For anyone headed to this year’s SXSW festival, be sure to add Raphael’s March 19th performance to your schedule.

Raphael is confirmed to play the AOL Spinner Music showcase at Austin Music Hall at 9PM.

Click here for full details.

Our friends at HeadCount and the NRDC Action Fund put together a Best of Bonnaroo compilation featuring “100 Yard Dash” to encourage action on climate change. You can download it FREE at www.musicforaction.org, where you can also email your elected officials on the issue. Get Best of Bonnaroo now.

Vimeo

ESSENCE
AND
EARTH, WIND & FIRE
CELEBRATE 40 YEARS OF MUSIC
THIS JULY 4TH WEEKEND
AS THE ROCK AND ROLL AND ROLL HALL OF FAMERS
JOIN THIS YEAR’S
ESSENCE MUSIC FESTIVAL
LINE-UP

PRELIMINARY LINE-UP
FOR ANNUAL WEEKEND-LONG CELEBRATION OF
MUSIC, CULTURE AND COMMUNITY
INCLUDES GLADYS KNIGHT, KERI HILSON, JILL SCOTT, RAPHAEL SAADIQ, CHARLIE WILSON AND OTHERS

The line-up for the 2010 ESSENCE MUSIC FESTIVAL–the annual weekend-long celebration of music, culture and community–will not only celebrate the 40th anniversary of ESSENCE, but will also salute the 40-year career of the legendary EARTH WIND & FIRE. The multi-platinum award-winning superstars join previously announced ESSENCE MUSIC FESTIVAL headliner and official spokesperson Mary J. Blige this July 4th weekend in New Orleans.

“We’re honored that Essence and Earth, Wind & Fire share the same anniversary,” said Philip Bailey, leader and co-founder of Earth, Wind &
Fire. “Together, we have both been jammin’ for over 40 years! Get ready, ’cause we are going to celebrate this summer at the Essence Music Festival.”

The preliminary line-up for the nation’s largest annual gathering of African-American music and culture also includes Gladys Knight, Keri Hilson, Jill Scott, Raphael Saadiq, Charlie Wilson, De La Soul, Chrisette Michele, Joe, Laura Izibor and Melanie Fiona. The multi-generational line-up reinforces ESSENCE’s 40-year commitment to music. Additional details and the full line-up for the 2010 ESSENCE MUSIC FESTIVAL will be revealed in the coming weeks.
For additional information about ticket sales, accommodations and the latest news about the ESSENCE MUSIC FESTIVAL, visit www.essence.com/festival.
Last year, the ultimate destination for entertainment, empowerment, culture and community celebrated its 15th anniversary with a record-breaking 428,000 attendees. What began in 1995 as a one-time event to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of ESSENCE magazine has now grown into one of the country’s “Top 10 Leading Brand Events” by Advertising Age.

The ESSENCE MUSIC FESTIVAL is the nation’s largest annual gathering of African-American music and culture; in its 16-year history, it has featured an array of performers including Alicia Keys, Al Green, Aretha Franklin, Beyoncé, Chaka Khan, Destiny’s Child, Earth, Wind & Fire, Gladys Knight, LL Cool J, Jamie Foxx, John Legend, Kanye West, The Isley Brothers, Lionel Richie, Luther Vandross, Maxwell, The O’Jays, Prince, Stevie Wonder, Toni Braxton, Patti LaBelle and Yolanda Adams.

The presenting sponsor for the 2010 Essence Music Festival is Coca-Cola. Other 2010 sponsors include Coors, CoverGirl Queen, Ford, McDonald’s, Olay, Pantene, U.S. Army and My Black is Beautiful.

The 2010 ESSENCE MUSIC FESTIVAL is executive produced by Essence Festivals LLC and produced by Rehage Entertainment. Essence Festivals LLC is a division of Essence Communications Inc. (ECI).

