As I recently stated in the last post, I’m the motivational speaker half of the music collective: DTMD. We had our first show a week ago and a lot of beautiful people came out to support the local hip-hop scene.

There was a producer showcase that lead up to our performance that featured some of the dopest producers in the area: Surock, DJ Eurok & Maverick.

I say this to say, follow your dreams. I’ve met a lot of inspirational people who I never would’ve met if I wasn’t taking the music serious and they push me to keep going, while reminding me never to forget my purpose.

don’t be afraid to be yourself.

- antoine

Wale: You might have caught our valentines day post and were probably very confused about the name you saw at the end. who is antoine?  well he’s the newest member of the Roc-a-Fella team Connoisseurs team. Antoine will be in charge of a few blogging operations to keep this site running smooth and substance filled.  The duo is now a trio for two reasons, we want to make sure we execute our vision as efficiently as possible, and Antoine is the minicon that makes this Autobot’s powers triple (if you didn’t get that reference you need to watch more 80’s/early 90’s saturday morning cartoons).

Antoine embodies every characteristic we strive to promote and prioritizes the same ideals and aesthetics we do, from his own unique perspective. He is an Active member of the mighty DTMD and is going to elevate us to new heights. we are definitely excited about the possibilities.

here is Toine to say a few words on his Draft day.

–

waddup ya’ll.

i be antoine, the newest member of the CONNS team. i used to run a blog and i am an active member of the hip-hop duo: DTMD. i’m also a huge sports fan, competitive gamer (don’t bring up street fighter 4 around me…seriously), and serious hip-hop nerd.

i’m currently not in school but i still manage to learn everyday. funny how things work out…about 5 months ago, i found myself aimless, desperately seeking outside opinions to validate my vision and by a weird turn of events i meet two cats who’ve been embodying an attitude that i was keeping to myself for the longest time. seeing sam & wale believe in their movement made me believe in mine and at the same time made me want them to succeed.

i believe in Connoisseurs. i believe in knowledge being powerful, and we pride ourselves in making our knowledge transparent through action. the same way duncan and i try to show a knowledge and appreciation for music in our brand of hip-hop, we want to show you our appreciation for culture and style through our interpretation of streetwear. its all what you make it…but at the end of the day, its got ta be funky. i look forward to showing you another extension of the Connoisseur theory, and i hope you’re willing to listen.

peace & light
- antoine

We rarely ever document the projects of others for two reasons, we like to focus on what we are doing and we like to provide content unique to us at all times. We make exceptions when a project is in perfect correspondence with our views, and the individuals behind it exude layers of depth and intelligence that is as sincere and honest as our own.

I’m not going to speak much on this project by our brothers at Street Etiquette because I want you to experience it for yourselves, click the image below to be amazed, inspired and motivated.

Joshua of SE was not only kind enough to give us a mini tour of the big city when we were there, he also proved to be mirror of ourselves when we dove into conversation. Make no mistake about it people, SE is as genuine as they come with character, style and substance to match.

what is the look of?
it got something to do with um…ya’ll know the words.

today is the day that a lot of single people have come to loathe: valentine’s day. its very easy to feel left out of ‘love loop’ when you hold books more than you hold hands, and your public displays of affection include playing a song as loud as you possibly can and yelling along with it.

don’t feel bad.

love for someone else stems from love for self. understanding the true importance of someone else comes along after you’ve spent the lonely hours, days, months searching through your phonebook for someone to be true with, but never settled for anything less. it comes holding onto your weirdness without conforming to please people who only kinda understand where you come from. it comes from cultivating your individuality so you’ll be very ready for the other half to come in and be just that, on a 50/50 scale.

so do you.

in the meanwhile, allow these tunes to paint a few alternative perspectives to 2/14. you may find yourself relating to one.

peace & love.

- antoine
–

Slum Village – Tell Me (Instrumental)

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Bahamadia – I Confess (The Roots Remix)

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Little Dragon – Constant Surprises

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Sa-Ra – Sweet Sour You (Feat. Bilal)

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Daedelus – Muggle Born

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No advanced technology, no cool polymer fabric or titanium materials, just a nice little gold core and a faithful leather strap. This is my most prized non living possession, worth more to me than any article of clothing I own, or technology I wield.

My mother’s wind-up watch that she tossed my way doesn’t just show how stylish she is but might help explain where I get some of my aesthetic. The most interesting part of mother’s wind-up watch, is the wind up part. I have to remember to turn the little knob every few days which I think is awesome for reasons unknown to me.

This watch will stay with me till time and the times urge me to pass it on to my offspring; Hope you enjoyed the little piece of my world I just shared with you.

Until Next time.

Wale A.

What’s you’re cigarrette? Or let me re-word that. While under heavy and unecessary stress, what keeps you entertained and occupied? When you’re in need of a break, a small one at that, what do you do to keep the mental juices flowing? 

For a select few of us who are the worst at verbal communication, it’s as simple as sketching; the pad and the pen. Whenever I’m hit with a revelation of some sort, something funky, something corny, or even poetic, I make it a note in my pad. And maybe if it communicates well enough with the veins in my wrist, and my fingers can agree, it somehow finds its way onto the pages of my sketchbook.

Although I’m a studio-art student, I’m also a student of life. Sociological strifes, improper judgements, musical woes, and other scenarios of society never fail to find their many ways into my mind. What better way to release that than onto paper?

-Peace in pieces

Samuel

Click images to purchase

So here is the story. These tees were apart of the Fall ‘09 collection but for one reason, or another, they never made it online. No worries, they are the same Connoisseurs goodness so get then while their here (no restocks as usual.)

Hard Work & Wealth

Wale A.

In the craziness of life, sometimes, we get so absorbed in our work that we forget to have fun; even when its work you love doing. We humans tend to make a routine of things, which then, suck all the joy and glee possible. This is not an excuse for the lack of posts on the site, its a declaration of a realization. We needed to take time out from the site, to find the fun again, do other things that inspire us in order to make the blog experience always fresh and always refreshing.

I always preach constant self evaluation because its the only way, brethren. Never fear to do what ever it is you have interest in. Take a chance whenever you can because the mystery of never knowing always feels worse than a failed attempt. Lets break away from being the generation filled with followers and be the triumphant explorers we were as children before the worries of the world complicated our hours. With the risk of sounding like a Levi’s commercial I’ll leave you with this: GO FORTH without cower, with the determination of a hungry cheetah and the work ethic of an ant.

till next time (which will be sooner than later)

Wale A.

Live First…. Create After…. Stay tuned….

Every once in a while I get really excited about great music, this is one of those times, DTMD are not only part of our super extended family, but also the most organic and rejuvenating sound to come out of the wreck that is called the  hip hop music industry.

Describing how DTMD is like that group or reminiscent of that other group or sound like that other group you love would be selling them short and taking away from their original funk.

DTMD however is the closest thing to the music you still wish they made today, it will actually be the music you’re glad they still make today but wish for more.

I’m not comparing but I feel like 9th wonder, exile, blu, and black thought had  frankenstein twins and their names are DUNC and TOINE, click on the image or right HERE!!! and enjoy a masterpiece