Mattoo's Place

Jabari Brown in Persol shades, a short sleeved henley, linen pants & a pair of Vans. It's always good documenting this guys style. We'll be doing this monthly.

A song I recently Shazam'd.

A photo of Alex Ramone from our most recent shoot. Be on the look out for more posts on her as well as new music and shows. Follow her on twitter at @alexramonesings.

In Mattapan, posted in front of my dad's Subaru Outback on one of my recent trips back home. It's always good to leave the city of New York. Being a city slicker, I never thought I'd enjoy seeing trees as much as I do now. It's like the air is much more crisp and I truly appreciate it more than I ever did.

It's always good to catch up with my good friend Dj Braun Draper, whether it's in New York or in Boston. We joke, talk sports, Hip-hop, relationships, & sneakers all while knocking back a few drinks. It's male bonding at it's finest.

Taken on Madison Avenue.

I bet you'd be my good luck charm & when my luck would run out, you'd inspire me to be better.

Proud of my brother Front Page for releasing such a dope track. He's been quiet for so long I was beginning to think he gave up on making music. I am well pleased to see that he didn't. You can say he's been doing a little soul searching. This track is just a teaser of what he has found on that search. I heard the song and picked up my phone immediately gave him a call to thank him and also to congratulate him on such a song. A song that touches up on some of the inner-city ill's like teens with guns they probably can't properly pronounce, the liquor store next to churches phenomena, to even mentioning the shooting of Trayvon Martin.

If this is any indication of what is to come, I am truly excited. It's not all about the trap. Although I am not knocking it, we need a little more substance in Hip-Hop and Front Page is bringing it.

If I'm sitting comfortably anywhere in the world, it takes some really good music to get me out of my seat. Either that, or I'm in a crowded train and an old lady stands in front of me. Either way you get the point. The sound of Wynter Gordon's voice on a random night at Gold Bar in NYC did just that. It got me out of my seat. She drew me in and I had to find out who she was.

I was with a group of friends who were on their way to Gold Bar and invited me to go with them. They figured it would be an event I would get a kick out of. Plus I had my camera. Let me not fail to mention, it was open bar. Of course I wasn't going to let that go. Funny thing, I ended up not drinking.

As the night progressed, I was still left unaware as to what type of event it was. All I knew, there were a lot of stylish people in attendance. Some dancing, some were a part of the too cool for school crowd. It was quite interesting.

At one point after the Dj played a really good set. I did my two-step, took a couple of photos, then decided to sit down. It was then some girl got on a makeshift stage and had people gather around her. She stated that she was going to sing for us. I'm always skeptical so for me it is natural to be like "here we go" in anticipation of a cringing sensation. People gathered as she began to sing.

After a while I was like okay, she's not bad. She continued to sing. After I realized how good she was, I asked my friend who it was that was singing. She then tells me the woman's name was Wynter. Eventually I had to get up to see what this Wynter looked like. I got up as her voice drew me in closer. I found myself in awe of this songstress. She was that good. It was such a short set but it left an impression. After the show I asked my friends what Wynter's last name was and they told me "Gordon". Of course I went home and did my research. Got on YouTube and Bandcamp to see what she's got. What I found out was, she got it! The girl can sing, has style, and is beautiful. Everything you can ask for in an artist.

I'm always thanking God for these sensational random nights in NYC.

Photo taken @ Gold Bar, NYC

There is something special about stopping by random New York City diners. I have a strange affinity for them. Within them, there is something very real and authentic.

Shirts by: Charles Tyrwhitt
Knit Tie by: Charles Tyrwhitt
5 Panel Cap by: Concepts
Sneakers: New Balance Pro Courts
Boat Shoes: Rogues Gallery
Watch: Timex
Camo Iphone Case: J. Crew

"Too scared to go to sleep cause most times I often doubt, my dreams". This is one of my favorite tracks off of K.R.I.T.'s new project titled "King Remembered in Time". Big K.R.I.T. is one of those artists who chooses not to compromise his craft and I respect that. Since the 1st time I've heard his music a few years ago to every project since, he has never let me down. He keeps his music honest and these days that is a rarity in Hip-Hop.

Last night at The Jane Hotel, Adam Abada & Zach Baker premiered their documentary "Backstreet Atlas". These two good comrades chronicled their trip from Boston to New York on Skateboards last summer & put together a great film for the world to see. The turnout at The Jane Hotel was beautiful. I was honored to be in attendance of such an event. Zach and Adam will also be showing "Backstreet Atlas" in Philadelphia, Providence, & Cambridge MA. Check out their website for more info www.backstreetatlas.com

Always loved her style. She's probably my female fashion icon. Hadn't seen her in ages. We recently had some time to catch up while she was in New York visiting.

Check her out on Instagram/twitter: @simonelesley

Just thinking about how we all take leaps. Some bigger than others. The thing with leaps is that we all have to land. We all land differently. Some of us jump knowing we're going to be alright. Some of us, we brace ourselves. Even when we brace ourselves, there is a possibility of landing awkwardly, tragically, but we get back up. If we break, we put back the pieces, we get better. We come back more solid ready to leap again. No fear. We get back up. We take more than just giant steps.

No sir, this isn't the man who played Django! This is Jabari Brown,(Django meets Indiana Jones) the Brooklyn native who decided to up his style with his new Ovadia & Sons green fedora.

Walter, definitely one of the sharpest gentlemen that I've come to know in my time here in New York. He's been an inspiration to me on different levels. Whether it comes to fashion, style, or overall lifestyle, he is just a good person to know.

This past Sunday, the 7th of April, I went to support Walter in Central Park. He was running a 15k in the New York Colon Cancer Challenge. It was probably the 1st time in well over year that I've seen him out of a pair of Red Wing boots or Alden shoes. It was certainly for a great cause.

Some of use are out here doing whatever it takes.

Sometimes, whatever it takes, takes a whole lot from us.

Here is a new video from Nneka, one of my favorites. Such a special artist she is.