The New Footpatrol London Store

With much anticipation many have awaited the re-opening of London’s premier sneaker boutique, Footpatrol, which surprisingly to many, closed a couple of years ago, after having been on the forefront of independent sneaker culture in the capital for so long. The new Footpatrol London store will open this month and has been designed by the Wilson Brothers and Brinkworth.

“Designed by Wilson Brothers and Brinkworth, the design of the store is as much a one-off as the products within, all of which have been individually selected by Michael Kopelman, the original Foot Patrol owner and current Creative Director.

Based in London’s Berwick Street, the store’s understated façade is simply a prelude to what has been achieved architecturally within. A ‘second’ shop, complete with pitched roof, has been constructed to float within the store shell, assembled from an urban palette of recycled scaffold board for the floors, walls and ceiling, teamed with satin black steel for the fixturing.

A fully-mirrored end wall accentuates the intimate scale of the ‘inner’ store, playfully reflecting the linearity of the design as an optical illusion, that appears to extend the store rearwards as an infinite space. Clever concealment of lighting and services, behind the pitched roof cladding, allows for a unique, sliding ‘library-style’ product display system, which can be extended along the whole length of the store, or nested at either end to leave space for special events or promotions.

This blend of modularity and function, offset with an aged vintage backdrop, creates the perfect stage for the final detail. The original, revered Foot Patrol gas mask logo, housed within an aged metal frame and rendered in white neon, meets customers as they enter the store through the ‘transition’ space, the antechamber where the outer and inner stores meet.”

Photography: Louise Melchior.

True x Diamond: Native Leagues Project Volume 6

Diamond Supply Co. steps up to the plate to join San Francisco’s True for Native Leagues Project release #6. The concept behind the Native Leagues Project is for True to collaborate with some of their top brands in tribute to the legacy of Bay Area sports teams. San Francisco native Nick Diamond pays tribute to his hometown team in the Diamond way with this release, including several t-shirts and New Era fitted caps.

Native Leagues Project Vol. 6: Diamond drops this Saturday July 24th at Diamond Supply Co. Los Angeles, True SF, True East & online at trueclothing.net.

Lloyd Banks Lands Huge Victory In Canada Assault Case Thursday, Jul 22, 2010 11:10AM Written by Biz Jones

G-Unit's Lloyd Banks reportedly avoided jail time and fines after a judge dismissed charges relating to his January assault arrest in Canada.

The ruling was reportedly made last week in Ontario and confirmed today by Banks' attorney.

Last week, Justice Michael Epstein dismissed all charges relating to the January incident, which sparked headlines around the world. "Banks would like to thank his Canadian counsel, Patrick Ducharme, and the authorities in Ontario for doing 'the right thing," Banks' United States lawyer, Scott Leemon ESQ., said. "After a careful and neutral evaluation of the facts, it is good to see that the system actually work. With this finally behind him, Banks looks forward to coming back to Canada soon." (All Hip Hop)

Details on the brutal assault and Banks' arrest were revealed in early January.

New York rapper and G-Unit honcho Lloyd Banks has been arrested along with four other men in Ontario Canada. Banks, real name Christopher Charles Lloyd, and four others allegedly sequestered road manager and "Canadian booking artist" Chris Hines of Chris Hines/ Ultimate Ent in a hotel near Kitchener (Ontario, Canada) where Banks was scheduled to perform. According to accounts of the alleged incident, they assaulted Hines and left him to be rushed to hospital. Hines suffered a few minor lacerations as well as a bruised eye and a possible head trauma. Details will be posted as they become available. (Def Sounds)

Booking agent victim Chris Hines spoke out against Banks following the incident.

"It was at -- Ontario, [I was just the booking agent,] correct," Hines said in an interview. "There's a little more to the story, like I said, I don't want to get in to it too much. But the most accurate story of all of them is on MTV which has got put up right now. MTV.com, that's the most accurate of all stories. But he was paid in advance. We got into a confrontation of course, they assaulted me and kept me there for a little while. It was probably like for 20 minutes, 30 minutes. They had me there for quite some time. But so far, the things I'm seeing online, the most accurate is on MTV. Like, I worked for the guys for years and I don't really know what the f*ck they were thinking, if they were watching a movie earlier I don't know what that's about. The whole incident that night had nothing to do with me and everybody knows that." (Hollywood Street King)

Prior to being released from immigration days after his arrest, Banks' Canada-based counsel predicted the case would take over a year to resolve.

