LOQLAQ: Dose Two x The Swagger Salon/Lansi x Emir Hermono x Haverhuck VHS

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Sayla and QBe from Dose Two are back to dropping rhymes with furious gusto in LOQLAQ, a colloquially conveyed piece of verbal machine gun fire that’s thematically on point for Halloween.

The result of a massive collaborative effort with Penang-born streetwear brand Lansi, Emir Hermono and production studio Haverhuck VHS, LOQLAQ takes to a derelict mansion at dusk to meld both an ominous atmosphere and a sick rap together in this almost 4-minute short.

To those unacquainted with slang words, Loqlaq translates to reckless or foolish, and is a word native to the northern states in Malaysia. Quite the fitting name, considering the production takes place at the kind of landmark you’d never go to after dark.

Dose Two breaks new ground with this release in several ways. Most notably, this is the duo’s first real attempt in delivering their rhythmic word spew primarily in Bahasa Malaysia. Also, LOQLAQ deviates from their usual music in that it’s an adrenaline rush of energy as opposed to laid back and reflective.

On both counts, Dose Two does a fantastic job in their departure from familiarity. The track, simply put, is lit. With the man behind the album “Karma Kisses” (Emir Hermono) as well as director HQA playing a role in LOQLAQ’s production, we suppose this comes as no surprise.

Experience this Halloween-themed awesomeness below:

 

MASSES NIKEiD Silhouettes

Posted by & filed under Features, Sneakers.

After what feels like eons, Nike.com has finally extended its reach to the Southeast Asian region. In its wake is the fact that Swoosh fans on this side of the planet are now able to tailor the brand’s silhouettes to their liking on NIKEiD, an online service that was rolled out on Thursday.

Essentially this allows you to design the pair, the guys at Nike make it to your exact specifications and then you’ll get your custom footwear delivered to you in 3-5 weeks. It’s sneakerhead paradise, folks!

With this much customisation at the click of a button, we figured we’d put our inner Da Vinci to work and see just how creative we could get with the NIKEiD. Here’s a few picks from around the office. Enjoy!

1. Air Force 1 Low 

By Jansen Leong (Writer)

 

2. Air Force 1 Mid 

By Kent Foong (Intern)

 

3. Air Max Zero 

By Khaliss Khair (Social Media Manager)

 

4. Lunar Epic Flynit

By Bryan Chin (Editor-In-Chief)

 

5. Air Max 1 Ultra Flyknit

By Yeoh Tun Way (Footwear Content Editor)

 

Do hit us up with a comment on what you think of these designs. If you’re itching to exercise your creativity or simply want to personalise your very own Nike pair for purchase, head on over to NIKEiD! HAVE FUN!

MASSES Picks: 5 Movies You Probably Have Not Watched (October)

Posted by & filed under Entertainment, Featured, Features.

 

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Halloween is this weekend so we have listed 5 movies that are perfect for the occasion! We have a tale of a professor in possession of a serum that can revive the dead, a high school horror classic, a series of horror stories that loop, a deaf author fighting for her life and finally, a horrific tale of a Craiglist advert gone wrong.

Enjoy the movies we have listed and happy Trick or Treat!

1. Hush (2016)

A young, female author named Madison lives by herself in an isolated cottage in the woods. One day, her neighbour who returns one of her books visits her but on that night, an unknown man in a mask chases her. Banging on Madison’s door and screaming for help, she dies on the doorstep… because Madison is deaf. What transpires is a game of cat and mouse with the killer figuring out Madison’s disability. Madison has to use all her wits if she is to survive the night.

2. Scream (1996)

A satire of slasher films but very much an original in its own right, Scream is a classic that is a must-watch for horror fans. Sidney Prescott, a high school student, has suddenly become the target of a mysterious killer. The killer has been taunting his victims, stalking them and finally stabbing them to death. Sidney has to uncover the identity of the killer and figure out why she has been targeted before it’s too late…

3. Re-Animator (1985)

A zombie flick with comedy/horror elements, the movie starts with Herbert West reviving his deceased professor, Dr. Hans Gruber, with a scientific serum. With a successful result, Herbert travels to England to further his studies and meets Dan along with his fiancée Megan. Soon, the trio is involved in a series of bizarre events that will show them that playing God has horrific consequences.

4. Creep (2014)

A fresh take on the found footage horror genre, we follow Aaron, a videographer, who responds to a Craiglist ad by Josef. Josef tells Aaron his job: to film Josef’s daily life discreetly for Josef’s unborn son. Thinking it’s an easy job, Aaron accepts only to find out later on that Josef isn’t who he appears to be. Strange behaviour and discoveries about Josef makes Aaron reconsider the job at hand but is it too late for him?

5. Southbound (2015)

An anthology horror film, the stories are set in endless purgatory fashion that is bound to send chills down your spine. We watch Mitch and Jack run away from mysterious demonic creatures only to always return to where they started, a music band ends up on the last road trip of their lives, a car accident that ends in a mysterious hospital, a man’s doomed quest to save his sister from demons and finally back to Mitch and Jack as they execute their revenge plan on a family at their vacation home. Southbound is definitely worth watching this Halloween.

