Cool stuff....

I decided to do something rarely done on The Glass House (in DC and Beyond)...a blog post of stuff I think is cool. No captions, no real information, no insight. Just images, still and moving. Ok, let me shut up cuz clearly I've already typed too much.

RANSOM by adidas Originals from Ransom Holding Co on Vimeo.

ArtDontSleep: Skid Row Sessions w/ Pharoahe Monch, Shafiq Husayn, Om'Mas Keith, and more.... from Plug Research on Vimeo.

Dove Evolution Ad
by pezhammer

The Process (trailer) from Evil Monito Magazine on Vimeo.

Halloween DMV Music Mash Mix

Two Questions for you - What are you wearing for Halloween? What DMV Hip-Hop music are you diggin’ on? To assist you with ideas, here is a list of front runner Halloween costumes and DMV music artists. While reading, be sure to unwrap DMV Hip-Hop's music assortment, download and put the Halloween DMV Music Mash on your iPod!!!



Carty-Yeah

Tryk-or-Treet: *Worst Nightmare*

Twitter: @Carty_Yeah

Costume: HBO’s Crypt Keeper was a confident, wisecracking character. This stroke of confidence and humor go hand-in-hand with Carty-Yeah known for his expression “you you you already know”. Carty-Yeah’s younger brother,

P-Ezy, crafted a track for “boils and ghouls” using samples from Tales from the Crypt. To achieve the look of the Crypt Keeper get a black tuxedo, bowtie, and a character mask from a party store.


XO and AB the Producer

Tryk-or-Treet: *Do It*

Twitter: @UptownXO @AbThePro

Costume: As suggested by the face of Studio 43 Promotions and Marketing, Ricky Parker, *Do It* embodies the energy of the ’96 Jordan and Pippen. When discussing his relationship with Jordan, Pippen stated “You continue to compete against the very best every day, and you will get better, or you’ll be embarrassed.” To achieve the look of Jordan and Pippen is simple, squad up with one of your team players and decide which one of you will rock Chicago Bulls uniform #23 or #33.


Black Cobain

Tryk-or-Treet: *Think It Over* and *Lavish Life*

Twitter: @Blackcobain

Costume: As suggested by Byrd of I Got It For Free, Black Cobain’s songs share the thoughts of a Mafia Boss. As Black Cobain expresses on the intro of *Think It Over, *“This is now or never/I’m in total control/and I love it.” To achieve the look of a Mafia Boss get a pinstripe suit, necktie, a classy hat and throw in a toy gun (warning: make sure the toy gun has a red tip, to avoid the drama).


King Baker

Tryk-or-Treet: *I’m From DC* and *I’m So Fresh*

Twitter: @KNGSwagg

Costume: Just as Eazy-E repped his city on *Straight Outta Compton, *King Baker does the same on *I’m From DC. *King Baker shares “I’m from DC/where them youngins cook in the glass/girls talk with their hands/and clap with they asses.” To achieve the look of Eazy-E get a pair of Dickies, Chucks, a black and white plaid shirt, black hat with white logo, and black shades.


Kingpen Slim

Tryk-or-Treet: *Fly Shit*

Twitter: @Kingpenslim

Costume: Talking about night’s to remember like Shalamar, judges waving bonds, and rugby shirts are a pimp’s topics of conversation. Manager, P-Stew, suggested that Kingpen Slim that exhibits the wit of a 70’s Fly Era pimp. To achieve this look get a feathered hat, bell bottoms, gators, a cane and some Jeromey Rome (Martin) teeth.


PHZ-Sicks

Tryk-or-Treet: *All That* and *Holy Ghost *

Twitter: @PHZ_Sicks

Costume: PHZ-Sicks explained that with *All That* he used random references to movies, idioms, and world history in an abstract way to get a point across, so he suggested a costume idolizing painters Jackson Pollock and Salvador Dalì. PHZ-Sicks also explained that *Holy Ghost* is a* *song that takes place during a sermon with a preacher egging him on to speak his mind, not hold back, and be free with who he is, so he suggested a preacher inspired costume.


Redhead

Tryk-or-Treet: *Beastie*

Twitter: @redheadpg

Costume: With the boom boom clack, boom boom boom clack beat and Redhead’s vocalization, it was only right to gear up in a Beastie Boys' inspired look. Just as Wale sported the fitted Mickey Mouse sweatshirt during his Beastie Boys performance and Kid Rock sported his red Kangol bucket during his LL Cool J performance on VH1’s Hip-Honors, to achieve the look of a beastie/b-boy, look to legendary emcees and mimic their style of dress.


