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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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Kendrick Lamar Releases Surprise Album ‘GNX’; group chats are going crazy

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Kendrick Lamar, Kendrick Lamar GNX, GNX, GNX album, K-Dot, K-Dot GNX, theGrio.com

There are few things more exciting than receiving an infinite barrage of text messages at the very same time in numerous group chats. This normally implies that something vital has happened in popular culture. Well, the exact same thing happened about noon on November 22, within the yr of our Lord two thousand and twenty-four. Kendrick Lamar Duckworth, higher often called Kendrick Lamar, released the album “GNX”, nod towards Buick Grand National Regal GNXa rare muscle automobile released in 1987 – which also happens to be the yr Kendrick was born.

“GNX” is coming to the tip of what has been a banner yr for Kendrick Lamar. From epic diss records geared toward Drake, to creating the largest song of his profession (and a Drake diss track) on “Not Like Us”, to the “Pop Out” concert streaming live to tell the tale Amazon Prime, Kendrick won this yr. He even received seven Grammy nominations, mostly for “Not Like Us.” And this victory will proceed in the brand new yr. In September, it was announced that Kendrick would stay Super Bowl 2025 headliner will happen in New Orleans. This announcement sparked some controversy and comments from several New Orleans legends similar to Juvenile and most notably Lil Wayne, who felt disrespected; Kendrick immediately refers to this topic within the opening song of the album (all stylized in lower case), “wacced out murals”.

The thing is, Kendrick didn’t sleep for many of 2024. And then, while the remaining of us were minding our own business, listening to other albums that had just dropped, like Ice Cube’s “Man Down,” I began receiving text after text… and I knew that would only mean that something vital happened.

At this point in my life (and possibly even yours), Kendrick Lamar releases are a drop-everything-and-listen event. I immediately went to the streaming service, launched “GNX” and pressed “Play”.

I need to admit that the primary time I heard the album I used to be a bit confused. Kendrick has probably never been more popular or famous; if there was ever a time to drag a Kanye West and release his own version of “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” – an album largely produced as Kanye’s best and most representative of Kanye’s greatness – now could be the time. “GNX” has a far more modern West Coast vibe and is certainly more for his die-hard fans than anyone who just began gaining attention due to his beef with Drake. Maybe that was the purpose; possibly not.

Kendrick Lamar, Kendrick Lamar GNX, GNX, GNX album, K-Dot, K-Dot GNX, theGrio.com
Photo: Dave Free

Either way, I can imagine that folks whose favorite lines are “OV-Ho” won’t be immediately thrilled. I wasn’t immediately blown away (though very amused by how sensitive Kendrick is to what people say about him on social media, well, everyone), but as is all the time the case with Kendrick albums, repeated listens are likely to correct any immediate monotony that I even have about his projects. For example, now that I’ve listened to it just a few times, I can not wait to listen to black college bands playing “tv off” style, which seems like a cousin of “Not Like Us.” The Shoot, Bayou Classic, which also takes place yearly in New Orleans on Thanksgiving Day, stands out as the first time we hear a band playing “TV off.”

Since the album didn’t come out long enough to be reviewed, group chats and social media were abuzz with immediate reactions. This is the a part of music releases I really like, where everyone seems to be listening to the identical thing, offering premature takes that will not even delay the following day. I’m not different; I’m sure I’ll say something about this album that can sound silly by Monday. Shoot, I can have already done it. But that is what happens when great artists release music. We spend time with others after which we refer to them, analyze them, criticize them, praise them, destroy them and let all our prejudices fly free. Love it.

It’s value noting that certainly one of Drake’s diss tracks that did not appear during last summer’s fracas was titled “The Heart Part 6,” and was an apparent try to usurp Kendrick’s pre-album practice of removing a non-album song titled “The Heart.” Well, Kendrick has a song on his recent album called, you guessed it, “The Heart, Pt. 6,” which I feel will probably be released soon Drake. Good job, Kenny.

Argue.


