Busdriver & 2Mex at their very best video

SonGodSuns - Mirrors Into Fire
Busdriver is headed to Tampa this summer with the Flobots. It is Tuesday July 29th at the State Theatre in St. Pete. I'm going, you should too!!

Jean Grae & 9th Wonder Drop "Jeanius" on Blacksmith

Ok, I love Jean Grae! She is probably the most talented female emcee in the game today. Strike that, one of the most talented emcees in the game, male, female, or martian. Unfortunately she has no gimmick, no significant label backing, and thus no mainstream attention. What to do, what to do?
Well, there is one way to solve this problem. Put her together with a star making producer! Blacksmith (aka Talib Kweli's boutique label) grabs 9th Wonder and prays that he can do for Jean what he did for Murs, and Little Brother. Personally, I preferred Murs' work before he mixed with 9th and I have never been a great fan of Little Brother's combined work. Phonte and Pooh have made some nice solo stuff. But I digress. This is Jean's last chance to break through. If she doesn't do it now she probably never will. "Jeanius" is out everywhere and Jean deserves your attention. Listen to the single "This World" and then go check out the album here. Plus the album cover is a cool tribute to old school hip hop. I dig it!
Download: Jean Grae "This World"

New Balance X Frontline Shop 576 Collabo

Take a gander at the upcoming Frontline Shop x New Balance 576. Designed by Lars Holzbrecher and Robin Jungermann of The Hyde, the sneaker comes in a nice mix of classic and new design. I think New Balance saw the runaway popularity of the Solebox Purple Devils and connected the dots. Solid front color combined with dark back color. It works...

It will be released next week in a limited edition of 150 pairs in the Frontlineshop Selected department .

New Balance Spring 2009 sneak peak

With an almost endless back catalog of trainer silhouettes to choose from New Balance Europe continues with their throwbacks pulling this coming Spring 2009 from their 80's back catalog. New colourways in the 1300 model will appear, as well as the 455, 850, and the P785 Legacy basketball Court trainers. The colors on all these kicks are just superb and I am waiting in deep anticipation of their release.

You should also look out for the premium offering from New Balance featuring the CT lowtop court shoes in exellent leathers.

New Balance X 24 Kilates 1500 Collabo

Spanish boutique 24 Kilates has once again teamed up with New Balance on the legendary 1500 model to produce this Joan Miró joint. Continuing with their theme of paying homage to Catalan artists, Miro’s style and color palette fit well with the generally more color liberal population of the Southern parts of Europe. This is not quite as dope as the Gaudi design from 24 Kilates & New Balance (covered here) but definitely a strong shoe. No word yet on a release date.

Source: glltn

Colette X Onitsuka Tiger Collaboration

Check out this collaboration project between Paris’ famous boutique Colette and the legendary Onitsuka Tiger shoe company. Featuring white leather uppers along with a super cool star pattern all-over print, these high tops definitely hold the Colette signature, not to mention a certain shade of blue the French boutique is known for using. No exact release info is available but stay tuned for further details.

Source: High Snobiety

Short Bus Alumni Drops "Mr. T's Revenge" July 22nd

SHORT BUS ALMUNI rep the ATL on their debut disc, "Mr. T's Revenge" The album drops on July 22 from Brick Records and this is one of the best cuts on the disc 'Go team Go"
...this one is on some party-rocking fun shit, complete with catchy chorus and ill beat courtesy of producer Clockwork, with guest rhymes by Raydar Ellis and more...support this crew! pick up the new album on July 22nd!!

Download: Short Bus Alumni "Go Team Go"

Nas' new Album Drops july 15th!! Plus Video

Has anyone noticed that the entire Nas album has been leaked over the last week or so? Here at kicks-n-jams you got the "hero" track (go check it here) that I think is the standout of the bunch. I'm also kinda feelin' this track, "We're Not Alone." More laid back than the "Hero" track but still lyrically potent.

Download: Nas "We're Not Alone"

Check The "Hero" video right here

Fakts One "Long Range" Drops July 22 Audio

Here is another track from Fakts One's long, long lost debut, "Long Range" (which will be released on July 22nd), its entitled "Don't Stop" and it features the Boot Camp Clik. Fakts produced the track and Steele from Smif N Wessun added some additional arrangement as well.

Download: Fakts One "Don't Stop"

Unravel The Mystery Of True Blood

This is somethin' else! Go to Bloodcopy and read the blog from the beginning.

