The Shillz Da Realz Show

"NATURAL BORN SKILLER" by Thirstin Howl The 3Rd Feat Unique London

2011-12-22T08:23:00.000-08:00

The General Big Vic-Lo does it again! I salute you big Bro! Nothing but forward perpetual movement for us because were founders and not followers.

Original Lo-Life Founders Franky Boo and Ralph Lo with the Legendary Heavy D (R.I.P) Circa.1991

2011-12-22T08:08:00.000-08:00

Here we have in this picture Heavy D (R.I.P) with two original double OG Lo-Life founders from Crown Heights Franky Boo (Right) and Ralph-Lo (Left). Now for me to really get you to understand how thorough these two men are will take a whole other post! These are the two people that were responsible for creating the added moniker of "Super trife Lo-Lifes" to the mix. Ralph is currently serving a ten year bid with Clayborne (Another Original Lo-Life founder from Crown Heights) in a North Carolina jail after just coming home from already serving a ten year bid for a string of armed robberies in NYC. They weren't home no longer than a year before catching this newest charge in North Carolina. I've heard rumors that they may be coming home and I really hope so because if not that would mean that they both will each have spent a total of 20 years out of both their lives incarcerated.

Around the time this picture was taken many Lo-lifes were already making the transition into more high stake crimes. Boosting a Polo shirt was something you did in the 80's when you were in Middle school and high school, now it was all about getting money, buying jewelry, cars and paying the rent. Petty Larceny turned into R1's a shortened term we coined for robbery in the first degree which carried a minimum sentence of five to fifteen years. Every day it seemed like we rolled dice with our freedom and you could not afford to roll an ace.

A lot of times I see photos and it usually always takes me for a ride in a time machine and many of times I see flics and I ask when was this picture taken?... Like in this case. It took me time to study this picture and after evaluation and seeing the birthday balloons in the background I remembered being here at the this party where this picture was taken. The pic was taken some time in 1991 at a nightclub in lower manhattan (Which name I cannot remember lol). The party was for a dude named Tuffy(?) who at the time was a sometimes co-Host to Ralph McDaniels on "Video Music Box" a popular hip-hop video show during the early 1980's to 90's that was so influential in the exposure and growth of Hip-Hop. Video Music Box was the blueprint for MTV and was the only visual platform that showcased the music and culture of the black and latino artist. Video Music Box was the first and only outlet at the time that introduced the hip-hop community to artist such as Heavy D. If it wasn't for Video Music Box we would have not got to known much about who the "Overweight Lover
Heavy D"

The first Video I've ever seen with Heavy D was the one with him and the Boyz rocking Coca-Cola sweaters. He was one of the original fly fat guys and that video reflected the style of the streets at the time and also helped make Coca-Cola make a lot of money. What people do not know was that a young Tommy Hilfiger was the designer of Coca-cola clothing before he started his own line with his name a few years later. I think that Tommy knew from early after his experience with the Soda pop brand the power of the Urban market and incorporated a lot of that into his own brand. I remember Tommy Hilfiger clothes being sold in stores that carried Coca-Cola clothing right at the tail end of the brand dissolving. There was a store on Pitken ave. in Brownsville Brooklyn named Roy's fashion that carried Coca-Cola and Tommy Hilfiger and after going there to shop for an Easter outfit in 1988 I was introduced to the Tommy brand by Roy who said that this was going to be the next big thing. I copped a peach colored Tommy Hilfiger shirt and some Hilfiger jeans and thought I was the man until I went to Coney Island and seen what looked like a hundred Lo-Lifes head to toe in Polo! I never seen so much Polo on let alone one person but to see a hundred people blew my top. I vowed to myself back from that day on I was going to make it my top priority to become a Lo-Life. I was just Thirteen years old.

R.I.P Heavy D and thank you for your music, sense of style and all the memories. You will be truly missed!

Original Lo-Life Founders Steve Austin "The Six Million Dollar Booster", Dennis, Jason aka Fox-Lo and Ski-Lo Circa.1990

2011-10-17T16:28:00.000-07:00

Here we have above a pic of my brothers from another mother (L-R) Steve Austin "The Six Million dollar Booster" in the grey Big Flag hoody, Puerto Rican Dennis in the Big "P", Fox-Lo with the suicide patch head band and Ski-black at the bottom. The picture was taken in 1990 in the Marcus Garvey Village houses located in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn, New York. The girl looking like Yo-Yo at the top name is Shauna and she was an Original Lo-wife and she was "bout it" when it came to boosting and getting money just like any dude on the team. The dark skin girl at the bottom with the door knocker earrings (I forgot her name) use to come around a lot with Shauna and this other chic we knew that got busy as well.

Around these times the "Big American Flag" and "Big Varsity P" sweaters were in favorable demand by Brooklyn boosters and had just been released. I also remember during this era us doing Macy*s on 34th Street nasty for them for a few weeks straight. Everybody on the team damn near had every color and style from crew necks to the hoodies with every matching sweat pant to go with the tops. This is going way back when the original Polo section was on the first floor in the center of the Herald Square department store by the perfumes and cologne sections. Unlike it being on the second floor where it is located now; back then the section was closer to a main entrance of the store which made easier for us boosters to get in and out the store quickly and undetected by store security we referred to as "Red Coats" (because of the color of their work uniforms)

Hey!! Yo!! The Red Coats are Coming!!

