Thursday, November 22, 2012

Politics from the Corner: The Next 4(Fo) lets aim for AUTONOMY

Ok so what does the recent victory we celebrated for the presidential election mean for us? The extremist on the left say a welfare party and on those on the right say more money to the rich. Lets get that notion out of our collective minds. Lets focus on money being less concentrated and spread a little more evenly. Don't forget our place in the pecking order. We are set to eat after the majority is done with their third plate. Which is why I stress we learn more about investing and building businesses, it's time for us to start headed toward autonomy. I personally know plenty of people at retirement age that are still scraping by. Real rap we need to sharpen out hustler mind and evolve. Lets not fall victim to the advertising pressure from the media, put that shit down you don't need and let's feed future generations and stop this dependency. If you ain't convinced them folk don't give a shit u deaf dumb or blind it all three. Lets go...lets mobilize

On the contrary: affordable fashion!!!

Vest by H&M $50, Corduroy shirt by Old Navy $30 .....the look on the chick that came with her dude that sweatin you!! Priceless

Monday, November 19, 2012

The Leather Blazer: only if you wanna be the fuckin man

Mandatory for the Cool. This is dope peddler circa '82. This good fellas mafioso. It says "I'm here to wack you!"

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Denim and Cords

A fall classic. A real metropolitan look.

Monday, October 8, 2012

Fall '12 Look #1

Will be capturing people in the street . BOLO!!

Monday, September 24, 2012

Politics From The Corner: Run Dolo

Earlier this week wifey copped me a shirt that read 'Run Dolo'. I thought a lil deeper on this saying and its implications because u can't do anything solo. I thought about it and how it pertains to my hu$tle and my grind. In my early 20s I imagined a scenario where me and "my niggas" would grind, stack paper up, and eat. I never had the gift of discernment so who ever was in my circle was my team. To me, a team focused on a goal was the path to the American Dream. But like the time old saying goes "the devil is in the details". Never thought twice about team dynamics or anything about personnel contribution/value. When I set out on my path to assemble a team and start my entrepreneurial endeavors, I made a lot of assumptions. Some of my False assumptions include 1.people want money 2. People "get" the big picture 3. People will concentrate their focus and work.... I use the term people b/c my team was as randomly selected as it could be. Long story short, the project imploded. On my part due to a lack of foundation and fore planning and my team was in every direction but up. And this is what lead me here; feeling that a team has to carefully chosen, the leader has to have a plan prior to any move, and the ambitious trial and error strategy is only for savvy business men with actual business acumen. So until circumstance or God Almighty sends U fool team of go-getters its best to RUN DOLO.

The Velvet Blazer

A staple in men's fashion! When it's time to turn up pimpin....this is a regal look that a muth$&&a can't tell ya nothin if done correctly. With the denim , t-shirt, or the slacks. There are a multitude of variations for this look. Leggo !!!

Fashion Icon: Jim Jones and Team Dipset

When you & your team's style & swag influences an entire generation you are inducted as a FASHION ICON. Killa Cam, Jimmy, and Juelz put u on to the belt chainz, fitted Ts, couture denim, scarves, Louis rags, and a bunch of other shit. Jim finally smartened up and got into the world of apparel. It can be labeled urban alternative or rock star schwag. Remnants of dipset style still is a huge part of hip hop and the urban culture as a whole. So let's salute the team for splashing the world

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Politics from the Corner: You Rebelling against society? The system? Or yourself?

I work as a site manager for a security company. I am also employed as a bouncer at a gentleman's club. In addition, i am a student working towards my MBA, father (active), and husband....aka I do a lot of shit. Life for me is pretty simple, i want to position myself to make a good salary and raise my chirren. I was fired from my last gig but it didnt make me lose hope in seeing a Win on my terms one day. Just sitting around was never my style, or being stuck in lower-middle class purgatory. When I'm out in the city, I see blacks in droves working in a service capacity or in a labor intensive blue collar role. Last night I saw a televised news report about the Dekalb County employees being underpaid and being paid less than when they started, some claiming 10+ years of service, my question is: how the fuck you sit on that dum ass job for 10years with out promotion or more education then when u started. On the other hand, I see many adult aged blacks wondering aimlessly in the streets, I suspect due to some type of drug addiction....this brings me to my point, what the fuck we doin? I know we run into bad luck but how are we this fucked up where u only see us in the section 8 line, we fill up the county jails (even in white counties), and we are the most reviled group in the atl metropolitan area. It is my belief that this is a percentage the fault of the system and a larger percentage our own fault. I work at the villages of carver off pryor rd (formerly carver homes), the city invested millions to rebuild that community through reconstruction of the local schools, living quarters, and adding a recreation facility. But of course, as you know, the area remains one of the most poverty stricken and crime ridden in the city. We shun education and any forms of civility but rather live like savages. And you can't blame it on the distribution of wealth, because I know middle class individuals that prefer welfare over employment, prefer to sit at home all day, prefer to pursue pussy over a living, prefer intoxication over a sober mind (I'm talkin for 75% of a day). I don't know where I'll end up but I damn sure know bullshittin won't land me where I want. you ask me I think niggaz is hidin behind thuggin as a reason to be lazy. Real talk my nigha I will rake yards before I sit at a gas station and bum cigarettes or ask a mofo for some spare change. Before I get into the grind series of this section I just wanted to plant a seed in my readers mind. Life is big business, in a minute we gone be boxed into a real fucked up position, and that's word to Romney

Fashion Icon: John Kennedy Jr.

