He's Got That Good Good: Mboko Ndimba Mobutu

Hello everybody! I hope everyone is having a lovely holiday and is mentally preparing themselves for the new year! I don’t know about you guys, but I have a really, really good feeling about 2011; I'm going to make sure it’s my year :) Anywho, let me get back to business. Today’s GOOD GOOD-er hails all the way from the city of love and he works for one of my favorite online magazines. So without further ado, here is..

Mboko Ndimba Mobutu from Paris, France

What do you do?
 I am an editor and stylist for Paris-based fashion online magazine, GHUBAR.

What 3 words would you use to describe your style?
Playful, refined and gentleman-like.

 Where are your favorite places to shop?

My favorite places to shop would be the 1st and 2nd "arrondissements" of Paris.

What is the one article of clothing you could not live without?
None actually. I don't like to wear things too much as I get tired of seeing them... It has to be a perpetual renewal for me.

Mboko’s look is so polished. I love the way he balances color is his outfits, something that I am continually struggling to do. I tend to get caught in a world of black, grey, tan, and white but after seeing people like Mboko who are able to add punches of color to their clothing so brilliantly, I always feel compelled to buy colorful clothing myself. He looks absolutely excellent. Thank you so much Mboko, you’ve definitely got that good good!

Make sure you check out his blog by clicking here and check out GHUBAR Magazine as well by clicking here!

No Words Necessary

There is music that is just so good, it doesn't require any lyrics. When the beat of a song is just so powerful, so infectious, so dope, words become superfluous. I love songs with words, of course, but I also love instrumentals…there is just something so calming about them. It's the kind of music you can just vibe so easily to. There are many amazing musicians who have the ability to make these types of songs but here are some of my favorites in no particular order..

Time: The Donut of the Heart  |  Last Donut of the Night

J Dilla: I could probably write a whole book about the musical legacy that this man left behind and about how deeply the music he made, and helped to make, has touched me personally. J Dilla is, by far, the best producer that has ever walked the face of the Earth. Ever. To say that this man’s work is amazing is a huge understatement. There is a certain soulful quality to the beats that he made that still stands out to me today compared to the other music I hear. Dilla's album, Donuts, is an instrumental hip-hop album that offers 31 tracks of pure brilliance. Each track tells a story, it is absolutely beautiful. 2 of my many favorite tracks off of the album can be found directly below the above photo. Rest In Peace Dilla.

Fall In Love (J Dilla Tribute) |  Massage Situation

Flying Lotus: Also known as FlyLo, this guy is too cool...I really enjoy his music. According to Wikipedia, he is an ‘experimental multi-genre music producer and laptop musician’. He is more on the hip-hop side of the spectrum but his music has an electronic sound as well, it is so unique & refreshing. If you watch Adult Swim on the Cartoon Network you should recognize the sound of his music because they often play it in between shows (bumper music). The first song I chose from him is actually a tribute he did to J Dilla by remixing my all time favorite song from Slum Village called Fall N Love. FlyLo has 3 awesome albums and a bunch of EPs so if you haven't yet, make sure you give them a good listen.

Something About Us  |  Make Love
Daft Punk: This is a duo that has been around for a while and whose music has impacted many many many different artists. Their beats have been sampled in hip-hop music; perhaps the most obvious example is Kanye West’s song Stronger which samples prominently from Daft Punk’s Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger. Also, the song Touch It by Busta Rhymes and the remix to the song where Missy Elliot says ‘touch it, bring it, pay it, watch it, turn it, leave it, stop, format it’ is straight from Daft Punk’s Technologic. Their music always makes me want to dance, I love the sound of it.

Wanderlust (Instrumentals)  |  A Little Soul
Pete Rock: Another amazing producer, I would put him right up there with J Dilla. Pete Rock’s beats are so smooth and soulful…he has a way of blending jazz elements and hip-hop and the sound of that combination is just so incredible. I vibe so well to Pete Rock’s beats, even to the point where I’m literally falling asleep. Not because I think they are boring, heaven’s no! But because the sounds that this man produces are just so relaxing, they really calm me down. I call his instrumentals my thinking music. The first track I chose is actually the very first song in my blog playlist located in the right side panel under the title ‘music’. I love the song Wanderlust to death, but those instrumentals just do something to me. The second track, A Little Soul, is my favorite track off of Pete Rock’s album PeteStrumentals. It is yet another amazing instrumental hip-hop album well worth listening to.

