One Love Challenge: Week 4

The Challenge: Take off your cool; the world is bigger than just you... Evolve.

Rather than describe this challenge, I'll allow you to each interpret it in your own way, as no one evolves in the same way, we all have different, very unique roles to play in this world. When we recognize that role, is up to the individual, but we gotta be proative in finding it. Instead of a quote, here's a video, which inspired the challenge for this week:

Window Seat - Erykah Badu



Don't forget to share your testimonials in the comment section.

Snapshot: The Lady and Her Polaroid

Lady Gaga during a recent visit to MIT University

Duh, It's a Mixtape!

Mix Tape for Dummies: Guide to Global Greatness - Big Boi

Big Boi must really be serious about this solo thing; with just three days until the release of his debut solo album (which is amazing, might I just say), he releases a mixtape. The mixtape is a very introspective musical journey through Big Boi's long career; from the beginning days of Outkast, up to his recent single Shutterbug. My only qualm about this mixtape is the inclusion of Chris Brown; despite the time lapse of the abuse incident, I still am unable to support his career. This mixtape being about Big Boi and not Chris Brown, I feel comfortable sharing this; Enjoy!

Grab the download link after the jump, along with the tracklist...

[sidenote: click here to listen to Big Boi's new album, streaming in full]

Snapshot: Kanye's Power[ful] Cover Art

[cover art for Kanye West's new single, Power]

Interesting Kanye West... very interesting.

Snapshot: New York Minute

Mary-Kate Olsen
[via Olsens Anonymous]

Video: Tightrope Wondamix - Janelle Monae

Tightrope Wondamix - Janelle Monae (feat. Lupe Fiasco & BoB)
I hope she doesn't go anywhere anytime soon; this two year love affair shall burn on forever.

Snapshot: Brigitte Bardot Would Be Proud

Gisele Bundchen (Muse summer 10)
[shot by Nino Muñoz]

Complete editorial after the jump...
[photos via Fashion Gone Rogue]

[sidenote: check out the behind the scenes video of the shoot via Double K Productions]

[note: if the video doesn't show above, it will for sure show after the cut]

Snapshot: Jackie O Meets Mary Tyler Moore

Freja Beha Erichsen (Vogue Nippon Aug10)
[shot by Terry Richardson]

Complete editorial after the jump...

[scans via Noir Facade]

Video: Say You Don't Want It - One Night Only

Say You Don't Want It - One Night Only

This band is new to me, as they're already on their second album. This is a track from the upcoming self-titled album from the Brit-Pop band One Night Only. The video is obviously oozing with New York City flavor and spirit which I love; and yes, that is Harry Potter star Emma Watson, who is currently dating the lead singer, George Craig. I'm not sure how I feel about the song, it sounds just like the myriad of other teen angsty pop bands, but I do love the video, Emma looks gorgeous in that fur, and the little nod to Lady and The Tramp at the end is cute. Not sure if I'll be looking more into this band or not, but for now, enjoy the video; and stay outta trouble you crazy kids.

Snapshot: Who's That Girl?

Yaya DaCosta
[a still from the film Honeydripper, 2007]

If she doesn't look familar, well good; the actress would prefer it that way. Since her stint as runner-up on America's Next Top Model season two three, the 28 year old has taken the leap into the acting world. With credits which include a recurring role on Ugly Betty (as Nico Slater), All My Children (as Cassandra Foster), and a number of independent projects including the upcoming The Kids Are All Right and the much anticipated Tron: Legacy, she is well on her way to becoming a household name. The actress/model/sitcom star recently sat down with Nylon Magazine to discuss her new film: (on her ANTM past) "I don't put it on my resume, you know, and I don't talk about it... I was actually really relieved not to win." I love that she doesn't rely on that reality-tv fame.

Keep this chick on your radar, because it doesn't seem like she will be slowing down anytime soon.

eta: Yaya actually appeared on cycle three, not two, as previously stated.

Robyn // Alicia Keys

Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart (Live Alicia Keys Cover) - Robyn

For BBC's Radio 1, Robyn took to the mic to cover Alicia Keys' hit; the result is a beautifully innocent and vulnerable track which truly showcases Robyn's delicate, yet unique, vocal skills.

