So Paramore Dropped a brand new album entitled Brand new eyes, while it was going to be hard to top the singalong anthem filled RIOT! the band delivered what I will hail their best album to date! yes people, better than Riot! better than All we know is falling . This album surpassed every previous compilation by the group for two reasons, it was not a measly attempt to recreate and, more importantly, it had the best lyrics of the three. The depth and meaning that are coupled with the usual infectious melodies is a treat to listen to. This album doesn’t rhyme as much as the previous two, I love this aspect of it because it means the artists did not sacrifice the insight and message in the music for a catchy singalong song. Our favorite Canadian Exports (excluding K-os of course) did it again! actually, they did it better!

Cudder! probably my most anticipated release from the Freshman crew of XXL. It was my most anticipated honestly because It was the project I feared for the most, I didn’t think Kid Cudi and Kanye West were a good pairing and thought the album would be a Mini mix of 808’s and Graduation. With that being said, I am glad to say Kid Cudi’s Man on the moon: The End of Day put all my worries to oblivion. Cudi delivered with this one, in a universe where “Main Stream” artists (yes sorry hipsters, Cudi is mainstream now) have as much depth as a kiddy pool, this album gives a completely refreshing and in depth concept that sounds good. Granted some tracks you wanna throw away (enter galactic, cough cough) and others just don’t quite fit ( make her say, cough cough) the album in entirety is pretty good. (cudi also has some underdeveloped lyrics, but maybe I’m over thinking it, oh well)

(hater block on, flame suite check) Okay I’ll proceed now. Jigga man’s Beatles topping 11th album, The Blueprint 3 Had some of the best features I’ve heard in rap for a while, it even had some of the best instrumentals  I’ve heard in a while, HOWEVER!!! It had the worst Jay-z I’ve heard in a while. Sorry folks, in my own opinion Jigga man was okay at best, maybe I’m too critical of your rap god but I expect better Jay. I felt like this man was about to rap most of the album instead of actually doing. Say what you want people Jay z’s perfect imitation of Brett Favre in musical form let me down. (I have the instrumental version though, that jont cranks lol)

Let me know if you agree, disagree, or simply want to express your opinion in the comment section brethren, till next time.

Wale A.

I know I’m not the only college student suffering droggy-eye-syndrome, right?  All this excessive studying, constant projects, and cooky professors got my mind in a frenzy! I know you college kids out there, like myself (shoutouts to UMD!), are starting to feel the ills of the lecture halls and the ongoing traffic in the libraries. Oh gracious sleep, where art thou?

If caffeinated drinks consume your mornings, afternoons, and nights, this is for you.  An ode to the hardworking students with a trap-or-die mentality in the classrooms. But know this, we will make it out alive!

-Peace & Light

My first Encounter with this seemingly mythical machine left me speechless, The Citroen Karin was designed by Trevor Fiore in 1980 and I personally haven’t seen anything else that perfectly stimulates my senses as far as concept cars go.

For all you DeLorean lovers out there, it is safe to say this baby trumps the time flying locomotive, considering she came first (and looks way better). Imagine driving down the street in this thing? great right? well imagine as much as you want because that’s all you can do since the Citroen Karin is not drivable. With her trapezoidal chassis and three seater layout, with the driver seated in the center directly in front of the passengers, the Citreon Karin is the epitome of concept design to me.I’m going to shut up now and allow you to digest greatness.

The above title is an oxymoron in my book but it has become the state of our culture since 2006, some would even argue it happened sooner. You know exactly what I’m talking about everyone being an individual and expressing themselves in exactly the same way, same clothing, same music, same hobbies. I’m not saying its not okay or possible for a collective group of people to be into the same thing at the same time, I’m just saying the reasons/ motives for such interest are a little fishy and I personally question how genuine and pure these interests are.

Style to me is a brew of organic and purely unique expressions combined with your appreciated influences from other people’s style. The problem to me is I see a lot of influenced folks with no hints of organic and unique expressions. I might be wrong here since I don’t know most of these individuals personally, but from my experience all I see are Uniforms, and Uniforms kill Creativity. How are the creative endeavors of  mike the hipster gonna differ from mikey the hipster??  Granted nothing is new under the sun but that organic expression is what I feel is very rare today.

