FLEX 07: The adidas X Yung Raja Takeover

Posted by & filed under Fashion, TV.

EPISODE 07

In conjunction with the newly launched adidas Brand Center in Sunway Pyramid, we’ve contacted our friends from across the Causeway, none other than Yung Raja himself to become the guest judge for this episode! From rummaging through the adidas catalog, to Joshua spitting a few bars, watch the episode to see how the hosts styled Southeast Asia’s brown superstar in full adidas flex! Who do you think should have won? Let us know in the comments below! Special thanks to Yung Raja and Flightsch for agreeing to this, Def Jam SEA and adidas Malaysia for making this happen!

Give Yung Raja a follow here.

Top 20 Malaysian Songs Of 2019

Posted by & filed under Music.

Written by J.L and Aqil

From rap, mainstream, indie, to the downright experimental, 2019 has proved to be a happening year for the local music scene, hence this was a very difficult list to pick out from. Nevertheless, here’s the cut that made it to the best of 2019. Enjoy.

Damn Johnny by Jetcetera

After their first single ‘Hear Me Out’, Klang valley-based indie outfit Jetcetera released another one called ‘Damn Johnny’, a tune dedicated to the hardworking fuckboys around in KL. If you’ve ever been ghosted by one/you are one, check this one out then: 

Caramel Cream by Midnight Fusic

Fans yearned more from the boys ever since ‘Lovesick’ came out, and who are we to complain? The Sony signing brought out their cheekier, more adventurous side in ‘Caramel Cream’, where their lo-fi influences flow into their ‘Star Barks’ drinks. 

 

Getir by Leaism

Lea has gone a long way since her busking days, and we’re proud to say that she has finally found her sound in the Kesuma album. Out of all the tracks, ‘Getir’ featuring Leo Ari felt right. Despite Lea’s vocal abilities, she didn’t need to challenge herself too much on ‘Getir’, resulting in an honest piece about love and anxiety.

Naluri by TUJULOCA

Tuju may be one of the more prominent members of the K-Clique, and his collaboration with his partner Loca B, shows that Tuju can bring his talent outside of the group. Loca B also rolled up her sleeves to show fans her ruthless side and together in ‘Naluri’, their chemistry promises more excitement in the future.

 

Simple City by Alien Lipstick Fire

Alien Lipstick Fire is the new kid in town: young, hungry, but unlike the stereotype, they’re pretty chill. Ever since they signed for Breaking Music, Alien Lipstick Fire has made a lot of noise on Spotify with their new album, Different Days. Simple City is a good introductory track for what Alien Lipstick Fire can offer.

 

We’ll Be Fine by Playburst

At first, it may be a bit weird to hear Aidil Rusli’s voice coming from a different band’s song (since it’s been Couple’s signature touch for years), but his second baby, Playburst, brings the emo days back to 2019 with the Positive Jams record. ‘We’ll Be Fine’ showcases Playburst’s unique songwriting, and from its chorus, you can tell that it’s made for larger crowds.

 

In Time by Jaggfuzzbeats

After the success of Rest Now, the Shah Alam-based duo produced two more singles for 2019 and ‘In Time’ caught our ears. The garage-y, borderline-country track is a 100% indie rock anthem for the lost and jaded youth, reminding them that, in time, we’ll be alright.  

 

Si Kiwi by Sweetass

Albert Ng concludes Sweetass as ‘Smashing Pumpkin on ketum’, and we can’t disagree. Si Kiwi is obviously about their drummer James Rivers, and what’s crazy is that, after about 2 minutes into listening, you’ll realise that it’s slowly turning into a Grease hit.

 

Wonderland by GARD WUZGUT

GARD WUZGUT’s CPR album is frankly one of the freshest thing to come out from Malaysian hip hop this year. Lyrics like ‘Cam ringgit gulung dengan soda’ and ‘Macam SPD, suku potong dua’ were accepted and celebrated by hip hop fans. Will this be the dawn of a new era, heralded by GARD WUZGUT?

Asmara Botol Kaca by Margasatwa

After a long wait, Luncai Emas signing Margasatwa has finally released a new single called ‘Asmara Botol Kaca’. Their nusantara soul is laced with quirky, psychedelic-folk sound in this song, accompanied by trippy visuals and an iconic Margasatwa look that will be remembered by indie fans.

 

Gundah Gulana by Loko

The Shah Alam born Loko has brought their name all the way to China in 2019. In celebration of that, the music video of this catchy tune was recorded there, and out of all the songs they released, this one provided a glimpse of Loko’s potential to be an indie great in the coming years.

 

DGAF by Eat Shit And Die!

Eat Shit And Die has been stomping around the scene — even got themselves a slot in the previous Rockaway. But DGAF is a statement, that Eat Shit And Die is not fucking around. An angsty, punchy tribute to the angry youth, who are sick and tired of getting stepped on, definitely a call to fight and stomp back.

 

Sek Kito Jange Pecoh by No Good

When someone says ‘Kelantanese music’, you’ll most probably visualise a traditional setup, dikir barat, or a really bad Golok version of Akon’s ‘Right Now (Na Na Na)’. But the guys from Killeur Calculateur and Dirgahayu had other ideas, thus No Good was born. ‘Sek Kito Jange Pecoh’ gives fans an idea of Kelantanese no holds barred punk rock together with the dialect, and without the fear of getting raided. 

 

Jangan Cakap Saja by Iqbal M

Iqbal M’s Jangan Cakap Saja won Tapau Awards’ best song for a reason: it is one of a kind. As said by many, Iqbal M is carrying the scene on their shoulders and ‘Jangan Cakap Saja’ is becoming an anthem that indie kids will always look forward to. Best part is, Iqbal actually educates his fans in the song, something that can be considered quite rare these days.

ur cute but boring by lunadira

You’ve seen STUCK WITH YOU and Forever’s Not Our Thing soar through the international markets, but 2019 was UCBB’s year. ‘ur cute but boring’ gained so much traction, that a number of Twitter users shared their experiences with guys with UCBB tropes. Kudos lunadira, we all know a queen when we see one. 

 

Pelukan Angkasa by SOG ft Shila Amzah

Ever since they got back from France to record with the dudes from Chunk! No Captain Chunk!, SOG has not been the same. They recruited multi-instrumentalist MK Ridzuan, and even landed an OST stint for local movie KL Vampires. KL Vampires may not get the success they wanted, but the roaring harmonies of Riko, Raja Nazrin and songstress Shila Amzah made ‘Pelukan Angkasa’ a lot more memorable than the movie that they were supposed to promote.

 

Get Munni by Zamaera x Lilasianthiccie

Zamaera has made a lot of hits before, but a duet with Lilasianthiccie in ‘Get Munni’ is the collaboration we never asked for, but it’s also the one that we don’t deserve. The chemistry between the two rappers is sublime, and personally almost like a diad in the Force. ‘Get Munni’ showed teeth, grit and a big fuck you to whoever it’s intended it for.

 

Mimpi by K-Clique ft Alif

‘Hidup aku bagai mimpi’ is most probably the most sung rap chorus this year, and with K-Clique’s chugging the hype train, we understand why. It’s still crazy to think that ‘Lain Lane Line’ was only launched a year ago, because the group from KK grew tremendously since then. I can dare say that ‘Mimpi’ is the track that ascended them to the level of Malaysian hip hop greats.

 

Hello Sayang by Pastel Lite ft Naza The Times

Yuna Room Record signing Pastel Lite had a good run for their previous album Balada, but their recent album, Pop Bilik Tidur, is a beast on its own. Who would’ve thought City Pop would challenge the current sound, and made 2019 theirs? Together with Naza from The Times, ‘Hello Sayang’ signals the arrival of Pastel Lite, and showed their ability to offer great tunes beyond the trending sound.

 

Desire by LUST

No one complained when Tekesima won the best album award at Tapau Awards, because despite a tight competition, the album deserved the accolade. ‘Desire’, one of the fan-favourites in the album, captured our hearts and ears with a relevant chorus that will echo through the 2020s. ‘Throw another brick at your desire’, will be sung and remembered at gigs, award shows, jamming studios or just at the comfort of your homes.

JBL’s New Solar Powered Headphones Can Technically Last Forever

Posted by & filed under TECHNOLOGY.

If You Go Out Into The Sun

Written by Aqil Nasri

Have you ever wanted to listen to your wireless headphones all day long and not worry about battery life? Well, JBL might have a solution for you.

Introducing the Reflect Eternal headphones. It uses ‘Exeger Powerfoyle’ solar charging technology that helps the headphones charge while you are outdoors or indoors. The solar panel strip that handles the charge is placed on the headband. However, JBL still provides a backup USB Speed Charge in case users aren’t able to charge it through solar energy.

JBL has proudly claimed that wearing the headphones outdoors for about 2 and a half hours per day will net you “virtually unlimited playtime”. What’s even more impressive is the fact that you can still charge the headphone from indoor lighting, albeit at a much slower pace.

While the idea does impress me, I’m still a bit skeptical of the overall execution of the whole product, as currently, it’s not a finished product yet. JBL is currently crowdfunding the product over at Indiegogo. Although the campaign goal has been reached, none of the public had hands-on experience with the headphones yet.

Personally, I’d wait for the full release of these headphones before jumping on the train to the future. But, if you guys want to cop these bad boys early on, head on over to Indiegogo to snatch one before they get sold out! Also, let us know what you guys think about the JBL Reflect Eternal Headphones, do you think they are the future? Let us know!

ASUS Has Just Released A World First 280 Hz Monitor

Posted by & filed under TECHNOLOGY.

And You Thought 144 Hz Was High

Written by Aqil Nasri

Just when you thought technology couldn’t get better, it did. ASUS has just released the world’s first-ever 280 Hz on Taobao, a Taiwanese retail website. Before the release of this monitor, Nvidia smacked their chest by releasing a 240 Hz monitor the world, claiming that theirs was the only efficient way to game for e-sports and competitive gaming. Well, now they have a competitor, and it seems to me that ASUS is one-step ahead of Nvidia right now.

Nicknamed “The Flash”, the TUF Gaming VG279QM monitor is 27” and comes with a 1920x1080p resolution. Although this might prove to be a slight imperfection because the density of pixel would be better off on just a 24” monitor, Asus might be assuming that it’ll be a good trade-off for better colour and quality image.

Now, if you check the Taobao store page, the 280 Hz refresh rate is native to the monitor. However, if you check the description list, 240 Hz is listed as the base refresh rate. But, if users do some extra tweaking that can enable certain monitor settings or overclock some adjustments, the monitor will still be able to reach up to 280 Hz refresh rate. That’s a very impressive achievement.

But in the end, to each their own. There’s no harm and no foul in getting a 280 Hz monitor for your own personal needs. The only problem right now is that it’s only available in Taiwan. ASUS has not made any plans to make this monitor available elsewhere for now.

Fret not though, any new updates about availability or pricing from the company will be updated here in this article. In the meantime, if you want to check the webpage about the monitor, just click on this link.

Let us know what you think about the release of ASUS’s new 280 Hz monitor in the comments below!

The Reebok X adidas Instapump Fury Boost Is One Of 2019’s Best Releases | WDHANFTSY

Posted by & filed under Sneakers, TV.

In a collaboration nobody would’ve thought to ever happen, adidas has decided to lend its technology to its sibling company Reebok to refresh one of the brand’s most famous model, the Insta Pump Fury Boost.

Only this time round, the EVA midsole is replaced with Boost, and all the better for it. Watch the last episode of WDHANFTSY in 2019 and see both Julian’s and Bryan’s mutual agreement on this model.

JEMSON’s Back To Smash Us All Up With ‘Pape Saje’

Posted by & filed under Music.

Written by Aqil Nasri

Have you ever been oldsplained by people older than you? Did they tried to correct you on things that you, yourself, is probably an expert on, but since the person you are talking to is older (or even just slightly older) than you, they think they have a superior outlook on life?

Well then, Pape Saje is definitely the 80’s rock anthem for all you people out there who are pissed off with this type of brazen ignorance.

The recent music video release by them will definitely stoke the fires of everyone who’s been excited for more materials from the newly formed band (Approximately 2 months ago at the time of writing). Positives are all I can say about Pape Saje’s MV. It’s brave, funny, exhilarating, and fucking explosive. It grabs you by the balls and won’t let go until you squeal in excitement about the prospect of good rock and roll music surfacing in the Malaysian music scene.

The comedic (I meant this in a good way) interaction between the two members of JEMSON, Myo and Najmi, with the wrestler (Shaukat from Malaysia Pro Wrestling) in the MV was some perfect, top-notch acting. I mean, who would’ve thought that hiring a professional wrestler would make a great idea? Shaukat managed to literally carry two fully grown men, weighing at the very least between 50-60 kilograms each, before putting them down like it’s nothing. Man, what a beast.

Not to forget AG Coco’s prowess in guitar playing. The finger-licking solo that he played complements the song so perfectly that he manages to neutralize the giant wrestler with just one solo section. Imagine what he could do if the song had two solo sections.

Anyway, I don’t want to spoil the song and the MV more for you guys. Have a look for yourself and be careful that it doesn’t melt your brains off.

Food Origins: Keropok Lekor

Posted by & filed under Food.

Delve into the history and the makings of one of Malaysia’s favourite snacks

Written by Aqil Nasri

An accompaniment during tea time, a supper snack for when those midnight cravings kick in, a delicacy that’s loved by everyone. The Keropok Lekor is a fish snack that’s rolled and eaten usually with some sweet chilli sauce. But where did it come from, and who conceived the idea to make these?

In the second edition of Food Origins, we’ll be delving deep into the history of Keropok Lekor, how they were made, where did they come from, and why were they given the name of Keropok Lekor in the first place.

Originating from the state of Terengganu in Malaysia, this east coast state is home to the fishing industry, as it is located strategically by the South China Sea. The origins of Keropok Lekor began over 30-40 years ago, when fishermen returning back from the seas would come home with an overabundance of fish caught during their regular fishing trips. The excess in fish led to many of the villagers living near the beach to create a new snack.

When it was first made, it had no name at all. However, the people there came up with an idea for the snack’s name because of how it was made. The main ingredients for keropok lekor consist of fish contents, corn starch and seasoned with sugar and salt. The contents were then mixed and kneaded together. The ingredients were then smacked together, causing it to make a “kelepok” sound. Over time, the “kelepok” sounded more and more like “keropok”, which then became the basis for the snack’s name.

Process of making the keropok lekor

Now, the “lekor” part of the name comes from the word “lingkar” but when spoken in a Terengganu accent, it sounds a lot more like “lekor”. What “lingkar” means in English is a circle or when talking about an action, to roll. Thus, this forms the full name of Keropok Lekor, which came fully from how it’s made and how it looks like.

When discussing on how this snack is made nowadays, fish paste or vegetables are normally grinded together, with sago (vegetable starch) being mixed in there as well.

Currently, there are three main forms of keropok lekor available today. Consumers can enjoy their keropok lekor in lekor (chewy and long) form, keping (which is crispy and thin) form, and losong (steamed). All of these types actually taste slightly different from each other, although they are made from the exact same ingredients. Now, these three types of keropok lekor are just uncooked raw ones. When cooking them, there are two main styles of keropok lekor, which is the kerepok lekor goreng and keropok lekor keping. Different people have their own preferences when it comes to eating this snack, as some like it slightly chewy and thick, which falls mainly under the keropok lekor goreng style of cooking. But some like it thin and crispy, sort of like eating chips. Also, you can eat them just like that or dip them in extra sauces, such as chili sauce or special chili blends that still maintains spiciness levels but is very tasty when eaten.

