Wishful Thinking: The Precision of Jeffrey West

Thanks to our lovely fellow bloggers across the pond at Indulged Fashion, I stumbled across these lovely foot accessories made by Jeffrey West. Mark Jeffery and Guy West, founders of Jeffery-West and purveyors of seamlessly stylish, meticulously crafted Northampton-produced footwear. They specialize in hand-crafting their shoes....so don't expect that computer generated finishing of......other.....kinds :-) Make ya feet happy...go splurge! I'll definitely have a fresh pair verrrry soon! (anyone feeling generous?)

Also, if you're really feeling like spoiling yourself and thinking about the economy and bills later, then don't waste anymore time...go snatch a wickedly made bag by these guys. You'll be the envy of everyone in the office! And I'm pretty good at THAT...haha!

Tuesday's Drop:Queen of Pop Secures Throne

Pay no attention to the drag queen-ready title of ­Beyoncé's new album. She may have titled her third solo CD "I Am ... Sasha Fierce," but the music seems hellbent on proving just the opposite.
It finds this battering ram of a star not just lowering her guard, but practically opening up a vein.
That's partially by design. Beyonce divided the 16-song double set in two, devoting the first half (dubbed "I Am ...") to aching ballads, the second ("Sasha Fierce") to her usual "I am woman, hear me roar" anthems. At least that's what Beyoncé stated. In truth, the "upbeat" section includes its share of ballads, too. And even the harder, faster section's songs express more yearning than defiance.

All this comes as more than a revelation. It's a relief — especially following Beyoncé's last album, 2006's hastily recorded "B'Day." That disk seemed primed to compete with the music of then boyfriend Jay-Z for hardness, anger and distance.
How ironic that only now that Beyoncé has married Jay has she released an album rippling with need and hurt.

The result has done wonders for both her character, and the breadth of the music. Avoiding the usual R&B clichés, Beyoncé's new songs draw on the wider palette of pop. The song "Disappear" has some of the intimate chord structures of a John Lennon ballad, while "Smash Into You" shows influence from the musicals ­Beyoncé branched into with "Dreamgirls." "That's Why You're Beautiful" even swipes some chords from grunge.
The loosening of Beyoncé's melodic structures allows her to circumvent the constricted, and rhythm-driven, shouts of her ­earlier work to access new parts of her range. She snakes up the crescendo of "Satellites" with fresh grace, and embraces ­operatic flourishes in "Ave Maria" with heavenly élan. The album's first single, "If I Were a Boy," presents an ideal marriage of Beyoncé's newly empathic lyrics and non-­cliché melodies, which studiously avoid the ­melodic limitations of post-hip-hop R&B.
Beyoncé even worked to undermine her famous perfectionism: In some songs she purposely hits bum notes.
Not every song mines the warm new mode. "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" honors the sporty beat and in-your-face lyrics Beyoncé has drawn on since her days in Destiny's Child. Same goes for the tellingly titled "Diva."
But even a song called "Ego" avoids expectations by celebrating a man's cockiness rather than her own. More, the album ends the "Sasha" section with perhaps the most open-hearted ballad on the CD, "Scared of Lonely." It's a whole new Beyoncé here, bold and brave enough to finally let herself be weak.

The Death of Adam From 88 Keys' Point of View!!

Artist: 88 Keys

Album: The Death of Adam

Label: Decon Records

What really killed Adam, is the question that is on every Hip Hop heads mind right now. The answer will be reveal on Tuesday, November 11th when 88 Keys finally release his debut album, 'The Death of Adam'. The album includes the first single "Stay Up! (Viagra)" featuring Kanye West, who also helped executive producer the album. When asked to describe the concept of this album, 88 Keys stated "The entire album is about the power of the punani, if you will. The album follows the story line of my man Adam who passed away and basically how he died." I have to applaud 88 Keys for this one because there aren't too many artists, in my opinion, that can create an album with a storyline such as this one and be successful with it at the same time. With 'The Death of Adam', 88 Keys tells a well-written story of Adam, a sex hungry young man who’s original goal is getting a certain dime into bed, which turns out to be more than what he was bargaining for. It all starts off with Adamn catching a boner in the morning ("Morning Wood"), which later leads to some sexual activities involving a girl that Adam met at "The Friends Zone". The storyline continues when Adam decides to handcuff the young lady during sex ("Handcuffs 'Em"), but Adam later finds himself unable to perform during sex ("Stay Up! (Viagra)"), and to find out what happens to Adam after that and how he died, you just going to have to purchase the album and witness it for yourself! The concept for this album was brilliant because not only was the storyline well written, but I am pretty sure that a lot of guys, if not all, can relate to it. This has to be ONE of the best Hip Hop albums of 2008; Lil Wayne's 'Tha Carter III or T.I.'s 'Paper Trail' can't even amount to what this album brings to the table, in my opinion. If you liked Lupe Fiasco's The Cool or Nas' 'Untitled', then you'll most definitely enjoy this one as well! The production, the guest appearances, the sampling, and lyrical contents for this album were outstanding. I usually do not like albums that includes more than three guest appearances, but there's an exception for this album because each artist added his or her own unique style to this project which helped made this album that much great! My favorites were "Stay Up! (Viagra)", "The Friends Zone", "Dirty Peaches", "Close Call", "Ho' Is Short For Honey", and "M.I.L.F." The album includes guest appearances from Bilal, Redman, Kanye West, Phonte from Little Brother, and more. 'The Death of Adam' hit stores this Tuesday, November 11th, make sure you guys go out and purchase it!! The album overall rating 4.5 out 5 stars!! Excellent...I'll definitely be picking this one up on Tuesday...make sure you guys do the same!!!

