Roadman Wear

Nike possesses a certain je ne sais quoi when it comes to handpicking partnerships. The Oregon-based mega brand is on a seemingly endless winning streak with the major players it has courted in the realm of sports and entertainment. Michael Jordan, arguably the greatest hooper of all time, has the Jordan Brand, auto tune gawd Travis Scott’s Cactus Jack is dominating in the paint alongside Phil Knight’s brainchild (straight up!), and most recently, Drake has collaborated with the Swoosh to conjure up Nocta.

If you’re like me, the initial thought that popped in your head after reading Drizzy’s Nike division title was: “What in the world is a Nocta?”. But after much research, it all made sense (that boy good *Joe Budden Voice*). The roadman inspired apparel’s moniker is derived from the nocturnal nature of Drake’s creative process. In other words, he thrives on that Demon time, ya get me! Nocta draws heavily from sport. Furthermore, Aubrey’s Nike sub-label provides functional, comfortable and sleek everyday essentials for those who are always on the move.

Nocta’s initial capsule, which made its official debut on December 18, included cozy black and yellow puffers, hoodies, socks and fleece pants . As you may have guessed, all the pieces sold out instantly! Fortunately, the brand’s next drop is on February 23.

I wish you all luck in copping some gear! May your neighbors respect you, and angels protect you from any postal service workers *coughs* accidently loosing *coughs* your Nocta threads.

Canada Isn't Going To Like This

My congenial Canadian friends: if getting a high number of “likes” on Instagram makes your heart sing, then be prepared for it to drop all the way down to your ass. Facebook Inc’s infamous photo-sharing app is playing a suspenseful game of peek-a-boo with the testing of eliminating likes *Gasps*.

The experiment, starting this week, will hide the total number of likes on not only photos, but also your Red camera shot, one-minute Insta movie clips (my fault for the sarcasm).  Furthermore, the little hearts on Instagram will be removed from the permalink pages, profiles, and main feed. “We are testing this because we want your followers to focus on the photos and videos you share, not how many likes you get,” stated an IG rep at Facebook’s annual developer conference on Tuesday.

What’s extremely confusing though is that users will have the ability to see how many likes (or lack of) their post has acquired.  So, wait, people who usually feel bad about getting low number of likes are still going to be experiencing some sort of disdain? Moral of the story, don’t give a f#ck about what anyone thinks or say about you, and life will be that much easier.

Would You Like Paper or Paper?

A few days ago, while checking out at Trader Joe’s, I kindly asked the cashier to pack my groceries in a plastic bag. Surprisingly, he told me that they stopped using them altogether! I usually have my handy-dandy tote bag on deck for these types of situations, but since it was an impromptu appearance (with very little groceries), I thought why not?  Abolishing plastic bags, though, is definitely a smart move for the environment’s sake. New York is following suit, as it might be the second state to ban single-use plastic bags.

After numerous failed attempts by the New York State Legislature, lawmakers have finally reached an agreement to put the plastic ban in their budget—voting took place today.  The law, which was initially passed in California, is set to take effect in New York on March 1, 2020. It will include exemptions for fish, poultry, uncooked meat, trash bags, prescription drugs, and restaurant carry-out orders.

I guess we should all start saving the infamous “thank you” plastic bags for souvenir purposes, eh?

A Calabasas Freestyle

The very first track found on Jaden Smith’s latest sonic body of work The Sunset Tapes: A Cool Tape Story is dedicated to my favorite region in all of New York—SoHo (shameless plug: there are a few sizes left in my hoodies if you were wondering). Although it wasn’t the project’s premier single, “SOHO” easily became a fan favorite after the Fresh Prince’s heir blessed Instagram with a visual that meshed the latter with a hilarious clip from his dad’s legendary TV show.  Now, the young icon is moving forward with a new freestyle hitting close to home!

Fittingly titled, “A Calabasas Freestyle,” the bar-filled jam fully displays the Karate Kid’s lyrical chops as he spits about his elaborate lifestyle and splurges.  As you might of guessed, its accompanying video takes place in, that’s right, Calabasas, where Jaden is found rocking his own MSFTS gear and shredding with friends.  Check it out below:

While we’re on the subject, I might as well revisit one of my favorite cuts from Drake that also pays homage to the lavish Los Angeles County, “4PM In Calabasas”.  Enjoy!

Rap Radar Interviews Tay Keith

“Tay Keith, F*ck these N*ggas up!” is arguably the best producer tagline in Rap today.  For the saying to be as potent as it is, the artist behind the infamous line has to actually be lit, and fortunately, the Memphis maestro passes the requirement with flying colors.

The distinguished Hip Hop journalists of Rap Radar recently sat down with the super producer to talk about his origin, schooling, megastar collaborators and more.

Check out the informative clip below:

They Walk It Like They Talk It

Last February, during an interview with DJ Whoo Kid, Migos frontman Quavo was asked about his past collaborations with Drake and stated, "He always be popping up and letting us know he sees us.  We ain't got no relationship with him, but I know he watching and he respect the wave and he knows what's going on."  Well, one year later the rap titans have solidified their partnership by teaming up to deliver a colossal new banger by the name of, "Walk It Like I Talk It."

The single, found on the celebrated Hip Hop trio's latest album Culture II, is a bouncy tune that'll have you doing the robot like you're strolling down the Soul Train line.  As a matter of fact, its visual is an ode to the iconic American music/dance TV program.  The fictitious show, hosted by the host with the most "Ron Delirious" (played by the hilarious Jamie Foxx), features a groovy performance by the "Versace" boyz and the Lionel Richie-esque 6 God.

Check out the Daps & Quavo-directed clip below:

Since we're talking about Aubrey (when are we ever not, right?), shout out to Oliver for retweeting my Grailed article on his OVO empire.  If you haven't read it yet, click the link on his Twitter feed or here to do so.

Ed Choppo

It’s truly a blessing to meet someone who instantly comprehends your vibe.  This was precisely the case for Eddie Omari-Rivers and I.  Our distinguished mutual friend, Amir Almaimani, introduced us to each other and ever since our very first encounter, we’ve been communicating like long lost brothers.

Eddie, better known as “Ed Choppo,” is a humble yet passionate soul with many talents.  Not only is he an excellent cook—thanks to his grandmother who opened up the very first African cuisine in New York—and athlete, Choppo is also a New York City-based Health Consultant whose clientele consists of some of the wealthiest people on the planet!

Despite his stellar success, the self-made 29-year-old remains hungry and focused on inspiring whomever he comes across.   I recently sat down with the South Bronx native to discuss his humble beginnings in the concrete jungle, adoration for cooking, fitness regimen, and motivation behind his unremitting work ethic.  Check out our in-depth conversation below:

FRENDY: Ed, thanks for having me over so we could chop it up for a bit.  I know you’re an extremely busy guy.

