This Is What It Looks Like: Tom Brady

For this edition of TIWILL I chose to shed the spotlight on a man who epitomizes cool. I’m referring; of course, to the 3 time Super Bowl champion QB, Tom Brady. Over the course of the past decade, Tom Brady has proven to us that he is one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history. But what he’s also proven more recently is that he can get fly with the best of ‘em.

Granted, having a supermodel wife doesn’t hurt one’s style, Brady deserves a lot of the credit for his wardrobe. He is constantly staying fly, regardless if he’s going to a black tie event with the misses or talking to the media in a post-game press conference.

You’ve got to appreciate a football player who puts this much thought into his ensembles. Whether it’s his scarves, leather jackets or duffels, Brady’s ensemble are virtually always on point and he definitely gives athletic fashionistas a good name.

Labor Pains

Lil Wayne’s long anticipated album, The Rebirth, has had its release date pushed back yet again. The follow up to last year’s wildly successful The Carter 3, was originally slated to release back in April and has since then had its release date pushed back several times. On this upcoming album, Weezy plans on shifting his style to more of a rock vibe. This is evidenced by some of his most recent singles such as “Prom Queen” and “Hot Revolver”.

The new release date for the album is December 15th. Just in time for Christmas. Hopefully the album will actually be released by then. Be on the lookout for new singles from The Rebirth.

Superman Returns?

Former NFL superstar quarterback, Michael Vick, made his return to the gridiron yesterday, Sunday Sept. 27, when the Philadelphia Eagles faced the Kansas City Chiefs. Statistically speaking, it wasn’t a great performance, but it’s clear that he’s going to have to shake some rust off after being away from the game for 2 years. The most important thing is that he’s back on the field and has a real shot at redemption. I’ll be keeping an eye out for the way the rest of Vick’s season goes.

Coming To Theaters: "This Is It"

In the wake of the passing of the legendary Michael Jackson, behind-the-scenes footage from his would-be This Is It tour has been used to create a documentary on MJ’s final musical endeavor. The film will be released on October 28th in theaters and promises to be a must-see for all the MJ fans out there.

I first saw the trailer for this film during the MTV VMAs a few weeks ago and it gave me chills. Possibly the most spectacular thing about Michael was that he never lost “it”. Even at the age of 50 he was still an incredible performer. I know where I’ll be on Oct. 28th.

Artist On The Rise: Melanie Fiona

By now you’ve likely heard of up and coming songstress, Melanie Fiona. Fiona, whose real name is Melanie Hallim, is an R&B singer and songwriter who hails from Toronto, Canada. Apparently, Melanie got off to an early start musically as she comes from a musically inclined family and began singing and playing instruments when she was young.

Fiona has recently gained popularity for her single “Give It To Me Right” which is featured on her forthcoming debut album The Bridge. With her soulful, rhythmic vibe it’s going to be interesting to see what this young artist has in store for us in the future. Be sure to check out Melanie Fiona’s debut album when it hits shelves later this fall.

Fabolous by Complex

So I flip through dozens and dozens of magazines on a regular basis. And every once in a while I’ll stumble upon a spread that stands out to me fashion-wise. That’s exactly what happened when I came across the Fabolous spread a in the most recent issue of Complex magazine.

The photos display Fabo in a different light fashionably speaking. In his different ensembles, he blended simple tones with bright colored which made them really pop out more. As far as accessories go I really like the purple watch he has on in one pic and the red shades he’s sporting in another.

This photo shoot definitely represents an upgrade for Loso’s fashion sense. Kudos to him and the good folks at Complex.

Plaxico Burress Accepts Plea Deal

Last Thursday NFL receiver Plaxico Burress plead guilty to weapons charges stemming from an incident last November where he accidentally shot himself in the leg in a New York night club. In exchange for his plea, Burress will receive a 2 year prison sentence. Two years in prison for shooting yourself in the leg? Yea I’m not so sure about that.

In wake of the news, a lot of people have come out and stated their disapproval of the decision. I’m certainly one of them. Although I don’t condone Burress possession of an unregistered firearm, he was only carrying it for protection and never used it to threaten anyone. Also, in fairness, the weapon in question was previously registered in Florida and was not purchased off the streets.

Unfortunately for Burress he happened to make this mistake in the worst possible place. Ney York City’s gun laws are arguably the harshest in the nation. Nevertheless, in a world where more and more professional athletes are finding themselves victims of violent crimes, one can definitely see why one would want to protect himself.

