Encore Status donates shoes for the holidays

This post isnt about hip-hop, freestyling, Emcees, voting, b-boys, custom kicks or custom toys...
Its about helping those who need help. Encore Status supports the organization Soles4Souls.org. They donate shoes to needy people all over the world. We collected a barrel of shoes to send off to their warehouse in Alabama and shipped it on December 13th. We thank all of you who supported our drive. We will continue to collect shoes in the new year and will keep you all posted on where you can drop off your kicks. Thanks

Christmas Sale from Mishka!

They are doing it again! Mishka is in the Christmas spirit...

Starting Christmas Day (12am) we'll be offering 50-75% off select items site-wide, plus we'll be giving you all an extra 35% off your order when you use the Discount Code XMAS which works on almost everything* in our online store!. Yes this includes Holiday 2008 Product!

And to sweeten the deal even more, all orders over 250 dollars will receive a free calendar or T-Shirt while supplies last!

We've re-stocked many of our Fall and Holiday items after our warehouse sale, re-upping many previously sold out items and sizes, so don't delay in checking for what you've been looking for.

This sale runs from Dec. 25th through Jan. 1st!

*The only exclusions from the XMAS discount code are the following: Mishka Hayter Sneaker, Any Brand New Custom Team Color New Era Caps (Bears, Cubs, Wild & Grizzlies), 2009 Calendar and [Keep Watch Corduroy New Era Caps]

Dance Contest: Win $250 gift card or XBOX 360

Hey guys (and all you Dance Dance Revolution fans),
We found this dance contest on Youtube. Please read the information below...and good luck.

Win a $250 Extrabux gift card or an XBox 360 with Dance Dance Revolution! Just post a video response of you dancing! See the Extrabux channel http://www.youtube.com/extrabux for contest rules.

Dance Contest Rules

1. Make an ORIGINAL dance video! Download the music in our video, or use your own, and dance however you please. You can download the entire video and add effects that you think will make it an original video. You may download the song and video here: http://www.extrabux.com/danceoff

2...

You can read the rest on their Youtube Channel. Contest ends Jan 8th 2009

Is D. Green Encore Status?

Hello,
First of all thank you all for your support since our launch on December 1. We have a few artists lined up that have submitted Youtube videos of their original tracks to allow YOU the people to vote. If you want your stuff posted to be voted on, please email your youtube vids to reviews@encorestatus.com. Please listen to the track then vote below.

First up is D. Green with his song "Watch it Fall" featuring Famous.

Do you want an Encore?

Quizzes by Quibblo.com

Win $1000 at Mental Supreme's Training Camp Showcase!

It goes down every Tuesday at club Pyramid in NYC!

All up & coming artist are welcome. We have the most comprehensive artist developmental program to date. For over 6 years {weekly} we have provided the unsigned community with a plateau to master their artistry & challenge their level of creativity. We are the highest form of artist development. Our events frequently have reputable industry personnel scouting for talent.

LOCATION: Club Pyramid - 101 ave. A bet. 6/7st. NYC ~ 18 to enter 21 to drink. Admission $10

On tuesday 12/30...they are giving away $1000!

Sale at Mishka NYC

While reading Fresh Daily's blog I found out about this sale at the Mishka Warehouse in NYC:

Friday, Dec 19th - Sunday, Dec 21st!

50-75% OFF MERCHANDISE!!!
Tees, Hoodie, Knits, Sweaters, Shirts, Jackets, Jeans, New Eras, Hats & Bags! Past, Current, Sample & One-Off Merchandise Will Be Available!

Friday: $100 of Credit* for every $200 you spend for the First 20 people.
Saturday: $150 of Credit* for every $200 you spend for the First 20 people.
Sunday: $200 of Credit* for every $200 you spend for the First 20 people.
---
1 pair of sz. 9.5 Mishka x Adio Hayter raffled ($1) off each day!
1 Mishka x K2 snowboard to be raffled ($3) off on Fri. Dec. 19th!

Who needs an AUTO-TUNE??

Someone passed me this gem from WorldStarhiphop.com. This homeless dude, RIPS it. Puts T-Pain, Snoop, Lil Kim, Lil Wayne, Kanye (yea I said it) pretty much any one who has used the auto-tune on a track... to shame. This guy ...aww heck just listen...

Free TEES from ToxicFresh.com

Found this on their website:

What's up people? The ToxicFresh team is giving away FREE T's to the first 10 folks that reply. Hit us at
toxicfresh@gmail.com or use the "Contact Us" button on the home page. Just give us your name, address,
and size (S thru 3XL) and we'll ship your new T off pronto!
Who's showin' love this holiday season? ToxicFresh, that's who!

Visit the site:
http://www.toxicfresh.com/

Dont know about yall but we in a recession. I sent them MY info....lol
-Pure Madness

The Shooting Gallery

Photo by Blurasis

Every once in a while we'll put some tidbits out there about whats going on in the world. Encore Status' version of the news...

The Apprentice
Last week the news broke that Kanye West is trying to become an intern at Louis Vuiton or Raf Simmons. I am sure this is going to spin into something even more ridiculous. Maybe a Mr. West tv show were he interns at Pathmark and has a fight in the checkout line over Goya coupons. Of course Mr. West would be demoted to the back, stocking the freezer. I am sure no one could pass up singing "Memories made in the Coldest Freezer" while Mr West cried a top the frozen peas.


But you cant pick your family
"There is no explanation for this death other than he died from a nose-bleed, consistent with picking his nose. I do not think for a moment he knew what he was doing was going to cause his death.' said Manchester coroner Nigel Meadows about the death of 63-year-old Ian Bothwel.Now I the man supposedly had dementia but come on so much picking that you die. It makes you wonder what else was my mother right about? When she said keeping making that face and your face will stay like that...it may be true as well. Momma Noooooo

Who wants to see that again
Kim Kardashian has mentioned that she can see herself doing Playboy again in the future. I wonder who would buy the magazine when theres a porno out. Video vs Magazine I dont see the debate but maybe Im just putting me out there.

Words of Wisdom
If a dream dies, dream another dream.

- Shoot the Messenger

E-Minah Unleashes some Heat...

We always have this fight amongst ourselves over at Encore Status. What do we fight about? 'Are Producers considered 'Artists'? OBVIOUSLY Im the one in the group that believes wholeheartedly they are. Call me Sarah Palin...because Im going ROUGE...this post is going up despite the camps uncertainty. I present to you DMV's own E-Minah. He just dropped Unleashed Heat Vol 1. Check it out! My personal favorite. 'Home Sweet Home' using a Clipse sample. Track 19...get at it.


Listen here:

http://myspace.com/eminahmusic
Email:thavillenz@gmail.com

OR download from here:
http://www.zshare.net/download/52555669b7fd312b/

$25/lease $100/purchase (limited time only)

Kenlo Key Freestyle...

Droppin some deep stuff if you ask me...but see for yourself.



Download his mixtape from Datpiff if you think he's the truth. Its called Destined 4 Greatness

Read a review of his mixtape from our very own Digital Man Whore

Samuel Markus = Encore Status

One of Markus’ strengths is that he seems to concentrate on post production just as much as he focuses on the craft of song writing. The Talking Heads sounded just as assured on stage as they did on their albums. I have yet to see Markus on stage, but the construction of these songs is assured and mature; the fundamentals so strong, so I can imagine them played as effectively during happy hour, as they are played on this album. “Rosa” leads off the album New Dawn, and it is one hell of a track with classy crunching chords and a pleading, if manipulated voice. It perfectly expresses the desperation contained in the lyrics. Markus is also incredibly evocative with a prototypical ‘folky’ voice, one that can frequently lie about the singer’s worldliness. He channels Dylan, but it is clear that he can sing. I really enjoy the voice because it speaks in sun tones, and with each song I find myself imagining a different time of the day, or a different temperature of the light outside my window. Marry that voice with a great set of poison pen lyrics, and you have a first rate folk singer.

If Markus has a weakness, it’s that he betrays a little too much of his influences. I don’t have to look at his myspace page to tell you that he digs Tom Waits, Leonard Cohen, and Bob Dylan. “New Dawn” in particular borrows a little too much from Tom Waits’ lilting psycho-trubador vibe. Having said that, it is a great title track with an interesting play between his refined voice and the very raw backing vocals. “The Offering” is a top notch Dylanesque song that sounds straight off of “Blood on the Tracks,” and I’m kind of ambivalent about it because of the similarity. At the same time, the lyrics are well written (as they are throughout the album). At other times he gets a little too conventional. “Suzanne” in particular sounds a little too much like a top 40 hit, and it is a little disappointing to hear it after a string of dynamite tracks. “One Door Land” also falls into this category as it is a good track, but it does not match the fun of his other more manic tracks, and it is self consciously morose. The album contains a formidable number of tracks for a debut album (15), and that leads to a hodge podge sense of continuity. Markus relies on his heroes for several songs, and does so with aplomb, but it is when he writes his own songs and relies less on his influences that this album shines.

Once we enter the Southwest kick of the album, tracks 7-10, we don’t look back, and it is a treat that keeps on treating. His grasp of roots music is particularly dazzling on a stomping track like “Miles Away” that kicks a substantial amount of ass. I feel like I’m in a Southwestern bar, on my last stop before Cowboy oblivion. This is a track that would impress T-Bone Burnett, and I highly recommend it to anyone, even those not predisposed to Tex-Mex. “Jitterbug” is another pleasant surprised, as the voice says Dylan, but the cocaine-tempo boogie dances fast, and escapes any of his influences. It is a track that he completely owns and it would be great for driving, for a party, or just for listening after you’ve had some coffee. The guitar solos are short and sweet (and man are they sweet) and on “Deeper Well,” the guitar work stands out with scary guitar slides that recall Eric Clapton’s “Layla” (the GOOD version).

Above all, Markus joins a growing legion of professional grade artists that eschew the amateur textures of self conscious low-fi, and embrace virtuosity. The backing band, The Only Ones, deserves a lot of credit for this album’s success. They do not try to hide behind “conceptual” strong structuring or DIY textures; this sounds like an album made in a top studio. Markus should be very pleased with the results. I know I am.
- Bork

P.S. Samuel Markus is having a show in LA at the House of Blues on Dec 11th. Please show your support. More info here

Nilaja Show this Tuesday!!!

Hello,
I would just like to let you know that on Tuesday, Nilaja will be peforming at Katra lounge. If you dont know about her-- YOU WILL!

YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THIS EVENT ...especially if you are an artist. Some VERY important people will be there. Here are the details -
Date: Tuesday, December 9th
Location: Katra Lounge
Address: 217 Bowery & Rivington Street (btwn Prince & Spring)--New York, NY

For more details:
nilaja@nilajafever.com

Please check her out in this Ipod video
Written and Produced by Chris Rossomando and Joe D'Acunto.
Directed by John Paxton, AmmeAifos Pictures

WASTED TALENT = Encore Status

A little while ago, we got the chance to interview toy customizer/clothing designer WASTED TALENT. Here is part I of his interview.

First let me get this off of my chest, how many toys do you have in your collection? How many toys out of your collection have you designed yourself? How many were purchased out of the shear love of toys?

I've got one Dunny made by the infamous INSA. I got it 'cause the dude is so dope! Everything he portrays is so unique and fresh. I also got two big ass Ecko Unltd. Rhino Statues that were used for store displays, a 1 of 500 in the world life-sized Gremlin statue from NECA and pretty much every McFarlane Alien/Predator toy ever made. I wish I designed the Alien or Predator (shit is so sick!) Every other toy I ever got, I customized myself. I only found out about Kidrobot last year and was instantly hooked. I've made about 50 different customs over the past two years and I got a bunch more on the way...

It was the Kidrobot "N it for the Munny" event at the RIME store where we first saw your works. Kidrobot Munny's are one series of toys that some design. I know there are Dunny's...what other series are there and which ones do you sometimes use or prefer to make your customs?

They got Fatcaps too, but I don't just use Kidrobot stuff to customize though. I've customized Qee's by Toy2r, Angry Panda by Angry Panda. I'm currently working on 2 Mod:1's by Supermodifiedstudios that are going to blow your mind and I still got so many more different types of designer toys to experiment with. I got other things to customize too already in the works.

