Have you ever heard the name “Renaldo Nehemiah” before? I have–with the very first time being YEARS ago through an aquaintance of mine named Bill. Bill helps runs a clothing company called Bean Dip Clothing and one I would list as the person responsible for my Atlanta streetwear introduction. Anyway, he said he had a home that was a stylist for Ludacris and other well known (and not so known) artist based in the Peach State (that’s Georgia by the way). I always meant to ask Bill if he would introduce me but he ended up moving up North, we kinda went on with our respective lives, and honestly I just forgot about the whole thing. I don’t exactly know WHAT I would have said if he did introduce me to Renaldo but I guess at the core, I just thought he’d be a great person to know. Life is all about relationships so whether we would have become friends or just developed a working partnership, I still believe that I’t'd be a priviledge to know such a hard working young man.

A couple weeks ago though I stumbled upon Mr. Nehemiah’s Twitter profile and started following. Shortly after, he started making mention of a mini-documentary, directed by Ben Styles, that he was about to unleash on the world. Today I finally watched it.

After viewing all 11 minutes of it, I came away with two thoughts: 1) Dude leads a blessed life and seems humble enough to recognize that and 2) This was not a “life & times” film in my opinion as it had a more “this is what made me who I am” vibe–ya know, less partying and the like and more reflective story telling. I love when the people I admire do stuff like this–it reminds me that we’re not to unlike each other. Some of us “make it” and some of us don’t. But we all have the opportunity to make our own way in our life. Renaldo has done that and tries his best to explain the “hows” and “whys” behind his passion during this dope look into the mental make up of your favorite rapper’s favorite stylist.

Over the last year I’ve slowly decreased my dependence on Facebook and subsequently INCREASED my daily intake of Twitter and Twitter related activities.

I’ll admit though, I was late to the Twitter party. My homie Randy was telling me for like 6 months straight that Twitter was THE social media platform of the future before I actually joined. But you must understand, my hesitance in joining rested squarely on the shoulders of my failed UNsocial media journeys of old…

BlackPlanet. Back in high school EVERYBODY was on BP. Now the fact that damn near everyone in my high school was black didn’t cross my mind on why something like this would be so popular with us but nevertheless, I was on this HARD. I think I even had a BlackPlanet tee shirt at one time! Urban legend says that there are still millions of active users on the site but now it’s been primarily reduced to an online “booty call” station. Not that I would know from personal experience or anything. Anyway, I was a faithful user of this all through out high school. But I never made any connections with users that I wasn’t already familiar with in real life so…yeah. What was the point?

MySpace. After graduating from high school (and BlackPlanet) I enrolled into South Carolina State and The University of MySpace. After getting played by DJ B-Lord after one (what I thought to be) productive meeting set up via MySpace, I quit the service shortly after. I lasted maybe 3 years on MySpace…maybe. In addition to never really connecting with anyone on that UNsocial media platform I got annoyed by all the profile bedazzlements which slowed my computer, how the only people that wrote on my wall were rappers trying to get me to listen to their music, and how MySpace slowly but surely was turning into a ghost town. I send messages then a month later I’d get the “Oh, my bad. Just seeing this. I don’t really use MySpace anymore!” return message. WTF you mean you don’t use MySpace anymore!?! How else do you keep up with the people you don’t really know?

Facebook. My MySpace time got drastically cut near the end of my undergraduate studies as I got introduced to this thing called “Facebook” while in a computer lab waiting to take a quiz or something. “So THIS is where everybody went to, eh?” Soon after joining Facebook I forsook all other social media outlets. I loved the “for college kids only” aspect and the SPEED of which profiles loaded (sans bedazzlement). And even when they started making changes, I held the fort down for FBeezy–I mean, this was still the best of them all. How could anyone create something that would even come CLOSE to comparison in sheer awesomeness?

Chantay R. Evans-Glisson started experiencing extreme shortness of breath around 2003. After an X-ray and other tests, she was diagnosed with Sarcoidosis, which caused inflammation in the lymph nodes in her lungs.

Long story short, a double-lung transplant is the only way Chantay can ensure her  survival.

It’s the only way she can continue to be a loving sister, a caring wife, and a supportive mother. Her Doctor’s suggest that this is the only way my cousin will be able to see another year.

Chantay is quite literally fighting for her life and I’ll be damned if I sit idly by and do nothing about it. The time for pretending that “everything is going to work out” has long gone and I’m proud to say that my family has done a masterful job raising funds for Chantay’s treatment, what with us already raising over $25,000 to date. Even though we’ve come a very long way, we still have a longer road ahead of us.

About $5oo,ooo worth of road to be specific…

So with the help of SHIFT Entertainment and Covet PR, I present the next chapter in Chantay’s “Book of Recovery”: The “Fresh Air Hip-Hop Concert” in honor of Chantay R. Evans-Glisson’s fight to breath again.

As an Asthmatic, I know how it feels to inhale only to end up in a worse position that you started with–with even LESS air in your lungs than before. While I can sympathize with her plight and the helplessness that comes along with the territory of breathlessness, my Asthma attacks from back in the day in no way compares to what Chantay is going through. She must stay connected to an oxygen tank 24 hours a day and even the most simple task–walking to the mailbox for instance–can leave her gasping desperately for relief.

The Fresh Air Hip-Hop Concert (#FAHHC) is our opportunity to stand right beside Chantay in her fight for life. Even if you don’t like rap music or have other obligations planned for March 24th, I only ask that you read the following press release and, if nothing else, pass the information on to some that you think may be interested in our cause.