My dude Steve was a beast when it came to boosting and taking money. Steve was an all around Real dude. He was the type of dude that will never run on his people and was down for whatever! Whether it was running out with a rack of Sherling leather coats or bagging up a whole Polo section in a clear see thru garbage bag and walking out with it, he didn't care because he was fearless. You had boosters and then you had super boosters and like myself and many others at the time...Steve was in the super booster category.

I've made references before saying If boosting was a major league sport and we had to compare our selves to a baseball team I would say we were the Yankees, because we had some of the best players on our team and everyone wanted to play for us. Also if we were the Yankees I would say Steve was "Derek Jeter" because all the lady's loved him! Steve was a fly brown skin pretty boy (No Homo...lol) even on his lazy days he was fresher than a mannaquin. I remember when we just started to frequent the Reggae parties in Flatbush around these times. I had convinced dudes to start coming to the parties after I became addicted myself and figured out thats where all the girls were at.

On one particular night we went to a party and it was packed with some of baddest chicks Brooklyn had. As we walked up to the club we can hear people outside whispering "That's them Lo-Life Niggas" when we get inside Girls are paraded around us dancing to the music very tantalizing as if they were trying to attract our attention and within minutes Steve is thrown against the wall and is being grinded on by a very curvy attractive female, The very type of female that dudes would probably salivate over in many rappers music video. Well, after a couple of songs the girl walks off trembling and crying and I can hear her say to her friend in amazement while walking past me in the nightclub...."I can't believe I just danced with Steve Austin!!!"

True Lo-Life Stories: "The Thomas Crown Affair" Og Rudy-Lo and Og Bek Live Speak about Sleeping Over Night in Bloomingdales NYC

2011-08-26T10:35:00.000-07:00

In the boosting game back in the 80's you had Og's and you got Double Og's. And these two in the Video above are who I would describe as double Og's! There the ones who helped shape the craft of boosting and were the tastemakers for those to come after. Here we have in this video clip, my brothers from another mother and Original Lo-Life founders "Og Rudy-Lo and Og Bek Live from 85" talking about the night they slept inside of Bloomingdales Department store on 59th street in NYC. This was some real Thomas Crown shit and a story that went down in boosting lore and infamy.

These are the type of stories that made me want to become a Lo-life and from the years of 1988-89 what I pursued to become. In September of 1989 in my ninth grade of school and also first year of High School, a friend of mines by the Name of "Eddie Lee" (R.I.P) who also was an Original Lo-Life Founder from M.G.V, invited me to Marcus Garvey to go on a Boosting Mission after seeing me wearing a Polo shirt in our Home Room class.

A lot of people today like to push up their release dates and claim to have been down from back in the days with the original family of Lo-Lifes...but that isn't always true.The reason why I made this blog was to highlight the originals and the ones who was really there from day one! and to also not let people try to capitalize off of our blood, sweat and tears we shared together. I might not be able to come to every event or get to see my fam as much as I would like to, but you can never take away what we did and who was responsible for it! You can throw up all the L's you want, write all the blogs you want, but all I know is if it ain't on The Shillz Da Realz Show... then it's not a go!

Salute to all the Originals!

The History of Polo Part:#1

2011-08-20T16:34:00.000-07:00

This here is the "Big Crown" or "Crest" Polo by ralph Lauren logo which was introduced in 1984-85. This is a very sort after item because of its rarity and the fact that not a lot of boosters had this sweater. It was only carried in select department stores such as Lord & Taylors, Saks Fifth Avenue and Bloomingdales. Because of this rarity it started the treasure map search for pieces of Polo other than the Horsey Logo which also then fueled the competitiveness amongst boosters. Imagine you standing there on Easter in Coney Island with your blue Horsey shirt on thinking you're the flyest thing since astronauts and you see four to five dudes come thru with this sweater on, with this emblem on the front in different colors, would make your stomach do flips! This was an important piece for Polo because of it's able to transition from the "Horsey" Logo and keep the same synergy with the brand. At a time the company exposure was growing in the masses and people wanted to see more from the brand. Especially the boosters.

This is the Universal Badge aka The Big UNI. The origin of the name or which booster gave it is moniker is unknown to me. This logo was introduced 1985-86 this logo was important because at this time the boosting community was reaching full impact. Ralph Lauren flooded the market with this logo in a magnatude of garments with the same repeating red, blue, green and yellow colorways. The quality of the logo and thread count was remarkable. The precise use and balance of color was true design artistry. This Logo also set a new level in "Flaming" the art of showing while wearing multiple polo pieces at one time. Because of the multiple Logo placements used with this emblem on different garments it made it easy to show off in abundance. Ralph introduced The Goose down coat, vest, headband, socks, rugbys, Jumpers and knitted boatneck sweater "Big Symbol" versions of this patch, which was like the ultimate Polo piece to Lo-lifes and boosters of the time.

This logo is the "Tennis Racket logo" and was introduced in 1983-84 and is a very rare piece. This was only around for a short minute and the only people who had this was really OG Boosters who picked them up from stores that carried after season items such as TJ Maxx, Marshalls, Syms, Burlington coat factory and BFO's. These became easy pickings for early boosters who started to master their craft. The quality of the badge was not that great and not high in the thread count. You can tell the remote difference in the brands logo manufacturer in following years to come.

