Happy Hour with Kiakoma Olski Roberts
[one_half]OVERVIEW
In our third installment of the Happy Hour series, The Artoholiks Public Works crew followed Kiakoma Olski Roberts from Yetu Urithi for a few days to see what its like to transform from an educator to a fashion designer to just a normal creative that enjoys what the world has to offer. From fashion to supporting his peers, Mr. Roberts shows us how all of the above works hand in hand towards his legacy through his brand. Unlike our previous Happy Hour sessions, Kiakoma treated our crew like family by inviting us into his home while we captured intimate sessions with his close friends and even allowed us to film him eat and shop with the goal of seeing his creative lifestyle.
In this two minute journey, Kiakoma shares his secret to how he makes his life dynamic, with his belief in the world being too big to just be one thing. Now enjoy Kiakoma Olski's Happy Hour with The Artoholiks!
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QUESTIONS FROM THE CREW
Why did you get into the accessory business?
I've always liked backpacks and accessories. I think accessories breathe life into an outfit, they really complete your look. With that being said, I wanted to make accessories that were high quality & luxurious, but still consisted of an edgy street vibe.
What brands inspire you outside of LV & Gucci?
Just to name a few… Hermes, Goyard, Brunello Cucinelli, BAPE, Billionaire Boys Club, ICECREAM, Stussy, Supreme, American Classic Ralph Lauren Rugby and Brooklyn Circus. I love the dynamic of mixing high end with premium.
What music are you currently listening to?
(Punk rock) Falloutboy, (Futuristic Funk) Francis and the Lights, (90's Hardcore Hip-Hop) Outkast, Jay-z. M.O.P, Mobb Deep, Nas, UGK, and Snoop & Dre. The only new Hip-Hop artists I listen to are from the G.O.O.D Music Camp and MGK.
You mentioned that you love to travel, what's your favorite US City and why?
Las Vegas! It's such a beautiful city during the day and night and there is always something to do. I would even go as far as saying its a better New York minus the fashion scene.
What did the acronym in Wierdoz O.W.N.L.I stand for?
Our World Never Loses Intensity.
Why did the Autobiography of Malcolm X changed your life?
I related to it because it showed the evolution of a man from a criminal to self educated pillar of a community. While growing up, family members would express their low expectations of me because I was always in trouble and most of my cousins were locked up. In their minds, I would be next and Malcolm inspired me to prove them wrong.
Lastly, how was it to work with The Artoholiks?
What would you tell people about your experience? It was a great experience, I thoroughly enjoyed expressing what my personal and professional brand has to offer. Being able to collaborate and share my testimony to inspire others to create and reach for higher levels was priceless.
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[two_third_last]KOR PHOTOBOOTH
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Written / Edited - Iquan Worthington, Kiakoma Olski Roberts & MrsAleeshaW
Video - Directed Shot & Edited - Iquan Worthington & The Artoholiks Public Works
Video Music: Dela - The Robert The Robert Glasper Beat Tape - Dizzy
Photography: Iquan Worthington & The Artoholiks Public Works
Shop: Yetu Urithi
Urban Exploring: Episode 3 - Sunday's Beats for Brunch
In our third episode of Urban Exploring, IquanW hops in a cab with Guru and DJ Ream Supreme to check out "Sunday's Beats for Brunch" at Pianos in the LES of Manhattan. As the crowd enjoyed food and drinks, Laytonic, El Siete, DJ Polarity and The Grand Affair each had an hour to bless the crowd with good music. Enjoy this mini recap of event.
"Sundays Beats for Brunch was once just an idea, but with a little bit of time, networking, and getting to know one another, Laytonic's idea for Sunday's Beats for Brunch came to fruition.
It's always astounding when something imagined or pictured in the mind becomes a reality, but when that reality becomes a successful idea, it just let's you know that you were born to create.
