Archive for October 27, 2011

Napoleon Da Legend – Elixir (Ruff Kut Videoz)

Posted by Jasmine McGee ⋅ October 27, 2011 ⋅ 7 Comments

Napoleon Da Legend – Elixir (Ruff Kut Videoz).

One of my favorite rappers from the DMV, Napoleon Da Legend, has finally released another Ruff Kut video with Crazy Al Cayne. If you’ve read my blog in the past, then you know that NDL is a hot up and coming rapper with raw talent that needs to be heard. He isn’t like most rappers out there; he doesn’t just show off and rely on a larger than life ego. Instead, Napoleon raps with an authority that is methodical and not cocky or self obsessed like some of the major rappers in the limelight.

His latest track, “Elixir,” was just released today with a fresh video directed by Crazy Al Cayne. The video has that edgy personal vibe like many of the other videos in the Ruff Kut Videoz series, and the track will be featured on NDL & CAC’s (Crazy Al Cayne) The Sugar Cayne Experiment Vol #1. The project takes a collection of beats Crazy Al Cayne made in the 90s and infuses them with the reality rap lyrics of Napoleon Da Legend. It’s a project that is bound to create a lot of buzz and take hip-hop fans back to the days of the golden era of hip-hop.

I usually don’t get excited about mixtapes and projects, but I’m looking forward to hearing whats in store on Napoleon Da Legend & Crazy Al Cayne’s The Sugar Cayne Experiment Vol#1. If you haven’t checked any work from CAC and NDL, then head on over to NDL’s official blog (which was designed by me!) and check out some other Ruff Kut Videoz and music from Napoleon Da Legend.

Below is the official Ruff Kut Video for “Elixir,” an innovative track discusses the reality of music and society. As the caption says, “In this age of economic uncertainty, war, violence, greed, corruption, swag, big money rap, hoe rap, and general anxiety, Napoleon Da legend and Sugar Cayne concocted an Elixir to absorb in your system to help break up some of the societies ailments.” That’s pretty deep! I must say NDL has such a way with coming up with anecdotes and impressive analogies that really tap into the intellectual side of hip-hop. It’s more than just gritty beats, bling, hoes, and money, it’s about making a statement that has a social impact; that’s what Napoleon Da Legend and his reality rap are all about, dropping powerful rhymes that make you sit down and analyze the state of things.

Elixir (Ruff Kutz Videoz)

For more on the lyrics and other information, check out the original post on NDL’s blog. Napoleon Da Legend – Elixir (Ruff Kut Videoz)

©Jasmine McGee.ThinkSoul25. http://thinksoul25.com

Napoleon Da Legend “Quarantine” (thinksoul25.com)

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The Timeless Fashion of the 1940s

Posted by Jasmine McGee ⋅ October 27, 2011 ⋅ 1 Comment

Barbara Goalen in Fashion Shot by John French

As I often watch classic films from the 1940s and early 50s, I always wonder what it would be like to wear evening gowns and siren suits everyday. I know there are a lot of women out there who wear dresses, heels, and glamorous clothes on a daily basis, but the fashion of the 40s was all about tailored class versus trendy sex appeal. In many ways the fashion of that decade can be noted as the emergence of office attire, i.e. work suits for women.

The women didn’t just wear suits and tailored dresses just to impress, but it was also a reflection of the rations that had been implemented during WWII. The war didn’t just have a great social impact on humanity, but it also changed the livelihood and fashion of the average woman. While the men were off fighting to serve and protect our country, the women were left at home taking on new job opportunities and exploring a new sense of fashion to fit their work needs. While rations on items such as sugar, beef, coffee, butter, and canned goods were put in place, rations were also placed on fabrics. The amount of material allotted to an outfit was limited, so women began wearing tailored suits, pencil skirts, and tailored dresses during the daytime. However, when the evening came it was their time to shine and adorn themselves with jewelry and beautiful evening gowns that would leave an eligible bachelor speechless.

Fashion trends of the 40s and early 50s, even the early 60s, are still alive today. There may not be rations and a ration point system on the amount of fabric purchased, but designers still present timeless looks that are a staple of class for the everyday woman.The tailoring doesn’t just have to be a plain jane look; some suits are very asymmetrical when it comes to the cut and form. I think the true beauty of a woman is when she is able to pull off a variety of styles, even wild and avant-garde looks, but she also knows how to look flawless and pristine in a tailored suit or dress.

Some women don’t wear tailored clothes on a daily basis, but I’m the type of woman that can’t wait to have a lavish wardrobe filled with tailored pieces. There is something so subtle yet ravishing about a pencil skirt hugging my curves and a tailored jacket that leaves a hint of peek-a-boo cleavage. I don’t have the money yet to afford all the clothes I want (last year of college, waiting to graduate and get job writing,) but watching classic films and viewing the photography of John French has inspired me to keep my eye on the prize; a year from now I’ll be working that full time job in a office and wearing tailored suits and pencil skirts that make me proud to be a tall curvacious woman.

A lot of fashion trends come, then go, then come back for a celebrity trending season, then go out of season again, and then attempt a comeback but quickly get replaced a day later. I totally understand the whole concept of trends and originality, but I also love the timeless look of a good old fashioned tailored look. The women during the 1940s and 50s knew how to transition from an tailored suit into a stunning evening gown that could ensue “Who is that woman” whispers in a crowded room. You know the type of whispers I’m talking about! Usually in the movies the sexy damsel will strut into a room with a “come hither” sultry look that catches the eye of the leading man. Watching play out in a classic film is priceless! Even today that “come hither” moment still takes place.

We’ve all been somewhere and have seen a stunning woman walk with such such confidence and class that we immediately wonder who could that woman be. Women, we usually admire her outfit, or some women tend to just hate (I don’t like hating on other females.) In contrast, a man will see this sexy woman and might be captivated by her looks; he might even take that daring step and be the one to approach her.

The transition from day to night, infused with such passionate stories of love and triumph, are truly what make watching classic films from the 40s an amazing experience. Those films may be in Black and White (which I love!) but the fashion and elegance that those women exude are timeless looks that every woman should consider. A alluring, sexy, and confident woman knows how to wear any style or trend, but she has an irresistible vibe of class that makes the statement come to life.