South Beach Sneaker Breakdown....

Soooo…..  My wife has given me her undying support for my love of sneakers and fine cigars. She even told me that she would smoke a stick with me whenever I was in the mood, so you see what kind of woman I have down for me.

With that being said, I have to confess to the breakdown I encountered while attending a business conference on South Beach last week. That place is ridiculous, especially when you are enjoying yourself on another company’s dime! 

Prior to making the trip, I was having a discussion with my man Duane from Real Kick Deals about what our next purchases were going to be.  And since I am making a trip to Atlanta at the end of the month, we have decided to run into the Nike Outlet together and put it on its back. 

The plan seemed to be a good one until I walked into Mr R Sports on Wednesday….  The walls were filled with AM90’s, throwback Jordan’s, Jack Purcell’s and Chucks among others.   

However I stayed cool…. 

Until I went back on Thursday.... And again on Friday.

I walked back in the shop twitching… Like Tyrone Biggums on the Dave Chappelle Show..... You know you remember Tyrone Biggums...

 After calming my nerves, there were two purchases I was ready to make….. 

Rafael Nadal - Courtballistec 3.3’s

When I picked these up, it didn't even feel like a shoe was in my hand. At that moment, I determined that all I needed was a crisp white shirt and jeans….  throw these on and allow them to introduce themselves to whomever walked by.

Air Max 90 – Cool Grey

Everyone that knows me knows I am an Air Max fiend…

It is something about that Cool Grey that pops during the spring and summer. That would have been my third pair of a Grey Air Max colorway in the last month.

I was actually able to resist the temptation to purchase as I called my boy and he told me to calm down, stay focused, and remember we are going to hit up Nike on Memorial Day. (oh and the fact that they did not have either shoe in a 12 helped as well)

So I gotta give respect to my people at the Real Kick Deals, Mr R Sports, my corporate vendor, and to The Delano for taking care of me last week. The Wife and I will most definitely post up in one of those cabanas on the next trip.

Yeah, that’s me at the Delano last week in all white with the white on black Jack Purcell’s poppin……  A wonderful woman told me years ago that the shoe defines the outfit.... (So now you know why I had to marry her)

I must admit that i had wanted to go with the Crockett and Tubbs style since I had watched the show as a kid back in the day. Since I KNOW I can't pull off a purple suit, white would just have to do.

When I showed the wife the picture she simply gave me a look. I could only say it was the first time, but it won’t be the last…  

- Slim

Soulja Boy to try and fill Tupac's Shoes

Okay… I thought I have heard it all….. UNTIL NOW!

My boy back home recently informed me of something that made me realize one of two things….

Either I am getting old, or the world is just getting plain dumber.

Of course, I must agree with the latter because I am beginning to realize that many people do not understand a major philosophy when it comes to an item that has garnered the description of a classic…  

It should be left alone.  

So if people are going to accept the fact that SOULJA BOY is planning to remake arguably one of the best street films of all time, the entertainment industry should roll over and die. PERIOD.  Not only does he plan to remake the movie Juice, he also plans to play the role of BISHOP…. Yes the very same role that Tupac played and ripped apart on the big screen. 

Oh you must think I am joking or pulling some late April Fools 'ish on you huh… Well peep this interview he had with Vibe magazine

Remember how that movie made people develop a love/hate relationship for Bishop, but a ridiculous love and respect for Tupac at the same time. Anyone who watched the original film remembers this scene like it was yesterday…

That scene almost made you forget you were watching a movie... You could feel the tension between Q (Omar Epps), and Bishop (Tupac) as if you were sitting in the room with them.

Now someone please tell me if you think Soulja Boy can nail that part…. 

Anyone?

…. Anyone?

I didn’t think so. 

So another one of my friends just asked me, what about the old Jordan’s, those are classics that have been remade…

It is obvious that my simple friend has missed the point just as he missed the short bus years ago…. 

 One strong piece of advice for the homie, "Think about it before you Speak about it….".

Would the people get mad if Prince came back on stage to perform Purple Rain? No.
Would the crowd get pissed if Michael Jackson was to perform Pretty Young Thing in concert? No.

Why not??? Because they are the originators bringing the people what they want….

Nike (the originator) brought the classics back for the people to enjoy…   Now if Pony (a follower) tried to come out with some Jordan’s, well we would have a serious problem!

Just think of Tupac (Originator) as the Nike’s and Soulja Boy (Follower) as the Pony’s and tell me which would you choose?

On the truth....

After all that being said, I can only wish the dude good luck. As I like to see everyone succeed, I would hate to see this marking the end of his career. 

However, this just doesn't seem to be a wise choice.

- Slim

Another Hip-Hop 101 Top 10 ... (East Coast Edition)

Think back to the days where you actually go into your closet, pick your freshest pair of jeans, a crisp Polo, and white on white sneakers

Then you would go out to the car with the smell good all through the inside, Armor All on the tires, and something beating in the trunk. Turn the ignition, reach over and grab a CD, (or tape depending on how old you are) and put it in the Alpine or Kenwood and just ride.

Think about how mad you would be if that mixtape you spent hours putting together was gone. Then think about how mad you got when you realized that the fool you let ride with you the day before took it.

What makes music so powerful is that a specific song can help you calm your nerves, get you hype for the night and do some stupid crazy mess that you normally wouldn’t do, or simply get you through a 6 hour trip to Panama City when you’re 16 (Holla at me J-Alexander).

<=== Of course Fresh Prince’s Summertime joint is the official summer jam of all-time…. But it didn’t make this list.

  

So for this Hip-Hop 101, we are going to take it back to the 90’s. Back when the Tank was in full-swing, when Wu-Tang was nothing to F’ with, and when the west coast made us all want push a drop 64.

Since I have so many to choose from, I’m gonna start with 10 of my fav East Coast joints that experienced heavy summer rotations in my old Nissan Maxima. I know that a lot of you are gonna feel me on these and I am sure more of you will e-mail me at lifeismyhigh@gmail.com to tell me that I must be bananas for leaving something out…

With that being said…..

10) Smif N Wessun – Wrekonize
I remember when Bucktown dropped and I was immediately hooked, eventhough none of my friends were feeling me on it. It wasn’t until I hooked up with some up north heads in college that I found some people who appreciated Smif N Wessun like I did.

9) Tribe Called Quest – Electric Relaxation
I can name at least 15 Tribe songs that I could have put on this list. This used to be the song I played to get me ready for a Saturday night, until the Wayans Brothers used it as the intro music for their tv show. Now all I can think about is Marlon, Shawn, and crazy Pops....

8) Big L – MVP
MVP was an immediate entry simply because everyone who got in my car always asked who this was. After hearing his mixtapes and unreleased flows, I have to admit this dude was destined for stardom. R.I.P.

7) Camp Lo – Luchini
Everything from the artwork, to the music video and ridiculous flow made this an instant classic

6) Blahzay Blahzay – Danger
“When the East is in the house… Oh My God. Danger!” I remember the Syracuse Orangemen would chant this before each game during their run to the NCAA Final Four in 1995-1996.  The hook alone was enough to get airtime.

5) Wu Tang – C.R.E.A.M.
Cash Rules Everything Around Me… This dropped well before I was 16 and able to drive, but please believe it was the first tape I popped in my first car. Summer wouldn’t be the same without the CREAM.

4) Jay Z – Dead Presidents
Before he was with Beyonce, running with NBA VPs, and dropping his own clothing line, Jay was simply trying to explain to us that in 96, he was still spending money from 88. (That line should be etched in stone somewhere)

3) Nas – The World Is Yours
Nothing elaborate, just a direct flow with a simple video is what Nas was about on his first album. Tony Montana told us the world is yours. Nas just made it seem a little more realistic.

2) Notorious Big – Big Poppa (So So Def Remix)
Definite club banger. The fellas felt it and the ladies loved it. The original was classic, but you gotta give up to the remix on this one.

1) Mobb Deep – Shook Ones Pt. II
Ask any of my peoples in high school that used to ride with me, and they will tell you that they used to get tired of me running this one on steady repeat. The entire album was sick, but Shook Ones has to be arguably one of the best joints ever made.

That was the 10 of my fav East Coast productions that are a constant reminder of summertime in the 90’s. There was no deliberation, if I forgot about a song while making this list, then it must not have deserved to be on my list. I will bring it back later with 10 from the Dirty Dirty and the West Coast.

- Slim