Last night watching BLACK STAR (@blackstarkeepshining ) perform felt less like a concert and more like a time machine.
I was flooded with memories of first seeing #TalibKweli rocking with Dead Prez at the Violet Cafe at NYU back in ‘95 … burning actual money on stage! Just raw energy, raw ideas, the feeling that culture was shifting in real time.
Then came Mos Def (@yasiinbey ) becoming the very first model in a STAPLE catalog in 1997. Then my years at Rawkus…designing their merch, album covers and working on the legendary “Respiration” single cover … Later on, designing Talib’s “Prisoner of Conscious” album & continuing to cross paths through decades of creativity and culture.
What hit me most last night was realizing how intertwined our journeys have been. Black Star’s DNA is woven deeply into my own creative DNA. Into @staplepigeon . Into the way I think about storytelling, community, rebellion, soul & New York City itself.
A lot changes in 30 years. Cities change. Industries change. People change. But some things remain sacred.
To still be here in 2026… standing in a room watching Yasiin and Kweli command a stage together again… felt like a blessing. A full-circle moment. Thank you for the soundtrack to so many chapters of my life. 🕊️ #BlackstarKeepShining
Our next segment of 27 Questions brings us to jeffstaple (@jeffstaple ) of STAPLE. In the world of fashion and footwear, jeffstaple is a household name who has lived the streetwear dream - starting with his first batch of hand-printed shirts to dropping one of the biggest collabs with Nike that shut down New York City.
From the late ‘90s to today, Jeff has lived through the explosion of skate, hip-hop, and the mass adoption of street fashion and self-made brands. Sharing his knowledge in Hong Kong (now with an official store open in Causeway Bay), he stopped by Carlyle & Co. during Art Week for a special talk at Café Carlyle. With over three decades of knowledge in doing what he does best, we knew there would be some interesting stories . Head to link in bio for the full 27 Questions.
Videography: Samson Jr C De Guzman (@samsonjrcdg )
Video editing: Glenn Hui (@glenncreates_ ) and Samson Jr C De Guzman (@samsonjrcdg )
Photography: John David Dela Peri (@dabeedos )
From being “the only one in the room” to THIS.
#GoldGala was a reminder of how far we have come.
Thank you to @goldhouseco & @bingchen . The energy is, was, and forever will be — GOLD 🕊️💛
(Much love to @fengchenwang@fengchenwang_feng for the immaculate tailoring 🙏🏽)
Some things you have to show up for.
IDL NYC Capsule - Limited stock will be available at Hammerstein Ballroom, May 2nd.
One stop. One chance to get yours.
🎫 idl.pro/tickets
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📸 @_danamgreen
🔹 Designed in partnership with @jeffstaple & @reedartdepartment