Random Acts of Awesomeness: “8-bit trip”

Simply put, I’m a sucker for incredibly intricate stop motion projects that seem as though they took way too much time and effort to create. So needless to say, when I stumbled upon this gem on Youtube I had to share. As if legos could’ve gotten any cooler, right? Well they just did...click on the link below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qsWFFuYZYI

Shine On The Line: Orisue

For this edition of SOTL, I chose to cast the spotlight on another of my favorite clothing lines, Orisue. Orisue is a casual clothing line that offers dapper attire for both men and women. The line produces jeans, hoodies, jackets, tank tops and accessories, but arguably their finest creations are their tees.


The general ambience of the line is “west coast hipster”. However, the line is very diverse. Whether it be button ups, shorts or jackets, within this line you’re sure to find the ensemble for any occasion. And it’s sure to be dope.


You can check out the official Orisue website here: http://orisue.com/weblog/index.html

This Is What It Looks Like: Roger Federer

For this edition of TIWILL, I chose to shine the spotlight on yet another unlikely fashionista: Roger Federer. Now most of you may know Roger Federer as that guy who does nothing but win grand slam tennis tournaments. And that’s true. But what you may not have realized is that Rog’ knows how to put together a mean outfit, too.


Federer has proven that he’s not too bashful to make fashion statements both on and off the court. Usually his best ensembles surface at the biggest tennis tournament of the year; Wimbledon. Last year he rocked a dope beige cardigan and this year he came wearing an exclusive jacket with the number 15 on it to commemorate his 15th grand slam championship victory.

Roger certainly does seem to know what he’s doing with the wardrobe. Be sure to keep an eye out for what he shows up in for the US Open this August.

Artists On The Rise: RichGirl

Up-and-coming R&B girl group RichGirl (no relation to “Throw Some D’s” emcee, Rich Boy) has been slowly working their way onto the scene for the past several months. The group, comprised of members Audra, Brave, Lyndriette and Seven, on the surface resembles the likes of Destiny’s Child back in their early days. Not quite sure if the music is as comparable to the afore mentioned quartet yet, though.

Thus far, the group has releases a few singles; most notably: “He Ain’t With Me Now Though”, which is their lead single, and “Smile And Wave”, featuring Chris Brown. Both tracks are pretty solid. At the moment they are in the process of finalizing their self-titled debut album which is slated to release later in 2009.

The way I feel about this group is similar to the way I feel about Day 26; they’re nice, but it’s hard to tell how good they actually are since there’s no real competition for them in terms of other girl groups (unless, of course, you count the Pussy Cat Dolls…yea, me neither). With that said, I wish RichGirl the best of luck.

…And if their group’s career doesn’t pan out, I hope the most popular member (who will undoubtedly break away from the group) has a great solo career!

Late Night Done Right?

As many of you may have already realized, NBC’s late night talk show schedule has undergone some drastic changes over the course of the past several months. Some folks are coming, some folks are going, and some folks are revamping things. I’m here to help you all make sense of modified lineup and provide my own analysis of the new look.

The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien - Personally, I think that kicking Jay Leno to the curb and promoting Conan O’Brien to the esteemed role of host of the Tonight Show was a very good move for NBC. I’ve always believed that Conan was the funnier, better host of the two and it was time to make that move. However, I’d be lying if I didn’t say that Conan’s act has lost a little bit of its pop since his taking over the Tonight Show on June 1st. I think that may have a lot to do with the fact that Conan (moving from a 12:30am to an 11:30pm time slot) now has to appeal to the much older audience that he inherited from Leno and, thus, can no longer crack all of the off color remarks that young’ns such as myself had come to expect from him. Oh wells. Conan’s still way better than Leno.

Late Night with Jimmy Fallon - I’m not going to lie, I wasn’t the most ecstatic to hear the news about Jimmy Fallon taking over hosting duties for Conan O’Brien. It’s not so much that I don’t like Jimmy, I just didn’t really see him fitting the role of a late night talk show host. However, I’m proud to say, so far, he’s proven me wrong.

Jimmy’s hosting skills have improved drastically in the few short months with the show. Also, I like the way he mixes things up and steps outside of the box that has come to be the traditional, contemporary late night talk show. He spontaneously runs out into his audience, engages his celebrity guests in activities (like beer pong), and even breaks out into a freestyle every now and then. Oh yea, the fact that he has the Roots as his house band doesn’t hurt at all.

