Music | Lupe Fiasco & Raekwon Album Leak

If you've come looking for the both leaks, sorry I don't have them. Google is your friend for that one. However I have listened to both albums and I must say that I'm quite disappointed with Lupe Fiasco's upcoming album. Like everyone else who's been hooked on Lupe these past few years, I was incredibly excited for Lasers release. So when I discovered that it had leaked today, I didn't quite know what to do. Listen or not? Ignore the bad reviews and just wait? Well, I couldn't. Me being the highly inquisitive individual I am, I quickly downloaded it along with Raekwon's new album Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang. That's an album I'll definitely be purchasing. But yeah - Lupe's album.

Despite all the noise about Lupe's issues with his label Atlantic and reports in Complex magazine of how he himself "hated" the album, never, never in my young life did I imagine that a Lupe Fiasco album could be so fantastically mediocre. Most will know that Lupe is one of the most gifted lyricists of our time so when I finished listening to the album my face went from this ☺ to this > :O to this > -_- to this >☹.

It was horrid. How a dance track made its way onto Lasers I will never understand. The production is weak and it's clear Lupe's previous passion and hunger is not really present on this record at all. This is not the Lupe Fiasco that I know and love. I really feel like that this album is some kind of inside joke and I wouldn't be surprised if Lupe leaked this album himself. After being dogged by Atlantic to produce a more commercial sound, it seems the Chi-Town rapper caved. I suggest he stop saying this album "is for the fans" because this album is not for me. Not even a little bit. Thanks be to God that All Black Everything and Words I Never Said partially save this album from being a complete mishap. Strong words? Perhaps. But understand how amazingly upset I am. Atlantic Records have seemingly managed to convert this album into a farce and in some way you can't help but feel sorry for Lupe. Let's just hope his next release is better way than this, right?

Oh, and to all those of you patiently waiting for March 8th the go out and purchase this album... The jokes on you.

Music | What I've Been Listening To

Spending hours at the laptop, filling out applications and typing up French essays does get quite boring without music lemme tell ya. And it does nothing at all for your eyes! Thankfully, these tracks have kept me motivated and inspired throughout a productive week. And here they are...

Stalley - Lincoln Way Nights

Hands down one of my favourite mixtapes of 2011; every single track is a winner. The aptly named 'Bruce Springsteen of hip-hop' amazes me with this release - I haven't stopped playing it since I got it. Certified amazing shit.

She Hates The Bass

Assassin f/ John Mayer

Monkey Ish (RIP Pimp C)

Nujabes - Modal Soul
Another of hip-hop's most promising producers, Japanese native Nujabes, like J Dilla, died way before his time. Modal Soul is almost like a jazz/hip-hop fusion... I absolutely adore the musical arrangement on Feather. R.I.P.

Feather f/ Cise Starr & Akin from CYNE
Thank You f/ Apani B

Kendrick Lamar - Overly Dedicated
Named as one of XXL's Freshmen for this year, Kendrick Lamar's Overly Dedicated is an inspiring piece of work. If you don't know who this rapper is by now, listen to The Heart Pt. 2 below and "I swear to God you will know who Kendrick" is!

The Heart Pt. 2 f/ Dash Snow
Ignorance Is Bliss

Jill Scott - The Real Thing, Words and Sounds Vol.3
Ms Scott definitely changed her tone with this album taking a more self-empowering and sensual route than her previous two releases. I could listen to her voice all day... easily one of my favourite albums of 2007.

Crown Royal

My Love

Blogs | Michel-Olivier of Frappé London

After having a look-see today at London Fashion Week I decided to catch up with my cousin Michel-Olivier of Frappé London; fashion blogger extrordinaire and general mad man (lol). Now studying Architecture at the University of Lincoln, Mr Frappé, as he calls himself, is also working with upcoming luxury brand Ok Marc whilst dabbling in a couple other fashion projects. Peep the snaps below... And check out the mesmerising pony skin and napa leather holdall by Ok Marc from their pre-fall collection. I WANT ONE! (someone give me £800 to buy one please? Cool.)

Smiles all around.

Hello there.

Stüssy.

Say cheese, bitches.

Watchu know about Ribena and Sprite?

A quick look at the pony skin and napa leather holdall by Ok Marc. £800* of pure amazing.

Satin interior

Nike SB Blazers and an exclusive pre-fall 2011 Ok Marc napa leather and pony skin holdall and Ok Marc wax cotton drop crotch trousers.

Hype means nothing!

Someone got a little too excited about Triple H's return to Raw and tried to get me in a headlock... Not impressed!

Michel-Olivier hard at work on the FrappeLondon blog 

Follow Michel-Olivier here at @frappelondon

Music | XXL Freshmen List 2011

Every year the XXL Freshman List sparks debate and this year's list is no different. While I'm in agreement with the majority of this list, I had to question the inclusion of YG and Lil Twist. They're wack and that's the long and short of it. Rappers like Stalley, Smoke DZA and Danny Brown have content for days and should have easily replaced the former two; George Kush Da Button was undeniably one of my favourite mixtapes of 2010 and Lincoln Way Nights by Stalley is already one of my favourite mixtapes of this year. Meek Mill and Yelawolf have practically cemented their places in hip-hop with their recent signings to Maybach Music Group and Shady Records respectively, so again I disagree with their inclusions. They already have a following and any hip-hop head will definitely be aware of their music prior to this cover. Lil B and Mac Miller's seemingly cult following and hard work earn them their places on the cover and I guess that's probably irrespective of their lax content too. And while Kendrick Lamar, Fred The Godson, Big K.R.I.T, Diggy Simmons and Cyhi The Prynce rightfully deserve their place, I guess hip-hop fans will have to wait just that little bit longer for XXL and the masses to acknowledge those who surprisingly missed out. 

