It’s a ladies night out ya’ll! Join Hellz Bellz, M.O.B., LoveMade and MissBehave Magazine for “Going Back To Cali”, tomorrow night in L.A. RSVP to Tammy@Love-Made.com

Amy Winehouse made a splash on the fashion scene as she teeter-tottered on heels with her trademark oversize eyeliner and hair, and sailor-esque tattoos.  The hair’s been chopped off and let’s face it, we’ve all seen the pictures lately - Amy has seen better days, but it seems like Ms. Winehouse’s star is once again on the rise.  Word on the street is that she’s going to design a line for Fred Perry.  I have to say I wasn’t all that surprised when I heard the rumors.  The British brand has long been affiliated with musical subcultures, most notably the mods (for a quick run down just watch Quadrophenia), so it makes sense that they would team up with one of the most iconic living British musical figures alive right now.  I hope this project comes to pass - it may be just what Amy needs to get out of her rut.  I’ve been wondering if we’d hear any new music from her and this may be enough to get her back on the scene.  I hope so!  I also would love to see what she comes up with - I love her style so it would be interesting to see Fred Perry get the Winehouse twist.

You’ve heard me go on about the sad state of hip hop these days and how I’m a student of the old school.  That’s not to say I won’t listen to anything new.  Sometimes, I’m in for a nice surprise - case in point, Torae. Hailing from Coney Island, Brooklyn, Torae may be new to your ears but he’s definitely not new to the scene. He’s been spittin’ his game since the 90’s with the likes of Masta Ace, The Clipse, Little Brother, Sean Price & countless others in addition to touring Canada & Europe all before signing a major recording contract. He’s been on many compilations and has been known to hang with Cam’ron and the Dipset. Torae has even worked with Nike - he recorded a song for Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James, which ran in a Nike ad for his signature shoe.  His newest single “Wun, Tu, Thr3″ just dropped on iTunes and you can cop it here for only $0.99. That’s nothin’! The hypnotic beat that lingers in your head long after you’ve heard the song is the work of San Francisco-based (via NY) producer T.Dragonette.  Keep your ears to the street for T.Dragonette and Torae, I have a feeling we’ll be hearing a lot more from them.

New to me but perhaps not to you, Little Dragon hails from Gothenburg, Sweden and has had my ear listening since I was introduced to their song “Constant Surprises”. Vocalist Yukimi Nagano’s smooth soulful stylings are backed by her close high school friends Erik Bodin (drums), Fredrick Källgren (bass) and Håkan Wirenstrand (keyboards). Their electro-pop-jazz-soul-sounds are surely an aural treat and you won’t be disappointed.

My latest iTunes download was the 2007 album What’s the Time, Mr. Wolf? by The NOISEttes. Fronted by the astonishingly fashionable Shingai Shoniwa, The NOISEttes have a sound that’s an amalgamation of punk, soul, blues, and good ol’ rock and roll. Their music is dark, heavy, sexy sexy sexy and I just had to have it!

Shingai Shoniwa sings like a songbird raised by Billie Holiday and Siouxsie Sioux and godmothered by Beth Gibbons of Portishead. She patrols the stage like a Runaway (Joan Jett, Lita Ford, Cherie Currie, Sandy West) and the way she rips on the bass would make Ann & Nancy Wilson of Heart proud.

They’ve been likened to the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s and the White Stripes but the dynamic collaboration of guitarist Dan Smith and drummer Jamie Morrison, who complete the trio, has the Noisettes in a category that teeters on Afro-Punk and indie-rock at it’s finest.

But let’s get back to Shingai’s eye for fashion. This girl is hot. The fiery frontwoman flaunts feather-and-war-paint stage attire mixed with elements of the London punk scene, all while pulling from her Zimbabwan roots, where tribes express themselves in the way they dress.

Music, outfits, and big earrings—all the makings of a fashion icon.

Check the shots of Shingai’s style below:

More on Shingai Shoniwa, The Noisettes and the Afro-Punk movement after the jump!

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Dana LaRock and ya don’t stop! Comin’ at ya from the Sur Cali, Dana LaRock does the damn thang on her first ever mix tape: GoldBooms SilverBangs, The Fun Tape. And fun is what it is ya’ll! Sweetly singing about todays “Hype Kid” and calling out all those fashion boys on “Fashion $$$ Boys”, LaRock takes you for a spin on the electro-dance-step highway. This is definitely a collection of tracks that make you wanna move. With tracks produced by DJ A-Track and sounds inspired from 80’s b-boy breaks, lingerie laced Vanity 6 to today’s M.I.A. and Santogold, I think your holes of hearing will be quite pleased. So get with it and download here!

A little video and more after the jump!

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Gareth Pugh SS09

This video is all about the wardrobe for me. The song is second in my opinion. I actually have never listened to the song all the way through until I watched the video. For some reason I could never get through the opening of the song, there’s something about it that irritates me instantly…oh well thankfully Beyonce’s wardrobe makes-up for that. Those metal fringe shades…I swear to gawd a version just landed on Canal St. as I’m typing this. The wardrobe roster includes Brian Lichtenberg, Franc Fernandez for Brian Lichtenberg, and Gareth Pugh to name a few.

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Start the year off right with the ladies of Everlasting Bass the first Saturday of January with DJ Zita and Pam the Funkstress at 330 Ritch Street.  With these ladies on deck, your booty is guaranteed to shake.  This Saturday join the ladies of Bay Area Sistah Sound with special guest Daneekah of Cooyah.  Don’t forget to RSVP for the $5 guest list.  See you there!

The Siren Mixtape, produced by Good Peoples and crafted by Baltimore Club Godfather Scottie B, features collaborations with Maggie Horn and such talented and prolific producers such as Blaqstarr (Mad Decent), Curses! (Institubes) and Teenwolf (Ninjasonik). You can download this gem and give it a listen for free here!  Keen an eye on Ms. Horn, because this triple threat (songwriter, singer and DJ) has more on her way. Her EP with Curses! drops on Institubes January 12, 2009 and her record with the innovative Savant Guard Records come out later in the year. If you’re in NYC, you can catch Maggie Horn performing live with her eclectic music family on Wednesday, January 14th for her Siren Mixtape Release Party.  Don’t forget to RSVP. Read the full story to see the track list and details about the party.
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Lily Allen has a new album, It’s Not Me, It’s You, dropping on February 9thand to go along with the drop she’s got a brand new website. The site includes downloads, her blog and tons of information, but the most fun part is a new video game called “Escape The Fear.” You can play it below and be sure to visit the new site here.