Footage from Core DJ Retreat [Earlier in '09]

So I was bored...decided not to throw away/waste any previous video footage, so I edited the washed up footage from the Core DJ retreat from earlier this yr. The reason I say "washed up" because this vid was recorded with a cheaper camcorder though we had to HD camcorders with us. Currently, I do not have access to that footage cuz my 2 homies with the footage (monte & tyrone) are in Naptown and the files are too big to transfer. So instead of deleting the footage I have, I decided to have fun and turn nothing into something even tho I couldn't really capture much of anything because I was mainly doing photography. So check out the Youtube video...comment on it, share it, whatever....just watch the damn thing lol.

Oh yea and for those who will ask me...and i know someone will ask cuz they always do...the music on the vid (in order) is B.O.E. - Boss, Chamillionaire - I'm on it (from MM7), and B.O.E. - Stop Light ft. Young Maine.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Prn9TQp5Zg

Core DJ Retreat x ATL

This trip was amazing. 100% grind. We was only in ATL from fri - sun, but got a WHOLE lot accomplished. We took about 400 copies of tyrone's singles with us (Me & You ft. Young Maine) and we came back with only 2 copies. The core DJ retreat was packed. I met a lot of very important people out there (i.e. Representatives for UGK Records, Ace Hood, Director of Marketing for Interscope, Akon, Wendy Day, etc.) Inside of tyrone's singles cases was my HF flyer, my business card, B.O.E.'s flyers, and Brightwood Ent flyers. Out there I was also able to squeeze in a photoshoot with 5 of the Envy Models on the rooftop of the Hilton Hotel in downtown ATL. We also chilled in Ruffchild Studio where B.O.E. recorded two hot tracks. Pictures from the weekend are coming soon, and maybe even some video footage ;)

ATL x Street Dept Music x Rivers & Spires

Been a week since my last post, lately I've just been exhausted...still grindin hard as ever, but it catches up to me at times. Umm...first and foremost, happy birthday to lil tatortot lol (Brittny M.) SEE I didnt forget!

This weekend coming up I will be back in Atlanta, GA for the Core DJ's event. Yes, I got my pass to get in! I heard if you don't have a pass its like $300...(my face got real ugly when I heard that like "ewwww" [chris rock face] lmao). But yep I will be there.

I've been on many projects lately, but a big one has been for a label known as Street Dept Music. This one has actually been fun. They are getting everything (logo, website, photoshoots, and business cards). I put up the coming soon to the site (www.streetdeptmusic.com) but it will change soon once I am finished with designing and confirming the logo.

This past weekend, I finally got my new tattoo. Designed by me and tatted up by my artist Jag Rose (www.myspace.com/jrose87om). Some of his best work so far, youngin skills is progressing each day, So the creator of creativity's skills & the tat2 prince's skills come together like Voltron...Check it out....2hrs & 45min...ouch!

Oh yea, I had to make some changes and redraw it for the 3rd time so there are some slight differences cuz this is a photo of the 2nd copy.








After that, we also had a good time down at the Rivers & Spires event on saturday. [Clarksville, Tennessee] Shout out to Tiebreaker Ent, their artists Legacy & J-Rad performed at the event.

Grind x Werque! = Progress + Growth

For those who didn't know...the Holla Fashions website is up and active. It has been updated in the photography section, so just make sure you check it weekly..or daily if u prefer. I will be notifying you about updates here on my blog.

Though I have been grindin hard lately, I have also been taking time out for self to get myself organize, that way it makes my grind much easier. It feels good to take time out, because a lot of people that I deal with throughout the course of the day are very inconsiderate and forget that I'm not a machine. People act like I don't have a personal life of my own...normally when my phone rings, its always someone asking for something but never someone calling just to talk. Thats why I just wanna say to my true friends that I really appreciate them all. Also for everyone who supported me on the southern entertainment awards...I appreciate you. Though I did not come out with a win, I came out with recognition, a nomination, and I have met a lot of new people from it in this past year. You can't take that away from me. In the past year I have grown a lot...in my personal life and within my craft as well. This year I will be going for the SEA's again, and whatever comes out of it is what I will receive. I'm grateful for whatever comes my way.

Earlier today I did a photoshoot with a local hip-hop group known as the Street Poets. Real cool dudes, I know them on a personal level as well as a business level. The shoot came out great...honestly, it doesn't need to be edited but I'm gonna do a couple of edits before I post anyway. Look out for that shoot later after I get back from ATL. I have a couple of other shoots to post before that...some b4 I went to Indianapolis and 3 more in Indianapolis. Maybe I'll find the time to book myself for another self-portrait shoot....HA! That wont be happening for a while.

Look out for the youtube channel...yea, I'm going to have fun with that. A lot of people don't know that I have a hidden talent of video editing lol. Thats like when I let people know I played the sax for 6 years :-O (alto, tenor, and baritone lol). The shoots in Indianapolis were recorded in HD. And I will find time to get some footage of other things along the way to keep yall attention.

