ETERNALLY REFLECTING

Nothing needs to be said about this.... a little taste of what we missed. Just a collection (big ups to STATIK SELEKTAH) of bangers from this duo until RPM drops. Have a happy and safe New Year from the bottom shelf family! 2010 looks better already.



courtesy of 2 dope boyz




DOWNLOAD

LIFE AS A SHORTY

Fashawn and Exile have come together to quietly take hip hop by storm. Fashawn's straight to the point delivery balances Exile's intricate but yet sonically pleasant production style. I believe as a fan of hip hop we many times over analyze music, trying to break down lyrics, listening to flaws in production etc. When sometimes we just have to sit back and enjoy songs as a work of art…an artist’s rendition of life around them.

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Click play, sit back and enjoy.

We are not the same I am a Martian.

This is has to be one of my favorite duos in the game today. At times they may sound a little bit underground but after listening to them for a while you will notice something different about these guys. From lyrics to production their brand of hip hop appeal to the backpackers and the rap fans a like. Here is a little background on the group. Mars ILL consists of Manchild & DJ Dust and they come straight out of the dirty south Atlanta, Georgia. They formed Mars ILL in 1998 and are part of the Deepspace5 camp. They have carved a loyal fan base in the game today and are continuing to produce GOOD music for many years to come. Now you know…

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Click play, sit back and enjoy.

"When heaven Scrapes the Pavement" from the Stuff on Vimeo.

-CMBDCTN

PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS

In this world, there is one thing we can vouch certain. Everybody is in search for that happiness but most look for it in all the wrong places. This video exemplifies exactly just that. Perspective is very important in these times more than ever.

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Have some perspective today. New video from MR. SOLO DOLO.

-SOMEGIANT

TAKE A BITE

Chances are if you are just a casual listener of hip-hop/rap music you may have never heard of Strange Fruit Project. Prepare yourself to be enlightened !! Hailing from the Lone Star State (Waco, TX to be exact) SFP consists of rapper/producer Symbolic 1 (S1), MYONE (pronounced MY-OWN) & Myth (Mythological). This trio has been blessing us with GOOD music since 2004 with two underground releases Soul Travelin’ and From Devine. Their latest album The Healing released in 2006 received overwhelming positive reviews, catapulting them into an industry that for so long needed a guiding light. In today’s society we are so self absorbed and consumed by greed that we forget to focus on the things that actually matter. So whenever you get a chance come up to the surface for some fresh air you will be glad you did.

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Click play, sit back and enjoy.

Crash - Strange Fruit Project feat. Thesis from S1/ S.K.P. Film and Photo on Vimeo.

-CMBDCTN

PASSION PIT "SLEEPY HEAD" VIDEO

Triptophan from the left over turkey plus the blackfriday madness caught up on you yet? It's another WEEKEND JUMPOFF! See ya'll on the flipside.

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Click play, and sleep your weekend away.

-somegiant

iROBOT

These days we live in an almost robotic cycle of working for the weekend, blowing all your cash on material things the world says we need and then doing it all over again. In a way we have been programmed to think a certain way by what we view and listen to. KRS & Buckshot have arrived to set things straight and to emphasize that music should be influenced by creativity, quality and substance.

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Click play, sit back and enjoy.

KRS-One Feat. Buckshot - Robot from moknoo on Vimeo.

-HUSKY

DJ PARADIME x BTMXSHLF INTERVIEW

As you well know music has been a part of BTMxSHLF since day one. Just as important as inspirational design, music gives us a vibe and a direction that allows us to take our work to another level. Due to this love for music it is only right to pay homage to the recently fallen Grand Master Roc Raida and DJ AM who have helped build this idustry to what it is today. We would like to shed some light with a three part segment on strictly the Disc Jockey. With that said I was able to catch up with an old friend and he allowed us to pick his brain a little bit to see what makes a dj tick. ENJOY

State your name and where you are from…
DJ Paradime-The Jukebox Hero- DJ For Hall of Justus- The Away Team. L.E.G.A.C.Y. and Darian Brockington. From North Carolina- Repping THE 919 & 336, born and raised in Greensboro, NC.

How did you initially start off in the music game? How/when did you know you wanted to do this for a living?
I started my sophomore year in college, I moved from Greensboro to Raleigh my senior year of high school, and met a friend in school, that dj'd but spun jungle and trance named DJ Xavier, started to learn basics technical skills from him, and couple years later saved enough money to get all the standard equipment I needed. Before that I had a belt driven turntable audiovox, and a radio shack mixer. I knew this was something I wanted to pursue when I quit school and went on tour and never looked back.

