Halloween Memories.

I know Thanksgiving just passed, and we're going into the Christmas season, but I had to back track to Halloween for a second.  Remember the Rocketeers Halloween night performance at the Funky Buddha Lounge?  The video footage was just released... 

Dott & Nana represent for the W!LD LEEK team (@ 1:56).

As for D-Win & Johnny Rocket, keep up the good work.  Thanks for the love, and we'll be looking for the EP - Blue Clouds, White Skies.  

Pilgrim Party.

Hope everyone's Thanksgiving was delicious!  I had a small spur-of-the-moment gathering at my humble abode Thanksgiving night.  We kicked it like the Pilgrims did, except we didn't try to kill any natives, nor conquer anyone's land.  What? I'm just saying.  The crowd had dwindled by the time I thought to take pictures... these were taken at about 1:45 in the morning. 

Around 1 o'clock Torri (Black Orchard) exclaims, "I wanna play some Mario 1."  Excellent idea.  

There was a request for Duck Hunt, but I couldn't find the gun.  MarioKart 64 was in full effect though.  

 We wrapped up at about 3 in the morning.  So around the time people were lining up for Black Friday sales, we were battling it out in MarioKart.  By the way, you don't wanna see me in MarioKart - I gets busy.  

Eleven Twenty: Part 2

...So like I was saying, last Thursday (November 20th), I checked out my peoples, Black Orchard... but I'm sure I don't need to go through all that again.

Harold (Black Orchard) is a poet, emcee, and an effortless tastemaker.  He recorded a solo album not to long ago entitled Blue Is For Strawberries.  Yours truly produced few tracks on that joint.  

Torri (Black Orchard) is an established artist in her own right.  She has an album available on itunes right now entitled Audio Journal.  Yours truly is working with her on her next project.
I never noticed that naked chick on the wall at the Funky Buddha Lounge until looking at these pictures.  Kinda scary looking. 
U.G.L.Y. (Black Orchard) is also an amazing poet, emcee, he paints, produces music, and he's a Leon Phelps protege.   
No Black Orchard show would be complete without Harold and/or UG being topless.  Happens every time.
Black Orchard is currently being managed by Dave Jeff of PHLI.  If you don't know who Dave Jeff is, get familiar.  He's one of, if not the founding father of Chicago streetwear.  Dave was doing PHLI long before streetwear was called "streetwear" (and Wikipedia is waaaaaaaay off to the point of aggravation, but that's a whole 'nother post).  More on Dave Jeff to come... 

Happy Birthday, Ella! That makes 2 of us! ...and that's why November 20th is important.  Now you know.
Mickey Factz (GFC New York) gets busy.




W!LD LEEK for Mickey.


Two Sixths.

Now figure that last one out. Ha!

Eleven Twenty: Part 1.

Last Thursday (November 20th), I checked out my peoples, Black Orchard, at the Funky Buddha Lounge.  They rocked as usual, then Mickey Factz did his thing.  

Dott (W!LD LEEK) promotes for the Buddha Lounge and let me know earlier that Mickey Factz (rising star from New York, on the cover of XXL this month) was in town, and something happened with the cancellation of another performance which made it possible for him to perform at the Buddha Lounge that night (November 20th).  With that info in mind, I brought a W!LD LEEK tee to give him.

Erica (F.R.E.S.H.) took some pics of our gift giving.  I'll post those in a bit. 

Mickey Factz (GFC New York) with the gifted Unity tee & Hustle Simmons.

So after that night (November 20th, that's an important date!)  Mickey performed at Le Passage, and wore the gift we gave him! Word.

Pictures courtesy of ToneDocIsAFreak.com. 

More November 2oth pictures to come...

Happy Holidays From The Obamas.

Crash Test Dummy

He Say She Say is a rising Chicago group comprised of Million $ Mano, the DJ, and Drea, the vocalist.  I can dig it.

...And while we're here remember these guys?

High Anticipation Opinions.

Okay... so 808s & Heartbreak is set to release next Tuesday, the 25th of November.  I'm listening to it as I type this, and so far I can say it's a sonic tour de force.  Having singles out does this album a huge disservice.  The tracks are meant to be heard together.  However... that doesn't mean its a good album.  I like to give albums at least 2 whirls before I weigh them in for real.  So a full review is pending, and please understand these are just my opinions.  They certainly don't reflect the entire LEEK Team.  Be back soon...     

...

...mmhmmm...

...

...and i've listened, and really do feel its worth checking out.  I would've been buying it regardless, but it really is an intriguing project.  Something different for Kanye.  He's stepping out and doing something completely left.  Very dark and somber.  Very 80s.  Great drum choices.  A few uptempo joints.  All heartbreak.  It definitely doesn't belong in the rap section.  My only two complaints are: the original version of Robocop is better than the pansy, frantic violin sounding album version, and I really wanted some drums to come in somewhere on See You In My Knightmares.  Besides that, its a nice album.  And if anyone reading this knows Kanye personally, tell him he should hire me to direct the video for Paranoid.   I gets busy.

Nights Out.

I know I've been posting a bunch of videos and whatnot. Trying to get in the habit of taking pictures when the LEEK team does what we do. Here are some pics from the last couple of weeks that I never posted...


A night at Lalo's. Check the mariachis!





Obama Love.
Our girl Tangie turned 25 earlier this month. Word to Scorpios!





This guy was (very drunk) kept saying he was a Crip from Los Angeles, and waved his blue rag around a couple times. Character.

Everyone Knows Us.

The only scene I've seen more on the rise than Chicago hip-hop is the Los Angeles hip-hop scene. The Hundreds have just released their Holiday 2008 line, and L.A. artists Dom Kennedy, Pacific Division, and Carter (who actually hails from Houston) are featured in the lookbook. A video accompanies the lookbook - in fact the video may be the lookbook! "Everyone Knows Us" is directed by Jason Madison and Gomez Warren IV, presented by Vimby. Enjoy:

I try to keep this weblog strictly W!LD LEEK inspired/related, but I felt this was pretty important seeing as how some of us follow the work of The Hundreds as well as these emerging artists. Plus Dom gives the Cool Kids a shout.

Super Obama World.

J. Peezy sent this to me earlier.  I don't wanna give away to many of the jokes within the game, but I'll say this... there is a bridge to nowhere! Ha! Enjoy.

A DeLEEKtable Dish.

My moms made a dish this past Saturday which she dubbed "DeLeektable Stir Fry."  She bought actual wild leeks, chopped them up along with some other vegetables and shrimp...

... and viola!  The red yellow peppers give it a nice color.
Delicious and nutritious!
Excuse the blurry style pictures, they were taken with a camera phone.  It's all good though.

Heartless.

Now this is more like it! I'm feeling this video for Kanye's Heartless much more than the Love Lockdown joint. Peep the 70s adult cartoon style art direction.

Hype Williams, good work sir... once again.

Esco, Let's Go.

Our boy, Dotesco, is performing live with a couple of his compadres this Friday, November 7.  Come on out!

Spot 6

(In Wrigleyville)

3343 N. Clark

Chicago Rockets.

Chicago artists, The Rocketeers performed at the Funky Buddha Lounge on Halloween night.  I hear it was a dope show!  If you don't know who The Rocketeers are, get familiar.  You should know we hear at W!ld Leek only support artists we really believe in - not 'cause its the cooly cool thing to do.  I've heard these fellas work, and I feels a lot of it.  

They're campaigning right now for the number 1 spot for MTVU's Best Music On Campus Woodie Award.  They've already made it to the top 5, but let's make Chicago number 1.  Vote Now! 






Thanks for the pics, Dott.  Video footage to follow... 

Oh yeah, nice shirts fellas!

Hello, Chicago.

Truly historic.  Remember where you were - you'll be telling your children, and your children's children.

I Am...

...Obama.

J.Kwest endorses Obama in this nicely shot music video (very Jay-z "99 Problems"-esque). The video also has some nice cameos as far as the streetwear scene is concerned.

One More Day...

This is my joint!

The choice is yours, but at least vote.

Chopped & Screwed.

Dazzling.  This will be the first T-Pain album I purchase.  I've liked the 2 or 3 songs I've heard thus far.  This one doesn't disappoint.  Gotta find out who directed this... the graphics are incredible.  Well, the animals are okay... 

Can't Believe It must have been done by the same company, I'm sure.  There are similar character cameos in the two videos as well.  What does it all mean, T-Pain?!?! What does it all mean? 

Scaredy Cats.

Couple days late, but its just so funny.