SPORTS

OAKLEY + PAS NORMAL STUDIOS

On April 30th, Oakley will release a limited-edition collection in collaboration with Copenhagen-based cycling apparel brand Pas Normal Studios.

The collection will include performance and everyday eyewear, technical gear, and casual wear, merging tradition with innovative style and function. This is the first ever collaboration between Pas Normal Studios and Oakley with a goal for riders to carve their own path.

The Pas Normal Studios x Oakley Cycling Kit includes:

Encoder Strike Vented Black Olive W/ Prizm™ Road Jade: Pas Normal Studios Encoder Strike blend functionality with heritage elements of Oakley Razor Blades to offer a premium experience, built for cyclists seeking a competitive edge. The lightweight, durable frames are complete with a vented Plutonite® lens for optimal airflow and Pas Normal Studios etching between the brows.
Radar Ev Path Off White W/ Prizm™ Tungsten: A widely considered sport-eyewear classic, Radar® EV Path® forged its way to the Pas Normal Studios® by cyclist demand. The limited-edition style features a timeless color combination of a glossy bone-colored frame and a purple Ellipse icon on the temple.
Mechanism Jersey: Merges technical performance with fashionable aesthetics while remaining a staple for everyday rides with lightweight and breathable fabrics for an aerodynamic fit during fast-paced racing.
Mechanism Bibs: Fitted to match the optimal riding position without restricting mobility, the Mechanism Bibs are constructed with compressive yet elastic textiles and a four-layer ultralight foam chamois that moves with the rider.

The collection will be available in limited quantities beginning April 30 in select Oakley and Pas Normal Studios retailers worldwide.

Nicky Jam + Trueno

In an explosive blend of talent and nostalgia, Latin music idol and pioneer Nicky Jam teams up with multifaceted Argentine phenomenon, Trueno to release their new single, “Cangrinaje” – listen HERE. The track transports fans back to the roots of reggaeton with the raw and vibrant sound that marked the early steps of Nicky Jam’s illustrious career.

“Cangrinaje” pays homage to the golden era of reggaeton, combining Nicky Jam’s unique and charismatic style with Trueno’s fresh and rebellious energy. The production, led by Jorge Milliano (Jorge Alberto Erazo), captures the essence of the era and brings it to the present with a sound that promises to not only resonate with the genre’s loyal followers but also captivate new audiences.

The release is accompanied by its official music video, filmed in the vibrant city of Miami, Florida. This audiovisual project is the result of the creative vision of Andrea Rodriguez in production and masterful direction by Simon Brand, Sergio de Ávila, and Jerome Lehouco. Together, they have encapsulated the essence of “Cangrinaje” in visual form, creating an experience that is both a visual and auditory journey.

This new single not only celebrates Nicky Jam’s legacy in urban music but also points the way towards the future of reggaeton, demonstrating that it’s possible to honor the genre’s roots while exploring and innovating.

About Nicky Jam:

Nick Rivera Caminero, better known as Nicky Jam, is a Latin-Grammy winning musician, actor, philanthropist, and entrepreneur. He is credited across the globe with curating and popularizing a new genre of music, now known as Reggaeton, into the mainstream global music scene in the early 2000s. Throughout his career, Nicky Jam has amassed an array of chart-topping hits on both Latin and international charts. Collaborating with renowned artists such as Enrique Iglesias on the record-breaking “El Perdón,” the 35-times platinum “X,” with J Balvin, and “Te Boté,” featuring Bad Bunny, and Ozuna. Nicky has been honored with numerous awards and accolades over his career, including a Latin-GRAMMY Award, 3 Billboard Music Awards, 3 Latin American Music Awards, 15 Billboard Latin Music Awards and the 2022 Hall of Fame Award at the Billboard Latin Music Awards.

Nicky is currently working on his 7th studio album, expected later this year. The first single, “Cangrinaje” featuring Treuno, pays homage to the golden era of reggaeton and gives fans a taste of what to expect from the highly anticipated project. With each milestone, he continues to push boundaries and evolve as an artist and storyteller, remaining a trailblazer in the world of Latin music.

About Trueno:

Born and raised in La Boca (Buenos Aires), Trueno is considered a central figure in the new wave of artists with their own vision of Rap and Hip Hop coming out of Latin America. Following his groundbreaking impact as the champion of the 2019 Red Bull Batalla de los Gallos and Freestyle Master Series editions, Trueno immediately embarked on a quest for global domination. Trueno left an undeniable mark with releases such as his “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol.16” – which quickly became the most viewed freestyle session globally – and his debut album ‘Atrevido.’

In 2021, Trueno took the #ATREVIDOTOUR to stages, capping off his debut album with tours in Spain, Uruguay, Argentina, Chile and Mexico to much success.

