Black Tie Lounge

U.N.I Clothing Co will be in the buidlingat Top Notch 2012, the premier B-boy event in D.C. put on by Lion of Zion and Words, Beats, & Life Inc taking place Sunday April 22, 2012. I got a chance to cross paths with Toyz since I mentor two of the b-boys that he teaches through WBL, Inc. It wasn't until I peeped his blog and facebook that I realized how internationally known this cat is. So to all my readers. All 11 of you, if you are in D.C. April 22, make your way over to the Atlas Theater and check out the genius. U.N.I Clothing Co. will be there in full effect.

WBL Inc. is back at it again. What you might ask? Nothing, I just thought that was a good way to introduce this post. I'm going out on a limb this time around and deciding to give back in a way that is a little extra for me. I work with students all the time, so you'd think I'd be tired of being a mentor-type figure. Not exactly. I decided to work with a couple of youth with Words, Beats, & Life as a college materials coach. I meet with my mentees, Ron aka Kid Havoc and Naasir Ali once a week and help them accomplish a goal. Both of them are aspiring b-boys, which I know nothing about except the fact that I dig the culture. I'm in this thang trying to figure out what I'm doing, but the guys have some great personalities. We had our second official meeting/ third meeting today and we recorded some introduction videos for their artistic portfolio. I must say that it really brought my spirit up to interact with them. Honestly! Me meeting with them is as much ...

I'll leave what I really want to say up to the imagination but I just saw a performance that just messed up my progress as a curse free man. Ok that is an exaggeration, but just like expletives are used when a person does not have the vocabulary to truly express his or her feelings, I'm feeling that way but in a positive fashion. I'm talking about Allen Stone ! Even after being invited to his show I didn't take the time to look up his music. Now that I have experienced this cat I am buying everyone of his albums before I lay my head down to sleep tonight. His voice behind an acoustic is like running water. Then when he has his band it's like the swagger of a 4th of July BBQ with the soul of cornbread and collard greens to go with it. It's really like that. Never have I been to a show by an artist I knew nothing about and left singing every track. The guy is ridiculous. Words can't express the magic that the native of Washington state creates at a show. The...

I had an awesome time Friday night and dinner with the family on Sunday was a great way to close things out. I still have to finish all the countdowns on my previous blogs but that will come soon. Thanks to everyone that made Friday Oct 21st a night to remember. Thanks to all the people that have crossed through my life that have made me better. Here's to a great year ahead of me and the past behind. GMC

So far the only thing that is good about this week are my blog posts. I spent all day trying to wire money to a friend who was in trouble over seas just to find out it was a scam. I know, I know, I usually don't fall for crap like that. I don't know why I didn't think to call and find out or even ask a mutual friend. The good thing about it was that in hind sight I saw the attempts to block the transaction. I didn't send the money. I can't believe I was so stupid. Ain't that funny, which brings me to my subject. Laughter is good. All the time. And all the time, laughter is good. I woke up and bust out laughing out of nowhere. That inspired me do this blog. 27 things that I laugh about still to this day. 1. I won't let that happen to me thoooooo. --Boondocks, the episode with Usher 2. Performing at the Dream Talent Show. I'm with Mike, Willie, & Brandon playing like we had a real gig when all the other contestants were under the age of 18. WTF. ...

I want this to be a memorable week but there was really nothing memorable except a whole lot of hassle. This mornings I spent useless time searching for a Western Union, which I've never needed to use. I find it and I don't have cash. Later on I feel like I left a bad impression on a job lead. I didn't get home until after 10:30 p.m. then I remembered the reason I went to Western Union in the first place. Still no cash in hand, I searched for Navy Federal ATM over DC. My GPS gave out on me. I go on a wild goose chase to get some cash. I get the cash and the nearest Western Union was too many miles past my house. Ugh Life doesn't always have to feel good in order to be good. Speaking of good I've made some headway into telling 27 people how I appreciate them. There are way more people that I want to tell this to so I don't think I should limit myself. The goal is 27 but if there are more I will do so. I reached out to my parents, of course, and two people I ...

This is going to be a good week. Today kicks off my birthday week. I'll be turning the big 27 on Wednesday of this week and celebrating big on Friday. The funny thing is is that I don't ever remember celebrating my birthday big. This is the first year that I'm throwing myself a party--a party that has turned to a joint party inadvertently, but a party nonetheless. This is the first time that I'm actually taking a solid week to enjoy myself and I'm going to make it good. To be honest, I'm not really feeling my best, but I'll muster up enough life in myself to make it all worth while. Today, after a photo shoot with Ministry Mindset, the team headed to Friday's to celebrate one of our group members' birthdays. I have nothing but love for all the October birthdays. For those that celebrate their birthday in October I make a serious effort to reach out. I guess it's my duty as a Libra. To be honest I have nothing to talk about. This is going...

