Entering the 'age of play'

I've recently read this amazing artist from one of my key mentors, the great Mr Ajaz Ahmed. Looking at the evolving practicality of utilising video gaming as a medium for marketing, Ajaz looks in depth at the business that is now bigger and mightier than Hollywood. I've long been a fan of in game marketing, mentioning it in a interview I did with the Guardian over a year ago, lauding the effective subtlety of adverts within games. With such complexity to games such as Grand Theft Auto, marketeers have the ability to not only market effectively whilst an audience [which is largely a hard to reach, younger audience] offers full concentration to the game, but to also confidently speak to its consumers in a way that will much more easily grab, and keep, their attention.

Take a look at the article here, it's genius.

Image taken from here.

Today was a good day...

Just came across this brilliant ad from Nike SB in conjunction with the third release of the Paul Rodriguez Nike SB skate shoe. Combining picturesque scenery, fantastic tricks from P.Rod himself and the 'Today was a Good Day' soundtrack, alongside a cameo from Ice Cube himself, the video is a brilliant minute of ad that I wished I saw more of. Straight out of Nike's Innovation Kitchen, take a look at the video here.

Pretty pic huh?

Twelve Bar

If you hadn't heard of Twelve Bar before, you sure will in the coming months. Created by ex Londoners Nick Jackson [ex-Maharishi] and Damien Webster [of Clique n’ Move], Twelve Bar has had an excellent lease of life since it’s emergence on to the streetwear scene a few years back. Mixing casual workwear with leisurely streetwear, Twelve Bar has both some great stand out pieces and some excellent wardrobe fillers. Now based in LA since their move from London, the brand has benefited and excelled by mixing up the different style influences from these separate surroundings, blending these cultural styles both efficiently and effectively. Built upon the creation of things that they love [hence where the heart logo and the tagline ‘It’s All Love’ has come from], both founders are heavily influenced by their joint adoration of music – something that is extremely important in their apparel design and outlook on life [their website is also reflective of this, whilst their ties to some of the best emerging and established artists displays their authentic love of music].

Good quality, well made and fairly priced, Twelve Bar is definitely worth a prolonged look, with some of their pieces being truly stand out, a reflection as to why the brand is so popular stateside. Being the excellent blokes that they are, Nick and Damien have sorted me out with a discount code for anything on the online site - a promotion which I plan to extend to my friends and assorted readers.

Take a look at the amazing website here and please do get in touch if you’d be interested in taking advantage of the code.

It’s all love. Image taken from the website.

T.Magic x Nike iD

To celebrate the success of artist and entrepreneur extraordinaire T.Magic has twinned with Nike iD to collaborate officially for the first time. With a tee/trainer pack for the ever popular ‘success is my destiny’ pack, and another for the ‘hope for the best prepare for the worst’, T.Magic has again cemented himself as a luminary of the UK’s creative scene.

Check out the packs, and more from the man, here.

Image taken from the site.

What's Good

For what will surely be a great weekend, What's Good is going to cap off an excellent Saturday of festivities. With temperatures soaring, and so much happening this weekend, Whats Good will be an excellent opportunity to shake a leg and to vibe to tunes from some of the biggest DJs in the capital. Sponsored by New York clothing company 10 Deep, and organised by music maven James Rubin of the Agency Group, expect a great combination of tunes, fashion and people to make for what will be one of the best regular nights in town.

Check out details on the, very well designed, flyer or the Facebook here. Nice, nice.

Party n' Bullshit

The love child of two of London’s luminaries, Merrick Johnson and Theo Oliver [aka celebrated DJ Motive] have decide they want a change from the usual Dalston ‘cool kid’ rave and so Party n’ Bullshit was formed. With an impressive line up of DJs including Motive himself and Yoyo’s Seb Chew, culture vulture duo Tim and Barry and Maharishi’s Gigolo Knight. The night will be focused on fun, debauchery and the appreciation of good music, and will, importantly, be open to all n everyone. Held in Dalston’s 512 Kingsland Road venue, Party n’ Bullshit promises to be a resounding success – come join in the merry tomfoolery this Friday evening. Sweet.

Details above on the flyer and here on Facebook.

The return of Crossover

Crossover finally returns to the streets today as a new range of product have been dropped via We Are HQ. Taking a break from the game, Crossover, HQ and Slammin Kicks mastermind Magdi Fernandes has decided it’s time to bring back the brand so famously endorsed by the likes of Jay Z and Lupe. Not only that but the tees are only a glimpse of what is to come as Fernandes promises big things for the future of the underground streetwear label.

Check out the newly renovated HQ site too – expect big things from both the site and Crossover. Take a look at the tees here.

Image taken from here - thanks.

Boom Bye Bye IV

The fifth installment of Boom Bye Bye looms this evening as a heavy schedule of pre weekend raves look to kill off my youthful energy before I even get to Saturday. 512 Kingsland Road again plays host to the hustling bustling night run by the East End Princess as an amazing line up of DJs, including Acyde, Blaise Belville and the WAH crew , spin the night away. Kicking off at 10 PM be sure to be there early.

Got Got Need: Part Three

Preparing you all for a night of swapping induced mayhem, Got Got Need returns to us for the third installment of the popular night. A free BBQ, good music and loads of great swaps shall ensure the Macbeth will be a bustling, busied night as Got Got Need, brought to us by BNTL's talented Ollie Danger, promises to be a fun packed night of vibes, good peoples and fantastic films.

More info here.

Shaniqwa Jarvis

A fantastic photographer, the extremely personable Shaniqwa Jarvis’ photography immediately caught my constantly wandering eye. With beautifully ranged photographs, Jarvis’ strength lies in her ability to not only capture the individual’s minimal moments beautifully, but to also make them both real and honest. The calibre of the people she has photographed points to her fantastic technique with a camera in hand.

A well respected, experienced photographer, Jarvis has finally finalised a certified online presence so check out her new site here.

Image taken from the site.