jewellery designer Rachel Galley
Other names tipped to become tomorrow’s “luxury leaders” included Imran Amed, the founder-editor of The Business of Fashion, jewellery designer Rachel Galley, as well as an online community for private jets,wondering if he can actually win, a furniture brand offering high-end nursery pieces, and a chocolatier.
Available through Amalgam Digital Records
The only disappointing moment of the Padded Room is Exxxes, a memoir about the two-timing women he has had in his life. Reminiscent of Tupac's Wonder Why They Call You Bitch (yep, more 'Pac referencing), the overly misogynistic tone of the lyrics let it down and rather waste the wonderfully moving acoustic orchestration provided by The Klasix. All is good by album's end though, with the unadulterated punchline-fest that is the Family Reunion remix, featuring Fabulous, Ransom,discount apple ipod 5 touch buy, Budden and newcomer Hitchcoc all spitting pure fire.
Despite the crossover popularity of Pump it Up, which was pushed even further by its inclusion in 2 Fast 2 Furious, the album failed to produce any other notable singles, with Budden stuck in label limbo until he parted ways with the Def Jam in 2006.
Although the Blueprint-style introspection sounds a little forced at times, it shows an interesting side to the New Jersey rapper. Ultimately some of Padded Room leaves you feeling a bit cold/depressed, but it is consistent and thoroughly enjoyable. A classy effort from the jump-off kid.
Acclaimed among devoted listeners and critics doesn't amount to much on the major label landscape, unless you have the sales figures to back it up. As sad as it is to say, the reality is that talent doesn't always win out. This is the unfortunate situation that New Jersey's 'next big thing' Joe Budden experienced after the resounding thud upon the release of his self-titled 2003 debut on Def Jam Records.
Joe's apparent personal tension and paranoia takes centre stage, including him rocking a straight jacket on the album cover. On an album that is carried by imaginative lyricism and powerful orchestration from a slew of unknown beat-makers,Cheap BlackBerry mobile phone for sale, things begin with a bang as Now I Lay kicks in. Over what sounds something like a demented Christmas carol, Budden gives a sly wink to old and new fans,Wholesale Sony LED TV online, starting with the same lines that open his hit Pump it Up: "Pump it up if you came to get it crunk/With a dame and sh*t that's drunk/You came to get it on."
Main single The Future sounds way too similar to other recent singles out there, Nas' Hero comes to mind a little, and features guest appearance whore The Game,Cheap AMD Processor for sale, so nothing really makes it stand out, but it is executed well so you can't hate too much. The fatalism and personal demons eluded to by the album title and theme first rear their head on Blood on the Wall, where he interpolates Tupac's Life Goes On chorus and takes shots at Mobb Deep's Prodigy. Even though I didn't know the beef existed before this track, Budden puts it over the top with some heavy shots to the chin, with lines like: "Four-fifths and Snubs,wholesale samsung galaxy s4, what's that about?/Ni**a you can't lift the guns that you rap about."
Budden takes things literally to another place on Pray for Me, complete with haunting production from Versatile and Dilemma, as he imagines the afterlife and takes God to task for the hard times he was dealt and the atrocities in the world (George Bush's presidency, starvation, AIDS, racism). The super talented Blastah Beats,New Jersey is often given short shrift, who is responsible for possibly the album's most memorable production moments thus bringing out the best in our host, hits a home run with the melancholic backdrop of Do Tell, an open letter from Budden to his family and friends.
Goat, a luxury cashmere specialist who offers a full ready-to-wear collection, focusing on simple aesthetics, will be mentored by Jim Sharp, partner and co-founder of Sirius Equity, while menswear label Private White V.C., which takes inspiration from its family heritage will receive mentoring from John Ayton, chairman of Bremont Watches and Annoushka Jewellery. The other fashion name in the list, luxury nightwear brand Olivia von Halle, known for offering silk print pyjamas is to be mentored by Michael Ward, managing director of Harrods.
Walpole, the trade body that represents the British luxury industry, has announced the next eight brands tipped to become leaders in the high end market including Goat, a label favoured by Victoria Beckham and the Duchess of Cambridge. Now in its seventh year, Walpole, whose members including Burberry, Harrods and Jimmy Choo," he explained., selects brands that have showcased potential for global growth in the luxury sector, and this year’s winner included menswear label Private White V.C. and luxury nightwear brand Olivia von Halle.
In his time away from a formal label structure he was still trumpeted as the uncrowned king by many, as he worked to keep his name value up on the mix tape circuit. Personally I found that Budden had lost some of his fire and was surviving on hype alone, not that I could blame him after being on the sidelines. This opinion has changed upon listening to Padded Room, Budden's second official studio album, which finds him delivering on the promise of his highly personal 2003 debut.