" wearing Gucci and Armani, feeling rich like Wesley Snipes"
In the dancehall world, image might not be everything, but alongside the sound, its arguably the ONLY thing
And in their pursuit of the right image, dancehall's finest have name-checked some of the foremost luxury brands (if not the most exclusive, so no Vertu or Aston-Martin). Here's a quick look at the dancehall top shelf
Gucci
Guccio Gucci was the grand-grand daddy of high fashion. His monogram(and the interlocking "Gs" logo) has adored scores of items and been knocked off thousands more. Everything from the now iconic handbags and jeans to caps, watches and even a special anniversary edition of the Fiat 500.
Armani
The dean of Italian menswear started his eponymous company in 1975, nd has turned it into a one-name empire encompassing various types of couture and ready-to-ear brands as well as fine dining and now accommodations. Credited as one of the pioneers of "red carpet fashion" Armani is lionized by dancehall artists in too many songs to mention.
Prada
The company was started in 1913 by Mario Prada and his brother Martino as a leathergoods shop – Fratelli Prada (English: Prada Brothers) – in Milan, Italy. Initially, the shop sold leather goods and imported English steamer trunks and handbags. Despite her father's belief that women should have no role in business, daughter Luisa took over the reins in the mid-1950s, and her daughter Miuccia would come in as of 1978 and transformed it into a global brand
Burberry
Plaid (Tartan, to be exact) can be cool. Who'dathunkit? Dating back to 1856, Burberry is actually most famous for its trench coat (not exactly tropical wear), which was designed by founder Thomas Burberry. The company has branded stores and franchises around the world and also sells through concessions in third-party stores. Queen Elizabeth II and the Prince of Wales have granted the company Royal Warrants, which have been maintained despite Burberry's closure of its factory in Wales.
Dolce & Gabbana
Perhaps the most famous pair in fashion, Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana met whilst working at another fashion house, starting their own business in 1985. the 'D&G" logo is among the world's most recognized, and the appeal of their T-shirts is yet to wane.
Hugo Boss
the only German makes on this list, and one whose founder had the dubious distinction of being a member of the Nazis. The company he founded was banned after WWII, but resucitated and run by his sons and associates. Boss made its name initially with fragrance, before adding suits and then branching out globally, growing to revenues of 2,4 billion Euro (2013).
Moschino
Despite Beenie Man's famous criticism of its founder, Moschino remained a much-loved fashion brand among dancehall exponents and their followers and, like The brand was originally created in 1983 by the late Franco Moschino (1950–1994). Moschino and his fashion label became famous for his innovative, colorful – sometimes eccentric – designs, for his criticisms of the fashion industry and for his social awareness campaigns in the early 1990s. After Moschino's untimely death, Rossella Jardini, his former assistant, became creative director. The brand has been part of the Aeffe fashion group since 1999
Versace
He may have used the Medusa head as his logo, but Gianni Versace, known as 'Vuhsawshi" in dancehall parlance, set a standard for looking good and letting everyone know it. This sense of theatre helped propel the Versace brand to global status and thus when the founder was gunned down at his Miami home in 1997, there were shockwaves throughout the fashion and entertainment worlds.
Ed Hardy
The recently departed (10 July) creator of the Ed Hardy brand, Christian Audigier (born Ginutti) lived long enough to see his brand achieve a level of ubiquity that few before him or since have managed in such a short space of time. Suddenly, it seemed sequined skulls and garlanded rogues were the only things to wear
Hennessy
its position atop the "baller's drink pyramid may perhaps never be successfully challenged, so deeply integrated is this three centuries -plus cognac brand, which was in fact founded by an Irishman, Richard Hennessy by name. Today, Hennessy moves about 50 million bottles annually worldwide, with no telling how many of that is downed by dancehall artistes, their hip-hop cohorts and their supporters and wanna-bes
Showing posts with label sound. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sound. Show all posts
Monday, August 31, 2015
Friday, April 17, 2015
Poetry: THE ONE AND ONLY DON COSMIC
Mind blowin'
Man in the street bringing
a new sound
moving sweaty bodies in the
City heat
even at midnight there's still no
Goodbyes
Rastafari dipping in the
Glass Bucket
Bad-luckied
born under a
Bad sign
never duck it just
roll chance like a
spliff and tuck it
behind your
Ear
under your hat
Tilted back casual but never
slack
Dirt n your
cup
blowin' and stirrin' it
Up
in Standard Time
Make you cry
Make you
fly
with wings of a dove
The rest of them playin' hard but
you
cruisin' above
in your own stratosphere
Just you and the
Sound
horn licks bright enough to light up
the Kingston sky
and last for
Years
Half century on it's still
dancing in our ears
droppin' legs
A real island shuffle
melody muted but never
Muffled
Rythm so
demanding the dancer had to
die
They try
to say you were mad but
we know how they lie
They said it of
Bedward and Bogle and
even Garvey too
so what else were they
going to do to
You
but punch a one-way ticket to
Bellevue
But what use is a
straight-jacket
against a flaming heart and a
beautiful mind
Nevermore
shall we see your kind
Modern-day living got so many in a
bind
We've forgotten
that staying loose is a
virtue
instead no one trust no one cause
Everyone
will hurt you
Yet the music that they
refuse
it is the healer
Rockfort blues
Kingston rock
From the hills of
Wareika to
the downtown dock
where silent cannons echo
Guns of Navarone
let it be
known
the spirit
has flown
guard the throne
of the once and forever
king of the trombone
The one and only
Don Cosmic
Man in the street bringing
a new sound
moving sweaty bodies in the
City heat
even at midnight there's still no
Goodbyes
Rastafari dipping in the
Glass Bucket
Bad-luckied
born under a
Bad sign
never duck it just
roll chance like a
spliff and tuck it
behind your
Ear
under your hat
Tilted back casual but never
slack
Dirt n your
cup
blowin' and stirrin' it
Up
in Standard Time
Make you cry
Make you
fly
with wings of a dove
The rest of them playin' hard but
you
cruisin' above
in your own stratosphere
Just you and the
Sound
horn licks bright enough to light up
the Kingston sky
and last for
Years
Half century on it's still
dancing in our ears
droppin' legs
A real island shuffle
melody muted but never
Muffled
Rythm so
demanding the dancer had to
die
They try
to say you were mad but
we know how they lie
They said it of
Bedward and Bogle and
even Garvey too
so what else were they
going to do to
You
but punch a one-way ticket to
Bellevue
But what use is a
straight-jacket
against a flaming heart and a
beautiful mind
Nevermore
shall we see your kind
Modern-day living got so many in a
bind
We've forgotten
that staying loose is a
virtue
instead no one trust no one cause
Everyone
will hurt you
Yet the music that they
refuse
it is the healer
Rockfort blues
Kingston rock
From the hills of
Wareika to
the downtown dock
where silent cannons echo
Guns of Navarone
let it be
known
the spirit
has flown
guard the throne
of the once and forever
king of the trombone
The one and only
Don Cosmic
Sunday, March 1, 2015
Auto: Phoenix on Wheels
The latest version of Euro-tuner Hamann's Spyridon G65 was unveiled at the Geneva Auto Show, and its quite an eye-catcher. It takes the already high-end Mercedes G-Class and pushes the styling envelope, with jet-black body and vivid gold trimmings on exterior and interior. Not simply a looker, the Spyridon has a mighty sound, as the accompanying video will attest
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