Happy Birthday To Thee Live Nigga In The Place To Be!

(LtoR: My-Sister-from-another-mister, Shaka Don, myself - your esteemed host and birthday boy cum laude - and my-other-sister-from-another-mister-whom-is-also-Shaka-Don's-physical-sister, Monica @ the homies Don Pooh, Diamond and Sincere's Club Reign circa Summer 2005.)

Happy Valentine's Day 2012 AKA The "Play Smarter" Gospel According To Chris Live.

(NOTE: Yup, my nigga Ralph Wiggum definitely knows what time it is!)

CHRIS LIVE AKA SHAKER SAYS: My ill feelings towards the ruthless corporatization that has fiendishly transmuted the once holy St. Valentine's Day into simply yet another hallmark of Hallmark® greeting card avirice aside, I still got maaaaaaaaad L.O.V.E. for this holiday! Allow me to break it down homie.

See, where most men render a sad Pavlovian-like "heart-shaped box of chocolate accompanied by a requisite bouquet of flowers" response to this intimacy-by-proof-of-purchase (NOTE: NOT to be confused with ye "oldest profession in the world" ... @ least ideally ... lol) impetus, I, on the other hand, enjoy taking this opportunity to let the woman in my life know just how special to me she is and doing so in a special way. And, please be clear, this is most certainly NOT about going on a spending spree. In fact, on the real, I might fuck around and spend even less than usual today.

Why? Because, my idea of romance is a brilliant mixture of thoughtfulness and timing. I'm not out here trying to just carelessly hurl my trusty Louis Vuitton Damier print wallet into the price gouger's pit and overpay for some random ass generic gift! Nahh shorty, I'm trying to show Y.O.U. that I pay attention ... and that's what's truly priceless.  L.O.V.E. should be a 24/7, 365 thing ... Valentine's Day is just the All-Star Game baby ... lol.  Can Y.O.U. dig it?  Y.O.U. can?  Good,  I knew that Y.O.U. could AND that Y.O.U. would.  Now, make daddy proud.  This is Livestyle!

iStruggle.

CHRIS LIVE AKA SHAKER SAYS: After having spent the better part of this last week betwixt and between a rock and a corrupted hard disk space, I, along with my trusty (NOTE: Although recklessly promiscuous and therefore ridiuclously vulnerable to internet viruses) desktop computer have banded together in bandwith solidarity to once again beat back the forces of Time Warner Cable® and reclaim my rightful internet access! Yes, my gateway to the worldwide web is safe ... for now.

Having shimmied off the chains of nearly a week's worth of offline oppression and enduring the nightmarish isolation that shitty modems insure, I emerge today reinvigorated with the 4AM let-out post-club courage of 10 Hennessy® swiggin' tough guys to bring Y.O.U. the gospel according to Livestyle! Amen. Now, let's get back to business!

Fat Joe - Drop A Body (Official Music Video)

CHRIS LIVE AKA SHAKER SAYS: Can somebody please tell me who this skinny guy is swimming in a pair of size W48 jeans covering Fat Joe's verses for him in this video? Excuse me *Chris Live AKA Shaker receives an important memo from the Livestyle newsroom*. Ummmm, well, I stand corrected. Apparently that IS indeed Fat Joe - post Atkins™ Diet - starring in this clip ... lol. On the real though, it's looking like Joey "Cooked Crills" is going to have to start demanding that his custis smoke that crack in the other room my nigga.

Look, I am ALL for my brothers and sisters shedding the oppressive albatross of obesity that sends so many of our people to an early grave, but come the fuck on! Niggas is taking these Zumba classes waaaaaaaaaaaaaay too far. Somebody get this man a chuleta ASAP! LOL.

Today Is This Guy's Birthday!!!!

CHRIS LIVE AKA SHAKER SAYS: HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!! "I've been in this game for years, it made me an animal ..." - Biggie Smalls

The Brunch Bunch Pt. 129 (The "Happy Birthday To Me" Edition!)

Reverend T.D. Jakes Approved.

A Livestyle Haiku: I L.O.V.E. Y.O.U. Pilot Marker.

CHRIS LIVE AKA SHAKER SAYS:

Oh, Pilot Marker

Thank Y.O.U. for so many ups

Y.O.U. make the streets smile.

