Imagine Blink 182 going urban. You wouldn’t necessarily take this blog for one (too much) into what the white boys like. But when white boys have that certain percentage of swag – enough to elevate them into soul-worthy categories such as R&B, hip-hop, and the like – expect ‘em to get a mention. I am the little white boy that could, after all. And T.Mills, who hails from Riverside, CA, has got just that – a swagger that positions his SUM 41-like pop-punk brashness into a slot almost entirely unheard of until now – punk-hop…? Rock-rap never flew further than the meager successes of Papa Roach and P.O.D. back in the TRL days, so considering as much, T.Mills is something of a risk for rock and rap listeners… but, what does it for Mills is his ‘tudey tatts (reminiscent of Lil’ Wayne and Wiz Khalifa) split with his high school dropout delivery. I chat with the hip-hop startup exclusively below…
MH: What’s your name stand for? TM: My name is Travis Tatum Mills. MH: Is there an artist or band most people would be shocked to know you listen to? TM: Queen. MH: Since Smoke & Mirrors epitomizes the unlikely intersections between hip-hop and high fashion, is there a specific designer that you’d outfit your honey’s in? TM: I don’t necessarily have a favorite designer for women but a girl must have good style. They can shop vintage and still look sexy. Mix it up ladies! MH: You have a ton of ink… and you speak about hooking up with a girl with a neck tattoo in your first single. Have you actually ever dated a chick with a neck tatt? TM: Haha yes! When I was 16. MH: What’s next for you tatt-wise? TM: I need to finish my chest asap, so, when my schedule allows, I’ll get around to it. Im finishing up my leg right now, too. MH: Is there a certain R&B chick you’d like to have on your next hook? TM: I actually have a new song called “Yesterday” that has something to do with Janet Jackson. Without saying too much… I’ve said too much.
See for yourself and you be the judge…
Did ‘Yeezy bring hip-hop to high fashion or did he drop the ball?
To view his foray into pret-a-porter, go to NOWfashion. image courtesy of NOWfashion
Jeremy Scott knows exactly what he’s doing. His front row reeks of cool each and every season and this time was no exception. The average age of Scott’s front row looked to be around 18. Fashion plates Catherine Baba and Leigh Lezark schmoozed it up prior to the show, while Ellie Goulding and Peaches Geldof hugged it out to the side. Peaches said of Scott, “I met Jeremy through my good friend and Jeremy’s muse, Jonny Makeup, while I was staying in LA when I was 17, 18 or so. Jeremy’s been my saving grace ever since and I love everything he puts together.” He likes ‘em young, it appears, as budding pop star Sky Ferreira (whose album drops Spring 2012) divulged she met Jeremy “in LA when I was 14. We worked recently together on the Adidas campaign.” Perhaps the eldest member of Scott’s front row roster was shy rocker, Michael Stipe, who was overheard sarcastically telling an E! News reporter that he was “just the most fashionable person on the planet.” We can’t imagine the (former) R.E.M. frontman ever donning any of Scott’s assless chaps, but, as he put it, “you never know.”
Monday night at Le Bain atop The Standard, Los Angeles designer Brian Lichtenberg hosted a private party where he screened a short film, a preview of his new collection to be shown next month at L.A. Fashion Week. Lichtenberg’s friend/devoted customer/R&B superstar Cassie was on hand, hosting the event with him, alongside director Greko Sklavounos. The film, “Song of the Siren,” which features a gold lame-bikini-clad model doing her best slow-mo walk on the beach “was meant to hypnotize,” the filmmaker explained. “It’s less of a fashion film and more of a tone piece. We shot it in Malibu, and we spray-tanned the model and bleached her eyebrows. it’s very LA and we wanted to bring a piece of that to New York.” Brian says that he’s been thinking about showing in New York for some time now. “I’m really just waiting for the right time. I hope by next season,” he said.
Cassie gushed about the designer, “I wear it all, everything of his fits me to a T. I’ve worn a lot of his stuff either out or in my videos, so, the relationship grew from that. We plan on working together on my upcoming project a lot, too.” Regarding her much-delayed sophomore album, the singer told us that it’s no longer called ElectroLuv: “We’re still thinking of a name. The first single, “King of Hearts,” (listen to a snippet below) drops the end of October and we’re shooting a video soon for it. It’s got a nice airy type of club vibe…This is the first album of mine that I got to go work with producers and collaborators that I’m fans of. There’s a lot of dance elements, R&B and hip-hop. I like to call it ‘jungle’ music. A little bit Ibiza, a little bit Harlem. We’re hoping for a second single by January.”
