A'Drey

A'Drey, AKA Grapeov is also a choreographer that posts on YouTube. I found his vids, off of Luam's, and saw he had an actual reel that went along some line. I absolutely love it and that's why it's below. Fun, which actually comes at the end of the reel, is kinda funny, but you can still see the quality of the choreography is really good! I think I've seen all of the videos by A'Drey and none of them are below good. Some of them are not as good as others in my opinion, but they're all good. I'm sorry to everyone who's come out and gotten rated before, but I'm giving A'Drey the first 5 pied rating.

Miguel Antonio

Miguel Antonio Jr. is a choreographer that I found on YouTube. I really do love his work and that's why he's up here. Below ar etwo of his videos... ones that I found suitible for this actual blog. I don't like putting meaningless clips on here which is why these clips have length. Basically, the first is what Miguel calls his choreography reel. I was hoping for more of a story line but it didn't really have one, but it's still good because it combines alot of his choreography clips into the same vid for a culmination of his work.

The next video actually is kind of like a video to Danity Kane's Strip tease. I actually love this one, and wished that he would've kept going. If you want to see outtakes those are on You Tube, in his profile, just search his name or go to www.youtube.com/miguelantoniojr hmm... anything else... oh yeah, your rating. I give Miguel a rating of 4 pieds. You're beating Lil Mama at the moment, but come out with a reel, that's either a complete video of one song, or choreography that is meant to go to gether like a story, and I'll probably bump you up to a five..

Dish!

You dissappointed me Lil Mama, I'm not going to lie. I saw the title, Strike a Pose, and then saw the other title, I'm What it Is, and they struck two different chords in me. One said, crazy dance choreo! I mean, you just come off of America's Best Dance Crew, you've just seen all these dance crews do what you do best, so I mean, you'll undoubtedly have one of them in the video. Strike a Pose... sounds like Fish and Chicks to me... or maybe Kaba Modern. No, I just got Kaba Modern on the brain.

But anyway, then when I saw the second name, I'm What it is I was sure you were going to have Jabawockees come out there and tear it up, seeing as they just won the competition. They're 'what it is'. I was sure that they were going to like jump out of that crowd at any moment, or start dancing on those infamous steps you always tape on.

And then the beat started to actually permeate my thoughts, and get through my expectations. My eyes opened and I saw some throwback gear, a glimpse of a mohawk, spandex, and T-Pain. I think in total I saw 9 seconds of dancing.... oh, yeah, plus the posing. I'm sorry little momma but on the UKUW you get 3 pieds. 1 because of the way it was shot, great colors and themes, very professional, another because I kind of liked the mood and the actual words, and the last only because I had expectations in the first place. because you received a rating of 3 pieds... I'll be waiting for the next big thing from you... don't dissapoint.

Alexander McQueen

A procession of models in all back, followed by a newly renovated royal family feel describes Alexander McQueen's 2008 Fall RTW runway show to a T. Starting the show off with Amanda Laine in a shoulder baring halter top, asymmetrical skirt, leggings, and boots all in black, the mood is immediately set. The models are done up in dark hair, a pale coat over their entire body, and a heavy brow, up until look 24 where our palette is revitalized with golds and fresh fabric. By look 29 we complete our transition into the royal family and we are presented with deep, rich colors, in thick fabric. Consisting mostly of tulle, the skirts are very full, yet short

The first image is Amanda Laine, in the first look of the show. The mood that McQueen has created for the show is severe and effective. Amanda seems to be evoking the tone with her prominent, and clenched jaw, and angry demeanor. Amanda is from Women Model Managagement. The second picture is Guinevere Van Seenus, the 18th look. I really do like this fitted knitted cashemere dress. I absolutely love the hood, but that's probably because i am a hood person. The loose color, huge pocket, and skirt beneath to make the look have volume, and movement, only takes the already good design, and put it right on the edge of being over the top, making it a great look! Guinevere is from IMG Modeling. Siri Tollerød is the 29th look of the show. She is the beginning of the actual full fledged royal family feel. Head aloof, she doesn't strike the same nerve as Amanda did, but commands the same attention. The dress is magnificent, just the right length, with just the right amount of movement. McQueen has taken old corpses, and brought them back to life. Vlada Roslyakova, also from Women Model Management, was the 32 look of the show. In this look, McQueen takes a not so simple dress, with a tulle skirt, and adds a royal blue jacket. Coupled with indian diamonds, and a model who's nose is high enough that the front row can see her brain, McQueen makes sure to continue in his royal family theme. The last look of the show was, Alyona Osmanova, from Women Model Management. At first glance I am transported back to the movie, The Golden Age. It's not the same color, but Alyona enovokes the same feeling, the same attitude. The vibrant red commands power, while the bejewled headdress commands attention. McQueen has surely surpassed all of his own, and other shows for this season.