"There has been an agreement between the prosecution and defense for his release and the release for each of the individuals," Patrick Ducharme, Banks' legal counsel in Canada, said in an interview. "I expect for him to be released [Tuesday] morning. It's just a question of posting some bail...the case probably will proceed on the basis that it will be put over for three to four weeks for me to receive what is called the 'prosecutors disclosure.' That's all the information that supposedly supports the charges. Then three to four weeks after I've had the chance to review that disclosure, I would be prepared to set the date for the trial or preliminary hearing, depending on some procedural matters. The case will proceed through the courts. If it stays in the lower courts, it takes about a year and a few months to resolve. If it goes to the higher courts, it could be as along as a year and a half to bring the matter to court." (MTV)

LISTEN TO RICK ROSS "TEFLON DON" ALBUM

Releasing a rap album with a guest list that reads like the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 is a common move, but not without its risks. Big-name guests can move units and chart positions, but many rappers get overshadowed by their more famous counterparts, and the person who should be the lead winds up coming across as an understudy.

Rick Ross, however, avoids that impression on his new album, "Teflon Don," released July 20 on Maybach/Def Jam. It's no easy feat to hold one's own against Jay-Z, Kanye West, Drake and T.I., but Ross manages to keep the album's focus squarely on himself. Give a listen to whole album now.

More Rick Ross:

• Rick Ross Has Already Recorded Many Songs For His Next Album
• Rick Ross vs. Young Jeezy. The Debate Over B.M.F. Continues
• John Gotti's Grandson Mat At Rick Ross For Using 'Teflon Don' Title

Listen To 'Teflon Don' At Billboard!

"I'm fortunate enough to socialize with some of the greatest musicians around," Ross says. "So it made sense for me to go ahead and get them on my record. I wanted to pay attention to all the fine details on this album-I could have gotten someone no one had heard of to sing on certain tracks, but I wanted the best in the business."

With such an impressive list of guests and an outsize reputation to match his outsize size, it would've been easy for his label to sit back and let "Teflon Don" sell itself. But Island/Def Jam senior VP of marketing Chris Atlas says the label is rolling out an aggressive marketing effort.

"We took the fact that he had so many people working with him on the record and captured it on film and video, which we are releasing around the Web," Atlas says. "Rick has been working nonstop since the last record [2009's "Deeper Than Rap," which has sold 434,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan], feeding stuff to his lifestyle and street base. He's put out three or four mixtapes, and there is constant messaging to his core."

Atlas says Ross is on a 10-city promotional tour and making club and radio station appearances. Those visits seem to be paying off: The first single from "Teflon Don," "Super High," is No. 32 on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, while new single "B.M.F. (Blowing Money Fast)" moves 39-27 on the list. The video for "Super High," featuring Stacey Dash (whom Ross calls a "classy young lady"), has 900,000 views on YouTube; MTV, among other outlets, has just accepted the video for "B.M.F." The label will also release a limited run of Ross action figures, a nod to his passion for collecting them.

"Teflon Don" is also the subject of a heavy outdoor, online and TV advertising push. Atlas adds that Ross is starting to work with brands, due in part to his recent co-management deal with Sean "Diddy" Combs.

"We're opening him up to working with brands," Atlas says. "He did some smaller stuff before, and he's been doing some things with Ciroc [a vodka brand Combs endorses]. But now he's starting to attract attention from some bigger names. For instance, he's using the nickname 'Ricky Rozay,' so some champagne brands are expressing a desire to do something."

Ross is mostly concentrating on dispelling some of the negative press that has dogged him and steering the focus back to his music. He seems unperturbed when discussing a recent trademark infringement lawsuit filed by similarly named former drug dealer "Freeway" Ricky Ross. Ross the rapper says the suit was dismissed and even seems forgiving of the reformed kingpin, saying, "It's not personal. He's down on his luck."

As for a beef with Young Jeezy, Ross says it's a figment of the media's imagination. "I'm always a phone call away from Jeezy, and he's never called me," he says. He's also not planning on reigniting a long-running and often hysterically funny feud with 50 Cent, which at one point found 50 taking the mother of Ross' son shopping and Ross responding with gay-baiting dis tracks.

At this point, Ross would rather just enjoy the good life, cruising in his Maybach and getting his season tickets to see LeBron James play with the Miami Heat. And he offers advice to fans who haven't yet made it to the "livin' large" lifestyle.

"Blast my record out the windows of your Honda Accord," he says. "And if anyone gives you grief, you look them right in the eye and tell them Rick Ross told you wealth begins in the heart."

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Kanye West Should Make G.O.O.D. Music W/ Pusha T, Pharrell Says Wednesday, Jul 21, 2010 1:20PM Written by Cyrus Langhorneith

ith recent buzz about a speculated deal for Kanye West to work with The Clipse's Pusha T, the rappers' close associate Pharrell shared his thoughts on what this could mean for the duo.

Having been signed to Pharrell's Star Trak since 2001, the producer believes Pusha would make a nice fit alongside Yeezy.