Frayz and Whitefolkz

Tryk-or-Treet: *Turn Me Up*

Twitter: @Frayzmidieast and @Whitefolkz

Costume: Vampires have a strong ability to lure in their prey. Rappers, Frayz and Whitefolkz, attract their listeners with their addictive lyrics and high-energy. To achieve the look of a character from HBO’s True Blood you’ll need white paint over the entire face, red paint for blood drippings around the mouth, fangs, and if you haven’t had a hair-cut, then maybe you can throw in a widow’s peak just for kicks.


Prop & Nyty

Tryk-or-Treet: *Manic State*

Twitter: @McNytyMusic

Costume: A list of alcohol and drug vices are listed in the beginning of *Manic State *then* *Prop & Nyty’s lyrics express reasons they use these vices and the effect their uses have. In the last verse of the song, excessive use of hallucinogens puts the character in a manic state of mind. To achieve the look of a maniac get a Hannibal Lecter, straight jacket costume and spend your night saying Clarice Starrrrling!


Emperess

Tryk-or-Treet: *Getcha Back Up (Off the Wall)*

Twitter: @Emperess

Costume: Of course *Getcha Back Up (Off the Wall) *samples Michael Jackson’s *Off the Wall. *In this song, Emperess demands that you do just that, stop standing on the wall and party. To achieve this look mimic the styles of Pat Benatar, Cyndi Lauper and of course Madonna, then hit a Backyard Band show and rock out to Weensey of The Backyard Band vocalizing “Girls just want to have fun!!!".


Wordsmith

Tryk-or-Treet: *Halloween Bully*

Twitter: @Wordsmithmusic

Costume: This song starts off with the howl of a werewolf and then other goblins & ghouls are laid behind the beat of *Halloween Bully. *A wolf mask, varsity jacket, and fitted jeans, then you are costumed as Teen Wolf.

Video: B.U.R.N.S. Documentary Trailer

B.U.R.N.S. Documentary Trailer from KENNY BURNS on Vimeo.

The man also known rightfully as the "Lifestyle Specialist", Kenny Burns may be well-known to many in the music industry, but knowledge of his game-changing efforts are not known amongst most. Outside of starting the boutique label, Studio 43, with Wale as the first artist back in '05 to being one of the most influential minds behind the scenes at Rocafella Records, Kenny Burns has truly paid his dues and earned his stripes. The B.U.R.N.S. documentary, scheduled for release in January 2010, will provide a more in-depth look into Kenny's life growing as a native Washingtonian, his beginnings in music to his present status as "Lifestyle Specialist" and record label owner. As the guy who is responsible for the button-up craze of the mid 2000s, the man definitely knows a thing or two about brand image and being influential. Being a fellow DMV native with continued aspirations to leave a mark in entertainment, Kenny Burns has always been a living inspiration to me since I learned of him four years ago.

Music Video - Kev Brown "Another Random Joint"

Yesterday, I had a conversation with a couple of folks about DC having lost its "soul". When I say "soul", I mean lost its sense of pride. One of the people involved in the conversation is a native Washingtonian, the other is from Georgia. Then there's me having grown up in Prince George's County, MD just a few miles east of the Nation's Capital. We all agreed that with DC being highly transient, the growing absence of the working class, having a mayor who sees cleaning up DC as stripping it of all its character (whoever heard of a Chinatown that was barely Chinese) and much of DC's indigenous Black population having moved to the surrounding suburbs, one has to wonder "How many people are still rooting for DC?". On a consistent basis, not many.

Then there's folks like Kev Brown whose video "Another Random Joint" (Check the album Random Joints) shows that there really are a few folks left from the area who rep the area...in a good light, too. This was the best display of Adams Morgan on the weekend I've ever seen. If you were unfamiliar with Kev Brown or any other member of the Low Budget Crew prior to now, starting HERE would be good.

Review: The Gossip at 9:30 Club Washington, DC

No one likes to admit that they like gossip. And prior to October 7, 2009 I would vehemently support that statement. That was the night that I was introduced to the mélange of a band that is Gossip. Fronted by Beth Ditto, the indie rock band is quickly gaining notoriety for combining Ditto’s distinctly southern and soulful voice with rock instrumentals. A pretty interesting combination that left me feeling like I had attended a Baptist church revival and rock concert all at the same time; the show proved well worth the late night.

