Bling Bling

Most local social networkers and big ballers on tycoon status know of or have heard about Dan Gordon, President of Samuel Gordon Jewelers in Oklahoma City. I myself do not floss jewelery but I know it plays an important role in hip hop music and fashion. I have had a couple of comments, questions, and emails to put something up on my blog about rapper's chains or about all the major incidents regarding rappers putting bounties on another rapper's chain during a beef but that is really not my thing. This is the closest I will get to all of that. I now present to you: Dan Gordon. He sells bling! Here we gooooo!

You are known for being the President of Samuel Gordon's Jewelry Store and building buzz through local events and large amounts of social networking...but here's the thing... we all know deep down inside you got some gangsta in ya! What are your top 5 rap tracks of all time.

I definitely am a big fan of rap, grew up listening to it. For me, it would be extremely difficult to pick just 5 favorites but I'll list some that I beleive I'll never, ever get sick of listening to.

1. Eazy-E / Boyz In Tha Hood

When Gangsta Rap hit the market, I loved it and just knew it was gonna be Huge. I was and always will be a big fan of what N.W.A...what Dre, Ice Cube, Eazy...so many more to add to the list did for hip-hop down the road and they didn't even know it yet. Forward thinking guys that truly paved the way for so much.


2. Sir Mix A Lot / Posse on Broadway
Just a classic, and brings me back to actually cruising Broadway in Edmond, "The Strip" as we called it, with my friends when I was much, much younger during my early high school years.


3. Snoop Dogg / Gin and Juice
I could list so many I like from Snoop, I love Drop it like its Hot for something more current, he just seems to be able to, especially earlier on, take an amazing melody and use his smooth lyrical talent to hypnotize the mind...songs you just can't get tired of no matter how hard you try. Also this video was awesome.


4. Ice-T / Colors
I loved this movie and Ice T's voice just commands respect. I always admired him for his enthusiasm for staying as real as he could no matter how much fame and fortune came his way.


*tie
5. 50 Cent/Eminem - In Da Club/Lose Yourself
I think 50 and Eminem compliment one another amazingly so. I can't believe how Eminems hyper, and lyrically genius style goes with 50's laid back, but yet authoritatively commanding vibe. Love 'em both.

You are in the beginning stages of developing an iPhone app called BlingShare, that lets people all over the world share pictures & info on their jewelry. You have taken the word "bling", which was a popular song lyric from BG & Lil Wayne's track "Bling Bling" and turned it into a household term for rich old ladies! Do you ever have to explain the origin of the phrase to people who have never heard it? How did all this "bling" verbiage come about with you personally?

Bling is now in the dictionary. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/BLING

I remember when it(bling) first became a buzz word in our industry and how so many so called "experts" were saying it was a fad and that you would eventually be dated if you continued to use it. At the height of its popularity they claimed this, I never beleived it would go away. Man were they wrong, in fact, I don't know of anyone I've ever spoken with who doesn't know what it means or doesn't use it themselves at some point. I'm also extremely happy that it's embraced within our industry. The more we can take the snob appeal out of our industry, the more we will evolve as a retail category. People deserve to feel comfortable, not scared when they are shopping for anything.... Especially jewelry, which is a very mysterious product as it is.

Bling Share is a work in progress, it has made it into the Apple Web App Store. I have big plans and ideas for it, so please stay tuned.

Most of us who have had anything to do with hip hop know about Jacob The Jeweler and his infamous chains & watches he has done for rappers: Jay-Z, Kanye West, Biz Markie etc.. What do you think about his work? Have you done any custom work or sold anything to well known rappers or celebrities?

We have a pretty nice list of celebrities whom have shopped with us at Samuel Gordon Jewelers, especially given the fact and reality that we are located in Oklahoma. We've had the privilege of serving a very diverse clientele, in that regards, over the years. Unfortunately to name a few, we must keep all customers identities private if they've purchased from us no matter how famous or not at all. It's out of respect. But, I can tell you there are some pics of some of them in Gary Gordon's office, if you ever get a chance please stop by :) And to answer your question about Jacob, I love the big bling like what J & Co. offers. We actually carry IceLink, which makes jewelry and diamond watches that can go up to $100,000 +

Pharrell Williams & Jacob The Jeweler

I notice you are a big fan of "Music Monday" on Twitter and regularly take requests. Did you ever have a dream somewhere deep down inside to be a DJ?