Polo player emblem or the "Horsey" which was the name commonly used by Lo-Lifes and boosters was originated in 1970 was originally made for the womenswear line which was introduced the year. Instead of the emblem being placed on the left breast of the shirt which it is commonly known for today, it was sewn onto the cuff of the shirt. Nearly fifteen years after it was introduced to the market and now implemented into the menswear line it would be the status symbol of every booster around that time in the mid 80's. Only a chosen few knew that a brand named Polo existed and knew where to acquire it. That was part of the art, being able to be one step ahead in fashion and trend. Unlike any other brand Polo was able to reinvent its brand every season with a new logo/emblem. No other brand has every done this before. Usually a brand creates one logo and thats it,. Polo was able to flip a new symbol every 3 months. The boosters and fashionistas of the time spoke to each other thru symbols and this is what gave birth to the competitiveness aspect of boosting. It sorta was like collecting comic books or any other type of toys you loved as a kid. Rarely would you have or want one G.I Joe, Transformer, Nintendo cartridge or match box car. The more you had the more you felt some sort of euphoric feeling when you have a mass of posessions. That was the platform Polo made in fashion, he gave variety to the collector. In masses.

The first time I ever seen a Polo shirt it was the Horsey and it blew me away. It was simple and right on point. The colors was the most vibrant and came in an array. Just the way the items was merchandised in the department stores made you want everything because it seemed like everything fit like a puzzle. The best Horsey shirts are from the early 80's because they were all "Made In U.S.A" the dye process and quality was superb. The only manufacturers outside of the country that was able to keep up to the same measure was Hong Kong and Singapore factories.

The Polo Grounds (Hosted by Thirstin Howl the 3rd) Preview

2011-08-11T08:47:00.000-07:00

SPIT ON A FAKE LO LIFE VIDEO

2011-08-11T08:37:00.000-07:00

El De Sensi from "The Artifacts" rocking "The Rose Moet-Lo Bear" Shirt

2011-05-21T08:32:00.000-07:00

El De Sensi 1/2 of "The Artifacts" rocking a Rose Moet Lo-Bear Shirt on his European tour. Photography by Rosa G.

Original Lo-Lifes Founders: Og Fox-Lo aka Hatch-Lo Circa.1990

2011-05-10T07:42:00.000-07:00

Original Lo-Lifes founding member "Fox-Lo aka Hatch-Lo". This pic was taken in 1990 in Fox bedroom at his then home in Marcus Garvey Village, in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn.

Fox was the younger brother of "Haz-uno" also an Original founding member and best friend of Vic-Lo aka Thirstin Howl the 3rd.

When I first became Lo-Life and started to hang out in the Garvey more often, I would mostly hang out with Jerve-Lo, Sha-Lo, Jersey Gee Money, Fox, black Ralph, Steemo aka big man, Dennis and Eddie-lee. We were all around amongst the same age group, so most times we would be out and about doing our on thing. Fox was the type of dude that was always hyped up and energetic and was a natural born booster that was also always down for the rush. If it was about getting money Fox was always ready and willing.

One particular night in the night we were all mobbed up on 34th street in NYC. We just priviously been chased out of the newly built A&S plaza mall which was located on 33rd street. We were tearing the mall up almost everyday from the first week it opened. The A&S had a kids Polo section by the door on a floor below the first that led straight to the underground train station and N.J Path Train which made it even more tempting for us. There were plenty of floors with new shops that we would just walk in and out of taking whatever we wanted. At that particular time a new rap group came out by the name of "Nice and Smooth" which had us possessed. Their album had just dropped so we decided to go to Sam Goody and take all the Sony Walk Mans, headphones and Nice and Smooth tapes. As soon as we came out the store we seen security on the opposite side of the mall looking for us. We quickly started to run down he "UP" escalators pushing people out of our way. The security took eyre to the commotion being made and started to give chase. It was too late because unlike us - the security had to use the conventional way of getting down to the first floor by using the down escalators. But of course by the time they finally did reach the first floor it was too late in which we had already made our ways through the revolving glass glass doors shattering one as we spilled out on to the street.

Some of the mob got split up as usually so with the remaining few we decided to go to Herman's Sporting Goods store which was located on 42nd street. It was already because it was the only store still opened at that time of night it was almost 8pm and we knew that our window to getting paid for the night was closing soon. We make it to 42nd street in about 15 minutes, by then it's about ten of us left. We all get inside Herman's and everyone starts to position themselves around racks of Ski Jackets. I can tell by the energy that was built up by then that this was going to turn into a rush. While everyone is tearing through the racks grabbing an arm full of Profile Gore-Tex Ski Coats that ranged from $300.00 and up. During this all going on, there is a Plain clothes store detective at the door with a bat in his hand that he had grabbed out of the baseball equipment section. As he stood by the door he swung the bat around and yelled in a very stern manner " You little Motherfuckers better not! Put that shit back!!" and as soon as he finished his sentence we all started running towards the door in his direction with hands full of the Ski coats. Unaware to us at the time that all the ski coats were wired up through the sleeves to the store racks. We dragged the coats and the racks all the way to the entrance from the middle of the store, before realizing what was going on.

During the melee Fox loses not one, but both his sneakers! And now has to run barefoot in the streets during the middle of the winter to get away. We didn't get any coats and to my recollection I think just one person got hit with the bat by the security. Somehow we managed to make it back to 34th street (which was the usually regroup spot) before police got to the scene. Now the only problem is Fox's feet are soaking wet freezing the snow and there are no stores open except for one Bargain Store that sold reject sneakers and other type of cheap shit for your house like plates, dishwashing liquid, toothpaste, notebooks, generic ginger bread cookies and batteries and other random bullshit. We ran up in the store right when they were closing the door. There was an older man at the door who looked like he was from Indiawith a bald spot and receeding hairline. As soon as he seen us piling in the store he began screaming "Get out were closing!!"

