Guess Who's BACK!!!!!!

It's the kid, Jay B. I know that I haven't been posting a lot lately. But things have been hectic you know how it is! But, I'm back. Here is the thing, I need more help with this stupid blog. If you live in or around M-Town, love the lifestyle, and wanna help. Hit me up. I DONT PAY. But, we need help, so holla at me.

WRG? Mag Party - Featuring Artful Dodger Fall Line Giveaways

What's Really Good? Online Magazine will be having a rooftop BBQ to showcase the official launch of their new website! But, that shit is gonna be in Montreal! I DONT CARE ABOUT THE PARTY! I want to see the new ARTFUL DODGER LINE!


Yeahhhhhhhhhh!!!!! That's it! Can't wait to see these designs in R. Sole, some time in the very near future. Yeah! That's right, R. Sole is an autherized Artful Dodger retailer. Go check 'em out!

For more info on the party go check out What’s Really Good? Magazine.

It will be held at.

Tokyo Nightclub (on top)
3709 blvd St. Laurent, corner (ave. des Pins)
Montreal, QC

The Nike SB "J-Rod" Is BACK!

Yeah! That's right, the J-Rod II! The NIKE P-Rod Air Zoom II have a Jordan-inspired colorway of their own. This sneaker takes some obvious cues from black/cement III’s that everybody seems to love these days. Available this July.

Alife x Puma First Round

So, I caught a glimpse of these new Alife x Puma First Round His. They are pretty dope. Being that damn near anything Alife touches is hot. I'm not too fond of the white/pink colorway myself. But I think I will definately pick up a black/green pair. Retail will be $200! Be on the look out.

images courtesy of Complex

DJ M.A.F. Interview

Jay B.: Alright, everybody wake-up right now, because in the building we have upcoming DJ and Designer, DJ MAF. What's up man?

DJ M.A.F.: Nothing much, just chilling tired as hell but still excited for this interview

JB: Mos Def. Now for the sake of any reader of the blog, that has been in complete hybernation, give a little brief introduction of yourself and what you do.

MAF: Well im a dj from the DC metro area and Im not your average mixtape dj meaning I don't just compile a bunch of leaks and plug my name over them. I do original remixes of tracks, and typically i will do mixtapes based on themes such as the Beastie Boys vs. Miles Davis and The Hypebeast Mixtape. I'm also a part time designer for my company MadeMiddleMen Clothing Co.

JB: That's wassup. Now, first, I'd like to touch on your music. How many mixtapes have you released so far?

MAF: well i've released about 6 mixtapes in the span of 4 years under my own name. I have taken part in a lot more than that which i can't keep track of the two most notable ones being my beastie boys vs. miles davis one and the hypebeast mixtape which both received a lot of love and exposure

JB: For sho'. Now, the first mixtape. I will be honest. Now most people don't do Beastie Boys remix albums. You kno, most guys are all about the Jay-Z Black Album. Now, mixing it with Miles Davis...that is completely out there. Where did u get the idea for that mixtape?

MAF: Well i've always been a beastie boys fan and they're a pretty underrated group as far as the main stream is concerned but they have a really strong core fan group which I knew would receive something like that well as far as miles davis, jazz is one of my biggest influences when it comes to the music I make and I have a pretty big jazz collection so it just seemed like a perfect fit. both musical entities do a lot of really original work so I figured I might as well do something that I thought was original with them

JB: Nice. I can feel that. Tell us a bit about your inspiration behind the Hypebeast Mixtape.

MAF: Well it was a marketing move to tell you the truth because most of the success of my BB x MD mixtape came from the hypebeast forums and from people involved in the "streetwear" culture so I felt it was important to do a mixtape just for those people but that I felt was just good and that other people could rock with. I actually have the sequel coming out pretty soon aptly named The Hypebeast Mixtape 2. this time I'm doing mostly up and coming cats like Wale, Supreeme, Tabi Bonney etc.

JB: That sounds like fire, man! Now, I saw another mixtape. I believe ur latest project, correct me if I'm wrong, entitled Raw Cuts. Is there a story behind that one as well?