You had some sick pieces in that contest from what I remember-- what would you say is your most prized piece and why?

I think they're all my prize pieces really. I really do like the Radio Head one and the 20" Dunny with the head flipped upside down, mainly 'cause it's something I know nobody really ever did before and on a large scale.

You've a Munny designed to look like Paul Wall-- grill and all. Can you talk about that piece a little? How long it took to make what inspired it...etc?

It was actually the very 1st Munny I ever designed. I just wanted do to something with grillz, so I decided Paul Wall was best. I posted up like a 1000 comments on myspace not thinking anything was really going to come of it; just showing my people my art and got contacted by Chingo Bling who then put me onto Paul Wall himself. I was commissioned to do 10 replicas. The very first one I ever did though took me two days 'cause I was so psyched to do one, but when I look back at it, it looks like shit! [Laughs] I used the wrong markers and shit and I really didn't know how to go about customizing them that well. The next 10 replicas came out dope though! It took me a few months 'cause I was doing like five different projects at that point, plus I had to crazy glue each one of the rhinestones on one by one with tweezers. Most meticulous thing I ever did. Don't really want to do it ever again either. [Laughs]

When you gave me advice on making a Munny, the first thing you said was 'HAVE FUN'. Why did you feel like you needed to stress this?

'Cause when you make it a job, it becomes stressful. You don't want to be stressed when you're trying to perfect your craft even though that's stressful itself. But keep in the back of your mind, that it's just art. The options are practically limitless. Have fun with it.

I remember at the RIME store seeing a Munny with a head made out of a Boom Box! Designing these things can get crazy! What's the craziest thing you've done/used to create a custom toy?

Other than the Mega Munny with a Boom Box on the head, I dissected a brand new Nike Dunk to make a custom Munny for Sneaker Bistro Boutique that actually looks like you can put your foot in the top of the head cause I transformed it into a "sneakerhead". I also did another right after that for YRB Magazine with real Hammerhead Shark teeth. Needless to say, it was a Hammerhead Shark Munny. I got plenty of other innovative things nobody ever used before in the works. I truly am going to blow minds with what I got in store. I can't tell you what it is yet, but just know it's going to be sick!
(...To be continued... for now...just check him out here: http://www.myspace.com/therealwastedtalent)
(Radio Read)

Get 'em while they're HOT

"COLD" (top picture) "HOT" (second picture)



A little while ago, we were given the opportunity to interview Queen Qustom from the UK. Queen has customed designed kicks for artists like Jay-Z and Memphis Bleek. This award winning custom designer is definitely on the come up. Here is part 1 of her interview--

Queen, what are your biggest achievements to date?The best moment for me so far was winning the award for Best Customizing Designer at the UK Urban Fashion Awards in 2007. I really didnt expect to win. I know everyone says that but I was still new in the game; the only sneaker customizer to enter and up against the favorites - last years winners. But, I won, I had a great time and it opened alot of doors for me. Another of my favorite moments was designing for Jay-Z recently when he was in the UK. I got the go ahead from the tour manager and had a busy few days putting together some kicks for Jay-Z and Memphis Bleek. Didn't get to meet Jay but met up with Bleek and he loved the kicks. I was invited to go to the next tour date, got on the guestlist for the concert and met with Bleek again to give him another pair. He said Jay-Z liked the kicks I did for him, and to tell me he thinks I'm talented. I want that in writing [Laughs].

How many pairs of sneakers and shoes do you own? Which is your most prized pair and why?
Personally, I have about 35 pairs, and I have a room full of customized sneakers which are not my size but I just cant bare to part with. My most prized pair is my 'practice' kicks. I used to try techniques out on them before laying them down on a fresh pair. They are a complete mess with little sections of different designs and so many different colors.

Is there a special story behind you creating the heat sensitive kicks?I had an idea in the back of my mind to get hold of one of the heat sensitive tees you used to get back in the 90's and use it to customize a pair of dunks. I was having a nightmare trying to find a new unworn tee so my research began in to the technology behind it and my heat sensitive paints were born!

To continue this conversation along the line of your heat sensitive sneakers, please talk about the "hunter v hunted high af1 heat sensitive"-

What inspired it? Getting onto the Sneakerpimps tour.
The "Hunter V Hunted" design was originally done on a pair of court forces, and redesigned for sneakerpimps on a high AF1 at 'cold' temperature. The sneakers have a tiger print design...but when exposed to heat such as hot weather, a hairdryer, warm hands, the orange changes to white - giving it a zebra print. I am so excited about the heat sensitive range - its amazing to be wearing one pair of sneakers when you are in an air conditioned room, then you step outside in the heat and they change to have a completely different appearance. This is something that is currently exclusive to Qustom Queen - you cant purchase heat sensitive custom kicks anywhere else.

....THERE's MORE...later on we will hear from about how her custom kicks actually got on the sneaker pimps tour and the story and motivation behind 3 of her custom kicks... and her infamous 'Sneaketto' heels.

If you'd like to see more of her work please visit her myspace: http://www.myspace.com/qustomqueen
Like what you see and want to order: Contact qustomqueen@yahoo.co.uk for more information

Is "Broke and Proud" encore status??

Since we are in the midst of a recession (though no one will really admit it) we felt it fitting to post a music video by the artist Rugged N Raw. The song is called Broke and Proud and features the artist in our last post, Hasan Salaam.

Enjoy!

Quizzes by Quibblo.com

Hasan Salaam = Encore Status

Jersey native Hasan Salaam is the answer, if you've been questioning what conscious without corny sounds like. Hasan Salaam is as gritty as any hood rapper, with a poetic cadence and an unmistakable flow, that's as far from the soft and cushy spoken-word that plagues other purposed emcees. He's refreshing; definitely hip hop and not hip pop. He has clearly sacrificed fame for purpose, because unlike so many conscious rappers, mainstream is not out of the question for Hasan. His look doesn't typecast him either way and his sound is hood credible.

