March 26, 2006
Lil Wayne Draped up in Bathing Ape on Vibe
Hip-hop star Lil Wayne is draped up in "A Bathing Ape" (BAPE) gear on the cover of popular urban mag Vibe. The Houston rap star (who now lives in Miami) wears the iconic pink and aqua camo gear made popular by BAPE designer Nigo in Japan. We're sweet on the massive BAPE belt buckle Lil Wayne rocks in the photo. Few can sport a buckle like that and get away with it. All this BAPE gear on a Vibe magazine cover just goes to show the extent of BAPE's full-on adoption by (or is it "conquering of?") of U.S. hip-hop culture and style. It's evidence of BAPE's brilliant under-the-radar, word-of-mouth marketing strategy that, like music and fashion, can be impactful on a transcultural, global level.
Posted by Thurston Ali at 02:13 PM
March 02, 2006
iPod Hi-Fi ... Yes, We're Drooling
On Tuesday, Apple Computer's Steve Jobs unveiled the iPod Hi-Fi, the first of the company's major iPod accessory products, as well as its first foray into audio equipment beyond the iPod itself, which technically -- let's remind ourselves -- is basically just a memory storage device, albeit a very innovative and well-designed one. Apple has been selling several models of iPod stereo systems in its stores for a few years now, including models from Bose and other well-known audiofile brands. But all of those systems are small and lacked sonic heft; they left us wanting much more when we tested them in the Apple store. From appearances alone, the new iPod Hi-Fi unit seemed to have power, that volume and size that was missing from all the other systems. In terms of looks, think of he iPod Hi-Fi as a highly stylized and futuristic boombox designed accordingly to the iPod aesthetic. It's gorgeous, simple and much larger in speaker size from anything else offered thus far. So it seems like it can pack a punch and look justas cool as the Ipod itself. Yes, we want one ... and we want it now!!!
Posted by Thurston Ali at 02:32 AM