Monday, August 12, 2013

INTRODUCING DRZ&Co. SIGNATURE BRAND

The first time I heard about Dr Zulu was on a NSW dedicated show called "Inside Scoop". He was presented as thee guy to know when it comes to local and international sneaker culture, a few years later he shows us how much of a even more dynamic street creative and hustler he is by launching his very own signature brand,  DRZ&Co.




Our favorite local artist/ designer/ mad scientist/ Shelflife Store co-founder "Dr.Zulu" has just cooked up a fresh batch of goodies for us...this time in the form of clothing & apparel with his new signature brand entitled "DRZ&Co." The first prototype range consists of high-quality mens garments and accessories for the most discerning streetwear & sneaker enthusiast. Currently the label is available to purchase from Shelflife (119 Loop St Cape Town), but according to the good doctor there are more stockists coming and apparently also a ladies line on the drawing board...stay tuned for updates and info here:  www.drzulu.com  #DRZandCo.










My 1st Air Max 1s gada be premium

I have been a fan of Air Max technology for the longest of time and Air Max 1s have always been my favourite amongst all of them yet I have never owned a pair until about a month ago. I know a lot of  people who would not be comfortable with publicly announcing their first purchase of a dope popular kick, especially after being a collector for a while, I on the other hand take pride in this cause I went in with a Premium Air Max 1. 
         


These are Air Max 1s Premium Energy from the 2012 Nike Clash Collection which draws inspiration from the T90 Football boot. My favourite part of the kick is that its friggin draped in leather (on some whatchu know about all white leather on your Air Max 1s !!!), the dipped laces that feed the focus green trims into the rest of the shoe lining and not forgetting the speckled outsole. I wish I could treasure this one but ey nice kicks were made to be worn and worn they will be.



Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Sole Meet, My Joho is baaaaaaack


Just when they thought Joho had little to offer to SA street culture, Sneaker Toungues and the Sunday School Foundation presents Sole Meet. You know how Joburg influences the rest of South Africa and therefore the rest of Africa, since America gets most of their primary artistic elements from African, you will do the math on what follows. In essence this is just another movement that aims to rejuvenate the street culture spirit of Johhanesburg in a rather relevant and inclusive way. 

This very first event by Sole Meet will be based on you bringing your dope kicks to swap with other fellow sneaker heads’, bring your dirty kicks for the sneaker wash and later on we have a screening.

This saturday 30 March 2013. The Alex Theatre. Stiemen Str. Braamfontein, from 1pm til late.


Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Coloureds did it first

“Naaaaaaah man, you know what I would like to have?- one of those loop earrings with a spade shape accessory thingy hanging on them, now those are classic”, those were the words that inspired this article. I recently had a rather interesting conversation with my girlfriend about Johannesburg's coloured youth culture; a conversation that revealed to us both a number of emerging urban/JHB  trends that have for the longest time been embraced by the coloured community.


I have had the privilege of being exposed to Johannesburg's coloured youth street culture as a black boy at various stages in my life. From attending primary school in a  dominantly coloured community, to having coloured team mates on the sporting field, coloured class mates at a model C school and later making more coloured friends at Varsity. This experience has been something of a bitter/sweet fest equivalent, simply because of the obvious reason that every culture has its fair share of negative aspects in as much as the inverse. This article will however not feed into the negative stereotypical knowledge of the coloured youth culture (for many have already done this, shout out to Khuli Roberts)  but rather discuss what they have long embraced and the rest of us caught on to at a later stage of our street culture growth.



Backstreet – Don’t leave me, Bone Thugs n Harmony and Dear mamma by Tupac Shakur would be that anthem I would hear from every second taxi on my way to Reigerpark primary school back in 1997. At the school gate would be a kool senior character that would have an even cooler name like Zane or Rocky. Zane would often be caught and forced to take off his loop earring that had kool accessories hanging on it (a common earring known as the sleeper earring) by the principle or prefects. Rocky, who is Zane’s equally kool friend would also be reprimanded for wearing a chuff kop spottie (Old school design of a bucket hat), Converse All Star sneaker and a gold necklace and bracelet (simply known as a “chain”) and as part of his uniform; he would remove the jewellery yet still feel kool cause of the permanent gold dental jewellery they can’t possibly find a way to remove from his teeth.


Fast forward to eight years later, I find myself in the same high school as Zane’s younger brother, Dexter. Dexter had his older brother’s old school cool demeanor except that his was more new school vibe. Dexter would be seen hanging out with his fellow coloured friends, most with that curly high top fade hairstyle (Coloured's should have patented this hairdo already- I mean really) with the exception of that one friend you’d swear was black cause of his nappy hair. Dexter's nappy hair(ed) friend is Dustin; Dustin had a high top fade except his was not curled. He had the meanest boat shoe collection he referred to as Sebago which is the brand’s name and not the actual shoe style. Dexter’s younger brother on the other hand had crazy colour ways of Timberland boots. Dustin’s younger brother is Paisley; Paisley had a phly girlfriend which complimented his swag with her crazy Nike Air Max 90, Nike Court tradition sneakers and patent Cavella shoes that she would religiously wear with track pants and eclectic Lacoste T-shirts.


