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Nigel Sylvester Hits Home With Air Jordan 4 “Driveway” Collaboration — Andscape

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Over the past decade, BMX rider Nigel Sylvester has been riding bikes around the globe while constructing his unique brand as a content creator, fashion influencer and social philanthropist.

However, Sylvester has not forgotten the start of his profession, which began within the Laurelton section of Jamaica, Queens, New York — or more precisely, within the driveway of his grandmother’s house, where he learned to ride a motorcycle.

Sylvester’s unmistakable athletic roots come to life in his latest sneaker project for Jordan Brand: the “Driveway Grey” Air Jordan 4 RM, which went on sale Thursday for $160 a pair. On July 20, Sylvester’s Jordan 4 collaboration debuted in a limited-edition “Fence Green” colorway, also inspired by his grandmother’s home. Creatively directed by Sylvester, his passion project has been within the works for greater than a 12 months after Jordan Brand tapped the BMX pro to star in the brand new RM — short for RestoMod, a portmanteau of restaurant modification — of the long-lasting Air Jordan 4 silhouette.

BMX athlete Nigel Sylvester’s love of cycling began at his grandmother’s house within the Jamaica neighborhood of Queens, New York.

Jordan Brand

“The best days were spent in my grandmother’s driveway,” Sylvester told Andscapein in late 2022. “Those were the days when my curiosity was at its peak and I wanted to express myself on a bike. Whether it was on my big wheel or, as I got a little older, on a little 16-inch. And then it just grew from there. It went from hobby to love to obsession. Every free moment, every free moment, I was riding my bike.”

Sylvester’s version of the Air Jordan 4 notably swaps out the unique 1989 “Nike Air” typography on the heels of every shoe to officially introduce his own signature “Bike Air” branding. The phrase and concept were born around 2021, when Sylvester left his longtime partnership with Nike’s SB division to affix Jordan Brand, inspired by how he gained attention in sneaker culture together with his debut Air Jordan collaboration in 2018. Officially signing on as Jordan Brand’s first and only BMX sponsor was a milestone for Sylvester, a Caribbean American who’s the son of immigrants from Grenada. He still vividly remembers receiving his first bike.

The Air Jordan 4 RM “Driveway Grey” is the second colorway released in collaboration between BMX athlete Nigel Sylvester and Jordan Brand.

Jordan Brand

The heel features the “Bike Air” logo, a tribute to BMX rider Nigel Sylvester’s cycling roots.

Jordan Brand

“My dad bought me a 1998 or ’99 Mongoose Sniper,” Sylvester told Andscape. “It was all black. It had chrome handlebars, chrome forks, alloy wheels, red and yellow decals.”

With the introduction of the “Driveway” 4s, Sylvester teamed up together with his sponsor, Specialized Bicycle Components, to introduce the primary Air Jordan-branded BMX bike, limited to a production run of just 17 models, inspired by the wheels of his childhood. Sylvester wrote and starred within the business for the shoe, which was filmed at the house where his grandmother lived. The 90-second spot, which featured former actress Jo Marie Payton as Sylvester’s grandmother, has since appeared in each Times Square and Citi Field.

“My first real BMX bike was everything to me, man,” Sylvester told Andscape. “I took the brakes off and rode up to my buddies in the park and I was like, ‘Hey, look at my new bike.’ It was one of those feelings I’ll never forget. I feel like that was my real introduction to BMX.”

Sylvester made probably the most of his debut BMX bike, zipping around New York City on two wheels and developing his eye for fashion and footwear, which eventually earned him skilled endorsements and collaborations with notable brands similar to Kith, New Era, Oakley, Fendi, Louis Vuitton, Moncler, Nike and Jordan.

“Growing up in Jamaica, Queens, I would go out and ride around different neighborhoods, and I would see all these different influences on how people wore their sneakers,” Sylvester told Andscape. “How people dressed in Uptown, compared to Brooklyn, Queens, and the Lower East Side. Seeing all these different things, I would naturally take something from there and flip it. I would take something from there and flip it. And it just evolved throughout my life and career. Now I’ve gotten to a place where I know what works for me.”

The “Fence Green” colorway was the primary Air Jordan 4 RM to hit the market.

Jordan Brand

Around the time he turned pro in BMX at age 18, Sylvester signed his first footwear sponsorship with Nike in 2005. But it wasn’t until one other decade later that Sylvester got his first likelihood to design a sneaker. In March 2014, Sylvester and the Swoosh released the “SOMP” (“Standing On My Pedals”) Nike SB Dunk High. Original pairs now fetch as much as $3,500 on sneaker resale platforms. By 2015, Sylvester had captured the world’s attention with the launch of his digital lifestyle and travel video series, GO. Co-directed by BMX athlete and director/photographer Harrison Boyce, GO garnered greater than 100 million views in five years, setting the stage and marketplace for Sylvester’s expanded sponsorship profile.

“I don’t remember when I first saw Nigel, but I remember he got this Nike Sportswear campaign and they put billboards of him in New York,” Boyce told Andscape. “I know it was a big moment for Nigel, but it was also a really big moment for BMX. Only skateboarders had that kind of exposure before. So I was happy that a big brand like Nike was recognizing a BMX athlete like Nigel in that kind of role. Nike was just presenting him as a person. That was the first moment where I felt like Nigel was different.”

Different is probably probably the most apt description of Sylvester’s debut collaboration with the Jordan brand, which resulted within the OG Air Jordan 1 High from August 2018.

“Being able to collaborate on the Jordan 1, which is my favorite shoe, and tell the story of how my shoes get worn out when I’m riding my bike, was a game-changer,” Sylvester told Andscape. “It was definitely a moment. I was so happy.”

For their first collaborative shoe, Sylvester and Jordan Brand took on the ambitious challenge of recreating, and ultimately mass-producing, a pair that looked and felt like a number of the Air Jordans he’d essentially destroyed on his bike during his travels around the globe. Sylvester provided Jordan with personal sneakers, notably an old pair of Shadow 1s, and photos illustrating just how worn his shoes could get. And with that inspiration, the brand’s design team set to work.

BMX rider Nigel Sylvester shows off each colorways of his Air Jordan 4 RM shoes.

Jordan Brand

“It was just about being myself,” Sylvester told Andscape. “I’ll put on my Jordans, I’ll ride in them, and they’ll naturally wear out because of what I do. My bike doesn’t have brakes. So when I have to stop, my foot hits the ground or my tire digs in. So the shoes naturally wear out. Being able to take that story and share it with the brand and the world, I was just honored and grateful for that first opportunity.”

The BMX pro still remembers the moment then-Jordan footwear designer Frank Cooke first showed him the ultimate Air Jordan 1 “Nigel Sylvester” shoe.

“We were actually editing and Frank Cooke called me on FaceTime and said, ‘Hey, it’s here. It’s done,’” Sylvester recalled. “I said, ‘Send me the shoe right now. FedEx it and send it to me as soon as possible!’ I got it a few days later and I was blown away. It looked so beautiful, man. I couldn’t believe it. Honestly, my collaboration with the Air Jordan 1 changed my life.”

More than five years after his debut Air Jordan, Sylvester returns with two more Air Jordan 4 designs, telling the story of the house and elders who helped result in that defining moment in his life when he received his first BMX bike.

“When I think about my family and my parents leaving Granada and how brave they were to come to New York to take advantage of this opportunity, it means everything to me,” Sylvester told Andscape. “I’m proud of them because I understand the sacrifice that comes with leaving your home and your comfort zone to go on a whole new journey. I channel that energy. I have my whole career. Because for me, it’s always been that mindset that I’m not going to fail. That I’m going to achieve whatever I set my mind to because of the people who sacrificed so much for me to get here.”

Sylvester hasn’t managed to destroy the Air Jordan project just yet. And it doesn’t appear to be his relentless sneaker ride shall be halted anytime soon.

“I’d like to touch a Jordan 3 someday,” Sylvester told Andscape. “Maybe someday.”

Aaron Dodson is a sports and culture author at Andscape. He primarily covers sneakers/apparel and hosts the platform’s Sneaker Box video series. During Michael Jordan’s two seasons with the Washington Wizards within the early 2000s, the Air Jordan 9 “Flint” kicked off his passion for footwear.

This article was originally published on : andscape.com
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Pharrell Williams ‘Irritated’ by Celebrity Political Endorsements

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Pharrell Williams shouldn’t be a fan of celebrity political endorsements. In an interview with Hollywood ReporterThe multi-faceted star shared her more “humanist” view of politics and her opinion on the music and entertainment industry’s involvement in elections.

“I’m more of a humanitarian. I like people who try to help others. I’m not sure I’ll ever vote for the far right. I won’t,” he reportedly said with fun. “But I’m not really into politics. I do like some of the politics; I think education is important. We have a nonprofit called YELLOW (whose mission is equality through education), and then there’s another 501(c)(3) that helps black and brown entrepreneurs called Black Ambition—those are the things I lean into. I’m not an activist, but I believe in action.”

