TJ Combo / KI

Fighting games are over the top by nature, or at least it seems that way. The arcade format really fuels excess in all fields, probably due to the need to attract customers with some sort of gimmick. I'm not hating on it, because sometimes it really produces hilarious and entertaining results. Street Fighter, for example is 100% based on stereotypes (e.g. El Fuerte, a Mexican cook/lucha libre whose moves are all named after mexican food; Sodom, a caricature of American "otaku"; Rufus, an obese American). I just want to discuss really quickly one of my favorite stereotypes: African-American Boxer. Of course there's Balrog ("my fight money!!!") and Jax, but their lovechild TJ Combo is undeniably the most ridiculous. He mixes that Apollo Creed style with 1990s hip hop style and let's just leave some of this up to the video...



That's right, he takes out a submachine gun and shoots his enemy to death. Also note the sneakers. this is actually where Bernhard Willhelm stole the idea for his space metal Roys and Liner sneakers from.

pfd - Phil Frank Design

If you've ever seen a Saleen from the '90s til today, you've seen a product of pfd. Phil Frank's designs are some of the best in the automotive industry, but I wanted to call attention to some of his less hyped work. If you are a Gran Turismo 4 fan, you'll recognize that he designed the 2022 Nike ONE concept car in the game. If you're a huge GT4 fan, you'll recognize that he actually registered and posted a ton of information about the concept on GTP Forums. Anyways he worked with Nike design team for quite a while, and made what I think are some real hits. Check his site out for some pics: Phil Frank Design - PFD


Nike VTS LED concept, best watch design I've ever seen

The New Addams Family Electric Shock Machine

Saw this at my local arcade, and was curious about it so I decided to youtube it before I played a game. The results are funny.



Shit doesn't even shock you, it just vibrates real fast.

Arcade, Aurcade, and more links

I've already covered my Jet Set Radio obsession, and touched on my obsession with Escape from New York, so now I have to talk about the other things I yell about to strangers: arcades and Hackers.

I went to Flipper McCoys in VA Beach on Friday, nothing short of amazing. My only complaints are that the games aren't all in perfect condition, in fact some will steal yer money, and the cost is much higher than University Pinball. UP is still my favorite place to just play games for the fun of it, while CTF is definitely the best place to hang around and play games with the best on earth. Flipper McCoys really excels at games many arcades don't have: skeeball, pinball, real old school style western light gun shooting gallery, pool, air hockey, and even an FMV game. I think every arcade should have pinball but unfortunately most do not. Go Karts Plus, which is far nearer to my house, doesn't have a single pinball machine or fighting game cabinet. Everything is either a light gun shooter, or hands-on racing game. I think CTF got the right idea when it comes to building video game customers, by having so many competitive games, but could improve by having some pins. A lot of space is wasted there by inoperative or seldom-used machines that hang out in the back past the DDRs.

Anyways this brings me to my point, you should visit Aurcade.com to find an arcade near you. Founded by a Hampton Roads native, so I've got to support it. I've been editing lots of arcade info trying to help the community or whatever whatever and you should too.

On Hackers, the movie is the best of the 90s. The set design was so amazing I still wish Cyberdelia were a real place, so I could go there and hang out. Unfortunately it isn't. And there is no pay phone in Chinatown with a pagoda on top. Just off the strength, I highly recommend anyone who bothers reading this shit site to visit Robert Pepperell's page. He was responsible for some of the Cyberdelia set, the robots to be exact: Robots, Cyborgs, and Androids. While you're at it, check out Dianne Harris's site. She worked on Hackers as well as other films, creating some of the dopest photos and robot shit I've seen.

Interview with Chris from Sifr

Self-explanatory

PoPplWGtTH: typical question, who is Sifr?

Chris/Sifr: Well Sifr was founded by myself and my partner Suraj. We also have Daryl, who helps a lot with graphics and branding. We outsource our pattern making/sampling and we have interns execute our flat sketches, other than that almost everything else is done in-house.


Cutting Patterns

PoPplWGtTH: Suraj is the guy behind know it nothing right?
Chris/Sifr: Yeah Suraj is behind the store Know it Nothing.

PoPplWGtTH: Aight, so through your blog, you guys give out a lot of info on the manufacturing process, why is that? Recently I've seen a lot of "behind the scenes" for every industry on things like twitter, Facebook, Youtube, etc. is that a product of Web 2.0 "all sharing all the time" mentality or do u do it as part of advertising like they did in the early 1900s continuing on til today (e.g. "we use triple blah blahs to make our widgets, making them the best yet!").