The National Foundation for Transplants, the backbone to the entire operation, has Chantay’s story in full on their website as well a way for you, your friends, your family members, or business to donate directly to her campaign for a new lease on life with a pair of new lungs.

New lungs, homie…

Breath that in.

Truth be told, it wasn’t until late 2010 did the idea to ever purchase a pair of Gourmet shoes even cross my mind. To me, Gourmet was just of a couple dudes making money by force feeding the masses sneakers that were HEAVILY influenced by someone else (Jordan). If anyone else had done what they did, they’d be run out of the game–but I guess because they “know the right people” (see rule 8), everyone pretended that they were doing God’s work or something. In short, to me, they were the physical manifestation of some perverted form of streetwear nepotism (which generally speaking, I’m not against but this stuff was so blatent it made me sick to my stomach).

ANYWAY, as their brand evolved and started creating top notch original works I too changed my stance on their shoes and actually reached out to their PR in order to get on their mailing list. A couple emails and empty promises later, that hasn’t happened so I still have to wait like everyone else to find out about their new collections but it’s cool. At least the majority of their business isn’t built off the back of Tinker Hatfield anymore and that’s good enough for me in the short term.

Peep their “Lifestyling” video (below) created to promote their most recent collection. I still don’t know what “lifestyling” means and they didn’t show a lot of shoe shots so I don’t really understand the point of this being created in the first place. BUT in true Gourmet fashion it was well done and because of the lack of emphasis on the shoes, I am compelled to check out the website to see what they have on deck. Which when you think about it, that’s the purpose of marketing in the first place, right? To get people interested in the product. In that case, well done gentlemen! 

The 2012 Spring/Summer collection is available via the Gourmet online store.

All I know is that Chase N. Ca$he is from New Orleans and apparently, he really does have money. How the he’s accumulated his wealth is totally beyond me though. Oh nevermind, Surf Club is how he pays his cell phone bill. Makes sense. Anyway, Chase N. Ca$he is definitely one the prime examples of hip-hop’s version of a renessance artist: he can spit, he can produce, and he knows the business side of things as well so he can collect checks in a variety of ways. Gotta respect that.  While his Southern roots was the primary reason I check this mixtape out–not really being familiar with any of his previous work–I stayed for the beats and lyrics served up on “The Heir Up There” (hosted by DJ Drama dontchaknow!?!).

While I fully endorse this project, Mr. Ca$he isn’t doing anything groundbreaking on this mixtape. Poppin’ bottles, getting hoes, the continuous grind, and spending cash provide the foundation for this presentation. BUT he’s really good at talking that talk and the beat selection (or should I say production) is Rick Ross like. Not only does he know how to pick (slash create) a dope beat but he knows how to flow on it, giving each song its own personally in the process. It’s definitely worth the download…my songs of choice “I Wish I Was in Vegas“, “Where Do We Go” (that Coldplay sample though!?! >>>), and “Take A Look“. Regardless of the mixtape’s lack of features, I think this is something any warm-blooded hip hop fan can appreciate.

I know I do.

DOWNLOAD: Chase N. Ca$he – “The Heir Up There”.

The homie Rick of Burn Rubber Detroit has slowly been retooling his personal brand, The Distinct Life, and started releasing some product under the Distinct Life Dry Goods moniker. I wanted to show you his new wallets, made of a heavy duty ballistic fabric that has been proven to take a punch. Available in three of my favorite colors: black, khaki, and olive–they are available for purchase via the DLDG’s online store ($25).

Man, the young homie Quell Keith got something with this one for real. I’m not sure what project this is/will be a part of but if he keeps sending me some laid back tracks like this, consider me a fan! Production on this track from JLan and a solid feature from, H1GHER LEARNING friend of the program, Jus Nice. This is perfect music for a Sunday afternoon…

Quell Keith ft. Jus Nice – “One”.

Oneness, Lexington, Kentucky’s top supplier of sneakers and streetwear, is back at it again with another top notch headwear drop! To coincide with the release of the Jordan “Cement” IVs, the Oneness team has dropped the aptly named “Cement Visor” New Era fitted in a full range of sizes for your enjoyment. So even if you aren’t able to get your hands on a pair of these H1GHLY favored kicks, you can at least scoop one of these well designed caps today via the Oneness online store for $40 USD.

So the little interview series that could has now gone global! Today’s entry into the INSTANT MESSAGE INTERVIEW is with German based streetwear blogger Oliver Winkler, the young man behind one of my favorite site’s Sucker4Clothes. Oliver does a great job uncovering the hidden gem brands of Europe and it’s because of that, and his site’s impeccable design aesthetic, I’ve been a fan ever since my first visit to his blog. It’s my pleasure to share my brief conversation (it was 1am in Germany and he had to go to work in the morning) with one of the better curators of pure streetwear style and culture.

*Log On*

Man, the homie Pete is running one of the best brands you’ve probably never heard of until I did that post about the best beanies last year. Colorado based brand Jiberish has teamed up with Starter once again on a series of snapbacks. The headwear giant Starter developed the elite Black Label program, working with a very select list of brands globally, and Jiberish just happens to be one of the lucky few. The snapbacks feature the Jiberish crowned script logo with the always appreciated Kelly green under bill. You can purchase your favorite color right now if you’d like via the Jiberish online store for $33 USD.