Paul Smith Selects Cult New York Brand, Commission, for Next Collaborative Project

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Paul Smith, UK-based fashion designer, is continuing his pursuit to inspire the upcoming generation of menswear designers. Earlier this year, Smith announced the &PaulSmith collaboration program, which is structured to uplift and mature emerging talent. The program which is funded by the Paul Smith Foundation, took on its first recipient- the London-based brand Ahluwalia, founded by Priya Ahluwalia. The brands capsule collection dropped in April.

Paul Smith Portrait

Commission, a New York-based label with roots in womenswear, founded in 2018, expanded into the menswear market last year and is the latest awardee of Smith’s magnanimity. After a meeting with the brand that took place on Monday in New York, Smith stated Commision was chosen “for the obvious creative synergy between the two brands as well as their potential for positive impact with Paul’s personal guidance.” 

Dylan Cao and Jin Kay, the founders of Commission, are first-generation immigrants from Vietnam and South Korea, respectively. They graduated from The New School’s Parsons School of Design where they built a network of friends propelling them into work at other fashion companies. Agreeing that the work there did not bring them joy, they soon decided to set their own brand into motion. This womenswear drew inspiration from their mothers work wardrobes. The clothing was characterized by the ’80s and ’90s and reinterpreted to reflect the modern woman. Following a request made by Canadian menswear store Ssense, Cao and Kay broadened their gender offerings in 2021. 

Commission Portrait

Smith partnered with the Council of Fashion Designers of America to mentor and develop emerging menswear designers based in North America. The objective is to reach traditionally underserved communities and connect them with designers who can offer commercial opportunities and key business contacts.

Commission was chosen by CFDA’s community of designers after an internal committee from the organization introduced a shortlist of candidates to the designer. The &PaulSmith capsule collection with Commission is set to release in Fall of 2023. Pieces will be sold at the Paul Smith retail stores, on the designer’s website, and at Ssense.

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Happy 54th Birthday To Graffiti Living Legend COPE2 KD!

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One of the most infamous graffiti artists of the 20th century is celebrating his 53rd born day today, and he goes by the name of COPE2, founder of the world-famous KINGS DESTROY crew.

Born Fernando Carlo on this date in 1968 in the Bronx, New York, COPE2 began his illustrious graff career in 1985, during the height of the crack era in the Kingsbridge section of his home borough. He picked up his throw up from graffiti bad guy CAP ONE MPC and the rest is history.

COPE’s work can now be found internationally in art galleries for tens of thousands of dollars, but with the game deeply embedded in his heart, you can still find some of his work somewhere in the Rotten Apple rockin’ on the walls.

Happy born day to COPE from the entire Mind Squad!

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OCA Becomes the World’s First Agency Dedicated to Creative Directors

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Fashion styling has been an integral pillar of first-class musician’s success for decades. Whether it is for events, social media, or content creation, clothing is an embodiment of an artist’s brand and a big reflection of how they will be perceived. Now more than ever, the realm of styling has expanded even more to capture the demand for creative direction. Artists are frequently seeking out creative direction to bring their entire vision to life. 

Original Creative Agency (OCA) is the world’s first agency that strictly represents creative directors. Founded by two former artists, Jesse Rose and Jesse Rogg, the agency represents 90 percent of the top 1 percent of musicians. Both founders started off as separate music producers who eventually joined forces to produce artists together.

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Rose said, “When we started our company, Kanye was leading the idea of having a creative team, but also Beyoncé had a creative team as well. And so, our kind of job was like, ‘How can we give other artists a creative team and facilitate that for them?’ And slowly over the last five years, it’s just become more and more essential.” Rogg replied, “I know that the term creative director is a slightly nebulous term. It can mean many different things. To us, it really means to be the architect of the entire creative universe for an artist, or a brand, or whoever a client is, and to make sure that house gets built properly, and the story gets told properly and whatnot.”

The diversification of online and social media content creation has transcended previous traditions of baseline magazine covers, spreads, and music videos. Now, there are so many different platforms that require creative management to truly uphold a relevant and consistent aesthetic. As artists begin to embark on regularly scheduled tours and other events post lockdown, it is important to note how the management of content can completely alter outcomes for better or for worse. 

The evolution of their pairings with some of music’s biggest creative forces has led them to expand their clientele in the culture, entertainment and fashion space. In 2022, OCA collaborated with  Kendrick Lamar, SZA, Steve Lacy, Nicki Minaj, A24, Cardi B, Machine Gun Kelly, Apple, Alicia Keys and many more. As far as fashion goes, the agency has begun working with designer Humberto Leon and fashion creative director Sarah Bassett. 

