Listen to “Bad Girls” here

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

BUY HERE

Live fast. Die young. That’s M.I.A.‘s motto. For the small percent of Americans who missed the bad girl’s middle finger to the FCC during yesterday’s NFL Super Bowl, this babe does not mind stirring up mass-televised controversy. Read the full story

Listen to “Topknot” here

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

BUY HERE

No airfare and invasive security obstacles to go through, travel to India with Cornershop‘s South Asian masterpiece. The long-time British duo specialty in sampling archival tracks from all over the globe inspired artists like M.I.A. to take a worldly perspective on music. Integrating pop and catchy gems, Read the full story

Listen to “Love in Motion (Feat. Mayer Hawthorne)” here

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

BUY HERE

Ed Banger‘s boy, SebastiAn is releasing a 22-track debut album, Total, next week (May 31st). There’s oodles to come, including collaborations with M.I.A. and Gaspard Augé of Justice. Read the full story

Amanda Blank : Make it take it

Amanda Blank is not your typical female artist by any stretch of the imagination. Her vocabulary alone rivals that of most rappers when it comes to the use of expletives in her album. Often compared to M.I.A and Santigold she doesn’t aim to distance herself from them but in fact name drops M.I.A and samples Santigold in her album. Also she somehow finds a way to make being ladylike sound hardcore. Having said that you probably think you know what this electro-clash lady is gonna sound like, but whatever it is you are probably wrong so give her a listen and do get the album. Just don’t listen to the rest of the album with your mom in the room.

Listen to “Make it Take it” here

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Buy Here

The Very Best: Rain Dance (feat MIA)

The three members of The Very Best hail from Sweden, France and Africa. As one would expect, their sound has a global diversity to it. Warm Heart of Africa, their second album, was released in September of 2009 and features collaborations with MIA and Ezra Koenig. Their infectious music is picking up a lot of recognition here in the states.

Listen to “Rain Dance” Here

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Buy Here

I am absolutely addicted to Costume Dept.’s obscenely loud leggings and now the daring Lycra™ dealers  are expanding to include a full line for F/W09!!!

The predominantly black color pallet might be a startling contrast to their Lisa-Frank-beginning but the smart and versatile noir pieces are the kind of wardrobe ammo that just keeps giving.

I spoke with Owner Shawn Kaleka about Costume Dept. and the new foray into a full-fledged collection.

The smokey-eyed Beau Brummel explains that the fabulous fit can only be attributed to fashion designer ingenue, Shaun Sampson who works under the guidance of greats like Jeremy Scott while completing his study at St. Martin in London.

To know Sampson’s innate talent for draping a woman (or man) is as easy as slipping into a pair of his Ziggy Stardust creations. Uh yeah, i haven’t taken mine off since scoring the gems at a trunk show.

Back to the new line at hand, super-long fringe, androgynous puns and Islamic cultural cues combine in a goth kaleidoscope that’s anything but depressing. The insightful design choices will woo the most daring of boys and girls.

Read the full story