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