Stussy gives us a look at their latest collection for Spring/Summer 2010. The collection dubbed the ‘Black Sheep’ features hawaiian inspired graphic T’s and prints, lightly shelled outerwear and wovens. Gary Panter and Cassette Playa also lend their talents on the guest artist T-shirt series. Here’s a quick peek at the collection below, which is currently available at NORML.
Weezy counts us down to the final day before our unveiling…GET READY!!!
Our announcement is 6 days away! Stay tuned!
Mano did it up in the ad for Bread & Butter 2010 in Berlin.
Yann flies out this afternoon for the mammoth tradeshow. Stay tuned for a visual diary from us soon!
almost a week away will come the announcement we have been counting down for….
stay tuned!
the news is going to drop in 10 days, what’s the big deal? keep checking back!
Naj: For those who don’t know, who are you? And how did you land the moniker DL Incognito?
DL:I’m a member of the 9 Planets hiphop crew, we started putting music out in 2000… I’ve released 4 LP’s and 1 compilation… I’ve basically been involved with music for a long time.
DL was a name giving to me by a friend of mine and it stands for Delivering Lyrics on the low (Incognito).
Naj:You now reside in Toronto, but you are a local boy, originally growing up in Ottawa. How did growing up in Ottawa specifically influence your craft?
DL:Growing up in Ottawa teaches you to be self-sufficient, we realized that the more we did ourselves the faster we could get things done. Taking that approach has allowed us to work as a team and bring all of our strengths together. As an independent artist, you need to realize that the more control you have over your career the longer you’ll be around.
Naj:Your list of influences includes many 90’s east coast rappers. Which specific artists inspired you growing up?
DL:I was (and still am) a huge fan of A Tribe Called Quest, Mobb Deep, Rakim, OC, Jay-Z, Wu-Tang but Nas and Q-Tip were probably my biggest influences.
Naj:Ottawa is not necessarily known as the hotbed for hip hop artists, but you’re the hometown boy who made it big. How did you get your start in the music game?
DL:I’m not sure I’d say I made it big but I’ve put in the work necessary to yield positive results… It really comes down to having a good team of people behind you. There’s nothing that I’ve done that someone else can’t do regardless of were you’re living, you just need to have the right work ethic and believe in your craft. If you’re only looking for monetary gain, you’ll probably never succeed.
Ottawa has talent just like anywhere else it’s just harder to get the exposure required to get the “casual” fan behind you without all the promo done by the machine.
Naj:The subject matter of many hip hop artists in the game today seems to be centered on swag, illegal activity and excess to the utmost degree. You’ve steered clear of this road. Your lyrics are incredibly personal, how does it feel to expose so much of yourself in your music?
DL:Hiphop has gotten so big that there’s room for all sorts of subject matter so I don’t knock cats that are looking to bring style or swag rather than lyrics… For me, I think it’s important that the listener understands that I’m human being and I go through life’s ups & downs just like them. Nobody lives a perfect life but we all live at the end of the day. I try to make sure that my story is told and in return I hope people get inspired to do whatever it is they need to do. I lost my mother to cancer and I know many people go through that as well, therefore it needs to be said.
Naj:Your 2004 album ‘Life’s a collection of experiences’ received a Juno nomination in 2005 for Best Rap Recording, as was ‘Organic Music for a Digital World’ in 2007. What did it mean to receive that level of recognition for your work?
DL:I’ve never been on an “award tour” but I’m always humbled that people take the time to recognize the work we put in. We were also nominated for A Captured Moment in Time last year so I’m happy that our consistency is acknowledged. If we weren’t nominated, I’d still be making music…
Naj:You’ve released four full-length albums, with a rumored fifth studio LP on the horizon, entitled ‘Someday is less than a Second Away.’ This is a monumental accomplishment for a Canadian hip hop artist. What do you think has contributed to your continued success and longevity?
DL:I’d say my love affair with music keeps me going, if I didn’t enjoy making it I would have quit a long time ago. Also, the people I meet throughout my travels across the country make it worth while… If it wasn’t for hip-hop, I probably would have never explored this great country we live in… Someday’s Less Than a Away is some of our best work so I’m excited about getting it out!
Naj:You run your own record label, Nine Planets Hip Hop. At the end of the day, what are some of the pros and cons of being your own boss?
DL:It’s bitter sweet, you live and die by your own decisions but when you succeed you feel a greater sense of accomplishment. Its hard work because you wear 5 different hats but we started Nine Planets out of necessity, we just wanted to put music out and that’s what we did.
Naj:You’ve been quoted as saying “You’re just trying to give Canadian hip hop an identity.” What do you think of the current status of hip hop in Canada? Is Canada getting the proper respect it deserves from those outside the country?
DL:I think we’re on the right path for sure, there’s a lot talent in the underground and I’m convinced it will soon surface… You have cats like Drake and Kardi that have proven that Canadian artist can be commercially successful… Cats like Classified and D-Sisive that tour constantly and get much needed media support… Cats like Belly hooking up with Vets like Snoop…Theo and Tona putting out quality music… I think we’re in a good place right now, people are starting to see the fruits of their labor.
Naj:We’re really excited to have you playing our Norml Christmas Party on December 12th, especially with it being in front of your hometown crowd. With 2010 right around the corner, what can we look forward to from DL Incognito?
DL:My new LP Someday is Less Than a Second Away… Techtwelve and I have been working hard to get this record done and it won’t disappoint. I always enjoy coming home and playing in front of my friends so it should be a good night. A big shout out to all the cats at Norml and to Yann for hooking it up!!!
DL performs tomorrow at the Norml Christmas party! Tickets are still available at Norml if you bring us a recycled winter jacket or $10.
1200+ cans……and lots of black!