ED: F#ck all that busy sh*t! You make time for whatever you want to make time for.

FRENDY: Exactly!  The very first time we caught up you whipped up an exceptional meal.  I know your beloved grandmother taught you how to cook and all, but how long did it actually take to get this good?

ED:  I can’t really put a time period on it.  I could just tell you that I cook, cook, cook—everyday I try to spice it up. It’s trial and error.

FRENDY: Do you remember the first dish you prepared?

ED: Yeah, I’m actually known for this, all my college mates know me for it.  It’s baked barbeque chicken with potatoes and carrots—the chicken falls off the f#ckin’ bone.  That’s what we survived on in college ‘cause in Vermont every f#ckin’ restaurant closes at around 8pm. You have a bunch of inner city kids who are trying to eat good, the only thing we had were tater tots and Denny’s…

FRENDY: You weren’t messing with that…

ED: Nah.  Sh*t ain’t no food man *Laughs*.

FRENDY: So you were kind of forced to cook? I mean, you love doing it, I’m sure it wasn’t a burden.

ED: I love cooking, but I had no choice. When you have no choice, you learn to adapt quick.

FRENDY: Would you say that was the moment you took cooking seriously? 

ED: I started taking it seriously while in college, but not when I was cooking in my dorm room. I really took it up a notch during my sophomore year when I started taking a nutrition course where I learned about food groups and its effect on the body.  Once I implemented that in my cooking, that was when I was mind blown.  I guess that’s when I was addicted to it.

FRENDY: From then on, it just took over your life…

ED: I used to cook like three times a week at school.  It was also a hustle—I was just cooking for my basketball homies.  I would bake the chicken for like six hours at 275 degrees; the aroma would just spread throughout the whole building I was staying in. So one day, one of my homies suggested that I should charge $5 a plate.  I started doing it and made a killing!

FRENDY: That’s awesome. It’s all about cultivating good energy, which is one of the main reasons you started cooking right?

ED: I always found that food and sports are two mechanisms that bring people together—you never see people argue or fuss while they’re having a great meal.  You do see the joy that people get.  If you’re the person that cooks the food, you see it in a person after they eat. That’s a priceless feeling.

FRENDY: I noticed that you didn’t make yourself a plate after you served me that bomb meal.  Do you normally not eat with your guests?

ED: Yeah, I don’t. Some people hate me for it, but it’s my grandmother’s tradition.  I’ve cooked for the masses and they would all want me to eat with them. I tell ‘em go to hell * Laughs *.

FRENDY:  We’ll get back to the food in a minute—let’s talk about your origin. I’ve lived in New York for about 20 some odd years and only have been to the Bronx at most 2 times. It seems so distant to me *Laughs *. How’d you like living there?

ED: I love it man—I’m Southside certified. I was born in the Bronx…you see the grin on my face…I love the Bronx.  I’m from the Southside—I’m from the heart of it.  The Bronx is a city in itself with all different races interacting with each other.

FRENDY: What was your childhood like? Were you running around with the “hood” kids, or were you disciplined enough not to?

ED: I was always disciplined in the way I was raised, but as my grandmother always said, I was always a little fearless and stubborn-hearted.  So, I know what is right from wrong, but I’m going to do whatever I need to do at a particular moment.  As a kid I was always into sports, my dad was never around that much.  He left when I was two and I didn’t meet him until I was 26 or so.

I spent most of my childhood with my grandmother.  My mom was always going to nursing school, so I grew up thinking my granny was my mom. When I was sent to Africa at the age of six she came along with me. I always called her “momma.”

FRENDY: Why were you sent to Africa at the age of six?

ED: It’s a cultural thing, you know. My mom side of the family wanted to see me—I had to go back there to do some ritual sh*t.  That’s a story for another day.  My mom sent me to Ghana for like four years. Then, my daddy side of the family wanted to see me so I went to Ethiopia for another four years. I came back to the states for 8th grade, high school and college.

FRENDY: Oh, so most of your childhood was spent in Africa?

ED: Yeah, that’s why I see the world the way that I do.  As much as living in Africa impacted me, the Bronx did that same thing but in a different magnitude.

FRENDY: I think that’s why you’re so balanced as an individual. If someone met you for the very first time he/she would think you’re an absolute menace appearance wise, when in reality you’re extremely grounded and introspective.

ED: That’s my whole approach. Growing up in the Bronx made me like that.  I lost a lot of people I loved at a young age to nonsense violence.  When I came back to the Bronx, all my homies were grown. I remember my friend “Fresh,” he went from being a skinny bull who always kept getting picked on to a person who never left his house without a gun.

FRENDY: Do you think that would have been you as well if you stayed in the BX?

ED: Nah.  My uncle was the head of a gang and I always told him as a kid that the gangbanging sh*t is stupid.  He asked me why and I said if I have a problem with someone it’s because I have a problem with them, not because so and so I know that is in the same set as me have a problem with them.  He later explained to me that being in a gang isn’t really like that—people that do that are really f#cking up the game.  He said it’s all about representing your set, taking care of the community.

FRENDY: It’s like a family…

ED: Yeah. Back then the police used to come in the neighborhoods and f#ck up the community and do whatever they wanted. So the gang members were like the gatekeepers, you dig?  But now it turned to some other dumb sh*t.  I’m always going to do what I want to do. 

See there’s one thing I learned about the hood—when you respect yourself and stand up for what you believe in, even the OGs salute you.  I tell them you do that gangbanging sh*t, that ain’t me.  I ain’t about that life. 

FRENDY: As long as you remain true to yourself, it doesn’t matter if you’re a gangster or not…

ED: Even the gangsters are going to salute you.

FRENDY: Right.

ED: See, I love the Bronx because I met all types of people.  If I was to go to the South Bronx with you right now, you’ll be shocked on how many people I know. I learned so much from them. The biggest trappers etc. would tell me “yo youngin’ keep hoopin’, f#ck this sh*t.  This is no way of life.” 

Every real drug dealer I’ve ever met, never tried to tell a n*gga from the hood to do what they do. I’m sure if you go to a couple of hoods in America you’ll find some kids that will tell you the same sh*t.   Hearing all of this at such a young age made me move a bit different.  I was raised and schooled by some real OGs, you know?

FRENDY: So when you returned to the Bronx, which school did you attend?

ED: I went to Paul Robeson middle school, I.S 183.  Initially I wanted to go to 162, but they wouldn’t put me there because all my homies went to the school. We were all known for being troublemakers at that time.   Just a bunch of wasted youth man, we didn’t know any better.