I’m back at the Blakeslee Mothership and that makes me happy.  The day after landing Ray kidnapped me to go on some errand runs.  I didn’t realize how nerdy he is. Our first trip was Frye’s Electronics where we proceeded to search for the new Nikon S1000JP (built in projector!) without success.  We later found it at Samy’s Photo in Hollywood and tested the new $28,000 Leica medium format digital SLR. Incredible piece of equipment.  After Samy’s we stopped back at Rays house in the Hills to setup the new Nikon and so on. Once hunger set in, we headed out to order Animal style burgers at In and Out, and ended up back at Blakeslee where Ray is shown coming up with a song for the new album. Video to come… Anyway, here are some pics I snapped along the way.  More at my website, photobytone.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Digital Game Publishing and Development Studio, IllFonic Launched to Bring Underground Culture to Gaming

LOS ANGELES, CA – February 4, 2010, Independent developer and publisher IllFonic today opens its publishing arm to help small talented teams showcase and sell their games. IllFonic is independently funded and will focus on developing and publishing original intellectual properties on digital platforms.

With a mission to focus on multiple digital AAA games with high re-playability and entertainment for consoles and PC, llFonic has set out to establish ground-breaking and genre-defying games that bring underground culture to gaming.

“IllFonic is made up of a crew of people who want to make the gamers feel the product was made just for them and not modeled off statics,” said Co-Founder / Executive Producer Raphael Saadiq.

“Lately this industry has seen a loss of amazing games and talent due to publisher retrenchment and fear of risk. IllFonic wants to remind gamers that art and entertainment are what make games great, not milking franchises to death. We stand as the alternative,” commented Co-Founder / President / Programmer Charles Brungardt.

“To me, game development is a form of art. But, only if the entire team and I are getting their hands dirty in the creative process. Our games are the working proof that small teams can still do big things. One man armies, cool people, and a passion for creating dope stuff. The work techniques we developed create an experience that feels like art – not software,” said Co-Founder / Lead Designer Kedhrin Gonzalez.

IllFonic currently has two games in development. Ghetto Golf, announced at GDC in 2009, is a multiplatform release. Ghetto Golf is a rapid mixture of third person combat, sports gameplay and comedy, dedicated to those players that have always wanted to wield an Uzi with their 9 iron. In addition to a deep single player campaign, Ghetto Golf offers a robust multiplayer mode including Golf Gangs and Team Deathmatch. In keeping with IllFonic’s philosophy of bringing the AAA experience to downloadable titles, Ghetto Golf will include an original soundtrack from top artists and producers plus feature voice talent from some of the best names in urban comedy.

Taking the underground to the masses, IllFonic is also publishing and co-developing an unannounced console title based on a hardcore classic with millions of followers. The game will be showcased at this year’s Game Developer’s Conference in San Francisco.

For more information on Ghetto Golf, go to www.ghettogolf.com.

About IllFonic:
IllFonic, LLC, was founded in 2007 and has offices in Los Angeles and Denver. Founded by musician Raphael Saadiq, engineer Chuck Brungardt, and game designer Kedhrin Gonzalez, IllFonic is committed to delivering AAA games digitally to consoles and PC at an affordable price. IllFonic utilizes many avenues in pop culture to cross brand its products in film, television, sports, music, and clothing. IllFonic has built a team of artists, developers, producers, and musicians that believe providing fun game-play means conveying the highest level of visual awe, an immersive environment and a sick soundtrack. For more information on the company, go to www.illfonic.com.

Media Contact:
North and South Americas/ Asia
Tricia Gray
415-531-5704
tricia@freeformcommunications.com

Europe/Australia/New Zealand
Chris Clarke
Tel: 00 44 208 6708425
Mobile: 00 44 7590 509278
chris@freeformcommunications.com

via: highsnobiety

Comme des Garcon always doing something fresh. Spring/Summer jacket collab with Mackintosh includes trench coat and hooded jacket. Available now at colette
.
Junya Watanabe Comme des Garcons x Mackintosh Spring/Summer 2010 Capsule Collection

olsson & barbieri

I love Oslo, Norway. One of my favorite cities from touring last year. Dope to find this brand hailing from Olso. Not sure what I would put in this bag but classic design.

http://www.cpcompany-corporate.com/

Classic looking men’s wear, variety of textures and materials with urban and country influences.

This jacket reminds me of the movie Aviator.