ATTN

My friend ISHMAEL, previously known as Ishmael Raps, recently dropped a genre-bending new single that highlights his impressive rapping skills, guaranteed to catch your attention.

Titled "ATTN," the lyricist hailing from Rochester, NY, takes listeners on a tongue-twisting lyrical journey reminiscent of Hip Hop legends like Busta Rhymes and Twista. In its accompanying music video, ISHMAEL, sporting an eccentric outfit and a spiky pink hairdo, stands out among the regular "suits," emphasizing his unique style in every aspect.

I’m incredibly proud of the homie, man. He's truly made significant strides since I first featured him on the blog almost a decade ago. If you've ever wondered why I continue to write, it's for moments like these. Check out what ISHMAEL had to say in a 2014 interview with NYU Local:

Enjoy the video for, “ATTN” below.

Whole Time (Freestyle)

What’s good, everyone? I hope all of you are having a wonderful week thus far.  Earlier this month, news broke out that BAPE’s downtown NYC location has officially closed for good. It’s not such a huge shock for some, but for the OG BAPE heads, this might have caused some disarray due to all of the epic memories they’ve made there.  As I’ve stated on Instagram, as long as I’m here, the magic that NIGO’s former SoHo workshop once provided will never fade away!

Speaking of memories, one of the most talented individuals I’ve met during my time at the shop just dropped a music video for his latest freestyle titled, “Whole Time.” ISHMAEL, formerly known as Ishmael Raps, was just a teenager trying to find his way in the lyrical lane when I met him more than five years ago.  I’m extremely happy to see him come into his own with ease as he’s constantly sharpening his craft.

Check out the Itenji-shot visual from the rising Rochester spitter below:

21C / Delta

Ever since I began my journey at Delta last year, I started noticing how much it is loved by an assortment of rappers. I initially was pleasantly surprised when Portland’s own Aminé gave the thriving airline a huge shout out in his Limbo standout cut entitled, “Shimmy,” where he unapologetically stated: “just ‘cause you bought that vintage Margiela/ don’t change your flight from Spirit to Delta.” The latest potent lyricist that has decided to totally sh*t on Spirit Airlines, and big up the Ed Bastian-led company is Jack Harlow.

Found in the Louisville-hailing spitter’s stellar debut album That’s What They All Say, “21C / Delta” deals with Harlow’s romantic encounters. In Delta, specifically, Jack witfully compares his b- *coughs* fine specimen of a woman *coughs* to, yes you guessed it, Delta Airlines. “She ain’t flying in Spirit, she’s a Delta b*tch not the kind with the pyramids,” he playfully raps. I don’t know what it is, but Spirit has to step its flying game up (saw what I did there?).

Speaking of traveling, shout out to all my peeps who’ve stopped me at Terminal 4 in JFK. It’s always a pleasure talking to y’all even if it’s just for a minute. Shoot, let’s get some pics going so I can start the airline version of my Bape couch pics series. Let’s call it:  #FlyingWithFrendy (haha).

In any case, listen to Jack Harlow’s “21C / Delta” track below. Make sure you check out the remainder of his album as well—you won’t be disappointed.

Sneek Peek

In his late 2010 hit “6 Foot 7 Foot ,” Lil Wayne famously proclaimed, “real Gs move in silence like lasagna,” and my next interviewee really took that to heart. Like Weezy, Brooklyn native Sonny Martinez’s actions speak so much louder than words. As a matter of fact, he hardly writes captions for his Instagram posts because the visuals alone are undeniably eye-catching.  Whether he’s showcasing high-end threads, his all-inclusive vacation settings or midnight adventures, Martinez simply leaves a suitable emoji under the flicks/vids so viewers can fully bask in their lavish content.

Sonny aka “Sneek” and I became friends from his habitual shopping sprees at Nigo’s former SoHo workshop. The humble businessman’s friendly nature was truly refreshing, and it was always a pleasure talking to him about all things fashion on the second floor. I haven’t seen or spoken to Sonny in a few years so I decided to catch up with him during this plandemic (yes, I spelled it right).  Furthermore, this opportunity will give me a chance to know more about the inner workings of a man with such flashy exterior. 

Enjoy my insightful sitdown with Sonny below as I provide a “sneek” peek into his fascinating life.

FRENDY: What’s good, homie? Thanks for your time. We’ve known each other for about 8 years now and it’s great to see there’s no love lost.

SNEEK:  For sure.  I think Bape was just such an influential part in my love for art and fashion.  You being there just cemented that relationship. 

FRENDY:  Well said.  Which part of Brooklyn are you from?

SNEEK:  I was Born at Lutheran hospital and raised in Park Slope when it was known as “Park Slope Dope.”  Not the hipster hotspot it is now *Laughs*.

FRENDY:  *Laughs* I love Park Slope. That area of Brooklyn actually holds a very special place in my heart. My first love went to Bishop Ford HS...after class we used to kick it at the surrounding pizza shops.  Good times. How is it now?

SNEEK:  Unrecognizable. It's all brand new condos and pre-k centers, mixed with thrift stores and bars. I remember being on 5th Ave after school, running into Bobbys Sportswear and Jean Stop to see all the exclusive sneakers you wouldn’t find at Foot Locker. A lot of great memories.

FRENDY:  That’s awesome. Speaking of sportswear, your style is on point. When did your love for fashion come about? Did your parents school you?

SNEEK:  Nah man quite the opposite *Laughs*. I grew up an only child to a single parent so there was no money for clothes or kicks— just the essentials. I remember my first “name brand” sneaker (not Payless or Fabco) was a New Balance, and that was because of their considerate price points. 

I would say my love started with Hip Hop culture and 90s media. I remember watching Michael Jordan, Will Smith, the Wayans brothers, and just always examining and admiring their style.

FRENDY:  The power of love coupled with imagination can transform any situation. In your case, the inspirations you took in gave you something to look forward to. As far as being able to cop whatever you wanted in the future. Did you ever get frustrated about not being able to wear what you really wanted back then?

SNEEK:  Not at all. Luckily, social media wasn't a thing for our generation so what you had was what you needed and it stopped there. The artistic side of me always wanted more but I would express that in drawing, coloring, etc. I was the cliche 90s only child raised in front of the TV. I’ve always excelled academically, but my true passion has always been the arts.

FRENDY:  Which HS did you attend?

SNEEK:  John Dewey HS by Coney Island.

FRENDY:  That’s crazy, I went to Lafayette HS. I was on the basketball and volleyball  team—we played against y’all often.

SNEEK:  God bless you, bro *Laughs*.  Lafayette was rough.

FRENDY:  Bruh! Who you telling? The night before my first day of school, I couldn’t sleep at all. I eventually realized it wasn’t as bad as I thought. A lot of the Asian kids had it bad there though.  Ever paid us a visit?

SNEEK:  Lafayette was on the D train line right? 25th Ave stop?

FRENDY:  Yeah.  I think so.

SNEEK:  Well, I haven’t been to Lafayette, but the kids from there would visit me and my pockets on the train ride home *Laughs*. Luckily, it was never anything serious.

FRENDY:  Aww, man *Laughs*. Truth be told, I’m such a disciplined person now because I played organized sports there. It kept me away from trouble. You learn a lot by being in a group of goal-oriented individuals. How was it like in Dewey?

SNEEK:  Dewey was amazing to me—I loved it. We were an “electoral” school where you saw your counselor and built your schedule like a college so it set us up for success. I also loved how I was able to learn about so many cultures while being there. We had it all from the Chinese community to the Italian, the Russian, Latino, goth/emo, the skateboarders, you name it we had it.

FRENDY:  Just like Lafayette.  Were you studying a specific subject at Dewey? Like a mini major before heading off to college?

SNEEK:  I attribute that to Brooklyn—particularly Coney Island. All the communities are blocks apart so we’re forced to just learn and interact with each other.  That’s why so many creatives come from here and are so diverse and successful.

I was always art obsessed. The requirement for art electives was two quarters, half the scholastic year. By the time I graduated I had taken an art class for all four years straight. And from there I went to Kingsborough College to study Graphic Design and Illustration.

FRENDY:  My brother actually graduated from Kingsborough studying graphic design as well. What was the determining factor that ultimately made you major in Graphic Design? I know you always had a love for art, but some people would back out of it because of job security etc. You know, some would rather go the  “safer” route.

SNEEK:  I grew up poor so I didn’t really think that far ahead *Laughs*. I just wanted to do something I was happy doing. Sadly, art education is very expensive—the term “starving artist,” isn't farfetched. Art has remained my passion which I feed when I can while I found a career in retail.  And unlike some, I actually enjoy it.

FRENDY:  We’ll definitely dive into your career in a second.  Kingsborough is a two-year school. Which college did you attend after graduating?

SNEEK:  None because of finances. I had no desire to take a loan and be indebted. I actually had a pretty successful career in retail from a young age and I was happy with that. I still learn on my own through different mediums and outlets.  I had friends in SVA [The School of Visual Arts] and Parsons just slammed with crazy debts from tuition.  I made the decision to just avoid that.

FRENDY:  Smart move! Our lives are pretty similar. I wasn’t able to graduate from Brooklyn College because of finances. We both made a way for ourselves through determination. When did you start embarking in the world of retail? During HS?

SNEEK:  Yeah, my first retail job was Foot Locker at 16, and then Bloomingdale’s at 19.  Both definitely fueled my love for sneakers and clothes that much more. Till this day probably my two favorite jobs I’ve held outside of my current job with StockX.

FRENDY:  You must have been pretty hyped to work at a sneaker shop at such a young age! I bet Foot Locker was the first place you applied after receiving your work papers *Laughs*.

SNEEK: *Laughs* Man, it felt surreal just being around all the things I loved and having the means now to acquire them. I learned so much there that built me into the man I am today and I am forever grateful.

FRENDY:  What were some of the lessons you learned at Foot Locker?

SNEEK:  At Foot Locker I was the only Latino there *Laughs*. My coworkers were all Chinese and my managers were Russian and Italian. My co-workers were already heavy into what we all know now as reselling. Reselling has always been huge in the Chinese community even before options like the internet and consignment shops. They also put me on to all things in the culture which was already a passion of mine because of art and pop culture.

FRENDY:  What inspired you to get a gig at Bloomingdale’s? Did you want to dive deeper into fashion?

SNEEK:  At 18, I was already an avid shopper going around the city daily.  When I didn’t have work I’d visit Bloomingdale’s, Barneys, Bape, Stussy, Kid Robot, Supreme etc. I decided to apply with a “what if?” mentality and they actually reached back. It was bittersweet leaving Foot Locker, but it definitely was an amazing experience.

FRENDY:  No risk, no gain! Congrats on that feat. Was it hard for you to get adjusted working at an establishment that didn’t mainly sell kicks? 

SNEEK:  It was easy—I was already a customer and I had love for the culture. It’s funny because I was hired to work in Women’s Shoes and it was actually a blessing. It was the easiest sales, the best commission in the entire store, and it taught me a lot about an area of fashion I was completely ignorant to. At 19, I knew the difference between a Mary Jane and a Stiletto.  Not many men can say that *Laughs*. 

FRENDY:  *Laughs* sheesh. I don't even know the difference. How long did you work at Bloomingdale’s?

SNEEK:  I was with them for two years at the flagship on 59th. An amazing experience at such a young age. I just learned so much about fashion, business, women *Laughs*, everything. Definitely a huge part of who I am now.

FRENDY: Fashion and women...say no more *Laughs*.  When we became friends at Bape, you were still at Bloomingdale’s? 

SNEEK: We definitely were because I was known for all Bape everything at that time. I’m sure you know a good friend of mine, Jordan, creator of the forum BapeTalk2. A huge staple for Bape fans since news wasn't as easy to find as it is today. 