He is a rapper that is not misogynistic, materialistic or indulgent and a man who is not afraid to reveal his love for the woman he describes as the "Earth by his side" in Suga. Lyrically, he's reflective. On the track 15 Minutes he admits that music does have an affect on the youth and tells them that the fantasy portrayed in songs are not a reality. He spits "kids no longer separate life from entertainment and with all the gangsta sh*t no one explains an affidavit/You're ghostwriters ain't coming out to you're arraignment emulating your favorite rapper is a painstaking engagement." But don't be prepared for a musical lecture; Hasan is not some beat box-soap box preacher. The must-hear, Prayer of a Sinner delivers a gritty but heartfelt ode that's both revealing and profound; "First was the word/and if life is a test, hope we graded on a curve/'cuz we weak in the flesh…"

Is he unparalleled or unabridged? Uncertain. But what Salaam does possess is the ability to invoke the totality of a history of a people that he deeply cares about. He quotes Jackie Robinson ("a life is unimportant except in the impact it has on other lives"). He seems to really believe this and he acts on it, by volunteering with inner city youth. He credits reading the Autobiography of Malcolm X for his young conversion to Islam. Yea, he's conscious, on that I'm-well-read-I-know-my-history deal. So what if he falls short on the "it's the message not the messenger thing." (Read: it's always the messenger). Hasan Salaam escapes the shadow of the coterie of many non-mainstream rappers by avoiding the shuck and jive club banger, the obligatory I-get-money track, and not selling out to make a vain attempt at fame and selling out venues. And for that, he just might restore some context to the game and remind mainstream of its core.

-Makila M.

Oddisee = Encore Status!

artwork by: aniekan


What up DMV! (DC, Maryland, Virginia) We in the building right now putting the spot light on Largo, Maryland's own Oddisee. You all may remember him from his first commercial appearance on Dj Jazzy Jeff's 2002 release The Magnificent, in which he produced and spit on the cool out track, Musik Lounge. Since then, Oddisee has worked with the likes of Jean Grae, J Live, Wordworth, Little Brother, and Saigon. This month Oddisee has been flooding the web with two mix tapes. First he released Oddisee 101 and Oddisee 102 on iTunes, if you feelin some of the joints on here, PLEASE Support. Second, Hot 97 Radio Show Host, Peter Rosenburg recently posted a mixtape called "A Rosenberg Oddisee" of tracks featuring MCs he personally recruited to spit over Oddisee beats. With cosigns like these and musical talent, Oddisee is destined for greatness. Now that we understand, Oddisee is a rapper and a producer, let me recommend some of his illest verses and beats.
When I first heard Oddisee, I liked his song the Musik Lounge. The current state of music has conditioned me to like a song before the artist. Usually artists come out with one hot track and drop a subpar album, or they get pushed back until you forget who they were. Well I have heard much more from Oddisee and I can finally say I like him as an artist. His musical ability shines consistently on both mixtapes without topics or beats sounding the same. Being a sample junkie myself, I especially enjoy the horns used on the tracks picture painting track "Camera" and funky instrumental "Chocolate City Dreamin." Other stand out beats to look for are "Sand to the Beach," "Money on the Clock," and "Endure (2 Fish Remix)." Lyrically, his descriptions of the diversity and gang issues in the DMV hit home for me on "Camera." Demonstrating his knowledge of the culture, Oddisee creatively travels through the history of hip-hop over the Nas influenced track, "Memory Lane."In addition to the many iPod worthy songs I've already mentioned, check out these as well "Soul Clap," "A Song for That," and "I'm Gone (Remix)."

Overall Oddisee is definitely an artist to look out for. His sample heavy production, which I feel is his strongest skill, is true to the culture of hip hop and has earned him the respect of many great lyrists in the game. Lyrically, I feel Oddisee leaves a little more to be desired, in terms of flow and delivery. Although, content wise he gets my seal of approval and will only improve with time. So now that we've reached the end of my review, what do you do next? Holla at iTunes to support my dude Oddisee. Then keep your ear to the street for his cross over hit that puts Maryland on the map.

PanamaBlack

Anton Sword = Encore Status!

I like Anton Sword. Affable chap. Very smooth. Haven’t met him, but I appreciate how clean, how subdued he is on his album “Sentimental Education.” I hope Anton will forgive me for assuming that his house doubled as an airport lounge, but I’m starting to think that’s the case, first from the album’s cover, and also from the music. Anton is a crooner. He shows great range in that style of singing, so he can sound spooky on “Infrared,” (more due to backing vocals as opposed to his own voice) or melancholy as when he sings “Throw yourself away, Throw yourself away/ Liquify your face, Liquify your face.” He seems to feel that the pop artist’s job is to reflect emotions to the audience as opposed to experiencing them firsthand, and I like that about him. The most emotional track on the album is “Standing on the Precipice,” a track that more directly adheres to adult pop conventions, but even that draws back at points when it feels itself getting carried away. The guitar work directed by Sword on this track is particularly impressive (guitarists were Julian Maile and Erik Paparazzi) because it is smooth, measured, and soulful all at once. It suffers a little at the end, specifically because it does abandon its restraint a bit, but maybe that’s part of the fun. Still, amazingly good track.
Anton’s is an act that thankfully eschews kitsch or cheese, or at least an overdose of those elements, and takes the material as seriously as any emo artist. “Liquify” is the most comprehensive of his tracks, as it’s all subdued sincerity and ambiguous haze . I like that Anton feels free to wander about his keyboard, and the solos have a pleasant sense of timid spontaneity. He likes to squiggle, like a kid coloring in the margins with a glitter pen, but there is plenty of method to the wandering.
Then again some of the other tracks such as “The Instrument, Your Friend,” or the aforementioned “Infrared” sound more urgent, and even a little panicked. They traffic in ambient territory, and help by adding shades to the starbursts. “My Judgement” is much more of a bad trip though. Here, he subverts much of the album with some very harsh production that almost sounds like the wailing of space ghosts in an arty sci-fi movie. It comes off a bit overwhelming, if extremely skillful, and contrasts, unfavorably, with his more salient tracks. The production is, as I said, skillful, but at times inconsistent in that it sometimes compliments its surroundings, and sometimes swells to the point of overwhelming itself. There are violins and heavy stings, kind of like Phil Spector, but it comes and goes too much. These are quibbles really, and highlight just how accomplished this all is for a debut. The bottom line is that Anton has already crafted a pretty steady persona, and laid out some very strong thematic work in the realms of liquid, light, and indecision.

