I grew up in a pan-Africanist house listening to Arabic and African music, and naturally music from the West Indies… As a result, my music is as different as my upbringing; it’s unique and I’ll continue to make music that can’t fit into a box because I can’t fit into a box. -Empire Isis

Empire Isis is a Canadian self-proclaimed gangtress of British and Moroccan descent. Truly a woman of the world, she grew up across the globe in places such as Canada, the UK and Morocco. This cultural diversity is apparent in her music, branded as World Pop, but of course très á la Isis.

An avid traveler, at the age of 16, she bicycled through 7 countries from Panama to Mexico picking up the pulsing rhythms of Central America. She also got further acquainted with Dancehall and Reggae vibes while filming a documentary about an isolated group of strict Rastafarians, the Bobo Shanti of Jamaica. Fire ignited, she discovered her true calling and sought out to make conscious urban music. And that, she did.

She received 11 Award Nominations for her debut LP “Sound Trumpets” in 2008, several accolades such as Best New International Artist of Canada at the SOBA awards, Best International Artist at 2008’s Underground Urban Music Awards in NYC among others, and her songs have been featured on various shows such as MTV’s The Hills. Her sophomore album “Brand New Style”, released in January 2009 and recorded between Montreal, Kingston, Tel Aviv and New York, could be described as feel good, with deep, oftentimes militant messages, which in all her musical prowess, do not weigh down the tracks. Impassioned, energetic and simply genuine, Empire Isis’ brand new style is here to stay.

Below: Empire ISIS - Get Up On It featured on MTV’s The Hills:

More, including a Q&A with Empire Isis, after the jump!

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Speaking of practicality, how about this LV x Stephen Sprouse Skatedeck? Talk about “kick-pushing” in style! As part of the much anticipated LV x Sprouse collection, this beauty could be yours for a drop-in-the-bucket price of $8, 250. This piece along with the collection in its entirety will be available at the SoHo boutique on Thursday. The complete worldwide launch will follow on Feb. 2, though the Rose pieces will be available at Louis Vuitton stores worldwide starting Friday. This limited edition piece along with a limited edition Rose t-shirt will only be available at the SoHo location for the launch. Here’s what LV has to say:

The company hopes to sell three graffiti skateboards with trunks for $8,250 each, and 70 T-shirts for $250 each. “I don’t expect them to last very long,” Lalonde said. “By Friday, there probably won’t be any more left.”

If you are lucky enough to be in NYC make-sure to stop by the SoHo store to peep it’s transformation into a Stephen Sprouse wonderland! Complete with an interior and exterior bombed in neon spray paint, this is surely to be eye-candy not to miss. Proceeds from the sales of the Sprouse Collection will go to a worthy cause:

Sales will benefit Free Arts NYC, which provides under served children throughout New York City with special arts programs. Vuitton is also making an undisclosed donation to the Sprouse Estate, as well as the Stephen Sprouse Memorial Scholarship Fund at the National Academy for Design here (New York).

I’m hoping that LV teamed up with a reputable skateborad manufacture to produce these decks…although I doubt that those wheels will ever hit the pavement, for authenticity’s sake it would be nice to know. Nobody likes a poser. So, if you have pockets deep like Kanye or Pherrell (which I could see two of the three decks going to the likes of these gentlemen), then by all means, do it!! This deck would look so good next to my Chanel basketball *sigh*

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I was first “introduced” to Kesh via thee MySpace a couple of years ago. At the time it was her “KESHirts” that caught my eye (and her insanely huge hair…I kinda luv insanely huge hair). Her “KESHirts” are super limited t-shirts she would design and sell via myspace and word of mouth. Rocked by the likes of Lupe Fiasco and Kanye, they would sell-out fast every time! This talented young lass (she recently turned 22) is a self-made star! A model, dj (she rocked it at the Jeremy Scott Adidas Fashion show in Paris and can be seen doing her thing out and about across the Globe), graphic artist and fashion designer, she’s doing it big in both London and NYC. This past Fashion Week in NY, she was asked to present a collection for SS09. She had twelve days to whip something up, which for some might seem like an arduous task but this gal has been known to bust out a frock in a half hours time and rock it that same night….soooooooo, twelve days, provided her plenty of time to create a collection, a menswear collection no doubt! Tailored pants are serious business! Put on by The Fader and held at The Anonymous Gallery, peep her tech in these videos!

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