Jordan worked with me at Bloomingdale’s and sold me my Bape duffle I’ve used in all my travels. He worked downstairs in Menswear. I would go see him everyday just to talk about Bape and Streetwear. Great friends till this day.

FRENDY: It’s a small world...especially in the Streetwear industry. Was Nigo’s former Workshop your introduction to the SoHo area?

SNEEK: Not even to be honest. You have to remember I didn't grow up with much so the Bape price points weren't even in my peripheral *Laughs*. I started out small time buying 501s at OMG and graphic tees at Yellow Rat Bastard. Supreme and Stussy were the more affordable options, but I would go to Union here and there and splurge on some Ice Cream and BBC. We both know though once I was making decent money, you couldn't keep me out of Bape *Laughs*. 

FRENDY:  That’s a fact *Laughs*. So I’m guessing your nickname “Sneek,” derived from your everlasting love for kicks?

SNEEK:  For sure. Being Latino and growing up in Brooklyn, Hip Hop culture was just a part of our everyday lives. Having a tag name was a must *Laughs*. I remember watching Wild Style and seeing the legends talking about how they got their names, the things to consider, and it just came so natural. I’ve been lucky enough that it hasn't been copycatted too much *Laughs*.

FRENDY:  We all know you have tons of kicks. What’s in your top five rotation right now?

SNEEK: Due to COVID-19 my Prada slides are currently one through five *Laughs*. I have a pretty deep collection because I do like the general releases as much as the hyped ones. If I had to pick five though I’ll go with the Jordan 5 Off-White, Nike Dunk High City Attack 1999, LV Trainer Sneaker Boot (the ones that look like the Jordan 3s), Jordan 4 Cool Grey (too good, match with everything and amazing quality), and lastly the CPFM AF1 white/white, the perfect summer shoe.

FRENDY: That’s an all star lineup right there. Earlier you mentioned working at StockX. What exactly do you do there?

SNEEK: I am the Lead of the Streetwear department, so basically everything we trade that isn't sneakers comes through my team.

FRENDY:  Wow, that’s a great look!  It’s well deserved. How’d you land such a crazy gig like that?

SNEEK: Good friends, man. My boy Chico Dusty (aliases only *Laughs*) had been there for some time and felt like the opportunity was a good fit for me. Till this day I thank him because it has truly been a blessing.

FRENDY:  This is just a testament that energy never lies, man. Impossible is nothing when you remain yourself and get things done in an efficient manner. The dots will connect themselves.  How long have you been working at StockX?

SNEEK: This July makes a year.

FRENDY: Nice. What are some of the things you’ve learned so far from being at such a profitable organization?

SNEEK: At the end of the day, the company is still technically a startup with less than five years in. It's dope to watch something grow right in front of you to new levels. It also feels good to know that I’m doing something with a passion that's been in me from day one. And I’m sure it's evident to my peers and my team.

FRENDY:  What are your views on the current state of Streetwear?

SNEEK: I love the current state of Streetwear. I love that I see so many new and old faces just reinventing the wheel everyday. To make something as simple as a graphic t-shirt feel new and refreshing in 2020 is a true skill.  And even if it doesn't fit your personal taste, you still have to recognize the effort.

FRENDY: Since we’re talking about graphic tees, I’m really digging what you’re doing with your clothing line, Save Mankind. Can you tell me more about the brand? What was the inspiration behind it?

SNEEK: For sure, and thank you for the compliment. Save Mankind was an idea I had in 2013 for a lifestyle brand with humanity and community as the inspiration. My end goal is a making a brand that makes you feel as good about the message as you do about the piece. It hasn't been easy as I’ve managed a lot on my own. Plenty of trial and error and money lost.  But it's something I'm confident in and I have no intentions of giving up.

FRENDY:  It’ll all be worth it in the end—trust!   You’ve extended your personal brand with a podcast as well. I checked out some episodes of “Ight So Boom,” and it was hilarious. Just you and your boys kicking it...very natural. 

SNEEK: Thank you, bro. We started in February of 2018, and just like the clothing line, it's been a lot of trial and error. Thankfully, we have a great team between myself, Jae Yannick (the host), Tony Whiteman (the OG), and Travis Whiteman (the human bot). I think what makes us special is how we are just genuine fans and consumers of the culture. We are not on a payroll, we don’t get plugged or seeded product. We are just four friends who like to roast each other while trying to figure out what we need and what we hate *Laughs*.

FRENDY: *Laughs* The best formulas are always the simplest. I couldn’t end this interview without talking about your favorite emcee in the entire universe, Lil’ Wayne. What do you resonate most with him?

SNEEK: Oh man,  where do I start? *Laughs*.  It started super early, I want to say 99-00. This is the corniest thing I'm going to admit but I lowkey follow the zodiac pretty closely, and Wayne being only a couple years older than me (birthday three days after mine), I just felt a connection. The one thing I want people to take from this question is how important Lil Wayne has been not only to rap but to fashion and Streetwear. 

He gets clowned a lot now for his eccentric style, but he has by far the most iconic Bape photoshoots and videos. I would even dare to say “Hustler Muzik,” is where Bape became a household name. Sure Pharrell, Cassidy, Curren$y all wore it first but Wayne did it best. I could go on, but I don't want to bore anyone.

FRENDY: This is a silly question: so what’d you think of “Mr. Me Too,” by Clipse? *Laughs*

SNEEK: As a true Wayne fan it was comical because if you follow Wayne, you know he doesn't care about anyone's opinion.  So to make a song about his choice in clothes is pure comedy.  As a fan of Pharrell and Clipse,  it was just an amazing song with a great music video. 

In that whole drama the only people that lost out were the fans because of the great music we were denied. On his mixtapes he has two records produced by Pharrell that even today would be hits, but they never saw the light of day due to...clothes?

FRENDY: I feel you on that.  I really do admire Wayne for having such a “I don’t give a fuck about what you think of me,” attitude.  It’s really one of the keys to success—remaining true to yourself. 

SNEEK: If you want to be original, just be you. They can copy it all but there will always be only one you.

FRENDY: That’s a fact!  With all of the amazing things you’ve got going on, what’s up next?

SNEEK: Continuing the clothing, the podcast, and just keep building my personal brand and portfolio. I’ve been lucky enough to have partnerships with brands like Hat Club and create relationships with people like Dennis Todisco (creator of @Outfitgrid) and @Hidden.ny on Instagram. I just want to keep creating, inspiring and just be genuinely happy.

Excitement

After a six-month hiatus following the release of his 29-track deluxe album, A Love Letter To You 4, Trippie Redd returns to the music scene with his latest single, “Excitement,” a collab track with PARTYNEXTDOOR.

“Only in your ocean, you call me Ho-seidon / In control of your water, you're lovin' my trident.” While Trippie tries to proclaim his loyalty, his partner still has some doubts referring to him as Ho-seidon. It’s a clever tongue-in-cheek pun, sexualizing the Greek god of the sea and calling attention to Redd’s rockstar status. But at the end of the day, Trippie’s control of the waters, through his trident, leads his lover back to him every time. He never fails to deliver these lovesick ballads with his quintessential swagger.

“Excitement,” marks a sonic shift in Trippie’s discography as he enlists an entirely foreign production team in OZ, Nik D, and Deats, all hailing from Europe. Although the track takes the common theme of sexual gratification, its unconventional production (complemented with Trippie Redd and PND’s crooning) is able to take listeners to a different dimension, enabling them to sit back and fantasize. This lead-in to Trippie’s third studio album, Pegasus, is the manifestation of what we have all come to love from the blonde-dreaded star: contemporary R&B and rock mashup hits; and, this track is perfect for you and yours when y’all are feeling even slightly romantic.

As we wait for Pegasus, check out the trippy visualizer for “Excitement,” below:

Written by: Vignesh Mannemela

They’re Made For This

Drum roll please! Famed Hip-Hop magazine XXL has finally unveiled the rookie rappers who made their coveted 2019 Freshman List.

The worthy young spitters include: Blueface, Gunna, Megan Thee Stallion, DaBaby, Rico Nasty, Tierra Whack, Lil Mosey, Comethazine, Roddy Ricch *sings “Racks In the Middle” hook* (RIP Nipsey), YBN Cordae, and YK Osiris.

Even if these names don’t ring a bell, they surely deserve all the respect for aligning themselves to their desired destination.

Read the full 2019 XXL Freshman Class article HERE.

Don Toliver Has No Idea

Most of us are familiar with the popular idiom: “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,” but in the case of Travis Scott and Don Toliver, the tree we’re talking about is actually a Cactus. I’m not insinuating that Scott’s’ Cactus Jack signee is his “son” in any shape or form—they just share similar tones, and a superb knack for conjuring up mesmerizing hooks.

Last year, Toliver absolutely murdered his guest appearance on “Can’t Say” from his label mate’s mega-successful album Astroworld, which left us wanting more.  Fortunately, we were blessed with a new track from the rising spitter in the form of a guitar-laden lullaby entitled, “Best You Had,” earlier this month. Now, he’s back with another chune that’s even better (in my humble opinion), rightfully called “No Idea” because, apparently, we have absolutely no clue how good this kid really is!

The Wondagurl-produced single is a dark, yet bouncy bop which spotlights Don’s smoother-than-a-baby’s-bottom flow and surprising singing range.  Check out its Grant Singer-directed visual below:

Hey Julie!

The soberest duo in all of Hip Hop, KYLE and Lil Yachty, have finally unleashed the visual for their latest irritatingly catchy single, “Hey Julie!”

For those who are not aware, Lil Boat and the Super Duper lyricist initially combined their playful raps in 2016 to conjure up “iSpy,” which peaked at number four on the Billboard Top 100 chart. Yachty ain’t never lied when he stated that he and KYLE “stick together like piano keys,” in the aforementioned tune because their latest effort is another slapper, which yet again shits on their doubters. (more specifically, chicks who couldn’t see the vision back in the day.)

With the way they’re putting out hits, hopefully these two will eventually release a full album—Super Boat would be a wavy title. For now, check out the Lonewolf-directed clip for “Hey Julie!” below:

From France With Love

The second floor of the shop (if you don’t know which one by now, please unfollow me on all social media platforms) truly allowed me to be up close and personal with not only outstanding New York locals, but also a plethora of fascinating individuals from all over the globe. Marseille’s very own  Alexandre Meyrand is one of them.

Alexandre,35, was introduced to me about six years ago by our mutual friend Alex on an extremely slow day at work.  Usually when there isn’t much traction on BAPE’s main floor, my supporters, frequent shoppers, and many of today’s brightest stars would all scurry upstairs, find a comfy spot on the infamous ape head camo couch just to speak with me for hours on end without any major interruption. When they overstayed, though, I was forced to politely kick them out.

Meyrand and I, on the other hand, didn’t converse much when we initially met—but I easily sensed his genuine nature so we kept in touch via social media. Believe it or not, we never really had a proper conversation until now!

Check out the transcript of our very first full length dialogue where we spoke about his younger days in France, fashion, booming business, and hotspots in Marseille.

FRENDY:  What’s good, Alexandre?  Let’s get it poppin’!

ALEXANDRE:  Yo, bro! I am good.  It’s the end of the day here, but it was a great weekend in our sunny city.

FRENDY:  I know there’s a huge time difference between us.  I really appreciate you for staying up late to chop it up.

ALEXANDRE: It’s a pleasure to be featured here, my man.

FRENDY: I’m humbled, thank you. Before we get deep into our conversation, I must ask: is there a friendly competition between Paris and Marseille?

ALEXANDRE:  I don’t know if there is a friendly competition, maybe if you are talking about soccer *Laughs*. But I love Paris—it’s one of the best places in the world because of its architecture and history.  Marseille is also one of the best places I have ever lived.

FRENDY:  Oh yeah, that’s right.  The two cities do have a great soccer team. I’m not familiar with their players, but I know the superstars for each squad *Laughs*.  Marseille is known for its beautiful port and scenery, yet it is stated to be a victim of bad reputation...as far as violence.  Is that true?

