Kanye West was recently in Paris for Fashion Week going gorillas and promoting his new fashion line, ‘DW’. Usually exuding with confidence, Kanye West reportedly appeared extremely nervous and almost scared to debut his line. Although he is one of the biggest celebrities in the world, Kanye is still a beginner designer showing off his first ever collection on the world’s biggest fashion stage. Not knowing what to expect, many critics and celebrity fashion lovers watched very closely to see what the hip-hop star would bring to the table. I wasn’t fortunate enough to be invited to the premiere, or even be at Paris Fashion Week, but I read the reviews and saw the looks and it’s safe to say that I can side with the general consensus and proclaim that I’m underwhelmed and unimpressed. The SPRING collection featured several fur and leather items that seemed ill-fitting. Some pieces boasted very plunging necklines that even the wealthiest of costumers would not have enough double-stick tape to keep from being exposed while walking down the street. Although there were some signs of designer influence like Balenciaga and Yamamoto, a key issue was that West’s line lacked designer assistance which caused the clothing line to look like a beginner was over-compensating his lack of experience by piling on all sorts of ready to wear items on one look. Pieces that were meant to be statement pieces looked as though they were hastily put together and lacked focus. Some things that DID work in the amateur designer’s favor were the several monochromatic white looks which were on point with the latest trends, all-star model cast, high-profile audience, and a fun and entertaining production. While Kanye can’t win at everything, this weak debut can serve as a learning experience so he can ball harder during the next go round. Yeezy found that the hardest part of this whole experience was to get critics to look past him being a “celebrity designer”. It’s not everyday that designers are trying to be rappers but it is pretty normal to see rappers trying to be designers. Being a rapper and celebrity does mean having resources and funds to buy the best textiles money can buy. Because of that, don’t be expecting to see very many women wearing West’s clothes soon since the expensive fabrics mean the suggested retail price will be through the roof.

All the guys at G.O.O.D. music seem to be busy as ever lately. Big Sean and Kanye recently teamed up to release a music video for the latest single off of Big Sean’s album Finally Famous. Directed by Hype Williams, the video features vibrant color, sexy ladies and G.O.O.D. music. You can always count on these gentlement to be dressed fly as hell and up with the latest trends.  Enjoy the video and fill your day with Marvin Gaye and Chardonnay.

Here is another G.O.O.D Music project to look forward to next week. Pusha T’s upcoming project, Fear Of God: Let Us Pray EP, drops August 23rd and will feature the “Amen” remix. Originally on Jeezy’s last project, “Amen” is produced by Shawty Redd and features Pusha rapping alongside Kanye West and Young Jeezy.

If you haven’t seen the music video for Jay-Z and Kanye West’s “Otis”, you must have been hiding under a rock this past week. With the much anticipated album by the two mega-star rappers, came the video for their first single. Directed by Spike Jonez, this video did not fail to surprise and impress us. With a super dope song also came all the luxury and glamour you would expect to see in a video by two of the smoothest men in hip-hop. A fashion statement that is breaking through with the help of Jay-Z and Kanye West is the snake skin snap back cap as demonstrated in the video by Jay-Z’s classic Yankee hat. Designed by ‘Just Don Mitchel & Ness’, these swag-filled caps have been appearing on the heads of not only Jay-Z and Kanye West but on other members of GOOD Music like Big Sean and Kid Cudi. On August 8th, select designs were released for all of us to enjoy. Exclusively available at RSVP Gallery in Chicago, you too can rock this hot new cap that retails for the low low price of $400. Check out more of Just Don’s designs on his blog here: http://deadstockdon.tumblr.com/

Last night we waited for the premier of “Otis” off Jay Z & Kanye’s Watch The Throne, it’s been a while since I’ve actually waited by my laptop to see a premier of a video – worth it. If you’ve yet to listen to Watch The Throne then please do it right now (don’t care if you’re at work), get into it, move your arms around while you passionately rap/quote this album for the rest of the day.

Looking like they’re having the time of their life in “Otis” with the usual swagged out fire cars (yes, fire cars), fireworks, hot models, a cameo by actor Aziz Ansari and OF COURSE it’s directed by Spike Jonez. Go big or go home.

Honestly, I’d be happy if they just did a remake if this:

MTV gives us a preview for Jay-Z and Kanye’s upcoming video for “Otis.” Its a short but revealing preview that you can view below. The full video will premier on Thursday at 8:56 ET/PT on MTV, MTV2 and BET. Watch The Throne available now.

