior in comfort. A warmer choice to The Croatia Cardigan, The Spain Sweater's timeless look will have you waiting for the leaves to fall later in the year to bring this one out again, while The Guam Cardigan Sweater's killer yellow and gray plaid pattern screams for spring and is light enough in texture to wear on those summer nights once the sun drops.

The Croatia Cardigan, The Spain Sweater and The Guam Cardigan Sweater are just a few hints to what WeSC has in store for the spring time, so be sure to check out the rest of the line at Karmaloop here.

Lawyer4Musicians Showcase at South by Southwest 2009

Like a swarm of dirty birds, indie-rock kids flock to Austin, Texas each spring for the annual South by Southwest festival, featuring more than 1,500 of today’s hottest acts in music and film.

Throughout its 22-year history, past acts have included the likes of music industry giants Morrissey, Amy Winehouse, and Iggy Pop and The Stooges performing at one of Austin’s many intimate venues to crowds typically no larger than 300 people. With help from KarmaloopTV and WeSC, this year’s festival is about to get a little bit cooler with a free public show featuring The Cool Kids, Kidz in the Hall, Fatlip (formerly of The Pharcyde) and DJ Clinton Sparks.

Taking place at Momo’s on March 21^st from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., the Lawyer4Musicians showcase, hosted by MC Dumbfoundead with up-and-coming acts Whatzisface, Hey Champ, DJ White Shadow and French Horn Rebellion, is the brainchild of attorney Josh Kaplan of Stahl Cohen in Chicago,Illinois.

Cohen, a “left brain guide to right brain thinkers,” has worked with musicians, producers, DJs, artists, filmmakers, writers and designers to protect their product through entity formation, contract negotiations, license agreements, and copyright and trademark registration, his effort to help creative people focus more on their craft and to treat it as a business.

L4M’s first ever showcase is a not an official SXSW event, meaning no festival bracelets or badges are required for entry, a marketing device to build more visibility with the community of artists that gather in Austin this time each year… and to help bring more hip hop acts to a traditionally rock & roll-centered festival.

The last few years of SXSW have witnessed an influx of hip hop acts, championed in part by Texas native Bun B., one half of legendary duo UGK (rest in peace, Pimp C), who had been reaching out to hip hop acts across the spectrum to include SXSW as a forum to get their music out. B’s efforts have not only bolstered the L4M showcase, as seen by this year’s official line-up which includes Memphis, Tennesee heavyweights 8Ball & MJG, Baltimore's own DJ Blaqstarr and the rhymesaying, beatslaying Brother Ali to name a few.

Be sure to catch the 2009 SXSW festival if you’re in the Austin area or looking for a great excuse to get out of town for a week, and definitely check out the L4M showcase. With last year’s festival success as another notch on the collective belt of Cool Kids Mikey Rocks and Chuck Inglish, the addition of both Kidz in the Hall and Fatlip make this one of the premier line-ups not to be missed.

For more information on SXSW 2009, including line-ups, schedules and venues, visit the official site here. If you're interested in the Lawyer4Musicians endeavor, visit Kaplan's site here, and get familiar with artists The Cool Kids, Kidz in the Hall, Fatlip, Hey Champ, Whatzisface, French Horn Rebellion, DJ White Shadow and Boston's own Clinton Sparks, not to mention our saints and angels at KarmaloopTV and Swedish style gods WeSC.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Burton Galaxy

Ahhh, that time of year. The pending spring season signals change, and a change of scenery is always a good thing. Whether you're planning a weekend road trip or a couple weeks out of town, state or country, Burton offers six new looks to bring you to where the grass is greener in comfort, convenience and style, presenting The Wheelie Double Decker, The Wheelie Flight Deck, The Zoom Pace, The Liquid Lounger Travel Bag, The Feedback Pack and The Day Hiker backpack.

You could fit a body inside The Wheelie Double Decker (um... not that we've tried or anything... where have all the interns gone, anyways?), and with black or green plaid colorways, you simply cannot lose sight of this one at the baggage claim... just keep your eyes on the suckers with the garbage bag an' duct tape steez looking for an upgrade.

Meeting the carry-on restrictions for MOST airlines (no doubt you will still be charged an arm and a leg, though) is the Wheelie Flight Deck. Spacious for a bag with its size and weight, the Flight Deck also holds a removable hideaway bag large enough to store your laptop or stash your porn... oops, we meant, your copies of The Wall Street Journal and Time Magazine.

For all of you shutterbugs out there, The Zoom Pace bag has to be the most innovative camera bag in history. Featuring a hideaway camera pack with padded, adjustable compartments that zips out from the back panel of the bag, fit any model camera with as much hardware and accessories as you can lift, and with a front panel pocket that accommodates most laptops, you can upload from the road.