So he graced the covers of numerous men's fashion magazines, was romantically linked to countless starlets, and was a full blooded aristocrat. JK Jr.rocked the Kennedy curse like non-other. Lucrative business deals and paparazzi ducking was as common as brushing teeth to this guy. So don't ask me why I got ol John John listed as a fashion icon. Sheesh the guy has been hounded by the media since birth and like Jordan's hoop career has consistently Merked photo opps since he was in the carriage. He passed after a short 39 years here with us but his sense of style will live on for generations to come. He made this shit look easy

Fall Preview

Went shopping for my Black MBA conference trip, caught a nicely cut slim fitting suit by Hilfiger. Stopped by Banana Republic to take a peek at my annual cardigan purchase. Of course since I'm friggin 275lbs I gotta order online but it's a must have. Here are the highlights of my trip

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Politics From The Corner: Finance Your Dream

So readers could you define the American dream? I'm plenty educated with a healthy amount of ambition, but the system seems to have predetermined career destinations for the qualified black male. Government agencies, mid-level management, or a lower rung of a logistics operation are typical positions we fall into. As we seek fulfillment from such mundane roles, complacency sets in and reality is ain't no corporate body electing us to run these companies. So where is our top? Where are the fruits of the 30 years we contributed to the company? Let me answer that, foooogetaboutit!
Our W has always come from entrepreneurial endeavors! So my agenda has always been to attain the education&experience to get IN and make the money to get OUT. And ultimately we gotta build infrastructure and create inroads for the youth, cuz most our young don't even have a blueprint to follow so they major influence is these dumbass rappers and sell out athletes (eg. Charles Barkley & Micheal Jordan) ....If we shoulder the weight of our ancestors and push our own agenda I believe we can make this black race one of sustenance. We need to present a unified front to see any real change. I'm not even talkin fighting the power I'm sayin "fuck" the power lets go make that shit ourselves. Go look up the word 'Autonomy' and lets go after it. If u can dig that then u can understand my idea/concept of the Black Republic

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Fashion Icon: Bob Marley

Besides the fact the guy's face is plastered on countless posters, pins, shirts etc. Bob Marley grew to an iconic level as a singer,musician, and revolutionary. If u follow my past icon recipients you could defend the argument that the rebels of the past had an undeniable eye for fashion. The denim shirts that are all Of a sudden hot, Bob been on that. The nylon track jacket and jeans, Bob been on that. The ribbed Ts, trust me Bob put it on the map. And please fellas pay attention to the fit, it's not even style if 3 sizes above or below your actual fit! I hope you readers aren't still on that novice level, these ain't core curriculum classes. Mr. Marley rocked the military look remixed with a bohemian Rastafarian style like no other.

Monday, August 20, 2012

70s style Yellow Tinted SunGlasses....

As of late I been watching the pendulum swing as it so often does. This time swinging in is the vintage eyewear that Starsky&Hutch, The Fall Guy, and Shaft rocked. Really dark eyewear is a bit much and it gives off a pompous ass hole vibe. The yellow tint blends real easy. And as a bonus the yellow tint is an accessory that can turn up even the plainest fit.