If you haven't noticed, I am a DC resident. I still have to get my tags changed and insurance changed over, but you can find me on 8th St and Alabama in Congress Heights. I'm closer to work and in a good proximity to the social life I wanted. This time I don't have to drive 40 minutes to an hour to get there. Since moving I've been doing some thinking. To be honest, it's probably got more to do with the fact that my car got broken into the first night I stayed at my new place. Maybe 3 blogs ago, it might appear that I went on a spiritual rant about it to be honest I had to think about the incident differently. You're reading posts from a guy that got his car stolen, was out of work for close to a year, and then when I was working I realized how the world is run by stupid people and you can't trust anyone. I'm in a different place but the incident just confirmed all the negative things I believed about the world. Either way, the incident got me thi...

This will probably be one of the funnest blogs I've done in a long time. I've been living the life of a Professor, not that it's boring but I have something else to talk about other than work. Last night I went to see my favorite artist perform at Rams Head Live. Watch the videos and you'll know who it is. I tested out taking videos on my new phone. I've got to work something out when it comes to the sound quality because this piece picks up everything. From Aijuswannaseing, Juslisten, Soulstar, Luvanmusiq, to Onmyradio I've been pleased by his consistency. His lyrical style is honest, straightforward, and unique. There is not a producer featured on his projects that don't complement what the Philadelphia native brings to the table. I like singing his songs because they aren't too far out of my vocal range but after seeing him live I was actually surprised. He really showed his vocal range that night. I knew the dude had a high falsetto but this...

Last night I allowed two perfectly good tickets to one of the hottest events of the year go to waste. To Justin Young and the team at ReadySetDC, I apologize. I have very unreliable transportation and the very night I wanted to go out it got even more unreliable. I was really looking forward to meeting the team. Either way congrations on the website relaunch. I guess that means all my posts that involve ReadySetDC's past events will be broken links. GREAT! Speaking of website relaunch, Top Rank Vintage launched their website early this morning and I'm excited that I can feature another unique designer on my blog. The brand specializes in authentic military style vintage clothing, which is unique because these pieces date back as far as the 1950's and are shipped in from Europe. That's true vintage ain't it. I met the team in charge of this collection at DC Urban Fashion Week, which was one good thing that happened out of that show. SMH. I had a good conversatio...

ReadySetDC is one of my favorite social networks. Well it's not even a social network but I love the events that they put on. So guess what? I just won tickets to their official relaunch For the Love of DC 2.0. They were giving away tickets for guests that commented on their blog. I guess my comment was the best so I get to party with them tomorrow night @ District. I look forward to it. However, since the wheel popped off my car last Sunday I've been out of luck as far as getting a ride. I'll work something out.

(Photos used courtesy of the Revamp.com Team) I really want to go to sleep right now, but if I don't do this now it'll take me another three weeks until I am focused to speak on this. Beyond Words Fashion and Art Show was an experience! I say that because as a model you are backstage the whole time waiting for the moment that you walk out. You don't really get to mingle because you have to be in place for whatever your team will need. Most of the time, or atleast in the 4 shows I've done, there has never been any food for the models. Model Lesson # 65: Eat before you arrive. The show went pretty well. I got to model for Andrew Nowell Menswear's 2011 collection, which I really wanted to do since I heard about his line. His collection is right up my alley. When it comes to modeling in shows, very few of the things I've worn have actually been things that I would wear on the regular. It was good to connect with a designer that I can speak positively about th...

Twelve Two Twenty Ten. 12-2-2010 is the day that I found out that I will be a featured model in the Beyond Words Fashion & Art Show . In my last blog I said that I was waiting to hear back from them and that if I was in it, it would be the most expensive show to date. Well I made the cut and they want to work with me. I had been chillin' all week checking my e-mail frequently to see if they responded to me. Now that I got the word I'm on go. The show is next Friday, Dec 10, 2010 at the Washington Design Center in association with the Lollipop Kids Foundation (LPK), a charity that supports children with disabilities. So with that said I'm going to hop on this P90X Ab Ripper and try to get as tone as I possibly can to prepare. Deuces! Be sure to check out the Washington Design Center's blog .

I still need to update you all on my adventures as a shirtless model, life as a writer with a beyond crazy boss, and the struggles of being a type A personality. It is all forth coming. I promise but I had to jump on here and show some love for the team at de*nada design . I was a model for their first runway show so when I caught wind of the blog I had to put you all on. The zip scarf with the pockets will change your life. The whole line will upgrade your life. If you are reading this after 11/29 chances are you just missed the Thanksgiving Weekend Sale . de*nada: form & function: the zip scarf (6/6). from de*nada on Vimeo . P.S. You'll be hearing about more recommended designers in D.C. now that I'm catching wind. Always and forever U.N.I Clothing Co. but it's good make new friends. Shout out to the team for the successful runway show for DC Urban Fashion Week. They were lovin' it.