Brooklyn's Finest   |  Keep Dreamin'
The Stuyvesants: I actually just learned about this amazing duo this past summer. Their music takes me back, oh my goodness. I love it so, so, so much. The aim for their instrumental hip-hop album entitled Brooklyn’s Finest was to pay homage to the ‘70s while taking the listener on a musical journey through Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, NY and that is exactly what they did. The very first time I listened to the album I was in shock, every single track is so good and the sound is so reminiscent of that old school, soulful, jumping music. I urge/cajole/beg/command you to listen & download the album (and try not to break your neck while you're listening). You can find it on their awesome website here.

I know I left a bunch of great musicians out, but I didn't want the post to be too, too long. I hope you all like this music as much as I do. Enjoy! 

Alex Folzi Men's Apparel A/W 2010

The Fagbure twins (Fela & Fola Fagbure) are nothing short of amazing and the work they do speaks strongly for that statement. These ambitious brothers recently released the photos of their Alex Folzi Men’s clothing line for A/W 2010. When Fela sent me these pictures I was at a loss for words, the clothing looks absolutely excellent! Here are a few of the shots…

And to think that the twins are my age (19 years old). These young men are already achieving the ultimate goals they have set for themselves in life. So what is stopping you? What is stopping me? As I always say, there isn’t a special gene or recipe or pill for success. Success starts from that yearning in the pit of your stomach that grows and grows inside of you until it infiltrates your entire body to the point where every action you make is another step towards achieving something bigger than yourself. We each need to feel that yearning and surrender to that desire of achieving greatness in order to succeed. Stop putting off your dreams until tomorrow. Stop telling yourself that you’ll reach your goal when you get older. There is no better time than the present to start working on your future. So if you want to be a designer, pull out that sketch pad & go thread that sewing machine. If you want to be a musician, sing until you go hoarse and play your instrument until your fingers go numb. If you want to be a photographer, you better start snapping some photos. If writing is what turns you on, pick up your pencil and start attacking some paper. Whatever it is that you desire to do, you can do it and you can be great. 

Just believe in yourself.

To check out the interview I did with the Fagbure twins click here. To see my feature on their bags click here. And don't forget to check out the Alex Folzi website.

That Good Good Music: ROX

I am excited to shed some light on this fabulous young lady since I always see her photos on different blogs because of her gorgeous hair and banging sense of style, but not too many people ever discussed her music. Roxanne Tataei, better known as ROX, is a half Jamaican, half Iranian soulful songstress who hails from London. I absolutely adore her music, her sound is so fresh. I would describe it as a combination of heartfelt soul, sugary pop, and a lil’ bit of colorful reggae. 

My Baby Left Me by ROX

No Going Back by ROX

Sad Eyes by ROX

Rocksteady by ROX

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Isn't she just lovely? You can check out her website by clicking here!

Photo Credit: beatnikonline.net

People You Should Know: Azede Jean-Pierre

It isn’t everyday that you come across pure greatness. I mean, this world is so full of such amazingly talented people, but there are just some that literally steal your breath. It is those “steal your breath” kind of people that I love featuring on my blog and this young lady is CERTAINLY no exception. So allow me to introduce you to the ever so gifted..

Azede Jean-Pierre

I am kind of a hard person to really, really impress. Especially since I’ve started blogging, I’ve been so exposed to all types of fashion and so many designers and such. So when I see a designer, especially a young designer, that is just so amazing, I definitely take notice. I had seen Azede’s work a while ago on a website but I had no idea she had her own blog until about 5 months ago and the moment I laid eyes on her designs, my jaw dropped to the floor. I was absolutely speechless (in a good way of course). People like Azede are blessed beyond belief, to be able to turn pieces of fabric into pure artwork is not an easy task but this young woman does it with so much whimsy and finesse. What I love most about Azede is her humility; she is so talented yet so down to Earth & personable. The combination of these things will undoubtedly destine her for success. Azede is an emerging designer from Atlanta whose self-titled clothing line, Azede Jean-Pierre, is nothing short of awe-inspiring.


