Karl Kani ad from way back..B.H.M.!

Although he may not be on the top list for Black History Month Achievements but it def holds weight in the realm of influence of fashion through the Hip Hop culture. Carl Williams bka Karl Kani was that dude, a trailblazer, who implemented the aesthetics of urban street-wear into the streets-minds-music-magazines of the U.S. in the early 90's. The young fashionistas in the major cities took centerfold of what was not already coined "hiphop fashion" Once i peeped movement, i had to go to 8hrs away to Chicago to get my "Kani" gear that i saw all the dopest rappers wearing. They didn't have it in TN at the time but it was very crucial for me to have that cursive K on my shirt or your jean back pocket if I wanted to be in style and in sync with the culture i repped so hard. His gear became so popular that bootleggers couldn't help but copy, sell, and wear it themselves. Therefore, he switched his design up by using a small metal plate with his signature still present. It just made it even more official and less likely to for bootleggers to follow suit.

So for a quick snippet into the past Check out the link below...respect the architects..Audi 5000

http://www.complex.com/style/2011/02/lost-and-found-karl-kanis-classic-90s-ads-starring-nas-diddy-and-2pac

Say Word, Diggy Simmons got flow!??

Yo I had heard a recent buzz that young Daniel "Diggy" Simmons son of Rev Run had recently rapped on a freestyle... and was kinda nice with it. Skeptically, I checked it out and it aint HALF bad... actually pretty decent! Better than W.F.F.( its the wack rapper's initials, he deserves no full name on this blog) if thats even saying much. But check it out for yourself below..word
K:Easy

Diggy - Made you look Freestyle (Flow Stoopid) from Diggy Simmons on Vimeo.

March 9th

March 9th has once again dropped on us....another anniversary for us to remember my main man B.I.G. I was on Twitter today and there was an ignorant comment made by this mostly cool dude that I know....rash statements about why Big wasn't the best because he "only made two hot albums and then had some bad luck". It amazes me how this useless debate comes up every year. While it may be a personal opinion, March 9th really isn't the time to argue online, or anywhere else for that matter, about who's the "best". THERE IS NO BEST! While hip hop has always been and always will be a competitive "sport", what makes Big's legacy so powerful and potent twelve years later (12years!!!!) was HIS INFLUENCE. There can be no blind denial that Big's style, clever wordplay, and "everyman" appeal still resonate in hip hop music to this day. He has been venerated. Imitated. Hated. His rhymes have been quoted, bitten, and downright jacked by so many emcees, rappers, and wannabees so many times it would make your head spin if you actually thought about it. Christopher Wallace brought storytelling and wit back to the game, and many people say when he died the baton was passed to people like Jay-Z , Nas, Mos Def, etc. I would fill up too many pages making a list of people who either loved or hated Big for some reason...and that proves my point. He left us way too early, but while he was here he made an undeniable mark on this planet. We can sat the same thing about Tupac Shakur, without a doubt. But this isn't about 2Pac. Today is March 9th.

So today remember Biggie. CELEBRATE HIS LIFE, DON'T DEBATE IT. Play your albums and mixtapes, break out your old Source mags if you got em, and maybe light a candle. Remember how it was back when....and then make yourself a promise to live life to the fullest...because you never know when it's gonna be your time. Live your best life every single day, and do your thing. If anything, I learned that on this day back in 1997.

"Ain't no stopping/Big Poppa/I'M A BAD BOY......."

We miss you B.I.G.

K. Smalls