Who would’ve thought that a classic summer white look could be effortlessly elevated with a pair of Kanye West-designed heels?!

This week, rising star Margot Robbie surprised many show fanatics while promoting her latest film The Legend Of Tarzan in London. She fashioned her chic ensemble with a pair of Lucite Yeezy Season 2 heels — a shoe that is part of the rapper’s latest collection which hit stores last month on June 6.

Below: Lucite Yeezy Season 2 Heel

Photo Credit: YourNextShoes.com

What’s amazing is that just last year, West was the subject of many takedowns, characterizing him as a joke designer that was fooling the fashion world with “beige under-things” and “broken-down basics.”

“I don’t read the reviews,” West told Vogue‘s shuttered website Style.com sometime after the debut of Yeezy Season 1.

And now, it would appear that West’s passion for fashion is becoming less of the laughing matter with the fashion bible now describing the Lucite heel as the “most-sought-after footwear of the summer.”

Below: Kayne West appearing to have the last laugh.

Photo Credit: Kevin Mazur / Getty Images

And if you think that a bad review is actually a bad thing, think again.

According to Racked, one of Kayne biggest naysayers, legendary fashion critic Cathy Horyn, (the scribe responsible for the “broken-down basics” remark)  is known for taking swipes at design stars.

Horyn once equated Oscar De La Renta to a hot dog, and she “famously has been banned from shows by Hedi Slimane, Giorgio Armani, and Carolina Herrera because of her reviews.”

So while many might continue to underestimate Kayne West, he will continue churning out mens and womenswear.

https://twitter.com/kanyewest/status/739827150413402112?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

And finally, why did Kayne West release shoes on the random date of June 6? Yeezy president, Pete Fox, tells HypeBeast that their collections “will not be produced in its entirety or launched following a traditional fashion calendar.”

Leave it to Kayne to always leave people guessing. We can’t wait to see what he comes up with next.

Jacqueline Colette Prosper, yummicoco.com

Yesterday, blink-182 released their new album California. A much anticipated record, it’s their first since ousting founding guitarist/vocalist Tom DeLonge. Early last year, the group announced the lineup change and welcomed Matt Skiba of Alkaline Trio as a third member. At a Blink show shortly thereafter, bassist Mark Hoppus introduced Skiba, then filling in on guitar, as our “new step dad that is going to be living with us from now on”. After years of ill-will amongst the band, it seemed the Hoppus-DeLonge divorce had finally gone through. Since joining, Skiba has racked up a good amount of performance time with the band and earned himself something of a warm welcome from the fanbase. He proved he could sing all the old songs and sound enough like DeLonge to keep with the sound, but add just enough of his own personality as to not come across as a carbon copy. The real test would be their record. It would definitively answer the question blink-182 fans had been posing since DeLonge left, “Who the fuck is Matt Skiba?”

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Art for Progress’ after school music enrichment program at Hudson High School for Learning Technologies was especially inspiring this spring semester because of a dynamic group of multi-talented, and eager students. The program was reinstated this spring thanks to the efforts of principal Nancy Amling. The program had been inactive for the fall semester because a lack of funding, Ms. Amling was influenced in her decision to restart the program by an exceptional young student and musician named Terelle. Terelle’s enthusiasm and hunger for new knowledge were the ultimate catalyst for the formation of the program.

Tarelle wanted to learn about how music works beyond the shapes he was learning on the guitar. Hudson HS currently offers a beginning guitar class as a part of the school’s regular curriculum. The class is focused on the mechanics of playing the instrument, but like most beginning guitar classes, it did not address the underlying music theory necessary for students who to build their skills beyond the basic guitar vocabulary.

The group of students that comprise the AFP after school program at Hudson range from 9th-12th graders, and are led by Terelle.  He expressed a desire to learn some more universal musical concepts in order to set up a foundation upon which to develop their musicality. They were made up of aspiring singers, guitarists, pianists, and bass players of varying levels of experience. We explored the construction of scales, chord building and common chord progressions; learned to understand key signatures, and applied scale and mode patterns on the guitar and piano. We also performed vocal solfeggio exercises, and looked at the elements of blues and jazz tonalities. Mr. Pinella, the school’s guitar teacher, was in fact a frequent visitor to the AFP program.  It provided him with new theoretical insights, while enabling the sessions to actively compliment the curriculum of his class.

A heavy emphasis on rhythm and playing as a group provided students with an opportunity to apply their new knowledge in real time. They were challenged to make use of what they had gleaned from guitar class, as well as their new theoretical perspective in an environment that required focus beyond their instrument. Where traditional music instruction methods sometimes provide a static environment for group play, there is rarely an emphasis on listening and interplay. AFP programs encourage participants to develop a sense of responsibility for staying connected to the other players in a group. The concept of “feel” is introduced as soon as we start playing together. These skills are extremely important for young musicians looking to form bands and ensembles; and especially for those looking to lead their own groups and develop original music.

Another aspect of the program was an emphasis on original composition. Students presented original work to the class, which we then critiqued and analyzed. AFP programs foster open receptivity to feedback. Before a student presents his/her original work, I would ask if the presenter is open to critical feedback. After listening, I would then point out what is working and where I see room for adjustment or improvement. When given the respect any artist deserves and a choice in the matter, I almost always find that a student will be more open to constructive criticism, and in fact appreciate it very much from someone they trust.

Terelle and his friends performed at a number of school events this year, to rave reviews, and are working on musical projects this summer. These guys have consistently impressed me with the new chord shapes they’re incorporating in their songs, and the classic material they’ve unearthed for inspiration always astounds me. They are always hungry for new sounds, and stop by my classroom upstairs at Humanities Prep almost every day to see what they can learn from the students and teachers at Prep and the James Baldwin School.

Overall, the AFP music program at Hudson HS was one of the most rewarding educational opportunities in which I have had the pleasure to participate, and I look forward to continuing the program next semester.

Here’s a little video of Terelle ripping a guitar solo with members of AFP’s various programs!

Terelle Ripping A Guitar Solo!

Art for Progress & NOosphere Arts present

Haven: A Summer Retreat for Artists and Friends, Part II

Saturday, July 16^th, 7PM at Mothership USA, $5, BYOB

252 Green Street, 2L, Rooftop, Greenpoint, Brooklyn

Summer is here, and if you can’t be at the beach or away for the weekend, what’s better than a summer rooftop party?

Last year, Frank & Sol decided to throw a fun party for artists and friends at Sol’s artist studio, rooftop in Brooklyn, and it turned out to be one of the best parties of the summer!

So, we’ve decided to make this an annual event, and we are so very pleased to once again invite you to join us for a magical night of art & music to celebrate life, creativity and happiness.

LIVE MUSIC:  Kick Ass Rock n Roll from NYC’s Hundred Hounds,  Rootsy Americana/Folk from Brooklyn’s Bad Faces, Soaring Vocals and Eclectic Sounds from blythe is a mermaid

DJ’s:  Brian Burnside (deepa)  Gatto (AFP)

Performance Art:  Autumn Kioti, Loren Crabbe

Physical Theater: Hilary Chaplain

Video Installations:  Filmmaker, Daniel Maldonado, Artist Jeanne Wilkinson

We invite you to beta-test ArtFundit, a new website designed to help promote artists, their artwork and voice within the artist community. Visit the kiosk at our event for more information and how you can participate.

While you wait for that new Taylor Swift album which is surely in the works given the artist’s recent break-up, here are a few songs to enjoy in the warm weather. No matter whether it’s more #endlesssummer or more endless bummer…

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