What was your perspective on the whole hip-hop game before you entered it? Now that you are fully submerged in it was it everything you expected?
Hip-Hop was huge in my community. The high school I went to was very mixed, black, asians, hispanics, and everything in between. I was blessed to have a community center (glenwood community center) two blocks from my house, where after school a lot of break dancers would practice at, so I would go there and chill with them and got in tuned with the music. Hip-Hop was something I have been attached since I was about 8, because my sister who is 10 years older than me collected music like Herbie Hancock and Nu Shooz, so I loved the music that she was dubbing on tapes. I didn't really expect to be djing for a living, it was just something that I enjoyed doing. I use to practice in my crib because I enjoyed the music and loved making my own music with two records and a fader. This dj shit is a steady grind and I knew what to expect when I got in the game because of my local dj influences who I shadowed under. It was alot of nights, sleeping on couches and having no money. But I also saw the grind that everyone put in as far as practicing the art, and networking.

Starting off… who were your influences and why?
Man there are so many but to name a few…The Invisible Scratch Piklz: DJ Q-Bert, DJ ShortKut, DJ Apollo, DJ MixMaster Mike, The Beat Junkies:- DJ Babu, DJ Rhettmatic, Melo-D, J-Rocc.... all of these dj's are legends. I was mostly influenced and looked up to alot of these dj's because not only were they dope but a lot of them were Asian as well which gave me inspiration. They really set the precedent for Djing as far as an Art. Another huge influence to me are the X-Men (X-Ecutioners) especially Grand Master Roc Raida (r.i.p.). Just for the simple fact that Raida’s body tricks were mad ill and his height meant nothing on the tables because dude was KING. Jazzy Jeff was another influence because he was the first DJ AM (r.i.p.). Before AM, Jazz brought djing to the forefront, and made moves as an entrepreneur as well. I can go on for days Premier, Pete Rock, Tony Touch, Kid Capri each gave a little bit of inspration on what would later be DJ Paradime..

What would you say is your most memorable experience so far?
Being On Tour with Hall Of Justus on the Little Brother Minstrel Show was dope. Djing in the larger cities of the US such as Los Angeles and even crossing the border to Canada rocking shows in Toronto were definitely things that will stick with me forever.

In your opinion what is better… rocking a packed club or on tour doing shows?
Tough decision but I would say Tour shows. Just because of the experience you have with band members and fans on the road and shutting down cities one by one.

With the forever evolving industry what are your thoughts on cdj’s and the whole DJ culture in general.
I really never got into cdj's. It was something that I couldn't actually touch like a vinyl record and in my opinion it just isn't the same, the crackle, no pop, no live performance, and if the record skips, it just skips, if your cd skips, it sounds terrible. Besides, a 5 year old can play cd's.
Serato is probably the greatest thing ever, for dj's who are on the road, djing 4-5 nights a week, because carrying six crates on the Minstrel Show was no joke for me and DJ Flash. The DJ culture has been flooded with dj's who are just coming into the game, and jumping the gun before they are ready.
These new dj programs such as Serato has also hurt the dj culture also, I feel sometimes people who start djing do it because its a fad or trendy now, and Serato makes it easy for a college student who gets a financial aid check or rich kid parents to just buy the equipment with out learning the art form.
Djing is NOT A FAD OR TREND.!!! Learn to dj because you love music! I just feel so blessed that I was able to experience music without all the technology. I really feel bad for the younger generation because they will never know what it feels like to listen to classic music.

What seperates DJ Paradime?.
I was highly influenced by my big homies- DJ Flash, DJ Skillz, and DJ MC. The thing I learned from them the most is to be a well rounded dj. I CAN SMASH ANY TYPE OF CLUB….from TOP 40 to the MOST HOOD CLUB. I smash the biggest events in every city. I know a lot of dj’s that can do this type of club or that type of club but cannot find anyone that can honestly say that they did a Ultra Top 40 white club on saturday, and turn around on a sunday smash the city down at the Hoodest club in the state capital. I am a dj's dj, I always use creativity in any dj situation or gig and most importantly I bring QUALITY to the table, no matter what.