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Michael Rubin, Meek Mill, Jalen Hurts, Darius Slay, & More Join REFORM Alliance’s Philadelphia Holiday Giveback

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To provide more than 30 children in the PA/NJ region who have been negatively touched by the criminal justice system with a unique, once-in-a-lifetime holiday event, REFORM Alliance, the Philadelphia 76ers, and the Philadelphia Eagles teamed up.

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The first-ever “Eagle for a Day” adventure began in the afternoon. Attending kids and families were welcomed inside the NovaCare Complex by Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin and fellow REFORM co-chair and award-winning rapper Meek Mill. The guests were given exclusive Eagles swag and bags to use while participating in a Jr. Combine experience. Children heard from head coach Nick Sirianni inside the NovaCare Complex indoor practice facility, tossed passes with Meek, and ran the 40-yard dash with Philadelphia Eagles players Darius Slay, Avonte Maddox, Jordan Mailata, and Dallas Goedert. Each youngster signed their one-day contract with the Eagles during the Free Agent event, including a unique team jersey presentation. The kids then enjoyed an exclusive VIP tour of the facilities. The “Eagle for a Day” event ended at the facility auditorium with a memorable speech by quarterback Jalen Hurts, Michael Rubin, and Meek Mill. Howie Roseman, the Eagles executive vice president and general manager, welcomed the 12/13/22 free agent class.

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After that, participating families traveled to the Wells Fargo Center for the “76ers VIP Gameday experience,” where young guests could join a close-quarters Q&A with 76ers head coach Doc Rivers. All the kids arrived at the court just before tip-off to participate in a unique pre-game bell-ringing ceremony with Michael and Meek. Families of visitors could watch the Philadelphia Sixers vs. Sacramento Kings game from courtside seats and VIP suite boxes. The kids entertained the crowd during halftime with a play on the court.

The attendees of the event were brought together by Above All Odds/Philadelphia Community Bail Fund, the Center for Family Services, and the Pennsylvania Chapter of National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc., nonprofit partners of REFORM Alliance. Soon after, attendees were greeted to their VIP suites for supper and treated to a fantastic holiday fit package that included personalized Sixers jerseys and Fanatics apparel.

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Gunna And Goodr Treat 1,000 Atlanta Families To Christmas

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Walmart shoppers in College Park (6149 Old National Hwy, College Park, GA 30349) will have the chance to receive a $100 gift card and a special gift from multi-platinum, GRAMMY-nominated rapper, Gunna, during the 5th  Annual Gunna’s Great Giveaway event on Sunday, December 18th from 1-4 PM. Representatives of the artist will present the gift cards to 1,000 pre-registered families in Gunna’s hometown at an event powered by Goodr.
 
Goodr and Gunna have been frequent philanthropic partners for several years now. The two have provided the Atlanta community with several free Pop-up Grocery Markets, as well as coat giveaways, back-to-school donation events and a free shopping experience for the students and their families of Ronald E. McNair Middle School where the rapper once attended. Gunna’s Drip Closet & Goodr Grocery Store provides students of the Title 1 school with access to free food, clothing and hygiene items during the school
year.
 
“Much respect to Gunna who, no matter what, still finds a way to contribute to the community that raised him,” says Goodr Founder and CEO, Jasmine Crowe-Houston. “We know that people will struggle unlike any other year this holiday season and it is our honor to maintain Gunna’s legacy of giving back.”

What better welcome home AND X-Mas gift is this for Gunna, who was just released from Fulton County Jail today after accepting a Alford Plea in the YSL RICO case.

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Saweetie Kicks Off Her Icy Baby Foundation

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Hometown superstar, Saweetie and her Icy Baby Foundation were in Oakland this weekend giving back. She held a financial empowerment kickoff event for the Icy Baby Foundation’s upcoming six-week financial literacy course.  The course is set to begin in January and is open to ages seven 7-17. The Icy Baby Foundation is currently hosting kickoff events on the West Coast before the program launch. Youth in attendance are eligible to receive a funded debit card, educational resources, and information about saving, budgeting, and financial planning.

Saweetie created the foundation with her grandmother, Roxane Harper to specifically financially empower Black and Brown youth through financial literacy and education.  The foundation’s mission is to cultivate entrepreneurial mindsets within underserved communities that enable people to make better life and career decisions despite setbacks or circumstances. 

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“I want to continue using my foundation and resources to financially empower young children and students, especially in Black and Brown communities. The long-term goal for the Icy Baby Foundation is to increase financial literacy amongst kids and propel them to brighter futures. My grandmother and I have worked on this for a few years so it’s exciting to implement this course and program for young people finally,” said Saweetie. 

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The Most Viewed TikTok Videos of 2022

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We all indulge in our own TikTok world- with algorithms that are custom tailored to our individual palates. Though TikTok does not offer a personalized recap of the year, it does provide data about overall users’ most-watched videos of the year. These videos may not be your particular favorites, but they are at least the most popular. 

