The PoLL:
Loading ...Who am I?
My name is Bryan 'be.' Espiritu. I'm a realist, an artist, a writer, a father, a lover and most notably the designer of many things including my clothing line, IdeallClothing.
This site is a nod to everything that makes me tick, talk, and at times turns me turbulent. I may say some things you'll disagree with. I may do some things that you dislike. I may disappear unannounced for long stretches of time without leaving you a note. But when I'm around you can count on one thing - I wear my heart on my sleeve and my arm in a sling.
Welcome To TheLegendsLeague. You've been in it since the day you were born.
• What was Old is New Again. Oct 14.09
What was Old is New Again.
Wednesday October 14.09
When I started this thing called, “TheLegendsLeague” I can admit, I had good intentions and no real plan. It was a lot like my life. A lot like it. And I thought maybe by sharing a bit of myself, I would have people sharing right back. Half of the time it didn’t work. I was getting great responses, but the ‘concept’ of TheLegendsLeague wasn’t spreading as I had intended it to. The other half of the time was sprinkled with incredibly warm and heartfelt emails and messages from people I had never met sending me their experiences, their influences, the things that turned them into the people they are today. And for that reason I was able to validate continuing to push for this small network of people on MySpace with “(*LL)” next to their name asking, “What is TheLegendsLeague?”.
Once I carried The LL over to a blog format I really started to lose the power of the concept, and only those who remembered the original pages I once posted had a direct connection to the gut of this thing I was trying to build. The rest of my great blog readers were attached for various reasons, but I knew that the fire was dimly lit by funny posts, emotional rants, poems, and some cool music I might have put out for downloading by a guy named, “Drake”. Yes, that is reason enough to go to any blog. But that was not the purpose of TheLegendsLeague.
My goal was fairly simple – come up with a way to share my life experiences and views in a way that might promote the idea of recognizing our good and bad influences and inspirations as fuel to live. But in a world now grossly over run by ‘blogs’, the blogging world wasn’t ideal for TheLegendsLeague to flourish and grow within.
So this is where we stand, LL followers/readers/supporters – in a new format that brings me back to where I began 3 years ago, to what I intended for so long, and to what you all deserve.
From here on out TheLegendsLeague will provide those of you who remember it as it was, with “Updates” similar to the MySpace (*LL) era. They will be lengthier pieces, stories, rants on topics that I’d love for you to discuss, marinate on, and be influenced by. They may be stories, or they may be straight opinion, but more often than not, (like the good old days), they’ll be accompanied by music and a graphic of some sort. I will change the updates roughly twice a month, but unlike the MySpace era, they will be conveniently archived in the “Updates” section on the top of the page. The blog will continue to be updated regularly and you’ll be able to view it as usual with one great new feature – the “hide” feature.
When you come to the blog, you can click on the arrows to the right of the page to collapse all of the, sometimes lengthy, blog posts and browse the titles. If you see something you like, click on the arrows next to the title to expand it, or simply click on the title of that particular post. Cool right? I thought you’d like that.
You’ll also notice that there’s a navigation bar. Use it! I put it there for a reason. Back in the day the MySpace LL updates would disappear into oblivion once I took them down. It sucked because if you missed something there was no way to go back to see it. Now they’ll all be located in the “Updates” section. All of the compilations and mixtapes that I put out, along with desktop wallpapers of my designs, can be downloaded now and found in the “Downloads” section. You wanted it, so you’re getting it. The “Shop” section obviously brings you to the IdeallClothing Online Store where you can pick up all of my newest designs for the line. Works a little more like a website now, huh? Like I said, the blog world isn’t what TheLegendsLeague is about.
So what are the goals now? Truthfully, they haven’t changed. In conversation with a good friend of mine, Gavin Sheppard, he said that I need to remember that TheLegendsLeague is ultimately about me. After struggling with the egocentric nature of that idea I can fairly say that I’m okay with admitting that this site is in fact about me. But it is for you. See, the window was always open for you all to share your experiences and life lessons with me, and many of you have in private messages and emails. But it hasn’t always been widely known that the door is always available to walk through. I want you all, as supporters in my life, to feel free to hit me up on here and ask questions, question my opinions, pick apart my writing, suggest things that you’d like me to write about, and share your experiences right back. Yeah, it’s kitchy and it’s campy, and it’s treehuggingly cute to think that the world is gonna be a better place with us all being open and honest with each other. But that’s not my thing. I’m not a blissful idiot and I’m not wearing socks and sandles. My life hasn’t been the easiest one to live, but I’m alive. And so I share it.