You seem to have created a niche in the mixtape game… how did you get into that and was it a gradual transition?
I started doing mixtapes just to hear myself practice since I started taking djing seriously after buying all the correct equipment. I am glad I surrounded myself with dj's who would tell me to take that shit back and re-record it cause it sounds bad. That helped with the quality of my mixtapes.
My first big break was when I got in touch with Paul Wall, who is a real down to earth dude and he sent me alot of drops to host a mixtape. My big homie 9th Wonder gave me an exclusive remake of sittin' sideways that was on the tape. It’s crazy because this tape probably did about 4-5,000 downloads off that exclusive Paul Wall/ 9th Wonder track alone. Thank you to those two guys who help me pave my way. I try not to just box myself in, I do tapes for myself, such as the Soul In The South Tape and Best of Premier and Best of Eminem because I enjoy the music. My newest tape called The Itch Tape, which is for the south, with a lot of new emcees like Pill, Donnis, and Freddie Gibbs.

Everyone knows you are the DJ for the world famous AWAY TEAM (Justus League), how did you hook up with them? How has that opportunity helped your career?
The Away Team came through because of my homie Sean Boogie. We were just fans of hip-hop, then we started to take focus on what we wanted to do in our careers. That was when we stumbled upon some homies from a group that had just formed called The Justus League and from there things began to fall in place. Djing for The Away Team, the later on for L.E.G.A.C.Y. and D Broc has helped me out tremendously. Simply by the people I have met through networking, the oportunity to display my skills at a high level and learning that success is never easy.

You have also been linked to the Juke Box Heroes…tell us a little bit about it and how you guys came about.
JUKEBOX HEROES- consists of myself (DJ Paradime,) DJ Sk, DJ Forge, and DJ E.V. We are a group that has come to be by just our love for music. We were established in late 2008 and based out of NC. We are currently killing the local scene (Homecoming tour 2009) as well as making huge strides overseas. DJ Forge just got back from a mini-tour in Malaysia and next year we will be going to Taiwan and Canada. The Jukebox Heroes is sponsored by Red Bull, Fysh Clothing, BTMXSHLF and Triumvir Clothing.

Any advice for the young DJ’s out there trying to break into the game.
PRACTICE. PRACTICE. PRACTICE. Surround yourself with Dj's that are better than you. Don't listen to your friends, of course their gonna tell you "it's hot" or "your really good". THEY ARE YOUR FRIENDS! NEVER UNDERCUT ANOTHER DJ. PERIOD. Instead build with that Dj and make your own path.

Any last words you would like to tell the fans?
Check out the new mixtape, THE ITCH TAPE >>download here, stay tuned for upcoming shows, tours, and dates from the site. Check out the new Sean Boog and DJ Babu Collab- Los Carolinas coming soon, check the site! Enjoy the ride. DJ Paradime and The Jukebox Heroes are jet setting!!!!!!!!!! THANKS FOR THE TIME BTMxSHLF.COM!

BOOKING: premierbookingagency@gmail.com or djdime@gmail.com
WEBSITE: www.weareyourheroes.com
FACEBOOK: Dj Paradime
Twitter: DjParadime
Cell: 1-900-HUSTLER.

MIKE GIANT : 20 YEARS OF WRITING

We at BTMxSHLF were heavily influenced by Mike Giant, a.k.a. "Giant One", through our high school years in the bay area and still consider him one of the best writers ever. From pioneering skateboard deck designs in THINK SKATEBOARDS, to getting up all over the bay, to becoming one of the most sought after tattoo artist, to having more than 40 exhibitions all over the globe, to pushing his own products (REBEL8) in and out of retail stores also around the world. He is still blazing his trail with no signs of stopping in the horizon. And now without further ado, an interview with the man, the myth, the legend.

Mike Giant Interview from David Mongan on Vimeo.

-SOMEGIANT

A.P.C. S.A.M.P.L.E. S.A.L.E.

Tomorrow and Sunday, A.P.C. will be holding a very rare sample sale so monopolize on this opportunity if you can. It will be opening @ 10 am ( conveniently before the Pacquiao x Cotto fight, so relax) and will close @ 6 pm. The address is 715 Los Angeles st., Los Angeles. It's another installment of the WEEKEND JUMPOFF. See ya'll on the flipside!

-SOMEGIANT

LOS CAROLINA SEAN BOOG x DJ BABU

Here is a sneak peek of the upcoming project by Sean Boog (Justus League) and Dj Babu (Dilated Peoples)... Los Carolina (Los Angeles x North Carolina). Stay tuned for more details about release date and some behind the scenes info brought to you here first by the BS family. In the mean time DL their single "More Than Okay" produced by Khrysis featuring Erica Thompson.