The 25-year-old former model turned Sean “Diddy” Combs protege told us that when it comes to choosing outfits, “The first thing that I go for is structure. Then color and texture. Something that fits well, but, also fits my personality. I started as a model, so, fashion’s very important to me. I read a lot of magazines, I’m very aware.” And we could tell. She arrived in a dress by Brian that isn’t even available to the public yet. “It’s a perk,” she laughed. Find more on Paperhere.
Listen to a snippet of Cassie‘s first single, “King of Hearts,”
off her sophomore album below.
Below read about my (very brief) encounter with Ms. Minaj via Paper…
We’ll be honest — there’s not many people we’d get trampled to talk to, but last night Nicki Minajwas the exception. Only five minutes to showtime at the Betsey Johnson show (for which Minaj was much of the collection’s basis — both musically and aesthetically), the eccentric female emcee caused pure pandemonium when she took her seat beside Lynn Yaegar and Olympic skater/fashion plate Johnny Weir. “Back up,” security screamed at the crush of journalists who descended on Minaj, but that didn’t stop us from shoving our tape recorder higher into the sky.
First, on our list of questions, who the hell does her wigs and where does that person get their inspiration? “My great friend Terrence Davidson does all my wigs. Lately I’ve been feeling very Harajuku! Especially the colors, the light blue – I love [the style]. I hope to keep it this way for a bit.” Another journalist shoving into my thigh got the next question, asking Ms. Minaj what style tips she’d recommend. “Do whatever the fuck you want,” she replied gracefully. We got the next dig, wondering when the last time she visited her hometown of Baisley, Queens happened to be. “You know, I was actually in Queens just yesterday. But not Baisley, we just passed by there.”
The short-but-satisfying responses didn’t come quick enough for the inching crowd gathered affront her bodyguards because what came next resulted in everyone with interview and photo access to evacuate the front row. “She’s done, she’s had enough publicity, people! Go to your seats.” And that was that. Short, bittersweet, but totally worth a broken ego and bruised thigh.
Below find some snapshots from backstage at Betsey Johnson’s S/S ’12 show
Find below my Alexander Wang After-Party report for Paper Magazine…
We’re still trying to piece together last night’s debauchery at Alexander Wang‘s after-party — and there’s some definite gaps. Did we really see Cathy Horyn at the notoriously rowdy fete yukking it up with Bryan Boy? (Yes.) Or male models doing jello shots? (Uh-huh.) We’re still a bit piece-y on whether or not we actually saw some journalists doing keg stands, but, we know this much is true: after braving a massive queue and having our cab searched due to the terror threat, we had the best time (as expected) at the downtown designer’s latest party on the Pier. In attendance was Wang muse, actress, and style star, Zoe Kravitz, who with boyfriend Penn Badgley, agreed that “New Yorkers don’t get to experience house parties like most do, so, it’s really cool that he did this.” Indeed, the vibe was total frat party bar mitzvah (if there were such a thing) with giveaways and trashy Playboy pinups scattered throughout. The large space was filled with fridges full of 40 oz.s, bathtubs stuffed with ice and Budweiser tall-boys, and couches with blow-up dolls and Playstation consoles. Even legendary hip-hop mogul, Russell Simmons, who’s been to his share of fashion parties, admitted that: “No one throws a fashion party like this!”
The dance floor, lit in blacklights, provided enough space for the 1,000-some guests to get down to the sounds of DJ Jesse Marco. We caught Jourdan Dunn raving with glow sticks to Big Sean‘s “Dance (Ass)” while onlookers munched on hamburgers and hot dogs. Other guests included models Karlie Kloss, Jamie Burke, Miles Garber, and Miles McMillan, who looked fresher than most considering their week’s crammed schedule. At the Kanon Vodka (curated by Apotheke) bar, Kate Lanphear and newly-appointed Chanel milliner, Gigi Burris, buzzed about a potential Justin Bieber appearance. “I heard it was Justin Bieber [who was performing tonight], but, I don’t know,” Lanphear explained.