Of course knowing us instead of buying the sneakers for Fox (which cost only $5.99) we decide to steal them instead. As the bald headed dude from India is trying to throw us out, we begin to all split up to throw a distraction, so that someone out of the group can boost them. At this time we start acting even more ignorant. We all simultaneously started picking up packs of generic batteries and begin throwing them across the store. At this moment an Indian women with a red dot on her head from behind the counter screams "Call the Police!!" The security at the store catches Jerve throwing the sneakers up the back of his coat and tries to apprehend him. The security had tried to lock the door and someone snatched the key out of the door and his hand at the same time while he tried to lock it. The other part of the group that were outside of the store pushed the door open for everyone that was trapped inside to escape.

Well just to show you how much of a wild boy Fox was even after that day he continued to wear the reject sneakers out and about. The sneakers had four stripes and looked like some track adidas and K-Swiss hybrids. It wasn't like he didn't have a plethora of sneakers, he just didn't care what the fuck people thought. He liked the sneakers and would be Polo down to the socks with them on.

Memories like this you can't buy......

The Making of the Hov-Lo Bear

2011-05-10T07:25:00.000-07:00

It don't get no realer than this!!

2011-04-16T14:27:00.000-07:00

These pics were sent by Dave Palmer from Australia and they were taken on the day of his release from prison. On this day he had his girlfriend pick him up, but first before he finally said goodbye to the place he called home for several months, he had his girlfriend bring

his Lo gear, just so he can take these very pictures in front of the Prison facility.

Dave and his comrades have been avid supporters of the Lo-Life movement for some years now, from the stories to the music they collected everything they could get their hands on that brought them closer to our world. Their fascination and dedication to the Lo-Lifes story and movement has been immeasurable.

Through my travels I've been blessed to have met people from all walks of life and to also know that there is sometimes just a thin line that separate people lives. This has to be one of the most astonishing pics I've received in a minute!

Shout outs to Dave Palmer and everyone from Australia that been showing Love & Loyalty!

2Ls up!

Diggin Shop x Lo-Lifes Spain: Drohe aka Lo Digger

2011-04-16T14:19:00.000-07:00

My people from Spain reppin the movement at full force! Peep the Hova-Lo Bear too!

Biggie-Lo Bear Sweater & Tees available @ The Super Fresh Kids / Big Cartel.com

2011-04-13T15:24:00.000-07:00

Official Original Lo-Lifes Biggie-Lo Bear Tees designed by Shillz Da Realz available @ http://thesuperfreshkids.bigcartel.com/

Fi-Lo "Always win the War"

2011-04-04T08:21:00.000-07:00

Lo-Lifes International

2011-04-01T18:24:00.000-07:00

Lo-Lifes in Japan

Lo-Lifes in Australia

Lo-Lifes in Paris

Lo-Lifes in the U.K

Lo-Lifes in Amsterdam

Lo-Lifes Spain

If you would have asked me 2o years ago that people from all over the world would know about Lo-Lifes.... I probably would not have said no, but it would have at the time seem not logical for people too know. I was totally unaware of the fact that at the same time the people that we may have influenced in some sort of way became the musicians, designers, radio personalities, writers, film directors and magazine editors and they were the ones that passed on these stories like ole folklore... and people listened.

From a street perspective, and also being a proud born and raised Brooklyn boy, It has to be one of the greatest forms of flattery to know that you touched people in some sort of way and that out of a negative, positivity has come forth. For you to be born in a situation that was meant to be a oneway road for you, and for you to create a highway for yourself and to also have people acknowledge that from different parts of the world is truly amazing.

We didn't make a hit song, we didn't star in a Oscar nominated Blockbuster movie nor did we win a super bowl or world series, but what we did win were people hearts....... because all we were just a bunch of kids who banned together out of what at the time felt like a necessity. And of course it was a necessity... and that necessity was of course food, clothing and shelter. We put our minds together, when our backs were against the wall. And people recognized that and that's what's also again is truly amazing......

I didn't steal to impress you, or anyone else or too make a name outside of the world I was living in, because I basically couldn't even fathom that. We were living hand to mouth, sun rise to sun set, too busy playing Russian roulette with our freedoms and lives nearly everyday of the week..... because if I didn't, I didn't eat.

But outside of how honored I may feel to have people contact me from all over the world with the most humble of respect and admiration for our story as Lo-lifes is beyond words. But at the same time what is one of the most sad things to bear, is to know that many of my friends who I considered my brothers is no longer here to witness this......

Because they wouldn't believe it either.

Back of Johnny's Album Cover Red and Blue Gucci shit! Circa. 1988

2011-03-12T13:59:00.000-08:00

Like Hova said...."Back of Johnny's album cover Red and Blue Gucci shit!!!" Only live heads from back in the days know about the "Big Double Gs International Gucci Flag" sweaters! You had to be doing it for real to have this sweater in the 80's. Plus if you was even more advanced than the rest of the masses back then, you even took a trip out to Secaucus, N.J. to the Gucci outlet if you were really getting it in!