DOWNLOAD>>>More than okay



-CMBDCTN

FOREIGN EXCHANGE x MATT KOZA

FE is back at it again with another single off of their newest album leave it all behind (if you haven't gotten it yet GO AND GET IT!). Support good music! The video was directed by Matt Koza who is the same genius who did the house of cards video. I personally think his directing style fits perfectly with the whole vibe of the song and that he did an excellent job translating lyrics to the big screen.

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Click play, sit back and enjoy.

The Foreign Exchange - ''I Wanna Know'' from The Foreign Exchange on Vimeo.

-CMBDCTN

SEASONAL

Every year, an idiot sets acres upon acres of dried terrain on fire here in SoCal. It never fails. This thing is seasonal and you can bet that next year, I will have another post like this one with a link to this post. Condolence to the rich corporate execs and elites that can actually afford to live on top of these hill. Oh well, if you have the means to buy a house on a hill, I'm pretty sure you can afford to pay for another one. But one thing you can learn from this is that even if you are rich, you're still not fire proof. Get a house on a beach instead. And to cool things off, here's a video of the "dirty, old, nasty wedge" (-Bruce Brown) taken during the July 24th-25th south swell:

-somegiant

ESTE la vista

Check out this clip from "the run up" on the world famous photographer Estevan Oriol. A lot of people either love this guy or hate this guy but one thing both sides agree on is that you can't stop him. This interview allows the viewer to understand his way of thinking and his view of the current society through his lens. Estevan's work ethic and hustle is something that we here at BTMxSHLF respect and apply. Basically everyday we have to take a step forward closer to our goals, keeping in mind that the competition is right behind you working harder and longer. DREAMS don't keep the lights on... working hard does.

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Click play, sit back and enjoy.

Estevan Oriol — "Run Up" Profile from Stas on Vimeo.

DENIM LEGENDS

"Denim Legends" is a 400 page advertisement free super limited book edited and photographed by Wear Global Magazine. Interesting read although very pricey to say the least (890 EUR). Check out their site for more info and a small teaser.

-somegiant

GASLAMP KILLER

Circa 07. Gaslamp Killer performing a set in Chinatown L.A. Note the Mike Tyson x Supreme collaboration tee that you all want.

It's another installment of the WEEKEND JUMPOFF. See ya'll on the flipside.

P.S. RIP DJ AM

-somegiant

HOUSE OF CARDS

Check out the new video by Foreign Exchange for the single "House of Cards" off of their newest album Leave It All Behind. Very interesting concept...

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Click play, sit back and enjoy.

The Foreign Exchange "House Of Cards" Official Music Video from Matt Koza on Vimeo.

WEST COASTIN

Something that has always been a part of us here at BTMxSHLF is the appreciation of good design and functionality. A company that is a great example of this is Swobo. From quality apparel to precise welding on their bike frames it is a way of life for these guys rather than a business. One model that stood out to me personally is the Folsom. This “coaster” brings back the retro feel with an updated twist. The Folsom sports no brake handles but utilizes the back break as a method of stopping. This bike brings me back to my childhood, flying down the streets throwing the pedal into reverse immediately stopping the motion of the back tire resulting in a “skid”. Then I remember looking back with pride knowing that I left my mark in that neighborhood. The idea of this company came from Tim Parr. He started Swobo in 1991 initially to revolutionize the “urban cyclists” wardrobe then later evolving to bicycles . It quickly spread underground stretching from it’s conception in San Francisco to Tokyo and London. Their main focus is to design apparel/bikes around the culture itself, keeping a reputation of quality and functionality. In 2001, Tim sold Swobo to Santa Cruz bicycles and went on a brief hiatus. Then in 2004, Tim catches his second wind and partners with Rob Roskopp to start work on resurrecting the Swobo brand. After a year of brainstorming and planning Swobo rises from the ashes a new and revitalized company. Check out their website www.swobo.com for more information.

-CMBDCTN

SERGIO LEONE

I have always wanted to inaugurate Sergio Leone through a post due to the fact that he’s overlooked (I.M.O.P.O.) and not too many pay respects to his regard. I consider Sergio Leone to be one of the most important film directors of all time. He should be situated shoulder to shoulder among the greatest and most well-regarded film directors like Alfred Hitchcock, Stanley Kubrick, Martin Scorsese, and Akira Kurosawa just to name a few. He launched Clint Eastwood’s career through the “Dollars trilogy” (‘Fist Full of Dollars’, ‘For a Few Dollars More’, and ‘The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly’) and forever changed and redefined American western. He specifically blurred the lines between the good and the bad through his subtle juxtaposition which revolutionized movies into something more realistic and believable. He made a scene longer than anybody would usually do a scene for letting the scene bleed into the audience absolutely captivating their utmost attention. His wide angles, extreme facial close-ups, and his speechless (pun intended) intros inspired me as well as other directors (Quentin Tarantino) in the way they would want their movies done. Kill Bill, Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs, and pretty much all Tarantino films are clearly due to Quentin’s fascination with Sergio Leone (one could argue). So before you go out and watch “Inglorious Bastards” this weekend (which I know you will), try to gain some knowledge on its predecessor and watch “A Fist Full of Dollars”. INFLUENCIAL.

