IT'S ON & POPPIN'

ShortyPop is at it again...This time with her own line of box tees & accessories. And trust me...She doesn't care if you like or dislike her...just buy her shit! lol
Let the controversy begin....



Pic courtesy of ShortyPop.com

FINALLY...

2008 marks The Year Of The Dunk, a year long celebration of the classic shoe that has become one of Nike's most popular model. Quickstrike drops, and limited edition drops have flooded the market. We've even witnessed city releases & distressed colorways. But halfway thru the year, I've finally been blessed with the FIRST Dunk I'd actually purchase. Wow...It only took Nike a couple hundred tries...

Nike recently releases the Dunk High Premium in a simple tonal black upper, continuing with the Olympic/Chinese inspired theme which revolves around the number 8 and its associated images (i.e. octagons), . If you look closely, you'll notice the suede upper is intermixed with leather panels which feature the octagon theme. The shoe is then topped off with an all white midsole.
To complete the package, the sneaker also fulfills its role as a Premium release with a Zoom Air insole. Even thou you might be expected to pay a premium for this, I think it's well worth the money.




Pics courtesy of mita.

MVP, MVP, MVP...

It seems every week somebody is commemorating Kobe Bryant for his first-ever NBA MVP.
Nike has stepped in on more then one occasion, capitalizing on the marketable nature of Kobe. Products ranging from artwork to exclusive colorways of his performance ball shoes have been dropping left & right. Seen here is the Nike "Big Nike" model. Details include a black premium leather upper marked by MVP on the heel and highlights of gold. Also, Kobe's stats from last season are showcased on the shoe's insole.






Pics courtesy of Sole Collector

The Nike "Big Nike" Kobe should be available to every "true" fan of Kobe Bryant, myself included. But Nike...will be Nike. To fulfill the lifestyle aspect of things, this model is allocated specifically to friends and family with sources claiming less then 100 pairs produced. So basically, if you don't know Kobe personally...you will have to sell a kidney to acquire these.

THE BIG GALACTUS.....

MVP, Bitch! LMFAO! Classic!

CONVERSE SB?!

Who out there doesn't know Nike owns Converse?

So this should come as no surprise. Converse is jumping into the skateboarding scene. Launching Converse Skateboarding later this year, you can expect to see some classic models revamped solely for kick-flipping. Check out the sneak peek of these Converse Skate: Chuck Lows, featuring perforated leather & a black toe cap.

Another instant cop for me. These sneakers along with others will be available during the Holiday Season.

MORE OF THAT BAD BRAIN...

Vans is collaborating with Bad Brains again, but it isn’t a Supreme collabo anymore. Meaning these should be obtained with no hassle.

Bad Brains has done it big and got their own collection in the new Vans Spring ‘09 line. The collection features a Sk8 Hi and a Chukka. There will also be 3 shirts that will drop to match the collection. The Sk8 Hi comes in black with yellow contrast stitching and a Bad Brains hit on the side panel. The Chukka features an all gum sole, with a tan upper and red/yellow/green piping all around the shoe. I am sure these will be sought after so be prepared to check your local shops coming this spring.

Check the pics...

Pics courtesy of Offthewallsite.com

BIRTHDAY PRESENT...

Whattup, It's the one & only KickChick here to talk about those Jordans.

The next Jordan Brand Countdown package to drop later on this week 7/19 (on my birthday), is the IV/IXX. And you know I have to get these. You may ask why? Are you serious, The Bred IV!!!
First of all, this is an OG colorway of one of the most popular model of Jays. To a lot of people, the Bred IV is the best looking Jay period. Also for me, It's a colorway that I have never owned. I kinda wish my white/green pair was in better shape, but that's another story. As usual there's a bunch of people out there complaining about the quality of these new IVs, talking about the shape is off & stuff. I say GET A DAMN LIFE! Who the fuck has that much time in the day to analyze all that shit. Buy the shoe or don't buy it, but stop all that damn complaining, people!!! You can always go spend about $200 more on a 99' retro Bred IV. I just hope it doesn't crack on you with that first step. For all those undecided, check out the pics.









Those IVs will look so good on my lil' feet. Oh, the pack does include the Jordan IXX in an OG colorway. But I don't like the IXX, So why even talk about them?

Stay tuned for more pics when I have this package in my possession.

PIMPOLOGY...AT IT'S BEST!

Here's the LowDown...

