About 360 MAGAZINE

360 MAGAZINE is an award-winning international publishing on popular culture and design. We introduce avant trademarks to efficacious architects. We are a LGBTQIA2S+ friendly publication--officially recognized by the NGLCC. Our core demographic ranges from 19 to 39-year-old college-educated trendsetters within their respective international communities. The pages in this art book satisfy their strong interests including music, art, travel, auto, health, fashion, tech, philanthropy, design, food and entrepreneurship. It's an introspective digital/print/tablet portrait series, which encapsulates artists/brands/entities who embody the true essence of our publication- empowerment, equality, sensuality and most important of all, humanity within a global society.

The Biggest Crypto Applications Online

As a means of payment, crypto is naturally still in the early days, only really rising to prominence within the past 10 years. So far, mainstream financial services have been hesitant to endorse it, barring some exceptions, which has meant that widespread adoption in shops and businesses has been slow.

However, this doesn’t mean that the outlets and exchanges for crypto haven’t been looking at some major growth now, and as of 2022 there are more places that will accept crypto than ever before. This article aims to highlight those businesses that are most tied to crypto usage, as well as a few that most people wouldn’t even consider using crypto coins for.

Bitcoin for Travel

To start off with something of an unusual choice, cryptocurrency, or more specifically Bitcoin, can be used for a number of travel options. While it’s not recommended to try paying directly at a hotel in coins, there are several prominent travel sites which will accept it.

First and foremost, the travel giant Expedia will let you pay for your hotels online straight through Bitcoin, or if that isn’t the particular currency that you use, then the crypto-focused site Travala accepts dozens of the most established currencies for similar services. Also, if you’re planning on travelling just a bit further, then Virgin Galactic are also accepting Bitcoin now for space travel.

While it’s difficult to nail down exactly how widely crypto is used by country, much of Europe at least accepts crypto in certain businesses, although it’s not wise to base your entire vacation around it.

Crypto for Casinos

Online casinos are something of a natural fit for crypto, with the extra security with large amounts of money being extremely attractive amongst their customers. More than in many other industries, crypto is becoming a standard, with many of the best payout online casinos now listing it as an option for deposits and withdrawals alongside their more traditional payment platforms.

More than that, many new casinos have appeared that almost exclusively use crypto as a payment method. These crypto casinos will even offer their player bonuses in crypto coins, usually Bitcoins, for the more universal uptake. This is an area where research is key, though; online casinos offer slightly different packages in different countries. A casino that accepts Bitcoin in one country may not be able to in another. If you’re playing from the U.S., make sure they’ll accept Bitcoin from the U.S. for instance.

Crypto in Online Retail

This is an area that has really taken off in terms of crypto usage, and while the big name Amazon still is yet to dip a toe into the crypto market, many other shopping platforms worldwide will now accept at least some kind of crypto.

Within the U.S., Overstock is your nearest equivalent to Amazon that will work with crypto. They haven’t got nearly the same range of products, mainly focusing on home and lifestyle items, however they can compete with them on prices as well as the free shipping options. For those looking for Asian products who have a good translator and a calculator handy, Rakuten from Japan does have a wider selection of products, although shipping is naturally a different issue.

For computer hardware and related products there is also the Newegg site, and if you’re looking at setting up an e-commerce site of your own, the industry leader Shopify also accept Bitcoin. This is a small selection, but more and more businesses are taking up crypto integration as a way of offering services that competitors either don’t or can’t.

Gaming with Crypto

Similar to online casinos, the digital nature of video gaming does lend itself to working with crypto, not to mention a usually tech-aware audience built in. You know that the practice of crypto payments has really gone mainstream in the video gaming industry when you see that Microsoft themselves will accept Bitcoin for payments on their Xbox Live platform. Add-ons, subscriptions and even full games fall under that.

The socially-aware Humble Bundle site has also started taking Bitcoin via PayPal, which gives you a way to get your new games while contributing to charity at the same time. They even now have bundles for books and software for some extra variety.

Speaking of contributions, the major streaming platform Twitch will now also accept crypto payments, either for their Twitch Prime subscription or just donations and support for your favorite streamers.

Everything Else

There are plenty of companies that don’t fit into the above, but may also surprise you. Phone and internet giant AT&T have added crypto to their payment options, and even iconic coffee chain Starbucks have started as well. Want a new website? NameCheap are also on this list.

