Levi's, the brand synonymous with heritage and denim, has just released a video that highlights the history of their 501 jean. The short catalogues the inception of the original pants and their use and function throughout history by the general public and other facets of society ranging from railroad workers to punk rockers.

New York City's outdated payphones have found new life via a project that connects callers to the city's infamous history. The initiative, dubbed Recalling 1993, is part of the New Museum's current exhibition, NYC 1993: Experimental Jet Set, Trash and No Star, which highlights the social matrix of the 90's according to artists and storytellers. Callers can dial up from over 5000 designated city payphones and hear personal accounts of what was going on in that particular neighborhood over two decades ago!

Renowned soul songstress Nina Simone is probably single-handedly one of the most sampled and referenced ladies of song according to modern contemporaries. Even after more than six decades her timeless music continues to inspire many a generation. And now it just so happens that an unreleased track meant for a Dutch-only project has journeyed its way out into the public. Recorded in 1966 in her Mount Vernon home, we present to you The Time Is Now.

Unbeknownst to many, before the allure of Hip-Hop culture, New York City's Bronx County borough was full of gang culture. It was a time when The Big Apple was bankrupt and districts like The Bronx were left for dead with little to no resources to compensate for the rubble of abandoned architecture and streets. But like the rose that grew from concrete Hip-Hop became the culture that flourished from the gang truce, as the full-length documentary, Rubble Kings, shows. Although finished, the movie's director, Shan Nicholson, is seeking out public support to help get the film more attention and exposure. So if you can dig it you can pledge to the Kickstarter campaign.

Harlem-born Dominican/American author, Raquel Cepeda, traces the roots of her bio-genetic makeup in her latest work, Bird of Paradise: How I Became Latina. The autobiographic piece follows Cepeda's chaotic family upbringing and her yearning to literally identify who she was and where she came from. Embracing both Hip-Hop and the New York City streets of Uptown Manhattan the once "lost" child of the inner city manages to pick herself up and put together the puzzle that is her DNA and history. The book drops March 5, 2012 and can be pre-ordered here. Oh, and there's even a coupon for 10% off of an ancestral DNA kit of your choice so readers can trace their history as well!

Atlanta-based streetwear boutique, Wish, simultaneously hits the books and the streets with their Black History Month capsule collection. The line features jersey-style tees highlighting black heroes like Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, Tommie Smith and John Carlos. There's also a short video to highlight the designs. Respect!

Philadelphia-based clothing line Babylon Cartel recently compiled a mixtape featuring samples from Kendrick Lamar's freshman release Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City. It's no secret that the album's been in heavy rotation by Hip-Hop enthusiasts all around, but it sure is sweet to take a glimpse into the original music that makes up the unique sounds of Compton's latest success story. Unfortunately (and frustratingly) the link to the mix is down. In the mean time fans can check out the listing of samples here. They feature the likes of Roy Ayers, The Chakachas, Janet Jackson and more!

*We'll post up the original mix as soon as we can sniff out a live link* 

Indie record label, Stones Throw, knows a thing or two about dedication and keeping things real. Nothing was realer for founder and DJ/producer, Peanut Butter Wolf, than the untimely passing of his best friend--the harsh blow that actually led to much of the inspiration behind the label's birth and avant-garde ways. Fast-forward to more than 15 years later and you've got the history of one of independent music's most solid labels with acts like Madlib, MF Doom and J Dilla to prove it. The following trailer is from their upcoming documentary: Our Vinyl Weighs A Ton. Props to that title!

The economic history of New York City is a very prolific one to say the least. One clear indicator of the "changing times" is most notable in the changing storefronts of the Big Apple. Business Insider recently put together a gallery of disappearing mom and pop storefronts, some of which were around since the early 1960's. Check out the gallery here.

Contrary to what a ton of the mainstream and radio-spun Hip-Hop is currently portraying we've actually come across some hard facts and real raps. And they arrive via Atlanta-native (and Outkast relative) Killer Mike's new video for his tune, Reagan. It's pretty brutal to see the animated portrayal of the governmental lies that obliterated the social, psychological and economic aspirations of millions of African-Americans thus the current state of greed, gangs, drugs, violence and incarceration. Bare witness the conscious side of Hip-Hop's antidote for Reaganomics.