[sidenote: Robyn is going on tour this summer, click here for dates and venues]

Umm... What Did You Just Call Me?

The 100 Greatest Movie Insults of All Time

My favorites are at 1:22, 2:42, 4:45, 6:55, and 9:37... Enjoy

The Ed Banger Seven - ep7

The Ed Banger Seven - ep7
The Day After

It's been a fun ride, and now the final installment in the seven part web-documentary presented by sports brand Etnies in celebration of Ed Banger Records' seventh anniversary... there's not much to say but enjoy, and check out the artists who, I'd hope, you've come to love over the past week.

[sidenote: click the following for episodes one, two, three through six in case you missed them]

Not With Them Shoes, You Don't...

"Shoes! I'm all about the shoes! I order a ton of them online and play with my entire wardrobe until I find the right shoe. Unfortunately, so many people get it right from the head until the ankles. The shoe is very important. I can't even f-ck with you if your shoe game is slacking."
-Solange Knowles (on her secret style weapon)

Roll on over to Refinery 29 for more from this awesome interview.

[photo courtesy of Solange's Damn Blog]

It's Time to Get Funky...

www.myspace.com/bigboi

Big Boi of Outkast's solo debut is now streaming in full, a week before its release, on the rapper's myspace... check it out, get into the groove, and don't forget to pick it up when it's released.

Snapshot: Outside of D&G Milan Show

Thachery S Binks
[via Jak & Jil Blog]

Don't Let the L Word Scare You...

For those out there, like me, that find it hard to resolve being an active participant in the secular world while also being socially aware and environmentally concious, there is hope.

Author Justin Kreb's makes living a more enviromentally friendly, socially conscious, and liberally minded life easier and even enjoyable. His tips are super simple, and include suggestions such as seeking out your local diner, sharing your home wi-fi connection, and visiting your neighborhood parks.

The book, 538 Ways to Live, Work, and Play Like a Liberal is available for purchase this Sunday, July 4th... how fitting, huh?

Snapshot: Giddy On Up Little One

[via Brightest Young Things]

...Because Dinner & A Movie Is So Last Year

Feelings Involved - Theophilus London

Last night, Brooklyn rapper Theophilus London was featured on IFC's Dinner With The Band. For those not familiar with Theophilus London, well, get familiar... for those in the dark about Dinner With The Band, well, it's essentially a cooking show where chef Sam Mason interviews a band/artist while he cooks for them. During the show, the band/artist gives a couple performances. Now that we're on the same page, Theophilus London performed his hits Julia and Humdrum Town.

Not shown on tv however were two additional performances, one for Cold Pillow, and the other for a previously unreleased, unrecorded track called Feelings Involved. The above clip is of that performance, and can I just say I'm in love with the high energy of it all, and hope to all bejeebus that it ends up on the album. Check it out above, and be sure to check out Theophilus London's blog which has been linked to above.

IFC's Dinner With The Band airs Tuesday nights at 10.30p with occassional repeats throughout the week. Oh, and before I forget, the show uses legit music for its soundtrack; last night's episode featured Junk Culture, Kenan Bell, Alan Wilkis, Ace Fadal, and a personal favorite, Major Lazer.

Snapshot: Jo Calderone // Stefani Germanotta

Jo Calderone... or is it Stefani Germanotta?

Recently, Nicola Formichetti posted pics of this unknown male model during a shoot for Japanese Men's Vogue, of which he is the fashion director. The model looks suspisciously similar to Stefani Germanotta, best known as Lady Gaga. It wouldn't be surprising if it was, considering Formichetti is the stylist to Our Lady of Gagalupe; however nothing has been confirmed. I, as a fan, would be extremely overjoyed to discover this to be Gaga; it would make a very bold statement by way of society's views on gender-conformity and transpolitics. For now, I'd like to believe it is indeed, the one and only, Gagaloo; and invite you to check out the other pics that have been released from the the shoot (after the jump) courtesy of Nick Knight and ShowStudio.com