Frank Book Archive

With vast sections of the Middle East marred by violence and struggle, many Westerners view the region as a chaotic, lawless land. Without delving into the West’s role in the chaos, most would agree that popular Western opinion of the Middle East is overwhelmingly negative, and often informed by what is covered in the mainstream media. While portions of the Middle East are embroiled in serious conflicts, the region is also home to some of the oldest and richest cultures in the world.

Surf legend Herbie Fletcher has carved out an impressive reputation over the last half-century, 
honing his skills as a surfboard designer, filmmaker, business entrepreneur, artist, and of course, 
big wave rider. Growing up in Pasadena, California, Herbie decided at an early age that he wanted 
to dedicate his life to surfing.

Hip-hop has seen more flash-in-the-pan acts over the last twenty years than any other musical genre. Rappers pop up on the mainstream landscape like dandelions, most failing to achieve critical or commercial success before they are plucked and tossed aside. But for every heap of over-hyped emcee that gets weeded out, there is a small crop of truly talented artists who have proven themselves worthy of constant shine in a crowded garden.

A global muse, deep in fashion, music and art, currently making a living as an über-stylist, sculpting singer Rihanna into an icon—Lysa Cooper partnered with Frank151 to explore her not-so-hidden passion: Erotica.

Two decades ago, a tight-knit group of Samoan-American brothers put a shotgun to the back of West Coast rap and introduced themselves. Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E. had arrived, claiming their territory next to a dense crop of budding superstars including Cypress Hill, Ice T and N.W.A. Like so much powerful music, Boo-Yaa grew out of a potent blend of rich culture and stifling adversity. Having escaped the vicious Los Angeles street-scene they once perpetuated, the T.R.I.B.E. continues to build on an already prolific and multifarious career.

Like a candy shop of provocative colors, lavish fabrics and lashings of dementia, Dan Macmillan’s brainchild, Zoltar The Magnificent, represents the twisted future of Britain’s once-sheltered youth, now that the seams of respectability have begun to stretch. Like heralds announcing the fall of an empire, or perhaps the dawning of a new one, Zoltar are merchants of inescapable change. Decadent, depraved, glamorous and absurd, be warned: you might like what you see.

DMS is more than a crew, more than a squad, more than a group of brothers united by shared experience and culture. While it is all of those things, it is more. DMS is equally a mentality, it’s about being down-for-life with one another, and it’s about the deep values of honor, respect, friendship and pride that inform the daily habits, decisions and overall points of view of its increasingly diverse worldwide membership. Most of all, it’s a true family in every sense of the word.

Jet Setting once evoked images of glamorous travel—the world’s social elite jetting to exotic locations inaccessible to the average person. Paris, Monte Carlo, the Swiss Alps, Rome, the Greek Isles, and Hong Kong were their destinations. Now that air travel has become affordable to many more people around the world, the term “Jet Set” has lost much of its social cachet. Catching a flight these days is a lot like catching the bus. No frills, and bring your own peanuts.