Odd and Even

A lifestyle medium

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Childish Gambino deletes social media accounts

Childish Gambino has taken a stand by deleting all his social media accounts?

It has been reported that Childish Gambino has deleted all his social media accounts with no prior warning or explanation on 10th December, the one year anniversary of his Grammy nominated album, Because The Internet.

Childish Gambino has always been an artist to speak his mind especially on social corruption. He has spoke about his troubles where he finds himself to be “too black for the white and too white for the black” trapped in a sort of nomads land. His approach and way he expresses is often mis construed but to Childish Gambino he is just being himself, free and expressive. A few months ago he posted on twitter regarding the Ferguson, Missouri and online activism saying:

“Twitter isn’t wack. Activism isn’t wack. Twitter activism is wack to me. Its only half of activism”

I see him to as a very intelligent person so Im torn between an excellent marketing ploy or a great stand for what his believes in, either way I’m intrigued.

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Urban cyclists swapping spandex for streetwear

Urban Bikers gravitate toward style

A trend that seems to be emerging is the bikers opting out of the conventional and practical spandex wear and into the more stylish urban brands. With big brands such as Levi’s Jeans introducing the commuter range, it makes it more appealing to become with of those annoying cyclists in central London weaving in and out.

Levi’s Commuter C Change 511 Features:

Slim fit Reflective outseam U-lock holder on waistband Stretch fabric

I mean why not? Its got everything you could want, the ability to be mobile, safe and in style. I wouldn’t mind getting a bike from Sole Bicycles, getting items from the Levi’s Commuter range, zipping through traffic cutting up some bitter black cab who is probably upset because he had burnt his toast that morning.

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Dream But Do Not Sleep new products

Dream But Do Not Sleep release new products

Dream But Do Not Sleep is a brand we admire here at Odd and Even, making huge strides over the two years with big profile name features.

Recently releasing new products we have picked out two pieces we like.

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Atreebutes now available in America

Atreebutes reaches America

Atreebutes is a brand we stumbled across recently, founded by two Swiss Snowboarders Federik Kalbermatten and Nicolas Muller. This is brand very focused on their development process, their design ethos is as follows:

where the fibres of each of their textiles are grown

What nourished them in the ground

Who harvested them and milled and wove and dues the cloth

Which chemicals were they exposed to or spared from in the process of making our collection

The Atreebutes logo is two fingers down, its representing a lifestyle of fashion and living to the fullest. They aspire to make others live well as they do “Living well is more than buying (or selling) lots of stuff. Living well allows others to do the same.” Describing their pieces as supremely wearable, multi-functional and simple. Being the perceptive left hand to your right as you button your shirt I hadn’t even seen the pieces yet and I was sold.

This organic mens wear brand has high prospects for the future. Getting a taste from their limited stock online, we are certain the collection to come will be amazing.

Using the Global Organic Textile Standard, where textiles with a minimum of 70% organic fibres can be approved. Chemicals used such as dyestuffs must meet a certain environmental and toxicological criteria.

We see Atreebutes as a brand to watch, combining integrity with style. Now offering a limited release from the Jet Lag Collection for the first time in America.

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Supreme X Timberland

Supreme collaborate with Timberland and develop a winter necessity

This winter is definitely another cold one with temperatures already dropping very low. As mush as we are sneaker geeks here at Odd and Even sometimes a pair of classic Chuck Taylor’s are a no, especially with the rubber toe enhancing the ice block sensation, no offence Converse. Supreme have collaborated again to develop a winter essential developing a new version of the Timberland Field Boot.

Features:

Waterproof Horween® leather

Canvas upper

Suede collar

With the unpredictable weather over here in England I do believe I may be getting a pair of these bad boys, getting a sticky label and calling them ‘The December Preventers’ obviously just have to wait until December’s payday, he said unknowingly.

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J Cole performs Be Free on Letterman

With the recent events occurring in the US regarding unlawful killings by police officers, many people have decided enough is enough and have voiced their anger in different ways. One of the most publicised cases has been the Mike Brown incident in Ferguson, Missouri. As well as members of the public standing up and voicing their concerns for the policing in the US, some artists have too such as The Game with a record called don’t shoot featuring Rick Ross, 2 Chainz, Diddy, Fabolous, Wale, DJ Khaled, Swizz Beatz, Yo Gotti, Currensy, Problem, King Pharoah and TGT. J Cole also recorded a record which held a lot of emotion, where he didn’t rap but more gave a melodic heart felt interpretation of his anger to the Ferguson situation and others alike.