When I was a kid, thinking about what I wanted to be when I "grew up", 3 always came to mind. A DJ, a psychologist or an actor sounded the most interesting. I'm very glad my life path landed me at SGJ with my Dad. Looking back I think I definitely would have made a horrible one of all three, maybe not the DJ, but the hours would definitely suck ;)

Make sure to stop by the site of Okc's most social jeweler:
Samuel Gordon Jewelers

I'm pretty sure he would love it if you added him on Twitter as well: @DanGordon

Teen Wolf Edition Nike Dunks

If you read this blog often, then you know my love and appreciation for rare Nike kicks. Apparently, others heart it just as much… or perhaps even more.

I’ve just learned Nike has recently commissioned a special, limited edition version of its seminal sneak, the Dunk, in homage to The 80s movie: Teen Wolf. THIS IS NOT A DRILL!!!

The yellow and blue color scheme matches that of the Beacon Beavers, the fictitious high school basketball team that Michael J. Fox, the film’s star, plays guard for. Wolf fur on the heels completes the design. Only 72 pairs were manufactured with a price tag of $200, they ain’t cheap!

It's The Motherfucking Remix Volume 3

DOWNLOAD IT HERE

1. Archie Bell – Any Time Is Right (Apt One remix)
2. The Wise Guys vs The Jets – Wise Crush (Platurn remix)
3. Kid Sister vs Justin Timberlake – Damn Girl (Sammy Bananas remix)
4. Afrika Bambaataa vs Breakout – Planet Rock Unplugged (DJ Ayres edit)
5. Kool Keith vs Switch – Papa Large (Matthew Afrika remix)
6. Big Daddy Kane – Raw (DJ Day remix)
7. MSTRKFT ft NORE and Isis – Bounce (A-Trak Dub)
8. Notorious B.I.G. vs Diamond D – Party & Bullshit (Cosmo Baker remix)
9. B. Hamp vs Puff Daddy – Do The Ricky Bobby (DJ Protege remix)
10. Wale vs BDP – Chillin (wikka wikka Bastid remix)
11. Terence Trent D'arby – Champion (Nick Catchdubs remix)
12. Lloyd vs Commodores – Girls Around The World (Skinny Friedman remix)
13. ODB vs Rhythm Heritage – Got Your Money (DJ Eleven remix)
14. Pase Rock vs Axwell – Get Money (Emynd remix)
15. C&C Music Factory – A Deeper Love (Morsy remix)
16. The Supremes – You Keep Me Hangin’ On (DJ Eli Remix)
17. Stevie Wonder – Fingertips (Pase Rock remix)
18. Jonny Blaze – Let’s Rock This Joint
19. Tittsworth ft Kid Sister & Pase Rock – WTF (Sammy Bananas remix)
20. Funky Green Dogs – Fired Up (DJ Ayres & Nadastrom remix)
21. Subfocus – X-Ray (Tittsworth remix)
22. Diplo & Buraka Som Sistema – Inna De Ghetto
23. Benga & Coki vs Project Pat – Night (Smalltown DJs)
24. Mr Vegas vs Ludacris – Hot Wuk (Nick Catchdubs remix)
25. The Specials – Ghost Town (Sake One remix)
26. Lil Scrappy – Money In The Bank (Ross Hogg remix)
27. Ghostface & Raekwon – Freek’N U (DJ Eleven remix)
28. Marvin Gaye vs Groove Theory – Sexual Theory (DJ Day remix)
29. D’Angelo – Girl You Need A Change of Mind (DJ Eleven edit)
30. Waajeed – Jeedo Suave
31. B.O.B. vs Marvin Gaye – I’ll Be In the Sky (B.Cause remix)

KD2 Creamsicles

Here's a couple of pics of the latest colorway of the KD IIs. Nicknamed the "Creamsicles", this pair has a bright orange upper and sole, contrasted by a blue swoosh and Kevin Durant logo. Expect to see these in Spring 2010. I got to see them debut in person when The Oklahoma City Thunder played The Dallas Mavericks a few weeks ago. I thought it was rad that the whole team wore them to support KD!

3 albums to take with you to jail.

Murder Was The Case Soundtrack
Snoop Doggy Dogg & Various Artists
Highlights: Snoop Doggy Dogg - Murder Was The Case
Dr. Dre & Ice Cube - Natural Born Killaz

-Short and to the point. Keep it brutal!

Hell Hath No Fury
Clipse
Highlights: Keys Open Doors & Mr. Me Too

-Clipse is always reminding you to keep it real and stay on your grind no matter what! They rap about nothing other than cocaine...preparing it, dealing it, taking it, and spending all their cash on it.

The Blueprint of A Self-Made Millionaire
E-40
Highlights: Rules & Regulations, Mouthpiece, & Ghetto Celebrity

-This will mos def help you brush up on your street slang, rules, and regulations. Plus it's pretty much a hood version of a Zig Ziglar seminar.

In Related News...