If you’ve listened to Watch the Throne, it is no shocker to see that the album is #1 across the globe. The album is now available to purchase online at iTunes and will be available to purchase at stores on August 12th. Make sure you support G.O.O.D music and go download that shit, but until then you can stream the full album below via Hypetrak.

STREAM HERE

Tracklist:

1. No Church In The Wild f. Frank Ocean (prod. Kanye West, Mike Dean & Ken Lewis)
2. Lift Off f. Beyoncé (prod. Kanye West, Mike Dean, Jeff Bhasker, Q-Tip & Don Jazzy; Additional Vocals by Seal, Mr Hudson, Don Jazzy, Bankulli & Ricardo Louis)
3. Ni**as In Paris (prod. Hit-Boy)
4. Otis f. Otis Redding (prod. Kanye West)
5. Gotta Have It (prod. The Neptunes)
6. New Day (prod. The RZA)
7. That’s My Bi**h (prod. Q-Tip & Kanye West)
8. Who Gon’ Stop Me (prod. Sham “Sak Pase” Joseph & Kanye West)
9. Murder To Excellence (prod. Swizz Beatz & Symbolyc One)
10. Welcome To The Jungle (prod. Swizz Beatz)
11. Made In America f. Frank Ocean (prod. Sham “Sak Pase” Joseph)
12. Why I Love You f. Mr Hudson (prod. Mike Dean & Kanye West)
13. Illest Motherf*cker Alive (prod. Southside & Kanye West) *
14. H*A*M (prod. Lex Luger & Kanye West) *
15. Primetime (prod. No I.D.) *
16. The Joy f. Curtis Mayfield (prod. Pete Rock & Kanye West) *
* – Bonus Tracks

Alright, here it is! The second track off of Ye and Jay-Z upcoming project Watch The Throne is available below. In this track produced by Ye,they sample some Otis Redding to bring you this soulful track where Jay-Z and Kanye exchange verses back in forth. Watch The Throne can be pre-ordered over at WatchTheThrone.com. The digital album will be available on August 1st and you can get the physical album on August 5th.

Here is the tracklist and production credits for Watch The Throne.

01 No Church In The Wild f. Frank Ocean (prod. Kanye West, Mike Dean & Ken Lewis)
02 Lift Off f. Beyoncé (prod. Kanye West, Mike Dean, Jeff Bhasker, Q-Tip & Don Jazzy)
03 Niggas In Paris (prod. Hit-Boy)
04 Otis f. Otis Redding (prod. Kanye West)
05 Gotta Have It (prod. The Neptunes)
06 New Day (prod. The RZA)
07 That’s My Bi**h (prod. Q-Tip & Kanye West)
08 Who Gon’ Stop Me (prod. Sham “Sak Pase” Joseph & Kanye West)
09 Murder To Excellence (prod. Swizz Beatz & Symbolyc One)
10 Welcome To The Jungle (prod. Swizz Beatz)
11 Made In America f. Frank Ocean (prod. Sham “Sak Pase” Joseph)
12 Why I Love You f. Mr Hudson (prod. Mike Dean & Kanye West)
13 Illest Motherfucker Alive (prod. Southside & Kanye West) *
14 H.A.M (prod. Lex Luger & Kanye West) *
15 Primetime (prod. No I.D.) *
16 The Joy f. Curtis Mayfield (prod. Pete Rock & Kanye West) *

*Bonus Track

The snippet of this track dropped back in January, but here is the FULL track with Cudi on the hook and Ye hooking it up with production. Consequence names this track as the anthem for those who dare to say, I can do it on my own. You can catch the track on Consequence’s upcoming project Movies On Demand.

After a rough-cut of Kanye West’s video for ‘Monster’ was released the backlash was immediate, with Kanye drawing heavy criticism for seemingly eroticizing violence against women. The final version of the controversial video was posted on Kanye’s website this weekend, and it seems as though all of those petitions to Universal didn’t really accomplish much. The video begins with a disclaimer stating that “the following content is in no way to be interpreted as misogynistic or negative towards any groups of people. It is an art piece and it shall be taken as such.” Art piece? I would call this video more of a ‘shock’ piece myself, however the Nicki Minaj scene does in fact incorporate some legitimate artistic direction. The bi-polar nature of Minaj’s verse is fully realized as one Minaj, dressed in all black and brandishing a whip, menacingly encircles a cuter, more innocent Minaj tied to a chair. The scene is interspersed with shots of an emaciated contortionist dancing in a long, dark hallway and you can’t help but feel a little uncomfortable watching this man girate to an otherwise club-worthy beat. After all, the song is called Monster, right? If you just ate, you might want to wait thirty minutes before watching this one: