Since receiving an Alexander Wang hobo bag as a surprise gift last month, I have officially become an addict of all things associated with him. His gift to understand today’s urban culture while thinking and designing outside of the box  – makes him one of fashion’s top up-and-coming designers to peep and support. So naturally, I was extremely stoked to learn that Santigold and Spankrock will be the new faces for his Fall ’11 T campaign.

The duo who follows Ashley Smith and Diplo, are featured in an awesome short video, which is also a remix of Santigold’s single “Go” by Switch, Diplo’s partner in Major Lazer.

Alexander Wang told Style.com that his reason for choosing Santigold and Spankrock were due to “their endless talent, incomparable energy, and most of all, down-to-earth personality make them the perfect representation for T”. I couldn’t agree more!

The Fall ’11 T collection is now available on the designer’s e-commerce boutique. Check out the video below.

Santigold continues to align herself with awesome artists. This time it’s with fellow New Yorker’s, Beastie Boys – for an enjoyable ska influenced track called ” Don’t Play No Games That I Can’t Win”  – which will be off their upcoming album “Hot Sauce Committee Part 2″ (available May 3). Stream it and let us know what you think.

BONUS: Here is the full album stream of Hot Sauce Committee Part 2

Hot Sauce Committee Part Two by Beastie Boys

Did not see this collabo coming at all.  But it makes perfect since. I’ve been pressed from some new tunes out of Santigold for a minute now. Happy that she didn’t disappoint.

Click here to view the embedded video.

From Jay-Z’s Life and Times:

In this song, “GO” has a dual meaning. On one hand it’s a challenge, beckoning any would-be usurpers to come show and prove. On the other, it’s a call to myself to rise to the occasion. “Go” is a “fun” song. It’s playful, but like many of my songs, lyrically it was an opportunity for me to vent. It’s about the difficulties of holding onto what’s yours, everything from your ideas and energy, to your confidence. As artists, we give so much and make ourselves vulnerable. Sometimes it’s hard to stay grounded. You get so caught up in all that you have to do to constantly deliver, then suddenly you realize you’re so far from where you started that you almost don’t remember the way back. And that’s a dangerous thing, in so many ways. So in this song, I talk about guarding what’s mine. Also, this song comments on the era we live in and the NEW American dream. The dream used to be that if you worked hard, and you were good at what you did, you could pave your own way in America and the sky was the limit. It was based on the idea that there was “opportunity for each according to ability or achievement.” However, things have changed. The NEW American Dream is to become rich and famous by happenstance – or sex tapes – and to get there with as little work or talent as possible. And as a result, we are suffering – though many of us don’t know it – as quality becomes a notion of the past. We’re ruining art, our planet, and our health, all due to our newfound obsession with instant gratification, with the short term quick-fix. So, my song’s about all that in a way. I guess I know I work so hard at trying to cultivate my talent. And I get frustrated watching all these people trying to jump on and fake it. Sadly, it works. But not in my song!

 

Update: This sneak is now available at Vans.com/santigold

If you follow my tweets then you know I’ve been wondering for a minute what’s up with electronica’s golden princess, Santigold. Her self-tiltled debut album was and still is my crack and I’m literally going mad over not having any new hotness of hers to blast in my headphones.

Well besides climbing Mount Kilimanjaro to bring light to the fact over a billion people worldwide are forced to live without clean drinking water, the songstress has also been working on her own shoe-line with Vans for Spring/Summer 2011. Sneaker Freaker recently gave a sneak peek of the dope collabo and I am quite impressed. The hi top sneaker comes in perforated black leather with gold chains, eyelets and lace locks. A look that defintiely represents the unique style of Santigold. Hopefully they’ll be released alongside a dope single (hint – hint). Check em out.

David Byrne Feat. Santigold & Fatboy Slim - Please Don’t

Interesting combo which makes for an even more interesting song. ‘Please Don’t’ sneaked onto the nets yesterday and we’re kinda of digging it over here. Santi’s vocals are slightly altered from what we heard on her debut album ’Santogold’ – and I’m thinking that whatever she drops next is going to be hot. Peep and share your thoughts.

N.E.R.D. – Soldier feat Santigold

So with all the N.E.R.D. talk about their new member, it seems like they were able to leak a new track off of their newest project (whenever that drops). Truth be told, Santi (or Kelis) would be a better frontwoman for the band then this Rhea girl that they have taken on. Soldier, flips the intro from Dawn Penn’s You Don’t Love Me (No,No,No) and makes a upbeat, yet rough little cut. I’m excited about this N.E.R.D. project like most everything they do, I’m just hoping they don’t go that Black Eyed Peas route. (via DC to BC)

I’ve heard rumblings about this tour for a while, but I just got the official confirmaiton that the Kia Soul Collective Tour is going to go down this Fall. The Soul Collective tour brings together Film, Music, Design, and Entrepreneurship for a weekend long festival. And of course, you can test drive Kia cars as well.

Headlining the tour are none other than Santigold and Janelle Monae (at various dates, which are TBD), with the later songstress contributing original contemporary art pieces to the project.

The tour starts in Seattle TONIGHT with performances by Wavves and Surpreme LaRock tonight and headlined by Santigold on Sunday night. The tour rolls into DC on September 17-20th. More info on the Seattle date and full tour schedule after the jump.

Friday, August 21st: 12-8pm
Test Drives all Day
Performances by Dum Dum Girls and Wavves
DJ Sets all day from Soul Uno, Risk One, Supreme LaRock

Saturday, August 22nd: 12-8pm
Test Drives all Day
Performances by No Age and Chairlift
DJ Sets all day from N8, Sean Cee & Four Color Zack

Sunday, August 23rd: 12-4pm:
Test Drives all Day
DJ Sets from N8 & Supreme LaRock
6:30-10pm: Exclusive Santigold Performance… Get a free pair of tickets by test-driving a Kia Soul at any of the events all weekend!

Official Dates for the 10-City Tour:
08/20 – 08/23 Seattle, WA
08/27 – 08/30 Phoenix, AZ
09/10 – 09/13 Chicago. IL
09/17 – 09/20 Washington, DC
09/24 – 09/27 Philadelphia, PA
10/01 – 10/4 Miami, FL
10/08 – 10/11 Atlanta, GA
10/15 – 10/18 Boston, MA
10/22 – 10/25 New York, NY
11/5 – 11/8 Los Angeles

Let’s start with my favorite, Starstruck by Santigold.

And here’s the plethora of others (some good, others… not so much)

Starstruck by Lady Gaga feat. Flo-Rida and Space Cowboy (I like the beginning to this song)

Starstruck by Rainbow (Pretty cool)

Starstruck by 3OH!3 (Can’t say it’s that good…)

Starstruck by The Kinks (Very nice.)

The variety of what music is out there with the same title/similar subject (in some cases) is pretty interesting to look through. And if you got anymore Starstruck ‘d songs share it in your comment!

Santigold – I’m a Lady (Benny Blanco Remix)

For all of you that think that Santigold is too “hipster” for your tastes, you might want to check this remix by Reston VA born/NYC residin’ Benny Blanco. If you didn’t know, the dude has produced tracks for everyone from Mos Def and Flo’ Rida to Katy Perry. Benny completely switch up the beat to this track, but honestly this is would that original would sound like if Timbaland (not my original words but I definitely see it) got his hands on it.

Unfortunately, at under 2 minutes, the track is only a tease. However, Benny’s got more tricks up his sleeve soon.

(via IHeardItOn)

Around this time last year, I was somewhere lurking around the Okayplayer discussion board lamenting over the fact that I missed the first annual Roots Picnic and explaining to my roommate that neither hell nor high water would stop me from going to the next show. And despite my poor luck when it comes to seeing the Roots perform live (I’ve missed three shows in a years time) redemption came last Saturday when I was one of the many that walked through the gates for the sold out 2nd Annual Roots Picnic at Penn’s Landing. Looking back, misfortune is the first word that comes to mind when I think of the poor souls that missed out on the opportunity to attend and unfortunately as Stone noted earlier, he’s quite familar with this term. Luckily, and I use that word loosely, I’m here to help him relive a couple highlights from the show with a few tidbits all recollected from the perspective of a virgin Roots concertgoer aided by the consumption of $7 Miller Lites.

As mentioned earlier, when it comes to seeing the Roots live, I’ve been about as lucky as Ray Nagin visiting China. In my 29 years of life, I’ve seen all of my favorite artists in concert (some as many as 3 times) but ironically, the one group that practically lives on the road, has always evaded me. So imagine my excitement once leaving work on Friday afternoon, knowing that I was less than 24 hours away from finally shedding that “Last Hip Hop fan on Earth to never see The Roots Live” burden that has lingered around in my life for the past decade. Our gracious hosts began the show with a short 30 minute set in which Black flexed his lyrical prowess and impeccable breath control by running through “Get Busy”, “The Web” and even Curtis Mayfield’s “Move on Up”.

From what I had been told, no Roots show is complete unless a surprise guest or two jumps on stage.  The opener featured the Jabbawockeez and my “hangin tough” brethren from middle school NKOTB alongside Black Thought. Considering The Roots have rocked with everyone from Jay Z to The Dave Matthews Band, it wasn’t completely awkward nor nearly as blasphemous as one may think to see Jordan Knight and Donnie Wahlberg run on stage during this opening set. Now what followed from Donnie Wahlberg could only be described as odd but slightly amusing…check the clip below

The Roots Picnic from Shep on Vimeo.

More after the jump.

Anxiously waiting for Public Enemy to take stage, the crowd was treated to performances by newbie band Elevator Fight (just for the record, Lenny and Lisa spawned a cutie), The Antibalas, Santigold, Asher Roth, Kid Cudi and the Black Keys. Of the aforementioned acts, I was most impressed by Santigold and the Antibalas. Santigold showed love to her Philly origins and performed “Starstruck”, “L.E.S. Artistes”, “Creator” and even brought out Spank Rock for “Shove It”. The Antibalas, who later backed PE along with The Roots, delivered their set, introducing the crowd to their brand of  jazz, funk  and afrobeat.  While indulging in a few adult beverages, I managed to miss the Asher Roth performance (oops! *insert sarcasm*) but caught the last few songs from Kid Cudi’s set. Am I the only one not feeling this kid?? I have about as much interest in hearing him rap as I do in listening to Bill O’Reilly speak about anything. Regardless of my personal taste, it was quite obvious that the crowd was feeling him. I don’t know much about The Black Keys and unfortunately, I wasn’t really able to familiarize myself with them as their performance was plagued with sound difficulties.

The real highlight for me would be Public Enemy. It must be noted that I’m a firm believer that It Takes A Nation To Hold Us Back is the greatest hip hop album ever created. So to know that this record would be played in its entirety with The Roots providing the backdrop was enough for a hip hop induced seizure and from the opening bars, I was straddling the line of convulsion. With ?uestlove at the helm and The Antibalas helping,  PE ran through the album effortlessly. Crowd favorite Flavor Flav was definitely at home on stage, taking time to include his trademark catch phrases and dances, all while Chuck and Black Thought helped the crowd stroll through memory lane. Even after the end of the set, Flav still lingered around on stage rambling on and on and at one point asked the crowd if they would vote for him if he ran for President. Needless to say, the answer was a convincing “NOOOO”. Sorry Flav, we love you but not that much. Once PE finally left the stage, TV On The Radio followed. Though I don’t know much about TVOTR, the energy from the crowd was definitely electric and I’m sure most of their fans enjoyed their set.

Finally, the grand finale, (which later was revealed by ?uest on OKP that it was intended to be longer), began around 11:30 pm and simply put, Captain Kirk stole the show. He ripped and shredded his way through what was easily a 15 minute rendition of “You Got Me” that even included some of Guns N’ Roses’ “Sweet Child Of Mine” and the lovely Amanda Diva doing the chorus. Black Thought shined on “Men @ Work”, and after about 40 mins, my first official Roots experience was complete. With my feet numb and blistered from standing for 9 hours, I limped away with a smile on my face.  The drought is over.

If you’re diggin’ Vickey’s photos, check her out at her Flickr page. Full gallery after the jump.

Santigold

Amanda Diva

Public Enemy

The Roots

Roots Picnic Gallery (photos by Sneakshot)

Major Lazer ft Lexx and Santigold – Hold The Line

The long awaited combination of Diplo and Switch, Major Lazer, dropped its first single from the highly anticipated album, Guns Don’t Kill People… Lazers Do. In addition to having one of the dopest album titles of 2009, the project also has the benefit of being recorded at the legendary Tuff Gong studios in Jamaica, allowing the two producers to blend in homegrown reggae and dancehall rhythms swith everything from electro, to hip-hop, dance, and even country.

myspace.com/majorlazer