Keep It On The Download: CurT@!n$ x The L.A. Leakers - #Killer Tape x A Special Livestyle Commentary About Special Nights.

Streaming Audio/Download Link: CurT@!n$ & The L.A. Leakers - #Killer Tape

CHRIS LIVE AKA SHAKER SAYS: So, yall do know that I rap, right? Like superlatively well ... lol. Admittedly, on occasion, I too forget this fact about myself. I'm a professional nonchalant bon vivant whose various interests unfortunately often ferry me far, far away from the music that I L.O.V.E. The streets keep calling me like a bill collector. I know that I can AND must do better. Thank GOD for comrades such as Curt@!n$.

Surrounded by a who's-who of New York City Downtown cool, I had the distinct privilege of celebrating the release of Curt@!n$'s latest bundle of audio dope, the aptly titled "#Killer Tape", Tuesday night @ Prohibit NYC. The magic and emotional heft of some moments cannot be accurately quantified in writing. Curt@!ns continually inspires me. Y.O.U. just had to be there.

Now, when words fail, pictures, typically make for a good runner up. Too b-a-d that ya boy did NOT bring his camera. Smh. I took a lot of pictures though or, rather, I had a lot of pictures taken of me. I know what the people like. My LO game gave quite a few of those Hipsters in attendance heart palpitations ... lol.

Shout out to ALL of my real niggas and itchbays that came out that night including Rob Young, Javon "Mr. Pink" Floyd, Joe Hayes, the little sis Aisha, my entrepreneurial partner in crime, China, the undisputed queen of the global Downtown scene, Va$htie Kola, the O.G. fashion man Ferris Bueller and the entire H.igh S.ociety L.ife gang. Oh yeah, shout out to William Yan too for taking the black-and-white picture accompanying this entry above. He didn't know my name and listed me on some Biz Markie "Just A Friend" shit in the caption for that image ... lol. I still gotta teach these kids, huh? It's all good. I got this!

BONUS:

A Most Spirited Impromptu In-Store Performance Of "GOD Bless Us All" @ Prohibit NYC. Yeah, It Was Just 1 Of Those Nights Homie. Video Courtesy Of: Spoiledbakedgoods.Com

Smoke DZA Performs Live @ Santos Party House In NYC For The "Smoker's Club" Tour 10/05/10.

Smoke DZA from XXL Video on Vimeo.

The First Lady of LiveStyle Says: I had the distinct pleasure of saying "hello" to SmokeDZA on behalf of my brother Chris Live after this show ended. In fact, if Y.O.U. look closely enough, you'll see me somewhere on stage rockin my new ring from KRSP. POW! lol. Shout out to fellow LiveStyle Family member CurT@!n$ and the rest of the "Smoker's Club" including Curren$y, Big Krit, Mac Miller, and Boaz for putting on a great show at Santos. The grass is certainly greener on their side ... lol. Of course, I have more to say, but right now I have a flight to catch. #aishashrugs. #Jetlife. Catch me while Y.O.U. can!

Signing Off...

Aisha

The Bo Jackson Nike Air Trainer 91 Retros = MCMXCI Fly!

"NIKE AIR TRAINER 91

The last of Bo Jackson’s signature cross-trainers, the Air Trainer 91 is back in town. A mean and muscular model from what was a golden era for the Swoosh, the 91 features a unique cross-strap across the forefoot plus neoprene lining for when the heat is on. Available in this original stone, gold and black make-up, you can pick up a pair right now from Premier."

Information Courtesy Of: Sneakerfreaker.Com


Available Online Here: Thepremierstore.Com

CHRIS LIVE AKA SHAKER SAYS: Just when Y.O.U. thought that Nike had completely plundered their archives and exhausted their entire back catalogue of classic kicks, they dust off yet another rare gem and remind us ALL why they are the past, present and future king of sneakers. Yes, the Bo Jackson Nike Air Trainer 91 is now ready for an encore.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh, 1991 was quite a turning point for me. The child who crushed hastily discarded empty crack vials under his feet playing freeze tag on the playground was beginning to evolve. My innocence conspired with my natural born curiosity and gave way to a world of new experiences - some good, some bad, but all unforgettable. In any event, as life outside of my parents cozy home beckoned, so too did all the trappings that fast money brings.

