My boys Dee & Ricky and the masterminds over at +FRESH.i.AM+ have cooked up yet another finger-licking dish. The entree’ of the night was Le Alphabet Soup Hat. Luckily we had reservations, considering the chefs only offered the entree’ to 50 people. Thats right, there is a limited supply and not one is made just alike. With the varying placement of characters adorned over the black +FRESH.i.AM+ snapback, I left the table knowing what I just experienced was one of a kind. My date of the night was the beautiful bombshell, Lo Mitchell. More decadent than any dessert offered at the finest restaurants. We gave our compliments to the chef and a rating of 5 stars. Bon Appétit.
SHOP: Dee & Ricky | +FRESH.i.AM+
2012 has been such a great year. From the one year anniversary of our launch of The No Names to receiving job offers in NYC and of course the continuous support that makes what we do worth while. There are numerous things that have prepared us to enter the world as educated African American men who are able to overcome the barriers that may come our way. One in particular we refer to as “Mother Morehouse.” We were recently featured in the 2012 edition of the Man of The Year magazine for Entrepreneurship presented by The Maroon Tiger. This magazine highlights a few Men of Morehouse in the area of Art, Entrepreneurship and Athletics; just to name a few. It was an honor to sit down with The Maroon Tiger to discuss the brand we have created and some of the projects that we have in the works.
Just a week later the entire school marched into the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel to attend Senior Crown Forum. It felt amazing to be surrounded by all of our brothers who are on the journey of greatness. The video below directed by Nate Edwards of Live. Much. Productions gives you a better understanding of the spirited bond and tradition that Morehouse College is all about. Pay close attention to the 2:56 minute mark. For this is only the beginning…
Graduation is one week from today and preparations are in order. Yesterday morning, we attended my sister’s commencement ceremony at Howard University and my mother’s attire took me back to the runway. Coming from much more humble beginnings, my parents don’t really believe in luxury labels, but her dress made me think about the Dolce & Gabbana Spring 2012 RTW Collection.
The funny thing is, when I first looked at the runway coverage, I said to myself that this collection would be perfect for my mother and sister for my graduation day. The flowers, details, jeweling, and sheer material are all amazing. The collection is the perfect example of a Spring/Summer wardrobe. Since our ceremony is outdoors and all about celebration, I think the fun nature of the pieces fit perfectly. Of course, with all of the transparent garments and bra tops, some appropriate layering would be necessary and other pieces would be out of the question, but I think you get where my mind is at. Check out some shots from the collection below.
I’m back in D.C. for the weekend to celebrate my sister’s graduation from Howard‘s dental school and it’s been a nice “vacation” so far. Before her first ceremony this afternoon, my family and I stopped at Potbelly right outside of the HU campus to get a quick bite and they were right about two things: they offer good vibes and great sandwiches.
The setting was nice, the service was pretty quick, and the food was great. I had the Grilled Chicken & Cheddar with bacon, lettuce, mayo, and tomatoes. It was something like what I imagine they’d serve in heaven. Also, they had a live musician to add to the atmosphere. The whole experience was nice. They have other locations across the country, but I can’t guarantee that they’re all as good as this one. If you’re ever in the Washington D.C. area, add it to your spots to visit. I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.
Potbelly
2301 Georgia Avenue NW
Washington, DC
(202) 349-1611
[potbelly.com]
Tumblr is packed full of inspiration. There’s no question about that. Ask Kanye if you don’t believe me. Every now and then, I come across a page that I don’t just follow, but I bookmark as well. This time, I had to more than that. I had to tell people about it.
I’ve never heard of David Flou and I’m not sure exactly what he does, but all I can say is that he loves shoes, has a dope sense of style, is a fellow fan of Givenchy, and (if that’s even him in any of those pictures) runs with some [boss] individuals. His tumblr is Plain and Simple David, and although it is simple as far as the layout, it’s far from plain. This guy tells a story of lifestyle in his posts, whether they’re of him, the people around him, expensive clothing, or snarling tigers.