ALEXANDRE:  Marseille is a big city so things happen, but violence is everywhere. I think that the media only show what they want to so that gives us a bad reputation.  And that’s wrong. Things happen in every big city and violence can be anywhere. What’s totally true is that Marseille is one of the best destinations in the world.  [There are] so many cultures here. So many good vibes.

FRENDY:  How was it like growing up in the second largest city in France?

ALEXANDRE:  *Laughs* The funny thing is that I didn't grow up in Marseille.  I was born in St. Etienne (a city close to Lyon), and I moved to the South of France in 2005.  I spent my first years in Aix en Provence (25 minutes from Marseille), and I’ve been living in Marseille for the past five years.

FRENDY: What was the reason you moved from St. Etienne to the South of France?

ALEXANDRE:  I used to work in a cool shop called Uptown, but I had the opportunity to move to the South of France for the opening of a big store called Corezone in Aix en Provence.  My ex-girlfriend was also living there...so that was an easy decision for me.

FRENDY:  Women always make matters easier *Laughs*.  How old were you when you moved to work at Uptown?  What was your position there?

ALEXANDRE:  I was still young and fresh *Laughs*.  I was only 21-years-old when I moved.  I was just a seller at Uptown, and had the same position for the first years I spent at Corezone.  When I moved to Marseille I became Store Manager and Buyer also (they had four stores).

FRENDY:  You started in the retail game pretty early.  When did your love for fashion come about? Was it through music or your own self-expression?

ALEXANDRE:  I always loved fashion and I was inspired by so many things.  Music is very important for me (you are right), I’ve been listening to a bunch of cool bands since my childhood (I’d like to thank my father for this).  Art, tattoos are also things that feed my brain. I’ve always wanted to have my own style.

FRENDY:  Which bands captivated you growing up?

ALEXANDRE:  Maybe the bands I have seen perform live first.  My father took me to a Marillion show at Le Zenith in Paris when I was 8 years old—when you are a kid in that big crowd everything seems so crazy! It’s still one of my best memories. I have also seen The Cure. I love their music, but their aesthetic is even crazier! The charisma of Robert Smith and all the fans that dressed like him in black makeup.  You between fear and the energy that they give you!

FRENDY:  Your senses were on overload due to all of the vibrant energy.  Who are your favorite brands currently? Does Hip Hop influence your lifestyle as well?

ALEXANDRE:  I have been listening to a lot of Rock, but I listen to a lot of Hip Hop too. Yes, Hip Hop has a big influence!  Most of the sounds we play at my shop now is Hip Hop.  I have so many favorite Rock bands including: Marillion, Tears for Fears, Genesis, The Cure, Metallica.  I grew up listening to Blink 182 (Travis Barker was one of my biggest inspiration as a teenager), NFG, Underoath, Taking Back Sunday, GC. As far as Hip Hop : Wu tang Clan, Future, Shyheim, Mobb Deep, Kanye, Jay Z, Kid Cudi, Travis Scott , Drake.

FRENDY:  Man, I’m not going to lie, Blink 182 was one of my favorite bands growing up as well.  So you are pretty flexible when it comes to your sonic indulgences.

ALEXANDRE:  Yeah, I can’t only listen to Rock.  I need motivation so I need to listen to different genres. Depends on the mood I am in when I wake up, but I never listen the same thing in the morning and end of the day.

FRENDY:  How’s the streetwear scene in Marseille looking like?

ALEXANDRE:  The streetwear scene is pretty sick these days.  You see a lot of people with great style in Marseille now.  The scene has changed a lot, maybe because of Internet, but Marseille was always into streetwear.  We have big scenes here: skate, graffiti in the whole city. A lot of budding musicians too. Marseille = Street!

FRENDY:  You said the scene changed a lot before the internet. How was it like before?

ALEXANDRE:  Yes, because if you wanted to have your own style, it was only easy if you were able to travel and bring back cool stuff. Most of the people were dressing the same, but the business of fashion has changed and it’s easier to find more brands to dress like your “icons.”  People are more inspired in Marseille now with the internet because they have access to so many things.

FRENDY: What are your favorite brands currently?

ALEXANDRE:  My favorite brands actually are Converse (only the 70s collection), the chuck taylor is a classic sneaker and I love its silhouette.  Sacai is a very interesting brand, and I love the work that Dr. Woo did on the last collection. Needles, FDMTL and Kapital are also brands I love, they are part of the whole Japanese wave. I still love Stussy because it’s real streetwear, and of course I love Goudron *Laughs*. It’s becoming a brand now, not only a store.

FRENDY:  Hey, I’m a living person and I’m a brand *Laughs*.  Nothing is impossible!  Whose style do you admire in the entertainment industry?

ALEXANDRE: Axl Rose, Travis Barker, Pharrell Williams, Scott Campbell, and Nigo.

FRENDY: Is there a particular meaning behind the name of your store, Goudron?

ALEXANDRE:  Yes, there is a story behind the name.  My brother ILK wanted to give me that name as a gift when I told him my plans to open a store. He said to me he saved that name for years in case he decided to make a brand later or a special project.  So I thought a lot about it and I accepted “Goudron,” because I loved the name too—it’s short, easy to say in any language.

Goudron color is dark also, and black means a lot for us.  We decided to add ILK in the project too because he is a sick graphic designer and a typographer.

FRENDY:  It’s always great to have friends that actually care about our projects.  No better feeling in the world than genuine support. Does “Goudroun” mean anything specifically in French?

ALEXANDRE:  That’s true, brother.  We are three partners and three very good friends. Yes, Goudron is like the asphalt, it’s something you walk on everyday so this is a part of the street.  And we represent the streets too by selling these brands.

FRENDY:  Perfect name. What was the process of building your own streetwear shop?  Was it an extremely difficult one, or did you already have the moving parts to make it happen?

ALEXANDRE:  It was not really easy.  I stopped working at Corezone because they sold the stores. I had different projects and we talked a lot with Seb (my other partner and one of my best friends) about opening our own store. I had the support of brands and people who knew me [at my old jobs] so we decided to go ahead and find a good location to build a shop of our own.

What we wanted to show to the city of Marseille and also the aesthetic was very important for us, like our floor for example.  It was one of the hardest things to do but everybody knows now that it’s us.

FRENDY:  Where is Goudron located in Marseille?  And what made you choose that particular location?

ALEXANDRE:  Goudron is in the city center, not in a main street but close to everything.  The thing that we always wanted is to be located at a street corner, that’s why we are here.

FRENDY:  Y’all have the whole aesthetic down packed!  How long did it take to actually open up the shop?

ALEXANDRE: Let’s say around a year to prepare everything...to rebuild the inside of the store, to work on the name, to create the logo and to start to communicate.

FRENDY:  That’s not a bad turnaround time at all. Did you guys cry on its grand opening? *Laughs*

ALEXANDRE:  *Laughs*  Yes, we had a cool opening and people were lined up for the first day so that gave us big fuckin’ energy!  We also did an opening party months after and it was dope! Everything that happened gave us motivation to go harder.

FRENDY:  What brands do you sell at the shop? How did you formulate a relationship with them all?

ALEXANDRE:  We only sell brands we love and believe in.  We are actually working with Neighborhood, Futur, Stone Island Shadow Projects, Harmony Paris, Edwin Japan, Levis Vintage, Converse, Grenson Shoes, Stussy, Asics, New balance (UK and USA stuff), Vans Anaheim, Goudron. I have known most of these brands in the past and some are friends that created their own line.  I have good relationships with people because I think that I am true person and an honest guy so this helps people to trust me in the project.  It’s important to be right with everybody.

FRENDY:  Amen, that’s how I became the brand I am today.  Treating people right really goes long way. I’ve been back-stabbed numerous times and it made me lose hope on the human race *Laughs*.  But I learned that I played a huge part in my suffering as well—the victim mentality. Now, I’m stronger, smarter, and kinder than ever! One of the reasons why I wanted to have this conversation with you is because I knew you were a good dude since Alex introduced me to you.

ALEXANDRE:  Thanks for these words, bro. I remember the first time Alex introduced me to you at the store.  He is still one of the best person I met in my whole life.

FRENDY: Yes, such a great guy.  Very kind, humble and considerate.  How did you guys meet anyway?

ALEXANDRE:  I met Alex at a dinner during a trip to NYC in 2013.  Kristi, a close friend, introduce me to him and since that day I knew that we must be friends.  He’s a very interesting person. We have a lot of things in common, same love for music, passion for tattoos, same love for fashion, and great minds *Laughs*.

FRENDY:  Word, and same names *Laughs*.  Birds of a feather, flock together!  Alex is tattooed from head to toe, so are you..literally!  How many do you have?

ALEXANDRE:  I can’t tell you how many, but there’s a lot *Laughs*.  I started getting tattooed at 19-years-old and I haven’t stopped. I am almost full too.

FRENDY: Do you remember your very first one?

ALEXANDRE:  *Laughs* Yes, it’s at the top of my left arm.  I had some old school stuff, but I blacked out my arm three years ago and got some cool stuff from [tattooist] Scott Campbell (white ink on black ink).

FRENDY:  I skimmed through Scott’s Instagram and realized that he also tatted up Travis Scott’s head.  His price must be pretty hefty, but well worth it obviously. When did you first meet him? And what do you like about his tattooing style?

ALEXANDRE:  I got my first tattoo from Scott four years ago in NYC.  I always loved his work, dollar bills sculptures, he has his own style of tattooing too—Scott’s lines are perfect.  I love the atmosphere of his Tattoo studio as well (decorated with skulls, reapers, roses). His scripts are crazy and perfect!  I love all the details and aesthetic around his work.

We did a big session the first time when Scott did my whole back (it took about seven hours and thirty minutes), and since then I have been friends with him.  He is a very talented and humble person. There is a real connection formed when you get tattooed for hours.

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A post shared by scott campbell (@scottcampbell) on Aug 16, 2018 at 6:00pm PDT

FRENDY:  Are you planning on tattooing your face as well?

ALEXANDRE:  No, I will never do that.  I am not into face tattoos. Even if I have a lot of tattoos, this is another step in your life.

FRENDY:  Totally!  Like New York, Marseille is a melting pot of different cultures—no wonder why you like traveling here so much.  What are some of your other favorite cities to visit?

ALEXANDRE:  I love NYC so much, fam.  I got so many friends there!  I love London also, Los Angeles is so chill too.  Barcelona, Milan, Lisbon are also great cities…but there are still so many places I haven’t been.

FRENDY:  There are more street food trucks in Marseille than in Paris because, as one chef said: “the kitchen is very strict.”  What are some of your favorite spots to eat in Marseille?

ALEXANDRE:  We have a lot of good spots in Marseille and so many different kinds of food.  Here is a list of my favorites, Coffee spots: La fiancée (best cookies on earth), Deep coffee roaster, Le Café de La Banque (Paris in Marseille).  For a drink : Gaspard and Copperbay, Le Petit Bistrot, Le Café de L’abbaye. One of my fave restaurant is OTTO, an Italian restaurant. Always a good vibe there, fresh stuff and the boss Pierre Antoine is a good friend. He puts all his love in this place.  Other cool restaurants include: Sepia, La Cantinetta, La Marmarita, Fratelli, Pastis & Olives, Shabu.

FRENDY: Damn, whenever I visit please take me to all those spots!  Seems like life is less complicated in Marseille than Paris, all the way down to the simple yet delicious dishes. And people are said to be nicer in the South.  Why do you think that is the case?

ALEXANDRE:  I will bring you there, my man.  Life is less complicated in Marseille because its more relaxing maybe, it’s not the same way of life. I love Paris, but people are more stressed and always in a rush.  Plus, it’s harder to get a smile out of them too *Laughs*. But the city has so many beautiful places.

When you live in the South of France, it’s like you are on holidays most of the year.

FRENDY:  The Old Port is a major tourist attraction in Marseille.  Are there any hidden gems in the city someone like me can check out?

ALEXANDRE:  Yes, there are a lot of beautiful things to see here.  I will bring you to Le Vallon des Auffes, Notre Dame de La Garde, Les Goudes, and one of the best thing is “Les Calanques” (we might drop a t-shirt soon with them).

FRENDY:  Bet!  Man, you’re living such a wonderful life in Marseille. You’re well-traveled, have a successful business, great friends, and family.  What else are you looking to accomplish in life?

ALEXANDRE:  I just want to make Goudron bigger, have more projects with my partners, and also have kids in the near future.  I think I will be done after this *Laughs*.

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:

Potato Salad

A huge smile creeped across my face when I heard the beat used in A$AP Rocky and Tyler, The Creator's new freestyle, oddly titled "Potato Salad." 

Most of you reading this article might be too young to remember, but the riveting instrumental is also found on legendary R&B singer Monica's 2003 hit "Knock Knock."  Reworked by Missy Elliot and Kanye West, the beat dates all the way back to 1976 as it initially appeared on The Masqueraders' single, "It's A Terrible Thing To Waste Your Love."

It's always great when rappers flex their knowledge of music beyond Hip Hop (specifically classic R&B jams).  Furthermore, the juxtaposition of braggadocious lyrics over a soothing sample is the perfect recipe for an eargasmic tune! 

Serving as a teaser for their rumored collaborative WANG$AP album, the visual for the Rap duo's surprise chune appears in a new AWGE 3 DVD.  While we patiently wait for that project to surface, check out the flossy clip below:

Rocky and Skepta Praises The Lord

It's only right that I present this right after the epic interview with my VLONE-affiliated buddy Ryan Mulry.  I like to keep everything cohesive, you know?  In any case, ASAP Rocky has finally unveiled the much anticipated visual for his Testing album standout cut, "Praise The Lord (Da Shine)," featuring the grimiest of emcees himself, Skepta.

The trippy, split-screen and building bouncing visual finds the two rap comrades in their respective hoods, as they exchange fiery bars on the"Shutdown" spitter-produced banger (I'm talking about Skepta, if you didn't know).

Check it out below:

Russ Thinks You're A Sore Loser

Russ is back at it again with his self-empowering ways by releasing a fiery, finger-pointing new track called, "Sore Losers."

By the song's title alone, you can already infer that the multi-talented spitter (oh, you didn't know he produces, mixes, masters and writes all his records?) isn't backing down from any new age rapper who wants all the smoke!

"A lof of kids are poppin' xans and sippin' lean now/A lot of rappers using Instagram to teach how," the New Jersey bred rapper says in the mellow tune. "A lot of kids Od'ed that you don't read 'bout/Cause they don't follow rappers, they just follow fiends now/But I'm the bad guy for callin' it out/I come in clutch with the truth, y'all stalling' it out/I only get in trouble when I say the truth/Which means you gettin' fed lies every day, you fools."

The 5 minutes and 16 seconds track contains no chorus, yet is still intriguing due to Russ' hard-hitting bars on Hip Hop's current roster of gimmicky, drug-promoting players.  Similar to the single's chill vibes, its accompanying visual is pretty raw as it features Russ kicking it with a couple of day ones in a lavish living-room-turned-recording-studio.

Check out the Edgar Esteves-directed clip below:

Raps' "New Freezer"

The lil' broski Ishmael Raps has been quite busy since he moved to Brooklyn from his hometown of Rochester, New York.  Luckily, the budding spitter found some time in between his numerous hustles in the Big Apple to deliver a brand new visual of him absolutely murdering Rich The Kid's "New Freezer," beat.

Check out Raps' "Don't Freeze" (New Freezer Freestyle) below:

SMALL CITY KIDS UP NEXT ~ MIXED BY JOE RICO THE FLOOD ~~~~~~

Tyler Is Talking His Sh*t

Out of thin air, Tyler, The Creator unleashes a brand new single with its accompanying music video!

Titled "OKRA," the bass-heavy banger features the Golf Wang general spitting the most fiery, braggadocious bars.  I'm sure this is quite a surprise for Tyler fans who are accustomed to indulging in his often off the wall, meticulous storytelling tracks.  Not only is he showcasing his flashy side in raps, the budding mogul is actually starting to rock trendy threads besides his own.  I guess that's what naturally transpires when you're good buds with ASAP Rocky.

Check out the luminescent, Wolf Haley-directed clip for the song below:

Saweetie Is 'Anti' Everything

Nicki Minaj and Cardi B may have some legit competition on their voluptuous tails!  Bay area rapper Saweetie is rapidly capturing the hearts of females and guys alike all around the World Wide Web with her sweet looks and addictive lyrics.

Recently, the Internet sensation released the music video for her freestyle to fellow West coast rappers SOBE x RBE’s single, “Anti.”  Directed by Bana Bongolan and Soben Phy, the clip finds the Filipino and Black bombshell kicking it with her crew of bad b*tches at the Moonlight Rollerway in Glendale, California.

Check it out below:

For more information on the seductive spitter, check out her informative sit-down with the Ebro In the Morning crew:

Ken Jen

Two names that abruptly come to mind when discussing top-notch celebrity jewelers are Johnny Dang, also known as “TV Johnny,” and Koreatown’s very own Ben Baller. Not only do they share an affinity for providing high-grade gems in extremely rare forms, both bling connoisseurs are of Asian descent.  LA-based jewelry designer Ken Jen is meticulously molding and polishing his own diamonds to shine bright in the industry, just like his OGs from the Far East.

The 24-year-old entrepreneur’s come up is nothing short of spectacular. Born in Taiwan, Ken moved with his family to Shanghai at the age of seven.  After receiving a green card eight years later, Jen and his brother (sans parents) flew to the states---Austin, Texas to be exact.  “I was not a big fan of living in Texas,” Ken admits. “The culture is way different from China, but it wasn’t what I expected.  I was pretty young at the time so no complaints.  I was really there for school and to learn english.”