I was far too young to drive OR afford a Mercedes Benz 190E/Volkswagon Jetta/Nissan Maxima (NOTE: Preferably with a rag top, chrome detailing and "A Touch Of Class" elegantly scripted on the side ... lol), so that was a wrap. Guess what? Dookie gold rope chains weren't in the budget either (NOTE: Although, in a somewhat sad yet uniquely childlike imaginative way, my friends and I would fashion crude fake fronts - NOT "Grillz" - from gold candy foil ... lol. Fuck it! We had fun), so that was out the window. Sooooooooooooo, that left a young aspiring fly guy the clothes game - a field that I came to dominate @ an early age and have remained @ the head of for a decade and some change.

The Bo Jackson Nike Air Trainer 91 were an advanced acquisition for a young Chris Live AKA Shaker and I cherished them dearly. Heavy toothbrush action for the soles trying hard as fuck to keep the delicate nubuck leather uppers from getting wet. So, yeah, basically, I need a pair of these 2010 retros in my life.

Although these joints were previously retroed back in 2004 in the black/white colorway, this just released stone/gold/black colorway is my absolute favorite of the 2 O.G. versions. Y.O.U. gotta L.O.V.E. it! Holla @ ya boy in BK!

Random Acts Of Flyness: Me, Mr. 401K x Some Of "The Great Ones" (NOTE: This Aint Even The Half!)

(L to R: Me, your esteemed Livestyle personal refinement lifestyle coach and my longest-running-friend-and-brother-from-another-mother the incomparable Mr. 401K @ my vintage clothing photoshoot circa sometime last Summer. NOTE: A picture is worth 1,000 words. The memories, however, are priceless antiquities that serve as religious monuments to a life that only real niggas could have ever known. Shout out to O.G. Shillz ... I know Y.O.U. can appreciate this. *Cue drunken and belligerent Tony Montana restaurant rant voice* "Is this what it's all about?" Yes. Holla @ ya boy in BK!)


BONUS:

Per Livestyle Executive Order 1988-92, it is incumbent upon me to recognize and make clear any recondite references made within any given post.

Whereas I quoted the great American actor Al Pacino in his legendary role as the original "thug motivator" (NOTE: Sorry Jeezy), Tony Montana, from the 1983 cinematic triumph that is "Scarface", I am now bound by duty to include this video presentation of the aforementioned scene.

I personally regard this to be quite simply 1 of the greatest monologues ever committed to film. "Say goodnight to the bad guy". Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaat!? Y.O.U. know what time it is homeboy. Stop playing.

Here A Flu, There A Flu, Everywhere A Theraflu® !

CHRIS LIVE AKA SHAKER SAYS: In the interest of full disclosure and in an effort to explain my recently less than prolific post count and hopefully get some good home remedy advice, I am encouraged to inform Y.O.U. that I am currently fighting a steel cage match with seasonal allergies AND a cold. Yup, the pollen has got me by the short and curlies and the cold aint helping matters.

I type this missive with my now constant companion, a piping hot cup of Theraflu®, by my side, remote control to my left, MSNBC on my screen and a dream in my heart of hearts that this early Spring spoiler of a flu will soon pull a Pharcyde and start "passin' me by" ... lol. don't trip though, the grind don't stop. Holla @ ya boy in BK!

BONUS:

Alas, even in times when I find myself flying slightly under the weather, I remain committed to the noble daily errand of continued cultural refinement. As such, I could NOT simply make this post all about me, sans any relevant reference to the rich social terra firma that surrounds us. Today's hint was practically hidden in plain sight though and should NOT come as a revelation to my loyal Livestyle readers, but, rather,be viewed more as a welcome return to the classics.

The 1993 release of Pharcyde's "Passin' Me By" has evolved into a record that has ridden the train to "Timeless Town" and now defines a bygone era of emotional complexity and straight up fun in Hip Hop music. If Y.O.U. do NOT know the the lyrics to this tune word for word, now is your chance to learn them ... it's either that OR I highly suggest that Y.O.U. shoot yourself squarely in the face! LOL. Know the ledge.

Random Acts Of Flyness: It's This Guy's Birthday Today!!!!!!!!!!!!!

CHRIS LIVE AKA SHAKER SAYS: This is, literally, Livestyle!