 

Local Bands That Will Get You In The Halloween Spirit

Posted by & filed under Features, Music.

Halloween is upon us again, meaning that it’s time to get our sinister, scary vibes on! But we’re not here to talk about what costume we think you should wear, oh no. We’re going to get you in the mood for horror and trick or treating with help from some of Malaysia’s musical talents instead.

There’s a handful of local bands that have – at some point, at least – leaned on ominous or evocatively terrifying melodies to conjure up a stirring piece of aural and visual art. Here are our picks of music videos by some of these artists that we believe embody the spirit of Halloween!

1. Ballad For Layla “The Dead Marshes” (2011)

Horns up people! First up on our list is the metal outfit from Kuala Lumpur, Ballad For Layla with their track “The Dead Marshes”. Though the name might have zombie-themed implications, the music video actually revolves around freaky-looking werewolves. Maybe they’re zombie werewolves. In any case, the ominous atmosphere and 80s-style special effects make this an interesting yet oddly funny music video.

It’s a well executed production that ties seamlessly with the song itself, on top of oozing the Halloween vibe.

2. Once Upon A Time There Was A Sausage Named Bob “Truth To Be Told” (2011)

Don’t judge a book (band) by it’s cover (name)! Once Upon A Time There Was A Sausage Named Bob might not strike you as the kind of band that plays remotely dark music, considering their name, but they do a remarkable job of blending gothic bleakness and heart pumping sounds together.

This is apparent in their music video, “Truth Be Told” that is about a boy who came to an amusement park, bought a big music box from a man with a bicycle and got transported to a weird realm when he looked inside it. It is then where the truth becomes told…

 

3. Kyoto Protocol “Still Alive” (2015)

Hardly anything is creepier than going to a party with a group and next thing you know, you’re surrounded by hordes of faceless people! Kyoto Protocol’s “Still Alive” – released last year – is a classic thriller woven into a music video. The colour tone is relatively vibrant for its theme, but the cinematography and concept direction is well executed with a couple spine-chilling scenes here and there.

 

4. Beatburns “Ice Cream” (2016)

Beatburns has a knack for illustrating a dark and disturbing state of mind in its creative concoctions. This track may be called “Ice Cream”, but it would have been more fitting if it were titled “I Scream” instead.

Possessing a Lady Gaga kind of craziness, the video’s concept works great with the band’s sound. This ice cream isn’t going to melt anytime soon, but just like the edible version it’s a track that’s best experienced sooner rather than later.

What other bands have also given off the Halloween feel, and which of the ones listed here you think embody the spirit of horror best? Share us your thoughts in the comment section below. Enjoy a spine tingling Halloween!

Isetan “The Japan Store” Lot10, Kuala Lumpur

Posted by & filed under Art, Design, Events, Fashion, Features, Lifestyle, TV.

Cloakwork Brings His A-Game In HUF ‘Classic Hi’ Shoebox Art

Posted by & filed under Art, Sneakers.

HUF‘s Classic Hi silhouette is a sleek thing of beauty, and local graffiti artist Cloakwork likely shares the sentiment. Although a mainstay name in the Malaysian graffiti scene, his talents are not defined just by his detailed graffiti. Walls aren’t his only canvas.

In his latest flexing of his creative muscle, the man picks up a shoebox as his canvas to imprint this gorgeous pair’s silhouette on.

Watch the video above on the process of this one-off art piece, resulting from HUF’s collaboration with Cloakwork!

Stay tuned to more of Cloakwork’s creative endeavours by checking out his Facebook page. Of course, do keep a tab open for HUF Malaysia’s Facebook and Instagram handles too!

Pestle & Mortar Halloween Capsule Collection 2016

Posted by & filed under Fashion.

The ladies and gents of Pestle & Mortar Clothing have presented a storytelling-like look book with bleak and murderous undertones for their recent Halloween-inspired collection.

The Halloween Capsule Collection 2016 may be driven by scares and gloom, but that isn’t translated in the colour palette; there’s stark whites and vibrant yellows here too. It’s the prints and typography that primarily impart the Halloween atmosphere.

Here’s a view of the look book (in chronological order) below:

This collection is available at the brand’s outlets in Bangsar and Penang. Of course, if you’re too lazy to head out you could always purchase these goods via their webstore.

Don’t forget to follow them on Facebook and Instagram for more info!

C1RCA Pro Skaters To Take Skate4ACause By Storm!

Posted by & filed under Events, Sports.

It isn’t everyday that skateboard pros from ‘across the pond’ come over to wade through Malaysia’s pavement, so if you’re a skater yourself or just a fan of the culture, you may want set your sights on iM4U’s skateboarding event.