Panama Jackson theGrio.com

This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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New music this week: Tyla, Lola Brooke, Coco Jones and more – Essence

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Happy Friday, people! Whether you are drinking a warm beverage or preparing for a fun-filled weekend, this week’s latest music releases set the tone. From sensual R&B melodies to powerful hip-hop anthems, these songs have something for everybody.

Coco Jones leads the pack along with her seasonal album, and Tyla offers a heartfelt change of tone with “Tears.” Miguel’s smooth “Always Time” and Jorja Smith’s tender “Stay Another Day” showcase R&B at its finest, while Lola Brooke and Killer Mike turn up the warmth on “Go To Yo Head” and “Warryn’s Groove,” respectively. Today’s list also includes music from Eric Bellinger, Coi Leray, Blxst and more.

Below you possibly can read our list of latest products.

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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Serena Williams is cutting short divorce talks for a second time after the couple reunited and put months of rumors to rest

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Serena Williams and her husband Alexis Ohanian are still doing well despite months of unconfirmed divorce rumors.

On November 17, Williams and the Reddit co-founder took a walk down memory lane and tested one another by asking questions on themselves and their family in a recent promotional ad. The couple ate a few of their favorite meals and meanwhile checked their glucose levels using Hello Lingo, a glucose monitoring device.

Nearly five minutes into the recording, Williams tested her husband’s memory by asking, “Who said I love you first?”

Ohanian, who shares two daughters, Olimpia and Adira, with the tennis legend, responds quickly by saying, “Mmm,” before writing his answer on the board.

Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian recall who said “I love you” first amid divorce rumors. (Photo: Steve Granitz/FilmMagic)

“It’s like ‘The Newlywed Game,'” Williams said, writing down her answer, referring to the mid-Nineteen Sixties show “The Newlywed Game,” which tested couples who had been married for lower than two years to see if how much they learn about their relationship. amplifier.

Both Williams and Ohanian turn the board over to reveal their answers and, quite shockingly, they received two different answers. Ohanian wrote that Williams said it first, but Williams claims it was Ohanian.

“Come now. Are you going to lie about this? he declared to Williams, who responded with a laugh: “I said I would be honest.”

“That’s not an honest answer,” Ohanian continued. “I still keep in mind that phone call. Oh, you realize I felt the same, but you certainly said it first.

Williams joked: “My glucose levels were high. I ate some ice cream, my glucose level was too high. Then I tell this guy and I feel like saying things I would not normally say. The moment ended with Williams replaying how she told Ohanian those three special words.

Of course, there was no shortage of reactions from fans who showed their love for the couple and how well they interact of their normal element.

One YouTube commenter he wrote“It’s great to see Serena and Alexis in this normal environment, they are so lovely and have great charisma. I love them even more now and I feel great chemistry between them.”

Someone else said: “I liked this part. They seem to really like each other.”

However, as rumors swirled about problems of their marriage, one fan was confused by the video shared on Instagram.

“I thought I read that they got divorced?” he wrote one person in Williams’ comment section.

Someone else also addressed the rumors, writing: “Where are the haters who said divorce was imminent? Sometimes people will be crazy. Seriously, how are you going to even start assuming things like that about people you have never met?

This summer, fans began speculating that Williams and her seven-year marriage to Ohanian were in trouble after they noticed she hadn’t posted from him on her social media pages in some time.

Moreover, Ohanian was noticeably absent from the June premiere of the documentary “In the Arena: Serena Williams” and was also absent from her side at the Met Gala in May.

But they got back together this summer after they attended the Paris Olympics with their daughter Olympia in July.

Among the many viral moments spent with the Ohanian family, she organizes: umbrella for his wife and the European commentator – who didn’t realize he was her husband – and called Ohanian Serena’s “umbrella holder”.

The tech guru reacted to the moment hilariously by snapping a photo of himself holding an umbrella over himself and his daughter.

Ohanian joked, “I am also a personal Olympia umbrella owner. Sidebar: You all set the bar too low for me and celebrity daddies only get flowers for *admitting* they have kids.”

The proud dad is probably also Adira’s personal umbrella holder.


This article was originally published on : atlantablackstar.com
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