Last time I left off saying that I was attending a model call for DC Urban Fashion Week. About 30 models showed up. Let's set the stage for what I was up against. Just listening to conversations a lot of the male models had experience, were taller, and a lot more cut. Whereas I'm 5'9" haven't worked out in months and still perfecting what I know. So as much as I go to these model calls to just be funny I'm still working on telling that voice in my head to go screw itself. We were each given a number and asked to do a straight runway style walk, which is very simple considering they really could have been cruel and made us do some crazy multi-move walk that was just extra. After going through the walk about 3 times and each time thinking "damn I sucked," we were told that if there was a plus next to our number then we made the cut. I was number 7 so I go over and look at the paper and there was a plus next to my number. I walk away and look at the pape...

So tomorrow after work I'm going to head up to DC to assist with WBLInc's Remixing the Art of Social Change . I'm helping out with the Hip Hop Philanthropy Luncheon at Busboys and Poets . I'm excited about that. Members of the Ludacris Foundation, J Dilla Foundation, Yele Haiti and the Nathan Cummings Foundation. Earlier this week I got up with one of my homies to go to a panel discussion and book signing on Adam Bradley and Antoine DuBois's The Anthology of Rap , an event that featured guest appeareance by Common, Kurtis Blow, and KB, Jr. Suprisingly Common got up and spit a verse to one of his classic's I Used to Love Her Kurtis Blow and his son suprised everyone at the end by having a jam session where they performed old school hip hop hits. It was pretty sick. That was earlier this week and here's what else is happening tomorrow after I leave Busyboys: Later on that evening I'm going to my 4th model call, this time to audition for DC's Urban Fas...

It's going to be a crazy weekend, which is a very good thing considering how I am feeling right now. My Gwad, as much as I should be thankful that I have a job that pays something, I don't know how long I can stand the waste of brainpower or lack of brainpower needed for this job. Four hours a day feel so much longer and I come home so drained by the lack of efficiency the team is accustomed to. So this weekend I've got DTS Saturday night and Righteous Ones Entertainment Acency's Aviation Runway Show at the College Park Aviation Museum. Wednesday was my last rehearsal for the DTS and it went pretty smoothly. My homie recorded a couple of takes and after hearing them I'm nervous because my vocals were not on point in a couple of areas. I can attribute it to the fact that I didn't have any monitors but even still, I've got two more days to get it together. The pressure is on. I wonder: what will happen if I win. I've never done a talent competition b...

I've been slacking on my pimpin as far as this blog goes. I should have instantly blogged about ReadySetDC's fashion:district but there are enough articles for you all to read and see what happened . Here are my observations: Models spend a lot of time sitting around. That's just the way it is. You do what your told and you stay put until you are told to move. Maybe it was just me but there was nothing available to consume except booze. This is not necessarily a bad thing. Well in this case it was because I didn't eat anything nor was I trying to spend money. I had quite a bit of first times. Most of them I will do my best to never repeat unless it's a part of the job. For one, I had to wear Peter Pans or as most would call them skinny jeans. The designer told me that she wouldn't make me do that but her fiance ended up picking the very jeans she told him not to. Even though I felt every seam of fabric squeezing my calves and lower thighs, my kids had enou...

I love using random images and saying radom things just to throw people off. I guess you can say its my specialty when I'm in the right frame of mind. I spent my night applying to an Academic Counselor position with George Mason and going through my routine of finding modeling gigs on craigslist. As far as the Dream Talent Show I had to cancel practice this week because one of the guys in the band is sick. We had a good rehearsal last week so I'm confident that we can kill it with one more rehearsal. I got a job in retail. The only thing that I can say is that so far it has proven itself to be another job where no matter how hard you work, you get the same result. I'm keeping hope alive. I'm going on my first full year of living at home and close to 4 months without any consistent type of work. I've never seen my bank account get this low. The unemployment office has yet to schedule my screening interview and I was supposed to recieve my benefits back in August. ...

Last week was the birthday week so I only did the things that I was required to do. So, I left off talking about my first photoshoot as a model. It went great. Where else can I get 200 bones for under an hour's worth of work. It was great. This week is going to be just as good because I'm modeling accessories from de*nada for a runway show for Ready Set DC , which highlights the creative lifestyle for trendy individuals in DC. I'm excited because I can add a second opportunity to my resume and do some networking in hopes of expanding it. Peep the promo video featuring the designers of this week's show. fashion:district - Fall/Winter 2010 - Teaser from ReadysetDC on Vimeo .