It's another installment of the WEEKEND JUMPOFF. See ya'll on the flipside.

-somegiant

OUTLIER

This company will alter the way we wear our clothes in a very progressive way. I believe in this company and what they stand for as far as innovativeness and groundbreaking future classics. The company I’m referring to is Outlier and it is tailored “performance clothing you can wear from your bike to the boardroom”. Yes indeed. And with their pieces made with schoeller 3xdry and nanosphere fabrics, they are water resistant, breathable, quick drying, grease resistant, stain resistant, abrasion resistant and so forth. Simply the best performing fabric as of umh…now and it’s versatile. It can be worn in and around your cubicle or wear it while doing an arm bar in your very first MMA match. It is multipurpose and all around worthy to be a denim substitute. I am currently on a look out for the Outlier OG Workwear model which has been sold out for several weeks now but I will not rest until I can in these. Remember that this is super new and that you heard it first from me.

just to keep the theme rollin', here is a fun fixed gear track bike video montage

Empire from Empire on Vimeo.

-come follow

THE SKY MIGHT FALL

The new joint from Kid Cudi “sky might fall” has such a thick emotional buildup that we here at BTMxSHLF took the liberty of making an unofficial video for it. Sorry, but Kanye couldn’t make the shoot so we did the next best thing. We sampled Radiohead’s “no surprise” video (another very inspiring emotionally driven video) and mashed it with Mr. Solo Dolo’s single, making a very interesting/attractive product.

"Sky might be fallin' but remember you can fly high."- The Man On The Moon

KID CUDI x THOM YORK x BTMxSHLF THE SKY MIGHT FALL from good peoples on Vimeo.

P.S. Please click HERE (vimeo link) if you want to watch the video in HD


-somegiant

THE DRIFTER

Rob Machado is nothing short of a legend and very few reach the milestones he has already reached. Hall of famer many times over (Surfers Hall of Fame in 2000 and re-inducted in 2006) and surfings most recognizable character. For 11 consecutive years ranked top ten in the world and we can go on and on and on but you get the point. He recently was on a 6 month trek with Poor Specimen’s Taylor Steele gathering footage for a now super anticipated autobiographical surf film, The Drifter. Please take two minutes to feast your eyes on the theatrical trailer below.

The Drifter - Rob Machado from Koastal Media on Vimeo.

-somegiant

HHHUFFF

Huf, man we love that company. Without question, one of the most highly acclaimed companies in the clothing biz and in design as a whole. Hailing out of SF, they blew the game wide open for the early adopters in the bay (somegiant and cmbdctn included) opening their doors in 02. Four shops and a slew of collaborative efforts (with only the premier NAMES in the industry) later, they are still looking as motivated and energetic as ever. Quality goods always. They have just recently collaborated with Jansport for a duffel and westridge pack which we think turned out to be another success. Another piece that you absolutely cannot leave the house without is the HUF x MOSLEY TRIBES sun glasses. Huf joined forces with Mosley Tribes, arguably the finest eyewear company ever, and just made the most perfect eye piece you could ever have on your bridge. The output is super clear and has a bronze metallic sheen type of filter. In other words, it makes everything in front of you pop out and look way better than it really is. So they're still banging it out with the rest, their color way is NEVER off, and their balance and presentation are like heat seeking missiles (always on target). The fall preview is up on their blog and it looks promising so don’t forget to type your way there. Alright? Then take your hand and put it opposite from the ground and say you agree.