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Where are you from originally and where are you located now?

Originally my family is from Haiti, we moved to Atlanta when I was a toddler and I've lived here ever-since.

 How long have you been designing clothing?

That's a tricky question because I have been designing for as long as I can remember; yet I didn't start sewing and designing concept to completed designs until I was about 14 years old.

 Do you have any formal training or did your amazing skill come naturally?

I attend SCAD for undergrad, which is more like completing an assignment for a grade then actually designing for the love of designing. Beyond that, all of my collections and 95 percent of my portfolio is done outside of the classroom.

Your clothing is so unique, did you have a "muse" behind your latest collection? And if so, what was it?
I do not really have a muse, I like to pretend that I do sometimes but the women I design for is a fictitious character with real women taste. My last collection was inspired by flower petals and transparency which was not based on a muse, but rather nature and an emotion.

 Is designing for your line a full time job or are you in school as well? If so, how do you balance the two?

I am in school at the moment but it is a secondary obligation in the order of priorities of my daily obligations. Full time I design biannual collections and that is what occupies my thought and governs my actions 90 percent of the time.

What type of woman is your clothing designed for?

I am still working on the aesthetic of the brand as well as figuring out who my customer really is.

Who is your personal favorite designer and why?

I am in love with Alber Ebaz's mind, Phoebe Philo's sense of style and Nicolas Ghesquiere's luxurious taste and ability to innovate. I will miss greatly Lee McQueen, but I do not have a favorite.

What is one article of clothing you cannot live without and why?

My personal style is still in development, that being said I love statement pieces. I love to dress both feminine and androgynous sometimes at the same time. Most of all it is the perfect shoe that is of most importance, unfortunately this season I have not found it yet.

What do you have in store for the future of your brand?

In the near future I expect to be sold in a few of the better shops and boutiques in the country. Beyond that, the sky is the limit.

 Is your clothing for sale? And where can we buy it?

Not at the moment, we are working hard on it for the very near future.

Azede Jean-Pierre is greatness, passion, and raw talent personified. You will DEFINITELY be seeing more of her in the future. Thank you Azede, you have most definitely got that GOOD GOOD!

And go check out & follow her blog right now, it is amazing! You really get a peek into her whole creative process and the photography & writing is superb. CLICK HERE

She's Got That Good Good: Ev`Yan Nasman

Hello hello hello, I hope everyone is having a great week so far! Today's feature is one of my favorite bloggers of all time. I love her laid back sense of style! She looks comfortable yet very well put together at the same time in her clothing which I feel is crucial. Without further ado, here is...

Ev`Yan Nasman from Pasadena, CA 

What do you do?

I am a freelance writer as well as a co-owner of a business that my husband & I share & operate.

What 3 words would you use to describe your style?

Comfortable. Minimalistic. Understated.

Where are your favorite places to shop?

H&M is the one store I frequent the most. I also like going thrifting if I'm up for it.

What is the one article of clothing you couldn't live without?

A good pair of sandals. It's the closest I can get to being barefoot all year long.

 www.apricot-tea.com

Throwback Joint: Happily Ever After by Case

It’s been a while since I posted a throwback so I thought I’d share this lovely tune with you all today! This song is beautiful, and the video is so nice. It's not everyday that you get a dose of some vintage Beyonce! This song is actually on the top of the playlist I made for my future wedding CD…..yes, I have a playlist of songs on my iPod that I plan on using for my wedding CD, don’t judge me. Well, that isn’t so wrong, I’m sure I’m not the only girl who has one. And if I am, you can bet your bottom dollar that my CD is going to be banging! So to my future husband out there, wherever you are, if you are reading this…you don’t have to worry about the wedding music boo, I got you ;) Enjoy! 