What's also interesting about this flic is Jaz-O has on the Script/Scribble Polo turtleneck.... with Hova's chain on? SMH!! I don't understand how cats can really open their mouths and try to hate on Jay. I mean really??!! because if you look at it like this, you really had to be bout it to be running around BK heavy like that back in the 80's.... and that's a statement in it's self! HANDS DOWN!!

Shillz Da Realz "Reality" & "Million Dollar Juxes" Circa.1997. Produced and Mixed by Special Ed

2011-02-25T07:24:00.000-08:00

B-Side "Million Dollar Juxes"

Decoded by Jay-Z #Lo-Lifes

2011-02-14T13:23:00.000-08:00

I've been so busy since the beginning of the year that I haven't really been able to sit down and go in with the blog post as much as I would've liked to. So to all the people that visit the site on a daily.... please forgive me! I've been working on revamping the blog because I was a little caught in how the post may be perceived by people reading it, especially the youth.

I would like to clarify that In no way shape or fashion, am I glorifying criminal activity or theft. That is the main reason why I removed the site a couple of months back, But the I decided to re-Launch it.

The main reason for the blog was to document the history of the Original Lo-Life founders and our contributions to high end street wear fashion in Brooklyn during the 1980's and basically promote my book of Memoirs that I have been working on for almost a decade now called "The Kings of Fresh" which are my memoirs based upon my youth as an Original Lo-Life Founder.

Of course as you get older you start to observe the world differently. I've grown so much since the 80's and 90's, and I have been blessed to take hold of my own destiny. I've lost so many friends in the streets as a matter of fact over close to over 50 friends of mines have been murdered in the mean streets, So the glorification of violence isn't something i'm as privy too, like the youth of this generation, because I know what it feels like to lose a friend over and over, and nothing is fly about that.

So getting back to the matter at hand "Decoded" by Jay-Z, i've had the book for a while and have been meaning to finish it up and do a post on it. But with my schedule lately I have not really gotten the time to get into because of the five books I had to finish reading before I can really start on his

(One being the URANTIA Book, and that is 2000 pages long!) but from the looks of it, and from what I have read so far it looks amazing!

First I would like to thank Jay for giving Lo-Lifes an honorable mention in his book, Secondly, I have to first applaud Jay-Z for all his accomplishments. He has done nothing but excel at everything from music to fashion and everything else he has put his mind to, he has given a generation of youth hope thru example of his success.

To be from that era and to still be around and relevant in this day is a feat in it's self, that's what makes his story so interesting.Me and Jay met on a few occasions thru associates, I also have mutual friends that went to Westinghouse High School in Brooklyn with him, My dude Ron aka "Pearson" who happens to still be one of the fliest to ever do it!

I also got the opportunity on a vacation visiting my Mother, to see my mom's older male cousin (who has passed away two years ago) in South Carolina by the name of "Boy" who at the time was 65 years old and just finished a five year bid in the Feds (A man who Stood up when he pee'd and never sat down) Co-signed Hova crazily! In fact he didn't even call him Jay-Z , but steadily referred to him as "Shawn", But the craziest thing is was when he said "Hey, nephew you remember the song when he said......."

Well put it like this Ole "Cousin Boy" Decoded Jay's rhyme for me, But the thing that was most mind boggling was WHAT DOES A 65 YEAR OLD MAN KNOW ABOUT JAY-Z AND HIS RHYMES?!! So every time I here the Song "Reminder" I have a different point of view. It sure would've been cool for Ole "Cousin Boy" to have heard that song, because he sure did vouch for him..... trust me!

Well after a few more drinks and reminiscing, I found out that the same cousin "Boy" had my Moms bagging up Dope in the 70's on Prospect Place in Crown Heights, Brooklyn when she first moved to New York, and also was the drove her to my Pop's apartment, as she went to go shoot at my Pops... obviously my pops thought it was a game...lol.

Squint-Lo "Hide Da Lo" #Lo-Lifes

2011-02-12T05:35:00.000-08:00

In 88, We were the 96 Death Row!

Ralphie Kids featuring: "Original Lo-Life Founders" Rack-Lo, Shillz Da Realz and Reese-Lo

2011-02-08T05:07:00.000-08:00

This song was released in 2000 on Rack-Lo's "Rack Lauren" Album, the track was produced by Noise for Noisey Boy Productions with vocals provided by "Original Lo-Life Founders" Rack-Lo, Shillz Da Realz and Reese-Lo. Song posted by Malik-Lo.

Him-Lo & Thirstin Howl the 3rd (Space Invadaz)

2011-02-05T11:14:00.000-08:00

Shout outs to all Philly Lo-Lifes!

Original Lo-Life Founders Thirstin Howl the 3rd, Shillz Da Realz, and Big Boo w/ Brooklyn Academy Live freestyle on "Stretch and Bobitto"

2011-02-04T15:54:00.001-08:00

Kings of Polo "The Original Lo-Life Founders" est.1988

2011-01-13T06:04:00.000-08:00

Original Lo-Life Founders: Big Vic-Lo aka Thirstin Howl the 3rd, Uncle Disco and Bek Live from 85. Photo taken on 42nd st. NYC. Circa.1987Original Lo-Life Founders: (L-R top row) Og Dennis, Og Rack-Lo, Og Ski-Lo, (L-R Middle row) Og Reese-Lo, Og Shillz da Realz sitting in middle and Steve Austin to the right in blue flag sweater. Og Montoun-Lo in Blue Flag hat and T-shirt. Og Marco Polo (R.I.P) sitting in front with white Paddle Shirt. Photo taken in Brownsville, Brooklyn Circa.1990