Meanwhile, I have decided to leave to ATL a lil earlier than expected for this event with Fusion the Band (shout out to Fusion btw! I ride with them 100%). On March 26th (yes, thats a thursday for those of u who are bad with dates)... Fusion the Band opens for N.E.R.D. Such an exciting event...and yes I get to do the photography, I might bring my camcorder as well. I'm going to be in Atlanta from monday until friday, but I might end up leaving EARLY saturday because Wale performs with UCB & B.O.B. at 8pm friday night...you know I gotta see the homie do his thing since I missed the show in Nashville, TN. I gotta work at my "normal" job that saturday morning at 10am so I know I'm pushing it. Then that evening I gotta do the photography for Lil Wil (my dougie) & Cashmoney's All-Star Concert at 7pm in the Clement Auditorium at Austin Peay State Univ (yea u like that plug lol)....talk about Grind? I gotta photoshoot right before that with a sorority. Yes...I work hard, So after a 4 and a half hr drive, 5 hr work shift, 1 hr photoshoot, 2hr concert, oh and did I mention the photography for the after-party too? naw...I wont pass out. I'll just wake up and be ready to do it all over again...I guess I am a machine after all....
I'm working like I was never nominated....Aye marty lol, thats the answer to ur question! ("how does it feel not to lose 1, but 2 SEA Awards?") HA!

Young Hollaaaaaaa baaaayyyybaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyy!

Sam Dew & Kam Corvet Performing Live! 02.17.09

Sam Dew & Kam Corvet Performing Live! Tomorrow!!
Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Location:
Sambuca Lounge
3102 Piedmont Rd.
Atlanta GA 30305
---------------------------
Doors Open @ 10 PM
No Cover Fee or Free
For more Info. call 240-398-8330

Atlanta x Dipset Byrdgang x PrincessKenya x Fusion + more

Got back from ATL this past weekend. It was a real spare of the moment trip due to the fact that Fusion the Band's show was canceled. Went out there on Thursday...chilled with PrincessKenya. Got the chance to go to Polow da don's studio, got to meet a young producer named Chase and rapper Al-Fatz. Chase's beats was crazy, real talented dude. I know many of y'all haven't heard of Al-Fatz, but I been listening to dude since like '05 or '06...got a couple of tracks by him, one with him and Lil Wayne. He a real cool dude with a lot of charisma and funny as hell. We was in the studio joking on his flow cuz he is from Cleveland but has Texas freestyle flow. Later that night after leaving Polow's studio, we went back to Fatboi (the producer)'s studio. Chilled there all night until like 3 or 4am, an artist was in there doing his studio session, the track was hot. Fatboii was in there with a stomach virus looking sick as hell lol, lol like a big ol' kid lol...dude is funny though. I was prolly looking crazy too because I was up all day, woke up at 6am and drove four and a half hrs to ATL, and chilled with PrincessKenya all day, running all over ATL til 4am. The next morning we hung out a lil more before I had to drop her off to the airport to go back to Cali. Her grandma was sad as ever that she had to leave (btw: she is like the nicest lady in the world! lol).



The weekend in the A was just getting started...though, I wasn't able to do the photoshoot with Fusion, we still turned it into a fun weekend. Everything from the movies to Parties...it was crazy! I also got the chance to setup another project for myself with the owner of a barbershop in the A. The barbershop is crazy...imma have pics for y'all at a later date, but it was a barbershop/salon...the setup is amazing. A tattoo palor in the back of it, and flatscreen PC's on the wall so u can use the internet while you wait! I really need to go back down there and get some nice photos of it.


A lil shout out to F.A.M.E. Promotions...my homie Antwonne is really coming up the right way. Doing something positive for such a small city. Throwing some of the best parties in Clarksville, TN. Lately, around the city I've been doing a lot of Event photography and allowing everyone to tag their picture on Facebook. Its been really catching on lately, so hopefully we can continue making this place a lil more fun than it actually is lol even after I make that move to ATL. Also big ups to Kinfolk Promotions, I did the photography for that party to nights ago, it was a great turn out! YES...I'm getting to the money lol!



Lately, as far as freelance work...I've been a beast, but as far as the actual graphic design job search...its been a headache. Its been stressful, discouraging, heartbreaking....anything...you name it. So until my time comes I'm going to continue to do what I do best and thats put in this "Werque" until I come up on something good. As far as freelance...I've been doing a lot of Event Photography, as well as Flyers (ex: Phi Beta Sigma, Kappa Party), and business cards for stores & music artists. Also a couple of weeks ago, I got on my second project with Dipset Byrdgang and so far everything is looking good. I'm not going to speak on too much about until everything is complete and when they meet with Jim (Jones).

2008 Was Great = 2009 Even Greater

First and foremost, I’m just glad to be alive. 2009 is here and new years’ resolutions come into play. So since I have that amazing opportunity of living another year, I won’t let it go to waste. I have a lot in store for this year.