Gossip is steadily making loud bleeps on the mainstream radar thanks to front woman Ditto who has inadvertently become an advocate of sorts for fat women in high fashion; to put it bluntly. She was an ever-present face in the front rows of shows like Jean Paul-Gaultier and Chanel at Paris Fall 09 Fashion Week, and has been known to publicly lambast designers for their lack of larger sizes. The latter has made her the recipient of specially made plus-sized versions of runway pieces from various designers.

Ditto actually prefers to use the word fat as opposed to any other politically correct terms fed to her by PR folks! This is precisely the reason why you can’t scoff at Ditto when she sways jovially on to the stage in skin tight frocks that most women of the more ample persuasion would never consider wearing. For the 9:30 club appearance she donned fire engine red hair and a body conscious large floral print dress with spaghetti straps and minimal support. With the occasional assistance of fellow Gossip member Brace Pain to pull up her bra, she took ownership of the crowd with her amazing voice and unwavering confidence.

It only makes sense that Gossip’s crowd would be an interesting mix just like their music. I actually think I spotted a reincarnated Joan of Arc playing the bass in the opening band, Men! I’m not sure how I felt about the metallic blue cat suit, but it would be unfair to deny the appeal of the martyr headgear.

Before the show even started I spotted a fellow concert attendee sporting a pair of suede mustard-colored knee-high fringe boots that made me swoon. Admittedly, I’m not the hugest fan of fringe, but I loved this combination of punk and very literal interpretations of Native American fashion; face paint and all!

Then I spotted someone who took the idea of brand loyalty to a whole new level. Generally speaking, he looked great, but a quick and hopefully inconspicuous inspection revealed his love for Yohji Yamamoto’s and Adidas’ collaborative brand Y-3 might have been a bit overboard. Shoes, hat, sweatpants and probably his heart all from the same brand; always overkill. Thankfully, he mixed it up with a Versace tee, the ever-popular Arabic keffiyeh scarf, and white personality specs a-la Kanye West.

Strange mix of characters right? But it seems that’s exactly the appeal of Gossip; unapologetically be yourself! That idea is reflected in their music, crowd and fashion. I’m officially converted. I love Gossip!

I'm R$ch B$tch!

Small businesses are the bread and butter of America’s economy. We literally live on America’s small businesses. Recently, I’ve been reading about young entrepreneurs making their marks in the country and the world. It’s so thrilling for me to read about twentysomethings making millions off of their vision. After getting the funding and surrounding themselves with the right people, they are making it happen.

I read about Anne Pawsat-Dressler, who at 24 years old, saw a need for upscale travel accommodations on an island she moved to in Hawaii. She approached those with multimillion dollar estates to let her use, and after building up her rental inventory, now has a high-end villa rental and concierge company called Hawaii Hideaways that grossed $5 million in sales last year.

We all are capable of greatness. We all have imaginations and desires and as long as we can turn our talents into a service that can be profitable, we will be set. Investor and educator Robert Kiyosaki said, “Just to make money is not a strong enough mission. The mission of a business should be to fill the customer’s need.” And so it is and filling a need whether it is through a product or service, is what makes others happy and keeps the flow of money going around.

And according to a recent article on Nielsen.com, the Washington DC area has the highest concentration of young and wealthy adults. Out of 50 counties surveyed around the U.S., Loudoun County ranked number one while Arlington County came in second. Findings were based on a targeted demographic of 25-34 year olds who earn over $100,000 annually.

This information should serve as even more motivation to get out there and use our unique talents to jumpstart our own businesses or if it suits you better, to work for a company that pays a healthy six figure salary. Whichever it is, having a lifestyle that allows us the freedom to engage in activities that we are passionate about is what’s key for most of us.

I’m working on increasing my own flow of money and know that it’s right there for me to grasp. Forget getting a piece of the proverbial American pie; I think what we have today is more like a buffet. With so many opportunities and ways to launch a successful business, I’m going to go right on up to that buffet, make my selections, and fill my plate. Oh, and you better believe I’m going back for seconds!

An Insider's Guide to Howard University's Homecoming 2009

The wonderful ladies of The Fab Empire have put together a guide to another one of DC's most anticipated events, Howard Homecoming. As the largest homecoming in the U.S. (not even joking), on top of the current students and residents of the DMV who come out for the events for the almost two week long affair, the city is flooded with HU alumni, celebrities and people just coming for the experience. The An Insider's Guide to Howard University's Homecoming 2009 is chock full of every campus event, party (check for HiRes on page 14) plus where to go for grooming and gear for your day and night excursions.