As hundreds of men and girls rally to support Vice President Kamala Harris within the 2024 presidential election, Williams revealed his mixed feelings about celebrities publicly endorsing political candidates. When asked if he would allow any party to make use of his music of their campaigns, as Beyoncé did with Harris, Williams said no, adding that he sometimes “gets irritated” by celebrities getting involved in politics.

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“Sometimes I get annoyed when I see celebrities trying to tell you (who to vote for). There are celebrities I respect who have their own opinions, but not all of them. I’m one of those people (who says, ‘What the hell? Shut up. Nobody asked you,'” he explained. “When people come out and start thinking they’re righteous, they roll up their sleeves and go around with a sign saying, ‘Shut up!'”

In recent years, celebrity endorsements have turn into a key a part of each parties’ political campaigns. While Williams apparently has no plans to endorse anyone this election cycle, he publicly endorsed former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in 2016. Similarly, he sent former President Trump a letter demanding that he stop using his song “Happy” at one in all his rallies.

“Politics is not my field of expertise,” he said, at a Clinton rally in 2016“But I am a human being. I am a human being with a family, a human being who shares this Earth with other people. These elections are simply too important. I could not sit on the sidelines and just remain silent.”

Social media users were quick to criticize the Louis Vuitton menswear creative director for his seemingly contradictory comments.

“I respectfully disagree, Pharrell. The voices of the informed can educate,” one user wrote on X.

“That’s a privileged approach, lol,” said one other as well as.

Regardless of your opinion on celebrity political endorsements, Williams’ statement reminds us how vital it’s to do your research and fully understand the ballot before casting your vote.

This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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Jennifer Lopez allegedly wants ‘revenge’ on Ben Affleck, revealing how he ‘let her down’ in the bedroom amid embarrassing divorce

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jlo-ben-affleck revenge

Soon-to-be-four-time divorcee Jennifer Lopez is reportedly gearing up to disclose unflattering details about her relationship with Ben Affleck following their recent split.

According to a brand new report, Lopez, 55, who has previously praised their passionate sex life in her music, is now considering changing her praise and should be preparing to release a song that paints a very different picture.

jlo-ben-affleck revenge
Sources claim that singer Jennifer Lopez wants to embarrass her soon-to-be ex-husband Ben Affleck with songs about his poor bedroom performance. (Photos: @jlo/(Instagram; Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

As tensions between them intensify following their breakup, a more essential side of their time together begins to come back to light.

Lopez, who once bragged about watching the “Good Will Hunting” actor have sex in the bedroom while singing sensual lyrics in “The Greatest Love Story Never Told,” appears to be changing his tune on Affleck’s abilities in the bedroom.

“When things were going well between them, J.Lo put Ben and his bedroom skills on a pedestal,” the insider said. revealed to In Touch, “but she’s taken off her rose-tinted glasses and is telling people he was actually a pretty selfish and basic lover.”

This marks a major change from Lopez’s previous tributes to Affleck, in which she appeared to idolize him each personally and physically.

Her latest album, This Is Me… Now: A Love Story, released in February, was intended to have a good time their renewed romance.

Lopez’s ninth studio album featured a companion film that showcased their relationship in a vibrant light. While she produced the project herself, In Touch’s alleged source claims that Affleck played a major role behind the scenes, likely controlling the narrative greater than people realize.

Just two months after the project’s premiere, the couple announced their end of collaboration and have remained separated ever since.

However, Lopez’s tone has reportedly modified drastically. She not praises Affleck’s talent but as a substitute expresses frustrations about their personal lives, especially his mediocre performance in the bedroom, a brand new report claims.

“She’s so pissed she wrote all those sexy lyrics about him,” an alleged insider told In Touch, claiming Lopez is considering writing one other song that exposes Affleck’s flaws.

The person said at the time: “She says she’s now ready to write a breakup song that hits where it hurts most and makes up to him for all the ways he let her down, including in the bedroom.”

Adding that Lopez uses writing as an outlet for her emotions and that her team is fully supportive of the idea, the anonymous spokesperson said, “She’s very emotional and angry right now, and part of the way she deals with her emotions is by keeping a journal and writing. Her team is encouraging her to channel that into songwriting.”

Lopez’s longtime manager Benny Medina and her team are reportedly urging her to pursue the project, though some speculate they’ve been working behind the scenes to break Affleck’s image since their marriage began to unravel.

This alleged manipulation is not any stranger to those that have previously been involved with Lopez’s life.

Her first husband, Ojani Noa, recently spoke to the Daily Mail about the similar treatment he experienced during his marriage to the star.

“(Her people) wanted her to look good for everything that was coming out — the movie, the album, and they didn’t want any bad publicity,” Noa claimed. “They made it sound like I didn’t want to be with her, and it was the opposite.”