Year ’07, kicked off ’08 for me really well. I ended ’07 with getting on a big marketing project with Rapper Lil Boosie & Dipset Byrdgang’s own So’Sa (pronounced “So-Say”). Leading into early ’08 I received radio shout-outs in my hometown, Washington D.C., from radio host Jeannie Jones on WKYS 93.9 (formerly a host on WPGC 95.5, a part of the Russ Parr Morning Show, and spokeswoman for IPOD, Coca Cola, Smirnoff, Gillette, Anheuseur-Busch and L'OREAL Paris). Crazy thing is, I was in school in Tennessee when it happened. She hit me up with a message letting me know everything she said and that she shouted out Holla Fashions on the air and etc. She said she was proud to see a young black student putting his mind towards something positive. Something as simple as that motivated me so much for the simple fact that it showed me how much my hard work is actually paying off and getting recognition.

Throughout ’08, I teamed up with a band out in Atlanta, GA, known as Fusion the Band. I am now officially working with Fusion Entertainment on a consistent basis designing, photography, promoting and bringing my creative mind to the table. I’ve been doing a lot of work out in Atlanta for others as well. And as many of you know, it has been like a second home for me and I plan on moving out there in due time. While working with Fusion, I’ve also got the chance to tour with them to St. Louis, where they performed at the University of Missouri. Right after the performance was over, Fusion & I was interviewed live on the radio in St.Louis (my voice was gone but it was fun as hell!).


I’ve also been working heavily with a big DJ out in Indianapolis, IN. known as DJ Blendz: The BlendMaster (formally known as DJ Bnasty). I received the opportunity to actually go out to Indianapolis and do some freelance photography for the Leak Magazine for the Circle City Classic Weekend & the Shawty Lo Concert along with Tyrone (Brightwood Entertainment). Also worked with singer Young Maine & rapper Monte’ (1/2 of Group B.O.E.) while in Indianapolis.


I also worked with Singer/Songwriter PrincessKENYA out of California by way of Chicago (which I’ve been working with her since age 16/best friend). She’s making crazy moves in the music industry write now as far as Songwriting (Signed under EMI Publishing), and is also working on her own project as well. She took me in the studio in Atlanta and gave me the chance to meet many people; one of them being producer Fatboi (produced 2 platinum Ying Yang Twin Albums, songs for Young Jeezy, Gucci Mane, and Snoop’s “Sensual Seduction). So make sure you look out for her.

While doing all this, I also did my normal freelance work (graphic design, clothing, photography). This includes work for establishments like What Women Want: Clothing & Accessories (Clarksville, TN) and Sunscreen Customs (Clarksville, TN). Also for different people and organizations around the city, one being Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. And work outside of the state of Tennessee; Australia, the United Kingdom, Germany and different states around the U.S. to name a few. I also was on an internship with One-Hundred Magazine.

Though I did not hop on this project, Holla Fashions was asked to be a clothing sponsor for the Annual Mixtape Awards ("The Justos") held in NYC (too much going on at the time). Meanwhile, 2008 brought me nominations for two Southern Entertainment Awards (S.E.A.)…. Photographer of the year (Young Holla) & Clothing Line of the year (Holla Fashions). The awards ceremony has been pushed back to the third weekend in March 09, so I won’t know if I won until then. I’m up against some big names, and to me it’s not even about winning, I’m just so happy to even have the opportunity to have my name mention with the others. Simply because everything I do, I do it alone. All the work I have put in has been all me and I can take full credit for that. And this is out of the entire southern region of the United States. I’m up against names like Gino Green Global (the tees with the G’s all over them), YUMS (Soulja Boy always shouting them out), and Kashi Kicks (found in City Gear), to name a few.

By the end of ’08, school took its toll on me. But I stuck with it and graduated receiving my Bachelors of Fine Arts degree in Graphic Design. A week before graduation, me and 7 other senior graphic designers had our Senior Design Exhibit at Austin Peay; it was a GREAT turn out. After that, I didn’t feel like doing anything else. So I took a vacation back home to Washington D.C. for the holidays and now I’m ready to get back to work for ’09. This year I plan on doing things a little different, and I’m taking them a bit more serious. School is over and now real life begins.



I’ve been applying for graphic design jobs out in Atlanta, and basically just been waiting, praying to find something. In the meantime, and even after I get an official graphic design job, I will continue my plans for 2009. Just to name a few plans I still will continue with ALL of my freelance work. I plan to release version 5:A Perfect Fifth of the Holla Fashions website (hollafashions.com), as well as an Online Magazine/Blog (Untitled). Later in the year, I will release a Holla Fashions Mixtape (free for download) with the music artists featured on the website (no I’m not a music artist), also my photography will be for sell online which will also allow custom framing when you place an order(imagekind.com). PrincessKENYA and I have a lot of upcoming projects in the works that we will be working together on (music ventures, modeling, and etc). I will also continue to work with Fusion Entertainment. There are some Holla Fashions designs that will be officially manufactured rather than hand-painted and will be available in select stores (both men & women sizes). The designs are finished and ready to go whenever I decide to make that move. And this is only naming a few, so just make sure you stay tuned.

Thanks to everyone that helped me get to where I’m at with my craft, I appreciate everything and I promise I won’t let you down. Special shout out to Mr.DeKorte couldn’t have done it without ya homie!

-Y. Holla