The Liquid Lounger Travel Bag is a juvenile delinquent's wet dream. This one has everything you need to get started on a weekend of debauchery, including four neoprene can koozies, three ping pong balls, two sets of dice, a 100% cotton golf towel with the Burton logo printed on, stainless steel flask featuring the Burton "B" logo and mini 420 kit... not too mention an insulated main compartment big enough to fit a 24-pack, with a plastic ice storage compartment beneath the front flap to keep them brews chilly... oh, and there's a removable, audio-compatible stereo speaker system with amp and auxiliary input for your mp3 player. Detention has never had the potential to be so much fun.

If you're on the straight-and-narrow and still want to play your music wherever you damn well feel like, check out The Feedback Pack, the new millennium's solution to the ghetto blaster boom box. With weather-resistant, audio-compatible stereo speakers with amp and auxiliary input for your mp3 player, get a soundtrack going for that next skate session or keep the rage to yourself, as the Feedback Pack features an external pocket lined with fleece and complete with a headphone port.

Think summer school is in your future? Don't sweat it. The Day Hiker backpack has all the space you need for the books, as well as an mp3 pocket similar to the Feedback Pack's, so you can drone out dear teacher's lesson or your friends calling from the beach or skatepark.

Check out the individual 420 kits and the rest of the Burton line at Karmaloop here.

Alpha-New-meric

It ain't spring yet.

Mother Nature, tease that she is, has plans to push the thermometer past 60 degrees for us here in Boston over the weekend... before it starts raining, sleeting and snowing throughout next week. Never a break up here in the wicked Northeast, but thankfully, Alphanumeric stopped by to hook it up with three new windbreakers for these "in like a lion" early March weeks, The Arch Windbreaker, The Switch Jacket and The Hunter Windbreaker.

In the game since '98, Alphanumeric is rooted in the skateboard scene with a reputation of crafting tough, durable products with technical superiority and second-to-none style. Influenced by surfing, snowboarding, car culture and music as well, Alphanumeric's unique "EnvironMental Protection Company" educational-based advertising campaign has spread the good word worldwide, touching on the interests and lifestyles of streetwear heads and skaters from San Diego to Osaka.

Alphanumeric's Arch Windbreaker is the ideal solution to the spring time blues. With a water-repellent 100% nylon ripstop weave shell and polyester lining, the Arch is suited for whatever Nature throws at you. A vented back panel keeps you cool and dry with the fluctuating spring temperatures, and when the night chills fall, pop the hood and keep the winds at bay.

With it's versatile, reversible look, pick your pattern with the Switch Jacket and get durability, comfort and style in return. The Hunter Windbreaker hold it's own in durability, and with the same back panel ventilation system as that of the Arch Windbreaker, the Hunter is a lightweight option for those temperature drops once the skate session continues after the sun goes down.

Check out the rest of the Alphanumeric spring line at Karmaloop here, and be sure to witness the insanity that is Walker Ryan at Alphanumeric's site here. Go skate!

The Writer's Block

 

It's like the woman you cannot stop thinking about, the one part of that goddamned song that has been playing on repeat behind your eyes for days, the punchline you never remember, the forgotten combination to the floor safe, wherever it is you left your fucking keys, and wasn't it on this block that you parked the car?

Writer's block is an all-consuming, soul-sucking, mind-draining, invincible beast that will not stay down, will not compromise, will not bend nor break. It is paralyzing, it is infuriating, it is the killer that lurks in the shadows and strikes without notice. However it is described, that vile motherfucker does not affect us in the least, and in fact, we're using the pathetic monster as a metaphor for today's blog.

Our good friends at Insight and Freshjive have caught a case of the writing bug, resulting in the drop of some author-specific items over the last week inspired by three of our absolute favorite wordsmiths, Jack Kerouac, Hunter S. Thompson and William S. Burroughs.

Back like Kerouac, Insight comes with the On The Road Button Up Shirt, the On The Road Tie and the Fear & Loathing Tee.

Kerouac, author of the book that spawned all of the greats, On The Road, was a sharp-as-switchblades dresser and Insight pays tribute to the beatnik that brought unparalleled style to the literary world with the On The Road Button Up Shirt and On The Road Tie. Combine the two with a fifth of whiskey and that vintage blazer tucked away in your closet... just don't be surprised to find booty rubbing against your legs in state of panic shortly thereafter.

The Fear & Loathing Tee pays tribute to the prolific, wonderfully insane and undeniably brilliant Hunter S. Thompson with a design as abstract and original as the man himself. No need for a Great Red Shark, suitcase full of uppers, downers, laughers and screamers or a spiritual adviser; this latest offering from Insight is "different, a classic affirmation of everything right and true and decent in the national character... a gross, physical salute to the fantastic possibilities of life in this country - but only for those with true grit." And this tee is chock full of that.

"A paranoid man is a man who knows a little about what's going on." Burroughs was definitely a bit of a paranoid, and Freshjive knows exactly what's going on with this namesake tee. A very big fan of the Second Amendment, the Burroughs Tee features a print of the man himself posted up with one of his favorite big-gauge scatterguns, a sinister look for a very sinister tee.

Blast your way over to check out more of Freshjive here, and inebriate yourself with the Insight line here.
"Cut word lines. Cut music lines. Smash the control images. Smash the control machine."