FRENDY: Although you were a rowdy kid, you still knew what was right from wrong obviously…

ED: Yeah, I always stood up for what I believed in.  I wasn’t the type to condone dumb shit, like If I wasn’t going to do it I won’t influence my n*gga to do it.  I think that’s part of the reason why I was so protected growing up, even when my uncle went to Jail.  He actually just came home after a 20-year bid. 

FRENDY: How were you doing in school? What were your grades looking like?

ED: The American school system is funny to me.  I don’t know if it’s because of the time I spent in Africa or not.  When I was in Ghana under the British education system, it was better. When I came back to the states, I was put in grade six because of my age.  I was there for about a month. Then the school placed me in grade eight.

FRENDY: Why did that happen?

ED: Because I was too advanced for that sh*t—the American education system is easy in a way because they test us on memory and less on wisdom and intelligence.  I’m a visual person so it’s really easy for me to memorize something. I never really took school serious, but I did have the second highest SAT score in my HS.

FRENDY: Which HS was that?

ED:   This is Life Science Secondary High School on the Upper East Side.  I think they changed it to a charter school now.  My grandmother taught me a lot back in Africa.  I was actually homeschooled by her—she was teaching me about Selassie, Malcolm and Marcus Garvey.

FRENDY: It was beyond food with her…

ED: Yeah—my grandmother is a G, man.

FRENDY: When you were living in Ghana, your mother wasn’t around?

ED:  Nah, she was back in New York City going to nursing school.

FRENDY: How about your dad?

ED: Nah, he left when I was real young. We never really kept in touch until I was around 26.  I have my mother’s heart, but the majority of my personality is my dad—he’s an arrogant piece of shit. I’m not proud of it...I have his blood in me.  I’m trying to balance everything out. I’ll figure it out one day.

FRENDY: What was the reason behind your mom’s move to America?

ED: She came here for school. My grandmother had a store on 225th and White Plains road called “African Queen.” It might still be there, who knows.  She was importing traditional African goods to the states that people needed. Stuff like fufu, peanuts and all the other traditional essentials of North African cuisine.

Ghana is known for two things: gold and cocoa.  Cocoa you can make chocolate out of it—my family own plenty farms of it. When it turns yellow, you cut it and eat it fresh.  It’s one of the best fruits you can ever f#cking eat.  She noticed in the neighborhood that there was a bunch of Jamaicans, and they loved bleaching their skin.  Skin bleaching is very big in the West Indian islands—look at Vybz Kartel.  So there’s a huge market for that. My grandmother would take one of the key supplements in bleaching, which is cocoa.  The dried shell of the cocoa is smashed up to produce an essential oil to help the skin bleach naturally.  She would mix that with other chemicals, and that would be the moneymaker.   She used all of the money to open a restaurant.  She had an apartment right above the CBS studios on 50 something street for years before she passed.

FRENDY: When we spoke for the first time, you mentioned that you became homeless for a while.  How did that end up happening?

ED: It’s because granny died when I was 15. My granny was the head of the household. She had a will so she shared all of her wealth amongst her many kids and sisters’ kids. Although wealth was spread out, family members were still fighting to get a piece of the pie. The restaurant and the apartment in the Bronx was supposed to go to my mom, but someone in the family, who’s known for using witchcraft (most people in the Western world call it voodoo) wanted it. So my mom gave that sh*t up. My mom avoids confrontation at all cost. She’s a God-fearing woman.

FRENDY: So I guess when that happened your mom didn’t have anything?

ED: She was counting on the love of her life, which is my dad.   My dad had this two-bedroom condo on 455 Jackson Ave. in the Bronx. That was when it was dirt poor over there. We stayed there for a bit until we got kicked out.  That was when my mom had a year or two left in nursing school.  My mom and dad were beefing during that time so he sold the apartment. We didn’t have anywhere else to go.

FRENDY: How long were you guys homeless?

ED: For two years.

FRENDY: Where were y’all staying?

ED: Churches, restaurants, bathrooms, buses, trains.  I hated shelters. During those times I never lost faith, but I was always questioning it.

FRENDY: Were you able to go to schools during that time?

ED: Yeah, I went to school everyday with a smile on my f#ckin’ face.  I used to take showers with restaurant soup bowls and napkins and sh*t. So I used to go to school and stay after school to shoot hoops. 

FRENDY: Wow, so even during all of your trials and tribulations, you still kept a smile in your face…

ED:   I had to—I didn’t have a choice. My momma assured me that the good Lord was putting us through this for greater things. Sometimes I believed it and sometimes I questioned it.  It’s hard to believe that sh*t when you haven’t eating in 3 days and only been drinking Tropical Fantasy sodas—I used to drink four of those sh*ts a day. I was charged up!

FRENDY: Were you playing sports while in school?

ED: Yeah, yeah I was playing HS basketball and soccer.

FRENDY: Would you say that playing sports was an escape for you?

ED: Yeah, basketball is definitely an escape for me. I love basketball because it allowed me to get rid of some pain. Shooting hoops gave me a relieving feeling.

FRENDY: There wasn’t any sort of tuition to pay for school?

ED: Nah.

FRENDY: Oh, that’s really good. Do you consider the homeless stage of of your life as fuel that made you focus on things like sports etc.?

ED: Nah, if I said that I would be lying. Because even when I was playing sports I was never focused.  While I’m at practice, I would wonder where I would sleep at night.  Although playing sports was an outlet for me, I was never fully able to concentrate or focus as much as I wanted to.  I gave up soccer after my freshman year.

FRENDY: Why did you give it up?

ED: Because there was too many f#ckin’ rules.   The rules weren’t matching up, or the demands of the coach.

FRENDY: What’s one rule that you truly detested?

ED: Showing up to practice an hour early.

FRENDY: So, in basketball you didn’t have to do that?

ED: No.  As long as you were on time for practice, there was no problem.

FRENDY: So soccer was too structured for you?

ED: I wouldn’t say that. It was the winter months and I didn’t feel like staying in the cold an hour early when the coaches would show up for 10 minutes.  So why the f#ck would I be there an hour early…

FRENDY: * Laughs * so you straight up stopped going…

ED: Yeah—I also stopped playing because I was often compared to my dad a lot.  He was a big soccer player back home.  My approach to sports was way different from my dad’s.

FRENDY: That’s pretty funny. I remember you telling me that you played college sports.  Which college did you attend?

ED: I went to the University of Vermont.

FRENDY: Did you get a scholarship to play ball there or what?

ED: Yeah, it was soccer first then I started fucking around…

FRENDY: Wait a minute, even when you quit playing soccer during your freshman yeah in HS you still got a scholarship?

ED: Yeah…I would go to like camps in this place called Sports Science at Delaware State University. To this day I love soccer.

FRENDY: What was so different between playing soccer in HS and camp?

ED: I learned discipline in sports at camp and how to really approach it. 

FRENDY: What made it more enjoyable than playing soccer at school?

ED: It was challenging. The camp was called called “Sports Challenge.”  The sports part is what really gets the kids involved, but the challenge part, most of us weren’t prepared for it.   If you stuck with it, you’ll come out a little different.

FRENDY:  Was UVM your first college of choice to attend?

ED: Nah.  I had Norfolk State, Virginia Commonwealth, and NYU.

FRENDY: They all wanted to recruit you for specifically for basketball or soccer?

ED: Both.  I originally wanted to go to NYU because of their academics, but as a youth I used to party there a lot.   So I know if I went to school there I wouldn’t be able to focus—I also needed a break from the city.

FRENDY:   What was your first impression of Vermont?

ED:  It was good!  It was the first time I saw people leave their apartment doors wide open to drop their garbage out. It was a breath of fresh air and it changed my perspective—I would say Vermont made me a better person.

FRENDY: What compelled you to go to the University of Vermont and not any of those other schools you named?

ED: I knew some of the coaches from there; I met them at a camp up in Syracuse when I was 16.

FRENDY: Did you play sports during all four years of college?

ED: I played one year of soccer and basketball and then took a break. 

FRENDY: Why did you take a break?

ED: It was too political. Playing sports on a collegiate level is too political, that’s when I knew it was more for business than anything else.   Also, at the time I was going through a lot of sh*t—I lost my grandmother, I broke my left ankle. They wanted me to have surgery on it, but lucky for me I formed this very beautiful bond with UVM’s head athletic trainer and former Olympian Mike Kampler.  Mike is definitely the reason why I train now.  He helped me understand what training is all about.

FRENDY: Did Mike prevent you from having the surgery?

ED:   I was told by the doctors at UVM that surgery was my only option, but I said f#ck that, they’re just trying to get a n*gga back in the field as soon as possible—we were having a great year at the time.  They wanted to drill and put screws in my leg, I didn’t want to do that.  Mike told me that I didn’t need surgery.   He told me that it’s not good at all to have screws in your ankle.  You remember Grant Hill?

FRENDY: Of course, he was one of my favorite players back in the day.  He was a very explosive player in the beginning of his NBA career…

ED: Well, he lost about six to seven years of his prime because he elected to have an ankle surgery. Not just a regular ankle surgery, but also the same sh*t I was about to have where they put two screws to hold it together.   It’s a quick process and allows you to get back on the playing field.  However, the nerves at the bottom of your feet where the screws are not meant to be tampered with—at any given point they can get infected. When it gets infected, a three-month process becomes a nine months to a year recovery time.

FRENDY: Ah, ok. It makes more sense now because Grant really wasn’t the same after he came back to the court after his surgery.

ED: He tried coming back, but the ankle issue was always there.   There’s a documentary out there on him.  You should watch it. It f*cked him up…he couldn’t move, he almost died ‘cause of that sh*t, bro.  Because the ankle got infected, which caused other complications.

So yeah, Mike told me all that sh*t and said that he could help me recover. 

FRENDY: Throughout your recovery process with Mike, your love of training was birthed.  That’s remarkable.

ED: Yeah, I remember he told me that I was going to end up doing this sh*t!  And I’m like “Mike, what would make you say that?”   At the time, I told him “f#ck no, you see all the sh*t you got to deal with?”.  He just laughed and replied “Ed, if there’s only one thing I know about you its that you like helping people.  Just remember I told you this.”  So every time Mike and I speak, I always bring that memory up.  He’s my guru.

FRENDY: What’s divine about your life is that you always came across a figure that guided you down the right path…

ED: True.  But there’s certain types of people that try to play that “figure” role and I don’t even vibe or f#ck with them because it seems forced.

FRENDY: During your healing process, were you still attending class?

ED: Nah, I wasn’t going to class anymore. I never really went to class. I was only interested in Law, Philosophy and Marketing because I figured I could apply those three things in my everyday life. College is made to really form new friendships.

FRENDY: Wait, weren’t you there with a scholarship?

ED: Well, I knew the GPA that I had to get in order to maintain that scholarship.  I would get that GPA.

FRENDY: What were you doing instead of going to class?

ED: I was traveling around, probably in New York or LA somewhere.

FRENDY: * Laughs * But you would still take your finals right?

ED: Yeah. So, I’ll have the syllabus and I would turn in the most important work –all you had to do was email the sh*t.

FRENDY: Beating the system I see * Laughs *. Speaking of which, how did you and your mom escape homelessness?

ED: Well, eventually my mom graduated from nursing school and right off the bat she got a gig to be a UNICEF nurse in Honduras.  They gave her a huge check for that.

FRENDY: How old were you when this happened?

ED:  I was around 18…

FRENDY: Man, I’m glad you guys got out of that situation.  When did you actually decide to get into the fitness field?

ED: I would say two or three years after college when I started at Equinox.  Once one of my clients told me how much money I would be able to make on my own rather than working for a company.

FRENDY: I heard about you through Amir and he always told me about you being a phenomenal basketball coach. How’d you get into that?

ED: Well, I always had a passion for the youth.  I was coaching while I was in college and after.  My HS coach also coached camps at NYC’s Columbia University (all of these Ivy League schools would have these basketball camps). My coach always took me with him so I could stay out of trouble.  He would have me run a few drills and from then on I connected with the kids.

After that, I started doing some AAU stuff also, but once I found out the business side of it, I said “f#ck this sh*t!”  I stopped doing it and just did my own thing. 

FRENDY: You basically learned the fundamentals of being a coach and left the circuit…

ED: I wouldn’t even call myself a coach. I think part of the reason why the kids that I worked with f#cked with me the way they did was ‘cause I didn’t take that approach.  I didn’t take the coach approach—I was one of them.  They can relate to me. I always tell people that if you can keep it real with the young ones, they’ll forever keep it 100 with you.

To be honest you with you, my HS basketball coach Michael Murphy played a really intricate part in my life.  He always kept me out of trouble.

FRENDY: Were you only coaching basketball or other sports as well?

ED: One thing I wish most people would understand is that no matter what your field of occupation is, what your job description is it is never just that.  You know?   I would be with these kids from the basketball court to the weight room for hours on end. After that, I would watch them eat sh*t! They were destroying what we were trying to build.  That inspired me to cook for them.  When you spend that much time with people, especially kids, you form a golden bond with them. So to me, no matter what you do as a job, it’s never just that.  It’s the little intangibles that make it that way.

FRENDY: It’s the “smallest” things that actually count.  Just like how it’s one’s invisible world that conducts his/her reality, form wise. The form is just the effect of imagination…

ED: I used to have one of my homies (he was far from a saint, I ain’t one either) who used to tell me to not curse around the 13-14 year old kids.  They already knew all the curse words in the book so I kept it real with them. I remained on their level.

FRENDY: So right after college, you went into personal training at Equinox…

ED: Yeah, but even during that time I was doing more basketball related trainings right after college.

FRENDY: What degree did you graduate with?

ED: Economics and Pre-Law.

FRENDY: Oh wow, that’s totally different from sports.

ED: Yeah, but then I went back for my Exercise Science degree.  So in reality, I have three degrees.

FRENDY: Did you attempt to get a job in your field of study right after school?

ED:  Nah.  I’m not Jewish—at that time the market was f#cked up—I’m black; I’m African… you know?  Your college degrees do not define your calling.

FRENDY: I’m pretty sure you knew that you weren’t going to have a career in economics or pre law while you were studying them in college.

ED: Of course, I always knew that.

FRENDY: How did you end up working with arguably the best receiver in the NFL, Antonio Brown?

ED: It’s been in the works for a very long time.  My artist buddy Corey Pane would tell me about him and he’ll often tell Antonio about me.

FRENDY: How did you even get to know Corey?

ED: I met him through a very great friend of mine while I was in the University of Vermont—I call him Sleven. He’s that white mothaf#cka, he’s cold man * Laughs *. All my white boys are cold though. That’s a fact. Sleven would give a sweater to a stranger, but would kill a mothaf#cka in a second for anything he stands for or loves.

FRENDY: Oh ok.  How did Corey know Antonio?

ED: They’ve known each other for quite some time. I think they became good friends after Corey shared his art with him.

FRENDY: When did you initially meet him?

ED: It’s basically how me met. Amir kept telling you about me and vice versa, Corey did the same thing with Antonio and I.   He was in the city last year, around March I believe, to do some Madden NFL cover sh*t.  While Antonio was handling that, he also wanted to work out. The gym he wanted to work out at was closed. He wanted someone to train with so Corey called me like six times.  Corey has never done that.  I really didn’t want to answer the phone because I had a long day, but my girlfriend insisted that I should.  I finally answered and he said that he was with Antonio and he was trying to get a work out in. All of a sudden, Antonio gets on the phone and tells me that he heard great things about me from Corey and that he’s trying to get a work out in.

I told my lady about the situation and she said to stop being a b*tch and just go.

FRENDY: So you were reluctant to go and work out with him because you were extremely tired that day?

ED:   It didn’t matter to me who the f#ck the name was—what mattered was what my connection with Corey and what my lady told me.  I was basically doing Corey a favor. That’s how I viewed it, that’s my brother. 

My relationship with Antonio flourished after that workout.  We were supposed to work out for only 30 minutes but we ended up in the gym for almost three hours. 

FRENDY: Just straight vibin’…

ED: Yeah…

FRENDY: Were you showing him maneuvers that he wasn’t doing before?

ED: Yeah.  I watched a 10-minute video of Antonio before I went to train him so I was able to point out what he wasn’t doing etc.  I never really focus on what a person is really good at because that’s what everyone else focuses on.  I always pay attention to the slightest details—I’m very, very over analytical, which helps me in a lot of regards, but at the same time hinders me as well.

Mike, the athletic trainer I told you about earlier, taught me everything I know about the importance of core strength—unilateral training.  I believe without a strong core, you don’t have a strong body. You could train as much as you want, but if you eat like a truck driver mothaf#cka you’re going to look like a truck driver.  Nutrition far outweighs your training. 

FRENDY:   After that first epic workout, what happened next?

ED:  I’ll never forget this.  He came out with a bundle of money and said, “Thanks man, I really appreciate this.” I didn’t go there expecting to get paid. Antonio then called his agent and told him how much he loved the workout with me. He then invited me over to have dinner with his family.

FRENDY: Earlier you mentioned that you almost didn’t go to workout with Antonio because you were extremely tired. What was your schedule like?

ED: I usually wake up at 6am to train as many people as I can. I have a problem with saying “no” to people.

FRENDY: What’s the motivation behind your relentless work ethic?

ED:   Well, first of all I love helping people.  Secondly, it’s therapeutic for me.  I need it…fitness is an addiction.

FRENDY: Would you say that it saved your life?

ED:  Yeah, it has always been one of my coping mechanisms.  No matter what I was going through, I always found the time to workout.

Hosea's Ultimate Hustle

When you know what you want out of life at an early age, the faster it’ll be to manifest your deepest desires. The universe always provides­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­––especially when one’s eyes are fully focused on the prize.  While most 22-year-olds are gearing up to face the real world after four eventful years of college, Hosea Choga is already living an abundant life as a Developer.

Born and raised in Toronto, Hosea and his twin sister grew up in a home where real estate was at its very core. “My parents were always in the business growing up so it was always familiar to me,” he states. Choga’s father and mother are Zimbabwean immigrants who instilled in him the value of honest, hard work.  When Hosea was 13 he got his first job at Canada’s top coffee shop, Tim Horton’s.  Shortly after, the determined teenager decided to get right into the family business where he's been flourishing ever since.

I recently sat down with Choga to discuss his early beginnings in the real estate industry, biggest accomplishments and how exactly he’s enjoying the fruits of his labor.  Check out our conversation below:

FRENDY: The energy surrounding Toronto has surely grown since your days there as a child.  How do you feel about everything that’s transpiring?

HOSEA: The energy of the city is remarkable!  I feel like it was always there, but with Toronto getting more exposure globally it's more vibrant than ever. I'm really happy with everything that's happening, like a lot of people from Toronto are proud of it and you can make a name for yourself right here.  You don't have to go to New York for exposure.  We've really grown and people from other places are always curious about life in Toronto. We're such a diverse community––I grew up with people of completely different backgrounds, religions, color all just mixed into this city we call the “6.”

A lot of people in Toronto have a certain way of talking; it's almost like an accent if you're not from the city. It’s like a Jamaican, UK mixed with Canadian type of slang, which Drake kind of pushed in the spotlight. Most people will know if you're from Toronto based on your style, the slang and just the vibes it's pretty unique.

FRENDY: What a time to be alive in T Dot right? It’s funny because we’re having this convo literally right after Drake finally released his highly anticipated project, More Life. You must be motivated more than ever after listening to it.

HOSEA: Yes, I'm I am very motivated by Drake. I used to watch him on Degrassi and also watched him turn himself into a global superstar, while pretty much putting Toronto on the map in the music industry. I relate to his music because I feel like we're very similar people. I'm also a fan of the way he handles his brand and business. I've been listening to More Life non-stop!  It's cool to see someone that's from your city reach that level of success. He took a risk doing music and at the beginning people didn't really have a lot love for the guy.  Depsite it all, he remained true to his values and I respect that.

FRENDY: Since we’re on the topic of motivation, what compelled you to take a plunge into the real estate world?  Did your parents push you towards it?

HOSEA:  Because I was around it for so long, I really started to understand more and more about the business and just enjoyed the process. My parents always gave me the option to do whatever I wanted; I chose to do something I enjoyed. I guess for me you could say working on a development project can be compared to working on an album where you put in months of work, build from nothing and put an endless amount effort.  Furthermore, multiple people contribute to perfect the project.

FRENDY: That’s a great comparison. How old were you when you embarked on your journey as a Developer?

HOSEA: I started to take real estate seriously after high schooI-–I was 18. It wasn’t easy at first because I kind of watched all my friends go to school and do the whole college experience. But I’m grateful for the way everything turned out.

FRENDY: I could imagine how isolated you felt. What were your initial duties as a Developer?

HOSEA: I did a lot of property management when I was younger.  I really got experience dealing with different types of people. I try to create schedules, depending on timelines and costs, make sure everyone is aware of their roles and the time they have to complete each job, basically making sure everything is running smoothly. I also enjoy doing a little marketing as well.

FRENDY: Are you currently working on any big projects?

HOSEA: Yes, definitely working on some new projects in real estate and getting involved in tech also. I can't say too much but this is going to be a great year for me and I'm very humbled and grateful.

FRENDY: Nice! Hopefully we’ll get a part two of this going so you can finally unveil what the projects are. When you’re not hustling, what do you do for fun?

HOSEA: I definitely will!  My idea of fun is trying out different restaurants and traveling.  Basically just trying new things.  I also enjoy calling up a group of my close friends and just kicking back, joking around and whatever.

FRENDY: I took a quick look at your Instagram and to say that you’re low-key would be an understatement, though, I can tell you’re making major moves.  The best way to describe your account is “calm but heavy,” as Juan would say.

HOSEA: *Laughs* Yea that's exactly how I would describe it. I'm pretty private, I like to just to keep it relaxed and post whatever I think is cool at the time.  There's no real theme or anything, it's just me being myself.  But I definitely got some special things coming in the near future and I love using Instagram as platform to share.

FRENDY: Do you have any other passions besides being a Developer?  Are you heavily into fashion and music?

HOSEA: I wouldn't say I'm heavily into music and fashion but I'm definitely a fan of hip hop and trap music. I'm a fan of all the young kids coming up and making bangers.  People hate on them but they're good at the music they make, which is Trap.  Future I think is one of the greats of our time! Drake, PartyNextDoor and NAV have been on my playlist lately.

I'm into chill fashion--I'd say I think my style is pretty random.  Most days it's John Elliott with some Chelsea boots, and other days it's a Supreme hoodie with some Vans, or Palace with some Yeezys. Really all depends on the occasion...it could be a Fear of God flannel and some Visvims. Whatever vibe is for the day.

FRENDY: I feel you. You’re basically a chameleon when it comes to style.  It's safe to say that your hard work is allowing you to fully indulge in anything that you please––whether it's traveling or dining virtually anywhere. What advice do you have for those who desire to live a lavish lifestyle but have no idea how to actually get their funds up?

HOSEA: I feel like if you're doing anything at all, you should do it for yourself and not anyone else. I think patience is key, just keep putting in hard work and effort.  However you choose to reward yourself is up to you. I think you shouldn't really compare your life to anyone else's because everyone's situation is different, but if you're looking for inspiration and motivation I encourage that. I'd just say put in the work and everything will fall into place.

Not Your Average Hypebeast

With a quick scroll down Angelo Nitsopoulos’ Instagram, one can instantly get a sense of his expensive taste. But there has to be more to him right?  Other than the quick cameos on his clique’s hilarious insta stories and vlogs, not much is revealed about the sporty Toronto, Ontario native. Well, that’s why I’m here.

Let’s take a look inside the real world of Angelo and find out about his immense love for hockey, fledgling business, spending habits and why he looks so damn pissed all the time.   Peep my exclusive interview with him below:

FRENDY:  I must say it’s quite incredible to witness how close you are with Kai and Levi.  Nowadays, not many can proclaim they are tight with even a handful of people.  How did you meet them?

ANG:  So, I met the guys during the winter of 2014.  At the time, Levi and an old acquaintance had a men's hockey team called The Trillers and a buddy of mine told me I should go play with them. So I hit up Levi and said if you ever need players let me know. A week later I was playing my first game with them. I walked into the dressing room, turned to my left and saw the “5’3” kid who said to me, “ Here sit here Angelo”. As if I had never been in a hockey dressing room in my life. Levi was sitting across from me, looking like a pro MMA fighter flooded with tats (I was a bit intimidated).

My first game with them was amazing! I scored three goals. So throughout our hockey team that's how myself and Levi hung out. Kai never played hockey at all so he was never around the rink unless he was pretending to coach us. I would always hear stories about him though. I met Kai on our first trip to NYC and boy what a story/trip that was.  That's when my passion for fashion really began and I instantly switched my look. Happy I met them though, I never had any siblings so they taught me a lot about things. When I was 18-19 they took me on some crazy experiences that most kids don't get to do, so they are kind of like older brothers in a way for the most part.

FRENDY:  That’s a pretty epic story. I assumed you knew them for way longer than 3 years.  What was your “look” before your fashion awakening?

ANG:  Yeah, I mean friendship grows pretty quick when you hang out as often as we do. OMG, my look I don't even want to talk about *Laughs*. To be honest I didn't even have a look. I guess I could say it was the “hockey style.” Long hair, sperry boat shoes, golf shorts and a V-neck t-shirt, which makes me cringe thinking about it. I didn't even really take fashion seriously; I would wear sweatpants every day, whatever shirt I found in my room and just went about my day. I was too focused on my hockey career at the time and didn't care how I dressed outside the rink. I knew what Yeezys were and what not but never had a clue on how to get them or even knew they were so limited. But to say the least, my look was terrible *Laughs*.

Looking back at what I wore then compared to now is like a two year old messing up all his toys when he is pissed off.  That's the best way to look at it. Its funny thinking back at it, I would get so excited to wear these pants that don’t even fit right or shoes that don’t even go with the fit and thinking “wow this is sick,” when it's really god awful.

FRENDY:  Aw man, I needed that good laugh. Do you remember your very first fire fit?

