The Audacity of Dope

As I mentioned earlier, Tuesday was an incredible day in history and damn near everyone/thing I was rooting for ended up winning (*crosses fingers for Al Franken’s recount*).  However, in the same day that we took a huge step towards equality by electing Barack Obama as our 44th President, Californians voted yes on Propisition 8 and banned gay marriage.  Again, the idea that one could vote for acceptance and discrimination on the same ballot is sickening, disappointing, and confusing.

People have been protesting in the streets all over California this past week and the court battles have just started.  It’s critical that they keep up that fight and it’s important for us non-Cali residents (*hides Cali driver’s license from WA DMV*) support as best we can.

One simple way is to cop these “Repeal Prop. 8” t-shirts from ChunkyTees right here.  You can either buy one for $10, or more than 3 for $8 each, with all the money going to the cost of pressing and shipping them.  In other words, this isn’t a money making venture.  This is an important statement we can make to the world about equal rights.  Dr. King’s words have never been more true than they are today.

We’ve seen a bunch of dope Obama shirts over the last year, and here’s another one to add to the list thanks to Mick Boogie and Dope Couture.  Nothing is assured yet, but I’m so excited about the state of the presidential race right now.  I can’t even imagine the fall out if Obama loses.  Not only would people be upset all over the world, but this would throw a huge wedge in race relations and turn off an entire generation to politics.  If he’s up in the polls by a few points and loses, right or wrong, many will see it as an example of racism where people claim to be prObama, only to go behind the curtain and vote McCain.  Things would be really ugly for a long time, since he is clearly the much better candidate.  McCain’s throwing the kitchen sink at him and it’s not going to work.  There’s a reason why voters under 35 are overwhelmingly supporting Obama.  He’s the future.  McCain is the past.

Cop Mick’s shirt right here and check out the quick mixtape he put together with Terry Urban to launch the shirt:

1. Mick Boogie/Terry Urban: Intro
2. Daytona: Can I Kick It? (produced by Garbs Infinite)
3. Mekka Don: Dear Obama (produced by Skinny Vee)
4. Malik Yusef f/ Kanye West: Promised Land
5. Ra The Mc: Ready Or Not (produced by Judah)
6. Jus Mic: Politics As Usual
7. Jin: Open Letter To Obama
8. 6th Sense: Ignite The People (produced by 6th Sense)
9. Doxx: Smile Sarah (produced by Remot)

Download here.  (ZShare has been acting up in the last few days, so we’ll see if this link stays ‘under maintenance’ for long)

Another dope shirt for us Obamaniacs, this time courtesy of the Peoples Republic of Clothing.  If you don’t recognize the pic, it’s from Barack’s high school basketball days…classic.  They also have it in white, ladies cuts, and a dope “Pandana” jawn too.  Y’all know how I’m partial to pandas.

Cop ’em here and enter the promo code “NICKB” for 10% off.  Shout to young Nicholas for the heads up.

I readily admit that my fashion game is pretty much relegated to what’s comfortable and what I get free, but these new Obama shirts look real dope.  Swiped from Hypebeast, so I’ll let them explain:

Supporting presidential hopeful, Barack Obama, Upper Playground’s team of artist’s created a set of Obama inspired pieces. The tees are now available exclusively through Digital Gravel, with under 300 of each being printed. Combining contributions from Sam Flores, Ron English, Alex Pardee, Munk One, Date Farmers and Morning Breathe amongst others, every print features the artists trademark style with the Democratic theme in mind. Releasing over the weekend, the lineup is available in both Mens and Womens sizes, retailing at $20 USD a piece.

Sounds like a good deal to me and all the money goes to a good cause as well (making more posters and stickers to distribute before the election).  I still need to track down that UNDRCRWN jawn at some point as well…and I like this “Destroy Racism” shirt too.  Hmm, shopping spree?  It is back to school time, right?

Cop ’em here.

There have been a lot of great Obama shirts during the campaign so far (I’m partial to my “Ninjas For Obama” jawn myself), but this one might have just taken the cake. UNDRCRWN recreated Vince Carter’s epic posterization of 7’2″ French center (and 1999 Knicks draft pick…good call fellas) Frederic Weis in the 2000 Olympics, appropriately substituting Obama and McCain for the players:

The funniest part of that clip is actually that Vin Baker was a part of USA Basketball. I forgot all about that. So, what store in town is selling these and wants to hook me up?

Spotted on Hypebeast…and just now on Spike Lee at the Democratic National Convention. That’s a good look.

When I mentioned that I DJ’d for U-N-I at the Seattle stop of the DunkXChange a while back, some people hit me up wondering what exactly the event was.  Well this video sums it up nicely.  Shout to all those involved, I’m looking forward to the next one in the 206.

This is old and happened way before TAOD was up and running, but it’s ill and Kanye just blogged it, so I thought I’d share. Neo Fukuoka built a fully function version of the motorcycle from the legendary Akira anime movie. I think I watched it for the first time in 4th grade and it was an instant classic. If you never made the connection, the cover of my last mixtape (I know…I haven’t put one out in ages…I’m trying to find time for Vol. 7) was based off the Akira cover. Shout to Adi & Nabs for the help on that!

(download the mixtape here)

More dope pics of the bike over at Yeezy’s.

Boo @ 64 MB though…I guess Suck is a fitting name. I understand the reasoning for the small capacity, but that just seems like a cop out so they save a few bucks. “This’ll remind you of the good ol’ days…it’ll even have suck the same way!” But nah, I can’t hate. This is fresh.

I still firmly believe that wasting money on a chain is topped only by the stupidity of plastering diamonds on your teeth, but anything Transformers related is tough for me to hate on. Keep on keepin on with that ignance Berg. I approve.

Swiped from RealTalkNY

I know I just posted that Cartier panda watch, but this one is just as crazy. Swiped from Kanye’s over the top, ballerific blog.

Product Description: Inspired by the thrilling world of Formula 1 racings, industrial designer John Pszeniczny has created a marvelous piece of time-telling art. Called F1/Carbon GMT, the watch consists of carbon fiber, Swarovski crystal, rubber and metal. This timepiece has 18 identical rubies and tells the time in everyone of the 18 cities on the 2008 F1 circuit.

Apparently it hasn’t even been made yet. Still dope though. Peep dude’s previous design: