The Sound Of (My) Summer (Part I)

It has thus far been a loud summer with so much going on Jay. Z killed autotune, T-pain bought a big ass chain. Jeezy used to pay Kobe but now he pay Lebron, Drizzy Drake Rogers ; "Best I ever Had” gets played 15 times a day on stations and is driving me mad, Pruane and 50 are bff’s while the Game is trying to be 50 bff again. Dear Lawd !! Anyways if your like me and needing an escape I suggest you read on! I always find music to be my release my escape, my source for inspiration and motivation and when summer rolls around my car is sure to be blaring at deafening decibels usually to drown out the cacophony that is produced by city traffic( It relieves my road rage) and during the recent months I have come across some great music that eclipses the rest of the f***ery that happens in hip-hop. So here’s a few artists that you should definitely not be sleeping on and if you are I’m about to wake you the f*** Up!!!

Dom Kennedy

Last month I definitely had Dom Kennedy in heavy rotation. The leimert park native proves to be a contender in resuscitating west coast rap. He contains all the ingredients that make his music really pop off. To me personally west coast music is just a feeling. When I listen to it, I picture myself; car cruising On the PCH, making me want to light up a J even though I don't smoke(chronic asthma) and Dom’s music has a way to make me feel this way. His laid back beats match with his flow and style. His latest mixtape which we posted on here awhile back Futurestreet/Drugsounds was cosigned by The Hundreds which speaks volumes in itself. I’ve posted some of my favourite joints , take a listen

DOM KENNEDY

Download here

WALE (not the movie)

Stand Up D.C!!!!If there’s someone who doesn’t get the recognition he deserves is definitely this guy. I remember the first song I heard from him was W.A.L.E.D.A.N.C.E off of his 100 miles mixtape and I thought alright alright this is good, it drew me in enough to keep a tab on his projects and what he brought next was nothing less than Dope ; his mixtape “ mixtape about nothing” received praise from the "blog world" . I remember hearing artistic integrity and thinking this guy can spit and this is what the state of hip-hop should be in. Now with his latest ‘back to the feature” produced by none other than 9th wonder I see that what WALE is definitely sick, his consistency In the game is really remarkable in this day and age.

He incorporates the sub genre of go-go flawlessly into his style.
The bass drums, snare drums, hi-hat in coordination with some conga drums there is nothing that this mixtape ain't have.

WALE

Download all mixtapes here

There are of course of a few more artists out here that you should take a listen to such as curren$y B.O.B and Wiz Khalifa, J.cole All these artists IMO are skilled emcees, but I'm saving them for Part II , so sit tight.

Young Haiti made me this playlist the other day of songs that are a bit older that we might’ve forgotten that are in our ipods anyways I thought I would add it to here. Enjoy fresh boys and girls.

Forgotten Memories



Non hip-hop alternative

Phoenix

As much as I love hip hop, I have an appreciation for most types of music because diversity is appreciation. Phoenix has been getting some rounds in the ipod and ride . They're a French rock alternative band . They came from Versailles and have been put into the same category as Daft Punk . They're really good at achieving and maintaining that analog sound. From what Ive heard they consistently make good music with vocals and melodies that will draw you in to listen to more .

Phoenix

Sneaker Culture

ALL DAY I DREAM ABOUT SHOES

We call ourselves ATF Sneaker Summit and devote a large part of this blog to sneakers, so I thought I’d take the time to write about the sneaker culture. It’s a bit of a long post but bear with me.

Although I myself cannot be considered a sneaker head I have lived my whole life in a household with a true sneaker head, aficionado or connoisseur. I think he calls himself all these things. In time I have developed a deeper understanding of the “culture” and history of sneakers.

It might be a hard concept for some people to grasp. Spending shitloads of money on a shoe. When you hear about people lining up for days outside a store with just their hoodies on, camping chairs or maybe a parka if you live in Calgary (we have crappy weather) and then you come to find out its all for a shoe, people’s inherent reaction is “all this for a shoe?” Yes its all for a shoe, I’m sure sneaker heads must get tired of hearing of how they’re crazy for paying crazy money waiting overnight for shoes.

Or could it be though that the rest of us are just lost in translation?

I believe that to truly appreciate anything or to judge anything we must evaluate its histories; it’s roots (no quest love). A deeper understanding of the history evokes in us to understand a deeper appreciation of the sneaker culture. The birth of the sneaker culture was influenced by two main sources: basketball and hip hop music. In the 80’s the shoe market was sky rocketing and huge shoe companies)*cough cough* NIKE) saw this as an opportunity to make profit. A capitalistic venture so to speak. They figured that the best way to infiltrate the market was to have someone iconic representing their brand, because what is a brand without an image thus they teamed up with none other than the GOAT Jordan, remember him? LOL. From there on the game revolutionized and Jordan sneakers were coveted by all sneaker aficionados and still are and the price that some of these sneakers go for now are eye popping to say the least.

As well no undeniably the hip-hop movement had a direct impact on creating the sneaker sub – culture. We all know adidas Shell toes sneaks worn by Run DMC .The hip hop movement proved that having a dope pair of sneakers became a status symbol and thus a new subculture was created. As time has gone on the sneaker culture has developed furthermore being influenced by graffiti artists, musicians and of course the skate culture has had a profound impact on the sneaker culture.

New York is revered to have some of the dopest sneak boutiques and sneaker heads. Undoubtedly the sneaker culture there is deeply planted. That’s not to say that there aren’t sneaker heads all over who are just as dope, they’re just not as exposed. Where we live in Calgary the sneaker culture might not hold too many members but the ones that are sneaker fiends are deeply devoted. Throughout the years we have seen the up rise of this movement and will continue to see further. All one has to do is take a stroll down on 17th ave.

Nowadays we are inundated with countless of collaboration sneakers between skaters, artists, basketball players and so forth. Finding something special (the crème de la crème ) is essential for the sneaker head and the markets know how to respond. They do this by introducing exclusive sneakers. Limited release so to speak. This has created people to lineup for days, mobs have even ensued. (Hey I didn’t say all sneaker heads are peaceful). Yeah sometimes it can get out of hand and the frenzy can be explosive but to a sneaker head it is all worth it.

I’ve seen the way my brother looks at his sneakers, for him it’s not just a shoe it’s like having his own little Picasso painting. The different colourways, the different types of leathers. I swear if I blindfolded him he could tell me what kind of leather the sneaker is just by smelling it, perforated leather, suede so forth.

The sneaker culture throughout the years has evolved into its’ own aesthetic, because for a sneaker fiend shoes are not just vulcanized rubber, no in a way they’re a form of functional art!!!