Trueno then released his acclaimed sophomore album, ‘BIEN O MAL,’ which included the smash hit “UN PASO” alongside J Balvin. The album has over 1.3 billion streams on a global level. Further enhancing the album’s success, Trueno premiered his anticipated Tiny Desk Concert; received a 2022 Latin GRAMMY® nomination under “Best Rap/ Hip Hop Song” for his hit “DANCE CRIP”; and had his first ever run through the U.S. with his sold-out “BIEN O MAL US Tour.” The album’s tour concluded with a historic homecoming show, with three sold out nights at Luna Park Stadium in his hometown, Buenos Aires.

Trueno continued to break cultural barriers throughout 2023 with the release of “F*CK EL POLICE (REMIX)” alongside Cypress Hill. Trueno made history taking home four key awards at Premios Gardel, including the Gardel de Oro for ‘BIEN O MAL.’ Following a jam-packed year with a successful global tour run, Trueno teased his upcoming album with the release of “No Cap,” in collaboration with COLORS. Thus far, Trueno has prepared the way for the arrival of his third studio album with groundbreaking singles “Ohh Baby” and “Tranky Funky.” With a body of work heavily influenced by the legendary pioneers of the genre, Trueno’s mission to demonstrate the lasting impact of Hip Hop has proven time after time to be a total success. Trueno comes at full force, with a new single with Nicky Jam, a new album out on May 24th, and a world tour that is just being announced. All of this before his 22nd birthday.

LIDS + TRAVIS SCOTT CAPSULE COLLAB

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Travis Scott and Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin celebrated the new “Jack Goes Back to College” limited-edition apparel collaboration between Cactus Jack, Lids, Fanatics, and Mitchell & Ness with a three-stop college campus tour across the U.S. at Louisiana State University (USC), University of Texas at Austin (UT), and University of Southern California (USC).

The cross-country trip kicked off the release of the new collegiate-inspired headwear and apparel collection – featuring 28 different Universities. Each university receives unique, specially designed products, ensuring students can rep their school in true Cactus Jack style. The diverse assortment includes:

Headwear: Mitchell & Ness snapback hats reimagined with a Cactus Jack twist and university branding.
Clothing: T-shirts, crewnecks, hoodies, shorts, sweatpants, and backpacks, providing a complete head-to-toe look.

At LSU:

To start the night, Travis and Michael stormed into LSU, surprising the football team – Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels included!

Images and video from LSU, Texas & USC (Credit: Instagram/@MichaelRubin): LSU, Texas, USC

GOOD KID LIVE

Come see Good Kid live: this Saturday and Sunday, April 6th and 7th in Los Angeles, CA, at The El Rey Theatre. If you’re interested in attending the show, RSVP/reply to jim@bighassle.com. See below for the full list of shows.

The JUNO-nominated indie outfit Good Kid recently unveiled their latest single, “Summer,” along with an enchanting animated music video by XrayAlphaCharlie. “Summer” finds Good Kid delivering another of their signature indie earworms, with singer Nick Frosst’s clever lyrics and catchy hooks taking center stage on this irresistible indie-pop hit.

The single came out ahead of the sold-out U.S. Tour and the band’s highly anticipated EP, Good Kid 4 (out March 27). The band’s previous single from the EP “Bubbly” had Billboard raving that it was “one of Canada’s hot new radio songs…right up there with Beyoncé.”

The upcoming six-track EP also features the hugely popular single “From The Start”, which garnered 1 million streams in just 24 hours, and has since accumulated 24 million more. Known for their eclectic blend of J-rock, indie-rock, and pop-punk, Good Kid’s massive streaming success is not just a result from their propensity to create catchy songs, but innovative fan engagement alongside savvy, fan-favoring business decisions, have helped the band amass an extensive and devoted fanbase, only serving to further the hype for the upcoming EP.

“The band is coming away from the busiest touring year of our musical careers, and this 4th EP “Good Kid 4” is the product of that journey. Many of the songs on this album are about the experience of music itself and how it has impacted our lives immensely. We wrote songs about facing anxiety with your friends, and about dancing. We wrote songs about reaching your breaking point, and about the hotels we would stay in night after night which eventually blended into one, endless timewarp of beige hallways. We wrote a song about the Summer we never wanted to end, and the only song that we didn’t write went over so unbelievably well with our fans, we had no choice but to record our own version of it.

Good Kid 4 is our favorite EP yet, and it represents the best of our last two years as a band when everything started to make sense for Good Kid.” – David Wood, Guitarist.

Case in point, the band’s entire Discography is content ID free and DMCA free, meaning content creators on platforms like Youtube and Twitch are able to freely use their music without fear of copyright takedowns. This has only slingshotted Good Kid’s already impressive following through the pervasive use of their music by hugely popular content creators.

