Man, the most humbling experiences are always the most rewarding. I got the chance to chop it up with an elder statesman of streetwear yesterday by the name of Mister Cartoon for the upcoming Frank151 x G-Shock book. A true OG, Cartoon has a perspective on this whole lifestyle we live and love that needs to be heard in person to be fully appreciated. He was living it before most of us were born. What else is he doing in town? Yesterday he was doing a live installation at a phone store on 6th Ave to promote his new phone collab with PCS Mobile and today he’s headlining the G-Shock event with Kanye. That’s what you call a natural born hustler. Much respect.

My big homies and colleagues at Frank151 have been up to some major shit lately. I’m talking in addition to their ill book, their most-popular-in-NYC New Era fitteds, their ridiculous parties, and their behind the scenes manipulation of many a thing here in the rotten apple and in cities beyond. Yep on top of all that, they have gone and launched a record label called Frank Radio. Not coming into the game quietly, Frank Radio is jumping in heavy with two major hip hop releases hitting the streets next Truesday: Grand Puba and U-God. I’ve had the chance to extensively preview both albums and they are fire. Puba is straight golden era nostalgia with RetroActive while U God finally gets his shine on with Dopium. To jump everything off, Frank Radio is throwing a release party this Thursday, June 18 with both Puba and Golden Arms performing at Le Poisson Rouge. As a hookup for fam only, you can RSVP here for VIP free entrance. New York Kings Fam only! See you there! Shouts to Mingo and Dave C! Details after the jump.

Check out Sheikh Malbon. The homie Mike just got off the Gumball3000 race and has apparently become Saudi royalty. Between nearly 6000 miles of highway, maybe a party or two, and a night in the bing in New Orleans with Duane Peters and Trigger Gumm for shooting off fire works out of a moving vehicle (at least that’s what the cops called it), Mike was given the honorary head garb from Sheikh Amro Kalawi of Saudi Arabia. Not a bad look kid! You can check out more of Mike’s Gumball madness at Frank151.com.

Last night I had the great honor of interviewing two thirds of the legendary Brand Nubian - Lord Jamar and Grand Puba! It all kinda makes sense actually considering Sadat X recently came into play in this column right? Totally coincidentally I’m working with the homies at Frank151 on their De La Soul issue (more on this soon) and doing a story on Calliope studios, the famous NYC studio that birthed the careers of De La, Stetsasonic, and Tribe to name a few, and Brand Nubian figure heavily into the Calliope story, so there it is. Sick that the homie Dante had so much to do with all of this. Shouts to Mingo!

Every year in March, I make a pilgrimage to Vermont for the last great weekend of the East Coast season: The US Open and World Quarters. Its an almost Groundhog Day-esque affair, each year the snow is sparse, the sun is shining and everybody is in the mood to wile out. Ok every now and then the weather gets wack but the wile out part, that’s always true. This year was no different. Actually, this year was off the hook. Uncle Craig (Frank151), Michael (Shut NYC), Tracy (ESPN) and I packed up a brolic Toyota Tundra LTD Crew Max and headed up to Stratton on the Wednesday before the Open so we could get entrenched before the madness. For the next 6 days the entire shred world dropped in and did it right: Danny Kass won his fifth US Open halfpipe, Louie Vito turned 21 and the World Quarters pushed the boundaries of competitive riding from rad to literally fucking insane. Check out the full trip photo gallery courtesy of Craig Wetherby after the jump.

I had to rep this one for my Frank151 fam. You already know I’m a Wu Banger for life, and Baby U aka Golden Arms aka U-God has always been the under-appreciated voice of the clan. Well homie’s got a new push with a new mixtape and a new album and now an ill collabo fitted with Major Threat. This joint is limited to only 144 pieces, so you better get to the Frank store quick to grab one. Also, cop U-God’s mixtape here. Wu Tang son.