Called Skate4ACause, the initiative aims to alter the popular sentiment that extreme sports – such as skateboarding – has no positive bearing on our youth. Helping the cause out in pushing the idea that the skateboard can be a medium for self-development are three international skateboarding icons: C1RCA pro-skaters Jack Olson, Adrian Lopez and James Brockman.

22-year-old Jack Olson is a young skateboarding virtuoso hailing from St. Louis Park in Minnesota that utilises a regular stance when he takes to the pavement on wheels. Here’s a look at a little bit of what he can do when standing on the deck:

Next on C1RCA’s skater team is Adrian Lopez, FC Porto’s Spanish forward footballer with an impressive La Liga track rec- sorry, wrong Adrian. This Adrian doesn’t kick balls, at least not professionally. Instead, the San Diego homeboy employs a unique style to skating while pushing the limits of what he can accomplish trick-wise. According to Zero – a skater-oriented brand – videos of Adrian skateboarding tend to be accompanied by classic heavy metal ballads.

James Brockman is, quite simply, a rampaging beast on the skateboard. With what looks like utter disregard for his knees, the California local has no issue role-playing a meteor as he wheels out of a pavement’s edge. With the force of which he sometimes lands you’d think there’d be craters in his wake. In case, whether he falls or accomplishes a crowd-whooping trick, James is a powerful force on the skateboard. Check him out in action, alongside both his painful falls and skillfully managed tricks, in the video below:

If you’re keen on watching these guys live as they perform their skateboard demo, do check out Skate4ACause this Sunday, 30th October 2016! The event will comprise of three main parts, namely the skateboarding competition, music performances by Bittersweet, Jin Hackman, Aman Ra and Tres Empire, and skate workshops for the masses attending.

For more information on the event organisers iM4U and their initiatives, don’t forget to check out their Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts.

Blending Football Elements into Sneakers

Posted by & filed under Features, Sneakers.

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The moment you break into a new pair of football boots on the pitch, that Ballon d’Or winner vibe might start seeping into you. If the new boots are particularly awesome you might even start feeling like the Asian counterpart to Messi or Ronaldo.

However, those same turf shoes just won’t have the same empowering effect at, say, the mall, or anywhere else where the functionality of said boots is negligible. It’s arguably a fashion disaster if you try to pair these boots with other pieces of attire you’d normally wear on a regular basis. Just imagine them in combination with a pair of regular jeans, football jersey and a drawstring bag slung over the body. The visual is just… eww.

Nike saw this as an opportunity and crafted the first hybrid sneakers by marrying the Nike Mercurial Superfly IV and Nike Free 5.0 outsole, with the NIKE FREE MERCURIAL SUPERFLY HTM through its innovation centre – NikeLab back in 2014. The results were more than satisfying; the silhouette flew off the shelves instantly and resell prices skyrocketed.

After that, Nike continued to release tons of football-inspired sneakers through various channels such as NikeLab and Nike FC. Nike accelerated the concept of performance-lifestyle sneakers with the likes of Free Mercurial Superfly, Magista Footscape, Tiempo Roshe, Free Hypervenom, Airmax R9 and Zoom Mercurial.

  • Nike Zoom Mercurial

Following in Nike’s footsteps, other players in the wider fashion industry also began to incorporate football culture that would eventually define a new style. A project between Japanese label SOPHNET and Nike, F.C. Real Bristol had been fusing both football and fashion together since 1999. Apart from that, collaboration between NikeLab and Olivier Rousteing paved the way for football to find influence in high fashion as well.

adidas caught on to this trend with the release of the ACE 16+ UltraBoost, which fuses the technologies of the BOOST foam and the latest addition to football boots, the ACE PURECONTROL. The result was an instant sensation on the market with a very limited release at European retailers.

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Both brands are here to fill the gap in the market, with the result of creating a whole new audience and perspective on how people see performance sneakers on the streets. I bet that you will see more and more hybrid sneakers in the following years.

While adidas just rolled out their lifestyle version of the football boot, Nike has an upper hand as they introduced this element two years ago. Will adidas catch up soon or will Nike continue its lead? One thing is for sure; these hybrid sneakers definitely open up a whole new aspect to the scene and for consumers, it’s definitely a win-win.

Laila’s Lounge “BEBASTEREO” Teaser

Posted by & filed under Music.

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Those following the journey of Laila’s Lounge will know that the band rose to prominence when their hit song “Mawar Khayalan” – from the Vol.II KAMI album – captivated audiences when it featured as the theme song of the movie “KAMI”. They garnered even greater acknowledgement and a more adoring fan base following the re-release of the mastered version of their KOSONG EP last year.

This year, Laila’s Lounge are set to wow fans once more with their upcoming single, “BEBASTEREO” that is set for release this 31st October.

Check out the sneak peek of the band’s upcoming music video below:

If you want to be kept updated on Laila’s Lounge, do head down to their official Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts.

Also, don’t forget to check out the bands exclusive Facebook live interview at TapauTV page tonight at 9PM!