Keropok Lekor Keping

So, now you know where and how keropok lekor is made. Of course, keropok lekors are now available en masse at any corner in Malaysia, but for the truly authentic taste, it’s worth the trip to the East Coast to experience first hand what a truly well made ican taste like.

Anyways, let us know in the comments if you have any suggestions for any type of food or beverages for future food origins!

10 of the Worst Sneaker Releases in 2019

Posted by & filed under Sneakers.

2019 was a blessed year filled with plenty of good shoes, from the likes of meaningful collaborations, fire colourways, and all-round  . But with the good, comes the bad, and we’ve also had our fair share of downright horrible shoes that has unfortunately graced us with their presence. We present to you our top 10 worst shoes of 2019.

10. Mars Yard Overshoe

Granted, the concept in theory makes a lot of sense, if you can actually detach the weatherproof coveralls and see the shoe that makes the foundation of the silhouette. Touted as a space iteration, the weatherproof shroud does actually serve a function, and the whole aesthetic really does resemble an astronaut’s boot that has been repurposed for Earth. Otherwise, it’s fairly unremarkable, it’s value saved only by the Mars Yard silhouette hiding underneath the cover.

9. Commes Des Garcons x Nike Air Presto

Interesting looking shoes like these usually preclude an interesting backstory, and Tinker Hatfield’s black mark on an otherwise clean legacy proves to be a case of great concept, awry execution. The idea was to increase breathability through the shoe, resulting in a double layer construction that is shaped to look like the thing it was inspired from, the tent. Obviously, it’s less than aesthetically pleasing, with Tinker stating that his “dumpy looking tent thing” is one of his worst projects to date.

And with Commes Des Garcons bringing this back, probably for its eccentric design, it won’t be flying off of the shelves anytime soon.

8. Nike Air Max 270 ISPA

Supposedly meant for urban commuters, the Air Max 270 ISPA adds some ruggedness and functionality to the silhouette, which has resulted in a hideous, bulky looking shoe that doesn’t serve any real purpose and can’t be taken out of the urban environment.

 

7. Archlight Boot

Already an oddball in the luxury chunky section of shoes, Louis Vuitton decided to go one leg up over its original Archlight, and extend the sock all the way to the thigh. Why this exists, I have absolutely no idea. It would seem like somewhat an eccentric novelty, if the price wasn’t eye-wateringly ludicrous. While the standard low top comes in at around RM 5000, this iteration costs double, and I’m absolutely okay if we pass this and never seeing it again. Ever.

6. Yeezy 350 V2 Yeezreel

 

Along with Kanye’s Christian awakening, so has his appeal to odd colour palettes, and the Yeezreel is one of the worst of the lot that looked like Ye took inspiration from the amount of fakes available in Petaling Street and rehashed it in the studio. Simply put, it makes the “Semi-Frozen Yellow” look like a tolerable colourway, and that’s saying a lot.

5. AJ1 Nova XX

There is a very solid, very strong reason why the Air Jordan 1 looks good just as it is and should not be tampered with in anyway whatsoever. Instead, they’ve decided to ignore all the red flags and relocate the laces  and add a velcro strap to secure the collar because the laces, for reasons unbeknownst to many of us, are shifted to the lateral side. Oh, and they removed the swoosh, how bout that.

4. Undercover x Nike React Boot

In what can be described as an overcomplication of a boot, Undercover have taken it over the top to create this. Replete with air bags in the collar with pumps to adjust the pressure, it’s a mess to see and hold, and the pipes on the collar are not subtle at all in their function. It just isn’t for me.

 

3. AJ3 RTR

 

The RTR represents a blank sketchpad of the Jordan line, allowing the designer to simply go ham and recreate as one desires. For the Air Jordan 3, military motifs were imbued into the shoe, blending a little DNA from the SFB line. What was to be echoing the Nike SF-AF1, comes the bastardisation of the Air Jordan 3, with bright hues, rip-stop uppers that don’t even look remotely comfortable at all.

