The Shop NJ: January 2011

1/30/11

1/24/11

1/23/11

Air Force 1 Foamposite Eggplant

Remember that Kobe Bryant ‘Shozoku’ logo that appeared on the tongue tag of our first look at the Nike Air Force 1 Foamposite ‘Eggplant’? The one that we guessed was unlikely to make it to the final production model? Well it turns out that this model is a collaboration of sorts with the Black Mamba, a fitting tribute to a guy who helped make purple a truly royal color in the NBA once again. Kobe’s signature also comes in on the translucent sole and makes us wonder if additional AF1 Foamposite ‘PEs’ might be on the way. Whether or not that goes down remains to be seen but this new development does seem to suggest the AF1 Lows we saw in those same images with Kobe’s logo on the tongue are part of an upcoming pack. Stick with Sneaker News for more on that plus the Eggplant Air Force 1 Foamposite release date, which is set for February 1st in China.

Barber gone MADD

Blind Fury Freestyle Friday 3rd Week

Gucci & Groupie Tattoo Epic Fail

Sooooooo…this unknown female is either the biggest idiot on Earth, surpassing Gucci Mane, or she’s delivered a prank that will make everybody think she is the biggest idiot on Earth. Either way, fail.

Santana Bandana

A member of Juelz Santana's Skull Gang group was arrested and charged with with drug possession after a raid of the rapper's North New Jersey recording studio, according to prosecutors.

Police arrested Toby M. Raynor on Thursday (January 20th), after a 10-month undercover investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutors Office and Gang Unit.

Raynor, who raps under the name "Hynief" was charged with two counts of Distribution of a Controlled Dangerous Substance.

On two accounts in the Summer in June and July, Hynief sold an undisclosed amount of marijuana to two undercover officers with the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office Gang Unit.

Police raided Juelz' studio, where they found and arrested Raynor.

Additionally, officers found two fully loaded 9mm handguns in the studio, along with several boxes of ammunition.

Police also found 17 zip lock bags, each containing "a greenish brown vegetation," which police believe to be high grade marijuana.

The Honorable Judge Louis Dinice set bail for Raynor at $50,000 with no 10% option.

Raynor was remanded to the Bergen County Jail in lieu of Bail.

The arrest caused Juelz to miss a show in Chicago on Friday (January 21st) with rapper Twista.

The Dipset member issued an apology to friends via Twitter, revealing that Raynor has made bail.

"A! If it ant 1 thing it's another smh sorry to all the people in chi-town that came out last night I couldn't make It!! Trouble wit the law," Juelz tweeted this morning (January 22nd).

Joe Budden Talks Slaughterhouse

OG Jordan 13 Playoff

Although the Air Jordan 13 (XIII) Original Playoff Black / True Red – White was known for Michael Jordan dominating the Playoffs, MJ actually wore this pair during the 1998 All Star games. Releasing to the public in 1997, with a retail price of $150.

The NEW Shady Records

Rap supergroup Slaughterhouse and budding superstar Yelawolf have been signed to Eminem’s Shady Records, it was announced today.
“Yelawolf and Slaughterhouse, it’s kinda phase two of Shady,” says Eminem. “It’s the new generation of Shady Records and as we’re trying to rebuild our label, it’s exciting for hip-hop and with all of these forces coming together and with what everybody’s capable of on the mic, it’s gonna be fun.”
Bringing together the East Coast, West Coast and Detroit in the middle, Slaughterhouse consists of Crooked I, Joe Budden, Joell Ortiz and Royce Da 5’9″. Most recently, Slaughterhouse was featured on “Session One,” a bonus track on Eminem’s 2010 blockbuster Recovery album. Eminem is expected to be personally involved in Slaughterhouse’s sophomore album scheduled for release in 2011.
Said Royce Da 5’9″: “It’s very exciting for me to reunite with Eminem years after our Bad Meets Evil project together. Slaughterhouse on Shady Records will be a force to reckon with.”
Late last year, Yelawolf released Trunk Muzik 0-60, a compilation of select tracks from his critically acclaimed 2010 mixtape Trunk Muzik, along with six previously unavailable songs. The Alabama native is currently in the studio recording his full length major label debut.

Said Yelawolf: “Considering where I’m from and the shit I’ve been through, it’s hard to put into words what partnering with Shady means to me, my team at Ghet-O-Vision, and my state of Alabama. I can tell you that when you’re willing to give your life up to see a dream through, the reward is great. And now that I’ve become an apprentice to one of the greatest artists in the world, my potential reaches beyond anything I ever imagined. Let’s kill this shit.”

Black & Yellow

Wiz will do his Steelers-anthem, "Black & Yellow", in the team's building this Sunday

Pittsburgh’s favorite son has already given the Steelers and their fans a 2010 rallying cry with his hit “Black & Yellow.” Now the team is showing the young emcee some love by inviting him to be part of this Sunday’s AFC Championship Game. Wiz will perform his hit during the pre-game festivities at Heinz Field.
Wiz is also being granted the honor, along with actor and Pittsburgh native Billy Gardell, of leading the Steelers fans in the Terrible Towel Twirl before kickoff. No doubt this is a tremendous honor for diehard Steelers fan Khalifa.
Speaking of “Black & Yellow”, the song is officially a certified smash, resting this week at number 5 on the Billboard charts and having sold over 500,000 copies so far.

2011 Foam releases

Foam heads will be pleased with the Nike Foamposite 2011 release dates this year. Kicking off the year is the release of the Royal Blue Air Foamposite One, which drops next month (February 12th). In March Foamposite heads will be will have a shot at owning the Electric Green Foamposite Pro and Metallic Pewter Foamposite (March 19th).
Come Fall 2011, two more Air Foamposite Pro’s will hit stores. In July, the Air Foamposite Pro in retro/black/white will drop for $190. The Air Foamposite Pro in black/dark pine will see a September release, retailing for $190.

Do you know your "Barber History"?

The word "barber" comes from the Latin word "barba," meaning beard. It may surprise you to know that the earliest records of barbers show that they were the foremost men of their tribe. They were the medicine men and the priests. But primitive man was very superstitious and the early tribes believed that both good and bad spirits, which entered the body through the hairs on the head, inhabited every individual. The bad spirits could only be driven out of the individual by cutting the hair, so various fashions of hair cutting were practiced by the different tribes and this made the barber the most important man in the community. In fact, the barbers in these tribal days arranged all marriages and baptized all children. They were the chief figures in the religious ceremonies. During these ceremonies, the hair was allowed to hang loosely over the shoulders so that the evil spirits could come out. After the dancing, the long hair was cut in the prevailing fashion by the barbers and combed back tightly so that the evil spirits could not get in or the good spirits get out.
This rule by barbers was a common thing in ancient Asia. In fact, wherever there were legends and superstitions about the hair, the barbers flourished. To this day in India, the veneration of the hair continues and those who cut and dress the hair are important characters.

Jacob Javits Center New York City Barber Competition March 6-8 2010

aButta doing some @TheShopNJ Promotion

Nike Air Foamposite One “Metallic Pewter”

More colorways of the Air Foamposite set to release this year, and knowing Nike, they’ll probably hit us with the unexpected before the year is over. Speaking of the unexpected, the Foamposite Air Force 1 is also going to make its debut this year. However, it seems like the Air Foamposite releases are going to continue in 2011. According to CK, Nike is going to release a metallic pewter/black Air Foamposite One in Spring 2011. The picture above is just an idea of what the shoe should look like.

The Jr Cakes & The King of NY

Johnny Cakes boys Gevin & Andrew coolin w NY Knicks Amare Stoudemire

H.A.M.

Jay-Z and Kanye West's "H.A.M." sells big, while Oprah and Jay-Z help the community.

Critical reaction to Jay-Z and Kanye West's latest track, "H.A.M.," may be lukewarm, but the digital sales are anything but.
Hov and 'Ye raked in 125,000 digital sales this week, landing at No. 10 on the Digital Songs chart. The chart also includes Wiz Khalifa's "Black and Yellow" at No. 3 and Lil Wayne's "6'7."
In related news, Oprah Winfrey recently surprised the students at an underprivileged boys' school with a guest appearance from Jay-Z.
The rapper showed up to the school, responding to a request from one of its substitute teachers, who wrote an email to Oprah.

FOAMPOSITE HEAVEN

Vybz Skin Bleaching!? BUMBACLOT

Although Vybz Kartel is the most popular deejay in dancehall currently, several of his fans are uneasy about him lightening his skin.
One loyal Vybz Kartel fan, Nicole, send Urban Islandz this photo yesterday of the deejay before bleaching and after.
According to Nicole, she is a a die hard fan of Vybz Kartel but she really dislikes his new look and what he is portraying.
“Am a Vybz Kartel fan from Vybz Kartel was in the Alliance and i’ve always seen him as one of the best lyricist in dancehall, but bleaching thing he is now doing irritates me a bit because am light skin but my kids are dark skin and I love dark skin men.”