Let me start off by saying Football is excluded from the conversation for many different reasons. Even if kids could turn pro out of highschool they are still not physically ready for the pros. But what is the difference between swinging at a ball with a bat, golfclub, or racket. Obviously you and I don't know, but the NCAA and A PIMP NAME SLICK BACK, I mean DAVID STERN knows. There is a rule that states athletes not student athlete's (LET'S CALL A SPADE A SPADE) must attend college for at least one year before they get to shake A PIMP NAMED STERN 's hand on draft night. I can go to Iraq straight out of highschool and kill for a living, but I can't break Queen James ankles in the Garden?! What am I missing? They can talk all they want about the quality of the game and today's athlete lacking fundamentals. I blame Air Jordan, David Stearn, NBA Gm's, and ESPN for the state of today's game. Don't even get me started on that. The NCAA, probably with green backs, convinced A PIMP NAMED STERN that a sport dominated by black athlete's needed to be pimp slapped and put back into it's place.

I watched ESPN the other day and they have 16 year olds playing golf. Major league Baseball teams sign players right out the womb. My 10 year old daughter is a couple years away from trading groundstrokes with the Williams sisters and doing commercials for Nike. Even European players don't have to go to college before turning pro. The thought is that they are protecting the players. But seniors don't go number 1 in the draft, freshman do. If I attend college for four years and I am not Tim Duncan, I obviously must have flaws for not turning pro. We don't reward, we penalize players for staying too long. This rule is in place to protect the college game and enhance ratings for the Final Four. I'm talking about a system that tells me Kwame Brown deserves to be drafted #1, meanwhile Carlos Boozer goes undrafted until late in the second round. Who is playing who?

A PIMP NAMED STERN makes rules up as he goes along, like what a player should look like on his way from the arena to his house. What kind of pimp shit is that?! Do you dress up to pick up the newspaper from your front lawn? Does your boss at work tell you what to wear to bed? A PIMP NAME STERN never hesistates to lay his pimp hand on his bitches whenever they do something he doesn't approve of. Garnett said, I don't want to go to Boston. A PIMP NAME STERN said, Shut the fuck up Bitch...Your going! Garnett packed his bags and immediately pledged his love for Cousy,Russell, Bird and Celtic Nation. No disrespect but I have never met a "black" Boston Celtic fan. Even Paul Pierce who wears Celtic green because they drafted him grew up a Lakers fan. Mark Cuban says something disrespectful about the NBA officials. A PIMP NAME STERN replies, Shut up Bitch! Where is my money?! $100,000 fine later, Cuban is put in a Bitch's place. Hopefully you understand my argument. This is all about money and control over Black athlete's. You don't see anybody complaining about white guys entering the NHL out of highschool and the fact you can only watch their games on youtube. Just some random thoughts I needed to get out.

I'm out like Andy Roddick in the first round.

CAN'T STOP, WON'T STOP...

First of all...let me apologize for the abundance of black & white Vans products that has been popping up on this blog. I don't know what's come over me. I mean, every other day...Vans this & Vans that. Black colorway this & black colorway that. How many different ways can you jazz up black. The shit is just................BLACK. Well, I surely don't mean to break any body away from that nice, bright, colorful Nike footwear that you've all grown to love soooo much. If that is what floats your boat, by all that is holy....DO YOU. Or as Nike would say, "JUST DO IT".
So I promise to try limited the amount of mundane colored, black items that I place on this blog...especially sneakers made by Vans.

But since we're on the topic of black Vans, I can't help but to mention my latest pick-up...These Vans J-Lays (designed by 80's skateboarder Johnny Layton). The J-Lay is Layton's first signature shoe with Vans, completely designed by him. Thou you might have spotted one of the tye-dye incarnations that dropped first, the pair I happened to purchase are the leather perforated ones. Peep the pics...

As you can see, almost the entire base of the shoe is covered in perforated leather for a classic touch. Laced in an all black colorway with white midsole, the perf leather J-Lays look amazing. Another nice and subtle drop from Vans....Oh shit! I done did it again............

Damn.

USAGROW...

Vans isn’t missing a beat with this collaborations, the latest is with Japanese Artist USUGROW. Usugrow’s trademark black & white illustrations, paintings and graphics of skulls and other dark matter have graced the covers of heavy metal, hip hop punk album covers as well as on a slew of apparel brands. The 3 sneakers that are being used as his canvas (Half Cab, Sk8 Hi, & AV Sk8 Low) are a reflection of the artist roots of course exclusively in black & white. Shit...I wouldn't have it any other way!

Additional pics courtesy of Skatehere.com

Those Usagrow Half Cabs are the best looking sneaker I've seen in a minute, Japanese lasering, midsole engravings, tumbled leather...str8 unadulterated, uncut, unlaced, piff! WOW......Spring 2009 can't come fast enough!!!

MORE BLACK...FOR THAT ASS....