Although he disliked the new setting, Jen managed to graduate High School with honors. As a matter of fact, his studious ways helped him gain a full scholarship to the University of Texas. During his freshman year, Ken was presented with the opportunity to work in the retail/wholesale industry by an Instagram buddy, which prompted him to immediately drop out of school and move to the West Coast in 2013.

The city of Angels served as fertile ground that enabled Ken’s wildest dreams to bloom.  He became the COO of his comrade’s retail company in just two years. In 2015, Jen’s interest in the jewelry industry blossomed and Ben Baller himself eventually gave him a shot to work under his wings. Fast forward to now, the former apprentice is flying high all by himself as owner of his three months old custom jewelry company Fenom & Co.

I recently sat down with the young CEO to further discuss his rise in the jewelry industry, celebrity clients, favorite pieces and fashion industry past. Check out our conversation below:

FRENDY:   Where did you and your older brother crash when y’all moved to Austin?

KEN JEN:  We moved there in 2008 and stayed with my dad’s friends, who were our guardians at the time.

FRENDY:  What was so off putting about living in Texas?

KEN JEN:  I didn’t know what the fuck I was doing. I moved to Texas mainly to learn English. I wasn’t sure what I would be doing after.

FRENDY:  I came to the United States when I was seven years old from Haiti so I know all about the culture shock that you felt.  What HS did you attend in Austin?  Were you able to make a lot of new friends?

KEN JEN:  I went to Crockett High School in Austin. I didn’t make many friends my first year and a half because of the language barrier. Eventually, I made some.

FRENDY:  How long did you know the person from Instagram that blessed you with the opportunity of working in wholesale?

KEN JEN:  Instagram is great for our generation to link with people. We were friends for about 6 months before he offered me the job.

FRENDY:  There are tons of catfishes online, what made you trust in him so much?

KEN JEN: The Internet is a dope place --- it brings a lot of dope people together. You just have to trust it.  We just had similar interests in certain things like fashion, music etc, and he was in the business I wanted to be in.  It was a win-win situation for both of us to work together.

FRENDY:  Is it safe to say that you weren’t enjoying your stay at the University of Austin since you decided to dip from there at the drop of a dime?

KEN JEN: All day!  It was one of the biggest decisions of my life. It’s all about trusting the process...taking risks.  Everyone thought I was crazy when I dropped out *Laughs*. I didn’t have a major in college nor did I know what I wanted to do in life.  I got into college on full scholarship, but I kinda went for my parents, you know.

FRENDY:  Were your parents informed about the big move prior or after moving to LA?

KEN JEN: No.  I booked a one way ticket to Los Angeles, logged into the wifi on the plane, facetimed my mom and told her the news. Of course my traditional Asian parents weren’t happy with my decision, but they didn’t say much because I was already on the plane.

I knew I would make it in LA, if not, at least I tried. I mean, I was 20, I had nothing to lose *Laughs*.

FRENDY:  *Laughs* Talk about taking initiative. What was the first order of business when you moved to California?  And was it difficult for you to flow with LA’s pace?

KEN JEN: First order of business? Make money! It all came pretty easy for me because my mentors put me on.

FRENDY:  What were your initial job duties in LA?

KEN JEN: At the time, my friend and I were attending trade shows like Agenda, buying from other brands and then resale.

FRENDY:  Where did you guys do the resale?

KEN JEN: Online and physical shops in Asia.

FRENDY:  What sparked your interest in the jewelry Industry? And how exactly did you get acquainted with the legendary Ben Baller?

KEN JEN: I was always a fan of jewelry, but never thought I’d become a jeweler. When I was working with the guy from Instagram, we had a grand opening in China. We flew Ben out for the opening as a guest.

FRENDY:  What made you depart from the business partnership with your Instagram friend?

KEN JEN: Failed business because the resale industry wasn’t doing so well. Ultimately, I had to do what was best for me.

FRENDY:  You said you didn’t get involved with the designing aspect of jewelry while working with Ben, as you only focused on the marketing/sales aspects of things. I see you’re with celebs now, molding their teeth for grills etc.  Are you currently involved with customizing pieces?

KEN JEN:  Yes. Now I own my own company, where I'm hands on with all aspects of the business.

FRENDY: Who do you run Fenom & Co. with?

KEN JEN: I have two partners who are like family.

FRENDY:  How do you obtain clientele? Word of mouth?

KEN JEN: Absolutely!  Word of mouth is the best way to promote in the jewelry business. But at the end of the day, as long as I have good product and keep doing the right thing then we’re winning.

FRENDY:  Do you remember the first person you helped make a piece for?

KEN JEN: Yeah, it’s been about 2 years and I actually spoke to him just the other day.

FRENDY:  What’s the process of making a custom piece?

KEN JEN: To start we need a clear design, and then we will cut the wax of the design. After it is casted into gold. After the gold is done, we discuss diamonds. Last step is polishing/finishing.

FRENDY:  What’s your favorite jewelry design that you created?

KEN JEN:  It got to be the piece I did for Lebron James. It’s a 18kt solid “Diamond Dust” lion head pendant, featuring VVS Diamonds on the engraving. And it’s hand-made just for the king!

FRENDY:  In your opinion, what’s the biggest trend in the Hip Hop jewelry world right now?

KEN JEN: Custom jewelry is changing the game. Jesus pieces, cuban links, iced out Rolex, tennis chains and custom grills are always trending.  The biggest one in my opinion are custom grills.

FRENDY:  Most people reading this are aware of Nigo’s immense impact in the streetwear industry and jewelry culture. If he ever contacted you to provide him with a custom piece of your own creation, what would it be?

KEN JEN: *Laughs* I would probably make him an iced out Chinese To-Go box.

FRENDY:  Are your parents aware of your increasing success?

KEN JEN: Yes. I’ve been taking care of them since I was 21.