Tracklist

01. Morning Wood

02. Nice Guys Finish Last

03. The Friends Zone (feat. Shitake Monkey)

04. Handcuff 'Em

05. Stay Up! (Viagra) (feat. Kanye West)

06. There's Pleasure In It

07. (Awww Man) Round 2?

08. Dirty Peaches (feat. J'Davey)

09. Close Call (feat. Phonte)

10. The Burning Bush (feat. Redman)

11. Ho' Is Short For Honey (feat. Kid Cudi)

12. No. I Said I LIKED You

13. M.I.L.F. (feat. Bilal)
14. Another Victim

The Broke & The Beautiful

Okay, it’s a known fact we are all in crunch time! Everyone is --or at least should-- be watching the monies that flow in and out of their pockets. So, things other than basic appearance can sometimes be put on the backburner because of rising costs…..on EVERYTHING (I swear even kool-aid has gone up…check your local grocery store!).

However, do not let soaring prices ward you off from staying the best you only…well…you can be! I want to share with you a couple of my favorite products and “rituals,” if you will, to help/enhance your Perfection in Perfectly being the Perfect you! And your face is the center of your being….protect it! Even if you’re a beast with the makeup artistry, a healthy canvas makes for a great masterpiece!

For people of color, it’s very hard to find anything that is effective in maintaining, restoring, or aiding your skin. There are a few things I use that I recommend:

Ambi Facial Cleanser/Lotion (sometimes the soap)—I use this line during the warmer season because it’s better when my skin tends to secrete more natural oils. The moisturizer from this product is lighter and protective against the sun.

Tea Tree Body Bar by Paul Mitchell—for colder days I turn to this charmingly scented body bar that exfoliates dead skin w/ parsley flakes, heals with an infusion of tea tree oil, and for all you guys it’s a great shaving companion due its rich, creamy lather!

Cetaphil Moisturizer- as we age moisturizing becomes more important than ever! Thanks to my sister, I have been using this amazing moisturizer that is lightweight, silky-smooth, fragrance-free and suitable for use under makeup or after shaving. It provides gentle moisturization for all skin types. Also, it provides moderate protection from the sun.

Mint Julep Face Mask – after every day “wear and tear” of my skin, once a week I like to fully rejuvenate my face….and not for a spa price! So, I turn to Queen Helene’s mint julep facial mask. This original masque treatment claims to help dry up acne pimples, rinses away blackheads and even shrinks enlarged pores. Relaxes tired facial muscles and eases tension lines on the face and neck.

Kanye West Gets Animated on "Heartless"

Kanye West surprised fans around the world with his live introduction of the heavily synthesized "Love Lockedown" and now he continues his promotion of his next full-length studio album entitled, " 808s & Heartbreak" with his official follow up single called "Heartless." I must admit it's one of those tracks that I wasn't crazy about until I saw the artistry involved in the video.

The message of this song is portrayed wonderfully in this video. The use of an animated effect illustrates the concreteness of love while at the same time appearing abstract. In a way (allow me to speculate and analyze), I believe Kanye's vision of the song is conveyed because he removes self so that the image you may have of him is no longer there.....and you're left with a character of him that ONLY possesses the characteristics...well...given to him during the video......Hmmmn....ponder on it son. Either way, the brotha is definitely setting a standard....watch out Chris Brown--you've gotta come harder than just 16 bars of choreography!

Check out the flick below!

CatWalk Snatch: First Lady Michelle Obama*Beyonce*Estelle*Katy Perry

Apparently, not only did the Obama's make history by being the first African-American family to head to to The White House....but First Lady Elect's Victory dress made quite a stir as well! While, politically, the dress was a bold choice, Michelle Obama exudes such reservation and class that anything she chooses looks radiant.

The designer behind the explosion of black and red is Narciso Rodriguez, who modified a dress from his Spring 2009 ready-to-wear collection so that it became more appropriate for a first-lady-to-be. Of course, at the time we al, including the designer, was only hopeful......and I'm sure the colors played no less significance. Especially since it was a family affair as they all were adorned in Black and Red; Victory no matter the outcome! And a victory it was.....YES WE DID!

OTHER [HAUT]NESS Str8 From The Catwalk :

I warned everyone to watch the futuristic stamp! If you are still skeptical then...you're too late! GET INTO IT! Get over simple silhouettes and step outside the box...experiment with shape and color....quick! Forget "sexy black dress."....9 times out of 10 your "sexy black dress" is NOT that sexy anyway.........................yes, I said it!

Beyonce Always Gives: Whether you get it or NOT! At the 2008 Europe Musics Awards chick showed up in all her fierceness wearing Gareth Pugh & working the hell out of the glove, which I personally think is a distraction from her 4th finger left-hand! She turned around and put on another beat Pugh piece....not to mention her performance was stoopid! Due to the nature of the outfit her moves even paid homage to M.J (shoulder pads? C'mon you know he'd rock that like it was nothing)....don't know if most picked up on that though.

Katy Perry sent the crowd into a complete frenzy when she walked out---and no, she was not kissing some chick...though it woulda been hott! But Perry came out draped in a colourful sequined Jean-Charles de Castelbajac Spring 2009 tunic dress with the Barack Obama's face stamped on the front, and one finger less glove saying "yes." B.E.A.T SiLLy!
British singer Estelle was playing with the rags she performed in. Chick slayed in an electric blue strapless Bernard Chandran Spring 2009 dress, with a triangle shaped skirt with embellishments....She was in charge of the girls last night!

Beyonce Shows Growth On Third Album..I Am...Sasha Fierce!!

Artist: Beyonce
Album: I Am....Sasha Fierce

Label: Columbia Records

One of the highly anticipated albums of 2008 has just leaked online on Election Day, how weird is that? The third album from Beyonce entitled 'I Am....Sasha Fierce' includes the two smash first singles "If I Were A Boy" and "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)" Both singles have already managed to dominate both the Billboard Hot 100s and the Billboard R&B/Hip Hop charts, "If I Were A Boy" peaking # 3 on the Hot 100s and "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)" peaking # 8 on the R&B/Hip Hop charts. I have to give it to "B" because that was one of the greatest marketing plans I've ever seen, not only did she release two first singles, but to have them release to two different radio formats was just brilliant. 'I Am...Sasha Fierce' will be release as a two disc album, one version will include mostly ballads; meanwhile, the second version will have a more uptempo side.

The 'I Am...Beyonce" disc starts off with the breathtaking ballad "If I Were A Boy". The single showcases a side of Beyonce that we all have never seen or heard before. In my opinion, this has to be one of Beyonce's best singles in her entire career. Not only does this single show that she can sing, but it also shows her growth as an artist. The second single from this side, "Halo", is a prime example of the above, "Everywhere I'm looking now, I'm surrounded by your embrace, baby I can see your halo, you know you are my saving grace." There were two more ballads on this disc that I found amazing "Disappear", which happens to be one of my favorite thus far, and "Broken-Heart Girl", which in my opinion could possibly be her "Irreplaceable" for this album if it was to be release. I was only able to listen to the standard version of this album, but based on the snippets that I've heard of "Smash Into You" and "That's Why You Are Beautiful", this disc is incredible. My favorites from this version would have to be the whole entire disc, not one single song I hated, which I am suprised, since I'm not a fan of Beyonce and the fact that I think she's overrated!

The "I Am Sasha Fierce's disc starts off with the ladies anthem "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)". The single reminds me of "Get Me Bodied" and I'm just going to leave it at that! This side of disc shows the more uptempo side of Beyonce, which she refers to as her alter-ego, Sasha. The second single from this disc will be "Ego", and I'm just wondering what exactly it is she's referring to, but I'm going to leave that to you guys' imagination! The song "Diva" is the female version of Lil Wayne's "A Milli", which in my opinion "B" actually gives Weezy a run for his money...."When he pull up, wanna pop my hood up, bet he better have a six pack in the cooler", and I doubt she played any role in writing any of the lyrics to that song. I really do not care for the song that much, but the beat is crazy! I am patiently waiting to hear "Hello" because that was the only song from the snippet that actually stood out to me on this disc!