His tumblr is the perfect accumulation of [cool]. I’ve saved about thirty pictures already and I think I might be getting a major overdose right now. I’m going to force myself to give it a rest for a while, but I definitely recommend checking it out if you need some inspiration. It’ll remind you of some of the finer things out there worth working for.
au revoir
[exclamation]
-good-bye until we meet again.
The last two weeks have been a little crazy, but I’m excited to say that I’m finally done with my undergraduate career at Morehouse College. It’s been an amazing 4 years and I’m looking forward to what’s ahead. At the same time though, it’s a little tough accepting the fact that the people I’ve lived with and called family for the past eight semesters won’t be around anymore. This chapter’s closing and the characters have to change…
This weekend, I said goodbye to two of my favorite ladies in the AUC. We went to RA Sushi, my favorite restaurant in Downtown Atlanta, for Sunday lunch and enjoyed our final farewell. While it may be a second before we sit down for another meal together, I know our places in each other’s lives won’t change. It’s tough just the same though…
Unpredictable days are now my favorite kind of days! There is no other way to put it quite frankly. Last Friday started off in the barbershop for what I thought would be a pretty chill relaxing day (for a change). Of course it was nothing but a “thought”. My boys, also known as “The Hu$tle Twins” but better known as Dee & Ricky were in Atlanta for the weekend. We all know that their trip wouldn’t have been complete if we didn’t run around the city and cause a little chaos. We ate good, we drank better, caused a riot in the mall and even enjoyed Sangria and Pasta at dinner with the influential Kenny Burns. Yes, I was a bit tired but it wasn’t over just yet. Jovel and I headed to three of our favorite girls, The Yes Maams EP release party in Midtown to light up the night the best way we knew how. In a matter of hours we will be back at it once again. After a long week of productivity, we deserve it. Catch us if you can!
Clark Atlanta University‘s SpringFest celebration kicked off a few days ago and the event that I’ve been waiting for is finally here. Tonight is the annual spring fashion show and I’m super excited this year. The show is titled [Think Different], and as you all saw from my on-set coverage of the promotional photo shoot, it’s not your average production. What makes the show even more special to me is that the creative team holds a special place in my heart. I’ve had the privilege of walking in past shows put on by these guys and, although it’s been a while since I’ve seen one of their productions, I’m sure the quality hasn’t changed. A few of the team members actually worked on the first fashion show I was ever a part of. They really helped build my foundation in fashion and creative production. If you’re in Atlanta, cancel whatever else may be on your schedule. You’ve got plans.
Think Different: the 2012 CAU Spring Fashion Show
Clark Atlanta University | Vivian Henderson Gymnasium (Fair St.)
4.26.12 | Doors 6:30 | Pre-Show 7:30 | Lights 8
Free for CAU Students | $5 with a Valid College ID | $7 General Admission
Over the past year, my appreciation for rap and hip-hop has actually grown quite a bit. Part of this appreciation comes from experiencing unique and creative expressions of these genres, like the [Biggie Smalls x Lana Del Rey] mashup that dropped last month. Another influence comes as a result of reading Steve Stoute‘s book, The Tanning of America. It took me so much deeper into the world of hip-hop and taught me a lot about the culture that fuels the genre. The final catalyst is artists, like my friend Bryson Green, that have stayed true to what hip-hop and the rap art form is all about: telling stories, sharing truths, and connecting with others.
Bryson is a senior at Morehouse College and he’s actually one of my favorite people in our class. We stay down the hall from each other and one thing that I respect about him is that he stays on the grind. Whenever I walk past his room, I hear instruments being played, beats blasting (beats the he created), and dreams being formed. He’s turned our dorm into his own private studio. Knowing his background as a singer, rapper, musician, and producer, I was excited when I got my hands on his latest single, True Stories. At the same time though, because this was my first time really checking out his work, I was holding my breath as I pressed play… After I heard the first few bars, I relaxed.