-somegiant

SEAN BOOGIE x BTMxSHLF INTERVIEW

Through our travels we have met many interesting and gifted individuals. We have gone near and far slowly building a network that would eventually reach across the US. One group that stood out to us was a crew called the JUSTUS LEAGUE. Comprised of a heavy hitting roster that includes MC’s: Phonte (Little Brother), Rapper Pooh (Little Brother), Sean Boog (Away Team), L.E.G.A.C.Y., Chaundon, Joe Scudda, Median, producers: 9th wonder & Khrysis (Away Team) and DJ’s: Flash (Little Brother) & Paradime (Away Team). *I am pretty sure I have left a lot of the affiliates/members off but you get the idea. What attracted us to them was their distinct individuality. Each artist brings something different to the table but when combined create a perfect harmony of beats and rhymes. One particular duo that really caught our attention was the Away Team. We had a wonderful opportunity to catch up with Sean Boog as he gave us insight of his humble beginnings to his current standing in the music industry. Enjoy…


INTERVIEW: SEAN BOOGIE x BTMxSHLF

BS: Let us know a little bit about Sean Boog for those who don't know you.

Sean: Sean Boog is the mc half of a group called the away team. me and the producer half Khrysis (on the boards with the heat) lol... We've released 2 albums. In 2005 we released National Anthem and in 07 we dropped Training Day. I’ve also put out a mixtape in 06...(which I call a mixtape but is more like an album with a dj mixing it) called The Great Adventures of Sean Wayne. Im in a crew called the Justus League and on a label called Hall of Justus. We are out of Raleigh Durham North Carolina.

BS: So lets start from the beginning...when we first crossed paths you went by a different mc name...how come you changed it and what is the significance of your name.

Sean: My original name I gave myself was DefCon. Funny shit is I hate that name nowadays lol...anyway DefCon or Definite Concentration, like I said was just a name I gave myself. The name Sean Boog was given to me by 9th wonder. One day he was like you can call yourself DefCon if you want but I’m going to call you Sean Boogie and it just stuck so I ran with it.

BS: Speaking of 9th Wonder how did you connect with the big man himself?

Sean: Basically I met Cesar Comanche in early 01 through my DJ (Dj Paradime). Comanche introduced me to 9th Wonder and we just started recording. A little fun fact nobody knows is that 9th Wonder and me were the first ones to record in the infamous Missie Ann Studio. League fans will know what I’m talking about! But yeah we just linked through Comanche and started working. Back then it was all fun. Making music and doing local shows.

BS: So from doing local shows to touring around the globe...what lifestyle do you like better? At home making music or on the road with groupies haha..

Sean: On the road with the groupies alllllllldaaaaayyyy! Nah I mean the road is the best part of this music in my opinion. Performing, traveling meeting people and fans. Thats the life to me but making the music is a blast too. Creating and having fun with it is all good! real shit!

BS: So I know you have a new project you are working on but lets start with your first album. I know you were featured on many songs before you dropped your first album such as "the answer" on Foreign Exchange's Connected but how did it feel to finally work on your very own masterpiece (National Anthem).

Sean: Man it was a great feeling! It was fun. National Anthem was actually a couple years in the making. We started recording that album in 03 but it didn’t come out until may of 05. We had the opportunity to work with Smif n Wessun on that album ...which to me at the time was incredible! That’s when I knew shit was real like "damn I have a song with Smif n Wessun...thats crazy" Just an overall good experience, I learned a lot about making music when we did national anthem.

BS: What are some of the things you learned from making national anthem and how did you apply it in the lab making Training Day?

Sean: Just learned better ways to write songs and learned how to write better hooks. The first time I ever actually really recorded original material was in 01 so I had to learn how to create actual songs. I had been rapping for a long time but not in studios. As far as applying it to Training Day It came more natural. We actually recorded that album in like 3 weeks. Khrysis would make the beat on the spot I would start writing and we did the song. That’s also what I learned to do very well during national anthem...writing on the spot! To me that’s a must!

BS: So two albums deep and x amount of mixtapes killed. What do you have in store for your fans in the future?

Sean: I’m working on a solo record now before we get back into the next Away Team album. My album is tentatively called Happy Days. A lot of the production is done by my homeboy from Raleigh named Marshall Law...he’s a beast. Other than that I have production from Khrysis of course and my homie Dj Babu from Dilated Peoples. We were actually talking about doing an EP together in the future. I have my dude median from the league on the album, Cappadonna is on the album as well. It not finished yet but the album is fire. Other then that shows music and life man. Just grinding tired of working my 8 to 6 ...straight up!

BS: Wow there's a lot of heavy hitters on that. It sounds like its going to be a classic album. Speaking of classic albums, growing up, who were your biggest influences as an artist?

Sean: my biggest influences...man everybody. I loved the roots, outkast, nwa, ice cube, dj quik, spice 1, gangstarr, wu tang, boot camp and the list goes on for days. I say late 80s early to mid 90s hiphop in general . I lived that shit for real!

