I just found out there was a video for this track. Every line on this track is a hip-hop quotable. One of my favorite cuts EVER!

Big L Rest In Peace

1974-1999

I’ll be chilling at the Highline Ballroom with this dude:

SHOW: Devin the Dude w/Coughee Brothaz

WHERE: Highline Ballroom, 431 W 16th St, NYC

Peep the video I shot a couple of years back down in Houston when Devin was promoting the Waitin’ to Inhale album. If you haven’t picked up his new album, Landing Gear, cop it here and show support for one of the best artists in  the industry.

Just testing a post from the Gphone.

I feel like I didn’t give the Burkina Shop enough props last time they were mentioned in Poppin’ Tags. The place is such a different experience than any other NYC shop I’ve been to, I feel like I had to circle back around. I actually went down there today because I remember they had an Obama tee I wanted to cop, which I did, but it’s Sunday and I’m taking the day off from politics.

The reason I like Burkina is because its a grimy spot. A hole in the wall on Houston Street, that somehow offers more in a place that can barely hold 15 people than other neighborhood shops that are 4 times their size.  It’s a working man’s hip-hop shop.

I also like how they’re not afraid to fly the flag as a hip-hop brand, while others use more sophisticated terms in order to not alienate potential customers. Burkina’s designs are tributes to MCs, DJs, B-Boys and Graf Writers- along with some braggadocio pieces that are inline with the flashy side of hip-hop culture we know all too well.

The tee I copped today is sure to get a lot of wear. It’s a fairly simple print, but I tend to prefer that compared to a tee that looks like a billboard. The mic design reminds me of LL Cool J’s infamous tattoo, that was a part of the historic LL vs. Canibus beef. Because of a single line, Canibus essentially personified that tattoo and Burkina is now honoring the LL Mic Tat with its own t-shirt.

Or it could always be a hand holding a flaming mic, but regardless, a hot print.

BRAND: Burkina
LOCATION: 177 E.Houston St., NYC
PRICE: $20

I had to really push myself to get out and pop tags this week. Actually, I’ll rephrase, I had to really push myself to get out and buy t-shirts this week. If it weren’t for the fact that the Browns are playing during prime time tonight and I only get to say that once every 5-10 years, I may have taken Sunday afternoon off for the NFL. Satisfying our loyal reader(s) and keeping the new content flowing is top priority around here at Xplosive World, but due to excessive humidity, spending ridiculous amounts of $$$ to pop tags in order to have “proper attire” for fashion week parties and exhaustion relating to aforementioned parties was almost enough rationale to try to break the tee-a-week goal.

I’m definitely glad I got out because this week took me to Dave’s Quality Meat on East 3rd in Manhattan. I had to put some emphasis on the fact that DQM resides on a “number street”, as this is kind of rare for the streetwear shop in the area, and being someone that resides in the “20′s section” of these “number streets”- I’m claiming this joint as my local shop.

DQM was just an all around cool store. I was feeling the vibe the minute I walked in and heard “Receipt” from Lil Wayne’s Carter II disc- just because that’s a track that never got much commercial push, so I don’t really expect to hear it much if I’m not controlling the playlist. What also stood out from the jump was how well-rounded the store was with good varieties of tees, hoodies, kicks, etc.

I was feeling the tee selection from DQM so much, I had to double up this week. One reason for the double feature is because of the color variations at the store that I’ve been searching for week after week. I finally found a solid design on a navy tee and complemented it with a dark brown piece that actually looked better in white with a gold print, but I wanted to go with the one I’d wear.

Another reason I’m posting 2 joints this week is because I’ll be on the road next week watching QP wreck the stage at the Ohio Hip-Hop Awards in Cleveland- and due to my familiarity with the area, I’m already aware of the difficulty in finding a local streetwear brand to report on. I’ve got some ideas, so I won’t rule anything out, but don’t be jockin’ me if I’m MIA.

BRAND: Dave’s Quality Meat
LOCATION: 7 East 3rd St., NYC
PRICE: $28/each