Youtube’s biggest creator Mr. Beast, who boasts a mind-boggling 237 Million subscribers, featured 7 Good Kid songs in a video, garnering over 231 Million views. This is but one of many examples of the band’s online reach, which also includes direct collaborations with notable personalities such as XrayAlphaCharlie, Julien Solomita, and Trash Taste.

“We are very involved in the content creator community,” shares bassist Michael Kozakov. “All our music is free to use in monetized Streams and YouTube videos, which has led us to developing relationships and friendships with some of the biggest eSports players and YouTubers. We are very open and excited to continue collaborations with content creators and e-sports brands, and want to develop our brand as the world’s most creator friendly band.”

Beyond the digital realm, the band was recently nominated for Breakthrough Group Of The Year at the 2024 JUNO Awards and are soon to embark on their biggest headlining tour to date. Having already sold out over 90% of their North American dates, demand for tickets to their European and UK shows has been so overwhelming, that the band has had to upgrade multiple venues, several times, to accommodate the influx of enthusiastic fans.

The upcoming tour comes on the heels of two previously sold-out US headline tours in 2022, two sold-out UK and EU tours as well as a 2023 Canadian tour supporting Grammy Award winning Portugal. The Man.

A jack-of-all-trades ensemble – musicians, programmers, and storytellers, Good Kid has carved a unique path for their audience to follow suit. In essence, Good Kid’s story is not just about music; it’s about building a dynamic, engaging universe where fans play an integral role. With an unwavering commitment to joy, creativity, and inclusivity, Good Kid is more than a band — it’s a thriving community of music enthusiasts shaping a unique and memorable experience together.

HAMMER STREET

Hammer Street, the archival sneaker, returns from Reebok’s 1993 “Hammer” line, which featured a variety of cleated and indoor football models. The revitalized Hammer Street is an evolution of an off-the-pitch version of Hammer silhouette and features the most iconic design elements from the original footwear range. Hammer Street is available in limited quantities in two archival colorways – Black/Teal (100202328) and White/Gold (100202329) now from Reebok.com and UrbanOutfitters.com.

FEMME FILM

EPK

‘Stylish, seductive with sensitivity.’ – 360®.

FEMME is an artistic yet rivoting tale enunciating gay social constructs within Great Britain. A black drag performer is pummeled at a neighborhood pharmacy by a tableau of heterosexuals. It ultimately leads to a myriad of erotic episodes.

One of the most engaging works and sure to become a cult classic. A savory jumbo of Paris is Burning, The Crying Game, and The Young & Evil.

DIRECTORS’ STATEMENT

The seed of Femme came from our desire to flip the classic hyper-masculinity of the Neo-noir thriller on its head. By putting a queer protagonist at the heart of our revenge story, we aimed to put our own stamp on a genre that we love but from which we have often felt excluded.

However, once we started work on the film, the idea began to evolve into something that felt much bigger in scope. We realised that a queer reframing of such a hetero-centric genre was the perfect way to explore – and explode – conventional ideas of sexuality, masculinity, patriarchy, and identity. Our conversations around these topics brought up a lot for us as gay men about things that terrify us and things that make us rage.

As we dug deeper, we came to the conclusion that the film we wanted to make was, at its core, about drag. And not only the more recognisable feminine drag that Jules dons at the beginning of the story. Almost every character in the f ilm wears a form of drag: a performance of gender that earns them power and status in the world they inhabit. Femme delves into what happens when those masks are challenged.

We hope that in adopting and subverting familiar devices from many films that we love, we have created a space for Femme that is all its own. In a way, the film itself is wearing a form of drag. It’s a dark story, and we decided early on that we weren’t interested in making a moralistic film, where the good guys take the high road and the bad guys always get their comeuppance. Our interest lies in exploring the reality of the characters and how the world they live in propels them into doing the things that they do. Making Femme was both exhilarating and cathartic for us, and we hope to bring you along on that same journey.

COURT VICTORY PUMP

Reebok‘s Legendary ‘Court Victory Pump’ Tennis Shoe Returns March 15

On the heels of a successful decade of Reebok tennis in the 1980s, the brand remained committed to the sport throughout the 1990s. Based on its highly successful release of the The Pumpthe year prior, Reebok would expand the groundbreaking custom-fit technology into additional sport categories such as tennis, going forward.

Court Victory Pump’s legendary grand-slam endorsement in 1989 and successful commercial release the following season would further solidify Pump technology’s mark in sneaker history. Today, the shoe remains one of the most important in Reebok’s storied archive.

Returning for the first time since 2017, Court Victory Pump arrives in 2024 as close as possible to its OG predecessors, with key design elements including:

Original 1990 color palette.

Custom-fit Pump bladder with unique tennis Pump ball tongue.

Proprietary wavy checkerboard graphic on heel and lining.

“REEBOK TENNIS” embroidered tongue graphic.

Hexalite cushioning graphic callout on heel.

TPU accent detail on lateral side.

Reebok’s Court Victory Pump (100203282, $160) is available beginning March 15 from Reebok.com and select retailers.

Reebok + Angel Reese

Reebok will unveil its new Not Made to Be Subtlewomen’s apparel collection, dropping March 8, headlined by college basketball champion, fashion superstar, and Reebok partner, Angel Reese. A fierce advocate for individually and explosive energy, Reese epitomizes all that the new collection stands for: to empower women to express themselves through movement and fashion.

“I love using fashion as a vehicle for creativity and expression in everything I do,” commented Angel Reese. “The Not Made to be Subtle collection lets me do just that – with bright, bold colors and unique designs I can express myself, tackle an intense workout, and show up with style every day in confidence.”

Not Made to Be Subtle features the newest Reebok women’s apparel innovation: Lux Contour, an expansion of the highly praised Lux performance franchise of premium sports bras and leggings. The Lux Contour Crop Top ($45) and Lux Contour Leggings ($75) feature thoughtfully placed supportive contour panels and shaped seams to help accentuate and sculpt her for confidence inside and outside the gym.

GWEN + BLAKE

Global superstar Gwen Stefani reunites with fellow music icon and frequent collaborator, Blake Shelton for the dynamic new single “Purple Irises.“ Introspective and nostalgic, the enduring anthem explores how time tests — and often strengthens — the bonds we share. “Purple Irises” was produced by award-winning producer Scott Hendricks and recorded in Nashville, TN, at Smoakstack Studios. “Purple Irises” comes just days before Stefani brings her unique magic to Super Bowl weekend with a performance at the Super Bowl LVIII TikTok Tailgate before the big matchup between the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs on February 11 in Las Vegas. Shelton will join Stefani at Super Bowl LVIII TikTok Tailgate for a debut performance of “Purple Irises.”

“Purple Irises” is available now at all digital retailers via Warner Music Nashville / Interscope Records. Listen HERE.

“Purple Irises is a song that comes from the idea that when you plant something you are planting hope and watching love grow,” says Stefani. “Weathering all the different seasons of growth. We are in this together, we planted the seeds together and we are growing together.”

Stefani’s iconic catalog is filled with insight and vulnerability, but she raises the bar here by capturing time-tested love with unfiltered affection and raw honesty. It doesn’t hurt that she has palpable creative chemistry with real-life partner Shelton. They have previously shared the mic on the platinum hits “Nobody But You” and “Happy Anywhere,” both of which topped Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart.

“We love this song so much,” said Shelton. “It’s a song Gwen wrote with a couple of friends of hers, and I fell in love with it the first time I heard it. She knew there was something different about it and asked me to come in and sing with her. My longtime producer, Scott Hendricks, produced it, and Gwen’s been wanting to work with him for a long time now, and it’s turned into this really cool and different song that can live anywhere.”

Throughout her career, Stefani’s versatility — as showcased on recent offerings such as 2023’s “True Babe” and the Saweetie-featured “Slow Clap” — has been a large part of her staying power and perennial appeal. Those songs followed “Let Me Reintroduce Myself,” which reached No. 1 on the iTunes chart.

A three-time GRAMMY® Award winner, Stefani has achieved global success as a performer, songwriter, frontwoman of No Doubt, and a multi-platinum solo artist, among other accomplishments. To date, she’s sold more than 60 million units worldwide. Her 2015 solo album, This Is What the Truth Feels Like, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. She also previously spent seven seasons as a coach on the Emmy®-winning NBC series The Voice.

Gwen Stefani & Blake Shelton — “Purple Irises”

https://gwenstefani.lnk.to/purpleirises

Connect with Gwen Stefani:

Connect with Blake Shelton:

Photo credit: Ellen von Unwerth

Limited LIDS collections

Leading hat retailer Lids will be launching two limited-edition collections – the Sherwood x Mitchell & Ness – as well as the Violent Gentlemen x Ebbets Field Flannels collection. Both collections will be available at Lids’ NHL All-Star pop-up shop at Union Station Toronto (65 Front St. W SPCU 430) open every day from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM through Sunday (2/4).

Established in 2011, Violent Gentleman is a hockey brand built by hockey fans – regardless of the team someone roots for. In the world where hockey’s heart beats to the rhythm of hard-fought battles and post-game handshakes, two iconic brands, Ebbets Field Flannels, and Violent Gentlemen, have joined forces to celebrate the enduring spirit of the sport.

Additionally, Sherwood is teaming up with Mitchell & Ness to unveil a special collection that will be sold exclusively at the Lids NHL All-Star pop-up. The collection has a hockey theme and will bring the vintage style of Mitchell & Ness front and center.