represent

Represent Ft. Tedashii
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Bloom : Queer Fiction Art Poetry & More
$189.00
Slower trends in fashion, lifestyle, and culture. Photography and texts covering the industry from fashon, interior design, to flower designers, growers, buyers, retailers, distributors, and consumers. Devoted to a specific theme per issue, including color cards.

Represent
$12.98
Before Joey Crack, Don Cartagena, the D.I.T.C. albums, Terror Squad, Big Pun, summer anthems, the 50 Cent beef, crossover hits and R&B collaborations, Joseph Cartagena was simply Fat Joe da Gangsta, a straightforward, heavyset Latino rapper from the Bronx. Love him or hate him, he's had a truly storied career for such a modest talent, owing mostly to an appeal that many folks outside the five boroughs don't quite appreciate. Much of it lies in his attitude, sound, and style...chances are if you're a New Yorker, you know somebody like Fat Joe. For the better part of two decades now, he's managed to remain a star because he has a knack for surrounding himself with the right people, smoothly adjusting to new trends, and maintaining respect on the streets. True to the spirit of New York, Fat Joe gets his and always will.

Joe comes hard on his 1993 Relativity debut "Represent," a rugged, straightforward, consistent album with no pop concessions produced mostly by legendary D.I.T.C. beatsmith Diamond D in his prime. As you might expect, Joe's no lyrical visionary, but it's fun to hear his stories about the life of an early-90s New York gangster. Even at a young age, it's clear he knew exactly how to market himself, and guest rappers include legends Grand Puba, Kool G Rap, Diamond D, Apache, and Showbiz as well as some lesser-known Bronx MCs. Showbiz, Lord Finesse, and the Beatnuts also contribute beats, adding to an all-star cast.

The beats are excellent, bearing the classic rugged D.I.T.C. sound with choppy jazz samples, upbeat percussion, and rich New York flavor. Still, it's Joe's show, as he lives up to the album's title with heavy, angry rhymes from the openers "Livin' Fat," "Bad Bad Man" and the posse cut "Watch the Sound" with Grand Puba and Diamond D. The single "Flow Joe" is a gloomy, horn-laden track quite indicative of the album at whole, and the funky "This Is Real" and the ruthless "You Must Be Out of Your Mind" with Apache and Kool G Rap are also highlights. A surprising late standout is the Chilly D production "Another Wild N From the Bronx," a posse cut with underground BX rappers.

While not his most memorable work, "Represent" is a really solid offering of hardcore, jazzy '93 East Coast boom bap. A few guys came out of New York with debuts like this one in '93, but Joe and his machine ensured that his style progressed and star kept rising with each album well into the new millennium. While neither conceptual nor mind-blowing and somewhat predictable, it's quite well done and really consistent and "Represent" is a great album and a piece of lore in that it's a largely unheard debut from a superstar.

Canada Silver Thunderbird Coin 2009 -Olympic Silver Maple Leaf
$27.99
The brand new 2009 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games Silver Maple Leaf Bullion Coins have just been released from the Royal Canadian Mint! These gorgeous Olympic Silver Maple Leaf coins are the worlds first bullion coins promoting the spirit of the Olympic Games. Second Year of Issue in a Three-Year Series The 2009 issue of the Olympic Maple Leaf Silver coins is the second in a three-year series that started in 2008 and will continue until 2010, the year that the Winter Olympic Games will be held in Vancouver. The beautiful, three-year-only Olympic Winter Games Silver Maple Leaf coins are available in extremely limited quantities of coins minted per year. Composition Each one-ounce Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games Silver Maple Leaf coin contains 99.99% pure Silver and is an official bullion coin. Each coin bears a $5 face value.