-Sporky

Sneaker Design Contest!

Calling all custom sneaker designers....or people just sick at using ADOBE! RunAthletics is having a shoe design contest...but not just a regular ole sneaker design contest...its for charity. Scion and Run Athletics have teamed up to host a benefit for the not-for-profit Soles4Souls. Soles4Souls is an organization dedicated to providing footwear to those less fortunate around the world. The Kick off event will be held at Ultra Nightclub in NYC from 6-8:30pm on Oct 24th. If you bring two pairs of slightly worn shoes, boots, heels, etc...you get in FREE. Celebrity DJ Mel Debarge will be spinning.

Please check out http://www.lalucas.com/soles4souls/ to find instructions, templates in order to design the kicks, etc. 300 limited edition pairs of the winning design will be produced. A final party on December 17th will announce the winner with honorable guest Reverend Run of Run DMC and RunAthletics.

Kenlo Key..."Destined 4 Greatness"

Before I get into the nitty gritty about Kenlo Key’s recently released mixtape, “Destined for Greatness,” let me just get this fact out in the open from the jump; this dude has rhymes for days. It’s no exaggeration for me to say that you will be utterly convinced of Kenlo Key’s lyrical superiority within the first 40 seconds of popping in this mixtape. As avid followers of underground hip-hop can attest, the one thing that we’ve heard over and over about this Chicago emcee is that he knows his way around a freestyle, and certainly, the Key does nothing to disprove the hype on this mixtape. So yes, folks, Kenlo Key can spit. You heard it here first.

Of course, having a hot flow does not mean you can automatically declare yourself the Second Coming or whatever. Kenlo Key, while incredibly talented and certainly has much to look forward to in the near-future, leaves much to be desired on this mixtape from a musical standpoint and fails to push himself beyond the stale “I got money, guns, and bitches” theme that has held hip-hop under arrest since the late 90’s. Sure, that shit was fun to listen to back when we still had CD players in our JanSport bookbags and had nothing but optimism about driving tricked-out Beamers and Escalades in the (then) near-future. But now, it’s kinda hard to listen to someone talking about “counting all this cash” and “ballin’ harder than the Globetrotters show” when considering that in today’s crazy economy, not even banks have money. (And don’t even get me started on that one…) Between the tired themes restated throughout this mixtape and the generic-sounding beats that fail to make a lasting impression, it’s clear that the Key still has a lot of growing left to do as an artist before we see him reach his full potential.

Still, there are some bright spots on this mixtape that certainly make this free download worth your time. Easily the best parts of this album are the various freestyles placed throughout that show just how gifted Kenlo Key can be when he’s off script. Outside of the freestyles, there are two tracks that warrant your attention: “Gingerbread Man,” easily the most radio and ringtone-friendly track on this album and “Black Mask, Black Gloves,” the most gully, hungry, gutter-sounding track Kenlo Key has on this mixtape. (Too bad it’s only two minutes long, though) The other tracks, while not bad, certainly aren’t too memorable in their current forms and lack that “oh, shit” factor that an artist like Kenlo should be getting based on his lyrical skill level.

Overall, Kenlo Key’s “Destined for Greatness,” while certainly not an instant underground classic, serves as a great “foot-in-the-door” for one of Chicago’s finest raw talents. If given the opportunity to work with a couple of hardcore loopdiggers, there’s no doubt that Kenlo Key will push beyond the played-out boundaries he set on himself in this mixtape effort. And if that happens, shorties won’t be the only people calling Kenlo Key the “Gingerbread Man…”

Ray Torres, The Digital Manwhore


Download Kenlo Key's Mixtapere here

Encore Status Promo

Emperial Nation Fall 2008 Launch Party

Our good friends over at Emperial Nation are dropping their fall 2008 line, with inspiration from the great Harlem Renaissance Era. Take a trip uptown with these original pieces that include images of Jack "Galveston Giant" Johnson, Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington, and other strong images from that time in history.

To celebrate this release, Emperial Nation will be having it’s very own release party, in collaboration with The Tastemakers Society, on October 16, 2008 at New York City’s Gallery Bar located in the Lower East Side. From the hours of 7PM-10PM, Emperial Nation will be playing host to one of NYC’s most exciting and happening spots. Two Hungry Brothers will be in the house spinning everything from old school R&B, electro-pop to underground hip hop. Those that come celebrate will be treated to gift bags, complimentary Sonu beverages and celebrity style photography sessions. Did we forget to mention the 7:30pm to 8:30pm open bar?! This is The Back to School event you don’t want to miss!

For more information on the release party or the Emperial Nation line, check below and visit www.emperialnation.com.

See ya there!

To Trick...or not Trick...

photo by: happyeric

In my experiences with the dating scene, I have learned to attract the opposite sex using the gift of gab, to always stay sharp and say the right things to entice the opposite sex. Nothing could drive a woman's imagination more than a man's ability to spit some good game. That's why it bothers me a bit when I see my brothers in the club spending and wasting money on women who they have only known for so long. Whether you are buying drinks or making it rain to get a woman to talk to you, such acts are classic examples of trickin'.