MAF: raw cuts was just my cutting room floor mixtape. basically all the tracks that didn't fit my other mixtapes that I had done made that mixtape. it was only like 6 tracks. because typically I work on projects with a specific goal in mind, very seldom do I just go in the studio and bang out a remix just for the hell of it

JB: Cool..it's good to get your miscellaneous shit out. Raw Cuts was a creative name for that collection of remixes. So, I kno you have a collective of artists that work with you. Could you tell the readers a bit about that?

MAF: Well I'm working on a few mixtapes with artists right now. Chris C. who's a rapper from the DC area who I also manage, his mixtape is coming out really soon called Living The Dream. I also work with a rapper from the greater baltimore area, Matth. Our mixtape is entitled In Theory... and should be out very soon if all goes well. I also do a lot of miscellaneous tracks for cats so hit me up if you want to collab. and of course, my boy Jay B!

JB: Lol, WORD LIFE....That mixtape is on the way....has yet to be named, but, it is most definately on the way! Now the big conversation in hip hop is....whether or not it is dead. Do you think it is dead or alive. And if you believe it is dead, do you see a revival any time soon. How would you contribute?

MAF: I think it's hard for one person to make a statement that bold to totally discredit other like minded artists who stay true to the roots and aren't doing music for money or for fame because that's really what is fucking up hip hop. cats learned the "formula" and so many hip hop radio listeners have been brainwashed to accept that formula as good hip hop. I think enough people are seeing what a crock of shit hip hop has turned to recently and are trying to do something about it by bringing back heartfelt music and I would like to think of myself among those individuals. so to sum that up, hip hop on the radio is six feet deep. but hip hop in the streets and in the underground is definitely still alive and waiting for the light of day

JB: True words. Now, I know a lot of emcees, producers, and deejays say that they don't listen to very many other artists, because within doing so, they lose themselves. Do you feel that way? If not, who do you spend you spare time listening to?

MAF: I definitely don't feel that way because it's impossible to create out of nothing. Everything we imagine is simply a mix of a bunch of things that we've heard, seen or experienced in the past. And I listen to a lot of artists among my favorites being The Roots, BIG of course, Kanye West even though he gets a lot of hate he's a great artist, Clipse probably the best group in modern day hip hop and of course all the artists I work with

JB: Cool. Now, we've talked awhile on music, but, I think it'd be a good time to move on to fashion. Streetwear. Tell the people, about your brand, Made Middle Men.

MAF: Well MadeMiddleMen is the brain child of myself and my business partner Mark Thom we've been around since 2005 and we officially released our first season this past spring

JB: For a reader interested in seeing the line, and maybe purchasing, where could he check you guys out?

MAF: our website is mademiddlemenclothing.com. that connects you to our blog, but our store is mademiddlemen.bigcartel.com

JB: Alright. I'm Sure, everybody will check through there and show you guys some love. What other brands, besides your own do you wear?

MAF: I wear a little bit of everything. I've recently been getting a lot into Supreme, The Hundreds, C&C, Alife, Polo, Orisue, Nike of course and others of course

JB: Dope stuff...You down for playing a word association game before we wrap this thing up?

MAF: haha that sounds like fun

JB: Alright...Jay-Z

MAF: Roc a fella

JB: Notorious B.I.G. - MAF: Diddy

JB: The Game - MAF: Compton

JB: Ramen Noodles - MAF: College Students

JB: Dave Chappelle - MAF: DC

JB: Crack Epidemic - MAF: DC

JB: Supreme Skateboard Co. - MAF: Box

JB: Bugle Boy Jeans - MAF: 2nd grade. i was heavy on them back in the day

JB: Lol, I guess Jim Jones is bringing them tight shits back! On that note, you have any shoutouts?

MAF: yeah definitely first off to Jay B for holding down a dope interview, all of D.C. because we're coming, the MadeMiddleMen family, the Break Brigade, Matth, Chris C., the Defcon family, Rites of Ash (myspace.com/ritesofash) and anyone that ever listened or currently listens to my music

JB: Ii, man! Thanks for your time!