ANG:  I do remember it actually, but I wouldn't say it was fire. I would say my first favorite fire fit is my Supreme patchwork outfit with my Red Octobers *Laughs*. I was so happy when I got the sweat suit in the mail. Most will say it's ugly but half the world tried to buy it and failed miserably.  That Aside, it really is a crazy piece. The hoodie and pants are both hand-made with different patches. Most don't understand that, they just see a “grandma-like table cloth” because they don't understand it. The Red Octobers were worn just so I could be over the top.  Shout out to Mike at 'On The Arm' in Vegas who plugged me with it too. My favorite thing is wearing either full tracksuits or full sweatsuits as you can probably tell.  I don't really care what people think, I don't buy clothes for people I buy them for me.

FRENDY: How long have you been playing Hockey? Was it your goal to turn pro growing up?

ANG: I guess most people on Instagram don't follow me for hockey, I never post anything related to it. I started skating at around three years old and started playing hockey at four, which is really young. I've played for 17 years and counting and won't ever stop playing for fun. It’s every kids dream and goal to play in the NHL.  I went to PEAC, which was a private hockey school. All we did was skate, train four hours a day and screw around in class. I kid you not, a teacher quit because we “stressed her out” too much.

Our team was unstoppable, our first line was, Ho Sang, Mcdavid, Subbans and so many more it was hilarious.  We didn't lose all year and wasn't allowed in tournaments. I was talented but as I got older I slowly lost interest in the game and at 18 decided to stop playing competitively. I will say though I don't regret any of it, hockey taught me a lot about certain things in life.  Most of my best friends play in the NHL so it's cool to see them succeed and because of that I still get to be apart of the game somehow.

Once you play hockey and are born into the hockey world you never really get away from it. Hockey gets my mind off things when I can't find a piece of clothing that I want *Laughs*. I never would have thought when I was 15 that at 19 I would be addicted to fashion. Thank the guys for that one.

FRENDY:  Here comes the million-dollar question: when you’re not copping the finest threads or slithering on the ice, what is it that you do for a living to remain so fresh?

ANG:  *Laughs* Yeah the million-dollar question that people are soooooo curious to know. Never really understood why people have to ask that nonstop. From now on I'm just going to say “yeah, I won the lottery in grade 6, kept it quiet though.

FRENDY: What are some your favorite brands right now?

ANG: Yeah, they probably won’t to be honest *laughs*. My favorite brands...well obviously you can tell I like Supreme. I also have other labels in my closet, people think I’m a hypebeast and just wear one particular brand.  I have a lot of Saint Laurent; their jackets I own are my favorite pieces. The detail on them and the way they look is crazy! I also have Haider Ackermann items that I like a lot, wouldn’t say its my favorite brand though. Bape obviously, I had a crazy Bape phase where I was just copping from them non stop but I kind of got sick of it. Stone Island is really comfy to wear; I got a bunch of that. I honestly have most brands you can think of. I just hate when people say “Nits you’re a hypebeast.”

My take on that is at the end of the day most people in fashion, besides the people creating, are hypebeasts in their own special way. Just because I have a Supreme item that everyone wants I automatically get identified as a “hypebeast.”  It’s ok in my opinion if someone buys a piece of clothing that an artist or influencer may have worn first.  Unfortunately, most consider that as being “hype”.

When you see someone wear a piece that you like, why not buy it for yourself? Nothing wrong with that at all but most people get mad and call it hype. I don't know, maybe they’re just jealous. Either they don't have access, have a plug to get an exclusive item or simply just can't afford it, which is totally understandable! I feel blessed that I am able to purchase things I like and have never been the type to bring someone else down because they can’t get something.  I'm not going to lie and pretend I don't like things that are hyped, there's a meaning behind it. Most of Supreme’s prized pieces have some sort of unique backstory, which is another reason why that brand is so strong.  At the end of the day, people call me a hypebeast but deep down inside they all wish they were able to cop what I got.

FRENDY:  Which sneakers are in your constant rotation?

ANG:  I wear APLs all the time. Shout out to Adam and Ryan! Jordans for sure, bred 1’s, royal 1’s, all the 1’s really.  I used to wear Yeezys a lot but its getting saturated in the market now. I try to stay away from wearing them all the time.  If I get a pair early, I’ll throw them on.  I really like my Nike Presto x Acronymkicks, they’re extremely comfy and their colorways.   Last but not least, my Air Max 98 ’s. I never really got in to the Adidas NMD wave.

FRENDY:  Who do you feel has the best style in the entertainment industry right now?

ANG:  A$AP Rocky.  I respect him because he barely wears what’s “in."  The guy literally flies to Japan to buy brands nobody knows about so you have to respect that.  He started so many trends it’s insane!  He is always ahead of the game and steps outside the box.

FRENDY:  On one of your recent insta stories, I saw you were putting your followers on to alot of rising brands. How often are you researching for potential new gear?

ANG: Yes I was, people don't understand that I’m young and got into this just a few years ago.  Most of them will say I am a “culture vulture” but I am the furthest thing from that. So for those reading just know I spend hours daily looking at what's up and coming in fashion. I will literally sit on my computer and log on to Japanese sites that aren’t even written in English and Google translate it to read articles on what's next. 

If we want to talk about Supreme culture, I literally learned about each season, each piece and so on. Till this day I am researching meanings behind their pieces. So no, I did not just see Supreme and decided to hop on buying stuff for fun.  I put the effort into learning about it, which most do not do. That's what a culture vulture does, buys stuff to say they have it and not know anything about the brand’s ethos. I hate that. Daily, I am always looking for new stuff to get and new brands that people don’t know about. Aaron will always we call me and say, “let me guess researching?” I enjoy doing it.  It’s fun to learn about upcoming stuff and their origins.

FRENDY:  Since your passion for fashion runs deep, did you ever think about fully diving into the industry with your own brand or investing in one that you really believe in?

ANG:  No, probably not.  I am to busy with ProLocker and other stuff. I rather support brands by buying their clothes, never really thought about creating my own but who knows maybe I could do it.   I definitely put the time into researching about it.

FRENDY:  You have the money, cars and clothes but is there a special lady out there you’re sharing it all with?

ANG:  *Laughs* Well I definitely don't have it all.  There are way more important things in life than money, cars and clothes. In terms of special ladies, I am single but have a one on the radar. Once you get a girl, “you have to put her in designer,” as Future says. The guys always make fun of me though by always saying “Nits brings the tings to Fring’s”.

FRENDY:  That’s hilarious.  Well I’m sure there are tons of tings who are willing kick it for a day...or couple of months.  Since you’re always in the latest gear, is it a requirement for them to have a sense of style or it doesn’t really matter?

ANG:  * Laughs* Actually yes I if I were to date a girl I would want her to be into fashion like I am. She doesn't have to wear the latest stuff but definitely needs her own sense of style 100%. It’s always cool to have a girl that can relate to what you like. At the end of the day though it's not everything! But yes I would prefer it.

