Avenues Out Of Adversity: Darren Harper Interview

Over the years, I’ve read countless interviews with skateboarders who seem to be riding the sponsor wave until it crashes. They speak candidly on the fact that they wake up day to day and skate if they feel like it. Darren Harper is not one of those skateboarders. Darren not only skates, but is a father who involves himself in charities, records and performs different kinds of music, and stays involved in his local skateboarding scene. When speaking with Darren, you understand that his family, friends and community are the things that are important to him. Coming from the ghetto of Washington DC, Darren shows us that there are multiple avenues out of adversity and every lane is worth dipping into as long as you maintain a knowledge of what you come from and where you’re going.

Y-3 Autumn / Winter 2010 Campaign [Video]

Y-3′s Autumn / Winter 2010 campaign once again features world soccer star Zinedine Zidane.  Shot in black and white, showcasing their new seasons collection, giving the garments a platform to showoff their movement and lifestyle features in real time.

Manny Pacquiao x Bloc28 Mad Mickey

Per the Creative Minds at MINDStyle.com:

“In celebration of Team Pacquiao opening their new store in Robinson Mall, Manila Philippines on August 8, 2010. We are pleased to announce the pre-release at this years San Diego Comic Con. A limited amount of figures available each day. The figures come in a beautiful packaged gift box together in a Team Paquiao shopping bag. The figures include a collectors card for SDCC only, we have made sure that the collectible set comes with the matching card numbers. These highly collectible figures are only available in the USA, officially at SDCC or at Team Pacquiao Stores in the Philippines. Limited to 300 of each respective figure. The Philippines exclusives will be available for USD $250 for each respective figure with the pair available at MINDstyle’s Booth #4437 for USD $500.”

Crossing fingers for this weekend that spare Comic Con passes come my way!!!

Nike x St. Alfred’s x HYSTK™ – “Dream On”

Living in Chicago, I run into all different types of people from different career paths.  Chicago is most definitely home to some secret gems.  One of them is the  multimedia production company called HYSTK™.  HYSTK™ created this video in collaboration with the Nike’s St. Alfred’s pop-up store.  A nice concept and tribute to the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.  Be sure to Follow HYSTK™ via Twitter for more great videos.

LeBron James Makes His Decision [Video]

The anticipation is finally over!!! During this moment, I think a lot of people had to pick their jaws up off of the ground based upon his unexpected decision to play for the Miami Heat franchise team.  Well, one thing to remember James is a basketball player and a business man. Although, I would’ve like to see him play for the Chicago Bulls.  It will be interesting to see how this team plays next season with three of high-scoring players in NBA.  Will we see a Kobe and Shaq moment between Lebron and Wade?  On to the next season 2011.

NBA #1 Draft Pick John Wall [Video]

On June 24, 2010 John Wall was drafted in to the NBA as the #1 pick of the year.  He was drafted from the NCAA collegiate basketball team of the University of Kentucky.

Wall is only 19 years old and will be the captain for the Washington Wizards team. He has already signed an endorsement deal with Reebok. John Wall’s first commercial for Reebok’s ZigTech Slash shoe is posted below.

The Very Best – “Warm Heart Of Africa” [Video]

Diplo’s Mad Decent label holds artists from all over the world. One of them is the group The Very Best which brings some awesome music to the table. This song features Ezra Koenig (the African Phil Collins). Since, the 2010 FIFA World Cup is taking place in South Africa, I thought this would be a perfect way to pay homage to that accomplishment. The collaboration of the producer Radioclit and Malawian-born, London-based singer Esau Mwamwaya make up The Very Best. Enjoy more music by downloading The Very Best Mixtape.

DOWNLOAD LINK: The Very Best Mixtape

Paul Rodriguez & Don Pendleton Green Label Art Collaboration

From Transworld:
“We were invited up to Los Angeles recently to film some behind the scenes for a Green Label Art commercial starring Paul Rodriguez and Don Pendleton. We even got a few words from them after the shoot. The GLA Shop Series program for Mountain Dew is a national contest that kicks off in June. Paul and Don’s custom can celebrates the launch of the program and will be available exclusively in participating shops. This contest will allow shops to work together with a local artist to design a custom can featuring their shop and then people can vote for their favorite design at greenlabelart.com starting June 25.
There will be seven finalists announced at the Salt Lake City Dew Tour, and the final winner will be announced during the last summer Dew Tour stop in Vegas. The can will be distributed nationally in 2011, which is huge exposure for the skate shop.
The mural featured in the commercial with the design inspiration from their can, and will hang in Paul’s warehouse in L.A.”This seems like a really cool project and it is cool to see a clash of someone considered mainstream, Paul, and someone considered core, Don. Don made the point that he made sure the project was to be done right and that only real shops were in the line up before he would do the project. I like how he said that, considering the fact that I write for Alli Sports (the people who run the Dew Tour) and like him, I make sure I write about the skateboarding that I feel is important. Another thing I like about this project is that it seems to be a step closer to better relationships between the skateboarding community and the corporates and I hope to see more mutually benefical projects in the future.

For more skateboarding, check out Ohio Skate University.
Also, check out my latest post over at Alli’s Expression Session.

Louis Vuitton FIFA World Cup Trophy 2010 Travel Case

Louis Vuitton was commissioned by FIFA to create a special order case designed to carry the FIFA World Cup Trophy.  The detailing on this case is just stunning from Louis Vuitton’s signature brass locks and corners, to the custom keys.

SOURCE: OVERDOPE

Creative Control x Stalley x LeBron James [Video]

Stalley links up with Cleveland Cavaliers DJ Steph Floss, Eighty81, and the homie LeBron to watch his hometown team battle and has his song “Do It Big” played at a Cavaliers game for the first time.