NBA Wishes You A Merry Christmas

     Nothing beats good holiday marketing as it plays with our emotions and drives us to go spend money we don't have on stuff we don't need….but it sure does feel good, doesn't it.  The NBA is as much part of Christmas day as it ever was, as we always look forward to primetime matchups all day pitting the leagues best players against each other.  Lately, the trend has been seeing what special holiday make ups are on the players feet as special Christmas editions have graced Lebron, Kobe, Melo , CP3, and Kevin Durant's feet on that day.  This year, the NBA and Adidas have rolled out solid color holiday jerseys that will be showcased on Christmas as well.  To get ready for the holiday, they rolled out this commercial with Dwight Howard, Melo, Joe Johnson, Russ Westbrook, and D. Wade dribbling a familiar tune while wearing these Christmas Day jerseys.  Pretty cool stuff none the less.

Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer x DMX

     Tis the season for Christmas music and we're no strangers to hearing our favorite artists cover the holiday classics.  Well add DMX to the list as he gives good ole Rudolph some new street cred with his rendition.  Fantastic stuff from the Darkman, come on come on! 

"10th Anniversary" UBIQ x New Balance x Mitchell & Ness

    Has it been 10 years already?  Seems like yesterday when Ubiq opened it's door in center city Philadelphia.  A sneaker haven, urban wear boutique was born and has been providing the tri-state area with nothing but the best in not only footwear and urban clothing, but great events that include top name musical talent, clothing labels,  and historical athletic legends. It has become a staple of the city and a marquee location to get your Jordans and the very limited releases of most brands.  I've been to many events and all have been awesome and top notch.

     Which brings us to Ubiq finally releasing their very own collaboration with New Balance to celebrate the store's 10 anniversary.  Starting off with the New Balance classic 574 model, black leather and suede cover the upper while the white outlined, orange "N' gives it enough to standout.  The black and orange colors are the original store colors along with the local favorite hockey team, the Flyers.  A grey suede backtab finishes it off with hints of grey and white on the heel and sole.
     It's really a great looking sneaker and the leather and suede feel and look great.  Kudos to Ubiq to keeping the idea simple and straight forward, especially in an era where new collaborations come out every weekend with every variation thought of and sometimes too much.  I'm sure this will be the first of many collabos between these two brands (1600, cough cough), since these have sold out and were only available in store.  Hopefully you were lucky enough to get your hands on a pair, only 48 pair were produced.  Yup, 48, that's called limited.  Also, Made in the USA.
       Too cap it off, local legendary brand Mitchell & Ness contributed on the anniversary celebration by  producing two very limited snapbacks.  In the matching black and orange colors and repping the ol' 70's Flyers team, the Broadstreet "Bullies", the caps have the traditional script and 5 gold stars sewn on the sides.  That's too represent their status in the game.  One cap has the regular adjustable snapback, while the all suede cap  has the leather strap.
     Here's to Ubiq, an all around class act shop that elevates the culture and looking forward to another 10 years.

More Pics Below

Kanye On "Cruel Summer"

     As the much anticipated "Cruel Summer" album dropped   This is a great introspective video of Kanye discussing his thought process while doing this collaborative album with his GOOD Music labelmates.  It's inspiring to see an artist continue to strive to be the best regardless of any previous successes.  We could all take some of the energy and determination in our lives and professions to be the best at what we do and proud of what we can accomplish and create.  
     The album is fantastic, especially with each artist striving to provide their best talents so they can hold their own amongst each other.  The label's roster includes Big Sean, Pusha-T, 2Chainz (TityBoi), Teyana Taylor, Common, Kid Cudi, Cyhi The Prince and John Legend.  The album has a ton of guest artists and producers, all listed in the video below.  Some highlights are the verses by Wu vets' Ghostface Killa and Raekwon, they are some of the best of the album.  The Dream and yes, even Ma$e, dropped a smooth verse on "Higher" which is a great song.  Hov kills it, so does Yeezy on "Clique" which was produced by white hot Hit-Boy.
     Mr. West's work rate has been roaring since his brief hiatus after his mother's passing and the quality and creativity hasn't been better.  MBDTF to Watch The Throne to Cruel Summer along with touring, designing, and everything else he does, (and Kim), it's great to be a fan and enjoy the art.
   

Puma Clyde X UNDFTD Ballistic

     Here are some pics of an early year release collaboration between Puma and Undefeated.  The contrast of materials between the ballistic nylon and suede toe and heal is a great look.  The PumaClyde is a very simple and popular silhouette for Undefeated to add their own flavor to it.  It was released in numerous pastel colors, including this yellow.  Comes with both yellow and white laces.