We are all born individuals, made up of unique chromosomes, with unique upbringings, lets stop sacrificing this uniqueness for a uniform simply to fit into special culture or to achieve a false social status.

Till next time.

Wale A.

This past weekend I got a little break from work so I figured I’d attend a shindig or two, all was mellow and all was good. At one particular party I was one of 3 black males in the venue and after countless victories on the pong table and pointless arguements about music, something happened, one of the caucasian males uttered the infamous “N word” while rapping a jigga song, then a pretty intoxicated caucasian female followed suite.

I always hate these moments because I’m caught in between responding or holding my tongue. See I don’t encourage the use of the word by any race but I can’t shun any either. I use it sometimes when around certain peers and I know the jay z loving white folk in my presence are probably not racist, so how do I react? Do I just sit and watch or speak up? I feel an obligation to speak up but I won’t lie the obligation to keep a smooth and tension free environment pokes me as well.

It seems every black person I know, including myself is classically conditioned to cringe and have their hearts racing when someone that doesn’t quite look like them utters this word. The word was uttered a couple more times through the course of the night, at one point I was asked by one of the white girls if I was offended and that they would stop if I was; before I could respond the two other black males in the room said, “naw not at all”.

Truthfully I don’t know what I would have said, I didn’t know how I should respond, should I embrace this facade of racial utopia where the word has lost all its meaning and MLK’s dreams have been fully realized? or should take responsibility in discouraging the use of the word because I know racial issues in this nation are still tense and it is not okay to use the word.

I know you have opinions on this so feel free to share people, I would really love to hear your thoughts and the views of all races on this one.

Until next time.

Wale A.

Bye to the beach ball, Bye glistening thighs under mini skirts that never ever play bashful, hello layers. The reign of the summer time has come to an end folks, For us it was a productive summer, and the fruits of our 90 degree toils will soon be realized. From the days at Durkl to the nights in the Basement summer 2009 proved to be unique one, allowing growth and enlightenment. If my existential rigmarole confuses you, all I’m trying to say is this was a good summer and I personally look forward to the Summer 2010. Now with that being said, bring on the falling leaves and long sleeves!!

Over the course of the summer, I (Sam- also the cooler half of the Connoisseur team lol), spent some time exploring different sights, customs, and all that other good stuff. What better place is their to visit than the truest melting pot on the planet, the United Kingdom? So i’m strolling through UK’s finest streets and slums when i peeped some of the most piff street art from a Bristol bloke named Banksy. The notorious street painter and English crooner is best characterized as the worlds most known-unknown artist to tote aerosol on public property. Reason being, nobody knows Banksy’s identity but can better identify with his sick stencil works. Banksy’s socially conscious and trill subjects have made him two of many names among people in his hometown: one; a vandal and two; an artist.

Here are some shots I took:

blur crazy

pledge your allegiance to tesco

Because of the political humor in Banksy’s work, there’s been an unsettled uproar about the locations that they’re in. Especially by critics that denounce his work for “garbage.” Yet, his very own art exhibition and many books showing his stencil works have gained world recognition and draws plenty of curiosity among enthusiasts.

Here’s a video of his latest exhibition from early this summer

What do you think?

-Peace & Light

Welcome Back! It’s been a while hasn’t it? When we left you we were in the “heat” of the summer time, and shorts and skirts were reigning supreme, now the degrees are falling and soon the leaves will follow suite. In the last post before the absence I expressed reaching a new plateau of self discovery and that you will all witness it very very soon. Little did I know that it wasn’t going to be as soon as I thought. Life brings us different challenges with which we learn from, collect inspiration from and grow from. I have many projects in the works right now that are in embryonic stages but that is not the subject of this post (some things never change I still manage to go on random tangents)

Back to the baby at hand, the young CONNOISSEURS. The Dynamic Duo is back people! back for good this time (I promise) we have gathered a lot of information and experiences in order to make this blog experience reflect the individuals behind the brand . Expect a more consistent design atmosphere but more importantly, expect QUALITY!  quality posts, and quality clothing, and quality fun times and REAL TIMES, we all know the blogsphere is full of facades but there are none here. I’ve started rambling again so I’ll sum this up for those of you who are allergic to a third paragraph, when you think CONNOISSEURS, think Real and Quality. oh! and welcome back!

Till next time,

live live, create after.

Wale. A.