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2007 Washington Auto Show: The URS Lifestyle Mix
Before the start of the 2007 Washington Auto Show (WAS), the D.C. area experienced a first. Automotive Rhythms and The Sneaker Suite put together an exclusive VIP party sponsored by OnStar by GM and Buick, hosted at the amazing XM Satellite Radio studios in Northeast D.C. Complete with a fleet of GM vehicles outside (Escalade, Lucerne, Solstice, and Avalanche), the interior was dressed similar to the Urban Restyln’ Salon set-up that awaited the attendees of the WAS the following day. With XM DJ Nina 9 on the wheels, crab balls, chicken skewers, and coconut shrimp on the menu, full service bar with margarita specials, Downtown Locker Room clothes on display, Demont Peekaso doing his thing with the visual art, and a room full of tastemakers from the Washington Wizards to the top Washington area automotive representatives; this party was HOT!
 This years’ Urban Restyln’ Salon (URS) saw a switch up from last year. We truly integrated the lifestyle theme by having an off the chain fashion display compliments of Downtown Locker Room and a crazy concert series with D.C.’s own Wale and Raheem DeVaughn. In every automotive arena you’ll meet an individual who in some way, shape, or form is involved with music, clothes, and kicks. The first thing you see when you step out of that 2007 Cadillac Escalade ESV is a fresh pair…so by Automotive Rhythms collaborating with folks like L-R-G, Blac Label, Akademiks, New Era and Nike, it gave the automotive consumer some additional key product notes that may cater to their lifestyle wants and needs. It’s The Urban Automotive Experience, so we brought the urban entities to the forefront in the form of cross promotion.
The first day’s worth of activity saw AR’s Kimatni Rawlins interviewed on live TV by Fox 5’s morning news crew. With a pair of Nike Dunk Hi Sole Collector editions placed on the hood of a HUMMER H2 on 30s by Big Boys Toys serving as the backdrop, K-Raw gave an overview of the Salon by speaking to the true lifestyle effect cars have on folks. The evening session showcased Washington Wizards forward Antawn Jamison signing autographs as his family joined in the festivities and took a few pictures within the Salon.
Thursday kicked off with an appearance by BET’s Big Tigger who spoke to over 700 local area high school students about “Hot Careers for High School Students.” It was a very empowering event that included a panel discussion about the automotive industry. Big Tigger later took a stroll through the Salon to check out his line of BT rims on display. Towards the end of the evening, D.C.’s new Mayor Adrian Fenty got his whipped flipped times two! A 2007 Ford Expedition compliments of Apple Ford and an ill-tricked custom Harley courtesy of Death Row Choppers. You know we couldn’t have the Mayor riding out without a fresh AR leather jacket with a hat and tee to match!
 On Friday, L-R-G set the standard in Downtown Locker Room display with an off-the-hook fenced, brick background, fashion wall. Not only did they show kicks by Nike, including the latest Jordans, but AR had its own representation. Blac Label's head designer Somos created an URS T-Shirt for AR staff and celebs alike to sport during the show. Within the display area AR
also showed its New Era fitted caps in almost every color code with leather
and polos alike. Downtown Locker Room's rep Bones pitched in on the
photography side of the house while ensuring that folks signed up for a
free pair of sneaks at the end of the show. And the Locker Room eye candy girls definitely held it down. And as expected, if you had fashion in full effect, then music couldn’t be too far behind!
 On Saturday, we had a full line up of Buick entertainment brewing from months of preparation. This year’s show covered everything from comedy, to fashion, to live musical entertainment, to visual artistry! Comedian Red Grant supported AR by hosting this extravaganza and with WKYS FM anchoring the venue; the Urban Restyln’ Salon concert series had an audience of well over 600 people!
WKYS’ Jeannie Jones and America’s next top model Danielle Evans judged a fashion show that highlighted select items from D.C.’s Vusi Mchunu - fashion designer extraordinaire. With DJ Phase of Media Minds on the one and twos, the crowd had constant character throughout. Next up? Tony Rock! Comedy at its finest from the brother from UPN’s All of Us sitcom. As the crowd grew in numbers, we threw out another fastball with Automotive Rhythms’ own GemStarrBoots who hit the crowd with lyrics specific to the urban automotive experience. ILLanoise dropped a few freestyles fresh off DJ P-Cutta’s Rooftop Entertainment movement.
 With appearances from Studio 43’s president Kenny Burns, you knew his newest artist straight from D.C. was in the building. Wale, first member of the Studio 43 crew, hit the stage with special guest DJ Alizay as the crowd had that good ole’ head nod Go-Go vibe going. To conclude this star-studded concert series, Jive recording artist Raheem DeVaughn (with the aid of Steve Smith and Bilal Salaam) took to the stage with beautiful ballads from his latest album The Love Experience and a few samples from his soon-to-be released sophomore album Love behind the Melody. A performance so great, CSI’s own Gary Cenese held off on his performance to allow Raheem to hit the hearts of all in attendance.
On Sunday, XM DJ Xclusive gave us a crazy three hour mix scratching everything from classical to country and of course rap and R&B. He even had a mini battle with Baltimore’s #1 DJ Lil’ Mic that was unique in its own right.
In closing, life is more than just living - it’s how you live it. Whether it’s truly automotive, truly musical, truly fashion driven or truly sneaker savvy, in the end, the Urban Restlyn’ Salon represents everything therein and anything throughout. We are The Urban Automotive Experience!
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America’s Next Top Model contest
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Demont Peekaso lets loose his artistic imagination
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AR’s finest. Ashley, Rhonda, Stephanie, Ashley & Mercedes
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Scion rockn’ the mic
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K-Raw rockn’ the mic for ARtv
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Tony Rock rockn’ the mic
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AR’s GemStarrBoots rockn’ the mic
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Entertainment sponsor Buick & their flipped Lucerne
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Cover model Ahni Luv
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Randi Payton, Jocelyn Allen of OnStar, Kimatni, AR’s Shonda Hurt & XM’s Chance Patterson
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Gizel’s feeln’ it
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America’s Next Top Model Danielle Evans
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WKYS’ Jeannie Jones loves what she’s seeing
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The XM Experience
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Peekaso back at it
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Shonda & Lynn Bonner with Marc Battle & crew
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Downtown Locker Room
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B
ig Tig with AR’s kittens
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