More pics after the jump

"Pyramids" - Frank Ocean x John Mayer

     Maybe it's just being at the Made In America concert a couple weeks ago, but as music progresses, it's the creativity of new sounds combining that still allows for new sounds and voices to reach different people and get them to appreciate it.  More so with different genres experimenting with each other and getting more comfortable crossing lines and trying new things that nobody would have thought of.  Frank Ocean doesn't necessarily have a "different" sound, but at the same time, he definitely has a voice and is creating music that is "different".  I've been listening to his album, Channel Orange, all summer and the songs and lyrics vary musically.  Not sure too many other artists will have guests spots from Earl Sweatshirt to John Mayer, let alone pull it off with great success.
     One song that found itself on repeat is Pyramids, specifically the second half of the 8 minute audio movie.  The words, electric synths, and repetitive bass paint a picture of images while you find yourself bumping it at a high level like any other hip hop banger, but as smooth as any R&B hook.
     Director, Nabil, who just came off of doing the video for Mercy, laced Mr. Ocean with a video that leaves you wondering if you drank the Absinthe with him as he goes through his desert ride to the "Pyramid".  After having some adult fun, John Mayer, makes an appearance with a guitar solo to close out the video which goes back to my first point where fans of both artists will probably be exposed to something they wouldn't have listened to before.  Both artists released fantastic albums this summer that pushes audio entertainment in a great direct direction, so might as well enjoy this video entertainment.  Was hoping he made an appearance with Odd Future at the MIA concert, but no luck.
(You can read my review on John Mayer's album here and Frank's mixtape from last year here.)

Nike LunarFlow Woven QS

     This Quickstrike came out this past spring but has a look that can be great in any season.  Nike has used the LunarFlow silhouette in a few different materials while this mixes a suede like leather with an eye-catching woven upper.  The intertwining of the different colors definitely gives the runner a unique look worthy of a couple stares, including your own.  The lunarlon sole and Nike + enabled sole round out the comfortable functionality of the trainer.  Other colorways are available, along with some exclusive colors from Atmos.  Big shout to KicksDeals.com and Extra Butter for a great deal on these and great customer service.

Antracite / Bamboo / Black

Click below for more pics

Knights In Shining Armor

     One more week until the 2012 College Football Season starts for my beloved Scarlet Knights of Rutgers University.  We'll open the new season at Tulane this Saturday, September 1st as the Big East will be up for grabs with West Virginia no longer in the conference.  College football will have a new landscape year by year as the Big East will look to find a dominant team in the conference that can compete on the BCS level….can Rutgers step up to the challenge?
     A new look will prepare the Knights for battle as they unveil metallic silver helmets for the 2012 season.  The "Armor" look definitely has a regal shine as Rutgers has played around with different looks over the years, mixing in different jersey and helmet combos.  This one is enough to get everybody excited for the new season and watch the boys do some work….chop!
Love the "Believe" motto on the helmets in honor of Eric LeGrand!

"3 Kings" - Rick Ross x Dr. Dre x Jay-Z

     Along with releasing his fifth major album this week God Forgives, I Don't, Rick Ross, has been releasing video's for his singles every other day it seems.  This one is more of a visual collage, it's actually labeled "A Maybach Visual Piece"…since it's made with pieces of previous video's from these legendary artists.  If you've been fans of Dre and Hov for the past fifteen years, it will definitely take you down memory lanes as you can recognize some of the most popular video's ever.  Mix in some recent backstage and studio footage of the artists and voila….you have this pretty cool imagery of arguably the hottest artist out with the games Godfathers.

7 Minutes of Terror

     It's pretty amazing what human beings have done and continue to do by constantly pushing the limits, especially when it comes to what goes on outside of our planet.  We definitely lose sight of our very tiny place in this unending universe.  This video exemplifies that by NASA scientists explaining and showing a hypothetical video of their next mission of sending a rover named Curiosity to Mars.  I'm still amazed at the level of precision, calculation, and hope that these people have when it comes to this cosmic endeavor.  I'll let the video explain the rest….best part is that we actually get to find out if their uber -expensive "science project" actually works at 10:31 on August 5th when Curiosity is set to touch down.
     As disappointed as we get everyday with negative news of people doing terrible things, it's uplifting to know we still have minds with no boundaries and adults can still continue to dream for the stars.
So cool…..
"Dare Mighty Things"