"I think that's gonna be amazing," Pharrell said. "[Pusha] had been working with 'Ye. I told him, 'You should do that.' We made a lot of great records together, and we'll continue to make great records. I want him to grow and get other experiences out in the world. He's gotta figure that out. He's gotta go out there and see it. Make no mistake, lyrically, that kid is one of the greats -- him and his brother. Lyrically, those guys are really serious. They're well-respected by all of the good dudes. Jay-Z loves them, T.I., Jeezy loves them. All of your favorite rappers, they appreciate a Pusha line or a Malice line. They do. I'm saying with respect for all those artists -- I work with those artists. I know the conversations we had. They like what they do. It's been a long time coming for Pusha and what it is he's trying to do. He's gonna get it. And Malice too." (MTV)

Pusha stirred up some speculation with numerous "good" references and Hawaii in a recent interview.

"That's just a good day," Pusha said in an interview about dropping a mixtape on Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music Day in September. "A great day for music, but it's a 'good' day. I mean, you know. I been to Hawaii. Hawaii is a nice place. Good music is made down there, ya know. So, yeah, I was there. I can't say too much about that. I think everybody's gonna be in for a big surprise. A very big surprise." (MTV)

The rapper's upcoming Fear of God mixtape will also reportedly feature production from West.

Pusha T will release the street album on the same day that Kanye West and his fellow G.O.O.D. Music signees, Kid Cudi, Consequence and Big Sean will release their respective albums. The upcoming mixtape is reportedly set to feature production from West along with all original verses, making it worthy of joining ranks with the highly-anticipated G.O.O.D. Music drop date. (The Boom Box)

G.O.O.D. Music's GLC recently clarified speculation on whether or not the company was a record label.

"G.O.O.D Music isn't a label for one; a lot of people have the misconception that G.O.O.D Music is a label but really it's basically a family and like a production company. What they do is you get a distribution deal and if you're a G.O.O.D Music artist, then you come out on G.O.O.D Music and the distribution deal. Whoever I decide to do my deal with it will be through G.O.O.D Music because I'm a G.O.O.D Music artist." (Hip Hop DX)

Trey songz ft Nicki minaj bottoms up

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ZRO,Drake Mo cit da don.....TX STAND UPPP

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better than DRAKE AND LIL WAYNE new artist of the week....

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Rodrick Rainey Presents: Style 101 With Wiz Khalifa

Rodrick Rainey Presents: Style 101 With Wiz Khalifa from SoJones.com.

SoJones founder, Rodrick Rainey got the chance to interview one of hip hop’s biggest names: Wiz Khalifa. The rapper, who just released his mixtape “Kush and Orange Juice” last April, shared his views of style down to the details. Turns out that the Pittsburgh-Pennsylvania rapper isn’t too picky when it comes to clothes, he shops [...]

SoJones founder, Rodrick Rainey got the chance to interview one of hip hop’s biggest names: Wiz Khalifa. The rapper, who just released his mixtape “Kush and Orange Juice” last April, shared his views of style down to the details. Turns out that the Pittsburgh-Pennsylvania rapper isn’t too picky when it comes to clothes, he shops basically anywhere.

“A lot of boutique would be like ‘Yo Wiz, come through, shop here and get some clothes’, so sometimes they just give me sh*t”

Aside from the perks of being a popular rapper, Wiz also highlighted some of the labels near and dear to himself such as The Hundreds, Crooks and Castles, Upper Playground, Juggernaut, Motivation, Time Bomb and surprisingly many more. And despite his hip appearance, Wiz is apparently the classic one when it comes to kicks:

“My favorite shoes of all time is Chuck’s of course.”

Wiz Khalifa is not only about shoes, he’s also a tattoo guy and right on his left leg peeks a Mutant Ninja Turtle.

“It’s Donatello, man. That’s the brain of the operation, dude.”

Check the video for the full interview. Meanwhile, in recent Wiz Khalifa news, the star stated that he was working on a new album but he had not yet decided on a label to distribute it and is weighing his options. Wiz will also be performing at the 2010 Rock the Bells festival, along with fellow famous faces in hip hop: Wu-Tang Clan, Snoop Dogg, Lauryn Hill, A Tribe Called Quest, Rakim, KRS-One, Jedi Mind Tricks and Slick Rick.

Streetwear Catch-Up Session: Stall and Dean + GIVEAWAY

Stall and Dean has been a label near and dear to streetwear fans, especially those who love the classic collegiate look. After a heavy pop culture influence on their Fall/Winter 2009 collection, Stall and Dean hits SoJones with their latest collection: Spring 2010. Check SoJones’ catch-up session with Rikers from Stall and Dean.