Vordul Mega Drops "Megagraphitti" Sophomore LP and Video

So I dropped that Vast Aire track on you last week. Now here is the lead-single and title track from Vordul Mega's upcoming sophomore solo-LP "Megagraphitti." There will be two Cannibal Ox (Vordul Mega and Vast Aire) reunion tracks on the LP and El-P will also be adding production (re-uniting the creative collaboration that spawned "The Cold Vein")!! "The Cold Vein" is the album that arguably established EL-P's label, Definitive Jux as a major player in the indie hip hop world.

"Megagraphitti" was produced by Dev One, who also produced tracks on Vordul's solo-debut.
Check the VIDEO HERE

Download: Vordul mega "Megagraphitti"

New Balance "Chinese Opera Mask" Exclusive

New Balance just got funky on that ass like an ole batch a collard greens!!! This shit here, this shit here, this shit here!?!?!?!?! That ole shit wasn't nuthin', it wasn't nuthin'. This shit here, this shit here...
The Asian New Balance design team has already debuted the 576 Chinese Opera Pack (reviewed on Kicks-n-Jams previously right here) but now they've just mixed it up in a blender and delivered a whole new treat for your feet! Drawing on the inspired Leftover Pack theme, (check that right here) New Balance drops a limited version (576 pairs available only in Southeast Asian markets) Chinese Opera 576 that delivers a different colorway for each foot!!! I thought I loved the original opera pack but these have just sent me into paroxysms of shoe geek joy!!!
High quality materials mixed with an overall red and green colorway and combined with multiple Chinese Opera signifiers (check the tongue, mask, heel, and lace lock) set off this well thought out sneaker. STREEThing is gonna deliver an interview with the designers and I for one cannot wait to read it.

Lfstl x New Balance 577 "Rotterdam" limited edition

New Balance has hooked up with Rotterdam shop Lfstl to drop a sweet 577 in Holland. Lfstl chose to re-design the New Balance 577 because of it’s timeless character and sporty lining. It still is an all-time favorite, though hard to get in Holland.

In choosing the material Lfstl reflects their experience in designing shoes and their knowledge of true sneakers. Their favorites are also mine; gum sole, pigskin suede, black premium croc leather, white patent and perforated suede.

The sneaker will be released in August! And will immediately go on my ever lengthening list of things that I want but can't have hahaha...sigh.

Vans "CMYK" Pack

Fresh on the heels of the New Balance x realMad Hectic MT580 "CMYK" comes the Vans "CMYK" pack. It consists of an Era, Sk8 Hi and Mt. Edition Mid. All three come in a flashy colors and materials. I am just biased here but I really prefer the NB silhouettes to the Vans.

The pack is now available at ABC-Mart.

Nike Fukuoka Dunk June 28th

As part of Nike’s Japanese City Dunk Pack, the Fukuoka Dunk will see its release this weekend. The multi-colored offering features a bold colorway with the use of patent leather and etched highlights on the heel. For those interested, the colorway pays homage to an ancient 750 year old festival titled Yamakasa which features colorful shrines. Available June 28th at select retailers in Japan.

via: Stussy.jp

New Balance CT '08

New Balance is famous for running shoes. It is their specialty, it is what they excel at, it is their branded flagship. But they drop other styles as well. Here are some new tennis shoe (looks a little like a skate shoe too) colorways coming atcha this summer.

Nike Air Max 95 "Miami Vice"

This post here is DJ Lazy reppin' for Florida! Following in the path of other city centric Nike Air Max 95's, we bring you a preview of the Miami based Air Max 95. The "Miami Vice" Am95 will be available through Shoe Gallery in Miami (244 NE 1 Ave.). No word on further distribution.

Nike BMX Pack

The Nike BMX Pack, consists of two Blazer Hi's and two Dunk Low's. A star design runs through most pieces of the collection. I kinda dig the blazer with the flames. The pack will be released next month, July '08. Via CtotheJL.

Nike LAX Blazer Hi

The Nike LAX LA Exclusive Blazer Hi has arrived in stores. It comes in black suede with a transparent swoosh and large LAX lettering on the side panels. This is a pretty bad ass shoe.

Undefeated California locations got it in this week!

Nike drops "Bird's Nest" and "Polka Dots" at Atmos

Two interesting new Nike sneakers have been released at Atmos. For women they got in the Dunk Hi Premium in black with multicolor polka dots on the upper and nice purple lacing.

They also have the Air Force 1 "Bird's Nest" in stock. The sneaker has been modeled after the new Olympic Stadium in Beijing.