"Born And Raised" x John Mayer

     One of the easiest things to say is a major pop rock artist just released a fantastic album of ballads that everybody will love…….yeah…..well that happened.  Playboy Mayer has released probably his best work of art so far with his album "Born and Raised".  Everybody is familiar with his multiple platinum albums and even more familiar with his numerous trysts with some of the most beautiful women on the planet.  This seems, feels, and sounds different than anything he's done before musically and socially.  He let it go….let it all go…..you can really hear a musical honesty in this album that resonates that he's making music for himself and what he thinks is really good song writing.  The maturity of previous records and his retraction from the public eye let him focus on fantastic, quality, music.  I liken the record to an instant classic rock album that could have been released between 78 and 82 and carried on for 30 years as rock gold.  Touches of Neil Young, Steve Miller, James Young, etc...  Along with letting the hair grow and going all hippie on us (back to the letting it go part), Mayer has provided an album we can listen with your best friends at the summer bbq, in the house cleaning, at night in bed with your lady, sitting by the pool with the earphones, pretty much an album you can listen to at any point and be completely satisfied and happy….and really, what is music about…to express your emotions in ways that you maybe can't….and to bring you enjoyment, which this definitely does.  Burn a copy for your parents, neighbor, and anybody else that needs to relax and put their thoughts on something else.
Kudos Mr. Mayer….we all grow up at some point…even if you end up looking like a mountain man.

Oh yeah, check his cool visual for "Queen of California" and shout out to Ms. Myers for putting my ear on John and this video.  Owe you one.

Makers of Tomorrow

     Absolutely can not wait until Labor Day weekend to see two of my favorite artists of all time perform on the same stage….or at least on the same stage, two different nights.  None the less, who would have ever thought to see rock gods Pearl Jam and hip hop Godfather, Jay-Z, perform at the same weekend concert blow out, in Philly, none the less.  Well, yes, that's what is on deck in the form of the "Made In America" concert that Budweiser is sponsoring with two of the best in the business along with a menu of supporting acts including Rick Ross and team Maybach, Passion Pit, Skrillex and literally I just checked the website and Drake, Chris Cornell (blowing dust off of Soundgarden CDs), local favorite Jill Scott, and yes, RunDMC will also be performing.  They released this teaser video, called "Makers of Tomorrow" with Hov narrating on how music grows and mixes with genres, which basically this concert will be showcasing.  Honestly, counting the days down to this show…….

The Man With The Iron Fists X RZA Trailer

     RZA has come full circle in his illustrious career as he writes, acts, and directs in his very own motion picture kung fu blockbuster,  "The Man With The Iron Fists".  Bob Digi grew up watching and used kung-fu flicks as inspiration for the super group Wu Tang Clan.  Now he becomes the actual martial arts hero he always admired as he plays a local village blacksmith.  Teaming up with his jedi master, Quentin Tarantino, the movie looks to have that signature tongue in cheek, bloody humor and non-stop action throughout.  Russell Crowe and Lucy Liu both lend their talents, along with Pam Grier, Real World Alum Jamie Chung, and wrestling star David Bautista.  RZA and Eli Roth wrote the story over the course of two years and looks to be worth checking out.  Check out the official trailer.

Nike Air Max 2009 + Action Red

     Red has always been a favorite color and what better than an Action Red on Action Red trainer to wear to the Phils game or on any hot summer day.  The 2009 Air Max was one of the first Nike's to feature the full Air Max 360 Air Bubble, which is basically a super comforable, highly cushioned pillow.  It also features the highly used flywire technology that provides very lightweight support.  This does have the Nike Plus feature where you can insert the sensor under the insole and track your workouts.  Some would say it's early for a retro, but why keep a good trainer down.  You can also customize your own Max 2009 on NikeID (with glow in the dark sole option, sweet).  More pics below.

 

Action Red / Action Red

"Mercy" Kanye West x Big Sean x Pusha T x 2 Chainz

     This song got the summer started early as the GOOD Music all-stars give us a collaboration that is a absolute fire.  "Mercy" is the lead single from Kanye's record label's compilation album called Cruel Summer that should be out very soon.  This video has the Getting Out Our Dreams artists delivering their verses in a minimalistic layout where they go in and out of these striped pillars with some subtle effects. Kid Cudi and adopted GOOD music cousins, HitBoy and Teyana Taylor make cameo's as well.  The video director is Nabil Eberkin, who also directed Ye's and Rihanna's "Paranoid" video and Frank Ocean's "Novacane".  Mr. West has been releasing video's on a regular basis the past couple months, so I anticipate more, but with him, you never know which direction it will go……Swerve...

1939 World Series In Color

     It's amazing to see how far we've come in a very short amount of time when it comes to technology and how the past has been recorded.  Hard to believe in an era of sixty inch flat HD panel tv's along with everyone having an HD video camera phone, that there was a time where there was no tv, let alone a color one.  Everything in shades of gray and it always left you wondering what did it actually look like.  Well this bit of video answers that question when it comes to the 1939 World Series between the New York Yankees and the Cincinnati Reds.  It's pretty amazing to see the old Yankee Stadium in that era and the fans.  Seeing old, grainy footage makes you beg the new question, what would games in the past look like if they were available in HD….

Lost In The World X No Church In The Wild

     Mr. West is as big of a star as you can be right now even has he raps "don't do no press, but I get the most press get" on one of his latest singles, Mercy.   He's currently doing the European leg of the Watch The Throne tour…actually just in Paris while his uber anticipated Nike Signature shoe is about to hit stores next week.  Match that with him dating Kim K. and the upcoming album release of his label's G.O.O.D. Music collaboration, he's pretty much front and center of every media outlet.

     No time for rest as he dropped two music videos this week, one from his last solo album, MBDTF, that was released in November of 2010, and the other from The Throne album.  Check both video's below, "No Church In The Wild" and "Lost In the World".  

Wu-Mansion X MTV Cribs

     This classic footage from MTV Cribs showcases the all-time super group ,Wu-Tang Clan, in all their glory.  RZA, Rae, U-God, and Ghost take you on a tour in a spot they used in California while they were recording Wu-Tang Forever in 1998.  They called it Wu-Mansion West and the Abbott picked it himself.  It's worth watching  a couple times just to listen to their slang rap democracy and get a chuckle.  Peep the labels they're rocking back in the day.  Busta Rhymes makes a guest appearance.

     They've outlasted almost any rap group in history while sill touring and putting out new music on the regular.  True artists in their own right which is validated by their world-wide following for almost 20 years.  Let me know what your favorite line from the video is….too many to mention.

Don't forget to keep fresh flowers in your crib!!

"This house had more of a sportacious feeling…."
"I be in here watchin kung-fu flicks and pornos…."
"I got to have my blowie shirts…all day long.."
"We watch stuff like the Discovery Channel….the news…"
"Got the little piano in case my man Lionel Ritchie wanna come through and holla at me"
"The climate is always off the hook out here..so you ain't really got time to get fly cuz if you get fly, it get too hot!"
"For some reason…..green, green brings a lot of thoughts.."

Nike Lebron 9 Low

     The Lebron 9 Low has come out in full force for the spring and just in time for the NBA playoffs.  Starting with the Obsidian and much anticipated Easter release colorways, there seems to be a steady flow of new hues that will be hitting stores this spring/summer.  The Lebron 9 Low is one of the nicest silouhettes I've seen in a while.  I'm a big fan of 3/4 high basketball kicks and these are just plain sweet.  The full Nike Air Max bed ensures supreme comfort which differs from the Air Max 180 cushion the Lebron 9 high uses.  Personally, the full Max feels much more flexible and comfortable than the Lebron high, along with the plush ankle material, makes it very comfortable to wear.   It also includes Nike's Hyperfuse and Flywire material.   
     These have become one my favorite sneakers of the year, especially with the new colors that will be releasing.  Definitely looking forward to the "Liverpool" colorway that gives tribute to the English Soccer Club that King James owns a stake in.  The "Floridian" colorway showcases the orange and pink colors of the throwback jerseys the Heat have worn this season in tribute of the ABA's Floridian team.  Check the lion through the dual color see through Air Max bed.,  The USA Olympic version is another colorway that should be popular with this Summer's London games.  Eye-grabbing, super comfortable, and lots of different options makes it a complete winner.  Now only if LBJ can bring a title to Miami to quiet the haters.  We'll soon find out…

Dark Grey/Mint Candy-Cool Grey-New Green

Obsidian/Cyber-White-Blue Grey

Vivid Orange/ Cherry 

Action Red/Black/White/New Green

Click below for more pics..

Free Harvard X MIT

     Learning should be a life-long process that all humans should actively partake in every day in some fashion.  It's even better when two of the worlds best educational institutions provides an offering of education to the masses.  Harvard and MIT have come together and have agreed to offer select classes for free online.  Read this great article by Rebecca Rosen (@beccarosen), who writes for the Atlantic.  She goes into detail over the $30 million that each school has provided into this non-profit partnership called edX.  It's a leadership role that both view as a responsibility to society and a major advancement in education overall.  The video is hard to ignore in how it will shape the future of education for everyone across the globe and how technology can make that possible.  If you can access an internet connection, you have some of the best resources available on the planet at your fingertips.
     It might be a coincidence, but I also stumbled upon course offerings from Yale University on iTunes U.  Everything from the actual class audio to notes, books, etc. is available and includes subject offerings such as the Revolutionary War, Astronomy, Early Middle Ages and the list goes on.  Looking around on iTunes U, there seems to be a plethora of offerings from all kinds of institutions.  I'm sure it's been available for a while, but I think it's amazing how all of this information and knowledge is available to the masses and in many cases, for free.
     Nobody should ever be bored with these types of tools out there that can only enlighten you on pretty much anything you could possibly be interested in. You owe it to yourself to be better, so why not try...





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Nike LunarGlide +3 Shield

     The Lunarlon soles have become my favorite sneakers to wear for cushion and comfortability.  After running about ten to fifteen miles a week in LunarSwifts, I finally replaced them with the LunarGlide +3 Shield edition.  They are the best sneakers I have run in, period.  These trainers are very lightweight while providing great support.  The DynamicFit technology as explained in the video below really responses to your foot strike by providing tremendous cushioning with a spring-like resistance that pushes your foot back as you run.   I've heard multiple people say they feel like they can run farther and longer in these and I agree.

     The Shield pack was released by Nike last fall with a cool grey, 3M reflective colorway with bright orange Lunar bottoms and highlights.  They are water resistance treated and meant to provide better visibility and protection while training outdoors.  The pack included three models of their Lunar runners along with the very popular Nike Free Run +2.  You can find this sneaker in numerous colorways and on sale for a great price at pretty much any athletic and footwear store.  You will not be disappointed in the least!  Let me know what you think.

Cool Grey/Black, Total Orange, Reflective Silver

More pictures below

"King of Hearts"- Cassie

     Got to love when Cassie comes out with new material, especially her videos.  "Me and U" will be her classic Splash Dance-esq video pinnacle, but we welcome her video "King of Hearts" with open arms.
I can't lie, the uptempo dance beat is catchy and I'm sure I will find myself dancing to it at some club at 2:00 am.  This single will be on her second studio album due out this year.

Mixtape Mayhem V

     The last couple months saw a flurry of mixtapes from some of rap's biggest names.  It's become a part of being a hip hop artist to make sure you stay relevant and at the forefront with fans and of course, promo for major release albums.  This being my fifth installment of the Mixtape Mayhem series, I've gone over the same reasons as to the importance of mixtapes and how we, as the fans, win by getting new, original music for free (that sometimes is better than most major releases).  It used to be the only way a new artist could get exposure in the past, but in 2012, it's even more important for established vets in the game to release their own mixtapes.   That's exactly what has happened at the end of last year and beginning of this year.   Mixtapes are also a great forum for new and established producers to get exposure for their beats as well, since most major tapes now give a listing for each song's producer. I'll run down most of the main releases with links so you can get up to date with what everyone is listening to.  These have been out for a minute, but I like to put my ear on them and give an honest listen before I hit you with the Mayhem.  Click on the jump below for the download links and video's.
     Might as well start out with the big dog on top and that's no other than Rozayyyy…Rick Ross dropped his official mixtape Rich Forever right around Christmas.  It was the most anticipated and probably the best overall tape out of all of these.  It boasts all original music, some of which I'm sure we will hear on his forthcoming album, "God Forgives, I Don't", and it has a roster of the best featured guests.  Drake lays down a killer verse on "Stay Scheamin", which they did a video for, see below, along with Nas delivering one of  his best lines in a while, in my opinion.  John Legend, Kelly Rowland, Diddy, Pharrel and MMG's finest all grace the mixtape.  Not many can argue that Ross is a heavy weight showing off his belts right now with a strong team behind him.  Maybach Music seems to be set up for a while with releases from Meek Mill, Ross, and another MMG album all on the horizon in 2012 and this tape is a sure fire way to start the year on the right foot or I should say on the right Air Jordan.

     Fabolous dropped the third mixtape in his There Is No Competition series with DJ Drama on Christmas Eve and it did not disappoint.  Fabo is and has been a star in the rap game and built a career from mixtapes and has the perfect flow for it.  Although, I found myself thinking that he sounds like he's been influenced by other artists since certain songs sound similar to what's already out there.  Countless metaphors over original beats and freestyles make up TINC:  Death Comes in 3's.  "You Don't Know Bout It" with Meek Mills is one I find putting on repeat.  Lloyd Banks, JadaKiss, Styles P,  and Trey Songz are also on the tape.  Some might even say he throws a little jab Drakes way on the "Lord Knows" freestyle.  What do you think?
     The King of the South didn't want to be left out of the mixtape frenzy, so T.I. brought in 2012 by dropping F*ck Da City Up on New Year's Day and getting a leg up on the new year.  Everybody's familiar with his recent stints behind bars, along with the reality show with his wife, but this mixtape is supposed to get the focus back to his music in anticipation of his eighth studio album, Trouble Man, that's due out very soon.  T.I. gives you all the Trap music you can handle with a roster of guest stars (too many to mention) and producers, including Dr. Dre. Manny Fresh, and Hit Boy.   Give the Just Blaze produced "Oh Yeah" featuring Trey Songz a listen along with a verse from Pimp C on "Pimp".

     I'm sure you've been in the club within the past couple months and it looks like 50 Cent might have another banger with the song "I Just Wanna" with Tony Yayo from his mixtape The Big 10, video below.  He released this tape in early December and it's all original new music, with a different producer for each track.  He said he was going to release a video for each song on the tape as well and he's slated to release his fifth studio album this year.  Crazy to think that the classic Get Rich or Die Tryin' is a year away from it's ten year anniversary!  I'm sure 50 will have his say in the rap game this year and it will be interesting on how it's received, being one of hip hop's all time biggest stars.

"Kobe System" - Kobe x Kanye

     Nike marketing is one of the most creative groups out there, always continuing to impress with their campaigns and commercials.  The Kobe System series is one that is in full motion as there have been a series of commercials that has Kobe Bryant lecturing to countless celebrities on success.  The irony being that these are some of the most successful humans on the planet.  Of course, one of them is Kanye West and Nike plays off his self-appreciating attitude to perfection in these great ad's.

"Bad Girls " - M.I.A.

     Hard to believe that M.I.A. will be releasing her fourth album already, but of course it's welcome with open ears.  She's one of the most creative and well respected artists on the planet as she combines many different sounds, styles, and cultures.  Along with being a mother, she also does a lot of social awareness and charity work.
     She just released this video for her one of her newest singles "Bad Girls" that will be released on her new album this year.  Roman Gavras directed the video as it was shot in Morocco.  Danja produced the upbeat track as the visuals are pretty dynamic with BMW's doing 360's in the desert and swagged out costumes.  Overall, pretty bad ass and I'm sure the album will be just as good.

Flying Fish X New Jersey: Perfect Together

     Sometimes the simplest things are the best.  Or what we think is simple.  A nice, cold, pint of your favorite ale will always be appreciated after a long day, but there's a lot that goes into bringing that to your local watering hole.  A precise combination of nature, chemistry, physics, culinary skill, and imagination all go into bringing us these fantastic brews.  We have literally thousands of choices when it comes to beer and it's even better when you have one of the best craft brew makers in your backyard.   

Flying Fish Brewery has been in existence since 1996, located in Cherry Hill, about 7 miles east of Philadelphia.  It was the first microbrewery in South Jersey and is the largest craft brewery in the state.  They consistently brew 4 styles along with many seasonal varietals.  They also have their popular "Exit" series, which celebrates the Garden State by releasing one time batches of a beer that's crafted in tribute to specific exits of the New Jersey Turnpike.

   Their "Exit 4", a Belgian style Trippel, was so good that it won a Gold Medal in the world famous Great American Beer Festival in 2009 and also named best Belgian by Men's Journal magazine.  "Exit 4" is the only one in the series to be made year round and believe me, it's absolutely fantastic.  The golden color and citrus, hoppy flavor is very drinkable for an ale that is around 10% in alcohol content. There are no plans to brew some of the other exits at this time, although they just released some of their private supply of other exits to the public.  I managed to pick up "Exit 13" Chocolate Stout, "Exit 16" Wild Rice Double IPA, and the one that I definitely wanted, "Exit 9" Hoppy Scarlet Ale, in tribute to my Alma Mater, Rutgers University.  They're releasing a new exit this month, called  "Exit 8", Chestnut Brown Ale, which I'm sure will be tasty.
     They offer tours of the brewery on Saturdays, it's a great time.  You can sample all of their flavors, they explain the brew process from start to finish and they're more than friendly to answer any questions.  Very impressive when you think about how much really goes into making something we think as simple as beer.  They take pride in their craft and it's noticeable.  All of their beers are very drinkable and deliver great flavor.  They pair up very well with a variety of foods and they do have recommendations on their website.
     It's no surprise that they are moving to a bigger location very soon in Somerdale, New Jersey.  The new facility is three times bigger than the current one and will allow them to continue to grow and delivery fantastic products.  I look forward to tours in the new brewery and make sure you support your local brewers, especially ones like Flying Fish.
     Visit their website for more information on tour schedule, building moves,
and beer info:  http://www.flyingfish.com/.  They also have a Flying Fish Newsletter that's emailed monthly with their latest updates.
Click below for more great pictures of the brewery

Goal of the Year 2011

     Soccer is the world's game and one of the beautiful things about it, is the wonderful amount of super goals we get to see year in and year out.  All corners of the globe claim their favorite players are the best and there's no denying the magic they create with their feet.  This year, readers of FIFA.com voted on the 2011 Goal of the Year and the Brazilian uber star, Neymar, beat out the likes of Leo Messi and Wayne Rooney, for goal of the year.  The 19 year old uber star, who's been compared to other legendary Brazilian greats, puts on a display for the ages as he scores an unbelievable goal for his professional club, Santos, in Brazil.  Although his team lost that game, he gave fans in the stadium and YouTube a memorable moment that will never be duplicated.  The award is formally called the FIFA Piskas 2011 Award and I'm sure Neymar will be in the running for many years to come.  He's been courted by many top European clubs, like Real Madrid and West Ham United, but he's chosen to stay at Santos in Brazil for the moment.  Enjoy the video and replay as much as you can, it's worth it.  The commentators screaming in Portuguese just add to the flavor.  SenSationallll!!!

Kaws X Hennessy

     The holiday season wrapped up a couple weeks ago, but it's never too late to give a nice gift to your friends and bring a bottle to the next social gathering.  An easy way to kick it up a notch is with the limited edition Hennessy X Kaws bottle of their infamous French cognac.  Brian Donnelly, better known as Kaws, has collaborated with the Hennessy brand to put an artistic view on their bottle label.  The Jersey native worked with Dos Equis in 2010 on their bottle (See here) and this year, he visited Cognac, France to see first hand what he's putting his mark on.  Check the video for his own take on the visit and his thought process when doing these collaborations for these world renowned brands.   His design is very recognizable from his recent exhibitions with the bright color, 3-D type layout.  The trademark Kaws double "X" is on the bottle along with the "chompers" and he included a sweet message on the back of each bottle, check the picture below.  It's a simple idea, but at the same time should open up some eyes to some alternative interests and appreciation of art.  Kaws is quite popular and has worked on multiple exhibitions,  album and magazine covers. Hennessy speaks for itself.
Each bottle is individually numbered up to 420,000, so there's enough to share, but they won't be around forever.  Cheers!

IceGrill,USA - Part 2 Interview with Greg Santarsiero

     We watch movies every day and we never really consider how that film became reality.  They just don't show up in the theatre, DVD, and cable.  There are endless hours of creating, writing, casting, shooting, editing and the guts to put it in the public spotlight.  Even then, it doesn't equal success but sometimes it does and you can see why.  I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to  interview Ice Grill,USA movie co-creator, writer, and director, Greg Santarsiero, and ask some questions about his movie.  
     We spent an afternoon at the South Philly institution, Tony Lukes, and after some cheesesteaks, we got to talking about his inspirations, what got him into films, what inspired Ice Grill,USA, hip hop and everything in between.  It was great to get an inside look at the film making process, but more so, the passion, drive, and dedication from someone who is doing all they can to pursue their dream.  It was definitely inspiring to see and listen to an artist that is still very hungry and truly believes in his talent.  After you watch Ice Grill, USA, it's hard to not be a fan and connect with both the movie and what made the movie a reality, especially if you're from the South Jersey region, but really from any region where the struggle continues.  I see very big things in the future for these guys and I'm honored to have Greg as my first interview for ElephantSmart, as he represents a lot of the same things that drives me everyday.

The sky is truly the limit for Greg and his collective, Enlightened Party Multimedia.  You can find more information about him and the other co-creator, Mark Bernardi, on their movie site, IceGrillUSA.com along with a ton of additional information about the film. 
Follow Greg and the film on twitter @GSantarsiero and @icegrillusa.  Big thanks to Alex Errico for the pictures, follow him @aerricomediallc and to contact him.  You can find my review for the movie HERE.

KingRizza: You wanna say a little bit about yourself, what inspired you to make films?

Greg:  Yeah, myself and my associate Mark Bernardi, pretty much my best friend since 6th grade, co-collaborator, have done everything together from the ground up.  We met in 5th and 6th grade and found our way into film making right around the Pulp Fiction era, our later years in high school.  We started to get into indie films and I realized around that time that I had a gift for writing. I know Mark is a brilliant guy, one of the smartest people I know.  We started to think what we were going to do with our lives, the big picture.  At that time, we were both into sports time big time, especially basketball.  The idea of making a career of that was far fetched, but the idea was how do you live an extraordinary life, make an impact, do something that touches peoples lives.  We grew up in a colorful area, where there is such a diverse group of people in Brigantine, South Jersey, right outside of Atlantic City.  We were around such a diverse group of guys, people of all walks of life, class, ethnic groups, ages, from people 5 years younger to people 25 years older, so we really had an appreciation for the region and plight of the working class, with how much depth and color to the people of that realm.  I’m from a blue collar background, middle class background, surrounded with people with such interesting personalities and diverse backgrounds.  So many instances where people made indelible impressions on you and themselves were characters.  
I’ve always been into hip hop.  My first encounter was when my mom bought me a Run DMC, King of Rock, tape.  I had a buddy who had an older brother who had Eric B and Rakim posters on his wall and we looked up to him. My mom worked at a bookstore and they sold tapes.  I had a record collection at the time, my dad was into Motown.  Having that hip hop cassette pretty much from that point on in 3rd grade, it was strictly hop hip, I’m 33 now, so since i was 8 years old, i’ve been basically listening to nothing but hip hop.  I think hip hop has directly influenced our view of the world, basically as class and the sociology of growing up in america in the 80’s and 90’s and it directly impacted our view of the world and impacted the kind of art we wanted to create.  So we came from this working class background with all walks of life and the influence of hip hop.  Those things impacted directly, the kind of films we wanted to make.

Click below for the full interview and believe me, it's worth the read:

Ice Grill,USA - Part 1 Review

     "Drugs. Sex. Gambling. All In A Day's Work." is the subtitle for the movie ICE GRILL, USA, which sets the tone of the film before you even hit play.  Local New Jersey filmmakers Greg Santaserieo and Mark Bernardi wrote and directed the drama that takes place in Atlantic City, where the movie was filmed,  as well as where they grew up.  I appreciate the regionalism and authenticity since I myself grew up about a half hour outside of the city of bright lights and dark alleys.  They do a fantastic job of using the resort city as it's own role in the movie as the characters shuffle through the environment trying to figure out how to make the best of their lives.  The life of money, night life, booze, girls, and the party never stopping is what is always offered but the line between good fun and illegal trouble is always blurred.  Especially when you live, work, play and survive in that environment all of your life.
     Auggie Logan, played by Connor Fox, is the man in the middle of the journey as he comes back to Atlantic City to embark on adulthood and make career decisions that will affect him the rest of his life.  He rekindles his relationships with his family along with long time friends who have never left.  Immediately, he's faced with two different avenues in which he knows the consequences of, but it's a matter of getting immediate satisfaction or what he knows to be the "safer" route.  Consistent pressure from both sides progresses as he plays the middle constantly juggling his own thoughts.  Does the promise of gorgeous arm candy, money, and respect make him cave to a life of watching over his shoulder, possibly jail, and even death or does he follow society's morals and climb the corporate ladder, pay taxes, and be "normal" even though that lacks the sex appeal and great times the former offers?  It's actually a pretty common life question that a lot of people probably face at some point, especially in a community such as Atlantic City or thousands of cities, towns across the country.  In these situations, it sometimes seems easier (and enjoyable) to sell drugs, quick cash, pop bottles and shorties, then it is to wake up at 6 am, do your 9 to 5, listening to crap from your boss, always feeling broke.
     The movie elevates the emotion when these options could possibly be the same thing.  Love, hate, pride, jealousy, …there is a thin line between such different emotions.  A lot of times, it can be the same thing that triggers both.  Auggie is presented with all these contrasts as the two lives he lives starts to become the same.  He's forced to make choices that will shape his future along with the people around him.  His brother and boss on one side of his casino job and his "boss" on the other side of his illegal life.  At the same time all this is going on, there's another driving force that affects everybody involved and affects all of their decisions.  That magnetic force is bombshell cocktail waitress, Claudia.  She plays her role to perfection as she is the main trophy of anyone she comes in contact with and she knows it. Like many situations, common sense loses to passion when matters of the heart are concerned, especially when she's wanted by many in an environment where image is everything.  Take the journey with Auggie, Claudia, and the rest of Atlantic City's finest, as he chooses his direction, the aftermath, and everything else in between.  
     This emotionally and though provocative movie is very refreshing and entertaining.  It brings new talent and creativity to the forefront of filmmaking.  I look forward to future projects from Enlightened Party Multimedia.  For more on Ice Grill,USA, click HERE for the interview with co-creator, writer, director, Greg Santarsiero, where he gives even a deeper look into the film and the movie making process.