As the hype of Spotify Wrapped has already begun to mellow, looking back at the most viewed TikTok’s of 2022 brings back memories that make us want to laugh, cringe, cry- or all of the above. 

The Large Chocolate Giraffe

@amauryguichon

Chocolate Giraffe! 🦒This 8.3ft tall 100% chocolate sculpture is my biggest creation yet. #amauryguichon #chocolate #giraffe

♬ dream river. – Woong Sun Hee

This video, uploaded by TikTok user @amaurygichon, displays the construction process of sculpting a very large giraffe out of chocolate. To be exact, the sculpture is 8.3 feet tall and 100% chocolate. Guichon is a trained pastry chef from France and although this is indeed his largest work, he has also sculpted dragons, cellos, and a 150-pound shark out of chocolate. 

Squishy the Chipmunk Returns

@chipmunksoftiktok

Thank you God my little Squishy is back from hibernation, fill the cheeks my sweet baby #fyp #welcomeback #cuteanimals #cute #chipmunks #squishy

♬ original sound – Chipmunks of TikTok

Uploaded by TikTok user @chipmunksoftiktok, this video of a chipmunk named Squishy documents his hungry return from hibernation. Squishy gnawed on more than a few peanuts and generated quite a fanbase. The top comment on the post says, “that’s Alvin chipmunks😅,” which leaves room for interpretation, as it is not entirely clear what that means. Either way people love Squishy. 

Rosalía Chewing Gum

The Rosalía Challenge spread through TikTok like a wildfire. The challenge originated from a video of the singer walking onstage and chewing gum while performing her song “Bizcochito” at a 2022 concert. Eventually, the trend was picked up by all sides of TikTok to voice opinions on different topics or simply have a deadpan staredown with the camera while chewing gum. 

The “Jiggle Jiggle” One

In March, Duke and Jones uploaded a remix of documentarian Louis Theroux rapping a cappella in an interview, which threw the internet into a frenzy.  Theroux’s rhymes were made into a viral sensation with the help of  a remix by the Mississippi rap duo Reese and Bigalow. The “Jiggle Jiggle” TikTok dance Riverdale cast members are doing here was born out of England and is not complete without the unamused facial expressions. 

“I’m Just a Baby!”

On February 19th, @little.blooming.women posted an adorably relatable video of her child anxiously (and then irritably) saying “I’m just a baby,” in response to her mothers orders. The video united users all over TikTok who felt exactly the same and thought the child’s response might be the most perfect one out there. 

The Corn Kid Video

@schmoyoho

intro song for any meal/snack with corn 🌽 – from iconic interview on @doingthings

♬ It’s Corn – Tariq & The Gregory Brothers & Recess Therapy

Tariq, second-grader and intense corn enthusiast earned a New York Time Profile this year for his adorable love for corn and ability to produce catchy sound bites. @schmoyoho is not new to virality as you may remember him from the ”Songify the News” series on Youtube around the 2016 election. With a mixture of the  Corn Kid remix and “Chrissy Wake Up,” @schmoyoho knows how to rule TikTok. 

Lizzo, The Choreographer

@lizzo

I would’ve given my left coochie lip to be at the spring awakening reunion show 😭

♬ About Damn Time – Lizzo

Lizzo was tired of seeing people hit the steps to her song “About Damn Time” wrong and decided to take matters into her own hands. She yells at amateurs to set the record straight on how the dance is actually supposed to be executed, leaving no room for excuses. You either got it or you don’t. Thank you for the corrections Lizzo!  

High School Musical Reveal

For two-minutes straight choir teacher Miles Finn, who is based in Iowa, revealed the school musical to his students. They all excitedly sit and watch his introduction, reminding us the importance and wholesomeness of arts education. Finn told Good Morning America, “I decided to throw a little bait and switch in there and have the musical that we were doing … actually not up on the board, [which] really threw them for a loop.” The musical ended up being The Addams Family, very fitting based on Netflix’s new drop.

Helping Tom Get Back on His Feet

@jimmydarts

Tom is no longer homeless and now has a full time job that he loves ❤

♬ original sound – Jimmy Darts

In this viral video, Jimmy Darts got a homeless man named Tom, a job doing something that he loves. Tom told Jimmy, “I love it! I wish I could sleep down here! Coming down to work is the most important thing. It’s a great place to work! It feels wonderful.”  $20,000 was raised on his behalf by a friend as a testament to the power of community care. This genre of TikTok has been popularized by creator Isaiah Garza who was a formerly unhoused youth from a Mexican immigrant family. His advocacy for the unhoused and for performing “random acts of kindness—like giving a stranger a new phone, or taking a 97-year-old World War II veteran to Disney,” has touched hearts all across TikTok. 

