Kurtis Blow

July 20, 2011 by Jimmy J · 1 Comment  

Defunkd’s exclusive collection of vintage t-shirts for sale at reasonably exorbitant prices.


Item #34: Kurtis Blow

Year: 1985

Circulation: Rarer than Kurtis Blow lyrics with curse words.

Kurtis Blow was the first hip hop artist to sign with a major label when he linked up with Mercury records in 1979 and released “Kurtis Blow” in 1980. His biggest hit, “The Breaks” was just the break he needed because he went on to release 10 albums over the 11 years. His influences have been seen and heard – hell, Run of RUN DMC was originally billed as “The Son of Kurtis Blow” and even Nas covered one of his tracks in 1996. Kurtis was also a spokesperson against drugs and booze, and emitted other messages of positivity across the hip hop nation. But then he went and got busted for pot possession at LAX in 2010 and got slapped with a fine, because, well, those are the breaks.

According to his unverified Twitter account Kurtis is now a licensed minister.

Brand: Sportswear

Measurements: 19.5″ (pit-to-pit) 26.5 (rear collar-bottom seam)

Condition: Excellent vintage condition.

Variables: None

Price: $200.00 (includes expedited shipping w/tracking and insurance in U.S. and Canada)




Vans Breakers

July 10, 2011 by Jimmy J · 1 Comment  

Defunkd’s exclusive collection of vintage shoes for sale at reasonably exorbitant prices.


Item #33: Vans Breakers Shoes

Era: 1980s

Circulation: Rarer than rare.

Behold the Holy Grail of Breakdancing shoes. Actually as far as we’re aware they’re one of two vintage shoes to be specifically designed for breakdancing purposes. Both shoes were released by Vans under their Breakers line – this is the more popular #438 and at $45 was the more expensive of the two. #439 was a slightly more traditional shoe but it features side laces and a higher toe. Both are somewhat obscure items, never really mass-produced for the mainstream, mostly sold through direct mail magazine campaigns and uber-specialty stores.

To promote their kicks Vans cast a crew of breakers known as the Vans Breakers who performed all over Anaheim at special events. We scribed a post about these shoes a few years ago and some quality comments poured in which helped solidify it as our favorite post, ever. Aside from several demands about how to find a pair original members of the Vans breakers reconnect. Very cool – check it out here. One of the original members of the crew managed to dig up this video on YouTube of the crew in action (watch below, wait for the second crew to come out!)

Brand: Vans

Size: 9

Condition: Great vintage condition.

Variables: The pictures tell the tale. Some wear spots on the soles mostly near the heel. Mild scuffing most noticeably on the left side of the left shoe. Very clean synthetic portion: white, red and leather? are pretty flawless. Insides are very clean and fresh. Soles are firmly attached.

Price: $999.00 (includes expedited shipping w/tracking and insurance in U.S. and Canada)




Bring The Noise

July 10, 2011 by Jimmy J · 2 Comments  

Defunkd’s exclusive collection of vintage t-shirts for sale at reasonably exorbitant prices.


Item #32: Bring The Noise Spectrum Jam

Era: 1980s

Circulation: Rarer than all these guys being in one room.

P.E, Doug E, Big Daddy, Rakim, Eric B. and Moe Dee (whose name is spelled with a C.) But this epic jam is somewhat of a mystery given we can’t tie it to any specific date. We’re assuming it was held at the now demolished Spectrum stadium in Philly sometime between 1987 and 1989. The Spectrum was host to some of the most legendary rap combo concerts ever, check them out here. Yet a review of their concert schedule doesn’t bring back any hits on this exact line-up.

Brand: Health Knit

Measurements: 17.5″ (pit-to-pit) 27.5 (rear collar-bottom seam)

Condition: Great vintage condition.

Variables: Print is off center. Professional repair job near collar (above right.) Faint marks lower rear – hard to see and impossible to photograph because of vibrant red.

Price: $300.00 (includes expedited shipping w/tracking and insurance in U.S. and Canada)




Electric Avenue

July 4, 2011 by Jimmy J · Leave a Comment  

Defunkd’s exclusive collection of vintage t-shirts for sale at reasonably exorbitant prices.


Item #31: Eddy Grant

Year: 1982

Album: Killer on the Rampage

Circulation: Rarer than unpolitical Eddy Grant lyrics.

Born in Guyana Eddy Grant’s mother and father relocated the family to the UK when he was still a child.  By the age of 23 he already had a #1 hit with the band The Equals but also suffered a heart attack due to stress from their touring schedule. Grant decided to take a time out and eventually opted to leave the band for a self-paced recording studio and solo career.  A decade later his popularity soared once again and by the mid 1980s he moved his family to Barbados as a shelter from the commercial chaos. Soon after Barbados became the home to his second studio which he has used to promote classic Calypso and sign new Soca artists well in to the new millennium. Of course, he’s still trying his hardest to take it easy – but that damn success just keeps getting in the way.

Brand: Screen Stars

Measurements: 18.5″ (pit-to-pit) 27″ (rear collar-bottom seam)

Condition: Deadstock vintage condition.

Variables: Extremely faint marks from storage on stomach area.

Price: $200.00 (includes expedited shipping w/tracking and insurance in U.S. and Canada)



Pimpin Aint Easy

June 22, 2011 by Jimmy J · Leave a Comment  

Defunkd’s exclusive collection of vintage t-shirts for sale at reasonably exorbitant prices.


Item #30: Big Daddy Kane

Year: 1990

Circulation: Rarer than bad BDK lyrics.

Big Daddy Kane is one of the best lyricists in the golden age of hip hop. In fact, MTV put him at #7 on their list of greatest MCs of all time and Kool Moe Dee listed him as #4 on his list of 50. Pimpin Aint Easy is a single from BDK’s best selling album It’s a Big Daddy Thing. As you can tell by the design on this tee he’s also one of hip hop’s godfathers of bling and babes pimpin’ it when it was a novelty and not just a formulaic element to every single modern day hip hop video.

Brand: Hanes

Measurements: 19.25″ (pit-to-pit) 27.75″ (rear collar-bottom seam)

Condition: Near mint vintage condition.

Variables: None.

Price: $175.00 (includes expedited shipping w/tracking and insurance in U.S. and Canada)

Sorry, this item has been sold.