The fact is though, if you’re using the correct tools, virtually anything can now be done via crypto. By using a card-issuing service such as CoinsBase or Uquid, you can get a card tied to your crypto wallet that still has the global acceptance of something such as Visa or Mastercard. They can even be used to withdraw cash at an ATM, and work for both online and offline payments, although keep in mind that this is based on the market value of the coin at time of purchase.

What Comes Next?

It’s hard to judge exactly what happens next with crypto, considering even entire countries are trying it out as legal tender. A number of the largest companies are still holding out against it, but given the rising competition, their hands may eventually be forced into accepting it.

The short version is, you should expect to see at least Bitcoin transactions happening on the vast majority of online-first business sites within the next decade, although the uptake from brick-and-mortar companies is likely to be a lot slower. With that said, the rapid rollout of contactless cards shows that the financial world can, on occasion, move faster than expected.

Eight Exciting Facts About the FIFA World Cup Competition

The FIFA World Cup remains one of the best competitions in the world of sports. It is the biggest, most popular sporting event worldwide. Billions of people watch the competition and root for one of the 32 teams to lift the trophy. The story started in 1930, and since then, it has only improved.

UEFA competitions are the only ones that come close in soccer, but even those are smaller in comparison. You might find many people engaging in making Europa League predictions. However, more people are looking to win big with the FIFA games. The exciting thing is that for 28 days, everyone around the world remains occupied.

It is a sensational event that would see us enjoy some incredible experiences. We can always retain our excitement with the growing popularity. And like you would make Europa League predictions today, you can get involved in predicting World Cup games. You might just be lucky to catch the upsets.

As we follow the 2022 FIFA World Cup and look forward to a country making history, let’s check out some facts about this event. These facts can even help you with your predictions, like when you follow trends to make Europa League picks. So, without wasting time, let’s get into it.

Only Two Continents Have Produced FIFA World Cup Champions

Since the start of the FIFA World Cup, only South America and Europe have produced champions. The first champions came from South America, but Europe has more champions. Italy, Germany, Spain, England, and France are the champions of the FIFA World cup from Europe. For South America, the champions are Uruguay, Argentina, and Brazil.

Fontaine, With 13 Goals, has the Best Goal Scoring Record

Throughout World Cup history, France’s Fontaine has the most FIFA World Cup goals in a single competition. He scored 13 in 1958, and since then, no player has been able to break it. We would expect it to get broken at one point. However, Fontaine is fourth on the list of the players with the most goals at the FIFA World Cup.

Six Players Have Represented Two Countries at the World Cup

Today, it is impossible to see a player play for two different countries at the World Cup due to the recent regulations from FIFA. However, it was a thing of the past. Luis Monti was the first player to represent two countries. He played for Argentina and Italy. Aside from Monti, the following players represented two nations.

Robert Prosinecki – Yugoslavia and Croatia
Robert Jarni – Yugoslavia and Croatia
Jose Santamaria – Uruguay and Spain
Ferenc – Hungary and Spain
Mazola – Brazil and Italy

The Last Host Nation to Win the Competition

Uruguay, Argentina, and many more are nations to have won the competition as the host. However, the last time a team hosted the tournament and won was in 1998. France was the last country to host the competition and win it. Korea, Germany, and Brazil all got to the semifinals of their respective competitions, but they couldn’t win the competition as hosts.

Goalkeeper With the Most Clean Sheets

Fabian Barthez and Peter Shilton hold the record for the most clean sheets in FIFA World Cup history. These goalkeepers both have had ten clean sheets over the years. They both had incredible careers with exciting moments. Unfortunately, neither of these players was able to lift the trophy. But they did well in the tournament.

Best Teams at the World Cup

Although the nations competing at the FIFA World Cup continue to produce brilliant moments, some teams have had a more consistent performance. Brazil remains one of the best teams in the tournament. Italy, Germany/West Germany, Argentina, and Spain follow Brazil.

First Match at the FIFA World Cup

Unlike now, the host nation didn’t kickstart the FIFA World Cup tournament in 1930. The first-ever World Cup match was between France and Mexico. The match ended in favor of France, winning the game 4-1. Lucien Laurent scored the first goal of the tournament.