Original Lo-Life Founders and the original "Ralphy Kids" from St.Johns and Utica ave. Crown Heights, Brooklyn: (Top L-R) Og AV-Lo in Yellow Yacht hoody, Og Rich-Lo in the Big Universal turtleneck, Og Rack-Lo in white Big Flags sweater, Og Friz-Lo in Blue Cookie jacket in center, Og Carvel-Lo in original white Big Crown and Og Rudy-Lo in front with "Tri-Color Big Flags sweater" Photo taken in Crown Heights, Brooklyn Circa.1987

Original Lo-Life Founders: Og Ski-Lo in white Big Flags, Og Big Vic-Lo in Red Cookie Goose, Og Uncle Disco in center, Og Bek Live in white and Black POLO USA goose, Og Montoun-Lo in white and red POLO USA goose. Photo taken on 42nd. St. NYC Circa.1987

Imagine the unimaginable, hundreds of inner city youth coming together for a specific cause, "To get dipped"!* (fly, fresh, etc) which in Brooklyn it meant your clothes were new and usually from the most flashy designers with the illest colors. Tommy Hilfiger was still an amateur in the streets. Izod was past tense and Versace wasn't even heard of in the Hip Hop fashion dictionary, ******s couldn't even pronounce the word until Biggie Smalls came on the scene. The head honcho in labels and brands was Ralph Lauren's "Polo". In our eyes he was worshipped like God. It was even to the point where some of us would carry a picture of Ralph Lauren in our wallets.

"MONEY, HOES, AND CLOTHES was our motto and "LO" was our life

The name Lo-Lifes came about in '88 when Big Vic Lo (Thirstin Howl III) got caught talking to a girl after he just got another girl's phone number. The girl said "you are a low-life" in a disrespectful manner. His reply, "you are right!" "I wear Lo everyday and "Lo" is my life. Then everybody replied, "that's right", We are Lo-Lifes!". It was never officially voted on, or anything it was just the name we lived by.

The Lo-Lifes were originally composed of two boostin posse's from different sections in Brooklyn. There was the Crown Heights half who were originally known as "Ralphies Kids" (Ralph Lauren's Kids). That name being made by G-George whom lived on St. John's and Utica Avenue, which was also where Ralphies Kids could be found. Then there was the Brownsville half who were originally called POLO U.S.A. (United Shoplifters Association). That name being made up by Ski-Lo and Pumpkin (RIP). The Brownsville half were all mostly from the Marcus Garvey Village, with others from Van Dyke Houses.

I remember before we became the Lo-Lifes, we would see each other on the trains. We use to plot on robbing one another for the Lo items we were wearing, it never came to that though. I was on the Deuce (42nd Street and Broadway) when we first clicked together. There were alot of movie theatres and game rooms there. There was photographers with all the different backgrounds to take your pictures in. We were stepping up to take pictures one Saturday night when Ralphies Kids were already on the Polo background, their wears were crisp. And that was the one thing we all had in common. So, ******s was like "yo let's take this flick together". So both mobs got in one flick together. Little did we know it would make history according to Brooklyn's streets. "Lo-Lifes" was mainly known for; boostin, running up in stores and just snatching everything. We made this common in our everyday activities. We turned it into a lifestyle and to this day it is still the way some original Lo-Lifes put food on the table.

When we travel we would roll at least 50 or 60 deep and could be recognized by the rainbow of Ralph Lauren labels. By 1989, we grew and had members in the "90's" (East Flatbush) and East New York. We would get all dressed up just to go out to do dirt. Sometimes we would go to clubs wearing like 5 different Polo shirts each. We would wear one on top of the other and switch shirts. All night while walking around the nightclub, your prop status was rated on how much "Lo" you had and how big your heart was.

When Lo-Lifes first united it was a mutual respect from Brownsville to Crown Heights. We did everything together, boost, fight, party and look for girls. So basically, we shared the same problem inner city youth face. Everyday was a fashion show and a shoplifting spree through upstate malls, Manhattan stores and even fast food joints like McDonalds were hit. We jacked everything from our deoderant to our milk and cereal for breakfast. Sometimes we got confused for the Decepticons, they did their thing to. The only difference between us was the attire. Lo-Lifes stayed extremely dipped. My man Shills-Lo, was telling me the other day that he is who he is because of his Lo-Life experience. The "Lo-Life" experiences gave him his whole thinking pattern, showed him means for survival and ways to help mom's pay the rent.

Boostin became a culture, we don't claim to be the first to ever do it. All we are saying is that we made it go mainstream out on the N.Y. streets and even out in Philly where Boostin Bill, an original member established a whole other episode of Lo-Lifes. There was the uptown LoLifes who were Chris, Ibit, Rob and a whole bunch of Bronx heads who did crime so fast we use to have to race them to the victims, word! When we first established the Lo-Lifes a lot of us were mad young. Twenty years ago and counting have gone by and Lo-Lifes have spreaded so much that many people none of the Originals know have claimed to be Lo-Lifes. On the streets, in the rap industry, even Abc's 20/20 was planning to do a episode on Lo-Lifes. They held a meeting over at ABC, somehow we found out about it and got there an hour late. We walked into a room full of different Rappers and boosters who claimed affiliation to Lo-Lifes. There were even Lo-Life hats made which was featured in a Source Magazine advertisement, none of us had anything to do with it or whomever designed it. Lo-Lifes is a title each original member has lived by and some died by. So the name is rightfully ours.