In his recent interview with Angie Martinez on Power 105.1 they discussed his recent performance on David Letterman of the Be Free record. Both described the performance to having an impact, Angie Martinez loved it as it drew out emotions and J Cole explained how nervous he was to perform the song, he wasn’t sure how it would be received by the audience.

The Be Free record wasn’t on J Cole’s album 2014 Forest Hills drive released less than a week ago regardless he still chose to perform the record on the David Letterman show. This would of been the perfect time to promote the first single off the album and this is what intrigued me to watch the performance for myself, as I had already heard the record when it was first released, felt emotional and commended J Cole for his efforts of visiting Ferguson during the protests.

This performance was one of the best I have seen, so simple yet holding so much value. Varying from the original record, adding a heart felt rap which he executed so well leaving Letterman near speechless and clearly in thought.

Watch the interview and performance below:

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Travis Scott – Drugs You Should Try

Maybe you shouldn’t try them but a great vibe!

Travis Scott a 22 artist/producer from Houston, Texas, signed to Epic records, T.I’s Grand Hustle and Kanye West’s G.O.O.D Music.

Travis Scott first appeared on the G.O.O.D Music’s debut compilation album Cruel Summer in 2012 as in house producer on

1. To the World

5. The Morning

8. Sin City

he then followed up in 2013 with his first project Owl Pharaoh

1. Meadow Creek

2. Bad Mood / Sh** On You

3. Upper Echelon featuring T.I. & 2 Chainz

4. Chaz Interlude featuring Toro y Moi

5. Uptown featuring A$AP Ferg

6. Hell of a Night

7. Blocka La Flame

8. Naked

9. Dance on the Moon featuring Theophilus London & Paul Wall

10. MIA

11. Drive featuring James Fauntleroy

12. Quintana featuring Wale

13. Bandz featuring Meek Mill

Which then brings us to his latest release and our feature track for the CD Deck, Days Before Rodeo.

1. Days Before Rodeo: The Prayer

2. Mamacita featuring Rich Homie Quan & Young Thug

3. Quintana, Pt. 2

4. Drugs You Should Try It

5. Don’t Play featuring The 1975 & Big Sean

6. Skyfall featuring Young Thug

7. Zombies

8. Sloppy Toppy featuring Migos & Peewee Longway

9. Basement Freestyle

10. Backyard

11. Grey

12. BACC***

Travis Scott – Drugs You Should Try

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Pusha T – Lunch Money Prod. Kanye West

Pusha T goes hard again!

Yes! Pusha T throws out an unexpected record called Lunch Money Produced by Kanye West. Kanye West’s production remaining unpredictable (maybe an indication of what is coming from him next?) Pusha T doing what he always does, going hard what everyone loves from him, why his first debut album – My Name is My Name was referred to as a modern classic by many. A couple years ago if someone had said Pusha T and Kanye West would have great musical chemistry I may not have been able to see the vision from two seemingly opposite artists creatively, well was I wrong, these two have the ability to develop masterpieces!

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Stalley – Problems

Hook A n**** got problems Sittin’ here, plottin’ how to count a million dollars I need houses and garages Got baby mama drama, get my mama out them projects

Ain’t got too many options So I’ma take one, double back and make a profit I need houses and garages Got baby mama drama, get my mama out them projects

Verse 1 I gotta get my mama out the projects So it’s lamas in the projects A n**** out here starving This rap better work, I’m playing n****s in that garden I came from that fridge with empty crates and milk cartons boy Belly achin’, walking with a 9 Should I shoot him down or just rob a n**** blind Only head shots, never catch him in his spine That’s what my block taught me, it’s a kill every time That’s just the mind of a kid trying to free his mom Out that two bedroom with five kids Malnourished, ribs touching, man this poverty a bitch So we slanging dope, ducking pigs, posted with them sticks Welcome to Ohio, where we hustle to live So it’s factory work Or we busting down and breaking if that ain’t gon’ work Then we run in your crib, cig smoking like Wiz One move, bump bump, put two in your wig Grandma pray for our sins, hoping God forgives But today is pay day, and all this broke ish gon’ end I swear all this broke ish gon’ end

Hook Verse 2 My baby on her last Pamper And her mama on my last nerve And I just lost my sneaker gig So you know it’s back to the curb My cousin got a bird, said he front me quarter key Told him, “gimme a week, I’ll be where I need to be” Now I’m penitentiary chancing on the block with my G’s Trying to clock G’s to feed my family And I don’t wanna do it but I’m in a tight squeeze Left hand full of stones, right hand got a tight squeeze On this hammer case a n**** try me Cops casing the block trying to lock me It’s hard here, nightmares ‘Cause I don’t want my kids to grow up here But it feels like a trap, all I do is trap here Everyday we hopping fences, dipping on twelve It’s like we running track here But I gotta get this pack clear Survival is the key Big ass crib with garages is the dream Ba-balancing flows, to balancing triple beams ‘Cause I ain’t never been a problem But something’s gotta give ‘Cause a n**** got problems

Hook Outro Blue collar, blue, blue collar x8

Stalley – Problems

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XXYYXX – Good Enough

Good Enough off the XXYYXX album

XXYYXX is an electronic musician and producer from Orlando, Florida who is signed to Relief in Abstract. Producing his music using Fruity Loops Studio and Ableton Live he has developed notoriety within the indie music scene at a young age, currently 19 and is a kid doing what he wants.

Watching an interview he describes his music as “Doing drugs on a freeway underwater” and showing more of his character in his interview with Noisey.

XXYYXX Album

1. About You

2. Good Enough

3. Fields

4. Set It Off

5. Alone

6. DMT

7. Breeze

8. Closer

9. Forest Fires

10. Never Leave

11. Witching Hour

12. Love Isn’t Made featuring Steffaloo

13. TIED2U

14. Overdone featuring Anneka

Today we have chose to feature Good Enough sampling the Classic TLC No Scrubs hit single

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Narek Gyulumyan

Narek Gyulumyan’s awesome Bear design

Have a look at his cool Bear designs, design process and produces below:

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Joe Bowers – Nike Roshe Run Paper Designs

Joe Bowers – Nike Roshe Run paper design

Joe Bowers pays tribute to his favourite brand – Nike. Have a look below for his design process and final results. Truly amazing

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Marcelo Schultz – Skull x Nike Concept

Marcelo Schultz Skull X Nike Air Max textures

A creative project by Christopher DeGaetano – Art Director, Jeff Wertz – Studio Director and Marcelo Schultz – Illustrator developing designs combining Nike Air Max textures with a Skull.

Have a look below at the what they developed:

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Orlando Arocena – Guardians of the Galaxy

Orlando Arocena develops Zoe Saldana’s vector from Guardian of the Galaxy

A definite one to watch is the talented Orlando Arocena, developing a vector of Zoe Saldana in Guardian of the Galaxy released 2014. Have a look below at the stages and the final produce.

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Skepta takes us back

Skepta showing money is not a everything

Skepta is a UK artist in the top five for his well structured grind from producer to producer/mc in my opinion. Starting off in the North London’s Meridian Crew with underground hits such as Private Caller, Skepta first came on my radar when he re introduced himself to the Grime scene as an mc willing to battle anyone. A memorable time was Skepta – The End going against SLK’s Flirta D and others. The point that stuck out to me was a line on a record where Skepta stated: “Really and truly that was the whole plan, I knew if I dissed one man I would have your whole crew saying my name while I finish my album, now I owe you one coz that’s third of my advertising done” From an early point Skepta’s intentions were clear and reaching success as an independent UK artist has been no accident.

Over the years releasing 7 projects:

Microphone Champion

Doin’ It Again

Greatest Hits

Been There Done That

Blacklisted

Are You Ready?

Make Peace Not War

Skepta has also been noticed for his sense of fashion, evidence suggests noticed is an understatement with his online pop up store collaboration with OUTBXD on a line called ‘Mental’ & ‘Violent’ selling out within 48 hours of opening.

This year releasing That’s Not Me which became a underground hit and won the mc a Mobo awards for best music video with a £80 budget, Skepta made a statement that I feel is interesting in today’s society.