There’s no word on whether Lopez plans to officially channel her frustrations with Affleck into recent music. She’s currently promoting her latest film, “Unstoppable,” a project she co-produced with Affleck and his longtime friend Matt Damon. Lopez recently attended the Toronto International Film Festival to advertise the film, although Affleck was noticeably absent.

Despite their split, the duo have remained in touch, reportedly raising their combined family together. Lopez and Affleck were recently spotted at the Polo Lounge at the Beverly Hills Hotel, where they met up with their children — Affleck’s daughter Seraphina, 15, son Samuel, 12, and Lopez’s twins, Emme and Max, 16 — for a family chat.

Art often imitates life, and Lopez’s story suggests she could use this tumultuous time to fuel her creativity. Whether it’s a chart-topping song or successful movie, the fallout from this breakup could encourage her next big hit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mMFIOGsIdA


This article was originally published on : atlantablackstar.com
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Fans slam Oprah Winfrey’s ‘shady’ move to hide her secrets after blocking upcoming documentary on her life

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oprah winfrey documentary

Oprah Winfrey has officially halted production on her online documentary, but fans want to know why.

The billionaire actress and former talk show host reportedly spent “a fortune” to make sure the docuseries never saw the sunshine of day after she fell out with Oscar-winning filmmaker and director Kevin Macdonald over the biopic project.

oprah winfrey documentary
Oprah Winfrey faces criticism after paying a “fortune” to block a documentary about her life. (Photo: MICHAEL TRAN/AFP via Getty Images)

According to Page SixA rep for the 70-year-old media mogul confirmed she paid to shelve the documentary after her content take care of Apple expired in September 2022.

“As her Apple TV+ deal was coming to an end, Ms. Winfrey purchased the rights to her docuseries and has since decided to put the documentary on hold,” Oprah’s spokesperson told Page Six.

Additionally, one other source said, “Kevin made a video, but Oprah didn’t like it and refused to make changes, so Oprah gave Apple her fee back.”

While speculation suggested McDonald refused to comply with Winfrey’s requests to edit, the TV personality’s team denied the claims, with Oprah’s camp insisting to Page Six that “it just wasn’t the right time to do the documentary.”

It comes amid speculation that Winfrey spent “millions” on the rights to the documentary. However, Team Oprah dismissed the concept the deal was price seven figures.

Deadline Originally announced as an Oprah Winfrey documentary for Apple TV+ in January 2021, MacDonald teamed up with Emmy-nominated producer Lisa Erspamer to create the now-cancelled biopic, which was to be presented in two parts.

They previously worked together on the documentary “Whitney,” which premiered in U.S. theaters in July 2018.

Internet users reacted to the news that the documentary had been frozen, with many wondering whether Winfrey was fearful that some damaging information was about to be released.

“Well isn’t that suspicious!” one person wrote within the Page Six comments section. Another person asked, “What is she afraid of or hiding?”

Similar footage appeared on the X program. For example, in response to an article concerning the cancellation of the documentary, an individual identifying himself as a Donald Trump supporter he tweeted“What is Oprah hiding?”

Another X account published“Oprah Winfrey spent a fortune to prevent a documentary from being released, that sounds credible… money tells the truth… not the truth.”

Winfrey was a goal of conservatives throughout the 2024 presidential campaign. The Tennessee State University graduate endorsed Democratic vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris, drawing the ire of Donald Trump’s MAGA legion.

After making a surprise appearance on the Democratic National Convention in August 2024, Winfrey faced backlash from Trump supporters over allegations of abuse related to the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy in South Africa.

Winfrey apologized to the parents of scholars who accused a Leadership Academy worker of molestation in 2007. Tiny Makopo, a dormitory supervisor at the college, he was acquitted of 14 charges related to allegations of abuse.

Winfrey’s announcement that she would hold a virtual “Unite for America” ​​rally in support of Harris also sparked outrage from the appropriate.

Critics have relentlessly hounded the “Beloved” star over her alleged “disappearance of girls” allegations, despite no evidence to support the disappearance of any Leadership Academy students.

Oprah Winfrey was born on January 29, 1954, in Kosciusko, Mississippi. After graduating from college and dealing in journalism, she became a household name, hosting the favored program “The Oprah Winfrey Show” from September 1986 to May 2011.

The so-called “Queen of All Media” has built an empire price $3 billion. Winfrey earned an Oscar nomination for her role within the 1985 film “The Color Purple.” She can be a two-time Emmy winner.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mMFIOGsIdA

This article was originally published on : atlantablackstar.com
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