Chris/Sifr: Well we thought it'd be cool to let people in on certain things that are involved with the process. We figured we really don't have anything to hide, so why hide it. In a sense it can be looked at as advertising and branding but it's the reason for deciding to blog and write about what we're doing. In fact I regret not blogging/recording the process from the very start. There are a lot of memories that have slipped away. It's also pretty fresh and original content from us. What else would we blog about? So many blogs are blogs about other blogs through another filter of another filter haha.

PoPplWGtTH: were cop
Chris/Sifr: KIN [Know It Nothing, Singapore]I've pushed the store into a more niche market, more of a menswear store that targets an older demographic. The upstairs is a temporary office which we hope will turn into the first sifr flagship. We're in discussion with a few very good retail departments in Singapore, we're doing more market research at the moment because during the meeting with one of the buyers whose brought labels like Spring Court [France] and Lad Musician [Japan] to Singaporean retail stores is saying labels that focus on quality and subtle design tend to do a lot worse versus more obvious and generally shittier quality brands.

Flipper McCoys at Military Circle is Closed

I don't know how often google maps gets updated, but apparently not often enough. This spot is still visible on street view, but has been closed for a while, apparently. So yesterday I went on a wild goose chase. I'm going to check out the oceanfront location on Atlantic/60 today or tomorrow so hopefully that place is open. RIP Flipper's.

ArcadeHustla

Yo if you go to CTF, you might catch someone you know or even yourself on this youtube page. Never seen this guy making the video but I recognize made heads. So yeah check this guy out.

ArcadeHustla

Also, stay tuned 'cause I'm coming through with an interview with Chris from Sifr about the label and more.

I told ya so.

Yo so I told you Sifr was gonna be dope, right? Well here's the proof.

Sifr premium grade pima cotton t-shirts

Buy these instead of those rediculas N. Hoolywood t-shirts, better quality, better price.
Click Here for More Info

More Guns, More Heads

So I was reading the Frank 2007 book, the one with "Lost Angel" on the front from Mister Cartoon, and I found this advertisement for "MSGR x Beretta." A gun company collaborating with a clothing company? Almost as good as the GUCCE custom SKS I saw on Hypebeast. For reals, though, the ad is terrible. I'm gonna have to scan it to show the world. I know I'm venturing into territory where I could catch a beef but goddamn I searched for MSGR and I found some funny shit.
Check out this guy's Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/msgrkn

Quote so you know what's up:

ど〜も！ 　Katsuyaです。 SPECIAL URBAN STREET WEAR / Military & Work ,Sportを中心とした MSGR (WORLD WIDE MESSENGER) BRANDをプロデュース、DESIGNし海外との行き来が多く、海外・国内のクリエーター・デザイナーの方達と交流し、いろいろとチャレンジしています。 映画が好きでアクション、SF中心で特にありえないカッコイイ系,,アクション系-女性主演は特に,,海外でも必ず観てきます。 日本公開より早く観れるのはうれしいです！ 海外では危険エリアに行くのも楽しみで〜す。 　自分の限界に挑戦してます。 気軽によろしくです！ v(^_^)v ☆　☆　☆　☆ 　☆　☆　☆　☆　☆　☆　☆　☆　　☆　☆　☆　☆ 　☆　☆　☆　☆　☆　☆　☆　☆　　☆　☆　☆　☆ 　☆　☆　☆　 Beginning in 1998, we have continued to define ourselves as a brand dedicated to releasing clothes and accessories that are both functional and aware of the URBAN STREET. Our producer, KN, has developed close relationships with brand designers both inside and outside Japan alike. Graphic Artist HAZE, New York Artist RICKY POWELL, and 2004 we collaborated with 5th Dimension at their OUT OF REACH Sneaker Event in London. This time collaborated is Frank 151( Culture Book )/ CHOP SHOP - New York !! & Traditional GUN company - BERETTA - Itary !! Our products received a great deal of attention and our commitment to quality was recognized from amongst other world-class street brands. With our highly original designs, our products are supported by a core group of fans who have made us one of the top underground brands. As such, we will continue to design products that embrace the feelings of our time. 　　☆　☆　☆　☆ 　☆　☆　☆　☆　☆　☆　☆　☆　　☆　☆　☆　☆ 　☆　☆　☆　☆　☆　☆　☆　☆ ..

Men's Non No May 2009 Issue

Nothing special, but I uploaded this for a friend so might as well post it anyways.

Men's Non No May '09

Basically just reuploaded this for a friend who can't access megaupload. So all you people living in totalitarian regimes (Singapore) can download it.

Yo check out my other boy's store

Sifr is a menswear clothing label brings good design, quality materials, clothing construction and accessibility to the consumer.

Yeah so my homey Chris works on this label and all he has to say is "we're just trying to make great clothes for great prices." I know you can get down with that. He also works at Know It Nothing in Singapore so check out their blog

Know It Nothing