Street Fatigues

Kindred The Family Soul and Street Fatigues have teamed up for a Limited edition “We Are Family” t-shirt. Kindred the Family Soul, are the soulful R&B couple that channels words into songs that are vivid portraits of everyday life. “I love what Kindred brings to the music of today and I am happy that they included Street Fatigues as part of their amazing journey” says Umar Riggs, owner and CEO of Street Fatigues. “Now every fan will be connected to their extended family and recognize other ‘Family Soul’ members by wearing the Kindred We Are Family T-shirt”. Street fatigues, has been worn by Fatin and Aja over the years and has also outfitted, King Britt, The Roots, Mos Def, Meshell Ndege Ocello, and Common just to name a few of our many partners.

Kindred The Family Soul makes timeless music. Their latest CD “The Arrival” and the first single “House of Love” is a soulful and inspirational record that is open to interpretation. The songs can be taken figuratively and literally applied to everyone’s life. Kindred’s vision for this record, was for each song to speak to their personal journey throughout the music industry and how they have dealt with raising a family while simultaneously pursuing their dream. While this is how the songs speak to them, each listener may take it more literally and apply it to building a home with that special someone.

Please join us as we celebrate Love, Life and Family with Kindred The Family Soulʼs “We Are Family” limited edition T-shirt.

So what are you waiting for? Join the family. http://StreetFatigues.com

For more information contact:

Temple: The Black Canon

With 1,150 students enrolled this semester, black studies is one of the more popular departments at Temple, a sprawling public university in Philadelphia of 30,000 students, 25 percent of whom are African-American.

Attend an undergraduate class like ''Hip-Hop and Black Culture'' and it is easy to see why. Taught by Nathaniel Thompson, a dynamic young visiting professor, the course promises to ''engage hip-hop not as a mode of entertainment, but as a medium of communications which impacts, represents and misrepresents the life experience of African people in the United States,'' according to the syllabus.

His hair set in neat cornrows, Mr. Thompson wears a black, hooded sweatshirt and baggy black jeans. ''I'm not of the school that believes hip-hop is a culture,'' he announces. He then proceeds to analyze the genre using Molefi Kete Asante's Afrocentric categories, as described in his book ''Kemet, Afrocentricity and Knowledge'': Does it have a cosmology, axiology (value system), epistemology or aesthetic? When the discussion gets too abstract, he brings it down to earth with a seemingly simple question: ''Am I dressed hip-hop today?'' This leads to a heated debate about the relation between the designer Ralph Lauren and black culture, and ends with the class dissecting the oft-used phrase ''Keeping it real.'' One woman asks, ''What is the 'it' that is always being kept real, anyway?''

Temple's African-American studies department, which was founded in 1969, was the first to offer a black studies Ph.D., in 1988. Its fame emanates from Dr. Asante, the graduate program's founder and the chief theorist of Afrocentricity. As defined in his 1980 book of the same title, Afrocentricity is ''interpretation and analysis from the perspective of African people as subjects rather than as objects on the fringes of the European experience.''

Nathaniel Norment Jr., the department's current chairman, underscores the relationship between the theory and mainstream scholarship: ''Ninety-five percent of the research done on African-Americans has been done by whites, and 95 percent of it has been negative,'' he says. ''From 'The Moynihan Report' to 'The Bell Curve,' African-American people have been portrayed as subhuman and inferior. Through Afrocentricity and African-centeredness, African-American studies can act as a corrective to this bias.''

By Robert S. Boynton

Published: Sunday, April 14, 2002

Philly natives team up for a collaborative effort to fuze fashion and music with a limited edition t-shirt and free mix CD. Street Fatigues 10+ years of fashion expertise and DJ King Britt being a pioneer of all things soulful, rhythmically textured and melodically provocative, this will be a must  have for fashion and music lovers world wide. Each T-shirt will come with a Limited Edition Free Mixed CD by DJ King Britt that will act as the score to everything done while wearing the super-soft t-shirt.  Street fatigues has been worn for years by King Britt and has also outfitted the likes of  Rich Medina, The Roots, Mos Def, Meshell Ndege Ocello, and Common just to name a few.  Street Fatigues has a great history of doing limited edition t-shirts with musician for they created The Roots Okayplayer clothing line in 1996.  

Whether its film scoring for Hollywood, rocking a dance floor in Tokyo or consulting for the leading urban lifestyle brands, this gives King a chance to express his own love for fashion and music together.  The t-shirts are super-soft, lightweight, slim fit,  4.3 oz 100% combed ring-spun cotton giving you a great look and feel. They are also preshrunk and machine washable and will be available for men and women to enjoy.

Contact:
Street Fatigues
Umar Riggs
e: umar@streetfatigues.com
www.streetfatigues.com

King Britt
kb@fivesixmedia.com

My name is Yeshimabet TimKee...(My mom still calls me Kenyetta though, and isn't budging on that) I consult folks on their health and wellness through good and greener foods. The occasional neighborhood hair braider (no extensions), and I have lent my heart, hands, eyes, and ears to folks closets to make sure that they don't look crazy on stage, film, television, etc.

How long have you been feeding the people good food?
My cousin has been my guinea pig since I was 8 or 9 but, for real, I have been cooking for people for about 10 years.