Last Call with Carson Daly - I’m going to be really honest; I used to hate Carson Daly’s hideous talk show. It was stale, unfunny, and seemed to drag on (even though it was only half the length of most late night talk shows). BUT, I’m happy to say that all that has changed now.

See, NBC has changed the entire structure of Last Call. Where it once was a boring excuse for a talk show, it now feels much more like an original idea. They’ve taken Carson out of the television studio, suit and tie and put him out in the streets meeting with and interviewing up and coming musicians and actors. This feels much more like Carson’s natural habitat and his hosting skills seem to have improved now that he is no longer faced with the daunting responsibility of carrying a traditional talk show. The show does a great job of exposing new artists. Essentially, the recent renovation of the show has completely salvaged its existence. Congrats Carson.

Well, there you have it folks. NBC’s new late night talk show lineup is officially solidified and doing quite well I might add. Yet another reason for me to give in to insomnia….*sigh*

Maroon 5 Covers Frank Sinatra Hit

Recently, rock band Maroon 5 recorded their rendition of crooning legend Frank Sinatra’s hit song “The Way You Look Tonight”. This project is a part of Apple’s album “His Way, Our Way” which is an album commemorating the career of Sinatra by having artists of today perform some of his greatest hits. The whole idea is that this album is going to able to introduce the work of Frank Sinatra to the younger generation while simultaneously introducing some of today’s artists to an older crowd─a brilliant idea if I do say so.

Apparently when presented the opportunity to be a part of this project, Maroon 5 front man Adam Levine jumped at it. "He's definitely one of my all-time favorites" said Levine of Sinatra. Personally, I’m a huge fan of both Frank Sinatra and Maroon 5 so this one was right up my alley.

Check out the single here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=go-qXfwR6jM&feature=related

Hot Summer Trend: Beads

This summer has thus far been pretty unremarkable in regards to fashion trends. However, a fashion trend that has come up on my radar this spring and summer is wearing beads. Beads seem to be the trendy accessory of the season for males and females alike. Whether they are featured in bracelets, necklaces or even rosaries, beads are currently experiencing a major comeback.

Personally, accessories are often my favorite element of an ensemble for two fundamental reasons: 1) the right accessory(ies) compliments a getup just right and 2) accessories are usually the cheapest part of an outfit. Realistically, beads will likely be a passing fad being as tank tops and mini-skirts will soon give way to hoodies and fleeces. Nonetheless, for the time being, beads just work. Go get you some.

Artist on the Rise: Colin Monroe

If you haven’t heard the name yet, chances are you will soon. Colin Monroe is a singer/songwriter who hails from Ontario, Canada. He first gained mainstream notoriety back in January of 2008 when he covered Kanye West’s single "Flashing Lights". Since then, Monroe has worked with several members of the Hip Hop world such as Drake, Jim Jones and Bun B, while still maintaining his indie rock roots.

The reason I consider Monroe to be a special artist is his versatility. Not only can he play several instruments but he has proven to be able to delve into different genres of music successfully, earning him respect among a wide variety of underground fans.

Monroe is currently working on his next album, Don’t Think Less of Me which slated to release sometime later this year. Keep an eye out for it and his other musical endeavors.

Sneaker Patrol: DC Life Collection – Admiral

For this edition of Sneaker Patrol, I decided to shed some light on a collection of sneakers by DC Shoes. For quite some time now we’ve come to automatically associate the DC brand with skateboarding paraphernalia; and rightfully so. However, it’s nice to see that DC can step outside of their comfort zone to create a very dope street-casual series of sneakers.

These sneakers are right up my alley for several reasons. First of all, they’re high tops, and I’m a sucker for a good pair of high tops. Furthermore, they’re bold. I really like how both the design and color scheme of the front half of the shoe is different from the back. This provides good color contrast and gives you even more ways in which to color coordinate these sneakers with your ensemble.

Now these kicks are definitely not for everyone. They’re loud and proud and certainly not everybody can pull them off. But if you’re the adventurous type, these would definitely be a nice addition to the closet.

The Weezy/Breezy Connection

So apparently rapper Lil Wayne showed some love to singer Chris Brown over the weekend by bringing him out on stage during Wayne’s set and making him a part of the performance. This took place during the Virginia stop of the America’s Most Wanted tour that Weezy’s been on this summer.

Brown basically came out and filled in for Drake (who had re-injured his knee two nights before and was, subsequently, forced to pull out of the tour) during the performance of Young Money’s single “Every Girl”. Brown also paid tribute to the late icon Michael Jackson by performing the hit single “Billy Jean”. After which, Wayne implored the crowd to make some noise for “the new Michael”.