FRENDY:  For sure, it’s all about being on the same frequency. Man, it was a pleasure having this conversation. Looking forward to see what you and the fellas will get into next.  One more thing I need to know before we end though, if you were stranded on a desert island what three things would you bring?

ANG:  Likewise! If I were stranded on an island the three things I would bring is a boat to get off the island, food, and a laptop with 4G so I can stay up to date with gear.  Stay Woke!

Aaron's World

BAPE NYC served as a medium to encounter so many incredible people.  From iconic entertainers and fashion gods to multi-millionaire businessmen, the second floor of the ‘Busy Workshop’ was my personal space for meeting sessions with them all.

I’ve had several moments of forgetfulness when dealing with certain past acquaintances. In some cases, my attentive silence during a conversation was just my way of trying to figure out who I was actually speaking to (no offense, of course).

Aaron is surely not on my list of Forgettables.  The stylish Canadian has been a loyal BAPE customer ever since my Omarion braid days.  A year before my departure from Nigo’s former fashion empire, Aaron stopped by the shop to cash out (per usual). That was my first time seeing him in ages, so we definitely reminisced and since then remained in contact through social media.  I was pleasantly surprised to discover he had quite a strong following on the Internet.

Aaron’s nonchalant showing of his splendid lifestyle online prompted me to have a sit-down with him to dig a little deeper into his wonderful world.  There’s always more than what meets the eye, so this will be a perfect chance to really understand the man behind the grandeur. Enjoy!

FRENDY: Alot of people may know you strictly from Instagram where your flex fits and lavish lifestyle are on full display. What are some of the biggest misconceptions about you?

AARON: One of the biggest misconceptions about me is that I only buy and like "expensive" things. That is 100% false. I am a resourceful and smart shopper. Rarely do I ever buy things at retail, and if I do pay retail; chances are I sell some things that I don't wear anymore to help make closet space. I never just go blow money for no reason. I'm not the type of person to buy something just to flex on Instagram and then end up selling it the day after. If you scroll all the way down on my Instagram to the first few photos, you will see that I've been wearing and copping fresh shit from the start. I'm not new to the streetwear/fashion culture. I've been on ISS since 2007 and did not suddenly start buying gear since Instagram started. I actually kind of hate this new Instagram hypebeast culture because I know over 90% of these guys you see "flexing" don't know shit about the history of sneaker/streetwear game and just started buying because they can get some likes. If you notice on my pics, I never tag brands or use hashtags. That shit is wack and just shows you how bad these people care about getting more followers & likes from the shoes or clothes that they are wearing. You can smell the corniness of people through the iPhone screen from their 20 hashtags and 15 tags. 

FRENDY: Which part of Canada are you from exactly?

AARON: I'm from Toronto, Canada. 6ix side let it fly.

FRENDY: What was your childhood like there?

AARON: My childhood was sports 24/7. I played competitive AAA hockey from 9 till I was 14. Then I changed to competitive tennis from 14 to 18. I was playing a lot of tournaments and was training almost every day. Balancing school, sports, and work was hard for me because the hours were insane. I remember having to bring my tennis bag with me into Champs Sports on some days because I didn't have time to go home. I would go straight from the tennis courts to the mall and clock in for my shift. Champs taught me a lot about time management though.

FRENDY: The last time I saw you at my old workplace you were with a couple of friends, 2 of which included the famous Bent-Lee brothers. How long have you known them for?

AARON: I've known the Bent-Lee brothers since I was 14. We all played tennis growing up so we would see each other at tournaments all the time. Me and Kai have had some crazy battles throughout our OTA (Ontario Tennis Association) careers. A lot of broken rackets and questionable calls happened. We also all went to the same high school together, Vaughan Road Academy. To be 100% honest with you, Kai was the first person that influenced me in the sneaker game. He would always show up with a brand new pair of Nike SB's. He was on that shit early during the pink box era. 

FRENDY: Can you tell me about Fring’s?

AARON: Fring's is that place in Toronto where you can get an amazing meal and feel like you're somewhere else in the world. The vibe of the restaurant is like no other in our city. Where else can you eat oysters and chicken sliders while listening to trap music? 

FRENDY: Since we’re on the subject of restaurants, what are some of your favorite spots to dine in?

AARON: The majority of my favorite spots are actually in NYC. I think Ben's Pizza in SoHo is one of the best I've had! J.G. Melon's on 3rd & 74th makes a crazy cheeseburger. Minetta Tavern's "Black Label" burger is on point as well. I'm a big burger guy so of course I love Shake Shack. But, I think In N Out is better. 

FRENDY: I’m sure tons of people are dying to know so I’ll just go ahead and ask; what is your occupation?

AARON: I own ProLocker.com. We are currently going through re-development right now, but be on the lookout for the new launch. 

FRENDY: You’re a pretty fly fella; do you have any interest in entering the fashion realm?

AARON: I am actually helping my boy open up a fashion boutique in Toronto. I just want to help bring a unique shopping experience to the city. The shopping up here is not the greatest, so it would be great to have a refreshing spot.

FRENDY: What are some of your favorite brands at the moment?

AARON: My favorite brands are APL, Saint Laurent, BAPE, Supreme, Fear of God, Balmain and John Elliott.

FRENDY: I see that you’re an avid traveler.   Out of the many places you have been globally, which is your favorite?

AARON: The best place I've been to has to be Italy. The food is just so good out there. Best meals I've had are all in Italy. The culture over there is very laid back and easy going.

FRENDY: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

AARON: In 10 years I see myself feeling good, living better.

FRENDY: Thank you for taking the time to shed more light on your life.  Are there any last words you’ll like to leave with the readers?

AARON: Stay humble, stay hungry. We are all just trying to live better than yesterday.

Photos by: Omair Khan

More Life

What can I say? Drake has yet again smashed it with his new album More Life. Unlike Drizzy's previous sonic offerings, this one is heavily influenced by his trips across the pond with features from English Grime artists, such as the highly regarded Skepta and the Godfather of the genre himself Giggs.

Looking at the project's title, the '6 God' could be declaring his love for the UK. Even on his Boy Meets World Tour he still is able to produce an album of this calibre, which really is a credit to how hard he works and how important it is for him to keep the fans happy.

This album proves that Aubrey's career is far from ending and truly shows he is ready to set the benchmark for any rapper who wants to challenge him. Additionally, the project clearly served as his platform to showcase noteworthy talent from England.

More Life is an all-round incredible album and definitely worth keeping on repeat, as you will immensely appreciate the quality of the chunes after each listen.

Written by Joshua King