Qatar Becomes the First Nation to Lose an Opening Match

Before Qatar, every host had never lost the opening match. It either ended as a draw or a win for the host nation. Everyone expected that tradition to continue, but it didn’t when Qatar faced Ecuador in the opening game. The game ended with Enner Valencia scoring two. It could’ve been three if Valencia’s second-minute goal was not chopped off.

Sports Video Games Make Great Holiday Gifts

Gaming has become incredibly competitive over the years. The development of video games has been spread across four generations and is most prevalent among millennials and Gen Z. It’s not like the days when people would gather together and play on one system and host parties.

Technology’s development has driven that competitiveness to a new level. While some people play the best online casino, card games, shooters, or other types of games, perhaps the people best equipped to play video games competitively are sports fans.

Most fans like sports because it is results driven. There is an entertainment element to it, but a lot of fans’ emotional state hinges on a win or a loss. There is banter between two sides of a game, and then it is settled after a week of practice; in the case of football which has limited games to make the playoffs and determine who is the best team.

Those stakes have similarly been raised over the years. The emergence of gaming online has created greater competitiveness. The gaming industry is booming because everybody can have their own device and still connect with friends and put their skills to the test, whether in simple online games or entering tournaments against various skill levels.

Sports fans, who often grew up playing sports, have a natural competitiveness to them, so when they play a video game, it is about being the best or striving to improve to be the best. Gaming gives them an outlet to continue that competitiveness in a constructive way.

Sports games also give them offline opportunities to play as or simulate their favorite teams in hopes of winning a championship in season modes. They can also build dynasties, manage the economics of player contracts, and more.

The holidays are a great time to connect with sports fans, and there are many related gifts. But for those who enjoy gaming and sports, here are games worth pursuing.

Madden

The annual EA Sports franchise has the official license of the National Football League and tries to replicate the greatest and most powerful organization. The game offers several modes, including a single-player mode that allows users to control a person’s career from the college ranks to getting drafted and attempting to become a Hall of Famer once in the league.

But there is also Ultimate Team mode. This is unique in that there are player cards like what collectors used to and still do get out of packs, but it is all virtual and in the game. Players have different ratings and skill sets, and legends also come back to combine into a single team. As users play, they accumulate more cards and their team improves through the different seasons that will bring different rewards that can only be earned at that time.

NBA 2K

The top basketball game with National Basketball Association licensing has dominated the space for basketball games. It, too, allows users to play as their favorite franchise, develop their own player – from style to piling up attributes to become the best in an online park setting to compete with and against others – and has its own version of Ultimate Team.

Basketball fans have had their gripes about the series, but developers have been heralded for taking a step forward in improving gameplay and giving a great experience for all gamers.

FIFA

The latest soccer game is incredibly popular internationally, and this year has grown in popularity because of the 2022 World Cup being played in Qatar. Gamers can play as national teams or their favorite English Premier League teams, or any number of teams from other leagues across the world. While online play and an ultimate team mode dominate this game, there is plenty to do offline.

MLB The Show

Major League Baseball’s license has been dominated for a decade by MLB The Show. While the game was largely built on offline play, it has long created a realistic experience for gamers. The latest step was Diamond Dynasty, the baseball version of Ultimate Team, which allows for much shorter, three-inning games and roster balancing through various game modes. It’s one of the most competitive sports games out there despite not having as many users.

Chef Curry Still Firing

When it comes to top NBA players, few have had the success Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry has, as shown by NBA picks today. While foot speed and other intangibles may slow with aging, Curry has shown that his dedication to being a top-tier shooter is a skill he has been able to keep at the top of the league.

So far this season, Curry is averaging 32.3 points, 7.1 assists and 6.7 rebounds per game. While the 2022-23 season still has a long way to go, Curry has shown an ability to put up strong numbers. If Curry averaged more than 30 points per game for the entire season, it would only be the third time he has done that in his career.

Here’s a look at how the 6-foot-2 Davidson product was able to become a strong player and what his third act could look like.

Basketball was in Curry’s blood

Curry was born in Akron while his dad, Dell, was playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers. When Dell wrapped up his pro career, the family settled back in Charlotte. While Steph initially dreamed of playing for Virginia Tech, they only wanted to offer him as a walk-on due to his size. Curry instead would head to Davidson College.