Black Scale, the brand by Huf's Mega, is presenting their 4th season. The dark themed tees have an heavy focus on politics, religion and the government. Also with the Summer '08 collection, Black Scale continues to present strong messages through their graphics. I'm genuinely impressed with the brands illustrations but the deep message center point leaves food for thought. I'm diggin' this shit.

Manny Just Being Manny...My Ass!!!

Here's the LowDown...

Imagine this. Your sitting in your home watching Around The Horn waiting for your woman to give you that look that signals I'M READY LET'S DO THE DAMN THING, when your front door opens. In walks a motherfucker from work that your not friends with, but you know real well. He proceeds to tongue your woman down with reckless abandon and grope her like he's searching for crack. The sum' bitch then starts telling her that he is ready to go upstairs, so get rid of your company. Yes he's talking about your dumbass. This may seem a little over the top, but this is how I felt when Manny Ramirez (Boston RedSox) hit his 500th Homerun in our stadium (Oriole Park at Camden Yards) and proceeded to say he was glad that he could do it here in front of his fans, family and friends.

I don't blame Manny for being confused and thinking this is Fenway Park South. He has all the comforts of home except for the Green Monster. I blame Peter Angelos (Owner of the Baltimore Orioles) for Manny being confused. Jordan never called the "Garden" his home, Kobe never high fived Spurs fans while he was eliminating their team, Montana never kissed the star and pledged his love for Cowboy fans and Bird doesn't sit next to Jack in the Staples Center. A couple of years ago I took my daughter to the watch the O's play the Sox and I was scared for my personal safety. Keep in mine I grew up on North and Long, which makes Compton look like Beach front property, so I don't scare easily. All I saw was Oritiz, Schilling, Ramirez, Crisp, Varitek, Boggs, Rice, Yaz, Clemens jerseys being worn. I thought it was Redsox jersey give away night. They took over the stadium and threatened you if you dared cheer for the O's. Which brings me back to Angelos. He fosters this losing attitude. As long as he makes money he doesn't care who fills up the stadium. He ran off Davey Johnson and Pat Gillick who believe it or not, ran the club when we were actually better than the Yankees and the Redsox were not even an after thought. Right now Earl Weaver, Cal Sr., Brooks, Frank, Boog, Eddie Murray and even Joe Orsulak can't believe things have gotten this bad. The Orioles Way?! If you have to ask then I know it's truly gone.

A good friend once asked me if I think we will live to see another world series here in Baltimore. My reply is there's a better chance of HBO saying the last season of The Wire was all a dream and Omar is still alive. Nike will actually issue an apology to Baltimore for fucking up the Air Force I before we go back to the World Series. Canibus will go platinum before we go back to the series and Flavor Flav will actually find "real love" before we win a world series. One last thing the Arizona Cardinals and the Memphis Grizzlies will win championships before the O's.

I'm out like Shaq and McGrady in the first round.

SYNDICATES...

Here's some more recent pick-ups from yours truly. From the Vans Syndicate line comes the Vans x Steve Olson Pack (also called the V-79 "S") inspired by 70's skater and punk rocker Steve Olson. Nicknamed the "Olson Twins" due to the fact they come in hi & low models...both shoes feature a black upper with embossed suede snake skin, a white mid-sole and also a white toe-cap. Sort of Chuck Taylor-esque in design, I was impressed to the point that I had to get them both. Hi's for Jeans...lows for shorts.




But while I'm on the topic of coppings...let me NOT fail to mention a shoe I've been anticipating for some time, The Bash. In case your unaware, The Bash is the first shoe to be released this summer from Vans recent colaboration with japanese lifestyle brand W)Taps. Instead of adding to an already established Vans product, Tet of W)Taps was given full reign to design three all new shoes and stamp his brand on them. The first shoe to be released is the Vans x W)Taps Bash S, dropping in 3 colorways (White/Gray, Black/Blue, & Black/White). The Bash takes it's design cue from the 80's B-Ball scene & featuring a silhouette similiar to the Air Jordan 3. The Black/White colorway was copped by yours truly. Only one word needed...PIFF! Make that two...Fuckin Piff!



I passed up on the best Air Jordan Countdown Package so far this year in order to cop these Vans. But having to choose between purchasing the VII/XVI Jordan Countdown Package & A few Vans Syndicates that I will wear more than once this year...the decision wasn't that hard.

I'm good!!!

ASIA RELEASE...

I recently aquired some Asia drop Converse Jack Purcells, and I was sooo impressed by the craftmanship on all 3 pairs. Damn...Why is it the US can't get drops like these? All we get are canvas joints. Who am I kidding...I dig canvas Purcells also. But these Asia exclusives are str8 piff! Peep the materials...cracked leather, full patent leather, 3M?!







SWEEEET!