BS: That’s dope man...well I think we accomplished our mission. If they didn’t know who you were before this interview they definitely have a good understanding on who Sean Boog is. Do you have any last words or shout outs you would like to say to your fans.

Sean: Just stay tuned! The Away Team, The Justus League, Hall Of Justus we are just beginning. Be on the lookout! Hit me up on Twitter Twitter.com/seanboog. For sean booking hit me at sboogaway@gmail.com. Thanks for the love and support!

BS: Thanks for letting us pick your brain a little. It's an honor.

Sean: No doubt man I appreciate the opportunity

BS: Well from the staff here at BTMxSHLF we would like to wish you best of luck in the future and we look forward to hearing from you very soon. From our coast to your coast stay SHININ! (pun intended)

BTMxSHLF x SEANBOOG


For more information about Sean Boog check out their website at www.hallofjustus.com

-CMBDCTN

KIYA x SELECTISM INTERVIEW

In addition to the brain bruising you got from the last last post, part 2 is here. Self Edge is the name and denim is most definitely the game. Kiya , the brainchild and the thread to SE’s seam has just had a successful year opening it’s Fairfax chapter. Now the step up to that is the big apple which had it’s grand opening on July 24th. For all the bona fide superfuture lurkers and the plain old denim purist, here is another chance to a pick a brain which is probably made with 100% greige matter. Kiya murdered the interview. You may consume HERE!.

-somegiant

Wonderful

Some consider production to be the back bone of music. We look at it as a symbiotic relationship between MC and producer (can’t have one without the other). The producer lays down the canvas for the MC to paint their thoughts. Depending on the artist, sometimes the lyrics are written before the beat is even made or vice versa. Every once in a while you will come across a song that captivates you even before bar 1 of the first verse is delivered. The same sensation we felt when we first heard Dj Premier & Pete Rock is the same emotions that ran through our mind when we listened to a track produced by 9th Wonder. His soulful approach to production allows the listener to enjoy music for what it is. Check out this interesting interview of 9th as he explains his humble beginnings, tools of production and his thoughts of the current music industry.

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Click play, sit back and enjoy.

9th Wonder Talks Pro Tools + Monitors from semantik on Vimeo.

DENIM IS FOREVER

Where do I start? Denim is such an innovative force and deeply rooted in our history that you can bet it will be here long after we are all gone. It has been a part of our daily lives since the late 18th century and that alone is something you cannot look over. These are only a fraction of a mind blowing amount of reasons why we at BTMxSHLF gravitate around "denim". We love all sorts of denim but the most important part is the cut, after that then the word selvedge comes to mind. The selvedge or self-edge or selvage denim as they say are made by old shuttle looms from beyond the turn of the century and it creates this very clean edge (can be seen on the out seam of the pants) which prevents the denim from unraveling. Shuttle looms also create tighter weaves requiring more time and heavier fabric (on the oz.) which ultimately makes a longer lasting almost unbreakable pairs of jeans. Also purchasing your denim in raw unwashed form is almost a must not just because of the fact that it will last longer than a factory distressed pair, but you may also naturally age it to your own body's composition. These are just a few things we learned from years of just draping ourselves with the highest caliber pieces made to satisfy. Remember, quality over quantity (it will take you over a year to break a pair in anyways) and only the ones with unsurpassed attention to detail and quality kind of quality. Thank you for your time. You have just been riveted (pun intended).

-somegiant

GOOD MUSIC

Well those who know us know that we are fans of good music in general. It is funny how much music can influence a person’s life, mood, ideas and thoughts. We basically use music as a catalyst to encourage creativity and fuse them into our designs. Just like design, music gives the artist an outlet to express themselves in limitless possibilities. Always searching for the perfect balance of production and lyrics, music is a never-ending pursuit of perfection.

A group that we definitely support and are huge fans of is FOREIGN EXCHANGE. FE consists of one producer (Nicolay) and one MC (Phonte of Little Brother). Nicolay who lived in the Netherlands at the time and Phonte from NC connected (pun intended) to create a masterpiece through the Internet. They first met on the okay player music forum and decided to exchange music files through instant messenger. They actually completed their first album before even meeting face to face. In 2004 they released their first critically acclaimed album “connected”. Little did they know what they were going to create would take the music world by storm. Currently they are on their sophomore album, “leave it all behind” which picks up right where they left off.

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Click play, sit back and enjoy.

The Foreign Exchange "Take Off The Blues" official music video from Matt Koza on Vimeo.