Playing in the Southern Conference would prove good for Curry. During the 2008 NCAA Tournament, he made his presence known on the big stage. Curry was named the region’s most outstanding player as he helped the Wildcats beat Gonzaga, Georgetown, and Wisconsin to advance to the Elite 8. Kansas would eliminate Davidson, but Curry has gotten his name out to a national audience.

Golden State gets their man

Curry was picked by Golden State as the No. 8 pick in the 2009 draft. It was clear from early on that Curry would be counted on to be the face of the Warriors. He started 77 games in his rookie season and shot 43.7 percent from the 3-point line.

Golden State would continue to add pieces over the next few seasons. Shooting guard Klay Thompson, who would team with Curry to become one of the “Splash Brothers”, and Draymond Green would be taken over the next few seasons to become long-time teammates. But Golden State took off in 2015 when Steve Kerr took over as coach.

Early dynasty, rivalry with LeBron

Golden State broke through in 2015, winning its first title since 1977 by beating LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in four games. In 2016, however, the Warriors and Curry won 73 regular season games, then lost to Cleveland in seven games in the NBA Final. This loss would reverberate through the league.

Golden State would recruit Kevin Durant to come and help the Warriors battle James. Golden State would win the 2017 and 2018 titles before losing to Toronto in 2019.

Curry’s health declines

Injury issues started to creep in for Curry during the 2017-18 season. He started 89 games in a season during the 2016-17 season. Since then, the most regular-season games Curry has played in was 69. During the 2019-20 season, Curry only played in five games following an injury early in the season.

It appeared Curry and Golden State’s time as a dynasty may be running out. In the two seasons before the 2021-22 season, the Warriors missed the postseason. But Curry and the Warriors dug deep to prove something in 2012.

Back on top

The Warriors’ run to a fourth championship was a little surprising. Curry was injured toward the end of the regular season and was iffy for the start of the playoff run. Curry’s 3-pointer shooting had declined below 40 percent, and there were concerns that he could hold up in the playoffs.

However, Curry, who finished last season averaging 25.5 points per game, and his teammates found their rhythm in the postseason. Golden State made a run to the finals and won their fourth title with Curry by beating Boston in six games. The Warriors had rebuilt themselves once again using players they’ve drafted, like Jordan Poole, and bringing in experienced players who could fit their system.

Boxing Takes the Bell in the Oscars

Even though only a handful of films based on sports have won Oscars, they have been and will continue to be a source of inspiration for the film industry. Boxing is the most prestigious plot theme of all those that have been awarded.

That doesn’t mean that boxing is the only sport. There have been some incredibly creative cinematic creations over the decades that bring all types of sports to life for fans everywhere. Just like choosing the winners for the World Cup odds, there are always certain characteristics that stand out.

The Champ

A former heavyweight champion fights against alcoholism and gambling. His main objective is to win back the love of his son. The Champ, a 1931 film by King Vidor, was awarded an Oscar for best actor for Wallace Beery’s performance.

It also received an Oscar for best screenplay, given to Frances Marion. Faye Dunaway, Jon Voight, and Rick Schroeder co-starred in this all-time classic.

Somebody Up There Likes Me

This 1957 drama won Oscars for Best Art Direction and Best Black and White Photography. It followed the life of the legendary boxer Rocky Graziano, played by Paul Newman in his first great role as a leading man. Newman put up an amazing performance, one that is still talked about even in the times of the World Cup soccer 2022 tournament.

Rocky

Rocky is still one of the most iconic Hollywood films to come out of the 70s. Starring Sylvester Stallone, it was the first film in a long saga. It won three Oscars in 1976, including Best Picture, Best Director (John Avildsen), and Best Editing.

Raging Bull

Raging Bull is a Martin Scorsese masterpiece that stars Robert De Niro as Jake LaMotta, a middleweight boxer with a very dark side. Rage, jealousy, and appetite for brutality exceed the limits of the ring, making him spiral out of control and distancing him from his wife and family. It was nominated for eight Oscars and won two, one for best actor for Robert De Niro’s performance, as well as one for best editing.

Million Dollar Baby

Clint Eastwood’s Million Dollar Baby swept the 2004 awards. It won Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor (Morgan Freeman), and Best Actress (Hilary Swank). The film tells the relationship between a waitress who becomes a professional boxer and a veteran trainer who focuses all his efforts on helping her reach the top. Training a woman is not among his norms of behavior, but he pulls off a major victory, just like some unexpected teams do in the 2022 World Cup.

The Fighter

The Fighter won two Oscars in 2010 – for Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress.

Christian Bale won an Oscar for his portrayal of a boxer who has gotten into trouble and tries to turn his life around by helping his brother, played by Mark Wahlberg. The film had seven nominations and won two awards.

Other Sports Movies Make The Cut

Pugilistic prominence might lead the sports-related Oscars, but boxing isn’t the only sport worthy of recognition. Over the years, there have been plenty of others that still hold a special place in history today.

The Pride of the Yankees

Although it only won one of the eleven Oscars that it was up for at the 1943 ceremony, The Pride of the Yankees, a cross between a biopic and a sports drama, is an iconic classic that will always be at the top of the list.

Gary Cooper plays baseball legend Lou Gehrig, giving a performance choreographed by the creative mind of Sam Wood. That combination makes this film worthy of a place in the private film library of every lover of good cinema and sports. In the end, it took an Oscar for best editing.

King Richard

In modern sports cinematograph, King Richard might stand in a class by itself. The 2021 biographical representation of tennis superstars Venus and Serena Williams, along with their father, Richard, was a resounding success with critics.

It didn’t do too well at the box office but was good enough to earn six Oscar nods. It won one, with Will Smith taking home a trophy for his performance of the elder Williams.

NAMOR JOINS T’CHALLA

NAMOR JOINS T’CHALLA’S BRUTAL FIGHT AGAINST THE AVENGERS IN BLACK PANTHER #13!

Check out Miguel Mercado’s newly revealed BLACK PANTHER #13 SPOILER VARIANT COVER, on sale January 11

The King of Wakanda and the King of Atlantis will cross paths again in January’s BLACK PANTHER #13, but this time, they may actually fight side-by-side!

Writer John Ridley’s run on the title has found T’Challa removed from the Avengers, exiled from Wakanda, and on his own against a threat with deep ties to his past. BLACK PANTHER #13 will depict a heated battle between T’Challa and the Avengers, and just when all seems lost, an unexpected ally arrives at the fray to stand at T’Challa’s side! ENTER NAMOR! The most bitter rivalry in Marvel Comics reaches a surprising turning point but will T’Challa accept Namor’s help or make him pay for the pain he’s inflicted on Wakanda in the past?

Check out the cover now and find out if Namor is truly Wakanda’s savior in BLACK PANTHER #13 on January 11! For more information, visit Marvel.com.

John Legend – NERVOUS

Multi-platinum, 12-time Grammy Award-winner John Legend unveiled three new remixes of his hit song “Nervous,” today via Republic Records. Behind the new renditions are producer, composer, and performer King Britt Sexytech, whose remix credits include Solange, Calvin Harris and Dua Lipa among others; producer, artist, and songwriter Prince Fox, who has collaborated with artists such as Hailee Steinfeld, Tinashe, Cheat Codes, and Timbaland; and producer Xan Griffin, who has previously remixed for artists including Seven Lions and Minnesota. Listen to each artist’s unique take on “Nervous” HERE.

The original version of “Nervous” is featured on Legend’s eighth studio album, LEGEND available now everywhere via Republic Records. The track recently blew up on TikTok after Legend initiated an open verse challenge inviting fans to add their own verse to the song via the popular “duets” feature. To date, the video has generated over 60M views on the platform. “Nervous” has also amassed nearly 17M global streams since its release.

Legend previously released a breathtaking bilingual rendition of “Nervous” with Colombian-American chart-topping singer and songwriter Sebastián Yatra, available to stream HERE. Legend and Yatra also recently collaborated on a bilingual version of Yatra’s No. 1 hit “Tacones Rojos,” which they performed at the 23rd Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards® last night.

About John Legend

Multiplatinum artist John Legend has garnered twelve Grammy Awards, an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Tony Award, and an Emmy Award, making Legend the first African American man to earn an EGOT. Legend has released eight celebrated albums over the course of his career, including, Get Lifted (2004), Once Again (2006), Evolver (2008), Love in the Future (2013), Darkness and Light (2016), A Legendary Christmas Deluxe (2019), Bigger Love (2020) and most recently, LEGEND (2022). Legend just wrapped his critically acclaimed Las Vegas Residency entitled, “Love In Las Vegas” which began in the spring of 2022 at Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. Legend is a judge on the Emmy-nominated show, The Voice, and a principal in Get Lifted Film Co., serving as an Executive Producer for projects such as Giving Voice, Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey, Atlanta’s Missing and Murdered: The Lost Children, Sherman’s Showcase, And Sherman’s Showcase: Black History Month Spectacular, Rhythm + Flow and La La Land. As an activist, Legend initiated the #FREEAMERICA campaign in 2015 and most recently founded the initiative HUMANLEVEL, which is igniting systematic change and building racial equity across American cities and communities.

Wanda Maximoff – Scarlet Witch

This January, Wanda Maximoff gets the fresh start fans have been waiting for! The iconic Marvel hero’s upcoming solo series will open the door to a new era for the character overflowing with mystery, adventure, and magic.

Written by Steve Orlando (Marauders, Darkhold) and drawn by artist Sara Pichelli (Ultimate Spider-Man), SCARLET WITCH will find Wanda embracing a new heroic journey to help those who need her the most. To do so, she’ll use her unmatched magical abilities to conjure up an enchanted door that appears only to those who have no one else in the world to turn to. If your need is great and your hope is gone, there you will meet the SCARLET WITCH! The quests that follow will allow the Scarlet Witch to unleash her chaos magic at its utmost potential as she tackles threats only she as the most powerful sorceress on the planet can hope to handle! Along the way, Wanda will reconnect with her complex extended family including her twin brother Quicksilver, Polaris, and Viv Vision. Fans can get their first look at Wanda’s new path in the SCARLET WITCH #1 TRAILER, featuring never-before-seen artwork!

The mesmerizing trailer lays out Wanda’s new mission and spotlights some of her upcoming feats including a breathtaking showdown with the Corrupter! Fans can also behold Wanda’s new costume designed by superstar artist Russell Dauterman and spot a new supporting character who will play a key role throughout the series—none other than DARCY LEWIS! The beloved Marvel Cinematic Universe character will make her comic book debut in the series, taking up duties as Wanda’s trusty right hand after falling through the enchanted door herself. Darcy’s mysterious past and the effect it has on Wanda’s new calling will be revealed in due time!

“Two of the major crosses that she’d been bearing for a long time had finally been lifted, so it really felt like a new moment,” Orlando told Polygon in a recent interview. “We talked about setting her up in a new place where she could put her power to service for all the people that she’s realized she could have helped if she had actually taken the time and done the work to reckon with herself sooner.”

Prepare to be spellbound when SCARLET WITCH #1 hits stands on January 4! For more information, visit Marvel.com.

boohooMAN × Swae Lee

Global online fashion retailer, boohooMAN, celebrated the much-anticipated launch of their co-designed collection with multi-platinum songwriter, producer, and Grammy-nominated rapper Swae Lee, with an exclusive launch party in Hollywood at Casita Hollywood.

Having collaborated back in 2017 with fellow Rae Sremmurd member Slim Jxmmi and again in 2020 on the Swae Lee tracksuit edit, this collaboration marks the 3rd time the 29 year old musician has worked with the online retailer. Following the success of both partnerships it only made sense for the two forces to come together again, this time announcing Swae as the face of the brands party campaign – just in time for the festive season.

Boasting over 23 million monthly Spotify listeners and a social following of 14 million across Instagram and TikTok alone, Swae has continued to grow his global audience cementing his place as one of the biggest names in hip-hop.

The collection consists of 57 styles and combines the rapper’s suave style with boohooMAN’s bold aesthetic. The collection, heavily made up of tailoring and suits, sees a combination of design including embroidery, sequins, velour and iridescent fabrics on a number of colorways ranging from nudes and pastels to rich golds and blacks creating something for everyone.

‘This collection looks and feels amazing. The campaign itself was driven by Swae Lee’s celebrity status with the concept focusing on an abstract interpretation of the Cannes film festival. We took inspiration from the way celebrities grace the red carpet in front of a sea of photographers’ – boohooMAN Creative Director, Cleveland Campbell

With price points ranging from $18 – $100, the collection will be exclusively available on boohooMAN.com on November 2.

STORMZY – THIS IS WHAT I MEAN

British musician Stormzy has released his highly anticipated third album, This Is What I Mean.