But, in the end, it was Tyler the Creator and the Odd Future gang, who were the night’s special guests, performing a set that got somewhat of a mixed reaction. There were people that rushed to the front of the stage and then those that called it a night. We overheard several guests asking, “Who is screaming?” and, “Aren’t these the guys that GLAAD hates?” Perhaps not the best choice for a party that’s attendance leaned heavily gay, but, hey… to think that we were under the same roof as Ms. Horyn, blow-up dolls and Mr. Creator, possible the strangest mix we can think of,made it all surreally OK.
Had the chance to speak with Drake at Versace‘s invite-only FNO event. See below for our interview for Paper …
Last night, we braved the “DRIZZY!”-screaming throngs of Drake fans outside the 5th avenue Versace boutique, where the 24-year-old Torontonian TV star-turned-emcee was guest DJing at Fashion’s Night Out. Our eardrums are still paying for it. Of course, the evening was completely worth it, insanity and all, and the former PAPER cover star was kind enough to chat with us about his eagerly anticipated sophomore effort, Take Care, to be released on his birthday, October 24th.
It’s been one year since Drake and his major label debut LP, Thank Me Later, changed the hip-hop soundscape entirely. Just listen to the melodically submerged, moody sounds currently flooding R&B (Frank Ocean) and hip-hop (Kid Cudi, Big Sean) and it’s relatively simple to identify its root. “It’s Toronto. One hundred percent,” says Drake modestly when we ask if he’s played a hand in R&B’s resurgence. “I wouldn’t say I created it, it’s just the sound of my city. Same for [Abel Tesfaye of] The Weeknd. He’s just out there writing music, making music that comes from the most beautiful city in the world. Why wouldn’t it sound beautiful, you know?”
Mixtape track, “Marvin’s Room,” has been creating internet buzz for Take Care thanks to the slew other artists revamping and covering it. Early-aughts tween pop-star JoJo had one of the most popular, in which she, for the first time, delved into adult territory. And Drake took note. “In JoJo’s case, she actually took the time to write really potent new lyrics,” he says. “It was really shocking, I think, for her audience since throughout her career she’s been kind of stereotyped as this teen pop star and then she comes out with this different kind of substance. It’s very rare that people take your song and do it over like that.”
His connection to Versace, you ask? “I’m a huge Versace fan,” he declares. “I love the history: the class, the regal sort of feel; there’s just something about it that possesses this characteristic that I think I stand for, too, something that my mother and her friends instilled in me growing up in Forest Hill. I grew up seeing women in Versace, the women of class around me. So, I was just floored when they asked me to do this. For me personally, it’s one of the most exciting calls I’ve gotten in a while.”
Fans of the emcee’s Degrassi days will be excited to learn that he’s interested in returning to his previous trade. “As soon as I submit this album, I’m in the process of signing with an agency and starting my acting up again.”
Atlanta rap trio, Kush Kloud Klan, may have just released their first major mixtape (hosted by DJ Ill Will) this past week, but their sound is already ringing in the ears of hip-hop-heads in a big way. Partially due to their controversial name (imagine #KKK trending on Twitter), Outkast stylings and production by Soundz, and their similar tasting flow to two of my favorite indie ‘Bama groups, G-Side and Paper Route Gangstaz, they’re poised to strike hard and fast. The 13-track set is already one of the best of the year. Download their buzzed-about, sax-laden mixtape (featuring appearances by Jazze Pha, Rock City, and a slinky “Skin” Rihanna sample) for free here. Remember where you heard it first MF.
“I hate to have to crash your wedding… with this shit,” The-Dream sings on “Wedding Crasher,” one of the 11 new songs from his first-ever free album (for all intents and purposes, it’s a mixtape—but don’t tell him that), released under his “government name,” Terius Nash, which dropped today via his official site. His label’s not happy, since although 1977 was recorded under a different name, it’s still chock full of signature Dream touches: not the sort of epic love-gushing Prince suite or sparse snap-and-bop he’s honed over the span of three solo LP’s, but rather, accounts of love lost, bottled into more of the catastrophically lush productions we’ve come to expect from him and partner-in-tune, Christopher “Tricky” Stewart.
Read the rest of my ’1977′ post onInterview Mag now…
and download the free album here before it’s too late.
As the third single to Kendrick Lamar’s debut, Section.80, “ADHD” is the newbie’s magnum opus thus far. It’s a morose, foggy generational commentary. What’s disguised as a drug anthem turns out to be more of an introspective thought-provoker. Listen closely – the Compton-bred rapper likes to play with hip-hop lingo and turn it on its head. It’s about damn time visionary hip-hop sounded so good.
