Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Kanye, Ye, Yeezy, Mr. West!!!



Kanye West is definitely not a disappointment when it comes to delivering hot beats, original tracks, and tunes that will blaze in your head forever. On Monday, November 22nd, his "ye-ness" released his fifth studio album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, that fans were raving about way before it even dropped. With "Good Fridays" by way of Kanye's website, he graced fans with weekly releases of new singles for their hearing pleasure.

An amazing rapper, lyricist, and verbal poet, Kanye West has come back with a more upbeat album that reflects his amazing talent. With great collaborations from Elton John to Pusha T, from Kid Cudi to Fergie, Kanye reinforces the fact that he is one of the best rap artists of the last decade, and arguably, one of the best rap artists of all time, along with those who precede him like the Notorius B.I.G., Tupac, and Jay-Z.

Yes, Kanye can be very "confident" in his talents and skills as a rap artist. However, can you blame him? He always delivers each time he releases an album. Of course, some modesty could be expressed, but when you're that successful, it is okay to boast, every now and then.

The music continues on with Kanye releasing a collaborative album with Jay-Z titled Watch the Throne, set to be released in 2011. Be sure to keep an ear out for this dynamic duo release.

Enjoy this short video of Kanye performing "All of the Lights" (my fave song on the album) last night, November 23rd, at a secret concert in New York City, held at the Bowery Ballroom:




(Video: Courtesy of YouTube, Photo: Courtesy of Google Images)

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Rihanna "Red-anna" Gets Loud!



On November 16th, Rihanna released her fifth studio album Loud and make no mistake about the album cover, it screams "LOUD" from a distance with Rihanna's vibrant red hair bleeding off the cover and her bright red smoochers lusciously painted. Therefore, it is only appropriate to nickname this look "Red-anna."


This red-haired bombshell has finally returned with her new look and an attitude that celebrates her femininity. With long locks and empowering tunes, sure to make a woman feel good and desirable, Rihanna provides her female fans with a more upbeat , confident album.


A new, vivacious Rihanna is expressed in each song, showing that she has risen out of the dark period of her life, after the media focused on her domestic encounter with Chris Brown ever since February of 2009. Coincidentally, her last album, Rated R, expressed an aggressive side of Rihanna that portrayed emotions she may have been feeling at the time.

Fortunately, the opposite can be said for Loud, where songs like "S&M," "Raining Men," and "What's My Name" express a woman's confidence in herself as well as her search for a good man, beyond all the testosterone who cannot satisfy her needs. Overall, the Loud album is pretty good and evokes a happier mood. Enjoy this video for Rihanna's single "What's My Name" featuring Drake that was filmed in New York City:



(Video: Courtesy of YouTube, Photos: Courtesy of Google Images)

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Mark Ronson & The Business Intl Celebrate...The 9th Decade!



If there is one era that fascinates my creative mind and remains a mystery, it is the 80s, the 9th decade of the 20th century. Because most of my generation was born during this period, there is not much to recall about what it was truly like living and growing up in such a free, ever growing time. 

Every way of life seemed so creative, with the freedom of expression embraced and the simplicity of enjoying life, without restraints, flourishing. Whether it was the way individuals dressed or partied, all you every really hear were that the 80s was such a fun time to live. Of course, the same can be said of every decade, but yet this era seems to have made a real impact. 

With the population growth booming, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and birth of music videos on MTV, the 80s zeitgeist of being free was definitely felt by all. Expressing one's self was almost limitless. This was  a colorful time with icons like Madonna, Boy George, Cindy Lauper, David Bowie, and Blondie's Deborah Harry coming out of this era and influencing a style so unique and different to society. It was not about being tailored and proper, it was about being you, in every sense of the word. 

To pay a bit of a tribute to this amazing era, I came across this  video  for Mark Ronson & The Business Intl. single "Somebody to Love Me," which inspired me to write this piece. Enjoy this glimpse of Boy George and his Culture Club friends from the 80s, that celebrates his heydey. It is a little scratchy, but of course they did not have digi cams back in that day, and even this   captured the essence of the time. 


Mark Ronson ft. Boy George 'Somebody To Love Me' - Director: Saam Farahmand from Tom Lindsay on Vimeo.

(Video: Courtesy of Vimeo)

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Quote of the Day



"...Life on earth is not just about gain...Unfortunately, so many people equated lifestyle to luxury rather than equating lifestyle to a day that was pleasant -- without argument, without aggression or the need to show off." -Sir Paul Smith, in WWD

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Atomic Tom + iPhones = Creative Awesomeness!



Now talk about 21st Century improvisation! This video of the band Atomic Tom on NYC's orange B line train, playing their single "Take Me Out" with only their iPhones and a set of speakers, is truly a display of creative talent with technology. According to the video, the band had their equipment stolen and found a new, brilliant way to perform their tunes. Long live the struggling artists of NYC! No one knows the struggle to top better than the peeps of the Empire State. And, once at the top, how sweet the big apple tastes!



(Video: Courtesy of YouTube)

Pushing Chic Into Country



In an effort to catalog my work thus far, I wanted to share it on this blog as well. Below are images taken from my most updated portfolio, displaying either my market work (mostly) or sittings assisting. At CL, fashion is very specific and particular. Therefore, it has been quite a journey to push the content of fashion into the pages, but so far it has been an enjoyable experience. Take a look at these four stories:


Story: Mad For Plaid
Photographer: John Kernick
 Fashion Market Editor: Charles Fernandez


Story: Ravishing Ruffles
Photographer: Miki Duisterhof
 Fashion Market Editor/Sittings Assistant: Charles Fernandez


Story: New-Fashioned Classics
Produced by: Natalie Warady, Charles Fernandez
Photographer: Cedric Angeles
Stylist: Chris O'Shea
 Fashion Market Editor/Sittings Assistant: Charles Fernandez


Story: It Only Looks Rich
Photographer: Susanna Howe
Stylist: Don Sumada
Fashion Market Editor/Sittings Assistant: Charles Fernandez

(Photos: Courtesy of Country Living)
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