Lava vs. Ice

So-called “satisfying” videos are all over TikTok. From slime and ASMR to experiments like this one, the top 10 list would not be complete without this destruction video. This experiment showcases what happens to ice and lava when they are placed in direct contact with one another. You’ll have to watch to find out who wins. 

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[WATCH] Berner Sits Down With Erykah Badu To Talk New Weed Strain

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The founder of Cookies and Vibes Papers Berner sat down with music icon Erykah Badu to discuss their newest strain collaboration “That Badu”. It is a Limoncello cross-bred by Bret from Lemonnade and grown by Mad Cow Genetics. Berner and Badu also discussed mushroom tea and how the different strains affect people when they smoke them.

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YNW Melly Says He is “In Fear For My Life” in Jail

YNW Melly Makes Accusations of Unfair Treatment in Jail

Rapper YNW Melly appears to be experiencing some serious struggles in jail as he await his murder trial, going so far as to say that he is being threatened by jail staff and that he fears for his life.

On Monday, the artist took to Instagram, sharing two separate uploads of mugshots, describing allegations of what may be considered cruel and unusual punishment and a violation of his civil rights at Broward County Jail in For Lauderdale, Florida.

The first caption reads as follows:

“As of this moment today I am officially in fear of my life. A new Captain named Hubert and XO Jenkins have taken over the jail for two weeks now and have handed out even harsher punishments for me then the previous ones in place. Since December 1 I have been moved and housed on a unit that holds 24 inmates at once. I am the only inmate being housed on the vacant unit, with no phone privilege, no television and no access to a newspaper. They are watching my every move on camera making sure I don’t use the phone to tell the world how I am being mistreated, discriminated, threatened physically, harassed. When I come out of my cell for the 1 hour a day, all other inmates in the adjoining dorms must go back in there cell. I am being subjected to cruel and unusual treatment at the hands of deputies and high-ranking staff of the Broward Sheriffs Office. I have been threatened by Deputies, Lieutenants and Sergeants that say “they will hide me from the world” and threaten to “beat my ass everyday and if I tell my lawyers they will lie and say I hit them first.” Words from Sergeant Anthony Kidd and Lieutenant Jean Baptiste. I have literally been hidden from the World so I have no other choice but to believe the next step is them beating ½ to death like they do to other inmates almost daily here at the main jail in Broward County.”

Melly also tagged several local and national news channels at the end of the post.

In a second post, he shared another mugshot and wrote:

I cant call my family or lawyers to notify them if I have been beaten or harassed. They say my phone privileges are taken permanently because all of the infractions over the last seven months. THAT IS A LIE! They took my phone privileges indefinitely off of my 1″ violation for using another inmates pin to talk on the phone when I am not allowed to use the phone.
If I had been treated like every other inmate at this facility my phone pin would have been restored and phone privileges given back after 30 days per the handbook. I have however went without phone privileges since MAY 8, 2022 and have not been given back my phone pin since the first year I was here. I have served all my disciplinary time so why are my phone privileges still taken. Why am I the ONLY inmate on a unit by themselves BLOCKED from any human interaction? There are inmates here, that have been convicted, of orchestrating robberies over the jail phone and another who planned an escape from jail that was carried out over the jail phone, they are still allowed to use the phone after committing serious crimes and security threats to the facility. But my phone privileges are taken indefinitely for violating a harmless phone policy that carries a punishment of 30 days max!!! I am housed and surrounded in the care of power struck deputies and captains of high authority that even have told me to my face that “they don’t like me” and “I pissed them off”. I am not safe in the hands of these people especially if the highest in command in the jail “doesn’t like me”. I am in fear of my life. My family is in fear of my life. I can not do another day here. Someone please help me get moved to another county jail until my trial. PLEASE!”

The artist, whose real name is Jamell Demons, was arrested in 2019 in conjunction with a double homicide of two of his friends and has been charged with premeditated murder. His trial was set to begin in March of 2022, but has been delayed. There is no clear expected start date.

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Happy Heavenly Birthday To Graff’s “King Of Style” KASE 2!

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On this date in 1958, internationally renowned graffiti legend Jeff Brown, better known as KASE 2(or CASE 2) was born in Harlem, New York. KASE 2 is one of the pioneers of the art form known as graffiti that was birthed and popularized in the streets of the South Bronx. KASE would’ve been 64 years old if he were still alive.

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The self proclaimed “King of Style” began his bombing career in the early 70s, having completed his first handball court piece in 1973. Even though KASE only had one arm due to a subway accident when he was only 10, the southpaw still managed to complete over 100 pieces on the NYC subway system before 1980. He’s also appeared in the 1982 graff culture flick Wild Style alongside graff king DEZ aka the late DJ Kay Slay.

KASE passed away on August 15, 2011 from complications due to lung cancer, but his work and artistic influence lives on in today’s graff artists who will forever recognize KASE as a true legend of the game.

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