Altogether, I felt that this album came out very well! I think this is Beyonce's best album to date and that's including all the Destiny Child's albums as well! The disc I found more interesting and that I liked the most would have to be the 'I Am Beyonce' disc because it showcased her maturity and that she wasn't afraid to take a risk and I applaud her for that. The only problem that I have with the 'I Am Sasha Fierce's disc is that majority of the songs sounded like they were leftovers from the previous album, minus a couple of them. I think that Beyonce's fans across the world will be very proud of her and the outcome of this album. Beyonce's 'I Am.....Sasha Fierce' hit stores November 18th everywhere, the album will be available as a 'standard edition' for only 9.99 at Best Buy, Circuit City, etc and the deluxe edition will be 13.99 and 14.99 at Circuit City, Best Buy, etc...make sure you guys go out and buy this album!! The album overall rating is 4 out 5 stars!! You guys definitely need to pick this one up, and that's coming from a "Beyonce hater"!!!

Fashion Watch: Layers of Looks

In October, we posted some hot looks for this Fall/Winter season, but I want to just take time to mention a few "must haves" to enhance any look you go for with some of Fall/Winter's trendy items (most of which are recession-proof!)....and suggest easy ways to quickly go from day to night while doing so!

1. Everyone needs to always have some sort of bag with them at ALL times! Women & Men...period. Ladies this doesn't include a small purse. --> In your bag always have extra combs/brushes, an umbrella, mouthwash, smell goods, lotion.....you get the picture. More on bags-on-the go later this month as we approach the holidays!

2. Scarves--- What's really a hot item that's inexpensive are scarves. You can make even a thrift scarf look like couture if draped/tied the right way. I've mastered this in going from a basic shirt/sweater to an editorial layout--- If you wanna stand out AND be warm....please invest in a beat hooded scarf....Get into that!

3. Gloves---add a little color to your fit by throwing on some hand accessories, just whatever you do please...please no matching gloves, scarves, and hats. Let's all practice saying "tacky!" Thanks...

4. Boots--- maybe weren't made for walking but you'll look chic and you'll watch your legs extend before your very eyes! Pair them with str8 legged pants (for men) and skinny jeans (for ladies).....and unless you can pull off a skirt ABOVE the knees, just please don't wear boots with skirts. They chop you up completely....and ultimately, you look stupid. And though she plays it out, MJB is the master when it comes to boots. Watch and Learn!

5. Pea Coat----'nuff said!

They Said WHAT?!: Soulja Boy Tells Em'

I remember standing in line last week waiting to vote and there standing with me were two very informed young brothers from Morehouse College. We all noted how so many of the black youth in Atlanta had showed up that day, but I distinctly remember stating how proud I was of our overall support, HOWEVER, I didn't want to know half their reasons as to why they were showing up in large support of Obama!

I think it's a shame if you can only vote because you feel that Obama will someone how be the "Black President." Or that he "understands our people." While he does have a great understanding, one can't limit it to understanding one demographic---and that's why he's running for President of The United States of America.

This mess that has recently surfaced about Soulja Boy really illustrates what I meant while waiting to vote. With the great responsibilities we, as a people, have gained and WILL gain because of this election, we can't afford to exploit ourselves like this young Brotha has done.

Toure’s (of BET) recently spoke with Soulja Boy on The Black Carpet and this is what unfolded:

He asked him, “What historical figure do you most hate?” Soulja Boy was stumped.

Toure stated “Others have said Hitler, bin Laden, the slave masters…”

Soulja Boy Replied, “Oh wait! Hold up! Shout out to the slave masters! Without them we’d still be in Africa...we wouldn’t be here to get this ice and tattoos.”

Welcome To The 'Thr33 Ringz' Show!

Artist: T-Pain

Album: Thr33 Ringz
Label: Konvict/Jive Records

The 'rappa ternt sanga' has returned with his third album, 'Thr33 Ringz'. In a interview, T-Pain stated the meaning behind the album title, "It came from people telling me that I'm running the game, and the music industry is just like a circus and I'm the ringleader." This album will be follow-up to T-Pain's sophomore effort, Epiphany, which included the blockbuster hit "Buy U A Drank (Shawty Snappin')". 'Thr33 Ringz' includes the first single, "Can't Believe It" featuring Lil' Wayne. The single has already managed to peaked # 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 and # 2 on the Billboard R&B charts, and if that wasn't enough; the second single "Chopped N Skrewed" featuring Ludacris has already peaked in the top 30s on the Billboard R&B/Hip Hop charts, which in my opinion isn't bad for a single that was "officially" released a couple of months ago.

