Author: JD
Nina Agdal Goes Topless for Euroman Magazine
WE LOVE ALL THIS Danish delight Nina Agdal impresses again with a semi nude photo shoot forEuroman Magazine.
Run-D.M.C. and adidas Originals: Running Side by Side
By Brock Cardiner Since they initially rose to fame in the early ’80s, Run-D.M.C. has had a knack for breaking down barriers, setting trends and bringing often opposing worlds together. As one of the most successful and influential hip hop groups of all time, the New York trio became the first group in the genre to have a gold album with 1984′s Run-D.M.C., a platinum record with 1985′s King of Rock, and to be nominated for a Grammy Award with 1986′s Raising Hell. From that same Grammy-nominated album came a revamped version of Aerosmith’s “Walk This Way,” spearheading the merger of hip hop and rock ‘n’ roll and helping break the genre into the mainstream. Ever-conscious of their image both on and off the stage, the group helped define an early aesthetic for the burgeoning art form consisting of adidas Originalstracksuits and sneakers, a look still valued nearly 30 years on. As a testament to their love for the brand, the group recorded the 1986 track “My adidas,” immediately helping popularize the adidas Superstar as hip hop’s premier sneaker. The single spread far and wide and its effect came full circle when 20,000 fans at a packed Madison Square Garden show held up their own pairs of adidas sneakers in support of the group, forever cementing the relationship between hip hop and sneaker culture. As a result, it’s become nearly impossible to think of Run-D.M.C., and therefore hip hop, without thinking of adidas Originals and vice versa. In 2005, with the adidas Superstar as strong as ever, the two hooked up and celebrated the Superstar’s 35th anniversary with a crisp pair of the classic sneaker. Originally designed as basketball footwear in 1969, the Superstar has long since made its way from the courts to the streets and become an inseparable part of Run-D.M.C.’s heritage. Image: Ricky Powell Six years later, the duo once again teamed up, this time around on a 25th anniversary capsule collection fully capturing adidas Originals and Run-D.M.C.’s joint legacy. Using the iconic logos of both parties, the collection brought together a pair of “My adidas” Superstar 80s, a 1986 graphic T-shirt, a 1986 track top and a pair of 1986 track pants. Although 25 years had past since the two began supporting one another, the look remained as fresh as when it was introduced which it continues to do. The importance of these two giants can’t be overstated and their influence on multiple generations is unmistakable. The aesthetic pioneered by adidas Originals and spread by Run-D.M.C. is without a doubt the most distinct and recognizable since punk and rock before it. Today, in nearly any city in the world, people of all ages and backgrounds can be seen sporting the same look valued by hip hop’s finest. In order to recognize this achievement, the German sportswear brand honorably dubbed the Queens natives “Originals,” a title Run-D.M.C. above all others undoubtedly deserve. Carrying this tradition on to the next generation, adidas Originals also bestowed the title upon the Prince of Clubs, DJ A-Trak, the first DJ to win all three major DJ competition titles, as well as being the first DJ to win five World Championships. They didn’t stop there, however. As both acts have an uncanny ability to get bodies moving and clubs rocking, adidas Originals brought the two together to create a new anthem which will ”Unite All Originals.” At the heart of the concept lies the idea of enabling creativity. Through “Unite All Originals,” fans around the world will have the ability to unite with Run-D.M.C. on August 1 in an interactive film that brings the legends to life. Using voice commands and adding visual effects, fans will be able to influence the video in their own way. How it works exactly we’ll have to wait and see but we’re sure it’ll be just as innovative and groundbreaking as the clothing and culture cultivated by the two artists and adidas Originals. Join us tomorrow and be among the first to “Unite All Originals.”
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“We could do ourselves a tremendous favor by letting go of the people who poison our spirit.” -Steve Maraboli
THE GODFATHER FAMILY ALBUM
A MUST HAVE See Brando, Pacino, De Niro, Caan, Duvall, and Keaton like you’ve never seen them before in The Godfather Family Album ($30). Photographer Steve Schapiro had the unique privilege of photographing behind the scenes of each film from the classic trilogy. Those photos have been reproduced from the original negatives to create this book. Accompanied by essays and interviews spanning all three Godfather films, these photos give you a look at the people involved, and the work behind this piece of cinematic history.
Florida Police Shoot Unarmed Black Man Roy Middleton In His Own Drive-Way While Looking For A Cigarette In His Mother’s Car
THIS SHIT HAS TO STOP! AND I DONT THINK MARCHES AND BUNCH OF CONVERSATIONS ARE GONNA GET IT. Words by Michael “IceBlue” Harris 60-year-old Roy Middleton is recovering in the hospital after being shot while looking for a cigarette inside his mother’s car which was parked in the drive way of his home. The incident occurred Saturday and from a witness’ account, the shooting was unprovoked. The shooting occurred in the town of Warrington, a small predominantly White town just six miles from Pensacola and the Alabama state line. According to reports, Escambia County sheriff deputies were responding to a 911 call of a neighbor who saw Middleton looking around in the car. When the police arrived to respond to the burglary call, they approached Middleton and demanded he remove himself from the vehicle with his hands raised, according to his account. Middleton told the Pensacola News Journal that as he heeded the order and turned to face officers, they open fired and struck him in the leg. “It was like a firing squad,” Middleton said.“Bullets were flying everywhere.” Middleton said he will be recovering for several weeks, although none of his wounds are seen as life-threatening. According to Newsone, a teenage witness came forward and said that Middleton wasn’t aggressive and didn’t make any motion toward the police that would have prompted them to shoot. “He wasn’t belligerent or anything,“ said the girl. Middleton thinks that the police operated in haste, and had they taken some small measures, they would have realized that he wasn’t performing a criminal act. “Even if they thought the car was stolen, all they had to do was run the license plate,” he said. “They would have seen that, that car belonged there.” The deputies have been placed on paid administrative leave and Middleton says the sheriff’s office has yet to offer an apology or explanation. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the shooting. Hip Hop Enquirer Magazine | Follow us @HipHopEnquirer
THE SUPERFRIENDS REUNION FRIDAY, AUGUST 2ND
This Friday Night The Most Recognized Party Rocking DJ Crew In Atlanta History Are Reunited…. DJ Mars DJ Tayrok DJ Trauma DJ Doc DJ Fahrenheit DJ Shakim DJ Cowboy The Original Members Are Coming Together To Give You The Party Rocking Flavor That They Spread Thru Atlanta And Now All Throughout The Country… ONE OF THE MUST ATTEND PARTIES OF THE SUMMER
Selena Gomez Knocks Jay Z From Top of Billboard 200 With First No. 1 Album
This week, Selena Gomez collects her first No. 1 title on the Billboard 200 with the arrival of “Stars Dance.” The Hollywood Records release sold 97,000 copies in its first week — a career-high frame for the singer, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Each of her four albums have steadily grown larger in their debut weeks, bowing with successively bigger sums and placing higher on the chart. Her 2009 debut, “Kiss and Tell,” opened at No. 9 with nearly 66,000. It was followed by the No. 4-ranking “A Year Without Rain” in 2010 (which slightly exceeded 66,000) and then 2011’s “When the Sun Goes Down” (No. 3 peak, a week after it launched at No. 4 with 78,000). Jay Z’s ‘Magna Carta’ Holds At No. 1 On Billboard 200 For Second Week Gomez has been red hot this year, scoring her biggest hit single yet with the lead track from “Stars Dance,” “Come & Get It.” The cut sailed to No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 (her first top 10) and No. 2 on the Pop Songs airplay chart. Gomez, who just turned 21 last week, is also the youngest solo female artist to hit No. 1 since her friend Taylor Swift in 2010. On the chart dated Nov. 13 of that year, the then-20-year old Swift debuted at the top with her second leader, “Speak Now.” Gomez bumps Jay Z’s “Magna Carta . . . Holy Grail” down to No. 2 with 77,000 (down 40%). It had ruled the list for two weeks. It’s a good week for all things Disney, as Hollywood Records’ sister label, Walt Disney Records, sees its “Teen Beach Movie” soundtrack soar from No. 8 to No. 3. The set sold 57,000 in its second week of release, jumping into the top three with a monster gain of 128%. The increase follows a full week’s worth of impact from the movie’s Disney Channel premiere on July 19. In addition, repeated airings of film—along with its quick turnaround DVD release on July 30—should ensure another solid sales week for the soundtrack. The “Kidz Bop 24” album falls 3-4 with 39,000 (down 37%), while Marc Anthony debuts at No. 5 with his new Spanish-language album “3.0” (nearly 39,000). “3.0” marks Anthony’s best sales week and highest-charting set since his 2002 English album “Mended” debuted and peaked at No. 3 with 111,000. He previously tallied two top 10 sets, but both were English affairs: “Mended” and his 1999’s self-titled effort. “3.0” is the highest-charting Spanish set by any act since April 30, 2011—when Mana’s “Drama y Luz” debuted at No. 5 with 47,000—and the biggest sales frame for a Spanish effort since Nov. 25, 2011, when Romeo Santos’ “Formula: Vol. 1” launched with 62,000 at No. 9. Back in this week’s top 10: Florida Georgia Line’s “Here’s to the Good Times” slips 5-6 with 30,000 (down 6%), and Imagine Dragons’ “Night Visions” falls 6-7 with 27,000 (down 4%). Rock band We Came As Romans notches its first top 10 album and best sales week yet, as “Tracing Back Roots” starts at No. 8 with 26,000. The group previously topped out at No. 21 in 2011, where its last release, “Understanding What We’ve Grown to Be” launched with 19,000. Next up in the top 10 is the “Rich Gang” compilation from Young Money and Cash Money Records, which starts at No. 9 with 24,000. It’s the highest-charting hip-hop compilation since the “Good Music Cruel Summer” set ranked at No. 7 on Oct. 13, 2012. (It debuted at No. 2 the week previous.) Rounding out the top 10 is Justin Timberlake’s “The 20/20 Experience,” which falls one rung to No. 10 with 21,000 (down 14%). Over on the Digital Songs chart, we have a new No. 1: One Direction’s “Best Song Ever” crashes in with 322,000 downloads sold. It’s the biggest debut for a song since Swift’s “I Knew You Were Trouble” bowed at No. 1 on Oct. 27, 2012, with 416,000. “Best Song Ever” isn’t One Direction’s largest sales week, however. The group bulldozed through 341,000 copies of its “Live While We’re Young” when it started at No. 1 on the Oct. 20, 2012, Digital Songs chart. “Best Song Ever” was written for One Direction’s upcoming documentary film “This Is Us,” and it doubles as the lead single from the group’s forthcoming third studio album. One Direction bumps last week’s chart-topper, Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines,” down to No. 2 with 312,000 (down 9%). Miley Cyrus’ “We Can’t Stop” also falls a slot to No. 3 with 191,000 (down 8%) while Jay Z’s “Holy Grail” (featuring Timberlake) is steady at No. 4 with 160,000 (down 3%). Imagine Dragons’ “Radioactive” descends two notches to No. 5 with 159,000 (down 8%), while Ariana Grande’s “Baby I” debuts at No. 6 with 141,000. It follows “The Way,” featuring Mac Miller, which launched at No. 6 earlier this year with 219,000. Grande is the only woman to debut two singles in the top 10 of the Digital Songs chart this year. Florida Georgia Line’s “Cruise” falls 5-7 (119,000; down 14%); Daft Punk’s “Get Lucky,” featuring Pharrell Williams, dips 6-8 (114,000; down 14%); and Bruno Mars’ “Treasure” moves 8-9 (110,000; down 6%). Closing out the top 10 is Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’ “Same Love,” featuring Mary Lambert, slipping one rung to No. 10 with 105,000 (down 6%). Overall album sales in this past chart week (ending July 28) totaled 4.68 million units, down 1% compared with the sum last week (4.71 million) and down 4% compared with the comparable sales week of 2012 (4.9 million). Year-to-date album sales stand at 161.2 million, down 6% compared with the same total at this point last year (172.1 million). Digital track sales this past week totaled 23.2 million downloads, up 2% compared with last week (22.8 million) and down 3% stacked next to the comparable week of 2012 (23.8 million). Year-to-date track sales are at 775.4 million, down 3% compared with the same total at this point last year (797.3 million). Next week’s Billboard 200 competes with the same week in 2012 when Rick Ross’ “God Forgives, I Don’t” launched at No. 1 with 218,000.