West Goes Gaga

In case you haven’t heard, Grammy award winning rapper/producer Kanye West will be linking up with Pop diva Lady Gaga to go on tour later this fall. In an interesting twist, the pair will be “co-headlining” the show and will not be incorporating any opening acts. West claims that he has so much respect for the songstress that it would only be right for them to share the headlining duties. This is a pretty significant shift for Kanye considering the fact that he proudly headlined the star-studded “Glow In the Dark” tour back in the spring of 2008 (which featured such established opening acts as: N.E.R.D., Lupe Fiasco and Rhianna).

For the most part, both parties are choosing not to divulge too many details about the show at the moment. Nonetheless, this is a very intriguing tandem and I’m guessing there will be fashion statements abound. Bottom line: if this Yeezy tour is anything like the last one─sign a brother up.

Be sure to be on the lookout for tickets to this show when it hits an arena near you.

This Is What It Looks Like: LeBron James

With this post, I proudly present to you all the first installment of the “This Is What It Looks Like” series. This fashion-based subgenre is certainly one of the series that I will put the most thought and effort into. Essentially, TIWILL posts will cast the spotlight on singers, rappers, athletes, actors or anyone else who I feel deserves to be applauded for their impeccable fashion sense.


Often times while scrolling through photo’s of celebrities on the interweb, you find yourself stumbling upon a multitude of fashion disasters. But I’m not here to dwell on the negative or call anybody out for their sartorial shortcomings. Rather, I would much prefer to show some love to the folks who get it right. And when it comes to throwing together a sharp ensemble, the subject of this issue of TIWILL certainly does get it right.


Without overstating the point, LeBron James is among the best dressed athlete/celebrities on the planet (as evidenced by the above photographs). And I’m not just talking about throwing together a clean suit & tie. The attention to detail, color coordination, and elegance this man puts into his off-the-court outfits show that he knows exactly what he’s doing when he sets foot into that closet of his.


The thing that I appreciate the most about LBJ’s attire is that, despite the fact that he’s a young Black athlete, he is cognizant of the fact that he is his own brand and the clothes he wears are a significant element in building his public perception. If I had to sum up his fashion sense in a phrase I would call it ‘youthful sophistication’. It’s no wonder he was featured on the cover of GQ magazine; an honor shared by very few professional athletes. This man’s wardrobe is virtually untouchable. His trench coats are ferocious. His cardigan knits are impregnable. And, between you and me, I heard he once ate a fedora.

Nas & Damian Marley Set to Release Collaborative Album

Queen’s bridge emcee, Nas and Jamaican reggae artist, Damian Marley are currently in the studio working on a collaborative album entitled “Distant Relatives” which is scheduled to release later on this year. If this tandem seems completely random─it’s not. Actually these artists first worked together on a track entitled Road to Zion which was featured on Marley’s 2005 LP, “Welcome to Jamrock” and have built a solid rapport ever since.

Apparently the album will have a strong focus on the continent of Africa. Both artists can trace their ancestry back to Africa and are conscious of the struggles that many African nations are currently undergoing.

In general, recent history has shown that collaborative albums (even when featuring two popular artists) don’t really work out. With that said, I wish these guys the best of luck and I’m looking forward to this project.

Gucci-Mania

Is it just me or has urban culture gone a little crazy with this Gucci obsession? This one, I’d say, is safe to blame on the rappers (don’t tell Bill O’Reilly I said that). For the past year or so, some rappers have gotten a little carried away with wearing Gucci everything. I guess it’s the in thing to do right now. Nevertheless, it looks ridiculous.

Gucci shades, Gucci watch, Gucci hat, Gucci polo, Gucci jacket, Gucci loafers, etc. etc. etc. Heck, just the other day I was watching MTV Cribs and saw Soulja Boy boasting a bedspread which consisted of Gucci sheets and pillow cases……really, Soulja Boy? I can’t be the only one who sees that this Gucci fad has gone much too far. It’s time someone lifted the voice of the collective consciousness and spoke out against it.

Now don’t get me wrong, I’m by no means anti-Gucci. In fact, it’s one of my favorite high-end clothing lines. I just feel as though Gucci clothing and accessories should not be paraded around by entertainers as the trendy flavor of the month, because it’s not.

Unlike BAPE hoodies and shutter glasses, Gucci has been around since long before Hip-Hop fashion trends and there’s no end in sight. It is for that precise reason that rappers should let this newfound fixation with Gucci go. I hereby declare that no rapper should be allowed to make a mockery of themselves by wearing Gucci from head to toe……well, maybe except for Gucci Mane……but that’s it.

Top Albums from the Rest of 2009

So far, the music released in 2009 has been nothing to write home about. Quite frankly, there haven’t been very many high profile rap albums released at all. And the highly anticipated albums that have hit shelves have, more often than not, fallen short of expectations. So here’s to hoping that the back nine of 2009 will produce more high-quality music than the front nine did. Here are a few Rap albums set to release in the second half of ’09 that (I’m hoping) will not let us down…

1. “We Are Lasers” / Lupe Fiasco - Needless to say, this particular project is high up on my wish list. It feels like it’s been an eternity since we’ve gotten new music from Lupe and, if the tracks that have leaked so far are any indication, it will have been well worth the wait. “We Are Lasers” is set to release in December. Keep an eye out for it.

2. “The Blueprint 3” / Jay-Z - I mean, really, need I say more? The man is back and he looks to revamp his Blueprint series with yet another installment. “The Blueprint 3” is slated to release on September 11th (Exactly 8 years from the day he released the original “The Blueprint” album). Honestly, the man could release a Country record at this point and we’d still eat it up. With that said, I’m definitely looking forward to this project.

3. “Thank Me Later” / Drake - Well it’s time to see what all the hype is about. Personally, I haven’t been partaking in any Drake bashing as I consider his mixtape, “So Far Gone” to be a solid project and better than a lot of artists’ albums. Hopefully he can prove the doubters wrong with a solid debut album. Either way, we’ll find out in “late 2009”.

4. “Loso’s Way” / Fabolous - In case you ain’t know so, Brooklyn emcee Fabolous will be dropping his next project on us quite shortly. “Loso’s Way” (a title which pays homage to the 1993 Al Pacino film, “Carlito’s Way”) will be hitting shelves on July 28th, and looks to be very promising. The album features a veritable who’s who of today’s Hip-hop and R&B elite, including artists such as Ryan Leslie, The Dream, Lil Wayne and Jay-Z. It seems as though Fabo is back with a vengeance this time. Yall’ can’t deny it.

5. “Attention Deficit” / Wale - Last, but most certainly not least, is a DC brother with a whole lotta soul. Up and coming emcee, Wale, came busting through the door this past year with his hit single, “Nike Boots”. And, between you and me, the man’s got some real talent. So far his mixtapes haven’t disappointed and I’m excited to see what he has in store for us with his debut project. “Attention Deficit” is scheduled to be released on September 22nd.

Well there you have it, folks. It appears as though 2009 is saving the best for last, as far as Hip-hop is concerned. Nevertheless, we should have some high-quality music to listen to by Christmas. So be sure to keep an eye out for these albums because they just might be raking in the accolades at next year’s award shows.

Who Will Bounce Back Better: Vick or Brown?

It’s no secret that the careers and lives of two of the brightest young Black stars (Michael Vick and Chris Brown) have undergone catastrophic collapses recently. Vick, who was the highest paid (and widely regarded as the most talented) player in the NFL, plead guilty to federal dog fighting charges back in December of 2007, served a year and a half of prison time and subsequently lost two seasons of his NFL career. Brown, who just a few short months ago was considered one of the top artists in the R&B game, recently plead guilty to the felony assault of his girlfriend back in February. What a tangled web we weave fellas.

As far as Vick is concerned, he will find out about his fate sooner than later. NFL commissioner, Roger Goodell, says that he will come to a decision soon as to whether or not he will further penalize Vick by giving him an additional NFL sanctioned suspension. To me that would be a bit harsh considering the fact that he has already paid his debt to society, not to mention the well over $100 million he has reportedly lost in lieu of this whole ordeal. But what do I know?

On the other hand, Brown’s future is not quite as clear cut. He has recently released a video in which he accepts full responsibility for the situation and delivers an apology. However, that may not be enough to restore his public image considering the brutality of his crime. Only time will tell if the fans Brown has lost will return to his corner.

Truthfully, these are two men that I considered to be pretty good role models before their respective incidents, and I admired the undeniable talents they displayed. Although I cannot and will not condone the actions of either of them, I can honestly say that I wish these gentlemen the best in their attempts to redeem themselves in the future.

Artist on the Rise: Big Sean

A rising star that you should all be looking out for is Detroit rapper, Big Sean. This 21 year old lyricist is one of the newest members of Kanye West’s record label, G.O.O.D. Music. As the story goes, Sean met up with Kanye at a Detroit radio station, spit him a few rhymes and gave him his mixtape. Apparently, West was very impressed by what he’d heard and the rest, as they say, is history.

Customary of Kanye’s artists, Sean is well versed in the realm of fashion. He prides himself in rocking only the most exclusive gear and even makes his style the focus of many of his rhymes. However, this fashionista’s not all talk, as he was asked to model the S/S ’09 collection for the clothing line Society.

Personally, I’ve been a fan of Sean’s music for quite some time now. I got the opportunity to chill with him backstage at one of his shows earlier this year and he was hella cool. It’s clear that none of the success has gone to his head and he’s still very much a humble, patient young artist. Be sure to be on the lookout for Big Sean’s upcoming musical endeavors. Support good/G.O.O.D. music!

You Could've Been Anywhere in the World: Hello and Welcome...

Hello and welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to my brand new blog, Seven Down. I’ve put a lot of time and consideration into the construction of this blog. I consider myself to be a very artistic and creative individual who has a lot of thoughts worthy of being shared with others. Thus: I created my own blog.

Firstly, allow me to tell you what this blog is not. This blog is NOT my way of filling people in on my day-to-day life. That’s what my Facebook and Twitter profiles are for. Therefore, although my personal opinions are going to be undoubtedly seeping into my blog posts, I will not be using this blog to chronicle my life.

The motto of this blog is: Music / Fashion / Culture. Pretty much every post is going to fall under one of those three main principles. Through this blog, I hope to deliver news and updates to people from a fresh, new perspective.

Part of the reason that I started this blog is because I feel as though a lot of the other popular blogs out there recycle each others’ stories and, consequently, end up coming across as stale. I wanted to make Seven Down different. I wanted to make Seven Down better.

So there you have it, folks. I hope that you enjoy my journalism and frequent this blog as often as possible. So add it to your favorites! Tell some friends! And please, don’t be afraid to leave some comments. I hope you all enjoy.