What is trickin', you may ask?
Well, UrbanDictionary.com gives the following definition:

trickin' (v): To splurge on large gifts for a girl or boy that you like but don't know very well.
To me, using money to get what you want out from women is bad enough. It is even worse that now many influential music artists are now perpetuating to this phenomenon. The following are excerpts from some of the more recent hit songs rap and R&B songs:

“Like yeahhh, and everyone say it/
Mr. Rain Man can we have a rainy day/
Bring an umbrella, please bring an umbrella/
Ella, Ella, Ella, EH /
Bitch ain't shit but a hoe and a trick/
But you know it ain't trickin' if you got it”
Lil' Wayne – “Got Money”

“Shawty, you the hottest/
Love the way you drop it/
Brain so good, coulda swore you went to college/
100K deposits, vacations in the tropics/
Everybody know it ain't trickin' if you got it”
T.I. – “Whatever You Like”

“I can put you in the log cabin/
somewhere in Aspen/
Girl ain't nothing to the Pain/
it aint trickin if you got it/
what you askin'....for”
T-Pain – “Can't Believe It”

“I like to trick trick trick/
I like to trick (trick) trick/
I wanna spend some money, spend some money/
I like to trick, I like to trick”
Ray-J – “I Like to Trick”

Music has been so influential in promoting many of society's vices, with this “It ain't trickin' if you got it” movement coming on the rise. It is funny that these artists have the means to “trick” of their money, while a vast majority of their fans and listeners don't. I can ramble on about my thoughts on the topic, but the purpose of this post is to get your opinion about the topic. Please feel free to post your opinion, for it is humbly appreciated.

To trick or not to trick – that is the question.
- From SatisJackson305

STREET ART STREET LIFE

photo:Fatimah Tuggar, Coverfield, 2008

On view through January 25, 2009
Organized by guest curator Lydia Yee, Street Art, Street Life examines the street as subject matter, venue, and source of inspiration for artists and photographers from the late 1950s to the present.

This far ranging exhibition, one of the largest to consider the subject, includes street photography; documentation of performance, events, and artworks presented in the street; works using material from the street; and examples of street culture by more than thirty artists including William Klein, Lee Fried­lander, Raymond Hains, Vito Acconci, Martha Rosler, Sophie Calle, David Ham­mons, Jamel Shabazz, and Francis Alÿs, among others.

Museum hrs are: Thursday - Monday, 11am - 6pm, Friday: 11am - 8pm, Tuesdays and Wednesday are closed.Cost is $5 for students, $3 Seniors, children under 12 FREE.

The Bronx Museum of the Arts
1040 Grand Concourse (at 165th Street)
Bronx, New York 10456
718.681.6000
www.bronxmuseum.org

-Krazy Cam

Anonymous Twist = Encore Status

Anonymous Twist, a Toronto based MC, DJ, and producer, blessed us with a couple of tracks for our mixtape back in february(Melange mixtape featured on the right panel of this blog). One of the tracks and a personal favorite of mine was entitled 'Brainwash.' His camp put a video up for the track featuring clips from the movie City of God. Enjoy the track, and cop his album available on Itunes.

David Sides = Encore Status

We're probably late bringing this to you, but a friend of a friend of a friend of Encore Status sent this to me today and I was blown away. Known as the "Mozart of hip hop" D-Sides has done brilliant piano renditions of the music from top artists in the music industry. "Buy You a Drink"(T-Pain), "Bed"(J Holiday), and "Closer" (Ne-Yo), are tracks I have listened to personally. Please peep the rendition of Lollipop, originally performed by Lil Wayne.

Oh yea...and don't be late like us...friend him on the myspace.

-PM

STOP...now do the french Fry

Hello,
After posting the Smiley Jonez video "Chicken Wing," we set out to find content that was more tasteful. We think we have found what we were looking for. This Sweet and Sour clip forced me to STOP...and do the French fry. Please view yet another uncategorizable gem -- The McDonalds rap.

Enjoy,
StatisJackson

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Rex Milano = Encore Status

While digging through Youtube the other day, we found this 21 year old hip hop dance phenom from Italy. His name is Rex Milano and seems like he would step to ANYONE on the dance floor. If you've seen anyone that will or can test him, please contact us at Talent@encorestatus.com. (We wont expect that many emails...just watch his video below).
Enjoy,
Pure Madness



Please check out more of his stuff in our Youtube widget on the right.

Dionis Ortiz...Encore Status

Recently featured in the New York Times 'City Room' section, Harlem resident Dionis Ortiz is a New York Artist on the rise. His "Self Portrait" piece is a part of the 'Evolution: The Changing Face of Harlem' exhibit at Columbia University. The exhibit features the art of 25 artists in the artHarlem community and will be open from September 22nd to November 6th.
Check out Dionis Ortiz's bio below and his website:

Harlem native Dionis Ortiz explores his dual identity as a New Yorker and as a person of Dominican descent, born to immigrant parents. His paintings visually narrate interpretations of his experiences and surroundings through the use of landscape, symbols, text, as well as various mediums and painting techniques. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Fine Arts from the State University of New York at Purchase College and his certification in Art Handling from The Bronx Council on the Arts.

Dionis cultivated his interest and background in the arts to establish Inspiration Fine Art, a fine art gallery located in Harlem. Since its inception in 2005, he has organized and curated various group exhibitions and showcased the works of emerging and established artists from New York City.

Tabi Bonney...

Particularity. Swagger. Beat. Rhyme. Often we fall victim to parsing apart hip-hop artistry as such. Aside from the occasional comment about how an emcee rides a beat, there is fairly little convo in the way of what amounts to cohesion, to the whole picture. Tabi Bonney is a scuff on the kicks of such linear thinking. That is to say, there is something musically compelling about him, that can’t be identified in any one aspect. Self proclaimed genre blender, he pulls from everything he can get his hands on, producing a sound that occupies a precarious space between alternative, rock, and hip-hop. His shit is gumbo, and I feel that excessively. His lyrics on paper, or beat-free, would leave something to be desired, namely quotables. What you do see on tracks like Superhero is a let-me-clear-my-throat oeuvre, and a well developed union of music and flow that augment one another (think okra in a bangin ass rue). What I hear in Tabi Bonney is possibility, and a sound finding itself. His laid back somewhat sparse cadence can be mistaken for laziness, the same way the blues unexamined, can be mistaken for simple. It will be interesting to see where he takes this sound in future projects. His style is undeniably the changing face of an industry starving for new blood, and artists wiling to take risks, and experiment (i.e. mainstream artists like Kanye West). Hip Hop is turning a corner and seems to be going in one of two directions. Atavism, as artists strive for the Bronx born beat sound of minimalist concrete tracks punctuated with gutter verses and brick hard lyrics (which I f%!@k with), or music that is increasingly “hyphenated” with limited writers (such as myself) trying to cram round peg sounds into so many square categories that are becoming insufficient. Tabi Bonney is a round peg, and if he can continue to push and defy being defined, even by his own patterns and limits, he’s on to something.
Check out one of his videos: Syce it/Escalator


Picture from Tabi Bonney's Myspace

No Chicken Noodle soup..We ordering Chicken Wings...!

