Tag: hip hop

ALIFE x Raekwon

ALIFE x Raekwon

Posted on by bythelevel

 

Following up on their main line release this season and their high profile collaboration with PUMA earlier this year, ALIFE team up with regular ‘sessions’ collaborator and hip hop legend Raekwon on this limited edition t-shirt.

This isn’t the first time ALIFE have printed a rapper on the front of a tee, having worked with the likes New York rapper Jadakiss in the past. This time around, Wu-Tangs Raekwon adopts a simple ALIFE logo tee and a bunch of roses concealing a pistol, possibly a nod to the Valentine’s Day party he played earlier this year, in the tees photo print that was shot by Harry McNally.

Made in the USA out of 100% cotton, the limited edition ALIFE x Raekwon tee is available to pick up now at The Chimp Store.

 

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PUMA X ALIFE Sessions with Mobb Deep – Recap

Posted on by bythelevel

 

The PUMA presents alife sessions returned to East London to launch part two of their Spring/Summer 2015 collaboration with none other than New York hip hop heavyweights Mobb Deep joining in the celebrations.

The collection itself aligns with part one of the release, utilising PUMA’s heritage in sportswear and combining alife’s unique creative approach to present a selection of vibrant footwear reworks and bold apparel pieces. Drawing inspiration from the streets of New York and the stories they tell, the classic Trinomic R698, Disc Blaze and Blaze of Glory silhouette receive new premium material applications, with the stand out R698 featuring a custom alife motif print on the midsole. The apparel offering consists of a functional two piece tracksuit and a matching short and sweater combo featuring an all over photo print of the New York brands famous piranha tanks situated in their Rivington Street Club store.

One thing we have learned from the PUMA x alife collaborations is that both brands know how to throw a party. With Reakwon representing in the previous London sessions instalment, Mobb Deep played to a packed house at The Laundry E8 and delivered what could quite be one of the best events of the year so far. Following on from energetic warm-up shows from UK based rap project Cult Mountain and impressive London native Little Simz, Mobb Deep took to the stage to deliver classics including Hell on Earth and Shook ones, with all the artists decked out in the latest attire from PUMA and alife. Livin’ Proof were on the decks all night providing the soundtrack to the evening in between sets, with drinks flowing and amazing food from the Pig & Rig, it was a good vibes all round.

Check out the photo recap from the night, as well as product shots from part 2 of the collaboration above. You can shop pieces from the PUMA x alife Spring/Summer 2015 collection at the following retailers: Urban Industry, 5Pointz and Attitude. 

Event photography: Lily Brown

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Nike SB x De La Soul – Dunk Pack

Posted on by bythelevel

 

Hip-Hop and Skateboarding collide once again this Spring as Nike SB give a slightly reworked re-issue of the De La Soul Hi and Lo silhouettes to celebrate the shoes 10th year anniversary.

Once again looking to the Hip-Hop pioneers ‘3 Feet High & Risings’ debut album as inspiration, the highly anticipated release features custom artwork applied to the shoes panelled overlays. The Hi is offered up in a premium white leather, with perforations on the toe box, while the Lo arrives with a brown suede base, with green pops on the swoosh and midsole, with elephant print also applied to the shoes overlays.

When the Dunk was introduced to the world in 1985, it was quickly adopted by skateboarders and sneaker heads alike, thanks to its robust construction, thick flat sole and ankle protection. The Nike SB Dunk followed in 2002 to pay homage the shoes influence in skate culture during the 90’s. Appropriately both Nike and De LA Soul celebrated their influence within skateboarding with a hip-hop inspired collab first released back in 2005, which featured similar reworks to that of the latest release and is considered now as one of the most celebrate colour ways of the SB Dunk.

This years re-issue is sure to give much of the same and with the highly-anticipated release available in limited numbers, I’m sure these wont be around for long. To commemorate the release, Nike SB have put together this short video which sees pro-rider and DC native Bobby Worrest skate in the Hi’s.

The Nike SB x De La Soul will be available in the UK from the 6th of March at nike.com

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S.O.O.N x REBEL YUTH – ‘RICK & RUSSELL’

Posted on by bythelevel

 

London based brand S.O.O.N link up with popular British illustrator Rebel Yuth to present a duo of designs that pay homage to two of Hip-Hop’s most inspirational figures – Rick Rubin and Russell Simmons.

John Speed a.k.a Rebel Yuth applies his signature style to the design which include the tag lines ‘Kick It Like Rick’ and ‘Hustle Like Russell’. Each design has been hand printed at the brands London studio onto pre-shrunk, ring-spun cotton tees. The brands founder Johnny Grant had this to say on the collection;

The rich history of the def jam story and its humble beginnings is always something that has connected with and inspired me. So, when I met John (Rebel Yuth) and I mentioned doing a series of tee illustrations of people that really optimise the S.O.O.N ethos, amongst other ideas, I talked about Russell Simmons. The next day i saw a quick illustration he had done of Rick Rubin pop up on his Instagram i called him straight away and told him that was it…”

The release is super limited to only 31 pieces of each design to coincide with Def Jam’s 31st Anniversary, and will include an exclusive ‘Rick and Russell’ sticker pack. You can pick yours up at www.somethingoutofnothing.co.uk

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Billionaire Boys Club X Kirk Knight – MA-1 Leather Jacket

Posted on by bythelevel

 

Billionaire Boys Club link up with Pro Era’s Kirk Knight to showcase the brands MA-1 Leather Jacket.

Photographer Slick Jackson follows the Brooklyn based hip-hop artist through New York’s Chinatown wearing the EU exclusive jacket, constructed from premium leather that is sourced, dyed and fabricated entirely in Europe. Additional details include the aviation inspired Flyin-B logo on the chest and a large embossed Arch logo as a back design. The jacket takes further cues from the original MA-1 designs with utility pockets on the arm and a central zip closure, arriving in an all black colour treatment for a clean finish.

The Billionaire Boys Club MA-1 Jacket is available now at www.bbcicecream.eu

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The Hundreds x Death Row Records Capsule Collection

Posted on by bythelevel

The Hundreds have announced an exciting new capsule collection with legendary West-Coast hip-hop record label Death Row.

Accountable for kick-starting the careers of some of the biggest names in hip-hop, including the likes Snoop Dogg, Tupac and Dr.Dre to name but a few, Death Row’s legacy lives on today. Following a spate of 90′s releases of late, The Hundreds top it off with this great capsule paying homage to one of the most exciting movements of the era.

The limited release celebrates The Hundreds love for the pioneering label, consisting of long and short sleeved tees, hooded sweaters and coach jackets, featuring heavy graphic prints that bear the iconic logos of both brands.

Bobby Hundreds shared his excitement on the capsule;

“The Hundreds X Death Row is honestly like a dream for me. I grew up listening to ‘The Chronic,’ ‘Doggystyle,’ and ‘All Eyez on Me,’ so when the opportunity presented itself, there was no way we weren’t doing this project. Though simple, this collaboration is an obvious homage to what defined my youth, and the music that inspired me to pursure street culture. What you’re getting is an unfiltered look at true O.G.s who shaped West Coast culture as we know it, teamed with a brand dedicated to telling that story.”

The Hundreds x Death Row Capsule Collection will be exclusively available at the following stores shortly;

5Pointz

The Chimp Store

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HUF x Wu-Tang Clan

Posted on by bythelevel

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The HUF X Wu-Tang Clan collaboration announcement was big a pretty big deal to us at By The Level and Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) has been on repeat since.

The collection dropped on Saturday the 1st of March and the limited pieces are getting snapped up quick. We were lucky enough to shoot the Football Jersey before they all went at Brightons Peggs and Son. It was only right we took the product down to the Wu-Tang mural by local artist AROEMSK, next to The Level skatepark and get some shots.

There are still limited amounts of the product available at Peggs and Son now, but you will have to act quick!

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