The Howell hits the Spring 2012 season of the Vans OTW Collection with two new colorways. Shipping 1/1 in brown nubuck and black savannah leather, the Howell is OTW's take on the desert boot with a clean upper design and faux-heeled cupsole for a hint of dress shoe class. Get a closer look at the spring shipment of the Howell after the jump!
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Labels: howell, otw, sneakers, spring 2012, Vans Otw, vans otw collection

I went to Gramercy Theater to see Pusha T show there was a lot of other guests on the bill. This was a great concert treat for the holiday season. Pusha just dropped his Fear of God Part II mixtape. This was his first concert in New York to promote the new project. The crowd was filling up fast.
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Labels: emilio rojas, fear of god II, gilbere forte, gramercy, jasmine solano, New York, ninjasonik, pusha T

You are all invited to the opening party for the "Still Life With Wood" which takes place on January 7 at AR4T in Laguna Beach, CA. The photography exhibit features the art of Jay Croft and works from some of the dopest dudes to ever catch a rider on film including: Grant Brittain, Dave Swift, James Cassimus, Miki Vuckovich, Jon Humphries, and Vans OTW Advocate Atiba Jefferson. If you can't catch the party, make sure to drop by January 5 through 22 to check out some of these awesome photographs in person.

Opening Party: January 7 7pm to 10pm
AR4T
210 North Coast Highway
Laguna Beach, CA

Labels: ar4t, atiba, atiba jefferson, otw advocates, photo exhibition, skateboard photography, the blackouts, Vans Otw, vans otw advocates

Fantastic multimedia artist Tom Sachs brakes down the universal color theory through his Studio Color Code. The idea is represented by a standard 52 card deck each one depicting the color and a number. Weirdly enough it makes sense.

Labels: art, Film, soundtrack, theories, tom sachs, via Y.S., video

Sculptor Manuel Martí Moreno forms these pieces out of iron nuts. The idea behind the works is in showing the passage of time, the transience of life, and our collective awareness of our own mortality. Quite beautiful work.

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Labels: amazing, art, iron, sculptures, via Y.S.

Vans OTW Advocate Mister Cartoon wrapped up his Artist in Residence stay at Andaz on 5th Avenue last week and created a brand new mural for the hotel's bar. Cartoon used his trademark clown motifs and gangster imagery for his latest wall piece. New Yorkers and East Coast tourists, check this one out in person at 485 5th Avenue at 41st Street in New York. Get a closer look after the jump!
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Labels: andaz new york, mister cartoon, mr. cartoon, mural, New York, otw advocates, vans otw advocates

The new year is upon us! While most dudes count down their favorite things from the past year in a list, DJ/producer duo Flosstradamus puts them back to back in an eclectic 50 minute mix. We dig that. Check out 20ELEVEN below:

20ELEVEN by Flosstradamus

Labels: 2011, 20eleven, end of the year, flosstradamus, mix

Reppin' Soul Assassins and the Beatrock crew, Bambu De Pistola brings his music to his hometown of LA on January 19 at the Echoplex. Joining him are slick talkin' Pop Killer Rocky Rivera and underground hip hop group Rhythm Natives. Pistola and crew always put on energetic performances and this one should be no exception. Bam is gearing up for his final solo album so expect some new material on top of old favorites. Catch Bam, Rocky and Rhythm Natives January 19 at the Echoplex (located at 1154 Glendale Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90026) from 7:30pm to 11pm. Tickets available at the Echoplex's official site.

Labels: bambu de pistola

The Cobern returns in the Spring 2012 season of the Vans OTW Collection with three new colorways. The next installment of our modernized boat shoe arrives 1/1 to OTW retailers in black oiled suede, cinnamon satin suede and blue stealth leather. Get a closer look at all three variations after the jump!
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Labels: cobern, sneakers, spring 2012, Vans Otw, vans otw collection

I got a call to come to a meeting with some of the game’s most creative minds. I jumped in a cab and made my way Downtown New York.
I was invited to Prohibit which is one of NYC's premiere retail boutiques. This is where the meeting of the minds was taking place.
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Labels: black star, brooklyn circus, infinite chace, mos def, New York, ougi, prohibit, yasiin bey

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Labels: half cab, limited edition, otw, sneak peek, steve caballero, vans skate, via Y.S.

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Labels: art, day of the dead, girls, opening, sylvia ji, tattoo art, via Y.S.

Over the weekend, OTW advocates, Eric Elms and the Blackouts made their way to Mexico City. During the visit, the crew stopped by the historic city of Teotihuacán to check out the Pyramids. At it time, during the 1st millennium AD, it was believed that Teotihuacan was the largest city in the pre-Columbian Americas. Not much is known about the pyramid builders Teotihuacán—and to this day, it's still a mystery on who actually built them.
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Labels: Mexico, otw advocates, the blackouts, vans mexico, Vans Otw

The dictionary defines the triple threat as a trio of three amazing forces or abilities. Okay, I lied, the dictionary didn't say that and I'm pretty sure they don't define phrases. But if they did, they would reference this mash-up for the triad of great artists involved in the track. ddpesh lifts B.I.G.'s verses from his posthumous hit "Nasty Girl" and sets it against the Justice remix of MGMT's "Electric Feel". Enjoy "Nasty Feel" above and if you're really into it, download it at MediaFire.