To us, this day was a success not because of the number of people that attended or because of the amount of money made, but for the simple fact that all of our friends that share the same story as creators were here to witness an idea turn into a goal. That goal became Sunday's Beats for Brunch." - IquanW
Urban Exploring: The Internet x Phony PPL (Special Edition)
This past weekend we went out to chill with the lovely folks at SOB's and was treated to a great show performed by The Internet and Phony Ppl. Phony Ppl set the tone of the night, their energy was great and they kept the crowd excited at all times.
When The Internet took the stage, the crew went nuts as if they weren't hyped enough. Syd & Matt Martian lived up to their expectations, mixing some of their old joints in with tracks off their latest release Feel Good.
Even after the show, both bands came to hang out and chill. Everyone was extremely friendly, posing for photos with one another, exchanging social media handles and simply soaking up what was the end of a dope night out. But of course you know the night didn't end for us, Urban Exploring with The Artoholiks always require food. We left SOBs and headed East, to enjoy a burger from Mikey's on Ludlow St. in the Lower Eastside.
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BLUEPRINTS TO MY MIND/UNDERCONSTRUCTION PART 3
Remember episode one of Urban Exploring when we caught up with our homie Verbally Visual? When he was in Newark to shoot video for a track off his Under Construction Poetry album? We'll guess what? The video was released today and we're pleased to debut the video for BLUEPRINTS TO MY MIND/UNDERCONSTRUCTION PART 3 right here right now! Enjoy!
One Donut 4 Dilla mixed by DJ Laytonic
For those of you who don't know, James Dewitt Yancey aka J Dilla aka Jay Dee was a legendary hip-hop music producer who mastered the art of sampling and helped influence a generation of music lovers and many musicians to come. Artists like Kanye West, Questlove, Pharrell Williams and Madlib wouldn't be the artists we know them as today if it wasn't for J Dilla. He is a producer's producer and has made underground hits for artists like A Tribe Called Quest, Erykah Badu, Common, The Roots, De La Soul, D'Angelo, Tha Pharcyde and many more.
Eight years ago in February 2006, he passed away due to complications of lupus and a rare blood disease that he had been struggling with his entire life. Before his passing he left the world with countless volumes of work, many of us already familiar with and others that have recently been discovered and waiting for future release.
I've been a fan of J Dilla since the early days of 1996 when I first heard De La Soul's "Stakes Is High." There was an energy and vibe behind the music that I couldn't put my finger on. It was full of life and excitement and it motivated me to find more music from this musical genius. What started as a liking became an obsession. I made it my goal to find any and all things Dilla and have helped carry the torch to keep his legacy alive by telling everyone about him and sharing his music.
February is best known as Black History Month, but in the hip-hop community since his passing, this month has also become known as Dilla Month. To help celebrate this man's legacy, I've put together a mix of some of my favorite Dilla beats from my personal collection. Good music. Strictly vinyl. Turn it up ! Enjoy below...
In My Shoes ft. Andres Jimenez
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[one_half_last]Back in 2010 NIKE made a huge push on all of their vintage products and I felt the need to have a pair. I loved the silhouette, the fit, how light they were in my hands. The soles were so narrow yet they still gave me support. They also had a nice vintage patina on them, which made them look even better.
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[one_third]From a very young age, clothes and sneakers have been important to me. What I choose to wear on any given day will always let you know how I feel. The price tags never really mattered to me, it was more so about quality, construction and what the colors or brand represented. In regards to my closet, I always refer back to “Classics” or “Basics” when building my wardrobe.
In the same year I purchased these kicks, we (Tritonic – A Creative Agency) won another ADCNJ Award and I participated in a fashion blog called Hello Mr. Daily specifically as Mr. Friday.
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[one_half_last]Later in 2010 I did some traveling and my first escape was to Montreal. A mini get-away with a few of my Hello Mr. Daily friends, this trip was strictly to party and explore. The following month I went to Chicago for my creative agency Tritonic. At this time I was the creative director and principal of the agency, we were helping our client The James Hotel in Chicago and NYC. In November I flew down to Mexico to participate in my sister’s wedding, it was such a beautiful experience to be down there with friends and family. And finally my last stop was home, Colombia to be exact, visiting my family after working hard all year. It was truly relaxing to be back in the motherland with no worries at all.
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At this point in my career, it was important for me to remain excited and fulfilled in everything I did. So I matched my hard work with hard play, by exploring the world, because I’m aware that staying fresh on what’s new is important to staying creative. I also felt the need to try working on something new, something to balance myself. Having Tritonic was fun and surrounded me with people I enjoyed. But I needed another outlet, and I found that in digging and spinning music. Throughout it all, I kept traveling to places like Boston, Montreal and even London.
[one_half]DJing and Records went from a hobby to a passion, which developed into a Vinyl Culture Collective called Open Crates. We’re now approaching our second vinyl release with Pat Van Dyke being our first and DJ Center coming out in April of this year.
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Since I’ve had these sneakers, I’ve closed up one creative agency, joined another agency as a joint venture, left and started one all over again. In 4 years, I’ve put thousands of miles on these sneakers. I’ve been blessed to have traveled all over North America, South America, the Caribbean, even hit the UK with them. They’ve been with me during hard times but also at my feet for moments I’ll cherish the rest of my life.
Urban Exploring: Episode 1 - Moruf & Aaron Brown
Back in January, we kept the love in Newark, NJ and attended a special event to celebrate Dubois's birthday, hosted by our friends Kaylan Jones and the P-N-F crew. The small yet intimate event featured a live performance by local rapper Moruf who currently holds a mean street buzz right now in the music world. Moruf released his latest mix tape back in December titled Shades of Moo. The following morning we hung out in Harrison, NJ; a little town right outside of Newark to catch up with fellow Artoholik Aaron Brown. Aaron was in town from Brooklyn to shoot video for a track off his newly released poetry album Under Construction. Our message in this story... spending time with friends is always a beautiful thing, but supporting those friends is even better. That's it for now, we hope you enjoyed Urban Exploring with us.
Sunday Beats 4 Brunch
Looking for a chill way to spend your Sunday afternoon? Head on over to Pianos in the L.E.S. this Sunday, February 16th for "Sunday Beats 4 Brunch." We're back with our first event of the New Year led by DJ Laytonic. There will be 3 DJ's spinning classic hip-hop, R&B, soul, rock, latin jazz and fusion. The event starts at 2pm followed by a special performance by Queens natives, The Grand Affair, at 5pm. Artoholik affiliate, El Siete, kicks things off followed by DJ Laytonic and DJ Polarity. For $5, it's a perfect way to wrap up your weekend.
[one_fourth]THE GRAND AFFAIR
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[one_fourth]EL SIETE
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[one_fourth]DJ LAYTONIC
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[one_fourth_last]DJ POLARITY
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[one_half]ABOUT THE VENUE
Featuring the best live music and dance parties in the Lower East Side
Hours: Mon - Sun: 2:00 pm - 4:00 am
Specialties
Dinner, Drinks, Attire, Casual, Services, Walk-Ins Welcome, Good For Groups, Take Out, Waiter Service
Street Parking
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[one_half_last]DIRECTIONS
Public Transit
By Train
F or V to 2nd Ave/Houston St. Exit at Allen St end of the station and walk two blocks east on Houston to Ludlow, then one block south to Stanton.
F or J,M,Z to Delancey/Essex. Exit at Delancey/Essex and walk two blocks north on Essex to Stanton, then one block west to Ludlow.
By Bus
M9 or M15A to Essex/Houston. Exit onto Essex and walk one block south on Essex to Stanton, then one block west to Ludlow.
M15 to Allen/Houston. Exit onto Allen and walk south to Stanton, then east two blocks to Ludlow.
Pay Up
Cash, Visa, American Express, Mastercard and Discover
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Urban Exploring: Starter Club House (Special Edition)
Last week we got an opportunity to get a sneak peek into the Starter Clubhouse, which is now open in NYC's Times Square at the Paramount Hotel.