If you are a T-Pain fan, I think here's where you should stop reading because after those two singles, the album just falls apart. I was actually hoping that T-Pain could have at least pulled a few tricks out of his hat and deliver a decent album, but instead I get crap like this. First of all, the interludes were very annoying and pointless, which I am still trying to figure out how they were related to any of the songs that were before and after them. Then on top of that, majority of the songs on the album sounded like leftover tracks from previous records he has done in the past. Last but not least, the whole auto-tune thing is really getting played out, not only is he using it, but other artists such as Kanye West and Lil' Wayne have also decided to used it to record their next album, Kanye West's '808's & Heartbreaks' and Lil' Wayne's 'Tha Carter III: The Rebirth', which is so sad!

The album highlights for me besides the first two singles were Chris Brown on "Freeze", this young man is the TRUTH; Kanye West on "Therapy", the hook is very catchy and Kanye's verse stood out to me the most, reminds me of Kanye from the College Dropout era; Musiq Soulchild & Raheem DeVaughn on "Reality Show, two of R&B most underrated artists who always delivers in my opinion, they really did an outstanding job on this one, T-Pain wasn't so bad himself, and last but not least Mary J. Blige & Akon on "Change", I just wish that Mary would have given her all on this record, I felt like she was holding back or something, and as for Akon he did an okay job for me, nothing that deserves a standing ovation. The track itself was very positive, just wish that he did not include Diddy on it. Here are the songs that I felt T-Pain held his own with "Ringerleader Man", "Superstar Lady" and "Karaoke". T-Pain's Thr33 Ringz hits stores November 11th. The album includes guest appearances from Lil Wayne, Ludacris, Mary J. Blige, Akon, Diddy, Kanye West, Chris Brown, Ciara, Musiq Soulchild, Raheem DeVaughn, T.I., DJ Khaled, and many more. If you are a die-hard T-Pain's fan, then the chances are you will love this album, but if you are not, then chances are you'll get the same feeling that I got after I finished listening to it! I have to admit that this album is 10x better than 'Epiphany' and with that being said....the album rating is 3 out 5 stars...AVERAGE!!!

Tracklist

01. Band New Show
02. Welcome To Thr33 Ringz Intro
03. Ringeader Man

04. Chopped ‘N’ Skrewed (Feat. Ludacris)

05. Take A Ride Skit

06. Freeze (Feat. Chris Brown)

07. Blowing Up (Feat. Ciara)

08. Cant Believe It (Feat. Lil’ Wayne)

09. It Aint Me (Feat. Akon & T.I.)

10. Feed The Lions Skit

11. Therapy (Feat. Kanye West)

12. Long Lap Dance

13. Lorraine Interlude

14. Reality Show (Feat. Musiq Soulchild, Raheem DeVaughn, & Jay Lyriq)

15. Keep Going

16. Superstar Lady (Feat. Young Cash)

17. Change (Feat. Akon, Diddy, & Mary J. Blige)

18. Digital (Feat. Tay Dizm)

19. Karaoke (Feat. DJ Khaled)

20. Dracula Skit

21. Distorted

22. Bad Side

23. Phantom

Link removed!!

Haute Ish: Beyonce's World Domination

In Gotham's recent addition, Beyonce is showing why she is certain of her guaranteed road to becoming an Icon. Her ability to cross over and reach audiences from diverse worldviews secure her "legs" in the industry; she will definitely forever be a renowned household name!

Peep my girl as only she can savage below:

Exercise....Your Right 2 Vote Tuesday!

Friday was the most transcending and defining milestone in my life thus far! It was one of those days where nothing seemed to influence any negativity in my day. God even blessed what had recently been 50 and below degree weather to be a lovely 70 degree day: Sun shining, wind blowing perfectly, and people smiling from their souls! You could almost see the hunger in peoples' eyes for change....change we all need!

A change most people did not mind standing for hours in hopes of achieving; change our hearts and mind silently trust in Barack Obama to help lead us into.

My people stood strong. All shapes, sizes, hues. We stood our ground no matter the obvious intentional obstacles meant for distraction as we waited. We did this because they afforded us the right and instilled courage in a people. In November 1961: the Albany Movement. Most of us was not there to take Rosa's place or sit in a cell...and hardly any of us were so lucky to be a part of such a great movement as The March on Washington in 1963.

But in the year 2008 we represented a generation as thirsty as the ones that preceded us. And I joined 100s as we stood in line for over 5 hours.....

CHANGE PEOPLE...a Beautiful thing!