Mystikal made parole last week. I hope he puts some new stuff out for his real fans and I hope it's not the type of stuff he sold out for and did with The Neptunes...Don't get me wrong, The Neptunes are ill but I just wasn't feeling that collaboration.

I want the old school KLC, Rick Rock, No Limit, etc produced stuff like this --->

Mystikal - Unpredictable

Mystikal - Not That N*gga

T1T5

Check this DJ mix from Tittsworth called ‘Diversify Your Bonds’. It features mixes from his new single ‘Here He Comes’ feat. Nina Sky & Pitbull out now on Beatport exclusive and Plant Music 12″ Vinyl.

DOWNLOAD IT HERE

intro – diversify yo bonds – tittsworth
streets of baltimore (instrumental) – say wut
why don’t you – gramophonedzie
london to paris – mowgli
make it funky – alvaro
here come da – a1 bassline
night of the hornheadz – act yo ages (bird peterson remix)
little secrets – passion pit (jack beats remix)
its not fair – lily allen (annie nightingale far too loud bassline mix)
here he comes – tittsworth (stretch armstrong & jaimie fanatic remix)
here he comes – tittsworth (nadastrom remix)
i know you want me – pitbull (evol intent remix)
inDisco – tom piper & nick correlli (bar9 remix)
wtf – tittsworth (crissy criss remix)
i remember – deadmau5 & kaskade (caspa remix)
ghosts and stuff – deadmau5 (sub focus remix)
drowning – cleveland lounge / AK1200 (terravita remix)
leave! (dub mix) – drumsound and simon bassline
silver spaceman – spor
(TEASE) wave breaker – terravita
toyfriend (instrumental) – david guetta, afrojack
witch doctor – avn (steve starks remix)
polkadots – afrojack (kevin focus remix)
magic (mix 1) – mescal kid
peanuts club – brodinski, noob (beatauCue remix)
el baile aleman – edu imbernon, coyu
marrakech – hermanez (martinez big bad da boom remix)
hey – lbl + diplo (autoerotique remix)
salvation – scanners (tittsworth remix)
ghetto pass – nadastrom
(TEASE) my black sheep – len faki (radioslave remix)

OKC Throwback Mixtape Of The Week

Daniel Rockwell - Humping Is Happy (MP3 Download)

Genre: UK Garage & 2 Step

This mix made a lot of noise when it hit the streets close to ten years ago and hasn't left my rotation yet! Full of ragga induced UK Garage and grimy bass lines, you probably wouldn't be upset if it got jammed & stuck in your car's CD player.

Daniel Rockwell is still "doing the duty" Tuesday, Friday, & Saturday at Paralogia Ultra Lounge in Bricktown-Oklahoma City.

Make sure to drop by DanielRockwellDotCom, for more info on gigs, downloads, and updates.

Band To Watch: Sleigh Bells

I heard Sleigh Bell's track "Crown On The Ground" for the first time a few weeks ago on XM and loved it immediately. I am just a sucker for distorted drums and mean guitar loops but the sub bass sealed the deal. I could not find much about the group because they are not signed to a major label and the song "Crown On The Ground" that made it to XM, was just a demo.

Here is what Stereogum had to say:

"Sleigh Bells are just a duo -- Derek Miller on beat production, guitars, and songwriting; Alexis Krauss on vocals -- but their tracks ram together many sonic worlds. Their electronic beats thud with gut-rattling low end; guitars are distorted siren squalls ("A/B Machines"), or heavily gated and thoroughly crunched power chords ("Infinity Guitars"), or playful, beach bum strums (the Beta Band-y "Ring Ring"). Krauss flips easily from hip-hop hook sass ("Beach Girls"), to pop power to sunshined, coquettish coos." - Stereogum


DOWNLOADS:
Sleigh Bells - "Ring Ring" (MP3)
Sleigh Bells - "Crown On The Ground" (MP3)
Sleigh Bells - "Beach Girls" (MP3)
Sleigh Bells - "Infinity Guitars" (MP3)

Top 5 Tease

These are my top five T-Shirts for the month of January 2010. If you know me, you know I am a big collector of Tees, Sneakers, & New Era Hats so I thought I would finally share more about one of my habits...maybe sometimes more of a vice! The Worthy Knows tee, was done by a local company here in Oklahoma City that you should mos def check out--> GRP FLY, which is owned by my boy Vernon (Obie One)! Support them and their crew The Puzzle People & Resource 1214! The top shirt, the LRG "Niceguys" I know is in limited print so I had to pick one up. Can't tell you where I got that :) The Guccimania Shirt, can be found at Mix Unit and The Kool Herc & Wu Tang Roster shirt can be found at UGHH. They might not be your cup of tea but I like 'em. Check back this week for a few guest blogs & some throwback Okc Mixtapes--Thats right!