And I have the winner of my “Perfect White Tee” Giveaway….Congratulations to Melina! Your hunt for the perfect white tee is over! Make sure you check out her lovely blog by clicking HERE.

Songs I Currently Have On Repeat

I recently got an e-mail from one of my readers in London asking me to suggest some songs for her to download since she liked my musical taste (thank you Aianna!) For anyone who hasn’t noticed, I have a playlist of music in the right side panel under the title “music” and those are some of my favorite songs of all time. When you click on one it starts playing in the music player located on the bottom left side of your screen. Anywho, let me get back to business, here are a few new and old songs that I’ve been playing a lot recently…

Flying Overseas by Theophilus London feat. Solange & Devonte Hynes

Maybe She'll Dream of Me by The Foreign Exchange

You Make Me Smile by Aloe Blacc

On The Vista by Blakroc feat. Mos Def

Georgia by Cee-Lo Green

I Don't Know Why, But I Do by Chrisette Michele

I always get people asking me how I discover my music since I tend to listen to stuff you don’t hear in a lot of other places so I will let you guys in on a few of my favorite websites for discovering music (click on the names to go to the websites):

Pandora: I’m sure the vast majority of you all know about this website. It’s the perfect tool to find artists and music that are similar to what you already like to listen to. All you do is enter in an artist or a song that you like and Pandora will generate a station of similar music.

The Hype Machine: This website is really cool; it allows you to listen to the latest songs that have been uploaded on blogs all over the world. This is a good place to find all those remixes and mash-ups you won’t find in many other places. I have found some of the most amazing music on my iPod by using this website.

Okayplayer: Yet another phenomenal website, geared mostly toward true hip-hop heads and soul music fiends like myself. If you are a fan of The Roots, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Pharoahe Monch, J Dilla, Erykah Badu, Nneka, Meshell Ndegeocello, K-Os, etc., you will love this website. It’s not an online radio like Pandora or a series of mp3s like The Hype Machine so you will have to do a little snooping, but the site is pretty easy to navigate around.

HYPETRAK: I love this website so much! The best thing about it is the extremely wide variety of music that it offers; you will find everything from alternative to rap to pop to underground music. And this site is really good about posting brand new music very quickly, they are really on top of their ish. 

Happy music hunting :) 

That Good Good Blog's "Perfect White Tee" Giveaway!

Let’s get back to basics, ladies and gentlemen.

The plain white tee. Perhaps the most fundamental of garments. An item of clothing that is most likely one of the most important yet overlooked garments in every person’s wardrobe. You can wear these shirts with literally anything. However, I don’t know about you guys, but I have gone through so many white tees in my life because I can never seem to find the right one…Well, I am pleased to report my search is finally over.

The amazing people at Bella Clothing in Los Angeles, an eco-friendly company that specializes in basics, sent me the most perfect white tee I have ever worn in my life. I am so serious when I say that the shirt fits me like an absolute dream. It’s not too long, not too short, not too tight, and not too loose; it is just perfect! And that is extremely important, the fit of your clothing really impacts your overall look so you have to make sure you wear clothing that not only looks good but fits you as well! I’m so happy that I finally have the perfect tee and I want one of my readers to share in my joy as well so That Good Good Blog & Bella Clothing have teamed up for my very first giveaway! One of you will win a “perfect white tee” from Bella Clothing (as seen in the photo below)!

Here is all you have to do:

1. Join the Bella Clothing facebook group by clicking the "Like" button here

2. Leave a comment on this post with your e-mail address

3. Entrants must be US residents

    This contest will run until the 12th of December and the winner will be announced on December 13^th. Good luck and make sure you check out the Bella Clothing website by clicking here and check out the rest of their tees by clicking here!

Bella has offered 20% for my readers! Use the discount code bellalovesyou on http://bella.com. Also, Bella is having a huge sample sale this weekend!  All of their goods will be marked down 60%-70% so make sure you take advantage if you need to stock up on those basics!