While digging for diamondz (again) on Youtube, one of the Encore Status staff found another 'uncatergorizable' gem. Before we had our usual all out FIGHT about it, one of us was smart enough to suggest we put it up for you guys to vote. So here is is 'Chickenwing' by Smiley Jonez. We dont want to ruin it for you...but we'll leave you with a snippet of the lyrics...

Booty goes Pitty Pat Pitty Pat bakers man
Look at that big booty man
Pop that thang like a chicken wang (MOVE YOUR BIG BUTT)
Pop that thang like a chicken wang (MOVE YOUR BIG BUTT)
Pop that thang like a chicken wang (MOVE YOUR BIG BUTT)

...you get the point. Enjoy
-CB

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Brooklyn meets Japan - Aiko exhibit

Ladies and Gentlemen...(especially those in BK), please go to the Brooklynite Gallery to see the beautiful Aiko exhibit "Shut Up & Look". The exibit opened last Saturday but will continue through October 11th.

Heres a little more info about Aiko:
Being given the honor of moderating Brooklyn Museum's
"Visual Release: Gender, Art, Representation and Exchange," as part of the museum's Love and Pop symposium, and guest speaking at "Envisioning Japan: Creative Dialogues with the Wider World" during the Murakami symposium were only a hint of Lady Aiko's academic side.
She has lectured StreetArt/Grafitti at Kyoto Art and Design University, and taught with street arts famed historians, Martha Cooper and Charlie Ahern, at the School of Visual Art, NY.

Recent shows have included a steady stream of group show presence such as Heart Throb, Independent Residents, BEHIND THE SEEN, and Pop Subversion, capped off with PINK| AIKO: Brick Ladies of NYC, with fellow maven of the pavement, Lady Pink. Kid Robot has even given her the greatest defense against the buffer: her famed spraycan bunnies have come to life in full vinyl glory - BrooklyniteGallery.com

For More info, visit the gallery's website.
Brooklynite Gallery
334 Malcolm X Boulevard (between Decatur & Bainbridge)
Brooklyn, NY 11233
Train: A/C to Utica Avenue

Heads Up: Internet TV for indie Producers...

Hey,
For all you independent film producers out there, there's a cool alternative to Youtube to getting your content out there. Babelgum is the name of the company. They have events, online film festivals, and much more... according to the site:
Babelgum is:

The free, interactive Internet TV service which offers independent and brand new content, provides an alternative to traditional broadcasters, and personalizes the user experience through tag searches and collaborative filtering.

...like sites such as Revver, they give producers the opportunity to make money from their content. Check it out!

Tired Black Man?

So, a member of the Encore Status team and I got into a BIG argument just over this preview. It's a clip of a film called, "Tired Black Man." I dont want to ruin it for you guys but all I can say is its a rebuttle to Tyler Perry's 'Diary of a Mad Black Woman.' As a female I have a few comments about this promo clip but I'll leave it to you all to start the commentary. Watch the clip, take the poll, let's hear your opinion.
-Mizz Trish

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Michael Jackson...Mister Lonely

Ok, here's something that we CANT miss once it hits the U.S. Mister Lonely. Its directed by Harmony Korine. Here is the synopsis as quoted by IMDB.

"In Paris, a young American who works as a Michael Jackson lookalike meets Marilyn Monroe, who invites him to her commune in Scotland, where she lives with Charlie Chaplin and her daughter, Shirley Temple."...
...yeah...sounds like a hit to me...check out the trailer. Its awesome.
Luv,
Pure Madness

Mister_Lonely
by moviestrailer

Scion's Hype Man Contest...

Scion is looking for this year's best Hypeman...question is...is that person you?
Check out this link ASAP. The winner gets $2,000 and a home-studio prize package provided by M-Audio that includes a Fast Track Ultra - High-speed USB 2.0 Interface, ProTools M-Powered software, Q40 Studio Reference Headphones, Nova Studio Microphone, and Studio backpack... stop frontin like you don't need it.
Scion Hypeman contest info

Here's a video from last year's event.

Happy Birthday to a Freak-a-holic

It was the Egyptian Lover's birthday this weekend. This legend has been touring since 1983...which in our eyes, makes him a tour-a-holic. In this video, he lets us know...he's a Freak-a-holic.

Happy Birthday E.L.
Luv,
Pure Madness


P.S. Those of you who need your memories jogged Egyptian Lover did the following tracks:
"I'm so Freaky" (Back from the Tom)
"Keep it Hot" (Platinum Pyramids)
"Kinky Nation (Kingdom Kum)" (On the Nile)
and many many more...
photo from Egyptian Lover's myspace

From Superman....to Shopping Cart...

So another member of the Encore Status crew found this video showing a new dance...Should we forget the Superman and check out the shopping cart? You be the judge and vote below.
Enjoy,
Pure Madness

P.S. The pun was intended when I said 'check out' the shopping cart.

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Radio Killed The Toy Star-- On Sale...

If you collect toys you already know this...the picture below is a Custom 20" Mega Munny. "Radio Killed The Toy Star" was custom designed by Nasty Neil of Wasted Talent. Nasty has done work for Redman and Paul wall (just to name a few). Check out his myspace...check out his auctions on ebay. You can purchase the one of a kind "Radio Killed The Toy Star" there.

Those who aren't familiar with this whole custom designing of toys thing...please get familiar. The video below will give you a good idea of how things start when receiving/buying a DIY (do it yourself) Kidrobot Munny doll. There's more to come about this both on this blog and on the website

One of the best custom kicks designers in the World?

When EncoreStatus.com launches in the fall, we'll have some pleasant surprises for you. We've talked to the most talented designers around the world. One of the artists we spoke to customized the kicks below. What do you think? Is he Encore Status? Vote below! Join the mailing list for more info on the designer.

