“We always wanted a brand that people would think of as being something that’s out of this world poppin’, that they would gravitate towards.  Art is something that we are dedicated to at Conquest Nation, and Toystar obviously embraces that ideal.  It was only right for us to make this happen”, says Mr. Machicote, President and CEO.  “I mean the designs speak for themselves.  We’ve got talented guys like Ryan Duffy and Brian Reale who eat, sleep, and breath art, and their styles totally embody everything we stand for”, he continues.

Mr. Machicote also made certain to credit a mysterious artist known only as “L”, who contributed a significant amount of artwork to the Toystar portfolio, including the designs depicted in this article (the graffiti on the left was contributed by Brian Reale).  When asked about L’s whereabouts, Mr. Machicote replied “We really don’t know.  Truthfully, I never even met the guy.  We were just given his artwork by some associates of his, with his blessing, which I think is straight gangsta.  I think he’s testing us to see if we’re capable of mass producing his artwork onto our clothing, which we certainly are.  In any case, we’re happy to have him on board” he concluded.

Toystar Apparel, scheduled for a soft launch in December of 2010, will feature clothing for men, women, and children, with items ranging from T-shirts to woven fabrics and accessories.  Mr. Kowal, Chairman of the Board of Conquest Nation and CEO of Toystar has said that the initial focus of the clothing brand will be on T-shirts, before it delves further into other product types, as a way to test the brand’s marketability.

“We expect significant returns from this brand.  Everyone will want these shirts, and we’re preparing to deliver them” said Mr. Kowal.

Toystar clothing will be available directly from Toystar Apparel via telephone order and at select boutiques and retail stores throughout New York City until its unannounced hard release date during the summer of 2011.

From left to right: Byron "Stacks" Reid, an unnamed model, Nathaniel "Richezz" Ford Jr.

Queens, New York–The birthplace of many legendary Hip-Hop artists and moguls, from Nas to Run DMC, and the well accomplished Russell Simmons.  

A  graduate of Pace University with a degree in Communication Arts and Journalism, in addition to being an established college football athlete, Ford also serves as the President and CEO of All World Music Group, as well as one of its premier artists, recording under the alias “Richezz”. 

AWMG features seven individual artists:  Richezz, Stacks, Young Eazy, Be Moore, Sto’Mac, Dnyde, and Goodie, and they can all be heard on the collaborative mixtape Global Warming,  available for free download on www.awmusicgroup.com.  Global Warming 2: The Epidemic is scheduled for release February 2011. 

The label has achieved considerable success since its founding, with performances alongside DJ Spynfo of Hot 97 at the Times Square Performing Arts Center.  The single “Shawty Got Me On!” by Richezz and Tone Def earned a thunderous applause when performed for the student body at Pace University in New York.  Other singles include “In My Bed”, “We Gone”, and “Think About It”, which have been performed at various locations throughout New York City.  Many of the singles can be found on The Heisman Candidate, the first solo mixtape by Richezz, featuring various artists from the label, and others.  The mixtape can be found on the label’s website. 

Ford made certain to credit each member of All World Music Group for their relentless hard work and ultimately for the success of the entire team.  The label is currently undergoing preparations to open a recording studio that will also be available to the public this fall, complete with an area for recording artists to take photos for their upcoming releases. 

In addition, AWMG is planning to contribute to local communities via “Operation Get Heard”, an outreach program geared towards neighborhood youth that encourages creativity and other positive activities outside of school. 

For more information on All World Music Group, visit www.awmusicgroup.com 

–Ghaaziy Machicote

Breeze, right, and SP, left.

Jones Beach, New York–60 people arrived on the scene to film what may be the most well publicized music video of aspiring Hip-Hop Rap duo Breeze N SP to date. 

“Let’s Be Friends”, known by many as simply “The BBM Song”, is a catchy and original composition by Breeze and SP that popularizes the social networking program Blackberry Messenger, found on almost every Blackberry handheld device. The song has been aired on major broadcast radio, including Hot 97 and Power 105.1 in New York. 

During a telephone interview with Breeze, when asked about the difference between this video shoot and the last few, he stated: “This one was more fun. It had more of a summertime vibe, and what was great about it was that there was way more participation from the crowd this time.” When questioned about where he sees himself and his longtime partner SP in two years, he stated ” I see us bringin’ fun back to Hip-Hop and Pop culture, and sharing new life values about success. We need to let people know that they can be themselves and still be successful. Look at the New Boyz movement with the skinny jeans and Lady Ga Ga with those crazy outfits. Nobody can tell them anything.” 

The “Let’s Be Friends” video is scheduled to air on Music Choice on Demand, FUSE, MTV 2, and of course YouTube. 

For more information on Breeze and SP, visit http://breezeandsp.com/, and be sure to check back with Conquest Nation for the latest in urban news. 

–Ghaaziy Machicote