I’m through writing in the blog tunnel. I miss the old days. And I don’t want them back. I want better new days. So here’s to the days to come, the future of TheLegendsLeague, and the rest of the story we still have to write. I’m in if you are. Let me know…
Love&Respect as usual,
- Bryan ‘be.’ Espiritu
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21 Comments on • What was Old is New Again. Oct 14.09
Faizan Tariq | October 14.09 at 10:41 pm
mitch | October 14.09 at 10:44 pm
Oh how long it’s been. I was thinking about the myspace days two days ago when I was boarding the GO train in Oakville. A man standing next to me was reading the latest issue (I assume) of Marketplace, and as he was flipping by I saw a brief article on Che Kothari. Seeing the dude in the magazine got me thinking how much I really loved his writing, and, how much I missed it, and not only just his writing, but the all of the beautiful material that came of that myspace page.
I’m fucking stoked to see that The Legends League is heading back in this direction, infinitely so.
Crystal Coburn | October 15.09 at 12:39 am
“…and it’s treehuggingly cute to think that the world is gonna be a better place with us all being open and honest with each other.”
I think the world would be a better place, but that doesn’t mean all of our truths will make us want to hug trees together. Still, the concept of being completely honest with each other has yet to be realized since lying keeps the peace. Catch 22.
JC [*LL] | October 15.09 at 1:40 am
I CAN DIG THIS!!
New layout is fresh, take’em back to the future.
Crystal Coburn | October 15.09 at 2:48 am
Some things, usually amazing things stand the test of time. This will be good.
dre.okay | October 15.09 at 4:23 am
I feel like i just walked into a new house. Everything looks new and shiny!
be. | October 15.09 at 8:58 am
Faizan – I appreciate the kind words. Staying inspired by the small things that go unrecognized is what makes me tick most of the time. The day to day struggles and lessons we need to learn. Sure, I get inspiration from people who have been ridiculously successful in their lives, but that doesn’t tell me what I need to know to get by.
Mitch – I know you’ve been down for a minute, and I’m glad that you’re liking the new shit. Just wanted to clarify that the homey Che Kothari is actually a photographer.
Welcome To TheLegendsLeague guys.. and to the older heads.. Welcome Back.
Thanks for showing support.
Mafa (*LL) | October 15.09 at 10:15 am
i am humbled to have been part of the MySpace era. I see alot of your readers here describe you as being raw, and yes u still hit those notes, but i cant always help to think “damn, if they only knew” i remember the first time i saw random people throwing up LLs upon greeting each other, it was electrifying. every now and then i would go back to the MySpace page to read My Words. im fucken stoked to say the least.
mitch | October 15.09 at 11:14 am
ah shit, he never dropped any words?
I coulda swore that I read some things by him…if only there were archives ;)
Dude is a hell of a photographer, that much I also know.
Natali | October 15.09 at 11:16 am
I’m in! Happy that we’re moving forward and towards better days. Here we go…
Sid | October 15.09 at 10:36 pm
Wadup Be.
Don’t usually write on here but I thought id add in my 2 cents.
After reading your post, I had an idea you may be interested in. Since your getting back to what the LL stood for in the “my space” days, why not have an area where LL supporters upload their own pics rocking IDEALL. Its a way to have your LL readers, supporters interact with the website. It might be dope, or it might not be where you want your movement to go. Just thought id give you some insight, seeing how I rock enough IDEALL, and love the movement.
Keep doin what you do, I wish you all the best brother.
-Sid Singh
chilly willy | October 15.09 at 11:28 pm
hey bry,
i havent commented on the blog in sometime.
i like the new layout…i thought i was on the wrong site at first.
cant say i knew the myspace days…i always hated myspace as a matter of fact, but if all these people are down with…or not…you can still count me in brother.
hope all is well.
peace and love kuya bear. lol
Charon | October 16.09 at 12:11 am
Seems to be a well thought out plan.
It amazes me that you are not more seen, not that you are not famous in a sense now but just out published somewhere.
I am a new reader/fan of yours and I did not have the pleasure of myspace days. I can say that I fell in love with this site after the read about a dream you had formulated into a poem. I was touched, moved and most of all motivated. Your site has never been a “blog” to me. Although that is not to say blogs are not the greatest just that your vision, expression, sharing, and realness seemed to be so much more than that. Hope that all can see that.
I know that I do, and appreciate you even though I have never and probably never will meet you. As a matter of fact I am sure that I have put at least 5 people since I have become a fan on to your site and your line. What can I say. I am a fan that is not just a fan but moved by what you share. ;)
So with all that being said. I hope that this still means we get the best of BE as it has been and that this world of LL never ends.
Salutes, hats off, and take a bow.
Haterz…please sit yo ass down.
seven | October 16.09 at 4:48 am
im really glad you’re doing this. this reminds me when i first read the concept and idea behind the LL on myspace after sherwin told me about it. i was troubled, rebellious and was banned from every high school in sauga. lets just say after reading that, i analyzed the “legends” in my “league”… it helped me gradually accept the bullshit and move on to better things. from then on, i pretty much lived with that LL mentality subconsciously. we are the product of our environment. this is why i back your brand 110%, its inspired by influence.
ps: i remember reaching your bday w/ sherwin at china doll during the peach fuzz days. i wanted to buy a jameses tee (which i think is your best piece still) but i was too broke then. so can you please re-release a limited number of them? unless you find one lying around that happens to be a large lol.
kit. | October 16.09 at 12:44 pm
happy to have seen the evolution into this homie. mad inspiration in person, and pixels.
be. | October 16.09 at 7:41 pm
Whassup guys. I’m pretty stoked that this is a welcome change to something that is very important to me, and I hope, important to some of you as well. I have every intention to continue to push limits and be open with my experiences and my thoughts as well as my creations, whether they be for IdeallClothing, FullyWholly, or otherwise. I’m blessed to have friends old and new, acquaintances, family, and people I’ve never met commenting on this change. I read every single comment, and I keep your ideas, kind words and suggestions in mind at all times.
Thanks for the love and support guys.
More to come.
FURY | October 16.09 at 10:19 pm
It’s the sincerity of the conversation that keeps us engaged. Thank you for LL. I’m looking forward to whats yet to come.
FraNcis James | October 19.09 at 1:31 am
I honestly wish I knew about (*LL) in the myspace days, but regardless of how long I been asleep, I feel privileged to have now witnessed such great work!
*cheers to new better days as you mentioned
Nayo S-P | October 20.09 at 2:35 pm
B,
Definitely dig the new layout.
+ Always great reading such honest and thoughtful words.
Take care,
Nayo Bronski?
Andrew CW Parks | October 27.09 at 12:21 am
thanks for stayin true to the peoples man and thanks for inspiring young heads like me. oh and yes the layout and f/w is dope! peace
dwbl (*LL) | October 28.09 at 7:09 am
hey can i do that? hm. consider it an aspiration. one time thing, until I ‘earn’ it.
everytime i check in, there is something new, and it’s always with purpose. it’s actually very exciting. it has made me want to dig into the past that you and others refer to, the original mission. I am all about locating the source. and it has made me want to push forward for my own vision of things. a vision that has wavered as sure as life has and still does.
It reminds me of this project that my friend started a while back: http://www.u9o.net/2008/10/15/46-stories-from-2001-cynicworld-146
where people were able to just share with each other. I know it’s not the same, but the energy of the small web-based network of a similar philosophical mindset remains true.
There is still more to do. Each of us has a grand truth to uncover and share with others, and the hope is that the threads intertwine, weave, and form a compelling tapestry.
For what it’s worth, I’m honored to see your place evolve and have it influence me. MeaningofDope and LL have done that a couple of times. I have to pay that back, in due time. Graphically speaking, you’ve got some really good work/methods, and I agree that you have a keen sense of Branding, identity. It stems from a strong analytical mind. I think in terms of design, this newest iteration is well thought out, especially with the expanding/collapsing capabilities. almost no blogs feature that. hell I didn’t even know you could do that.
You put Toronto on the www map for me (is that sad?).
[nod]
w
Dear Mr. Espiritu,
I just would like to know how you do it? You are too
inspiring.
You’re concept of branding is genius, can’t wait to see more of your work in the future.
- F.