-CMBDCTN

TODAY (YESTERDAY)

Got my sleep on and woke up midnight on the dot. Then I was like, "today was a good day". Then I was like, "what video did they make for me this time?".

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"Today I didnt even have to use my a.k. I got to say it was a good day" -Cube

-somegiant

CSUCI

Spent a little time around the beautiful downtown Ventura and main st. is always packed any given weekend. We were just in time for a free gallery on Main st. and California hosted by CSUCI. I had a few favorites and stole shots quietly. Then I found out that photos are allowed. So bring your EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM. If you don't have one, sell your fixie, get the lens and drive to downtown Ventura. It's titled "Summertime Blues" and they will shut down on August 23.

-somegiant

IV YOUR PLEASURE

The year was 1989 when Tinker Hatfield blessed us with a creation that was way beyond its time. The Air Jordan 4 revolutionized design by combining style with aesthetics. What set this model apart from its predecessors was the addition of the ankle straps (or wings), which dramatically improved ankle stability. Just like the Air Jordan 3 before it the AJ 4 also included the visible Nike air pocket located at the heel for added comfort and shock absorption.
While wearing AJ 4s Jordan had an amazing season, which compiled of averaging 32.5 pts, an all-star appearance, first team NBA and all NBA defensive team. Although he accomplished so much that season his ultimate goal still eluded him, which was a championship. You may have remembered Jordan hitting the game winning shot in the first round of the 89 playoffs against the Cleveland Cavaliers. This catapulted the Bulls into the next round where they defeated the New York Knicks to advance to the Eastern Conference finals only to lose to the eventual champions Chuck Daly (R.I.P.) and the Detroit “Bad Boys” Pistons.
The AJ 4s have also had its share on the big screen with its most popular being the cameo in the Spike Lee joint “Do The Right Thing”. It’s the classic scene where the guy gets his brand new AJ 4s scuffed by a guy on a bicycle and he goes crazy about it. He places his shoe on a fire-hydrant and cleans it with a toothbrush. The AJ 4 have been in countless Nike marketing schemes involving Mars Blackmon (Spike Lee), which spawned the Can/Can’t TV commercials that we all love and remember.
Enjoy some teaser pictures of the Air Jordan 4 from our online shop soon to be up in running…stay tuned.

-CMBDCTN

so 1950's

Mid century design is undeniably supreme. This video is the best music video I've ever seen to date because it's solely inspired by mid century everything minus Kanye and his six inch Tims of course. The easiest most basic video, with the best glass on a vid cam. That's all you need and a little final cut knowledge. This video is so Choice and I love the low saturation with the horizontal split screens. Just mad good.

Kid Cudi - Make Her Say Feat. Kanye West & Common (HD) from DP on Vimeo.

-somegiant

DOUBLE OVERHEAD

So I documented a little bit of last weeks south swell that hit us like the winter of 69. Well not really quite that big but in my eyes, those waves were THE heavies. Absolutely the biggest I’ve witnessed around here because it never really goes double overhead in the summertime here. It was absolutely punctual and right on time for the 2009 US Open of Surfing. Went to the competition and the beach was packed and reminiscent of the late 80’s early 90’s period. The event was HUGE in direct correlation with the waves. I burned my face from the sun but it was beyond doubt worth the footage I got. And may I point out that I got to observe a few hall of famers and distinguished surfers in the industry doing their thing on the best waves HB has seen since the 90s. Congratulations to Brett Simpson who got bumped up to 5th place on the ASP rankings after winning 100K purse for the whole Hurley US OPEN. Also Congrats to Courtney Conlogue, Kai Barger, and Malia Manuel (the future) for winning the rest. It was fun and I wrapped up what I could in this video and a few still photos of the event. It's all Love.

HURLEY US OPEN OF SURFING 2009 x SOMEGIANT x BTMxSHLF from good peoples on Vimeo.

Rob Machado had two body guards (blue shirts) after every heat

packed like there's no tomorrow

volcom stone in the place to be


boardwalk and from my vantage point

this is to show us how easy life is

RIP to the 50 yr old man whose life was claimed by (in the words of bruce brown) "the dirty, old, nasty, wedge." He was a warrior taking on those 20-25 ft faces.

-somegiant

ABOUT US

BTMxSHLF. Our name embodies every good thing that is overlooked in society. We are built on the idea that longevity is king and quality is CHOICE. We will maintain enthusiasm for the past and always be prompted by the current so you don’t have to worry about the future. Purpose is instituted and perspective is introduced.

-BTMxSHLF