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No More Mannequin Fits with Mugzy McFly
153 Plays23 days ago
This week I am joined by Mugzy McFly, we talk about why he created McFly studio's. Growing up in the Bronx, how the color orange chose him! Working with Jae Tips and that first time we met each other. How he is inspired to solve the New York Problem. Getting to travel the world with his best friends and how he's always working. How this year's McFly fest changed the game and much much more!
Follow Mugzy: IG: https://www.instagram.com/mugzymcfly
Store IG: https://www.instagram.com/signedbymcfly/
Store: https://signedbymcfly.com/
Podcast Linktree: https://linktr.ee/myfirstkicks
Sign up for the Patreon: https://patreon.com/MyFirstKicks
Music by The DoppleGangaz: https://thedoppelgangaz.bandcamp.com/
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Transcript
Fashion and Individuality
00:00:00
Speaker
We won't ever be fashion forward until we break some rules. Like, it's so... Like, back in the day, like, me, Tips and us and crew and Noel, like, we all wearing the same thing as, like, bro, no change.
00:00:10
Speaker
Now it's like... Yo, I had to go and get the Jordans early. Not telling you where i'm getting from because I got to have it ah myself. And now it's like 30 people in the spot with ah awake fives.
00:00:22
Speaker
Yeah. Like, I don't feel special. that's what Is that why you wore your or is that that or you wore your shoes? Well, see, now I think we need to be intentional because I almost wore my my Air Max. I almost wore my 9.5. I'm like, you know what? It is black footwear for them. I'm black and I make footwear.
00:00:42
Speaker
Why not wear it to the forum? I mean, intentional. yeah And believe it or not, no one believes me. I don't like attention, but I can deal with it
00:00:55
Speaker
What's good, everyone?
Meet Muggsy McFly
00:00:56
Speaker
Welcome back to My First Kicks. This episode 239, and this week, bring to you, yo, you know what's bad, buddy? I remember the first time I met you, and we definitely gonna talk about that. Oh, I wanna hear this, because remember. I remember. Oh, man, what did I do? Welcome to the podcast, Muggsy McFly. I'm...
00:01:16
Speaker
Big Bronx uptown. Big Bronx uptown, man. Yo, yo, the first time I met you, bro, JTIS released the Omni Nines, and that's so that's the zoo that was outside.
00:01:27
Speaker
Which store was that? That was... That was BBC. maybe Was that nice? Yo, you were, cause you know it was funny? The reason why I was just like, that was the first time like we actually had conversations. Before we were like, yo, what's good, what's good? of a was But like that that was the first time I was like, oh yeah. we I can see like we rock with each other. But like at the end, at the end, at the end, I was like, yo, you did your thing. And then, cause you were basically controlling the line. Yeah, I mean.
00:01:57
Speaker
Yeah. And then you turned to me and go, I don't know if I did my thing. And then just walked away and that's it, you left. And I was like, yo. Wow. i Yeah, that was a day. That was a historic day. But it was a day. well i don't I remember, but I didn't remember it until you just said
Sneaker Culture and Community
00:02:14
Speaker
it. That's crazy. but It's funny because like i was when I was biking here to the studio, i immediately, I thought about that. I was just like...
00:02:20
Speaker
ah Somebody probably saw me like laughing Like there was this guy's crazy Cause I just remember the you were like You look so defeated after the end of that release It's so funny because like I'm Most people I know that know me personally I'm really high energy yeah I'm super and that was one of the times You probably Even when I don't have the energy I keep it to myself You probably one of few people that actually got to see like Alright yo that nigga's done and No, because like I got there when I got there in the beginning, like I saw how crazy the line was.
00:02:51
Speaker
And I was like, yo, this is insane. Bananas. And then i come in and I'm talking to Jason and Noel. And like this is before we all got cool. Yeah. and But like I've been friends with Jason. I'm thinking like, yo, Jason, get me in, get me in, please. I'm trying to just get my pair.
00:03:06
Speaker
And he's like, look, I don't got wristbands. I don't got nothing. And I was just like, it's fine. I'll figure it out. Right. And like, i this was after i already had tips on the podcast. yeah So I'm thinking like, oh, I'm good. It's easy. Yeah. Nah. Shit in me.
00:03:20
Speaker
So I'm standing there and I just see you. You come out and you looking and everybody's just yelling at you. They're like, yo, when are going let me in? are you going to let me in? And I'm just like, damn, Muggsy's.
00:03:32
Speaker
I was like, well, this is before knew it. I was like, damn, this dude's stressed. No, because like to be on that other side, like we we get to the point where they don't have much of those lineups. yeah But being there, that was like community. That's like real energy. That's people. And then there's people you know.
00:03:48
Speaker
And there's people you're going to live with. like I make clothes beside outside of tips, helping tips with his stuff. he's like I'm going to into these people over and over and over and over again. It's like, I know how you feel. I know how important this is. Like you came out of your bed, you didn't go online or you know you're here. So I feel you, like I really can, I've been on some lines. You have. And missed and been devastated. So I don't wanna, I don't wanna do that
Muggsy's Fashion Journey
00:04:14
Speaker
them. No, yeah. But for for people who are not familiar with you, how about you introduce yourself?
00:04:17
Speaker
Well, I am Muggsy McFly. i and I like to say I'm a designer and part-time superhero, for it to be short. But no, I've been in clothing for a very, very, very long time.
00:04:30
Speaker
um I had the brand for 12 years. Wow. But even further than that, like I've modeled mike my friend's brand. I've done i've designed things for ah very long time. i Come from events, actually. That's the funniest thing. yeah That's probably where a lot of the energy comes from because I was a party promoter first. Then, i don't know, something just pushed me into clothing and here I am.
00:04:51
Speaker
Oh, yeah. You've done, like, you've done, I mean, you've got some great jackets. like Thank you. Thank you. That's one of my favorite things. I dig your gear. I dig your gear because you're, you know, ah i remember I found, it was like,
00:05:05
Speaker
I saw one of your promo ads that you were pushing and it was like there's like this drone shot to the to the McFly Studios. Yes. Oh, yeah. That's a good one. That's like that's another jacket one. I know exactly what you're good one.
00:05:17
Speaker
So, like, I don't know about anybody else, but, like, I come from Belly Hype Williams and those extravagant Missy Elliott videos and stuff. So when I make clothes, I automatically think of, like, the commercial, the whole story. I think of...
00:05:33
Speaker
Design To how I'm gonna sell it To who's gonna wear it Who I wanna see in it Everything So I've kinda slowed down a little bit Because the finances Do that kinda stuff is heavy But I'm I'm going right back That's what I wanna do I wanna have a campaign For everything And Like to sell it Like Virgil kinda said it Like you know You have a can Next to a garbage It's garbage But you put the can in in the museum on a pedestal, yeah it's art.
00:05:56
Speaker
yeah and And that's how the packaging matters, just as much as the product. Yeah. And I mean, I think that like, I want to know what's good with all this orange. what You know, it's funny. I wore this by accident. Shout out to Virgil. I didn't say Virgil. I forgot. That was not on purpose, y'all. But um the funny thing about it is that I didn't choose orange. Orange chose me.
The Story Behind the Color Orange
00:06:20
Speaker
Nah. It sounds like fuckery, but it's true. So like when I was younger, um you know, from but like there's ah I don't know if every kid like has this, but like being younger and being like before the internet, I had this. i There's a time where you go from I just want the Power Rangers shoes to I want the Jordans. There's a time.
00:06:43
Speaker
And shout out to the parents because that's when it gets tough. And I was right in that phase and I was in eighth grade. No, i was eight years old. I was in third grade. And the Air Max TN's orange with the wave came out.
00:06:56
Speaker
And I was obsessed. yeah The blue and orange came out just around the same time. and Is this the same story about the when I asked you the question?
00:07:06
Speaker
You know what? it It might be. So I might... So let me hit you with the question. Let hit you with the question. All right. So we just jump into it. So what's your first kicks? What's that first pair of sneakers you absolutely needed to have? It's these.
00:07:20
Speaker
Well, you know, I can tell this story with a couple of sneakers, but I'm a... You know what? No. I'm actually, I'm going to give you another sneaker for that one. okay I'm going to keep the orange for this one. Because I have a couple that were on that level, but there's one that I don't think anyone else ever felt that way about that sneaker like I did. So I'm going back. The orange yeah from the TNs.