What’s up Stall and Dean? How’s 2010 so far?
So far So good. I mean we all feeling the economy pinch, but we have our loyal consumers, plus we still have some of the hottest outerwear especially quality so our loyalist stay with us.

What’s the biggest-selling item of 2009-2010?
Hard to really say because many of our pieces did well. Like our Cardigan sweaters which featured the leather looking buttons, but we flipped it by adding a snap. So instead of a loop close, it snapped closed. Our Griffin Jackets did exceptionally well too. We did a Leather body with Knitted sleeve for the Ivy Leagues, these were well received.

We didn’t want to sell a $500 Varsity in a bad economy so we we moved these for half the cost. Our entire kids collection sold well. We did limited cuts and we would have orders for 2x w/ a matching 4T or 5/6 so we knew fathers and sons were matching it up like twins!

For womens our Military and Ivy League hoodies moved great as well. We used the sporty everyday fit and women loved it. The item the surprised me was our Ultra light jackets. We did them in a 90% down but due to the popularity of Moncler I was wondering how they would move but stores spoke to me stating they had success with our Pink and Red jackets because its the same quality as Moncler but for almost $500 cheaper. So girls would buy 3 at a time in different colors. That was a surprise of the year for me.

What will we see in your Spring line? Any highlights?
For Spring, we are offering more satin-lined, lightweight jackets. With the seasons seemingly shifting, we anticipate colder weather until probably even May. People still will need to stay warm. We expanded our Spring to feature childrens as well 2T-11/12. We have also increased our sweater output, this is for more of our southern accounts and midwest because they can stay in a sweater all day. The key is we are dropping something were calling the hoodless hoodie. It has all the functions of a hooded sweater, front waist pockets, waist ribbing but it will not have the Hood. This has been received well by stores. It allows you to have that heavy sweater but be fashion forward the same time.

Any celebrity endorsement for 2010?
Its funny, I don’t think we ever had any…haha. Think they just wore it because they liked it. I mean with Stall and Dean, we’re the only brand in that can say they’ve dressed the National Hockey League, Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Jay-Z, T.I., Kanye West, 50 Cents, Shaquille Oneal, Lebron James, Lou Gehrig, had DJ Drama on the cover of Billboard magazine, Chris Brown, J. Holiday, Trey Songz, Jeezy, Bobby Orr… I mean with that list, that’s historical.

Any preview or hints on your Fall 2010 line?
I can’t even give you Fall hints because they design this stuff literally top secret so it takes me basically late May to know what’s instore…haha. But we still have the Ivy League license so we will still give the consumer the best quality on the market like we’ve done the past 110yrs.

Any upcoming collaborations with other brands?
Being a 112 year-old company, it’s very difficult to put things together with other brands, but we have been in works with Flud Watch to create a limited edition watch to work along with our fall pieces, but other than Flud were still looking for the right fit.

Check Stall and Dean’s latest collection at www.stallanddean.com. Below are some of our favorites:

Deréon Bedding Ready To Glam-Up Your Bed

Don’t you just love this mother-daughter team? Just a few months ago, SoJones reported that Beyoncé and her mom, Tina Knowles, were coming up with a bedding collection for your room and let you in on the big news. With only two pictures from the previous post, you might still be wondering: just how great the designs are. Well, here are some more look at the newest indulgence, courtesy of Vibe.com:For Tina Knowles, this is not just another business opportunity, she is actually not a bedding rookie. Tina has been designing home linens for a long time for her family and friends.

“I’ve always done my bedding and (bedding) for friends and my daughters. I designed bedding and draperies, and I love home, so it’s been a dream to do the bedding. I mean it’s been an interest of my daughters as well, because they designed their own bedding, and you know, it’s just a fun project.”

The beddings feature rhinestones and detailed pin tucking, and also beautiful patterns on a high-quality material. There will be 2 bedding lines available: House of Deréon which has a more mature look and Deréon which is more contemporary. House of Deréon will be retailed at $149.99 to $199.99, and the Deréon Bedding Collection will range from $49.99 up to $99.99. If the price doesn’t convince you to get them, Tina Knowles tells you why you should get the glamorous beddings.

“Well, I think that the one thing that they should look for is something that they’re going to feel really relaxed and serene in, because your bedroom is your sanctuary. Even when I was a teenager or a young adult, and I didn’t have any money, my bedding was nice, and I would splurge on that because that’s where you lay in bed and you get a lot of your comfort from. You should look for something that’s really comfortable that makes you feel like a queen. I think these beds reflect all different personalities.”

Maybe you’ll need some time to figure out your glamorous bed linen personality, but we bet you won’t take as much time to decide on which Deréon fashion item to get this summer. Let Tina Knowles and Beyoncé dress up your bedroom, while you dress up yourself. SoJones editors have composed an all-Deréon outfit for you, available on Dr. Jays: