Killa Cam's back. And he's on the cover of XXL. [NahRight]

Our friends at KOF have exclusive coverage of Kobe's sneaker-stay in NYC. [KicksOnFire]

This set of “New York” inspired legos are both confusing and dumb. [Like Cool]

Getting back to the bikini shots, yeah we couldn't resist this boatload of fun. [DoubleViking]

Around 2006, New York did not have an identity. You can probably blame bitter rivalries between the city’s elder statesmen for their overall creative slump. To redefine the sound of the city, it might take a refreshing sound, like the electronica-driven sound of Europe’s dance scene, to change the tide. Enter Mickey Factz.

The Bronx-born MC began pushing the envelope by sampling forward-thinkers like N.E.R.D. Three mixtapes (Flashback, Back To The Future, and Heaven’s Fallout) later, and the 23-year-old attacked the blogosphere, releasing a new song every day this Spring with influences ranging from Portishead to The Prodigy (no, the other P). In this recent interview, Mickey puts his personal stamp on the Supra sneaker brand and talks about how he was rocking dance music influences before Kanye.

Interview by Richard “DJ Treats” Dryden

Complex: When did you start rapping over electronica-driven beats?

Mickey Factz: As of 2006, we just got bored. We sampled N.E.R.D and In Search Of… and we wanted to do something different from the jump. We felt that music was just going in the same direction'nobody was trying to be innovative. Then after that, I wanted to personally do Flashback, which was rapping over all old school beats, but we wanted to revitalize the beats behind it and Precize mixed some of the beats over. He did maybe 65 to 70% of the music over, and he made it sound more futuresque which was leading up to Heaven’s Fallout.

Complex: So were you familiar with the music, or were you an actual fan of it?

Mickey Factz: I was familiar with it 'cause I grew up on hip-hop, I grew up on Pun, I grew up on R&B, I grew up on gospel. That's the foundation. Most kids my age grew up on those three things. In the midst of Flashback, I did some records that were very weird to my ears 'cause I was listening to alternative and electro and house and stuff but I wasn't into it. Once we started to record for [Heaven's] Fall Out, I just fell into that whole scene.

Complex: Where does gospel come into play?

Mickey Factz: Gospel cause your parents made you, hip-hop cause you wanted to rebel and R&B 'cause you wanted to get a girl. Summer of '07, I personally knew this is stuff that nobody is going to rap over. Truth be told, we were recording this before Graduation. We did those before Kanye put them out.

Complex: So you feel that now this is a sound that you own?

Mickey Factz: Right. This is a sound that I created with GFCnewyork, with Precize. We've made a sound that is very hard to duplicate because we've done it so well, to the point that now we're trying to make a newer sound. Now as you see, people are starting to sample MIA, Santogold and things of that nature, but you know GFCnewyork will always be ahead of the curve. We've got a couple of tricks up our sleeve when it comes to the next couple of releases.

Complex: Where do you stand in terms of your perception the artists and DJ's of that world, and collaborations with them?

Mickey Factz: I would love it more than I would like to collaborate with U.S. artists. I want to be a global artist so if these artists from China and Japan and Europe or Australia, if they want to collaborate, I'm more than willing to do it because my music will then be spread out through their region, and they'll be like, 'Wow this guy's already been doing it, this guy seems more authentic.'

Complex: Right, rather than being on some name-dropping shit.

Mickey Factz: Exactly. We wanted to have a grassroots following in Europe and Asia and Australia. Before we even dropped music we were touring these places.

Hit “NEXT” to find out if Mickey feels like an outcast in the Bronx, and why he’s crowning himself the Supra king.

New York City may not look like the colorful graffiti version of the ’80s, but luckily we still have legends like EASE to remind us of the work that the old school put in. Despite being rasied in Miami, EASE a.k.a. José Parlá came up like most of today’s crossover stars from graf’s golden era (HAZE, REAS), bringing his signature overlapping calligraphy style from the streets to fine art galleries worldwide. Last week, he finally took his work overseas for his first London exhibit “Adaptation/Translation.”

On display through November 8 at Elms Lesters Painting Rooms, a British gallery known for featuring installations from KAWS, Futura, and STASH, “Adaptation/Translation” finds Parlá using ruined walls as his canvas. The gallery is also commemorating the occasion by publishing 1,000 copies of a book that features Parlá’s work. See more images from the exhibit below…

[Elms Lesters Via Highsnobiety]

T-SHIRT: Fruition

PIN: My friend Erica designed it for me.

JEANS: Levi's

What rapper could you beat in a fistfight? I can't beat 50 Cent.

What's the last album you purchased? Beat Konducta Vol 5-6: Dil Cosby Suite by Madlib. I want to work with him. I'm trying.

NAME: CHUCK INGLISH (right)

JACKET: Maharishi

SHOES: Jordan Spizike

T-SHIRT: Alife NYC

What rapper could you beat in a fistfight? Mike (Mikey Rocks).

What sneaker needs to be retro-ed? Jordan 1's

[Click here to see more street detail subjects from the Cool Kids show, including Mick Boogie, Mickey Factz and more!]

All photos taken by Jaeki Cho

Dzine set out to combine the flashy design of low-rider culture with his own artistic palette that’s influenced by Buddhist traditions. Touches that the Puerto Rican artist added to the cruisers range from twisted metal spokes to sparkling gold frames. He also created a motorboat with a pair of LCD TVs on the stern. Until Dzine’s rides becomes street-safe, you can see his show at Deitch through October 19th. Check out more photos below.

[Deitch Gallery via Luxury Launches]

So far, so good since Complex first met Pac Div. They came to New York a few months back with hopes of landing a major label deal, and they did just that, signing with Universal Records and landing co-signs from legends like Q-Tip. Before they hopped on a plane back to L.A. this morning, the group phoned in to give their reaction to their warm welcome, and briefly discuss their forthcoming debut, Grown Kids Syndrome…

Interview by Richard “DJ Treats” Dryden

Complex: What up, what’s good?

Mibbs: We’re at the airport on 9/11, it’s weird, it’s empty up here.

Complex: Really? Is there really nobody in the airport right now?

Mibbs: We’re at JFK on 9/11, about to leave for L.A. How ironic is that? It’s all good though, I like it. [Laughs]

Complex: You know that you’re safe.

Mibbs: Yeah, I know this time.

Complex: How often do you guys go back and forth to L.A.?

Mibbs: This was our second time in New York. Our second time this year, and our second time, period. We hope to make it a more often thing.

Complex: Your stays have been real short every time you come out here.

Mibbs: Our stays are always real short. I dunno, it’s always for quick business, like for a show and head home, and that’s it.

Complex: You guys did your thing last night.

Be Young: Thanks. I appreciate it. Last night was the first real performance in New York. We were supposed to do something [at SOB's], but it fell through, so last night was the first. The first show in New York, you get Q-Tip to come out and rap at the end; I guess that’s pretty cool. Q-Tip was there and he came up on-stage and spit an a capella towards the end.

Complex: What’d you think of that spot, Love?

Be Young: It was crazy. We walked in, it looked like a cave, like some Flintstones shit. It was cool man. People in there had a lot of energy.

Complex: At one point, you got off the stage and you were rapping in the crowd.

Be Young: Yeah that’s how we like to do it. We like to get up-close and personal man. We don’t like to separate ourselves from the people that come to see us. We like to have fun. There’s been points where we don’t do the “Poison” thing [Ed. Note: The group performed a dance routine to the BBD classic], we might do Michael Jackson. I’ll break into this whole Michael Jackson thing and start moonwalking.

Complex: Do you guys really take a lot of time out to practice your stage show?

Be Young: We do. We take pride in that, man. We know people paid money to come see us so we don’t wanna disappoint them. People take money from their work paychecks, we don’t want nobody to leave mad, so we put a lot of thought into our show.

Complex: How different was last night compared to some of your other shows?

Be Young: It kind of depends. For instance we didn’t have our regular DJ, so it was a slight difference in our show. Sometimes it’s a little bit more grand but we still came out and did what we did.

Complex: You started the show, coming out to the sample used on “F.A.T. BOYS ‘08?”

Be Young: Yeah that’s where the hook came from, the Audio Two song. He says, “I get money, money I got/I got a pocket full of paper, sneakers on my feet.” And then “BAM!” Expect the unexpected, that’s how we like to tell people.

Hit “NEXT” to hear more about Pac Div’s plans to work with Q-Tip, Mickey Factz and Asher Roth and how their album is shaping up.

The setting for Kid Cudi’s first music video was like a homecoming. Since the 23-year-old Cleveland native took up residence in Brooklyn three years ago, he’s been treated like one of the Big Apple’s own, mainly by the pack of self-made cool kids who appear in his new video “Heaven At Night”. To help bring the song to life, he teamed up with multi-tasking party promoter/director Vashtie, who’s known for her unique take on the Pharrell, Lupe, Kanye banger “Us Placers”.

While Cudi’s runaway hit “Day And Night” pushed his name past the indie world, he was still lacking a formal introduction to the world. That is, until this summer when he dropped his Man On The Moon mixtape, which garnered even more attention from influential folks like Kanye, who recently called Cudi the “best new artist.” Can’t beat that. In this exclusive Complex interview, the kid talks about making powerful music, being a dork, and the vision for his forthcoming album…

Interview by Richard “DJ Treats” Dryden

Complex: What exactly is the treatment for this video?

Kid Cudi: It's a party scene that shows even when a lot of people are around, there still can be a sense of loneliness. Sometimes we find peace in going out and getting drunk and trying to be around people to try to take our minds off of things, but it's kind of hard to. But the “Heaven At Night” is in the sense of nightlife being heaven'going out and drowning your sorrows and trying to lighten up your spirits. But at the same time, you can see it in somebody's face that their mind is on something completely different.

Complex: Do you identify with that?

Kid Cudi: Yeah, all my music. That's my life in a nutshell.

Complex: It’s interesting that you got someone like Vashtie, who’s known for throwing parties, to direct it. Did you look at it like that?

Kid Cudi: I've been to several of her parties, having mad shit on my mind. She's seen me at her parties, I'm sure, a couple of times and seen me looking like my mind is on something else. And sometimes she'll be like, “Are you okay?” And I’ll be like, “Yeah, you know…” Because that's fam right there, she knows me and where I'm trying to go with my music. It's very personal and it made sense to do the video with her. It was actually her idea. I wasn't even thinking of doing anything off the mixtape other than “Is There Any Love.”

Complex: Did you always have it in mind to do “Heaven At Night” as the next single?

Kid Cudi: “Is There Any Love” was before the mixtape dropped. We were supposed to do a video for that. It was a promo, but it just didn't get handled right away. Then the mixtape dropped.

Complex: Are you going to release a video for “Day And Night”?

Kid Cudi: I have a vision, and I wish I was a video director so I could do it myself.

Complex: That song kind of grew on its own. Are you surprised at the success? Is that why you're taking your time with the video?

Kid Cudi: Yes. The song has turned into pretty much a cult-favorite. “Day And Night” is my Sir Mix-A-Lot “I Like Big Butts.” I'm going to be performing that song for the rest of my career. My man Emile told me that shit [laughs]. I'm not gonna be a one-hit wonder, you can quote that. Muthafuckas just need to get ready and understand that. The mixtape was designed to establish that and let people know it's not a game, I'm not playing no more. This is the alley-oop, and the album is going to be most magnificent piece of music we've heard in some time.

Complex: Before the making of the video, you had a making of the treatment clip. What was the idea behind that?

Kid Cudi: That was just for fun. We weren’t even going to put that out, it was just a joke. We were just fucking around, and we just got this crazy idea playing around with iVideo on the Macbook. Next thing you know, ideas sparked and we pretended I was a stalker but I was mad corny and shit. It was basically to play off of people sweating Vashtie. I’m making fun of the guys that sweat Vashtie hard-body. It was a subliminal chin-check'let her be. She’s an amazing person, but…stop being weird. And it was also funny because I was playing me, Kid Cudi.

Complex: Well up until now, no one has really seen any videos with you. To put yourself out there for the first time, you’re [portrayed] as a complete dork.

Kid Cudi: Wow, that is the first video of me even talking. I never thought about that. It’s whatever, it was a joke. I think it’s dope that I didn’t follow the traditional route and be like, “Let’s do a video and it’s all serious.” It also helps to show my character and me as a person that I’m silly. That’s a side that people don’t know that much about me. Like hearing my music it might seem as if I’m a really deep person, and I am, but I have a very very silly side. It’s good that people see that in that video.

Complex: Are you looking to take more of an acting role in your future videos?

Kid Cudi: Oh, all my videos are going to all be cinematic-based, not just me rapping in the camera. My actual album will be cinematic from beginning to end.

Complex: So, a storyline?

Kid Cudi: Not a storyline so to speak, but I’m leaving it open for kids to interpret it. I don’t want to really sit there and be be like scene after scene after scene; I want kids to follow the story and come up with their own shit about it. But there was a lot of subliminals on the album. I hope people really like it and not shun me. I’m really pushing the envelope, as always with everything I do. It’s some next-level shit, I’m putting myself out there a lot and it’s really just powerful music. At the end of the day, I want to help change people’s lives with my music, not just let people dance and smoke a blunt to it. I want to change people’s lives, I think that’s the true meaning of music'to change people’s minds. To help them see that the world isn’t all that bad if you just understand that through every tough situation there’s always a brighter day after it. When it rains there’s always a the sun right after. My faults, my demons, I’m putting everything out there, things that I deal with. It’s therapy for me. When I’m going through some shit, I’ma write about it. I hope this song helps as much people as much as it helps me.

Complex: The song is very close to you.

Kid Cudi: That’s what happened with “Day And Night”. I try to tell peopole, the Kid Cudi movement is bigger than hip-hop, because I’m not just hip-hop'I’m everything. I don’t get into labels, whatever you want to call it. If I wake up tomorrow and say I want to make a country album, believe it I’ll do it, and execute it, and it’ll be great. That’s what I’m about, just doing something and going with the raw emotion and being elegant about it.

Complex: You had some special guests, 88-Keys, Alchemist at the shoot. Are you working with any of those guys?

Kid Cudi: I did something for Alchemist’s album, and we’ll be working together for my album. I’m working with 88-Keys, that’s family right there.

Complex: On the intro for the mixtape, you and a bunch of people are in a movie theater. What’s the significance of that?

Kid Cudi: Just to put the stamp on the movie thing, just a little hint hint, and also it was a joke. It was supposed to just be the DreamWorks theme. But why don’t we flip that and make it seem as if we’re in a movie theater and muthafuckas are just clowning and then the movie comes on.

Complex: What are some of your favorite DreamWorks movies?

Kid Cudi: I can’t think right now, but Transformers was amazing. I’m a huge Shia LeBouf fan. The Dreamworks thing had a significance because my whole shit is about my dream world, dream on. I’m a big supporter of anyone that has a dream.

WRITING KID CUDI’S VIDEO TREATMENT WITH VASHTIE

BEHIND THE SCENES OF KID CUDI’S “HEAVEN AT NIGHT” VIDEO

Sure, having “Rag” in their name while carrying cleaned-up labels is a bit ironic, but when the store was founded in 1995, it was only stocked with vintage clothing. Going from used threads to Marty Margiela? Talk about stepping up. Hit up their e-store to get a jump-start on fall, and check some shots of the new space below.

Aloha Rag NYC
505 Greenwich St.
New York, NY 10013
Open 7 days a week
212.925.0882
aloharag.com

The exhibit features over forty striking photographs (printed on hand-made paper) from a trip to India, where Ruprecht focused on everything from the people to the bold landscape. All proceeds from the exhibit will go back to building freshwater wells and cleaning up parts of India. During a recent visit to the office, Peter discussed the inspiration behind the project and gave us a peek at the post production of enhancing his photos. Watch the quick video clip below.

When the store opened up in 2003, Azrouël focused on lady’s clothing. Then just last year, he developed gear for guys like hoodies, premium leather jackets, cardigans, and gingham shirts, all featuring his signature attention to detail. Sneaker vets K-Swiss even commissioned Yigal to design another line of kicks for this fall, which will be available at his boutique. See a few photos of what Azrouël has in store after the jump.

Jersey Top


Knit Pullover


Hooded Jacket


Short Gingham

408 West 14th Street
New York, NY 10014
212.929.2196

Other Retail Location

700 Montauk Highway
Watermill, NY 11976
631.726.6250

Owner Naghman Chaudry initially wanted to open a boutique that would house his burgeoning clothing line Subscript. But as the plans came to fruition with partner Brian Procell, they became the bridge between fashion’s old and new school, carrying brands like Rockers NYC, Prada, WESC, Creative Recreation, and vintage BAPE. “It’s like being an urban archeologist'you’re literally digging up everything that was ill in the hood back in the day,” says Procell. See photos from the store’s interior after the jump.

43 Clinton St. (Between Stanton St. and Rivington St.)
New York, NY 10002
212.673.7060
Monday – Sunday
12PM – 8PM

Having Complex bossman ME involved is a part of a partnership with the Jets where Ecko designed the new and improved outfits for the cheerleaders, who now preferred to be called “The Flight Crew” after the sexy aviator pin-up look of the ’60s. While 21 girls were handpicked after hours of deliberation, the 22nd will be decided by the fans at NewYorkJets.com. Before you get your vote on, check out a gallery of the girls at yesterday’s tryouts.


[Click on an image to view full size]

Name: Giuseppe Valentini

Age: 26

Occupation: Design Director

Location: L.A.

Shirt: Marc Jacobs

Tie: Lova

Jeans: Lova

Shoes: Toms

Related:

- Street Detail: Dress Down

-Street Detail: Welcome To The Jungle

-Street Detail: Marc Jacobs Sets Off Spring

-Street Detail: Shiny Shoes

The duo has dropped two studio albums, plus full remixes of each with vocals from folks like Young Jeezy, Jay-Z and Bun B. With their third album LP3 set for release on XL Recordings this July, their newest single “Shiller” shows their more melancholy side. Listen to the full song below.

Ratatat “Shiller” (2008)

[Gorilla vs. Bear]

Last night, for the final leg of the tour, super-producer Just Blaze and Complex’s DJ Treats turned the Lower East Side’s Reed Space into a virtual sweat box, pumping out heavy-hitting tunes for a memorable close to an even more memorable collaboration. See more photos of JB (sporting his Megatron Don x LRG tee), The Alchemist, DJ Clark Kent, and LRG rep Jonas Bevaqua after the jump.

Related:

- LRG & Courvoisier’s Spring Time Tour

- Bun B Welcomes L-R-G And Courvoisier To Texas

- Mixing It Up With LRG & Courvoisier

- Just Blaze Is Cleaning Out His Closet

- Prodigy’s Supporting Cast Shows H.N.I.C. 2 Love

While B.G. is the only Grand Hustle affiliate on a track (”Gangsta”) from the album, Maino delivers 11 more tracks of thug motivation for BK. “Hi Hater” takes it back to b-boys in the '80s with a classic Jimmy Spicer sample, and so does “However Do You Want Me,” a JR Rotem-produced joint that flips Soul II Soul’s “Back To Life.” Smile at the haters after the jump with the full video.

Rogan Gregory gets cooler with every move he makes. The eco-friendly designer that built the Rogan fashion house also launched organic clothing lines Loomstate and Edun, a collaboration with Bono and wife, Ali Hewson. Recently, he made another major move by opening his second store in New York’s Lower East Side. The new location, which carries all the previously mentioned chic brands, is located in an actual NY landmark'the Bouwerie Lane Theatre'which was constructed in 1874. Grab a quick look at the shop’s interior after the jump.

Rogan
330 Bowery at the corner of Bond Street
New York, NY 10012
646-827-7567

This week’s Street Detail subject keeps it mellow yellow with the premium sneaker brand Raf Simons, then adds some subtle detail with his yellow camo Nixon watch. See the full style breakdown after the jump.

Name: Marcus Mariena

Age: 24

Location: Bronx, NY

Occupation: Chess teacher

Sunglasses: YSL

Jacket: G-Star

T-Shirt: DDC LAB

Belt: Gucci

Jeans: Nudie

Sneakers: Raf Simons

Watch: Nixon

Related:

- Street Detail: Shiny Shoes

- Street Detail: Decked Out

[Click on an image to view full size]

Related:

- Retail Spotlight: Endovanera

- Retail Spotlight: YMC’s New Website

Name: Isaiah Trusty

Age:24

Location: New York, NY

Occupation: Party promoter

Shirt: Vintage (from Rags A Go Go, NYC)

Jacket: Members Only

Hoody: Kid Robot

Denim: April 77

Sneakers: Nike Dunk Hi