The Lo-Lifes list is endless, there's so many members from both sides that never even met eachother. Whether you were apart of Ralphies Kids or Polo USA, once it was established everyone instantly became Lo-Life, even if you never met the other side.

We would terrorize 42nd Street on Friday and Saturday nights. We were always so deep we would never pay to go into the movies. There was so many of us you would be stupid to try and stop one. Even at the stores in the same area we would steal every 40oz of Old English 800 by just picking them up and walking out. We would be responsible for 75% of the dirt committed up there. As for the department stores we hit; Macy's, B'Altman's, Bloomingdales, Saks Fifth Avenue, Trump Towers, Century 21, BFO, and like I mentioned before even Mc Donalds. Our main target was Polo, either putting it in back packs or stuffing it down girdles. Most of the time there was so many of us, we would just rush the store and take all you can carry. Leathers and shearlings stores were wrecked also along with women gear stores. This would always be the quickest **** selling and that was how a lot of heads made their money. One thing we still all had in common was the love for true "hip-hop" . We would go to a lot of the most popular hip-hop clubs. We never paid for drinks, we would steal the bottles from behind the bar and stay drunk all night for free. We usually left the club after getting into some **** or taking somebody's ****. A lot of the things we did resulted in consequences. Many Lo-Lifes were in and out of jail for long periods of time. Regardless, of whatever situation the Lo-Life Ralph Lauren lifestyle remained the same. In prison, official heads wore so much Polo in jail as in the streets. You had to be a real ***** to be able to keep your Polo in the prison system where inmates would rob eachother for expensive clothing.

Empire Skating Rink in Brooklyn was were we met every Sunday. The Rink would close about 5p.m. Lo-Lifes would unite out front and walk toward the subway headed to Manhattan to get paid. The "ill" **** was the entire skating rink on Sundays was composed of boosters. It was a big fashion show. After awhile when we would leave on Sunday other boosters in the rink knew where we were headed and what we were up to. So, alot of others would follow us and add on to the chaos. Everybody wanted to be down and every Sunday was a repeat of the week before. Except for one week we said we would hit the stores in Manhattan before the skating rink open on Sunday morning. So we went to Manhattan, had a quick rush at Lord and Taylor's for all kinds of flavor Polo bathrobes. Then we went to Empire, there was at least 40 of us in the middle of the day at the skating rink wearing bathrobes. Of course we always got the girls. They even got with the program so we had Lo-Wives.

Boostin was a sport and source of income and from the way some turned out many years later it is all they may ever know. In the streets we weren't always the culprits. We were preyed upon as well by jealous people who wanted what we had (our Lo) and didn't know how to get it the way we did. In conclusion, some of us were killed and some of them killed and so on.

Over 2 decades later traces of Lo-Lifes spread to California and even Japan. Rappers are getting free "Tommy Hilfiger" to advertise and were still wondering whatever gave D-Lo the idea for their clothing line? Hmmm, it was original Lo-Lifes who started using the word Lo after their names. "The Million Man Rush" is what we call our story just like the "Million Man March", a movement many claimed to be apart of. Only a chosen few can say "I was there".

Written by: Rack-Lo

Photos and updated edit by: Shillz da Realz

Original Lo-Lifes Founders 1988 "Rose Moet and Hova Bear" T-Shirts

2011-01-03T15:46:00.000-08:00

Thirstin Howl the 3rd feat. Professor X "What it is Brotha Lo"

2011-01-01T07:06:00.000-08:00

Fi-Lo says....

2010-12-23T17:10:00.000-08:00

Thirstin Howl the 3rd: Together Forever (Remix)

2010-12-21T15:51:00.000-08:00

Maino: BK BK BK (#Lo-Lifes)

2010-12-21T15:41:00.000-08:00

Vintage Fila Collectors

2010-12-21T14:16:00.001-08:00

Commercial: Fi-Lo album 'Keep out of Reach of Children" Available on iTunes

2010-12-21T14:13:00.000-08:00

Original Lo-Life Founder: "Fi-Lo" The OG Fila King

2010-12-17T14:58:00.000-08:00

Live on 42nd St. Original Lo-Life Founders: Top row: Uncle Disco,C-God (R.I.P), Millie Moe, Bottom Row: The Fila Twin, Ant-Lo aka Fi-Lo-2 (R.I.P) Big Vic-Lo, and Fi-Lo aka Fi-Lo-1. "The Fila Twins" are in this picture wearing identical rare Fila rain jumpers. Photo Circa.1988

The Fila King and Polo King: Fi-Lo and Vic-Lo on 42nd. street in NYC. Photo Circa.1990

Rockaway Parkway Train station in Brownsville, Brooklyn New York. Photo Circa. 1990

Fi-Lo's home in the 90's east flatbush section of Brooklyn. Where he painted the big "FILA" logo on his Wall. "Big Vic Lo" is in the back Gucci Down in matching sweat suit, sweater and sneakers, "Fi-Lo" in front wearing a Multi Nation Flag Fila sweater and "Chance" in all red Guess Jean suit. Photo Circa.1990

OG Fila King Fi-Lo "Spit On a Fake Lo-Life" (Young Dro Diss)

2010-12-17T13:49:00.000-08:00

Industry Shakedown Radio - "Og Fila King" Fi-Lo (Kanye West Response)

2010-12-16T06:18:00.000-08:00

Fi-Lo: "Find Biggie Smalls Killer"

2010-12-15T06:22:00.001-08:00

Commercial Break: Fi-Lo the Fila King

2010-12-15T06:17:00.000-08:00

Fi-Lo: "Rap is Dying" Directed by Malik-Lo

2010-12-15T06:15:00.000-08:00

The Ridiculous: Thirstin Howl the 3rd and Fi-Lo

2010-12-13T07:05:00.000-08:00

Lo and Behold....