Private

 So the Legacy's come our, I think in February or something, and I've completed all the current books of Private.  Although I don't own any of them, through borrowing some friends and going to the library, I got ahold of each and every one.  Legacy though, I read while siting at Barnes and Nobles all Friday.

They are undoubtedly some really great books.  Not necessarily books that will be classic, unless classics are redefined, but they definitely are the books of the time, products of pop culture.  From the Vera Bradleys, to the Balenciaga shoes, Kate Brian the time era into 2008. Brian takes the old school method of plcing someone in a environment they don't belong in and lets "Glass-Licker" thrive.  From a house with a druggie mother, to a school money is not an issue, Glass-Licker is transplanted and must adapt quickly, and adapt she does.  Each year, her world is rocked by death and betrayal.  After one book, her entire world is turned upside down when her Inner Circle is taken away and she is faced with a changing Billings House.  A new leader immediately steps up and Glass Licker plans and executes a well needed coup d'etat.

Although it ends in tragedy, the coup d'etat is successful, and in the newly released book our Billings home is in search of a leader.  The Dorm has been through turmoil for a while and needs someone who's not just a smart mouth (and we find our just why they seem so omniscient).  Billings needs someone who will uphold tradition and will commit to the house's livelihood.  The new president, does exactly that.  Glass-licker doesn't seem so feeble after her last feat.

The Problem

Marc Lamont Hills is crazy!  Who in their right mind would look at Vogue cover and see LeBron James, as King Kong and Gisele Bundchen as the lady on King Kong!  Marc Hills is a fool!  How do you compare a rap video with the cover of Vogue?  He's talking a whole bunch of bullcrap.  He went and got a doctored and he's talking straight crap!  He says it;s representation.  It's not representation because LeBron James is representing himself and at most he is representing basketball since in the picture he is supposed to be the King of Basketball!  In videos, they have women, many women, on a regular basis, so that it generalizes black, and Hispanic women, and if I go to the highest extent all women in a sexual manner.  It's derogatory!  Using the B-word and saying hoes in reference with women in general is not the same as this cover!  Instead of being overjoyed because there is an African American male on the cover of Vogue, he's going out and spreading these seeds of disunion, of destruction, and of regress!  This, this is the problem with my community:  the black community!

I've seen this for a long time but I just haven't had the right motivation and here it is!  Our community is acting like crabs.  It's just one problem of many, but we're acting like crabs.  Instead of bringing one another up, and helping one another get to the next level, we try to grab onto anyone leaving.  We try to force our way along, and in the process we weigh one another down and bring everyone back to square one!

What Hills is doing is not what he should be doing.  As one who's studied Urban Studies or whatever he studied, he should be working to help us.  It should not be his prerogative to take a cover like that, which was bad only to one interpretation, and cause an issue over it.  In my opinion he should've had more education, more poise, and more class.  He should have pointed out that it was progress, albeit progress that he may not have agreed with.  He should've asked someone working with Vogue about it and he should've brought it up in an inquisitive manner, not an accusatory one!  He seemed like a very smart guy to me, until he opened his mouth and spouted all of that crap.

Woops

Soo, I definately apologize for not posting, but I've been really busy and I don't have computer access out of school, so I can't really edit this. I did write a reveiw of Miss Aquila, but it's been so long and my email acted stupid and didn't send it to here so, I'm just going to forget about it.
What I will talk about though, is Balenciaga and the fall 2008 RTW line.
Starting with a couple of black numbers that gives a new look to the little black dress, Balenciaga takes us on a trip throughout the different uses of fabric, and the different prints.
Introducing crazily draped tops that encompassed blue and white over black, Balenciaga attempts to take a step away from the pack and back into what made Balenciaga themselves.

The look beside this article is a personal favorite of mine. Althought it doesn't show the boots that were bulky and came up to about the bottom of the knee, that I liked, it does show the use of layers and textures to give the looks an awkward yet appeasing veiw. The no nonsense slicked back hair was complemented by the cropped jacket and the white peaking out from beneath the two black layers was set off by the white that was seemingly cut into the pants.

With simple silver jewelry(necklace, bracelets, and a single anklet) a heavy eye, and a naked lip, Balenciaga creates both a look and a feel. The small spices of yellow set off the look, in the shoe and on model, Kim Noorda's, fingers.