The clubhouse offers Starter NFL, NBA, and MLB Satin Jackets, as well as limited edition collaboration products under the premium Starter Black Label. We were amazed at the merchandising of the space as well as the assortment. Products ranged from Satin Jackets to Snapbacks, Crewneck Sweaters and knit hats. Not to mention they're killing it when it comes to collaborations by teaming up with folks such as Dee & Ricky, Stussy, Slo Bucks, Kith and more. The shop is now open through the end of February to the general public, so be sure to stop in and shop their one-of-a-kind apparel. Shout out to Starter for letting us come through, we definitely enjoyed the tour before the doors opened. Oh yeah, if you choose to swing by, be sure to tell them the Artoholiks sent you! Peace!
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Photos & Video: IquanW & Guru
Styling the Intern
OVERVIEW While now a days we all wear many hats just to make it in this crazy world, we also find ourselves accommodating our style to match the many hats that we wear in order to suite our lifestyles accordingly. But not everyone understands how easy it can be to create different looks without going too far left. Our intern Guru N is taking huge steps into learning the creative industry, so we’re prepping Guru for each possible scenario. Of course we have to school him on his fashion presentation as well. Without breaking the bank a.k.a shopping on a budget, we put together six scenarios and environments that you’ll catch creative’s like ourselves in on the daily. Enjoy!
At the Agency – As he aims for the Jr. Content Creation position it’s important that he sets himself apart from the rest of the snot noses within the pack of youngsters. This look will show his boss that he’s mature, clean cut and focused on detail. This look is simplistic, traditional and safe.
MEN EASY CARE CHECKED LONG SLEEVE SHIRT This soft, wrinkle-resistant shirt features special tailoring to keep its shape in a vibrantly colored gingham check.
SOURCE: UNIQLO COST: $34.90
BOTTOM – MEN SLIM FIT CORDUROY JEANS These slim-fit corduroy jeans offer warmth and a lengthening look. Dyed for extra-sharp color. 99% cotton, 1% spandex
SOURCE: OLD NAVY COST: $34.90
SHOE – OUTDOOR CVO TRAINER SNEAKER Classic trainer sneakers with color block cotton canvas uppers topped with rolled cotton laces. Complete with a cushioned foot bed and a color block rubber mid sole. Finished with a textured rubber sole for optimal traction. UO Exclusive.
SOURCE: Urban Outfitters COST: $29.00
After Work at the Cafe – When he’s on top of his game the colleagues will take notice and want to be around him. This look is for the quiet moment that he’ll get outside of the office, when he’s dodging all the employee gossip talk. The highlights of this look is the All-Son Runt Shirt Jacket paired with a Brixton Supply beanie, layered on top of a basic yellow Uniqlo henley for a pinch of color.
TOP – All-Son Runt Shirt Jacket Awesome jacket from All-Son. Durable woven cotton in an allover leopard print with a button placket and topped with a removable hood. Complete with front and chest pouch pockets and finished with button closures at the cuffs. UO Exclusive.
SOURCE: URBAN OUTFITTERS COST: $69.90
BOTTOM – Stapleford Utility 5-Pocket Pant Classic 5-pockets pant from Stapleford. Faded cotton construction topped with side pouch pockets and a zip fly with button waist closure. Complete with rear flap pockets with button closures and cinch tabs at the waist for a snug fit. Finished with a slim fit leg and a side coin pocket. UO Exclusive.
SOURCE: URBAN OUTFITTERS COST: $59.00
SHOE – OUTDOOR CVO TRAINER SNEAKER Classic trainer sneakers with color block cotton canvas uppers topped with rolled cotton laces. Complete with a cushioned foot bed and a color block rubber midsole. Finished with a textured rubber sole for optimal traction. UO Exclusive.
SOURCE: URBAN OUTFITTERS COST: $29.00