Labels: electric feel, justice, mash up, mediafire, mgmt, nasty feel, notorious B.I.G., remix

I caught up with new kid on the block. He goes by the name of Gilbere Forte. You might know him for his song about his favorite shoe, “Black Chukkas”. I got a chance to interview Gilbere while he was playing some video games with his squad and then went to the studio after that to hear some new music. Check out the whole interview after the jump!
How would you describe your music?
My music is a reflection of the point in life, off where your imagination becomes reality. If I could be a director of music, I'd consider my music audio movies.
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Labels: black chukkas, gilbere forte, Hip Hop, interview, SNAV, Vans Otw, via SNAV

Labels: art, damien hirst, documentary, hedi slimane, Jeff Koons, raymond pettibon, tattoo, via Y.S.

I had a chance to catch up with one of my favorite producers of all time. When you think about a guy that has put his stamp on the music game this man definitely has his spot. I ventured up to Headqcourterz Studios in NYC to catch up with DJ Premier.
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Labels: DJ, dj premier, headqcourterz studios, music producer, New York, SNAV, via SNAV

Keyboards make the world go round. Businesses, artists, scientists and other individuals rely on the these computerized character pads to create, transfer and archive data. St. Louis artist Sarah Frost pays homage to the essential computer accessory with her wall installations. Frost creates mosaic-like art using thousands of keyboard keys which have been discarded by businessmen and Fortune 500 companies.
Source: Technabob

Labels: art installation, keyboard, keyboard art, qwerty, sarah frost, technabob

Kyle Bean created a series of weapons made from harmless materials centered around the topic of 'guerilla gardening' and 'yarn bombing'. It's pretty amazing. Check out the rest of them.
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Labels: art, clever steez, design, kyle bean, via Y.S.

Since we're on the topic of sneakers, why not tease you with a (badly) Photoshopped glimpse into the future? The Vans OTW Pritchard hits its one year anniversary in Spring 2012 and we celebrate with four new colorways for the silhouette. Woo party! 

Labels: Pritchard, sneaker peek, spring 2012, Vans Otw

Truth be told, Xmas shopping isn't an easy task. Sneaker connoisseur/Sneakertube TV Founder Premium Pete makes things a little easier. He breaks down holiday shopping into five easy points! 
Prepare yourself: Preferably do your Xmas Sneaker Shopping early but that's never the case due to so many great releases during the Holiday's so make a list, no not for Santa but a list of kicks you want to purchase. Map out and prepare for your Xmas Sneaker Shopping check them off as you go.

Cash or card when in doubt: If you're not sure the person your buying Sneakers for is going to like what you're buying them then don't buy them a pair of sneakers, give him/her money or a gift card to go and purchase themselves. For some strange reason it's not that all sneaker lovers are unappreciative but when we are surprised with a pair of kicks and we don't like them, it's hard to lie and say we do.

Be ready to hunt: When looking for a pair of kicks for Xmas cover all angles call all boutiques (that's right support your local sneaker shops!!) and see if they have what your looking for & your size but if it's not available then check online AKA The INTERNETS!! See it takes work to find and purchase a pair of kicks especially if they're hyped up it's like working overtime. In life and even in Xmas sneaker shopping you get out what you put in so you do; no preparing or no legwork will get you no kicks.

Take care of yourself: What would be GREAT Xmas sneaker shopping advice without telling you this - you can't complete a Xmas shopping list without buying yourself something!! That's right YOU!! I personally feel the only way to deal with the depression of spending all your money on others is to get yourself something like a FRESH pair of kicks trust me you will thank me later.

Keep it fresh and classy: This may be the most important piece of Xmas sneaker shopping advice I give y'all.  Holidays are perfect times to complete a FRESH outfit and obviously that starts from head to toe so go on a hunt and find all the pieces. Mainly be smart, be safe and enjoy the holidays with friends and family because we all know sneakers are GREAT but never forget it's the people you love, know and meet in them sneakers that are GREATER!! Stay FRESH but stay classy for the holidays - for example: button up, Levi's 501s and a pair of Vans OTW Alomars and you're set.

Labels: premium pete, sneaker xmas shopping, sneakertube.tv, xmas shopping

Fresh ink, get your fresh ink herreeeee! Check out some of Vans OTW Advocate Mister Cartoon's most recent work below. If you're on the East Coast and are looking for a custom piece, check out Cartoon's New York Tattoo Tour running from now to December 22.
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Labels: ink, mister cartoon, mr. cartoon, tattoos

This is not your average pen. As you can tell, it's been wired and altered to pierce surfaces instead of adorn them. Do you see where I'm going with this? This modified pen is OG Menace pro skater Fabian Alomar's jailhouse tattoo machine. Alomar and his homeboy Trouble break down the machine's construction with a how-to tutorial at the Vans Syndicate Zine. Save paper and ink flesh, if you dare!

Labels: fabian alomar, how to make a jailhouse machine, how to make it in america, trouble, tutorial, vans syndicate, vans syndicate zine

Labels: documentary, Film, Japan, sushi, trailer, via Y.S.

The Urban Flipper turns the city of Lyon into one big interactive game of pinball! Using 3D projection mapping technology, the device beams the likeness of the old school arcade game onto city buildings and uses their architectural features (windows, balconies, etc.) as bumpers.
The Urban Flipper was created by the CT Light Collective for the 2011 Festival of Lights and the staff over at UFunk.net was able to catch it in full motion. Check out their video after the jump!
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Labels: 2011, ct light collective, festival of lights, projection mapping, the urban flipper, ufunk.net

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Labels: amazing, art, Comedy, internet, old school, via Y.S.

Consider this a sneak peek of the Spring 2012 season of the Vans OTW Collection. More to come in the following weeks!

Labels: alomar, Bedford, sneaker peek, sneakers, spring 2012, Vans Otw, vans otw collection

 When you think of a band, instruments and hip hop there is only one group that comes to mind: The Roots. I got a chance to go to their show the other night for their UNDUN release party.
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Labels: Album Release Party, SNAV, The Roots, UNDUN, via SNAV