[True Stories]
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His lyrics actually talk about something, which so many modern rappers in the spotlight fail to do nowadays. I think that’s been my main reason for not exploring more of the mainstream rap music out today: a lot of artists just don’t say anything. It’s nice to get something with some kind of substance; something with a story.
If you want to get to know Bryson, you can just listen to the track. Not just because the lyrics talk about his personal story, but because his flow and energy on record match his vibe in person perfectly. He’s the epitome of “a laid-back, cool dude” and there’s a lot going on in that brain of his. His upcoming EP, The Mind of Mr. Green, is set to drop at the beginning of May, and I’m sure it’ll be packed full of more of that BG swag.
We’re at the midpoint of my #AprilShowers week and I hope you’ve been enjoying the music. I can’t take credit for finding this next artist. I love it when people send me new music and artists to check out (especially when they actually have talent and quality work). One of my friends on Tumblr sent me a link to check out a new artist named Tyler Cymone and I was excited by what I found. Her (a) m u s e mixtape was released earlier this year and it’s definitely worth checking out.
Tyler Cymone’s a 20-year old triple threat (singer, songwriter, and dancer) from Los Angeles with a bloodline tied to the music industry. As the daughter of Wallace “Scotty” Scott, member of the long-running legendary R&B group, The Whispers, she’s been immersed in the industry all of her life; and now, she’s making her own mark on the world of music.
As I listened to the mixtape for the first time, I found myself continually moving and bobbing my head to the beat and really getting into her sound. Her musical style takes me back to a more authentic time in modern R&B (maybe mid to late ’90s) that’s been blended with subtle hip-hop elements and I love it. My best friend and I always talk about how we miss that old ’90s flavor in music nowadays, so listening to the EP these past few weeks has been like a breath of fresh air. The two tracks below are my personal favorites, but this 7-track collection of songs is all on point. Check them out.
[s h o o k (ft. Mobb Deep)]
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[Y o u'd b e (A) m u s e d]
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You can download a copy of (a) m u s e right now! It’s a quick listen and definitely worth it. Also, check out this article on Tyler Cymone from 365Voice to see some behind-the-scenes footage from her (a) m u s e photo shoot and to get a bit more background on the album.
A couple of weeks ago I was one of the five panelists for the [Welcome to Class II] Men’s Fashion Panel Discussion put on by Gentlemen State University. The discussion consisted of the essentials every man should own, how to prepare for the Spring/Summer season, grooming tips and of course many do’s and don’ts. There was a great turn out and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I would like to thank Gentlemen State University for the continuous support of [The No Names]. It is greatly appreciated and does not go unnoticed. Be sure to check out their website and get familiar with Gentlemen State University if you haven’t done so already.
TNN APPROVED: Spin [The Spinning Pie, Pizza Lounge]
Assignments were completed and turned in, class was dismissed and it was now time to get a quick bite to eat before my busy evening of photo shoots/concept meetings for the up and coming brand out of New Orleans; [Heartbreakerz]. Andrew, Tracy and myself headed to one of my favorite streets in Atlanta to see what [Spin] was all about. Wood panels on the wall, plush chic seating, plasma televisions and dim lighting throughout set the mood in all the right ways. The menu consisted of various kinds of pizza, pasta and salads made just the way you want for extremely reasonable prices. The customer service was superb and not once was my cup empty. I spoke to Ronald, the manger of Spin about some upcoming events that are in the works and I am eager to see the growth of this establishment. Go check the place out for yourself and tell ‘em [The No Names] sent you!
![[April Showers]: True Stories x Bryson Green](http://the-no-names.com/blog/wp-content/themes/bigfeature/library/timthumb/timthumb.php?src=/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/april-shower-x-bryson-thumb.jpg&w=220&h=140&zc=1&zcp=1)
![[Tears of Americana]: Dave White](http://the-no-names.com/blog/wp-content/themes/bigfeature/library/timthumb/timthumb.php?src=/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/tumblr_m1cnv29fH01qbv0tzo1_1280thumb.jpg&w=220&h=140&zc=1&zcp=1)