Fashion | Burberry A/W 2011

These past few days have been a complete bummer since I've been ill and haven't had the chance to trek down to Somerset House for London Fashion Week. Awesome, I know. However, thanks to modern technology, I managed to watch the Burberry Autumn/Winter 2011 fashion show live via their website and it was amazing. Think Cruella DeVille's younger sister in bright coats with voluminous sleeves and classic military trenches in glowing white wool knit. There was an array of textures and prints with my favourite being a fur coat with a splash of dalmatian. Christopher Bailey never ceases to surprise me! Bravo.

Watch the full show here.

Video | Kanye West f/ Rihanna & Kid Cudi - All of The Lights

After endlessly tweeting about the video, here come the visuals for Kanye West's single All of The Lights featuring Rihanna and Kid Cudi. Directed by the legendary Hype Williams and vocals from an all-star roster, the fourth single off the album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy proves to be worth the wait. Enjoyyy.

Music | A Yellow Man - Promo Vid

I came across this hip-hop gospel trio through friends Funmi and Richard the other day and I literally screamed out loud. Consisting of rappers Emmanuel and Sam and singer Chioma, A Yellow Man are an English hip-hop collective with one message: God. With elements of The Roots and Slum Village, it's refreshing to see this type of music emerge from the UK. I love them and I'm not even religious. They just make me happy! Watch this promotional video below and embrace A Yellow Man.

Fashion | Head-wrap!

I'm always one to fuss over what my hair looks like - from weaves, perms, high quiffs - whatever, I've certainly attempted it. Anyway, I decided to have a bash at tying my own head-wrap. After seeing ladies like Solange Knowles, June Ambrose and my own mum rocking head-wraps I didn't think myself to be any different. I pondered over some YouTube tutorials and this is what the end result was!

These are the tutorials I had a gander at... Fantastic stuff and much easier than I expected.

Fashion | Behind The Scenes Vogue Italia

Ever since Vogue Italia's all-black issue a while back, the fashion industry seems to have had an influx of models from ethnic backgrounds. Once again, Vogue Italia has decided to feature an all-black editorial entitled Blackallure featuring some of the most prominent black models about. Joan Smalls, Chanel Iman, Rose Codero and a host of beautiful models come together to pose in one of the finest editorials of the year! Peep the snaps below... I'm absolutely in LOVE with Ajak Deng's face. AMAZING.

Source: vogue.it

Video | Erykah Badu - Go Baby, Don't Be Long

This is why I love Erykah Badu. It's almost like her artistry knows no bounds. This new video for the song Go Baby, Don't Be Long off her New Amerykah Part Two (Return of the Ankh) album, Erykah glides through a blueprint-esque factory in a black headscarf. Strange? Maybe. But I find this so amazing!

Video | Monsieur Nov - Tous Les Jours Tous Les Soirs

Right okay, here is Monsieur Nov's new video for Tous Les Jours Tous Les Soirs. While I absolutely love the track itself, the video is so awkward! Going by the sexual nature of the song I expected Monsieur Nov to be at least topless. Instead the video girl poses in the shower (alone), frolicks on the bed (alone) touches herself... I'm disappointed. I think this will be the first and last time I watch this video... it's completely nul! I advise you to get Monsieur Nov's album Groove Therapy and listen to the track on the album instead. It's miles better that way!

Remember | J Dilla

Most people will start off by saying how much J-Dilla changed their lives. Well he didn't really change my mine to be completely honest but this in no way discredits what I'm about to write in this post. J-Dilla was definitely a one of a kind producer, an instrumentalist of epic proportions and he was taken away from the music world way too soon. I only discovered J-Dilla properly during my college days listening to guys like Slum Village, The Pharcyde and Erykah Badu; banging out Fantastic Vol.2, Labcabincalifornia and Mama's Gun was the situation for the longest while. Anyway, by the time I'd properly paid attention to J-Dilla, he was dead. His second solo album (first, if you don't count the instrumental LP Donuts) The Shining was released posthumously in 2006 and since then it's become one of my favourite hip-hop albums. It's true that not every person or hip-hop fan would even know who J-Dilla was or have even listened to his music, but this in no way dwarfs his legacy as one of the most highly acclaimed hip-hop artists of our time. He was a great musician and one we may never get again. May his soul rest in peace.

Below are some of my favourite J-Dilla tracks (he features either as an artist or producer).

E=MC²

So Far To Go

Wild

Climax (Girl Shit)

Do You

Reunion ft. J Dilla

Runnin'

I Am Music

Cleva

Didn't Cha Know

House of Flying Daggers

Fashion | Vogue Nippon 'Fred and Ginger' Editorial

Dutch photographers Inez van Lansweerde and Vinoodh Matadin pay homage to Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in their latest editorial for Vogue Nippon. Model Raquel Zimmerman and choreographer Stephen Galloway feature as the two dance legends in some glorious Yves Saint Laurent and Marc Jacobs attire. Kudos to George Cortina's excellent styling!