MAF: thank you man

JB's Interview with Mickey Factz

Jay B.: We are here today with the kid everyone on the block is talkin bout, Mickey Factz! How you doin', my man?
Mickey Factz: Aint shit, chilling promoting. Eating some bbq. Rocking some shit yall won't see till august. Light work
JB: That's hot! Now for everyone who has been sleeping, tell the readers a bit about yourself.
MF: I'm the absolute ruler of the universe. I give beats heart attacks. That's not really bass. Lol. Seriously tho I'm the king of the bx.Mickey factz. The savior of hip hop. The freshest newest cat to grace your ears.
JB: Now we all know about you're last mixtape, In Search of the N.E.R.D., how it's blowing up all over the nation and most likely internationally. How did you come up with the concept of doing a mixtape with Neptune beats?
MF: My a&r steve-o came up with the idea. I was against it at first. But once I saw his vision, I took it and ran with it. We created a classic with that shit. Its something that has never been done. Its got acclaim from soooooo many outlets. I'm glad its done as well as its done.
JB: Sounds like he threw you a mad good look. So, just before, In Search Of, there was a lil buzz about you signing with Pharrell's label, Star Trak. What's up with that whole situation?
MF: I aint like that whole situation over there. Artists getting signed and dropped. Not my cup of tea. Rather just give the world a 'coulda' been mixtape. And people loved it
JB: True. So do you still keep in touch with any of the dudes up there are Star Track/Interscope?
MF: I talk to the ice cream skate team dudes. that's about it. But it is what it is
JB: Yeah, big up to the cats reppin' Conez n Bonez, Free TK, and all that good jazz! So way back when there was a little situation with Missy, would u like to elaborate on that?
MF: Back in 02 I had a situation with gold mine/elektra. Due to managorial problems, I couldn't sign with her. But she was in love with the kid back then. Met with mona scott, chris lighty, jose cruz all them dudes before they met 50 they was loving me. But it wasn't the right time.
JB: Wow! That's Major...So, this situation started over a mixtape she heard right....apparently you were buzzin around your way before, In Search Of. Around how many official mixtapes did you have before your last project?
MF: I put out 2 major mixtapes. Bottles up which had production from kanye, alchemist, omen and scram jones. And my cd before in search of which was kings of the bronx. Got alot of exposure from my spray paint record and extravaganza. It made mtv mixtapes of the week and all that
JB: Dope! So you've been on your recording gring for a long while now. How long have you been rapping?
MF: Been rapping since I was about 7 years old. Its been a mainstay since I heard big daddy kaneJB: Now I hear you ain't a rapper til' u can quote a Kane lyric. What's your favorite?
MF: Favorite song is aint no half stepping. " what you want hobbs? Dope or dog food" sheeeeesh
JB: HAHA! Kane, is the man! But back to the present! You have a new mixtape in the works. You wanna give the readers any info on that?
MF: Flashback dropping june 15th. The newest installment of the mickey factz saga. Basically recreating some of the dopest records from the 80's and the 90's. People gonna love this cd as much as they loved in search of. Shit is gonna be insane
JB: Sounds insane! What's next after, Flashback? Can we expect after this project?
MF: The next mixtape is going to be insaaaaaaaaaaaaane. That's all I can say. I can't disclose any info. All I can say its gonna be stupendous.
JB: Can we expect a full-length LP from Mr. Factz in the future?
MF: Album from mickey factz is dropping in 08. Its called itz mickey! Its gonna be even crazier than what I'm putting out now
JB: Now that's something to look forward to...independent or have you finally found a cosy home at a label?
MF: I got label attention but I'm weighing my options. I don't know right now. We wanna pick the best situation for the long run
JB: Now, we've spent a good bit of this interview on music, but I wanna touch on another one of your loves, streetwear. How long have you been a gearhead?
MF: I been a gearhead since I got outta highschool. Even in high school. When cats had avirex's I had vansons and prada's. Lol. That was way back then. Kicks now is just so much of our lifestyle, that people look out for us and send us shit
JB: Dig that! So what brands do you rock a lot these days.
MF: Lavie, l&d, belchez, mighty healthy, 13 month denim, star studded, dream cloth and live mechanics. Those are my dudes
JB: Hot! I'd like to thank you for kickin it wit me today, man! Do you have any last words for the readers
MF: GFC is coming to a cloud near you. Mickey aint a mouse he's a monster!
JB: Well said! Thanks again, Mick. I'm sure the reasders would agree with me when I say we'd love to ee you come thru again when flashback dropped to tell us more. Stay Posted

The Lace Up

alright now cadets
be on the look out for these new ice creams.
they should sell retail for about $200
i'm unsure about the release date though
ill keep you updated

peace,
kyle