Monday, August 13, 2012

POLITICS FROM THE CORNER

THE "POLITICS FROM THE CORNER" FORMERLY "STRIP CLUB POLITICS" SERIES IS ESSENTIALLY MY TAKE ON COMIN UP AND SURVIVING THE GAME. WELL IM NO AUTHORITY ON THE MATTER BECAUSE AS OF NOW IM STILL IN THE FUCKIN THICK OF IT. BUT SHEESH GIVE ME A BREAK, THATS JUST WHAT A BLOG IS, SOME DUDES TAKE ON THINGS. HEY I WOULD LOVE TO GRAB YOUR ATTENTION REGULARLY AND TALK MY SH&t. I DONE SEEN THINGS, EXPERIENCED ALOT, AND GAMBLED ALITTLE ENOUGH TO THROW SOME G AT YOU....AND PLUS I WELCOME COMMENTS AND CRITIQUE JUST DONT MENTION MY MOMMA! SO HERE GOES , OH AND FOLLOW MY SOCIAL NETWORKS @RBHOODREPUBLIC, INSTGRAM @RBHOODREPUBLIC FOR NEW POST UPDATES!!! THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF "POLITICS" IS MORE OR LESS ABOUT THE EFFECTS OF THE ECONOMIC DOWNTURN AND THE CARDS THAT HAS BEEN REVEALED AS A RESULT. THE PIC OF BERNIE MADOFF IS JUST ONE MEMBER OF THE CAST OF CHARACTERS JUUGIN THE SYSTEM. WHICH BRINGS ME TO MY CURRENT RESOLVE, WELL ACTUALLY, I ALWAYS FELT THAT GAME WAS BEEN RANNED ON THE MAJORITY. COME ON CORRUPTION IS JUST AS AMERICAN AS APPLE PIE. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IN DEVELOPING NATIONS IS THAT IT IS MORE BLATANT AND RECKLESS. WHICH BRINGS ME TO MY POINT,AND MY POINT IS DEFINING AND SHARPENING YOUR HUSTLE. IN "OUR" GRIND WE ARE BASICALLY SEVERAL LEVELS BEHIND THE MAJORITY. THE TRADE-OFFS ARE GROSSLY UNDERSTATED COMPARED TO THE CORPORATE HUSTLE. IN THE STREET A LOW LEVEL DISTRIBUTOR (AKA PEON,SCRUB,ETC.) COULD CATCH 20 YEARS LIKE NOTHIN. IN CORPORATE AMERICA, A DISARMED ROBBERY WILL PROLLY GETCHA LIKE 5-10. DISARMED ROBBERY IS SOMTHIN LIKE MIS-MANAGING (AKA POCKETING) MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF PENSION (RETIREMENT) FUNDS OF EMPLOYEES. I WANT TO BRING TO ATTENTION THE STRIKING SIMILARITIES IN BOTH THE CORPORATE AND THE STREET HUSTLE. ITS ALL A BIG JUUG, BUT ONE IS UNDER THE GUISE OF BUSINESS. SO WHY NOT LIKEN YOUR OPERATION TO A BUSINESS'S? EDUCATE YOURSELF, LEARN THE GAME, MOVE ACCORDINGLY. PRODUCT WILL ALWAYS SELL NOW LETS GET TO THE LEGAL RAMIFICATIONS AND PARAMETERS. HOW U GON PLAY A GAME OR RATHER WIN A GAME W/OUT A FULL UNDERSTANDING OF THE RULES? THIS IS JUST HUSTLER 101, I PLAN ON GETTIN MUCH DEEPER INTO THIS SUBJECT MATTER, STAY TUNED .....

FASHION ICON: KENNY BURNS

USUALLY MY FASHION ICONS HAVE BEEN HISTORIC FIGURES WITH CONSIDERABLE INFLUENCE ON HISTORY AND MODERN STYLE. PAST HONOREES HAVE BEEN JAMES DEAN,MARVIN GAYE, AND FIDEL CASTRO (THROUGH U OFF WIT THAT ONE RIGHT?). ITS BEEN A THREE YEAR LAPSE SINCE MY LAST ENTRY AND I REFUUUUSE TO LOOK BACK IN RETROSPECT FOR MY LATEST SUBJECT. IN MY ABSENCE I WITNESSED THE RISE OF ONE KENNY BURNS. HE'S COME DOWN TO ATL, LANDED A COVETED SPOT ON V103.3, SNAGGED A GREY GOOSE ENDORSEMENT, AND SET THE ATLANTA STREETS ON FIRE!!!. ALL IN IMPECCABLE FASHION. MOST BLACK MEN WONT SALUTE A PEER, BUT THIS IS "CLOTHES IS MY CRACK" AND WE DEFY CONVENTION OVA HERE. KENNY BURNS HAS A LOOONG RESUME AND I SUGGEST U PEEP IT WHEN TIME ALLOWS. BURNS IS RECOGNIZED AS A FASHION ICON BECAUSE HIS WARDROBE IS AN EXTENSION OF HIS STYLE. THE GEAR IS AGE APPROPRIATE, THE THREADS RANGE FROM CORPORATE TO STREET CHIC AND STILL IS CONSISTENT WITH WHO HE IS AND THE COOL HE EMITS SO EFFORTLESSLY. JUST AS THIS BLOG IS DEDICATED TO ARTICULATING STYLE THROUGH CLOTHES, KENNY BURNS IS ALSO DEDICATED TO THE SAME AGENDA. PROBABLY HOW HE EARNED THE MONIKER "LIFESTYLE SPECIALIST"

THE URBANITES' GQ....IM BACK! WHAT THE GAME BEEN MISSING

ITS 2012 AND IM DONE WITH ROCKING LABELS, MY VENTURE INTO FASHION HAS REGRESSED. MY EARLIER POST ON THIS BLOG WERE FASHION FORWARD AND "HIP/TRENDY" STYLES. THAT WAS THEN YO, 3YRS AGO, I WAS 29 AND I GATHERED MY SENSE OF STYLE FROM MY ENVIRONMENT. NOTICE I SAID "MY" ENVIRONMENT, NOT "THE" ENVIRONMENT. NOWADAYS I HAVE NO BOUNDARIES, I'VE REMOVED THE BLINDERS....THE EARTH IS MY TURF. WHICH MEANS, WHEN I GO FOR A LOOK IT MAY BE INFLUENCED BY SHIT BEYOND MY HORIZON. FASHION HEADS IM BOUT TAKE U TO THE OTHER SIDE. CLOTHES IS MY CRACK IS BACK YA DIG. i will continue with the "loud silence" theme b/c fashion should never be boisterous or over bearing. im bringin the strip club politics and fashion icon columns pack as well.