2. AM720 FF 720

I really needn’t say more on this apart from the fact that this colourway resembles an iron. That’s it.

1. Prada Adidas

But the biggest disappointment I feel for 2019 was the Prada x adidas Superstar. No contest. You would imagine with such a high profile collaboration, the outcome would result in something that resonates with both brands’ DNA. Using the Superstar as the base was already a good choice, but much, much more could’ve been done that would’ve represented the collaboration better.

This is a sneaker that I don’t despise, but I’m sorely disappointed in, for not fulfilling what could’ve been, instead of just remaking the shoe in Italian leather and stamping Prada’s logo on the side.

 

If 2019 Was Indie, 2020 Will Be Dominated By Rap

Posted by & filed under Music.

Written by Aqil Nasri

2019 was a breakout year for most indie artists in the industry. Bands like Masdo and Pastel Lite have finally found and settled in their crowd. No doubt that the recent indie uprising has affected the large following that these bands have been getting in the past year, with some getting millions and millions of views and streams. This is a remarkable feat, a true milestone in a supposedly underground area where even most mainstream Malaysian songs, with the large amounts of sponsors and assistance, still aren’t able to attain those numbers.

However, indie isn’t the only genre that’s popping off right now in the Malaysian music scene. Another genre has been slowly creeping up on them, one that has been getting more and more support over the past years. A genre that I’m sure everyone knows, and one that I predict to be next year’s trend for the Malaysian music scene. That genre is…

Rap

K-Clique

The rap game in Malaysia has evolved in such a rapid manner nowadays that new and upcoming rappers are popping up like wild mushrooms everywhere. So much so that I can bet you that 1 in every 10 Subang kids out there will have some aspirations to become a rapper (if he isn’t one already).

From the formation of DefJam SEA, amongst our own meteoric rise of local hip-hop groups, 2020’s going to be a strong year from the genre, and it has already been picked up by now well-known rap group, K-Clique. Hailing from Sabah, the group started as an indie rap group but has recently transitioned into the mainstream because of the successes that they’ve been getting in the past year. Like em or hate em, there’s no denying their escalation to fame, bolstered by the undeniably fire tracks and mounts and mounts of local support.

But let’s not forget the women who are helping this rise. Female rappers like Zamaera and Bunga have consistently pushed the bar upward and beyond what was thought possible, with Bunga shattering the stigma that you have to be of a certain image to rap. Clothes don’t make the person, but the skill.

Bunga

Other than that, 16 Baris is an entity that has been widely recognized by millions of fans nationwide, be it whether they are a fan of rap or they just like seeing the concept and style that the videos produced. Born from the mind of Joe Flizzow back in late 2017, the show has grown exponentially since it first began, and has since become a platform for rappers, new and old to show what they’ve got. This simple but ingenious concept has managed to capture the love that people have for rap, reigniting the flames of pure joy and ecstasy when they see their favourite rapper appearing on one of the episodes.

Not satisfied with just doing online shows, the 16 Baris group hosted a showcase back in April 2018 at The Bee, Publika, that they severely underestimated. Instead of expecting a crowd of only 400 people to come, a mass of 5000 people flooded the venue, even breaking the main doors of The Bee due to overcapacity.

16 Baris Showcase at The Bee, Publika

It doesn’t matter if we’re late to the rap game, or that the Westerners have done it first. Much like any other genre, rap is a mere vessel for people to express themselves, along with the associated fashion and lifestyle choices. And what makes it all the more interesting, is seeing how our local brethren bring their twist into it.

The reason why I personally think that rap will overtake the indie music scene in 2020 is because of the massive amount of support that it’s been getting from all the major local brands and people as well. Indie may hold the hearts of the local scene at the moment, but rap will dethrone it, and take over to become the number one genre in Malaysia.

Next year can’t come fast enough.