This was a pretty bold move for Brown as it was his first appearance on stage since the altercation he had with his girlfriend back in February. However, it was still relatively safe considering he was in front of his hometown fans. I guess it’s all about taking calculated risks. Nevertheless, I wish Breezy the best of luck in straightening out his life and getting his career back on track.

"Nation"-al Treasure

By now, I imagine many of you have heard about North Carolina rapping prodigy, J. Cole. He is a talented young rhymer who is being ushered into the game under a pretty large wing. Jay-Z has taken a particular interest in the abilities of J. Cole. So much so that he has decided to make him the first new artist signed to Jay’s newfound record label, Roc Nation.

The story is a familiar one. One day, J. Cole was summoned to Jay-Z’s office in Ney York where he fought threw the angst and nerves to put his talents on display before one of Hip Hop’s greatest. Jay was so impressed that he had to scoop him up.

J. Cole is riding into the game as yet another member of Rap’s vaunted “freshman class”. He is similar to many of his classmates in the sense that he’s a hybrid; he both raps and sings on many of his tracks. In doing so, he manages to bring back the soulful vibes of 90’s Hip Hop and R&B.

Be sure to listen to J. Cole’s latest mixtape, “The Warm Up” as well as keep an eye out for his upcoming music.

The Return of ABDC

Generally, I don’t get too attached to TV shows. Truth is─most of them aren’t any good. However, one particular program that I’ve always made time for is MTV’s hit show America’s Best Dance Crew…and I make no apologies for that.

I’m basically infatuated by the show. The dancers, their back stories, the incredible routines they come up with each week; it all makes it a spectacle worth watching. I enjoy the show so much that I even suffer the intolerable nuisance that is Lil Mama to watch. I consider that no small sacrifice.

The good news is the show is back for its fourth season. Hopefully this season brings us more talented and creative crews that keep us on the edge of our seats week to week. Catch the premier episode of ABDC Sunday, August 9th at 9pm on MTV.

In the meantime, you can check out the official ABDC website here: http://www.mtv.com/ontv/dyn/dance_crew/series.jhtml

Shine on the Line: Obey

For this edition of Shine on the Line, I wanted to cast the spotlight on one of my favorite clothing lines: Obey. Founded in 2001 by renowned artist Shepard Fairey, Obey is a line that features iconic prints which are just as likely to be found on building walls and street corners as t-shirts and hoodies. Chances are you’ve seen one in a city near you.

The reason that Obey initially stood out to me is the profound emphasis they put on the artistry of their craft. Their designs are unique, authentic and often times politically driven. That’s something that you just can’t say about a lot of lines out there these day. And when it comes down to it, the bottom line is their clothes are dope.

Bravo, Obey. Keep doing your thing. To learn more about Obey, visit their website: http://obeyclothing.com/

Tattoo Smattoo?

Another thing that’s caught my attention recently is the tattoo frenzy. Nowadays, it seems as though more people are taking the lead of their favorite performers and athletes by covering their bodies with tattoos. To me, this seems a little crazy. At the risk of sounding uncool, covering one’s body in tattoos just seems like a bad idea to me.

The good news is that we live in a free country, which means people can do whatever they choose with their bodies. Furthermore, there’s nothing wrong with having a few tattoos and, in truth, they do look good on some people. I’m not hating on anybody’s grind. However, although the concept of showering one’s body in tattoos may work out for the rich & famous celebrities and athletes of the world, it may not be the best way to go for Joe Shmoe.

Unfortunately, if you ever plan on holding down a 9-5 ever again, going with forearm, hand or neck tattoos just might not be such a great idea. It’s sad, but true. What’s more, many of the people who cover their bodies with impulse-driven ink have the attention span of a king sized Snicker’s bar. I wonder what they’re going to think about their tats when they’re 40…Yikes.

Artist on the Rise: Mike Posner

Here comes another up and coming artist to look out for. Chances are you haven’t heard of Mike Posner yet but it’s likely you’ve heard of a few of his cohorts like Wale, Kid Cudi and Big Sean. Posner is a 21 year old singer, songwriter and producer from Southfield, Michigan. He is part of a group called Mike Posner and the Braintrust which released its first mixtape “A Matter of Time” this past February.

The jury’s still out on this one but he certainly is gaining popularity among underground fans. We should be hearing a lot more from Posner as he is set to release his second mixtape later this fall and his debut album in 2010. So be sure to keep an eye out for him.

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.