Who have you worked with in the past?
I have worked w/ Common, Erykah Badu, and all their constituents. LOL!!! That was more for wardrobe stuff and I would cook the occasional meal and set up their supplements, herbs, and all the like. For the most part, I like to work w/ all those interested in improving their quality of life and reaching their heights in all aspects. My secret dream is to find Gil Scott ,get cursed out, and convince him that I was sent to save his life by feeding him good food. (In that order, cuz, he will curse me out before I get a word in, I just know it)

What is it about Street Fatigues that you love?
Monk was before the shirt but, I saw the the documentary and bought the albums after the First, I love that its the brainchild of a true friend of mine and that I have bared witness to its transformation over the years. I rather support folks out there making good products rather than, give Barney's all of my money. Honestly, I appreciate the preserving of moments in time when it was just about good taste in all things. Street Fatigues draws its inspiration from so many mediums and makes it understood that its a wearable artifact for all folks. I still got my "Straight No Chaser" t'shirt from 96-97. It also acts as a teaching tool for some people believe it or not, we give words power. If we see something on a piece of clothing that we feel a connection to, it may lead to researching that word or moment in time. I knew who Thelonius Monk was but, didn't reach to buy his music or see a documentary until , after the t'shirt. And the varsity jacket is lovely, mine is in burgundy and maize (LOL)...Love it, luv it, luvit...

Ok, i know you are a sneaker buff, top 3 sneakers of All-Time? and Why
We'll i'm a reformed sneaker person now, I guess. The industry made it easy because most of the kicks now are pretty whack unless you like firecrackers and glitter on your feet. I have more grown lady shoes now but, I still have a few never ever finds, on ice. My favorites of all time would have to be the Adidas Rod Halliet's. They were so classy. They were "real" brown leather and Rod Halliet's name was written on the side in cursive gold lettering, they had a white bottom and I took the laces from these Bass shoes I found and was just walking after that. I could where them w/ a skirt and argyle socks, those, were the days. Then there's the Original three quarter Gucci sneakers from about 88 or so, in Navy Blue. And finally, The Nike Mowab's from around 92, that came in that grayish and purple color, they only came in men's sizes at the time. The re-releases are terrible by the way. It was just a different time, where whatever you would find overseas, kick or music wise, was just this sacred jewel. Now the markets are just flooded w/ bad everything, so its easier to fall back on all of that a bit and go to farmer's markets instead. Fruits and vegetables are a cheaper habit, and it maintains my youthful glow..LOL

Give me 3 books that everyone must read.

What is your name and what do you do?
My real name is King James Britt and I communicate on a universal level with music and resonating frequencies.

How long have you been doing it?
My whole existence, even subconsciously. Starting with my parents guidance.

Now Silk130 is one of my best cd’s what was that like creating it?
I was touring digable in 93 and began writing this 'trilogy', which subsequently in my autobiography. So When the Funk Hits the Fan is my first full length and it really made me realize, that I was really a producer. Working with Philly's cream of the crop and doing it fearlessly.

You where the first acid jazz DJ in the United States? How was that?
Ha ha ha. No one even realizes that. It was a blessing in a disguise of a 'movement'. Right place right time. This position helped me and other up to where we are today. The openness of silk city's audience made it to. If it were to happen now, it wouldn't last @ all.

Top 3 Hip hop Albums that are a must have?
Well, I really hate categories. Hip hop is a culture encompassing all things great. The 3 albums I'm about to mention were pre hip hop but had the attitude of, "we can do this"

Off the wall: Michael Jackson

Innervisions: Stevie Wonder

Uncle jam wants you: Funkadelic

-Now in the normal sense of hip hop-

Reachin': Digable Planets

Low end theory: A Tribe Called quest

It takes a nation: Public Enemy

Something about you that people don't know?
I can fly. My spirit soars above earth

What is it about Street Fatigues that you love?
I love the fact that I know the owner's background and how he built this from the ground up. The name itself represents being prepared for war at anytime in these streets. The way you maneuver your contacts and connection to slowly build and empire. Also, the ideas are close to heart as you are 'in' the culture, not outside of it.

Favorite Artist and why?
You know what, I always say someone else, but I'm my favorite artist. Because of my diversity and continued appreciation for the power and influence of music in our existence.

What was the 1980’s House Music movement like?
It was thriving and free. In New York City I went to the loft, save the robots and area. In Jersey, Zanzibar and in Philly, The Impulse. It was a great time to be in it because it was encompassing all genres but keeping this 4/4 foundation. It was about freedom of expression, dance and art. 3 great house DJ’s Tony Humphries, T Alford and Frankie Knuckles.

3 Best sneakers from the 1980’s? And why?
Ha ha ha ha

1.- Ivan Lindl Adidas tennis
I played tennis and these were the ultimate when it came to padding and
performance. I still got em.


2.- Adidas top ten patient leather
I used to get french cuts pants made by joe palmeri in mt airy. Top tens
looked so fresh with them as well as Lee Jeans. 2 tone of course.


3.- Adidas rod lavers
Another amazing tennis sneak that looked better dirty


Your top movies of all-time?
Buffalo 66 (Vicent Gallo)
The Empire Strikes Back (star wars)
8 1/2 Weeks (Fellini)

Is the glass half full or half empty?
Depends on the glass. If its an our glass, half empty as time is running out in this realm. If its a glass of accomplishments, then half full, so much more to do.

King Britt
Five Six Media

Start a revolution, start in your heart !
www.myspace.com/kingbritt