Similar to the album, the shoes are packed with cannabis vibes. Aside from being constructed with heavyweight hemp, the design also features hidden bongs and stash pockets, all while producing a very clean and sophisticated look. Even the side paneling subtly symbolizes the recent recreational legalization in California. Each limited-edition pair is individually engraved with a unique pair number, making every shoe one-of-a-kind. Both the art and shoes can be viewed in their award-winning Sneaker Gallery located in Vancouver, BC.

Take a closer look below (photos source: Six Hundred Four).

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Lil Wayne – Tha Carter V

Image credit: Young Money

Finally. Finally.

In the year 2018, fans are finally able to listen to Lil Wayne‘s long, long-awaited album Tha Carter V, an album that was 1.) supposed to be his last (is it still?) and 2.) was supposed to drop years ago, setting off what ended up being one of the biggest Hip-Hop “family” feuds in history. Now free to do as he wishes, we get to press play on the whopping 23-track project, which sees appearances from XXXTentacion, Snoop Dogg, Nicki Minaj, Kendrick Lamar, Travis Scott, Ashanti and more. What a time to be alive.

Cypress Hill – Elephants On Acid

Image credit: Cypress Hill/BMG

Cypress Hill is back with a new album, their ninth: the 21-track offering Elephants On Acid. With DJ Muggs back behind the boards exclusively, fellow members B-Real, Sen Dog and Bobo are having funs as the legends they are, alongside minimal features like Sadat, Brevi and Sick Jacken. Light up to a fat one and press play below.

SOB x RBE – Gangin II

Image credit: EMPIRE

So, is Yhung T.O. leaving the group or not? Regardless, the group is still whole on their new project Gangin II, a 15-track tour de force that sees additional appearances from YoungBoy Never Broke Again and (another collective on fire right now) Shoreline Mafia. Hopefully, this won’t be the latest SOB x RBE project we hear.

Kevin Gates – Luca Brasi 3

Image credit: Bread Winners’ Association

Following his well-received Chained To The City EP (as well as his collaborations with YoungBoy Never Broke Again), Louisiana prodigy Kevin Gates is back with a new project — the third installment of his highly-touted Luca Brasi series. 18 tracks of pure savagery to vibe to below.

Logic – YSIV

Image credit: Def Jam

Maryland’s Logic continues to disprove his haters release-after-release, and will probably end up as one of the frontrunners of his heavily-loaded release weekend. This go ’round, he drops the fourth installment of his Young Sinatra series — 14-tracks of mostly nostalgic Hip-Hop vibes with appearances from Lucy Rose, his RattPack collective, Wale, Hailee Steinfeld, Jaden Smith, the entire Wu-Tang Clan and more.

Reason – There You Have It

Image credit: TDE

The newly-minted TDE signee Reason makes his official introduction to the big leagues by re-releasing his well-received project There You Have It, a project that — according to the artist — was how he ended up getting picked up by Top Dawg in the first place (source):

“This is what Top discovered me off of… When we first sat down with Top we were playing records from There You Have It. Top lived with [TYHI] for about a week, and that’s when he decided to sign me. The plan was to put out a new project under TDE. But instead, Top felt like he wanted to show the world why they signed me. So we went back in and remixed, remastered, and added a couple things—but not much. Top wanted to keep it very, very raw.”

So, there you have it. If you’re not hip, press play below.

Kojo Funds – Golden Boy

Image credit: Atlantic UK

London star Kojo Funds delivers his long-awaited debut release titled Golden Boy, which sees 16 tracks and plenty of his past hits (ex. “Who Am I?,” “Check” and “Warning”). Additional appearances include Giggs (visual for that collaboration added below), Bugzy Malone, Abra Cadabra, Kranium and more.

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The post NEW ALBUM FRIDAY: Lil Wayne, Kojo Funds, Kevin Gates & More appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Promethazine Wayne

The Drug culture has influenced many different genres of music in the past. Whether it was rock n roll, Jazz, or R&B, there are many artists who’ve made beautiful music while under the influence of some kind of substance. This phenomenon was very pertinent in the 60’s, during the era of Woodstock where many artists as well as many people in general were experimenting with acid and heroin. Many musicians have also been credited with making their best work while under the influence. While being under the influence can generate different thoughts which in turn changes your perception of reality – which in turn modifies your art, is it necessary? Does being under the influence really help you make better music?

In the beginnings of rap, drugs weren’t really a huge topic of discussion. Most early rap songs centered around the party life, and drugs may have been mentioned but you never got the sense that doing drugs was a part of that rapper’s lifestyle. During the 80’s and 90’s there were even anti-drug records that made waves due to the havoc the crack epidemic was wreaking, such as Public Enemy’s  “Night of the living Baseheads” which condemned drug-dealers and compared crackheads to zombies. The late 80’s and early 90’s also brought about a conscious, pro-black era in hip-hop. The main themes of this era were being intelligent and vigilant because the powers that be want to see you fail. Of course drug usage does not intertwine well with that message. Dr. Dre stated in N.W.A’s hit song “Express Yourself” that “I don’t smoke weed or sess cause it’s known to give a brother brain damage, and brain damage on the mic don’t manage, nothing but making a sucker and you equal”. Of course the tide would switch, and when rap made the transition into discussing the harsh realities of inner city life, drugs would play a huge part.

The drugs of choice were Marijuana and Alcohol. For a lot of artists, Marijuana would become an intrinsic part of their creative process. When Dr.Dre left N.W.A , his first album would be called The Chronic , and he was heavily influenced by marijuana during the making of the project. The Chronic is a bona-fide classic in rap, and considered by many to be Dr.Dre’s best work. many other artists have credited Marijuana use for assisting them in creating music. Artists like Snoop Dogg, Notorious B.I.G, Redman and Method Man, Cypress Hill, Tupac and many others were all very huge marijuana advocates. In the present Marijuana usage is still hyper-prevalent amongst rap artists, and it’s become such a very important component that many rappers whole careers are primarily based off speaking about it. Artists like Curren$y, Wiz Khalifa, Smoke Dza and many more have built sustainable careers rapping about marijuana consumption.

As time went on, harder drugs started to hit the scene and were all parts of those artists’ creative process. A prime example is Lean (also known as promethazine ,codeine syrup, or purple drank). Lean is prescription cough syrup mixed with either soda, or alcohol. The southern influence in rap brought about new drugs and Lean was a favorite amongst Houston artists. Legendary group UGK as well as DJ Screw brought about the lean phenomenon and a new sound to go with it. This sound is titled Chopped and Screwed, and the use of this drug played a major role in making that sound internationally popular. Lean is still prevalent in rap till this day. Rap transitioned further into prescription medication when artists started doing more pills. Adderall, Xanax, percocets, Oxycontin.. etc are all currently a part of rap culture.

Drugs rather if they’re  uppers or downers affect how you hear sound and how you take in information. If you’ve ever used marijuana you notice that music sounds completely different under that influence. Certain sounds mesh better with that mind-state then others. Artists then go on to continue making music that mesh well with the mind-state they like to be in. You also have to take into account that drugs do affect your mind to where you’re perhaps more confident, more relaxed, and have an open mind because you are currently in a happy, laid back mood. It makes sense that those effects that drugs have on you can lead you to make better music. Anxiety halts creative thought, that’s a known fact, so when you take a substance that relieves some of that anxiety you’re able to be more comfortable creating and that of course makes for better music.

So Do drugs help you make better music ? No, being in a comfortable and relaxed mind-state helps you make better music. Thinking outside of the box helps you make better music. Constantly pushing yourself until your songs sound the best you think it can sound to you is what makes better music.You don’t necessarily need drugs for that. The drugs themselves don’t matter. Addiction often times manifests itself in a person medicating themselves due to the mental ills that they’re suffering from.  A lot of artists that feel like drugs are helping them are likely suffering from an issue. There are positive methods one can utilize to gain confidence in themselves, to be more relaxed, and to get rid of their anxiety without relying on a harmful substance that will most likely make their mental state worst. Drugs can be seen as an easy fix, with awful consequences. There’s been a rise in drug related deaths in hip-hop; From Pimp C to A$ap Yams, From DJ Screw to DJ AM,  to the constant drug-related seizures that Lil Wayne and Rick Ross keep having and denying. These substances are clearly doing more harm than good.

In sum, drugs don’t affect music quality , you do.

Peace!

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DJ Muggs, hip hop innovator and founding member of Cypress Hill — has unveiled his latest video “Headfirst”. With a lengthy career spanning over two decades, the veteran producer has teamed up with Danny Brown for this bass-driven, fist in the air, dubstep number, taken from his forthcoming album, Bass For Your Face.

“What I tried to do was make this kind of record that real hip hop heads that aren’t really into dubstep would like, and show them the similarities that I found in some of the early dubstep stuff,” declares Muggs. The new LP will also feature Chuck D, U2, Freddie Gibbs, Depeche and British rapper Dizzee Rascal. Check out DJ Muggs’ bonafide dubstep banger below.

The post New Video: DJ Muggs Feat. Danny Brown — “Headfirst‏” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

The Indie Entertainment Summit (IES)  is a major new music conference and festival hosted by the City of Angels. Launching on August 1st, the five day event will focus on cutting edge knowledge, networking and performances in music, movies, TV and modeling. Featuring over 80 workshops and seminars led by top industry pros designed to help musical artists, rappers, managers, models, DJs, filmmakers and independent labels/entertainment companies progress their business and career opportunities. IES will also be the launch of the annual ‘IES Hip-Hop Honors,’ a live event that celebrates the innovators, groundbreakers and influential members of the hip-hop community. The summit has a ‘Best New Rap Star’ showcase where the winner will receive a $100,000 and the ‘IES Hip-Hop Honors.’  Other honorees at this year’s event include Dr.Dre, Snoop & Nate Dogg, 2Pac, Cypress Hill and Wu Tang among others.

The post Event: Indie Entertainment Summit appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

A slew of rap icons are set to take part in a VH1 documentary on the connections between hip-hop and crack cocaine.  VH1’s project, Planet Rock: The Story of Hip Hop and the Crack Generation, is set to premiere September 18^th with narration from rapper/actor Ice-T.

The two-hour documentary attempts to delve into the parallels between hip-hop and crack cocaine, which both reached prominence in the 1980s.  A bevy of interviews—including appearances from Snoop Dogg, Wu Tang’s RZA and Raekwon and Cypress Hill’s B-Real—are featured in the film.  This summer has already seen some hard-hitting documentaries, let’s hope VH1’s latest endeavor will follow suit.

The post VH1’s Documentary Explores Connection Between Crack Cocaine and Hip Hop appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.