2010-12-13T06:27:00.000-08:00

Shillz Da Realz Freshmore Sr. @ The Polo Condo

Gotta make sure the drapes, rugs, carpet, sheets, comforters and paint match the shirt!

The History of Lo: The UNI Badge / Universal Badge Circa.1985

2010-12-07T14:08:00.000-08:00

The smaller badge like this one in this photo is usually found on sweaters, jackets, heavy woolen knits and the infamous Lo goose down coat. This was the first badge on the infamous lo goose that had Brooklyn going crazy! If you popped up with one of these cats would look at you like you was an astronaut! The four and five color way block design coats was addictive to your eyesight and almost hypnotic even. The precise proportions of the red, yellow, blue, green and white stripes were as if they were made with some sort of mathematical formula that went deeper than just design but also psychological.

Having an understanding of marketing I know how colors can induce interest and hunger in people. You never wonder why all fast food restaurants usually have red and yellow in their signs? Thats because they know that those colors can trigger the mind to think about food.

You didn't even have to know what Polo was at the time, but if you were to have seen someone with it on you would automatically acquire about it.... it's like the colors just spoke to you, and the clothes just looked and smelled like money. It's hard to explain in words the euphoric feeling that would arise in a person from just the sight of Polo at those times. Just think about how excellent the quality of the brand is today and now imagine how it looked for someone to be wearing something that is of the same quality -if not better- in the hood over 25 years ago.

I personally think that the quality of Polo in the 80's was better, each garment piece had life to it that gave them a collectors feel to it. A lot of Polo around that time was being manufactured in Hong Kong and which ever process they were using in the manufacturing process to dye the garment was crazy! It was something unseen in any other brand on the market. Every color on each POLO garment that era had a comic book color vibrancy to them that all intertwined with each other making layering lo (which we call "Flam'n") more easier.
Top Row: Original Lo-Life Founders, holding up white vest Dre-Lo (R.I.P) Barkim-Lo (R.I.P), Ski-Lo, Vic-Lo. Bottom Row: Boostin Billy (R.I.P), Rack-Lo, Rudy-Lo, Uncle Disco, Franky Boo. Photo Circa. 1988 taken at Club Sensations Newark, New Jersey. Also Vic-Lo aka Thirstin Howl the 3rd is wearing a white and black "Big Uni" turtleneck with the POLO USA across the chest.

Original Lo-Life Founder Ski rocking a crisp red rare vintage "Big Uni Badge" with POLO USA down the arm. This back in the day ( and still is ) was a powerful piece. First because of it's rarity, only live boosters on the circuit, would even know where to find something like this. A lot of times just to get a rare item like this cats would have to go boosting outta state to malls in Philadelphia or Stamford, Connecticut. Second it has the "POLO USA" down the arm which was also considered a "Big Symbol" and third it's the only time Ralph combined the UNI and POLO USA down the arm in one I.T (Item). Polo repeated the "POLO USA" down the arm in in 1988 with the "Cookie" Patch and Goose Down Coats and Vest with the "Circle Big Ski" on the back another classic collection.

Original Lo-Life Founder Shillz in Navy blue and white rare vintage "Big Uni" sweater. The UNI will always be my favorite because it defined a era for me. It was the first piece outside of the pony logo to inspire my interest in rocking Polo.

Thirstin Howl the 3rd: How lo can you go!

2010-12-07T13:14:00.000-08:00

Original Lo-Life Founder: Rack-Lo "My Polo Mansion"

2010-12-02T18:02:00.000-08:00

Original Lo-Life Founder: Thirstin Howl the 3rd "The Million Man Rush"

2010-12-02T17:19:00.000-08:00

A spitfire accurate description of a day in the life of a Lo-Life in the form of a rhyme. He couldn't been more precise and to the point!

Original Lo-Life Founder: Boosting Billy aka B.Bill aka Cat Mike aka Sheisty-Lo (R.I.P)

2010-12-02T08:19:00.001-08:00

Check out Part: 2

This is part 1 of a video documentation by Dallas Penn of the life and influence of original Ralphy's Kid and Lo-Lifes founder "Boostin Billy" a Polo fashion pioneer, supreme master booster and Brooklyn vet.

BROTHER 'HOOD Ep.3 Pt.1 - BOOSTIN' BILLY from dallas penn on Vimeo.

BROTHER 'HOOD Ep.3 Pt.2 - BOOSTIN' BILLY from dallas penn on Vimeo.

Original Lo-Life Founder Ski Black Speaks of the early origins of Double L

2010-12-02T08:03:00.000-08:00

Lo-Lifes Documentary Trailer

2010-12-02T08:00:00.000-08:00

Lo-Lifes Forever: Original Lo-Life Founder Shillz Da Realz

2010-12-02T07:34:00.000-08:00