No Rival @ Verse Boutique

The one and only Verse Boutique in Downtown Oakland has picked up the first season of No Rival t-shirts!!! Men's and women's designs are available.

Verse Boutique is a shop that, like No Rival, is rooted in urban sub-cultures and the arts. This unique space caters to a discerning clientele that is always looking for something fresh and that represents a unique style.

Inside of the store you will find exclusive sneakers from heavy hitting brands such as Nike, Adidas, Creative Recreation, and even some local shoe companies. If you come by at the right time, you may even be able to lay your eyes on some of the illest customs done up by local artists. Verse also carries a solid mix of apparel brands including...eh emm...NO RIVAL.

As you raise your head up and take a look around the walls above the merchandise in the store, you will find some of the most bold and creative artwork. This is not child's play, though. This is art that you might find in some of the most renowned urban or modern art museums. The guys at Verse have artists coming in and out, placing new work in the store on an almost weekly basis, so the art is always fresh. Verse strives to do the same with some of their apparel. It is always exciting at Verse because you never know what you might find from week to week.

When I came through to visit the Verse family last week, they had a dude who created some luxury AK's in gold, burberry pattern, versace, and fendi. If you haven't been able to find that gold plated AK 47 in your most recent issues of Guns and Ammunition, now is your chance to cop one! The highlights that made the store were still the staple urban elements; the old school boom box, the framed superstars, and the graffiti work. It was all fantastic. The guys at Verse have put together an eclectic, but beautiful shop in the downtown O that is a must visit. There is NO RIVAL to the Verse Boutique.

If you are out on the East side of the Bay, hit up Verse to check out their goods and look out for the NO RIVAL fits...on sale NOW!!!

Verse

461 9th Street

Oakland, CA 94607

(510) 663-4400

http://www.verseoakland.com/

That No Rival Cali-Knocks tee looks nice with those Blazers. I'll take it...

WWW.NORIVAL.COM IS UP!!!

The NO RIVAL Web Site has been launched!!!

The Summer has finally arrived and so have our brand new t-shirts. It has been a long time coming, but we are extremely excited to introduce our designs and hopefully see some folks rockin' them this season. Check out the store at www.norival.com.

Also be sure to check back often for updates on parties, events, and product news.

NO RIVAL...

No Rival Represents at The Roots/Erykah Badu Concert

The KMEL Paparazzi snapped some pictures of a few folks from the NO RIVAL family at the Roots/Erykah Badu concert at the magnificent Paramount in Oakland on Sunday evening. The Cali-Speakers tee in black and "Sucka!" tee in white are pictured here. Be sure to hit up norival.com next week to pick up these shirts if you don't already have them. The Cali-Speakers tee is a tribute to West Coast Hip Hop and the "Sucka!" tee you will just have to see for yourself. I saw your cousin last week and he already has his. I even saw your grandmama and she's got hers...so hit up the web site while supplies last!!!


Oh! The show!? It was amazing. The Roots did more than warm up the crowd by ripping through a number of their hits and proving again why they are one of the greatest Hip Hop groups of all time. They flowed seamlessly from one song to another with improvisational jams that bridged the gap between their album track performances. I know that this conversation has been beaten to death, but Black Thought really is one of the most underrated MC's in the game. I love watching him spit it with his ability to move from a laid back tone to a more aggressive stylee. That is what makes The Roots so fantastic! They can soothe with a beautiful mid-tempo jazz beat or R&B track, and then come back and crush you with a bass heavy, boom-bap beat that makes you want to jump up out of your chair...remember we are at the Paramount. The Roots can be as gangsta' as they want to be. The Roots new album, Rising Down, is still in my ride and I think it will remain there for the rest of the Summer.

Erykah Badu was equally amazing. I respect her so much as an artist because she ALWAYS makes a statement...and not only that...she leaves an impact. She came out on the stage looking like a fierce, funky Sideshow Bob. She was fitted in a red plaid suit that she might have borrowed from her baby's daddy, Andre 3000 from Outkast. Her hair was in full Afro explosion mode. Do not, however, let the looks deceive you. Once Miss Badu opened her mouth and her beautiful voice began to fill the expansive space of the Paramount theater all eyes were on her. Her sound is so wonderful. She brings a sweet voice to a perfect mix of Hip Hop, Jazz, R&B, Funk, and even a little Rock. The comparisons to Billie Holiday are certainly not unfounded. In my opinion, it is rare to see a female artist that garners so much love and respect from both the ladies and the guys. I'm talking MAD LOVE. I might go to the Mariah Carey show with my girlfriend and enjoy the melodies from the songs I hear and the radio (although she is hot too), but I am not constantly nodding my head or up out of my seat screaming for more. Badu's bass heavy jazz beats always remind me of early 90's Hip Hop. She cruised through her set drawing on songs from all four of her albums. I also enjoyed the moments when she was just messing around on her drum machine. I could go on and on about the show, but since this is the NO RIVAL blog, I will keep it at that. In my opinion, there is absolutely NO RIVAL to The Roots crew and Erykah Badu. They are doing what they love and it shows. I hope that they continue to make wonderful music well into the future. Until the next show...

NO RIVAL - SUMMER 2008 LOOKBOOK

The photo shoot for the No Rival - Summer 2008 line took place last week in the beautiful Oakland Hills. I am still editing the images and uploading them to the web site. I am hoping to have the web site launched by June 9th. Check out some of the photos of our fabulous models in the fresh dipped gear...

AWWWWW YEAH!!! We are, no doubt, excited about the launch of this brand!!! The store will be up soon, so hit us up next week at http://www.norival.com !!! PEACE!!!