Over the course of his expansive, heartfelt and defiantly sprawling new album, the BRIT and Ivor Novello award-winning Stormzy has delivered an undeniable classic; effortlessly condensing any number of disparate styles and genres into music which bravely broaches any gap between modern Black British music, soul and hip-hop.

Executively Produced by British producer PRGRSHN, the album includes the top 10 single ‘Hide & Seek’; an emotive, soulful and ethereal offering and his latest release ‘Firebabe’; a beautifully delicate and deeply touching sound. An array of incredible musicians are also scattered throughout the record including vocal appearances from the likes of Sampha, Jacob Collier, Debbie and more, all of which are listed here.

A bold and courageous leap forward from his critically acclaimed previous two #1 records, ‘Gang Signs & Prayer’ and ‘Heavy Is The Head’, this isn’t music simply for the pop charts but rather, an intimate and sincere love letter to music. He speaks on forgiving his absent father on the mellifluous ‘Please’ and refers to his challenges with paranoia, depression and self-doubt on penultimate track, ‘I Got My Smile Back’ – which also features a guest vocal from the incomparable India.Arie. It’s a record which showcases intensely personal and lyrical themes which in turn lay bare the vulnerabilities, regret, frailties, healing, joy and triumph in a manner and to an extent that reframes the notion of what rap artists traditionally might do and be.

In a letter posted to his social media pages last night, Stormzy wrote:

“When Tyler, The Creator released the masterpiece that is ‘IGOR’ he shared a message with it and I wanted to do the same but I was hesitant. Mainly because I would love for my music to do all the talking but I thought I’d share this message anyway.

I do a lot of interviews and I forget that everything I say will be shared far and wide, which is probably naive of me. Things that I say in real life don’t feel the same when I see it in text. I feel like I overshare, which makes me feel naked at times. But I do it so that you guys can understand me a bit better and to give the art that I make some context. I’m never ever purposely trying to defy genres or go against the grain. I’m never tryna do what is unexpected of me or what is expected of me. If I rap for 7 minutes it’s because in my spirit, in that moment, I just really wanted to fucking rap. If I sing my heart out then it’s because my soul just absolutely had to. I love music. I love, love loveeeee music. I will rap for the rest of my life, I will sing for the rest of my life, I will make art for the rest of my life. And at no point will I ever do any of those things for any other reason than I JUST WANTED TO AND IT JUST FELT GOOD. I am not a calculated mastermind with the ability to gauge what kind of music to make and when I’ll make it, I literally just feel and then let it out. People been tryna box me in for years but I hope this chapter at least makes my biggest critic say “hey, he’s shit but he loves music and I guess he’s gonna do whatever he likes” lol

I pray you listen to this album in your own time, whenever you can. Listen to it properly with no distractions. I pray you listen to this album with an open heart and if you hate it after I promise to God I’m perfectly fine with that, I’m just grateful that you listened with openness. I pray that it moves you and captures your imagination. And I pray that someone, somewhere, feels it.

This Is What I Mean.

And it’s what I’ve always meant. 🙏🏿

God bless. Stormz x”

The confidence which drove the album stemmed from a deeper and far more spiritual place than we have seen from Stormzy previously. For all the success and awards that he has accrued during his brief, meteoric career, the lockdown that ensued from the coronavirus pandemic gave him one commodity he’d long lacked: time. And thanks to his sense of accomplishment following Glastonbury he was, for the first time, in a position to make the most of it.

Much of the creative energy that shaped the album emerged from a Stormzy music camp in Osea Island – a remote island in the Essex estuary that’s only accessible via a Roman Causeway for four hours a day at low tide. Surrounded by leading-edge producers and musicians each and every morning they would eat and pray together and then spend the rest of the time driven to creative heights by each other’s talents.

“When you hear about music camps they always sound intense and sombre,” says Stormzy. ““People saying: “We need to make an album.” “We need to make some hit records.” But this felt beautifully free. We’re all musicians but we weren’t always doing music. Some days we played football or walked around taking pictures. And the bi-product to that was very beautiful music. Because when you marry that ethos with world class musicians and the best producers, writers and artists in the world, and we’re in one space, that’s a recipe for something that no one can really imagine. You can’t even calculate what that’s going to come up with. And it came up with a big chunk of this album.”

The net result is that while ‘This Is What I Mean’ sounds very much like Stormzy, it sounds like no Stormzy album you have ever heard before.