MUSIC

The Training Camp

Words by Melo-x

For any and all upcoming artist, one major part of your career will be how u rock da mic (pause). The reason u make good music and put ya blood sweat and tears into it is for the final event which is touring or performing ya own music in front of a crowd. Back in the day the best showcases were held by Maria Davis who i have met personally. I mean everyone from Biggie, Dmx, Jay-Z and any other new york artist who emerged in the 90's has been on her stage. Her Showcase is even part of Jay-z's Reasonable Doubt Lp. Showcases have been a main staple of New York Hip Hop Culture. And when it comes too showcasing ya talent in front of professionals as well as ya peers nothing comes close to the Training Camp. This is a weekly showcase that goes down every Tuesday for the past 4 to 5 years. Hosted by Brooklyn's own Mental Supreme and built off of the five disciplines which are hard work, self motivation, commitment, critical thinking, and structure. This Summer they have been having a monthly event called "Thousand Dollar Tuesdays". I have been apart of 3 of them and I have won one. on May 30th it went down again with a great turn out and good talent. So here are some pictures for your enjoyment.

These are only a few pics of the artist that performed... there were many more

Phenom (Featured act not in the Competition)

Billy Da Kid(in red) and Cortez(in white)

Math (first Winner for the night)

The Fire Kid (the second winner for the night)

Bigs (featured act not in the Competition)

Mental Supreme( The Host of the Show...yes he raps too....and no he was not in the competition)



For the First time in this Competitions history there was a tie. Two people who when the Numbers were added up had the same score
Math The Fire Kid

The Show Was great if u missed it the next one is on June 20th as I was informed. So bring yo ass there . And thanx too all those who came out to support me and the other artist who performed. for more info on how it goes down call 347 249 9441...that the main man him self. For Video Footage and more pictures go to http://www.bolt.com/5LatTopMag

Fashion

Ny-Lon: From NY To London
Words by Damian

I don't write blogs, so here goes a letter from London. There was a time before myspace, and it consisted of magazines (The Face R.I.P.) and crooked tongues(www.crookedtongues.com) where I got my lil fix of US street culture, all of the brands and people involved in the scene seemed to be unreachable, due to being in Leeds in Northern England. As we all know fast forward, 5/6 years and I'm here in London the capital of youth culture & we are able to speak to our extended fam worldwide on a daily basis, this has both its benefits (me writing this!),and its down sides (Starbucks effect) too many places looking and feeling the same.
As a designer and a label owner I see an opportunity to show our own identity and highlight the cream of the UK and Europe. Firstly and because I can, I'd like to big up my brand Digital Filth (www.digital-filth.net) we are part of the new blood coming out of the music/fashion scene in London, and through the power of myspace and the support of my team both here in the UK and my boy Melo-X in NYC I'm able to show you all what's really hood in East London and Beyond! As far as I'm concerned, the real spots are spread across the UK so in my first of what may or may not be a regular section, I'm going to big up YoYo (myspace/yoyouk) and Dover Street Market (www.doverstreetmarket.com).
I've only lived down in the big LDN for a year now and the best find of this time has been YoYo, having spent the day with Spank Rock at their Record Label (Big Dada) in London, they played there first UK gig at YoYo, obviously they killed it! Left me with some fucked up Underworld 35th Anniversary kicks and a hole in my pink Ivan Lendal Track Top (UK heads know;) been back every week since, music and attitude sums up to me everything that separates UK and US. YoYo are able to showcase some of the freshest acts from around the world, along with the games real heavyweights in an environment where the music is the star.
Dover Street Market from Rei Kawakubo of Comme des Garcons, puts a whole new slant on exclusive, and has no real rival maybe colette in Paris, but DSM is a mecca for everything from the complete adicolor collection to the rarest hardest to find Junya Watanabe X Levi's (damn!), and a little heads up to my NYC dudes (Junya Watanabe Man Eye Lacoste!). DSM is set over 6 floors of bare walls and steel beams featuring over a dozen designers including Raf Simons, Junya Watanabe, Alber Elbaz and Comme des Garcons, who can develop their space as they see fit.

YoYo -



Damian & Oxy Cottontail


Crowd Shot
Spank Rock playing first UK show there

DSM -




World Cup Footscape
Junya Watanabe Man Eye Lacoste

Junya Watanabe X Levi's
Ms Funky FrreSH Samantha
I just finished performing at a show and i was looking for a spot to chill at. So i called my boy Johhny and he told me he was at a dope lil Lounge. I got there and did alot of networking and ran into Samantha the funky fresh one her self. Since then i have learned more about her clothing line called S.Kate Collection and how this Super Women gets down. Here's a lil interview i did with her.....enjoy
MeLo-How did u start s.kate collection and why....
Samantha-I grew up in the fashion world, so it was inevitable that one day i would branch out and do my own thing.
MeLo- wat was the first item u created under the s.kate collection.
Samantha-a selection of t's that only a few people have seen or have in their closets.
MeLo-who's on ya team or do u even have a team...
Samantha-i am the team.
MeLo-where does ya inspiration come from for ya designs and ideas...
Samantha-i'm inspired by life. such a conrny answer but it's true.
MeLo-wat stores sevice ya product
Samantha-Premium Goods, BKBlue & Cream, East/South Hampton NYcartelgoods.com apollo-nyc.com
MeLo-Have u eva dj'd...
Samantha-I dj'ed once and plan on doing it again.
MeLo-Are u a party hardy person or a hardly party person...
Samantha-Love to party.
MeLo-one thing every body knowns about you.. ...
Samantha-I'm the shit.


She now throws a hot party every tuesday at Rewind. Check it out hommie
SUMMER FASHION
DPRC

Kiser