Before this article seems like an interlude preceding an episode of Intersexion, allow me to break down its moral if you haven’t as yet figured it out. Current South African street trends such as the sudden appreciation of Air Max 90 kicks, the trendy high top fade hair cut and the hype on gold chains amongst other trends have long been part of the urban coloured community. You may have a narrow, hence stereotypical knowledge of the coloured community as a unruly and uncultured nation but little do most know that the trends they are hype beasting on today were and are still pioneered by this great nation that has arguably established the longest standing street culture and remained loyal up to this day. So next time you ride a street culture trend, best believe that coloureds probably did it first. and oh, before you talk side ways, check the 5 panel cap your wearing or wanna cop, do research about the first local brand to pioneer it in South Africa and who owns it.

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

GrimeTown at it again - Illite Mc - Trolling Video

My first encounter with the GrimeTown collective was back in 2010 when I met two of its members at a sneaker art exhibition held at Monks concept store, Ves and Mr Makonga, this was a few weeks after I started this Sneak-Peak blog. Fast forward to 2012 I discovered more members from this collective such as now former GrimeTown member Mandisi Lean (Audio and visual artist, founder of W.A.T.E.R clothing brand and music composer) and  One-L (Well known for his epic battle against Tumi from the Volume at Scrambles for Money).


GrimeTown boasts one more wordsmith of note known as Illite Mc from a group called Revivolution aka Revivo, he just dropped this video of his song is titled Trolling, directed by GrimeTown pictures and edited by Mr Makonga.


Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Stay Fresh Nation brings you Sneakerheadz festival

A long and attentive walk through inner-city Johannesburg will mosdef lead to the realisation that this city is a sneaker exhibition in motion, a great sight for all lovers of footwear as a whole. It is for this reason that Stay Fresh Nation brings you arguably thee first Joho sneakerheadz festival. 


Lace up your kicks to join us on the 22nd of December 2012 at the Urban Zulu Roof top from 11am till you feel everybody has seen your fresh kicks. Great performance, stalls, sneaker exhibitions and more for a measly R30 or R60 for both the sneaker festival and after party at OST. For more information email stayfreshnation@gmail.com.

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Puma Social - lets break it down

The Puma Social has been the talk of the town, Braamfontein part of Joho town to be specific. It has without a doubt earned its spot as one of the most reliable joints to not only offer great entertainment but a potentially unforgettable experience, emphasis on “experience”.


In the past few years, we have seen a number of brands effort to reach their market through lifestyle marketing; street culture to specific, some utilising cliché methods while others opted for more conventional strategies, too safe to say the least!


This year on the contrary has seen interesting campaigns led arguably by the top three commercial clothing brands in South Africa. Nike maintained its allegiance with sports through its “Run Jozi”, Str.Kings (Basketball) amongst other sporting activities and campaigns; Adidas appealed to street art with its “AdiBus  Tour” which boasts the  Jeremy Scott original and other animated designs, the search for SA’s most original crew and most recently the "I art Woodstock"; "I art Soweto" and "I art Joburg" campaign based at Maboneng precinct (pretty cliché spots if you ask me but it works). Lastly, Puma brought the “After hour athletes” campaign- the inspiration behind this offering.

Nike, Adidas and Puma, I honestly haven’t had much interest in blogging about the former two brand’s campaigns, Puma on the other hand has offered something worth exploring. So then, what gets a huge crowd lining up for hours to get into the Puma social events every Friday night? Could it be that entrance is free when registered on their online site (smart way to gather data); is it the smiley face the friendly lady draws on your hand when you enter, the amazing after hour sport games that make one reminiscent about their childhood, the relatively cheaper drinks, the imaginative photo booth, amazing performances or the cross culture and racially diverse audience???????. IT’S ACTUALLY ALL OF THAT.


To cut to the chase- Puma Social events not only offer great entertainment but an overall impeccable experience through a complimentary fusion of lifestyle and sports. A big Shout Out to Puma for successfully executing a campaign that fairly appeals to a diverse market and giving me something worth blogging about. Its about time that these commercial brands no longrer get commanded for achievements of their Western cousins' campaigns or former campaigns. In all fairness this post may not have acknowledge all relevant campaigns by the discussed brands, however we wish to see more innovative and relevant campaigns in the following year.


 Pictures by Paul Ward