What I wore to work today...

I love my job!

I love this girl!

Felicia "Snoop" Pearson plays the character "Snoop" on my favorite favorite show The Wire. On the show, she plays a badass lieutenant in the Marlo drug crew, but it's a role that reflects her real life - she grew up in Baltimore, had to survive by selling drugs with her gang and ended up going to jail for it.

Unfortunately the only decent bio I could find online was a really cheesy one on the HBO website:

Felecia Pearson was born on May 18th 1980, fighting to survive. The fact that she was premature, only 3lbs. with both of her parents incarcerated only lessened her chances; she was on her own and doctors didn't expect her to live. Felecia was too small to nurse from a bottle, but even as an infant she showed signs of great strength. Eventually she was made a ward of the court. She was placed with a Foster Grandmother on the Eastside of Baltimore.

There is no pretty story here, just the gritty truth of growing up in the system on the Baltimore streets. Having a childhood much like the youth depicted in the show Felecia saw first hand the drugs and violence that plagued Baltimore. However difficult the struggle Felecia managed to get through it. With out knowing who her family was she developed her own. She called the streets of Baltimore home and those who ran them, family. Needless to say she had a multitude of obstacles to overcome. Her pretty face shows no sign of the pitfalls life had set for her, abandonment, violence and ultimately incarceration.

In September of 2000 Felecia made a choice to change her life. This decision took Felecia to heights she never dreamed of. She began by getting back into school. It is said when you strive with intention the universe will open up and guide you on your journey. One night while out on the town Michael K Williams met Felecia. Michael saw a story in Felecia that needed to be told, a "star quality" that comes through those who have it, no matter what. He arranged to have her meet with the producers of "The Wire", David Simon, Ed Burns, Nina Noble and Robert Colesberry. Felecia remembers thinking that this was too good to be true. Soon after the producers offered Felecia a role on the show as the character "Snoop".

Anyhow, you get the idea. This girl's real, she's talented, and she's cute! Plus, I found out in the Dana Roc interview that she's also gay in real life!




from DanaRoc.com:

DR: Do you think that you are a hero for someone right now?

SP: (Laughs) I hope I am. You know what I mean? I hope I am. I hope I am.

DR: Whose hero do you think you might be?

SP: Some kid in a foster home. People in my Gay community out there…I don't know. I don't know.

Love this girl!

I Love This Man!

Yay Area native LYRICS BORN is releasing his first live album on Halloween day - show him some love!

So way back in October 2003, my boy Berwin came to town for the record release party of his favorite artist's solo debut - "Later that Day". At the time, I'd never heard of this guy Lyrics Born, but I went to Bimbo's 365 to check it out anyway.




The whole Quannum Crew was there performing, partying and just blownin up the spot. Then LB got on stage and tore it up and I've been in love with him ever since.

I got to see him perform for the fourth time last Saturday at one of the two sold-out shows at The Independent. Totally reignited my obsession!

In honor of his upcoming album, I thought I'd post this old video from before he even had his own record out - "I Changed My Mind", the original collaboration with DJ Shadow and Quannum.




How much do you love the line "I changed my mind about this here relationship that you've become so complacent with."?

I want one! I want one! I want one!

This guy Max Blank makes insane modern fireplaces - the real, wood-burning kind. This is probably my favorite because it rotates 360 degrees! How hot is that? So if you've got $9000 (7370 €) burning a whole in your pocket, you should totally buy this for me. But if not, definitely check out his site anyway because he has a giant portfolio with hundreds of fireplace designs, all of them very cool stuff.

Make your own sneakers!

This is old news I guess, but Vans now lets you customize your own Old Skool sneakers and slip-ons, just click here.

You can click on each section of the shoe and choose whatever color or pattern you dig.

You can also get customized kicks from Nike and their little bitch company Converse.

But if you really want some sweet customs, check out the designs at PunkYourChucks.com. This really talented guy named Matt (from Western New York - hell yeah!) will hand paint whatever you want. And he's good. I like these Nightmare Before Christmas kicks.

Love that Tony Cox too!

These guys are insane! Tony Cox used to be my next-door neighbor before he moved to Spain. Dude's awesome. Anyhow, check out this sweet promo video shot right here in San Francisco. Out of control! Makes me want to go buy some Ipath kicks. You can buy some here .

Loved it!

Go see Marie Antoinette! Kirsten Dunst has won me over.

Shameless Self-Promotion: Pay Attention to the Beckster!

I make silkscreens for fun and give them to my friends. I don't like to sell them, so you can't buy one. But if I like you, maybe I'll give you one.

Shout out to my models - Bacci, Scott & Kevin.

Calling it Out - Clothes Contact (aka Vintage by the Pound)

Just wanted to give some blog love to one of my favorite local shops - Clothes Contact! I always call this place "Vintage by the Pound" because I hate it's gimicky real name and the store is all about... vintage by the pound. ($10/lb to be exact.) Basically, if you need button-up shirts this is your spot. They come to like $3.50 per shirt and they've got a pretty shwagtastic collection to choose from. Yeah, the whole store does smell like your grandmother's closet, but the music is always fun and the people who work there are way friendlier than the "I'm-more-indie-than-John-Waters" geeks that work at most vintage stores.

Hit it up!

Clothes Contact
473 Valencia St
San Francisco, CA 94103

(415) 621-3212

New Kanye Bapestas premiere on NikeSB.org

For all you gold-diggers and God-souljahs, you can now sport your hiphop soul on some BAPEsta soles. Mr. Kanye West has teamed up with Nigo to deliver some new kicks for the kids and you can check them out here. Everyone's talking about how they switched-out the patent leather for premium leather and of course there's Kanye’s signature bear character printed on the heel. Personally, I'm feelin the earthtone, and it's actually the red shoe-lace base makes the sneaker for me.


Beckster rating: "Sweet, I guess..."