World Premiere: “Don’t Talk Greazy” – Slaine & Statik Selektah
Beware: Statik Selektah‘s latest protege’s name is Slaine. Their joint mixtape, released recently, boasts some wildly entertaining rhymes and, of course, the same slaughter-worthy street production we’ve come to expect from Selektah. Listen below to my current fave on the set, which sounds like a cut-up version of Beyonce’s “Work It Out” (yes, the Neptunes track from Austin Powers) mixed with a semi-annoying Jadakiss vocal sample. The moral of the story? Remember who you’re speaking to or end up with your car keyed.
Throwback to ’96… MTV’s Sex In The 90′s The chick in this vid is incredible. Look at her all Kimmy’d up in the back of that sedan. She brings me back with,”Alright, you can’t even lie.
That couch is phat.” Remember PHAT?
Who would have thought a straight, former college football player and writer/protege of Chris Brown would be the one to make the theme song to Dan Savage’s “It Gets Better” campaign?
Let’s face it: digital mixtapes are the new LP’s, or rather, they’re the latest incarnation of the multi-platinum selling album without selling a single copy. Ditching major label budgets for viral internet publicity and of-the-minute promotion, artists use the WWW’s arms-reach accessibility to salvage fans from every which way, perhaps helping from-the-street-up communities like hip-hop more than any other musical genre. This is most true of the entire OddFuture crew. Taking to tumblr, twitter and blogs, OddFuture claimed hip-hop’s largest audience yet with free downloads (screw an album leak) and abundant amounts of studio material (recorded not in multi-million dollar recording studios but garages, bedrooms, and laptops), that were never possible for artists pre-Facebook. Frank Ocean; the smoother-than-thou R&B slice of OddFuture’s gang, may be unlike his mates in sound, but, has garnered much of the same fan base from their brand of far-reaching online slinging.
Ocean as an artist came to fruition with his debut, free-of-charge mixtape: Nosttalgia/Ultra, in February of this year via Odd Future’s Tumblr page and within minutes gained exposure (along with becoming a bonafide trending topic) in independent music circles. Partially based on Odd Future’s quick D.I.Y. rise to mainstream-cult fame, Ocean had fans before he even had a contract (which he has now; courtesy of Island Def Jam).
The 23-year-old LA-born singer/songwriter has undoubtedly latched onto Drake (the initial mixtape-to-millions superstar) and Trey Songz’s sound (to which he even compares himself in the Neptunes-y, melt in your mouth stunner, “Songs for Women”), the muddled, mopey underwater-R&B freestyle. But he makes it all his own to much success, with cynicism and a fond ear for pop radio melodies. He also comes across as more avant garde than his peers, with oddly pitched interludes, over-layered accompaniments, a liberal political stance (hear his message of marriage equality in “We All Try”) and an in-the-know pantheon of tastes.
The mixtape’s success has landed him a corporate deal, a re-release version for iTunes, songwriting gigs with Beyonce (4’s “I Miss You”), Nas and Brandy, and a first single (the mix’s least interesting but lyrically amusing, stoner-ready “Novacane”) produced by The-Dream’s right-hand-hitman, Tricky Stewart. It’s also worth mentioning he’s caught the ear of Jay-Z and Kanye West whom have already started work with him on their collaborative opus, Watch The Throne. Among Nostalgia’s tracks that dig deep are “Swim Good” and “Lovecrimes”, which easily outshine his choice of debut single. “Swim Good” is so emotional in its content, it’s hard not to feel inspired, not only by the driving beat but the drive off a cliff into the ocean-theme itself. “Lovecrimes” employs a seductively catchy slap-beat and piano loop, an over-layered samba composition and Prince-like swagger, all the while a Nicole Kidman Eyes Wide Shut monologue, in which she reprimands her man’s infidelities, competes in the background. It’s all heavy stuff for a 21st century R&B stud; that’s for sure, but what’s most compelling about Frank Ocean is that he tried and it worked. It being an independent sensibility to music making, especially for his genre. R&B has long been considered a genre that lacked experimentation. But today that could all be erased as easily as “un-liking” a post or flipping former industry marketing ploys on their heads a la Tumblr. It was just that easy for the kids of Odd Future, especially Mr. Ocean.
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