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Reasonable Gangster ...

I have a problem. I have a tendency to download the remixed versions of albums before I listen to the originals sold in stores. Why? Perhaps its a habit that has stayed with me over time because when I was younger I didnt have the money to buy an artist's album for full price in stores. Now that I'm older, I STILL do it (I'll PRETEND I DON'T HEAR YOU GUYS WHISPERING 'CHEAP'). Again, while digging for some unsigned diamonds -- I found the most phenomenal remix to the Jay Z American Gangster album. What's that? Do I also hear you guys whispering- 'I thought encore status was only for the indie/unsigned...' - you're right, it is. I'm focused on the talent of this producer who was able to make this album comparable to the original. I know this is up for debate, but I believe that producers are artists too. In my opinion, like a director and cinematographer who have the responsibility to create the look and feel of a film, a producer has the same responsibility in music. With that said, the Brazilian producer, Nel Sentimentum, has one of the BEST remixes I've ever heard. Please listen to the two tracks from his "Reasonable Gangster" remix below and vote. If I AM wrong...please comment as to where in the world I'll be able to find something better than this...Thanks
Download the rest of his mixtape from his myspace.

Luv, Pure Madness

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Kris Kasanova...Track of the Week?

Get this widget | Track details | eSnips Social DNA

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Want to know more about him? Read the partial bio below...

Who Is Kris Kasanova? Correction, what is Kris Kasanova? He's an undeniable force to be reckoned with. This Brooklyn born, Red Hook native has been honing

his craft since the tender age of 7 and is now ready to be heard.

Arriving into this world amidst the declining years of the Reagan Era, Kris is influenced by the personal struggles he encountered in the streets and

at home. He was also influenced by relatable artists like Rakim & Jay-Z. Perhaps, it's because of this assortment of talent and knowledge that Kris' rap flow

is infused with the angst of the streets and the resilience of his peers. Kris has a love and passion for the art of music that is only surmounted by his

unique and charismatic style, which dubbed him 'Kasanova', Kris Kasanova.

Throughout his school years, Kris continuously developed his skills in order to emerge as one of Brooklyn's talented MC's.
His refreshing sound, undeniable appeal and unorthodox delivery opened the ears of fellow Brooklynites as well as producers Clyde and Harry, who are very

well known underground and mainstream. The duo quickly opened their arms and the evolution of Kris Kasanova commenced.

Check out his page if you want to learn more...Kris Kasanova

-Pure madness

J. Cole...Definitely...on point with "The Come UP!"

His lyrics are reflective. His flow is classic though his sound is not easily pinpointed. He’s from the South, though not the Deep South, but his New York influence is undeniable. The Come Up is, simply put, complex—not conflicted. It’s about more than a rapper straddling the line between the college game and the rap game, more than an homage to the city that shaped him, or a thank you note to the single mother that raised him. It’s all those things. Explicit and raw, there’s no gratuitous profanity or minstrel-like money, cash, hoes shucking and jiving, and no obligatory club-banger—all to the rapper’s credit. Rapper J. Cole, who hails not from some predictable rap Mecca like Atlanta or NYC, but from a city the size of a neighborhood in one of these metropolises, Fayetteville, North Carolina. He is an artist who turned an academic scholarship into both a ticket to the birthplace of hip-hop to launch his musical career and a degree from a prestigious university.

Opening on a strong point, “Simba” is a creative twist on the “Just can’t wait to be King” theme, a refreshing alternative to the usual “This is Why I’m Hot” posturing. J’s rhymes are a nice open to what unfolds into a complete package; the mixtape is a wholehearted effort to break into the industry complete with a cohesive theme from start to finish, and the kind of interludes that pushed rap CDs over the edge in the late 90s.

“School Daze” is a nostalgic look at his high school experience with references to three-way calling. However, Dame Dash and Jay Z make you realize this really wasn’t that long ago. He also samples Ahmad’s 1994 “Back in the Day” hook. But in places like this where the album gets a bit predictable, the listener forgives the artist because his candor speaks for himself. He’s going to rap on his own terms, or “if this rap shit don’t work, I’m going for my master’s”, he says on the hook “College Boy”, where he brags about his scholastic achievements and concludes “college is a real good look.”

There’s more to the mix tape than can be expressed in this short space, but it is well worth a listen, especially the mellow “Split You Up” or the surprising “Dead Presidents” on which J. proves he’s up to the task of rhyming over a track that both Nas and Jay Z previously coined. J. Cole finds his groove at the beginning of the CD and rarely loses it. Its incredibly personal, and leaves you wondering what more he would do if given the opportunity.
- Murder She Wrote

J.Cole...definitely Encore Status

Wale at SOBS

This show happened in July...but was good enough that we said...better late than never

The show began with the AOK collective (Fresh Daily, Nola Darling, 8thWon, Homeboy Sandman) tearing through your soon to be favorite jams. The perfect ender to there set was "Body Bags". AOK killed it and were nice enough to clean up the mess.

Next was the almost set by Che Grand. Due to technical difficulties he sort of just stood on stage and complained. He almost did a verse over the beatbox provided by a random crowd member. Then when Blu and Exile's set started he almost rhymed again. Blu's set was a touch long at 45 minutes but provided any newcomers to his sound with a thorough introduction: laid back, lyrical and heartfelt.
D.J.Jazzy Jeff and Skillz (Nod Factor for any 80s babies) were next and despite a crystal clear delivery and a raucous song set the crowd seemed more excited to see Talib Kweli come out on "So Far So Good".

Finally Wale's band was all setup and he appeared on stage. Wow is the only word for the UCB band. Wale and the band lead us through some classic Go-Go history(does anyone remember The Butt) to more recent jams like "Something about a Player." Then when he gets into "Artistic Integrity" off the new Seinfeld inspired mixtape A Mixtape about Nothing and things reach a new apex. I thought he gave his band a little to much showtime but when they replayed Jay-Z "Roc Boys" note for note it was hard to complain. A great show! Please view the video above for a taste.

~Shoot The Messenger


Video by: PreZZure Another artist with skillz, Please check him out!!