That’s Not Me Hook:

Nah that’s not me act like a wasteman that’s not me sex any girl nah that’s not me lips any girl nah that’s not me yeah I use to wear Gucci I put it all away coz that’s not me True I use to look like you but dressing like a mess nah that’s not me

<iframe width="682" height="525" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/czLQoG01PFs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Since the release of That’s Not Me Skepta has released another record, It Aint Safe – featuring Young Lord. In the visuals Skepta continues his image by sporting clothing that someone else in his position may think twice to wear. I commend Skepta for this new approach as well as it being an excellent marketing scheme it also takes listeners attention away from the image and into the direction of lyrical content.

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Kendrick Lamar – i

Kendrick Lamar Loves himself

As a huge fan of music and new artists that come along Kendrick Lamar’s rise to a star was a joy to watch. After his huge success with his debut album ‘Good Kid Maad City’ where he took his experiences in Compton and created an audio masterpiece the next question was always “but will he be able to do it again?” The thing about debut albums is it has taken that person from they were born up to that point to develop, this is how artists tend to describe debuts themselves. At first I must admit I thought Kendrick Lamar couldn’t top such a great piece of work but then I listened back to a few of his mixtapes such as Section 80 and overly Dedicated (my favourite) I realised the growth and with every project Kendrick is progressing. This brings us to now, late 2014 where a few albums are due to be released, Kendrick Lamar releases i. The title gave no clue to how the song would feel or what it would even be about, the single cover was the only clue, a blood and a crip forming a heart with their hand and letter i in the middle.

After the first listen you’re mind blown by what you just heard, second time you’re still digesting so its by the third time I realised Kendrick Lamar has no confinements with music and is not afraid to express this. I hadn’t wrote an article about this sooner because I hadn’t actually heard Kendrick Lamar’s reasoning behind the song. Once listening to his interview on the Breakfast Club Power 105.1 (below) where he explained his reason, I began to feel the record even more. Taking from his Compton environment again Kendrick Lamar says he made this song for those on the streets and in incarceration who actually live the life rappers tend to portray who would rather listen to music that takes them away, this track is escapism.

See below his recent interview on the Breakfast Club and his official video for the record entitled – i:

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J Cole – FOREST HILLS DRIVE

J Cole FOREST HILLS DRIVE – announces new album title, release date and cover

It seems like only yesterday I first heard J Cole’s Warm Up mixtape, playing on repeat in my old black Peugeot 206. J Cole’s rise was interesting to watch, getting signed by Jay Z, having high expectations by all and releasing an amazing follow up mixtape – Friday Night Lights which was supposedly meant to be an album which it easily could have been. Still like all other fans I was waiting to hear the debut album, seeing if it was all too good to be true…. will J Cole go commercial? From tracks like “Who That” to then fear the worst when I heard “Work Out” which wasn’t a terrible record its just the implication it made of possibly taking the commercial route.

Cole World: The Sideline Story was released, I was excited but had mixed emotions as I felt he was torn between going one way or the other. Favourites from this project was:

God’s Gift

Lost Ones

Nobody’s Perfect

Im sure from the list above you can see the type of fan I am, a fan of his meaningful content.

Moving onto his second release – Born Sinner, I must admit I wasn’t as excited for but still remained privy to. When this project was released it was exactly what all J Cole fans were waiting for with Him producing the majority. I would pick out favourites but then I would be listing the whole album, yeah you are right, I can be a nerd.

Bringing us to this year with the talks of a collaboration project with Kendrick Lamar slowly fading after a listening teaser to the track called Temptation

A huge tease right!

Releasing a heart felt record post the Mike Brown Ferguson incident and record sales being low as the year comes to an end I’m definitely excited this time to see what J Cole produces.

Forest Hills Drive is the name of the area J Cole grew up in before moving to New York City to pursue his rap dreams. Now buying the first house his mum owned with the plan to rent out at small costs to struggling families J Cole has definitely put meaning behind this project.

See below the trailer and tracklist

Forest Hills Drive Tracklisting

1. Intro

2. January 28th

3. Wet Dreamz

4. Adolescence

5. A Tale Of 2 Citiez

6. Fire Squad

7. St. Tropez

8. G.O.M.D.

9. No Role Modelz

10. Hello

11. Apparently

12. Love Yourz

13. Note To Self