00:07:41
Speaker
and i was through I was in third grade. That's about eight years old. eight years old um My cousin got the blue ones and I got the orange ones. And when you were like coming up, I didn't have it. My family didn't have it. My mom, single mom.
00:07:51
Speaker
So it was more so you get stuff that you can match with. So red, blue, the black, the orange now. I remember having one, i had two shirts that matched a big orange Paco shirt. Never forget it. Shout out Paco. Shout out Paco. Shout out shot pa Paco. You know clothes if you know Paco. Paco jeans.
00:08:11
Speaker
uhu Shit. And then I had a white and orange Nike TN shirt. Back in those days, we didn't really like to wear like Nike clothing. Right, Nike or Nike. That's just whatever you, that's you just get that's the default.
00:08:24
Speaker
And I love those sneakers so much because I went first of school. It's just the color of people complimenting me. And the thing about being a kid is that because I couldn't match as much, they stayed cleaner yeah longer.
00:08:36
Speaker
yeah So they were like the go-to shoe because they were clean. Everything else was dirty. These were clean. And I think... From then on I kind of had like a Thing with orange and I remember Growing like being in New York I couldn't Love blue or Or red like that because of gang affiliations So I had to find my path And I was like I started looking for colors whatever And and I remember The tans were coming back out And I was like yo And ah I don't know, it just stuck. And I just went full fledged orange. My Jeep is all orange. yeah yeah m g viz all My signs are orange. My logo is orange. My couch at the studio.
00:09:14
Speaker
And then it kind of like, then you start seeing the meaning. Like I used to light Nickelodeon. They can light the big orange couch. yeah you know, Kel, who loves orange soda? That was my favorite show. But I, I don't love orange soda. I love orange. And then like you start- Nah, we was at BFF. He was down in Sunkist. All right, all right. That's all they had. Like, orange Gatorade. Orange Gatorade, Mad Fago. You was paying attention. You watched too much.
00:09:40
Speaker
But like, so it got to a point where like, I thought about it and then I started thinking like, like mentally, like, okay, Jay-Z got blue, well, Nipsey got blue now. And then like, you know, Barbie got pink, like the UPS workers got brown, like the colors speak loud. And right and green is money. So I'm like, what color can I adapt?
00:09:58
Speaker
That just went back to what I knew. I knew orange already. I was like, ooh.
Sneaker Obsession and Impact
00:10:02
Speaker
Like right before V-Lone got popping, I went to orange and i was like, whatever. Now they packed up, so I'm good. Sorry.
00:10:10
Speaker
Harlem, the Bronx, I fuck with you, I'm sorry, but... you He got new brand now. He got brand. It's not Orange. So I like them sneakers too. So if you want to send it. Hey, they still rocking V-Lone. I saw V-Lone yesterday. At the time it was very heavy. no My friends used to cut my ass like, you nigga stole your color. like they But Orange is just, and then like Orange ties into New York. yeah Orange the New York teams. And then Orange even is is the creative chakra, is the middle chakra. Like everything is started.
00:10:39
Speaker
Aligning. Aligning. I'm born in October. You know, Halloween, orange and black. It just worked. And I was like, damn, I've got to stay. So just got to a point in the new orange iPhone drop. Everybody sends it to me.
00:10:50
Speaker
You need this. and You definitely need it. I'm like, damn, I just got got a 16. I don't need that. I got an orange case. don't know if I need another one. So that was the orange story. Even I need the art the orange. Everybody needs a little orange. Yeah.
00:11:05
Speaker
like that That was actually like my mindset. I was like, when I was doing the orange, I was like, I want to paint the town orange. I want, like, immediately when people see orange, they think about me and it worked. yeah I'm just like, wow. And I never like said it vocally. I never said it out loud. I just like, it was very intentional and it worked.
00:11:22
Speaker
i think that But I think that's where it aligns better, right? If you're not just like, I'm just going to be orange. Everything's orange. I was just orange and people just fucked with it. And then, you know, for the most part, like, it just happens and it works. It's comfortable. It's my go-to. It's my default.
00:11:38
Speaker
I sprinkled a little orange in the outfit. Not even on purpose. just I seen the black cast orange. I was like, well, you know who's going to so yeah But, yeah, I like that. And then now, if you want to go to the first. Oh, yeah, yeah. What's your first kick? What's that first person you need have? The shoe that I really obsessed over. Yeah.
00:11:55
Speaker
You wouldn't believe it. The Randy Moss Super Freaks. Oh, I'm going to have to look those. I don't remember those. You won't even know. So back in those days, it was, you either did OG Jordans. Yeah. And then there's Team Jordans. Yeah. When i've I was, I'm old enough. Don't guess my age.
00:12:13
Speaker
I'm old enough to remember when Team Jordan was basically just Eddie Jones. That's all people knew Team Jordan as. Then it started going to other people. Randy Moss one of the first people to go Team Jordan. And he dropped these white and black shoes called the Super Freaks. And then he dropped another version i was black.
00:12:28
Speaker
And he that was the first time I liked the football. He was my first first favorite football player. And I was just obsessed. It had this nice zipper. Like, looking at it now, it's not like the prettiest shoe, but it was just something that was so different. i was the first time I went.
00:12:41
Speaker
I feel like i i like that sneaker means a lot to me because the first time I went on like a fashionable left. yeah It was not dictated by nobody else. That and like the 15s. But I went there and I remember like crying because I wanted those for Christmas. Crying tears like a little bitch. Crying. I'm asking my mom. My mom is Jamaican. She don't know shit about shit i need I need to hear the accent. What's she telling you, man?
00:13:05
Speaker
Why you want them boot? Can get them? All right, mom, sorry. But like, yo, look at what? I'm crying. You want to take your... Yeah. So I begged her to ask my aunt.
00:13:16
Speaker
My aunt worked in the city. And and she figured it out. And I got them. And I was... but I was over the moon. I don't know if i buy them again now. Maybe just for nostalgia purpose. but You got to have one in the studio. I like to tell those stories now. was like, yeah, that was like one of those things that a lot of people would never even think about. But that meant a lot to me.
00:13:37
Speaker
No, yeah. that I got to look at that. You got to look it I don't remember that. funny ever it's and Another thing I hate about now because of the internet and everything else is that the stories that are being told are like glossed over because I know the energy it was yeah for that time.
00:13:51
Speaker
yeah I know how important it was. i Like even now when I look at Air Jordan 1s, I'm like, there was a time where no one is buying this shit. yeah So like to see it now, I'm just like, how how were they able to flip the script?
00:14:04
Speaker
And it's it's kind of amazing. Not like the 11s, the 11s was automatic. Yeah, automatic. Every Christmas, you was like, yo, I need I need 11s. An automatic. yeah And it's like, even to see myself get like turned by, you know, the crowd and popularity, like the threes, I never liked the black ones, but now I like the black threes, cement threes are my favorite.
00:14:23
Speaker
But I had the white cement like six times. And I think that's a true tell you what your favorite sneakers. Cause I had that like three, four times. I had Royal foams three, four times. And the same thing for the black and red and others. I had those three, four times. So i know those are my face I'm like maybe the total opposite of that.
00:14:40
Speaker
Whoa. What I mean? Because, like, i've met I don't think I've ever bought a sneaker over again. Like a retro for retro. See, but, like, now, I don't think it... Maybe, like, i mean, but I bought the Bread 4s, but, like, because my Bread 4s broke in half. I think it's because, like, we're older now, and the accessibility is up. This is, like, but a lot of these things happened before, like, maybe right when only flight club existed. The first one when that sold used ones by NYU. But before that, it was, like...
00:15:09
Speaker
I'm trying to get shoes I'm getting lucky And going into the random stores In other states To go get the shoes again Yeah So now it's just like You just gotta go anywhere And go Google And get it And pay yeah a ban And the shit break in a week But you know How did How did sneaker culture find you?
00:15:24
Speaker
um I really, all right, you know what it is. The first, I always didn't give a fuck. Like Power Ranger, Converses, ProKids. I love ProKids. That was the first shoe I used to cry for.
00:15:35
Speaker
um Light Up, and LA Gears. I've never gotten them and I always wanted them. I'm going to make a Light sneaker just because I never had an LA Gear But then you get stopped at BFF next year. Yeah.
00:15:46
Speaker
I'm going to watch. Y'all going to be like, yo, that look is damn. Don't steal the idea. know y'all niggas. Jumping in just to thank you for listening to this week's episode with Muggsy. I hope you've been enjoying it.
00:16:00
Speaker
But if you really love to help out the podcast, please hit that like, maybe leave a comment on the episode. You can even comment, you know, just my first kicks. It will just help the podcast tremendously. And also do not forget to hit that subscribe button.
00:16:16
Speaker
It will go a long way. And if you're listening to this on any audio platforms, leave a review. I will start reading them. Any new ones, because the last one is from 2024. you drop a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, I will read it on the podcast at the end with the Patreon shoutouts. And speaking it of Patreon, if you want to help out the podcast even more and go the extra mile, sign up for Patreon at patreon.com slash myfirstkicks.
00:16:43
Speaker
I got two tiers, $3 tier, $5 tier. $5 tier has extra content, new episodes, Patreon-specific episodes, and it'll just go a really long way.
00:16:55
Speaker
But back to the episode. But like it ties into my futuristic like look on footwear. I think it'd be really dope. But the first shoe that made me realize that footwear matters so much were the Air Jordan 10s, the powder blue.
00:17:08
Speaker
Yeah. It wasn't like a big deal. I feel like the eights were passed, the nine was kind of quiet, and then like you weren't sure if Jordy was coming back, and those came out, and they were I got them for discount. It was my back-to-school shoes. thats That's how you know what it was.
00:17:22
Speaker
like It was back-to-school shoes, and I didn't like blue. I liked red before the gang affiliates started coming out. I liked blue, and I went to school, and everybody like, oh, yeah, you...
00:17:33
Speaker
They loved it. Like that's when the sneaker culture was like building in school. People spoke about clothes. Yeah. Before that, I didnt i wear N1. I didn't care. Oh yeah, for sure. Whatever you- But N1 did have a time. No, definitely did. Definitely had a time. Yo, somebody posted, it I forgot who it was. What account posted? But they post posted all the like the shirt designs.
00:17:51
Speaker
I missed them. That was a time. I know somebody working with anyone and I'm definitely of them. If they want help to bring that back, I am your man. I love that. I love that. But the powder blues, again, like the same story as the TNs.
Fashion Evolution and Originality
00:18:04
Speaker
I couldn't wear, like I didn't have anything to wear with them. I had two shirts and they were white. So it was like, your mom, you mess up me a good your good school shoes, you're get a beating. So was like, they were mostly white, left them alone. So when I pulled those out, it was, and it just made me realize, wait,
00:18:21
Speaker
At the time, these days, no one cared about your outfit. It was a shoe. It was like shoes for sure. And that just kind of bust my motto. Like, oh, I got to start looking. So I started watching, going to stores and, all right, you shopping? want to go where they sell sneakers. And I'm trying to get stuff like that. That's when they had the, I don't know when this happened, when mids was in, but when Air Force 1 mids with little strap and the metallic,
00:18:44
Speaker
um log Um, check. Those went platinum. matter Those is my joint. I love mids. Yo, the green with the red and the... ah oh i it I might try them now. It might be a little forceful, but those were kingpin. I mean, I talked about this pair on here before, but there was a... And I'm still trying to find them, but I know I'm never going to be able to find if you find they're going break. i mean, yes. Because this was definitely in the 90s when I got them. And it was like a pair of mids.
00:19:09
Speaker
It was like ah blue and gray. And I mean, yes... Oh, with the white and the... No white at all? No white accent? No white accent. it was literally like navy blue. It was mostly navy blue. Mostly navy blue. I know the opposite. Yeah, yeah, I've seen that. I've been trying to get those because I was like, that's the second. I know those. I know know the gray opposite of it.
00:19:29
Speaker
Those blue ones, I don't think I've ever seen those in person. Yeah, exactly. oh And it's like all leather. And it's like, yeah. I know what you're talking about. Yeah, man. Damn. i I want those shoes. I want them back so bad, man. Those and the gray ones are actually pretty... those Those mids could get away with it yeah You could rock with those. Yeah. yeah the But yeah, i was I was just like, I love mids. Until DJ Clark Kent said, if you wear mids, that's nasty work.
00:19:51
Speaker
Clark, man. Rest in peace, man. He was bugging a little bit right there. ah well I'm also a person where where we at now I feel like you should just go left. like oh yeah Everything is Clone Wars now. You might as well have your own you know say so pathway. but everything kid i like I like everything's Clone Wars now. That's fire. I like that you said everything's Clone Wars now. they know that That's actually that's why actually what i I stand by that. actually want to make a shirt where it's legit.
00:20:20
Speaker
we won't ever be fashion forward until we break some rules. Like it's so, like back in the day, like me tipsing us in the art and the crew and Noel, like we all wearing the same thing as like bro, no change.
00:20:31
Speaker
Now it's like, Yo, I had to go and get the Jordans early. Not telling you where i'm getting from because I got to have it on myself. And now it's like 30 people in the spot with awake fives.
00:20:43
Speaker
Yeah. Like, don't feel special. Is that why you wore your... is it that you wore your shoes? Well, Well, see, now I think we need to be intentional because I almost wore um my my Air Max. I almost wore my 9.5s.
00:20:58
Speaker
but I'm like, you know what? It is black footwear for them. I'm black and I make footwear. Why not wear it to the forum? I mean, intentional. Yeah. Believe it or not, no one believes me. I don't like attention, but I can deal with it.
00:21:13
Speaker
I've learned to like it now. So I'll go in it's like, I got the new flare pants. I got my hair with all this shiny shit. I got my clogs. And I'm like, can feel people looking at me. I see people whispering. It's like, huh?
00:21:24
Speaker
But then somebody comes, oh, you look amazing. Where you got that from? It's like, I made it. And like, yeah. But I don't think we have it no more where someone looks at your feet and like, They're like, oh, I know what those are.
00:21:35
Speaker
yeah even Even with what you have on I've never seen those yeah Because these are not out yet Shout out to Hoka like to little the The U Project Transport It's not an ad but it could be Exactly But no but like I think it has to be like The off the mannequin thing is disgraceful. Like, if I could just look at your... Like, I don't know where to find none of the stuff you have. Yeah.
00:22:01
Speaker
And i i like I like that. I like that. Like, it should be like, no, you weren't there. Make your shoes have a little age, a little exclusivity, because I've been had it, or you can't get it. No, yeah. Like, you come in with a full outfit, and I could just go get it right now?
00:22:17
Speaker
no No. And, like, with the internet, there's no more... And that's coming from somebody who sells clothes. I sell clothes. So, like, even to the point where, like... I have to balance between like, do I make a bunch of units to make a bunch of money or do I kind of keep it limited and do it spots? And that's where I kind of want to go now where it's like, okay, I have a couple of things in one retailer or at one time and pull a Supreme where like, yo, these make and you'll never get it again. I have enough ideas to keep going.
00:22:43
Speaker
Yeah. the I definitely want to, since we touched on BFF, I definitely wanted to talk about it a little bit because, you know. This is first time. It was my first time. i was, So amped after I left, bro. I don't know, because you've been you've been last year, yeah and like this year, it definitely feels like they've amped it up a lot more.
00:23:01
Speaker
So I want to know what you took away from it. I mean, every time I go there, hunger the hunger goes higher and higher and to do more. And I get like re-inspired to do more with my footwear, because footwear is...
00:23:17
Speaker
like is It's not top heavy in my brand, but it's what made me be a designer. I love footwear. And I have my cyber clogs, which are like my staple piece. And I'm like, I might go someplace and it's really hard for people to understand, but a place like that where people work for all these huge companies and they come to me and they're like, yo, what are those? Those are amazing. And it's like, yeah, you went to school for this. I just like clothes and I figured it out. Yeah. I have my own silhouette. i have a couple of my own silhouettes. That's crazy. And they're oh, I like your shirt. I made that. I like your pants. I made that.
00:23:51
Speaker
who are you And I love it And then're like Even like the Do you i I didn't ask you this When we were there you know do give out business cards? well like I It's funny The first day I left it The second day I brought it Yeah But I rather like Honestly like Business cards A thing of the past Some people would still take it But like You'd rather give me My Instagram You'll get a lot Yeah really For sure Like I treat my Instagram Like a business account Like you're gonna see My traveling, my fashion, my creative, my vision For the most part, my raw, real emotions I think it's enough you'll gather from me and ah Even though I think I'm better than my Instagram account I don't think everybody lives that way But I think you'll get enough yeah But like i was saying, the place It was amazing, it inspired me and then like Even like my friend Jameson speaking on the panel Former guest Jameson We were there last year and it's like he he came to me
00:24:40
Speaker
Like, yo, you gotta be on a panel next year. And he ended up being on one. I'm like, you're there. And it's like, I got a lot to say too. I mean, but I know how musical chairs it is. And like, you you you certain people have to know who you are. yeah and i'm not And I'm never against working to earn my keep.
00:24:57
Speaker
So it's like, cool. I mean, yeah, when i got when I was there, I was like, I want to get on a panel next to year you too. But I did have a conversation. There might be. hey No, there might be New York, New York, New York chapter.
00:25:10
Speaker
Okay. Oh wait, audio they they already have a New York chapter or they're building one? Yeah, have one. But it's not as big as that one. No, yeah. So like we were talking about it because like i want to I want to bring the presence of like media, like this is considered media. And I and i think it it was like something that was missing. Like we talked, they talked about culture.
00:25:26
Speaker
They talked about like the content a little bit out there. Talk about a lot about the footwear design. Yeah. Working in the industry. And I thought that like it was missing like media the media aspect of like how stuff, how stuff gets covered, how people talk about, you know.
Community Impact through Events
00:25:43
Speaker
carland That's ah that's ah that's ah that's a real that's a real good See this guy?
00:25:48
Speaker
Watch this guy. Yes, please watch and like and subscribe. Like and subscribe. You said, yeah, thought I would be in shape. That's exactly what we meant. But like, it was interesting, especially because when you see how much love that J-Tips get. Yes. You know? So like, even that, like, like, like, that's my best friend. That's my brother. So it's like, like seeing him go to first year, like, year you need to be there and then go next year.
00:26:12
Speaker
And then like seeing the love thereafter. And it's like, yo, like, our um Our camp, our area, we can get this. This is obtainable. It's right there. And that's like the highest of the high. and it also in a you know place where you don't get that conversation every every day. right I could go into that place and have 20 of those conversations and outside of that i might not get 20 of those in three years. yeah And real good conversation deep, insightful, energy inspiring conversation. It's tough.
00:26:38
Speaker
It's really really tough. So like I like that. Like i could be in a room with an April Walker a Nike exec or a Adidas exec, somebody from Converse, somebody that owns a bunch of retail stores. Yeah.
00:26:50
Speaker
It's really, really dope. like It's really, really dope to see. And I'm like, yeah, it inspires you. And then sometimes we're like isolated. We're in the box where it's like either you're in a room where you're better than at everyone or you're in a room where no one understands you. That's really how it is. So to be there where it's like, I could just be a fly on the wall. like I'm amazing, but these people are amazing too. They've been amazing longer than me. I like that. I'd rather be at the bottom than the top of the room because then I'm in the wrong room.
00:27:15
Speaker
True. You got to be, especially if if you're in a room where other people are more inspirational to you or whatever, like that does make you level up your game. You're like, right, next time I'm moving up in this room. Exactly. You know, that one thing I, I mean, I made that joke the first night. I made a joke the first night. You will, they all, everybody just cut me for this, but I was like, it felt good to not be the darkest person in the room.
00:27:39
Speaker
ah Look at this man. yeah Look at this y'all pretty i good Look, I'm not like i'm not like i'm not like light skinned, light skinned. You know? ah as fuck you i i'm only get alone cause but Yes, I understand that. But that says something, though. No, understand. That's funny. I understand what you're saying. was just...
00:28:00
Speaker
baffled to hear you say that. But trust me, I get it all the time. like I go into rooms and it's like, like I just had a a community board meeting right before this and I was the youngest and the darkest in the room. And it was like, yo, these guys been in business for 40, 50 years and I'm not even that old. yeah given ah And like for me, like for the future, it starts with the roots and like I need to be there. like For the New York...
00:28:22
Speaker
our Our New York gang, I needed to be at Black Footwear Forum. You're trying to bring it here. like It's needed. yeah like I see CultureCon coming in. It's like, yeah no one has ever reached me. Same. Nobody's reached me. I think that's horrible. like I feel like when it comes to the culture of New York City, I'm there. Yeah, you are. I'm on that list somewhere.
00:28:40
Speaker
I think that's... crazy and it kind of bothers me because who like with BFF yeah I feel like you can look and see who's the head of it and they connect yeah but with CultureCon I don't know who it is I'm not telling any shots but like you're you're not you're not reaching all you're not reaching as far as you should with New York I know it's a lot of politics but one thing I hate about in New York specifically is that everything that happens in New York has to do with outsiders yeah not necessarily New Yorkers that's why I hate New York Fashion Week because
00:29:10
Speaker
There's no brands from New York really a part of New York Fashion Week, which I'm going to change. ah So I'm going to make my own. And you got to build your own table. Fuck sitting at your table. build my own table. Like, all right, I'll have a show. I'll have a presentation. I'll have an event for the people in New York. Because why...
00:29:26
Speaker
People coming from Wyoming and coming here and it's not New York Fashion Week. It's a Fashion Week in New York. Yeah. ah I mean, look, I will say I did go to one show. Nah, go. went take I went to Keem Studios. No, I went to Keem Studios. That's different. I went to the one new york yeah i went to the one New York show. All right. You know, like that, that which was extremely crazy. He freaking shut down the whole block. That's fire. a Sweet Chick. Yes. He was like, but I see. Oh, yeah. I think you showed it to me. Yeah, yeah.
00:29:53
Speaker
love that. that's real. That's raw. That's New York outside. that I love that. That's real energy. But it's funny you said that too because you were saying that at the at the Black Full War Forum about like the the outsideness ah of like people that are coming here and being like, yeah, yeah, I'm part of this, I'm part of this. But when you were when we were there, it just felt like one thing that I i just wanted to really pinpoint is just like instead of like us feeling like outsiders in those cons and yeah all that stuff, it's like, no, no, no. We're here.
00:30:25
Speaker
we all We are here. Cause ComplexCon, right? That just feels like everybody just buying shit. It's not really like about- It's not community. I think that's one of the few things I go to that I feel community based.
00:30:38
Speaker
And as much as there is corporations involved, it doesn't feel corporation driven. Like Art Basel is getting to the part where point, even though i still like Art Basel, They kind of have a good mixture of like people doing their own events and stuff like that.
00:30:52
Speaker
But like it kind of moved a little bit further from the art, which, you know, it can fix it. All these things I'm talking about, I have plans to fix these. yeah So just watch. I promise you, just watch. But...
00:31:04
Speaker
I feel like once, it's kind of like, I compare everything to basketball music. It's kind of like your favorite artists, their first album is usually their hungriest album. But once they start having it you know, go for radio hits and all that stuff, the music gets whacked. Oh yeah. And I feel like about with all like a complex sneaker con, culture con and all this stuff. And it's like now culture con just came out of nowhere and it's just like, is it really culture? Are you just throwing that name?
00:31:33
Speaker
Because that's a strong name. Yeah. I don't know. And I hate it. hate it. I will say that family food fest was dope. Yeah. No, see, but that, I feel like it's a lot harder to fake that because it's food. Like, you got to engage. Someone just popping out nowhere and saying they make food today is just kind of tough. And, like, there's proof in the pudding. could be in a culture car and then just tell you something, and you can walk away believing it because speak well, but if I don't cook well or have a business, it ain't going to stay. Food is a little bit different. You could actually have...
00:32:08
Speaker
It's not just subjective. Like if a food is dirt, it's dirt. No, yeah. And it's, I mean, food is ah is a language itself, but sneakers are a language. Sneakers are a language as well. um And then like, we're talking about events, but you throw your own event.
00:32:21
Speaker
So, you know, we got to call, we got to talk about McFly Fest. Oh, yes. um What was, what, what was it like? What what gives you the inspiration to start, with like start that? And then this last year was this right? Okay. So what it is, is that,
00:32:36
Speaker
I feel like we all criticize, we all speak. There's a bunch of podcasters. I don't think lot of people are fucking with you. I'm just telling you that straight up. I have my own podcast and I love yours thousand times better than mine. I'm honest, I don't play that.
00:32:51
Speaker
i'm I'm straight and narrow. i love- You had my heart jump out my chest just now, just so you know. because i That was crazy. I thought you were going to like- No, it's the truth. I love who you have. i love the setup.
00:33:04
Speaker
I love the neighborhood. yeah like i I love it It's just right And every time you posted Anything i watch I watch clips I've never watched A full episode But watch multiple Multiple clips But I'm gonna Because I'm trying I'm learning to weed out What I feed myself mentally Yeah You'll be one of the people That I'll just go back And watch my favorite ones like I think Jeff Staple Used to have one like that yeah That was just audio I used to only listen to the audio And I wanna go I wanna start No offense, I don't need to listen to Joe and Jayden podcast. no
00:33:36
Speaker
And nothing against them because you make your money, but it's like, we know this is something that was formulated to make money, to get. It's like, no, like, no. Like Mason Kim, it was more raw, legit. yeah What you do is more raw, legit. What I was trying to do was more raw, legit. And there's is people that just do it because they hear, they want attention, they want to be in the, no.
00:33:57
Speaker
Uh-uh. But McFly Fest. So McFly Fest is my answer to the New York problem. I feel like we don't have New York outside no more. There's New York summer. I think New York summer is undefeated.
00:34:07
Speaker
Yeah. But we need to fix that. So McFly Fest is like a gumbo pot of like everything I'm interested in. Small businesses. I have over 50, 60 vendors in the neighborhood from Or even outside of even way in New York, I also think that there's a very scary gray area with musicians where, you know, if you're just starting out or you're an industry plant, no one of the, I grind hard and I get a stage because how are you going to become that?
00:34:37
Speaker
Because even some of the people that's there, they can't perform. How do you get there? yeah So I supply a stage, legit build a stage on football fields for artists. I had Zeddy Will and Cash Cobain. Cash Cobain came out.
00:34:48
Speaker
for free by accident. That was amazing. Shout Shout out to Cash because that price tag is high and I got for free. I don't know if it's going to ever happen again, but God bless your heart. Zeddy's an amazing performer. yeah Zeddy blowing up, man. It's funny because i i I made that call. Well, Tips helped me make that call. I made that call when he only had one song before the album came out. I'm like, I love his energy.
00:35:09
Speaker
um'm um I'm going to bet on it. and I don't know if I ever get that booking price again. but We got a good relationship We on stage you know But I feel like Like look at Like I hate Summer Jam Sorry yeah I hate I've been hated I hate Summer Jam Powerhouse Because it's like we Now we know it's a money grab It's not a moment where Cam Mace Fab Jay Z And all these people out They're not coming there to do anything yeah It's just a bunch of headliners But we get piece and piece It's not like we're get a Full fledged great performance by one person It's gonna be one person
00:35:42
Speaker
60 people from the entourage, loud, bad mic, bad disc, not a good performance, get off. I got my paycheck. yeah No, we need it. Music is ah is the most disrespected art form there is. yeah And I'm trying to fix that by building my own stage.
00:35:55
Speaker
Then on top of that, I add the kids. So I think like for the most part, grassroots, we start with the kids. There's nothing for kids anymore. The circus and the fair, there's barely...
00:36:07
Speaker
Barely any of that period So I have the blow up inflatables Sometimes clowns paint faces And this year I added the kids fashion show And I know there's so much kids that love that And it's like I didn't really know that you could be in fashion Until I was in my late 20s If we could get these kids started at 8 9 We could change the world And that creativity is going to start early It blessed my heart to hear someone Tell me like yo that night Was my kids first time walking into the show And at a concert And I'm like wow And then like to see the kids end up in shows After bookends with companies And like Actual fashion week stuff It makes my heart feel Amazing so it's like I'm solving problems the kids don't have nothing here The business don't have nothing here The music don't have nothing here and on top of that The Bronx I need my neighborhood to have this cause no offense fee in Brooklyn right now But
00:37:04
Speaker
Everything's in Barclays. Everything's in Barclays. And it's like, it was Barclays or Jersey. It's like, when is this stuff going my neighborhood? The only thing that's in the Bronx that I've been to was that, what was it? The hip hop.
00:37:16
Speaker
At the Yankee Stadium, right? nah No. Oh, no. Hip hop. Hip hop museum. No. I do gotta go there okay But it was like It was like all the OGs Rock bells No That's that would They moved that to to Forest Hills See We lost everything Where is it What is it It was like the OGs OGs I'm talking about And it was at like Lehman College or something like Okay yes I know you're talking about know the name of it I don't know the of it either It's like Crush Groove or some shit. But even that, it wasn't amplified in a way it needs to. And I feel like we have a problem where we take from a river and bring it somewhere else and then sell bottle of water. If all of this stuff comes from the Bronx, why doesn't the Bronx have a staple in it?
00:37:54
Speaker
ah Why doesn't music live in the Bronx to that extent? So I go by the local school and be yo, I want to throw a concert on your field. And ah every every time I've done something, every place I've done McFly Fest, ironic enough, started with an M.
00:38:08
Speaker
All the places started with an M, which is crazy. I noticed that this year and like, wait a minute. Yeah. Bankvilleville, Mount St. Michael, Memorial Field. I'm like, oh, wow. um I'm killing it right now. That's It's only Enfield. Only Enfield. Right? So, but like for someone to come to me like, yo, I could just walk here. Yeah.
00:38:26
Speaker
We need that. And I was like, I want to restore the feeling. So I i solve problems with events. So McFly Fest is just the thing where i think it has enough space for sponsors, and enough space to be two days, enough space for community.
00:38:37
Speaker
And not every event needs to be everybody included, but there has to be something where you could bring your mother, you could bring your grandmother, you could bring your kid, you could bring your spouse, you could be your girlfriend, boyfriend, sister, whatever.
00:38:49
Speaker
And that's the only thing I can think of that everyone can go to. No. I don't know of anything else in New York that I think you could go to it and just have a full day. that I mean, you what you're building is amazing. I think it's absolutely missed in you know the the community where it's like, you're just wishing that like oh somebody would would start or you started yourself, but you you actually.
00:39:12
Speaker
But that's the thing. like We noticed like during the summer, there's no barbecues, there's no nothing because we're the new adults and we're doing a horrible job. We're doing a fucking job. You're 100% right. And that's why like I started thinking about it. Like, okay, you notice the problem. Who's going to You can't just complain.
00:39:27
Speaker
Everybody complain. I'm going just do it. That's been my my vision in life. Like, okay, there's a problem. I'm to do it. And that's just where it's been. Like, I feel like, fuck it. I'll just go about. It's tough, though, because people don't understand. that like We live in a time of instant gratification where we just don't see the work. And then, oh, you do you do a festival.
00:39:47
Speaker
Yeah, by myself. No sponsors No nothing No backing No financial backing It's me Lose it And I will tell you i lose tens of thousands of dollars Every year From this festival That I don't get to touch But that's just to make sure That i make the right event Yeah but I mean it's more It's more fulfilling No, it is. It absolutely is. it' just It's just so much because if it goes great, it goes great and everybody can take their piece. But if it goes horrible, it's all on me. And I don't think a lot people understand that. There's always a higher up to blame. don't live that life. I don't have that courtesy. It's just me.
00:40:24
Speaker
It's
Creative Collaborations
00:40:25
Speaker
tough. yeah What is it like when you, i mean, because you're, yeah i feel like you have a, you're in a creative group. Yes. Everybody does something, know? Yes, yes. Outside of Robbie, he don't do anything. Rob, I did not agree to that. I did not. He told me to say that before we got on the episode. Oh, man. You got it. It's your own people. Rob, send my sneakers. Yeah. But you're in a creative group. But no, Robbie does do bad stuff. Of course.
00:40:53
Speaker
And like, how does that fuel you to keep being better? So I tell people, like, you think about, it's funny, I've seen something on Instagram I had to ask people like,
00:41:04
Speaker
How many friend groups do you have? Like you gotta think about it. Like I think we all kind of have a multiple amount of friend groups. Like I have my basketball friend group. Then I have like my local, we all live in the same area, kind of grew up together with friend group. And then I have my creative group.
00:41:19
Speaker
And it kind of all stems from like tips, cause we grew up together. And then like everybody else, we kind of all grew up together, but then we built and it got to a point where like we just the people from our creative groups that stay creative. yeah We went into this lane.
00:41:32
Speaker
So it I think every creative needs that. Like you need both actually. Or maybe even more than that. Because like the basketball group, like Noel ain't playing no basketball. He ain't playing no basketball. So I need that group to keep me on that level of grounding. Tips is like. Nah, Tips could play boy. It's been a long time. He swearing he could be. You can't.
00:41:54
Speaker
Design the sneakers, my boy. Design the sneakers, my boy. but yeah He never designed basketball sneakers. That's the reason. He'll get there. He'll go get there. We need Saucony to drop a basketball sneaker. Yeah, but that's the thing. It's like that group, the basketball thing is like an escape.
00:42:13
Speaker
Where it's like, okay, I put out my phone. I'm just being about basketball competitiveness. I can get release, raw, male, dominance, energy, get out. Then there's like my local friends where they might not understand the business, but...
00:42:27
Speaker
Just having a laugh, just yeah living regular life, hearing about the kids and the family being built, that's there. And then these, even though we do mixture like me, Noel, Tips and us, like we do have the mixture, but it mainly being about, i we got a trip, we got a pop-up where Tips could tell me something about a business that he only could probably say to me or sometime Noel's.
00:42:46
Speaker
Like we only, us would speak that, yo, we both at Blackwell Footwear Forum in the auditorium before things and we on our laptops because he got some graphics to do, i got graphics to do. We both working on decks. yeah And it's like we can understand We're not even talking I'm gonna go get some chips And we're just working with Both with book bags and it's like We can understand that but the other person Might not understand that And then like i mean, yeah, when we was there, like, Tibbs was like, yeah, i'm I'm making a flyer. I'm like, you're making a flyer right now? Like, you just was just on stage talking. But you see, but like, that's just the thing. Like, we know and we're obsessive with the stuff where like, if I had my laptop in front of me, i need this. So I get it.
00:43:26
Speaker
bring my laptop with me. no we It's funny, all three of us, that same day, we were all across. yeah Even Kat, we all four of us had our laptops out because we all working on different things. It's crazy like to really see it like, yo, like but you need that. like and I think that's kind of one of the bonds that grew with me and Tips is that we were those guys where it was on the left. It was on the left side and it just became, it kind of became popular later on, but it's like, that's what it was. like We were able to understand where we came from, the family dynamic, people not understanding not having a job, not being secure in a job, this being all it is, the making, the breaking, the falls, the losing people. we We've been through it all together, even losing each other.
00:44:06
Speaker
So you need that. You need someone that just understands without any words. Yeah. and like i Recently, this was like the year, a couple years that where I've actually been in like a creative friend group. I've been trying always been trying to find it and that's the It finds you.
00:44:21
Speaker
Yeah, that's true. yeah It does. I was telling somebody today because they was like they want to get into music and I was like, you got to go to concerts. You got to go to studio. You need to be surrounded by it. like The more and more you surround by it, it just happens. I'm going to invite you to fan show. I'm going invite you to this. And then you start getting closer and closer likemined and individuals to individuals until it gets to a point where it's I could tap into the source anytime. Yeah, exactly. Like, Tips and Dummies, like, the only people I speak to, I might see or be on the phone with every day. Yeah. Every day, because we always got some shit to understand, even when it's not closed, because we understand how a relationship could go with living this kind of life of traveling and designing and being up late and being in the and the warehouse or the studio this late, so.
00:45:01
Speaker
No, yeah. That, I mean, it's it's tough because, like, yeah, my boy who helps me with the podcast, D, he's on tour right now. Yeah. And so, like, he's been helping. Like, we're putting out shirts and stuff. It's it' been insane.
00:45:12
Speaker
Right? And so, like, that I didn't find that until later in my life. And I've always been searching because I went to school for, you know, graphic design. I didn't do that. Great. Nice. the I was never really believing in myself until recently. So that's that's that's where we are. You're one those. I get it.
00:45:30
Speaker
but I don't blame you. yeah the But it's just interesting. like You're around somebody. Well, you're around tips, which I'm i'm just like... you know If he was in my friend group, like we were talking every single day.
00:45:41
Speaker
That would put the crazy battery in my life. The thing that people don't understand is that you don't just... find that, we built that friendly. It's just, we were, and then we weren't as creative, we were friends way before we were just creative. We built that. like I met tips before he was rapping.
00:45:58
Speaker
It was just like, yo, you got s sneakers? you got Yo, that guy down the block got more sneakers than you. What? Fuck around, he had more sneakers than me. I was like, fuck it. You got those? Let me go to house see them right now. And that just became my man. From then, we just been there.
00:46:10
Speaker
And Noel got more sneakers than both of them Noel, they don't come, man. He didn't pay for shit. but not like See, we and for i mean when we was going crazy in Foot Lock, go pick up Noel too, and meet me in the back.
00:46:24
Speaker
My first pop-up was with Noel. My first collaboration was with Noel. hu I mean, I have a story with him like where like the we both started our brands the first year. yeah He was the last straw for me to start my brand.
00:46:35
Speaker
Because I was complaining to him about me having ideas. And he said, I'm to start a brand. I said, yo. No, Noelle. I said, yo, I can't be a part of your break. He said, no, nigga, make your own. And I'm like, wait.
00:46:48
Speaker
Yeah, okay. yeah And I did it. Thanks. and Thanks, Noelle. I always give credit for that. So it's like, and he's always been that stern and like just straightforward. And hey, like, you know, he didn't like say, oh, I'm believing You you could do anything. No, go do yo.
00:47:00
Speaker
yeah It's like, oh, tough love.
Authenticity and Growth
00:47:03
Speaker
But you're right. But is it tough love? It is. Well, yeah, it is. I wouldn't say that was tough love. No, you guys did the mannerisms. I know. Well, you know, all right. I heard it in Noel's words. I'm feeling all type of ways. And you tell me you have an option that I have. And you tell me, no, same way they did you, I'm going to do you. Go somewhere else.
00:47:22
Speaker
It's like, damn. Bro, shit. yeah i don I thought it we lit right here. We're friends. yeah But no, but there's ways. You're right. youre right it It's just been, it's interesting. And being a creative, you know, we are but believe it or not, we are sensitive.
00:47:35
Speaker
like Everything I make is my child. So when you don't like my child, Like i made this. It came from here. There was this one time, I'm going to tell you this, and this is this is my my thought, my train of thought with my everything that I do. Oh, God. Right?
00:47:50
Speaker
There was one time I was ah in high school and somebody who was telling me this story. It was like, yo, yeah, we was at such and such like a store and somebody barked at my mom. and i And I turned and I yelled at that person. was like, no, what the fuck is wrong with you, right?
00:48:03
Speaker
It's like, I'm the only one that can bark at my mom. Yeah. And then that's where I was like, i remember that story only because every time I make something, I'm like, I'm the only one that can call it trash. yeah It's tough. And you you have to live in a, I always tell anyone that wants again to get into the creative field, you must learn to be in a place where you can live with not everybody liking it because everyone cannot like what you do.
00:48:26
Speaker
yeah And most we live in a place where most people don't even know what they like, especially now Clone Wars era. era No one knows what they like, so you have to make them like it, honestly. And that's why nowadays I try to solve problems with designs or I think art.
00:48:40
Speaker
I think art story because you don't like the story, go read it another the book, it's cool. yeah If I'm trying to chase a trend, then I'm lost. cause yeah you You need them. I'm like, yeah, so I've learned that and I think that's what it would create a people is really hard like outputs a graphic in in my regular group chat and they just Don't understand or they don't say anything. and It's like damn hurt too yeah and I'm Yeah I mean don't don't get it fucked up tips in the world and too much different but But you'll you'll know. like They'll know that they fuck with you to the extent that they're little bit more tough love with stuff too. i mean ah so like I've been doing this podcast for five years. i've i've got I remember when I first started and I was hoping like, oh yeah, you know people were sharing sales if people were saying my stuff.
00:49:23
Speaker
But like i I always approached it with like, nah, I want to earn it. I want to earn it. That's actually what um one of my ah newest stylists and I was asking to help with like clothing. He's like, yo, I'm not going to Write them because you'll feel so much better that they fucked with you off of your own merit than anybody else.
00:49:42
Speaker
And I stand still on that. Like, yo, if I want something, i'm a if i its either if I don't get it, it's because I didn't work for it or it wasn't for me. One or the other. And that's it. I'm always going to the work. Yeah.
00:49:53
Speaker
You got to do the I definitely want to talk about this. What the hell happened outside of your studio?
Significance of Local Business
00:50:00
Speaker
what Which part? Whatever part you could talk about. Wait, wait, wait. Hold on, hold on. else are you talking about?
00:50:07
Speaker
I remember you it was like a cop. Oh, yeah. So I live in the Bronx. yeah Very nice community-based place. But no, things happen. um It was late night. There must have been like a ah shooting right there.
00:50:22
Speaker
I don't know how you guys, ah some people have that app that warns you about everything. I can never. I can't do My anxiety is too high. Yeah. like I'd just walking along and nah. sleeping and then...
00:50:33
Speaker
Shootout in front of you? No. And like, the funny thing about it is that that one, it said my studio's address. Yeah. So people were concerned. Like, even my friend's mother was like, your friend, your friend. And I'm like, no, I'm good. And i look back at the video and you see it, but it kind of happens off camera. And then like, the most amount of cops ever just pulled up to my my spot. Like, I'm like, yo, I don't.
00:50:55
Speaker
You can look at my camera, send them what I had. Like, yo, I don't have, like, you can't get nothing off of this. And it's like, it was just a lot. But being on White Plains Road in the Bronx is what you expect.
00:51:06
Speaker
It's right. Yo, we are so desensitized to mad stuff. Yeah, for real. We talked about that on here. It's just like, yeah, we... We see so much stuff that we just think it's regular. It's really, like I legit, like like today I came down and there was like a guy with all his belongings, one shoe, he had Air Jordan 3s, don't know, a homeless man with some fresh Air Jordan one foot off, and socks with no holes either, just passed out in front of like the door next door and I'm just like,
00:51:34
Speaker
and Just kept it pushing. Let me go to my car. He having a good nap. let me leave him alone. It's just regular. And like the whole world just keeps going. yeah Busy, busy, busy Avenue. And just like, oh yeah. All right, cool. Like, damn, like New York shit.
00:51:46
Speaker
don't know. This is crazy, bro. I was like, I remember you posted that. And I was like, damn, I don't know if it was Bronx 12. Was it Bronx 12 that posted that? Or was that like actual, actual news? I think it, I don't know if it was news, news, but I'm not gonna lie. just, I'm like, yo, can I still get inside my studio? I'm gonna work. I'm like, It don't matter what's going on. Like I really like legit, like sometime I'll be in the studio and somebody write me like, you good? And I'm like, no, they're like, there's shots went off. I was like, I'm sitting right here. I heard nothing.
00:52:13
Speaker
But I might be so off my shit that I'd block it out. Cause I'm right under the new train and I don't hear the train at all. Cause I just block it out. You just be tunnel vision. I'm like, I gotta get this order ready. Fuck all that. the what i definitely want to know like, what was the, how'd it feel like to actually be able to open your own studio?
00:52:32
Speaker
Well, well i've I've been in the places because I think you don't skip those steps. I came from being in a storage unit, then being like in the basement of a hair salon.
00:52:42
Speaker
Then I was actually in the in a mall. That was real interesting before COVID. And then they shut down and they told me they were shutting down. So I started looking for a new place. And I always, want to be um always, always wanted to be on White Plains Road. That's my block.
00:52:54
Speaker
I always wanted to be there. And I drove past. I found a space. And it meant the world to me because Like even, it's funny, even Tip's son, like he'll go to school up the block and he'll come and he he'll see the sign and tell me later. Like I drove past and I seen your sign. And it's like, I need that. Like I need you to see that these businesses, the mom and pop stuff before the gentrification and all that stuff that someone you know can own a business here. yeah It needs, it it means a lot. It does. So like I want to leave that stamp. Like I didn't get to have that a lot growing up. So I want make sure i enforce that.
00:53:27
Speaker
No, yeah, that's fire. Like, yeah, that that sense of ownership, like being able to own something in the city that you grew up in. Like legit being on this block where like, you know, you live there when you got look at the street signs. Like I just walk. I know the terms. I know where going. Like I don't got to read no street signs. It's home, like legit. Like um I love it. Like I really, really love it. And I think it's it grounds you. And i always tell people like, I want to be here because the day I have a collaboration with like Gucci or Louis Vuitton is like the Bronx gonna get it first yeah so y'all gonna have to line up up here with the rosters come up here yeah I can't wait try it yeah try you can't camp up here good luck so we gonna get it first you're gonna on the Citizen app yeah the Citizen app going off like yo nah I can't do it shut down the line oh man ah ah la like second to last question about like what does it feel like to travel the world with your best friend
00:54:23
Speaker
Oh my God, it's it's really dope because before that, I was always kind of into traveling and and it got to a point where this is kind of like the friendship thing works because it's like we are two
Global Travels and Collaboration
00:54:32
Speaker
of the same people. where Out of our friend group, we don't got jobs.
00:54:35
Speaker
So it's like, I'm a fashion designer. You're a fashion designer. You make clothes. So we understand. We live that kind of life. Whereas like, we are on that time and we'll be up late. Like that's time we travel, just go to Miami and just, all right, after the event, we stay in the door and we both were our laptop. We Uber, eat some food and we just working because we're used to that.
00:54:54
Speaker
And it's just like, someone understands, someone like, I see it with like stars. it like you want to bring your whole friend group. But when you're when your friend group are just your weed crushers and they don't do anything else, it's like, eh.
00:55:06
Speaker
But when you have a man that like, he could, like we in Paris Fashion Week, you meeting with somebody, he meeting with somebody. there That's dope. He could have a conversation. He could just, I could pay the, like it' like LeBron James and D-Way. Like I'll take the shot. Oh, you take the shot.
00:55:19
Speaker
Like we live that. Like we really can be a team unto that, you know, extent. And I love that. It's really dope to reach that far where like, yo, we coming from the plains. Then were going to London, then we going to Guatemala, then we going Detroit, then we were going to LA. It was really dope like to have that with someone.
00:55:36
Speaker
It's not like a business partner, it's your man's. And there's somebody in your field that was with you from the start of it to the end of it. think that that's rare you don't get that i couldn't trade that shit for the world no yeah um last question
Future Visions and Personal Branding
00:55:48
Speaker
it deals with a little visualization i want you to think back to when you were the you were a young man a jet yeah did ah about the game what was the name the randy moss the randy moss super freaks super freaks yes uh and now you're you behind your younger self what would you tell your younger self as he opens that box you you're not wrong you're not wrong that feeling you got of how bad you wanted these shoes you gotta reverse engineer that feeling and sell it to the world that's what i tell myself that's a great one no it's a truth though because i feel like that's what's missing and that's the problem with what's going on now with everything we're losing the soul yeah we're losing the recipes will you like like
00:56:31
Speaker
there's a Believe it or not, there's a big difference between cooking on the stovetop and cooking in the microwave. The food tastes different, I promise you. Because you just gulfed it down real quick, but when you really sit there with the food for a little bit, you'll know the difference. yeah And it's just got to a point where it's like, we do it with music, we do with art, we do it with fashion, where everybody's just the same, whatever you see.
00:56:52
Speaker
like i i remember one of my friends wanted to help print something. He's done a design. He sent me like the Instagram page, and there's somebody that just like has a bunch of AI designs that they just sell. And they plug in And play your yeah your brand name Or whatever name you want And anyone can have the design And they all look like baby hell star Godspeed Jesus Christ and i don't No offense but don't want none of that And yeah But I respect the business aspect of it. but I don't. All that shit is black.
00:57:22
Speaker
But that's the thing. I hate it. All right, yo. i know what's gonna I know what the rapper going to have on at the appearance. He going to have on some boot cut jeans, maybe some Tim Selicky from New York or some White Ops, a Godspeed shirt. The thing about the Godspeed and Hellstar stuff that don't understand is like there's no stable piece.
00:57:40
Speaker
I could make a fake Godspeed shirt today. I could make 20 of them. And you would not be able to know that it's not Godspeed. Because there's no staple design. There's no staple design. It's like polo. There's a black polo with a red horse. There's a black polo with a big pony.
00:57:54
Speaker
There's a pink polo. All right. But there's no Godspeed design that just stands out. And all this stuff is just Ed Hardy Jr.'s. I'm going to tell you all now. I write to say Christian Artiger more than ed Hardy.
00:58:08
Speaker
You know what? You're right. You're right. I'm going to say this right now. None of those brands were popping to the extent that y'all are dragging them now. I'm to y'all right now. Ed Hardy hat, cool, but shorty, you're having a full Ed Hardy outfit. I'm judging you.
00:58:23
Speaker
I'm judging you. You're wearing Godspeed on your birthday. I'm judging you. And I'm going stop being mean right here. It bothers my soul. i mean It bothers me We need to go back to telling stories, the art.
00:58:34
Speaker
And this is the responsibility to everybody that's watching this podcast that's a creative. You keep giving the platform to the ones that deserve it. yeah You guys keep making the stuff that matters. Even if it doesn't sell immediately, the sellout culture got to go. That's not a go that's not normal.
00:58:48
Speaker
It's not normal and we're bugging. We got to start oven cooking the Thanksgiving dinner together. Yes. that That turkey gotta be juicy.
00:58:59
Speaker
Juicy. Let everybody know where to find you, Muggsy. Muggsy McFly on everything. I'm really, really, really, my favorite social media is Instagram. I answer every DM.
00:59:11
Speaker
Make sure you have a picture on your profile and not too much letters. Too much numbers in your profile name, you're sus. Yeah. yeah All right, that's it. I answer everything. I even go in the hidden and check because I like to connect with people. And if you're creative and you need any help with anything, um I mean it.
00:59:27
Speaker
I'm really here for you. He's a man of the community. you know where to find me, who is awesome. Also to meet us, follow the podcast. My first kicks pod. And I'm a kicker to myself to give the patron shout outs make sure you hit up the patron.
00:59:39
Speaker
Thank you for listening to this week's episode with Muggsy.
Reflections on Muggsy's Contributions
00:59:43
Speaker
hope you enjoyed learning all about how he's solving the New York problem. McFly Fest, which I hope you'll be at next year if you're in New York.
00:59:51
Speaker
and Everything like working with J Tips, it was crazy. Such a ah great moment when me and him got to share at BFF. I've been running into Muggsy a lot the past like three or four years. And she's just been, you know, a wealth of knowledge and super fun to talk to. So I hope you got that in this episode.
01:00:09
Speaker
But you know what we do at the end of every episode. We got to do our Patreon shout outs. So shout out to Ross Adams. Shout out to Jesse Jesse G. Shout out to Adam Butler. Shout out to Derek.
01:00:21
Speaker
AKA Fresh Poetic. And also shout out to Adam Neustadter. You guys have been helping me every month at the $5 tiers and I am forever thankful because it really goes a long way.
01:00:33
Speaker
um I'm really trying to build out the Patreon a little bit more or a lot of it more once i have some more time. What I really learned about at BFF, which I will do an episode with, with my boy Quan,
01:00:48
Speaker
I learned that I need to stop separating the podcast and my job at certain
Insights from the Black Footwear Forum
01:00:54
Speaker
events. Like usually when I go to a sneaker event, I'm just talking about the podcast, looking for guests, trying to get new subscribers.
01:01:00
Speaker
And I do that. Maybe you are one of these people that I've walked up to and said, hey, you should check out my podcast. Like i have been so gung ho on just trying to focus on getting more people on, talking to people about the podcast that when I was at BFF, I was in that mode.
01:01:19
Speaker
and And if you're not familiar, we did talk about it during the up episode of Black Footwear Forum. Amazing, amazing, amazing event. And I implore you, if you want to work within the sneaker industry,
01:01:31
Speaker
Or if you want to learn more about the main players of, you know, within the sneaker industry or sneakers or street wear or anything black culture, you got to go there. It's really, really, really important that every one of us show up, shows up for this because it's a free event that you know A lot of these brands really come together and and show that you know we but there's these voices are there in these rooms that a lot of these people are saying are not there.
Diversity in the Sneaker Industry
01:02:03
Speaker
and And that might be the only voice in the room. And you know these are moments where you get to talk to these people that may be the only black person, may be the only person of color in a room full of white people.
01:02:15
Speaker
you know, and are battling to trying to get their voice heard. And so you get to hear about their trials and tribulations and, you know, working within the industry, especially from the inception of sneakers, like working at Nike when there was only like six or seven employees. Like it's super interesting and I learned a lot. But back to what I was saying, I've been separating my career and my podcast for As long as I started this because I was always under the connotation that i had to do that.
01:02:48
Speaker
and I left there being like, damn, I really kind of like held back from a career aspect of, you know, giving out information that got me to where I am as within advertising, which is also another part of within the sneaker
Career and Podcast Fusion
01:03:07
Speaker
atmosphere, right? Like this, the ecosystem in order to get, you know, sneakers into the hands of people that want us to wear them, you do need to advertise it. And, you know, we know about the iconic commercials. We know about,
01:03:19
Speaker
how uh Widen and Kennedy did these things but that's all marketing and so I've been my professional job which I got asked a couple times out there and I've got asked about that like at events as well as like what do I do so I am a project manager and well the term is creative asset manager but I am essentially a project manager for an advertising company and A lot of people there know how you know marketing works, but there is another side of
01:03:51
Speaker
like the database then, you know, less nuanced side, well, maybe more nuanced side of advertising where we've got to get the ads in front of people.
01:04:04
Speaker
And so I do that for an entertainment company. If you are ever curious about that, please hit me up. I will give you all the knowledge because is interesting,
01:04:14
Speaker
it is an interesting um dichotomy within advertising. Lots of old and younger people. People have been there for 15, 20 plus years and just never leave.
01:04:26
Speaker
Or, you know, new people that are coming in and trying to figure out who they are. So I've worked with a dichotomy and a wide range of different type of people. But back to Black Full Work Forum.
01:04:37
Speaker
As I was there the first day, I was very focused on, all right, got to get more of the podcasts out there. Got to get more of the podcasts out there. By the time the second day happened, I was very much like, damn, I should have spoken more about my career. I should have, you know, at the end of it. And I was finally getting like, people were coming up to me and I wasn't talking about the podcast. i was talking about my actual job. And that's where I felt like, damn, I did a disservice. So I will be next there next year because I do have to make up for, you know,
01:05:11
Speaker
having these conversations that are beyond just the podcast. I should be able to go up to anybody be like, hey, this is my career professionally and this is what I do as my passion, which is what you guys, what you all been listening to. And so um I did want to call out because this is not the only time I've recorded, this the second time i've record this but I I do understand that like throughout the way I was growing, like i was been taught to grow up is like, your job is your job. Your job has to look like the only thing you want to do.
01:05:41
Speaker
And your passions, you need to just kind of like tuck it to the side and not really talk about it.
Podcast Origins and Professional Life
01:05:47
Speaker
And when I started working for a specific company five years ago, you know, I started really doing this podcast. I mean, this podcast started five years ago.
01:05:58
Speaker
And it what was interesting was that I didn't keep it a secret until my boss found it. And so my boss found it and was telling everybody all about it.
01:06:11
Speaker
And this kind of broke that the this thing in me where it's like, oh, you got to make sure it's separate. You got to make sure it's separate. And so, you know, I've been trying to keep my lives separate of like, hey, you know, I do sneaker stuff and then, hey, i you know, this is my work stuff.
01:06:28
Speaker
But. What really would help propel me, and this is what I learned at BFF, is if I just put the two together and try to, like, you know, one help the other. And i do, if you are struggling with that, and this is why I'm putting this at the end of this episode, or, you know, with the Patreon shoutouts and stuff like that, if you are struggling with that and you've gotten to the end of this episode, know that you are able to do both.
01:06:53
Speaker
And...
Commitment to Growth
01:06:55
Speaker
you are able to have a career and also find your passions. Because one thing that I've noticed, and you know this can be said from a lot for a lot of my guests, like even Muggsy, a lot of people will quit the job in order to pursue their passion. and while that works for some people it doesn't work for everybody and i'm one of those people that i'm doing two things at once like i do want to excel at my current job to see as far as i can go and i do want to take this podcast as far as i can go so whichever outgrows the other you know then that's what's going to take right but
01:07:36
Speaker
We both, we all, everybody's listening to this. Whoever's been listening to this, appreciate you. We all know that like, I love doing this podcast. I'm gonna continue doing this podcast probably until, you know, I can't speak anymore. And so, especially cause like this year has been crazy. I'm up 239 episodes. And so as I gradually grow this out,
01:08:01
Speaker
You know, I'm still also really trying to be good at my job as well. So if you see something like a lack lack of post here and there, you know, I do need to take one day off of social media, which I always try to do every week.
Opportunities through Sneakers and Podcasting
01:08:15
Speaker
And i will continue to to be as consistent as possible. You'll always get an episode every week, unless I say otherwise. And you will always get extra content on the Patreon, patreon.com slash my first kicks, of course, sign up, please.
01:08:29
Speaker
It helps me. and Just want you to know that this is forever going to be my thing. For real though. Like, I can't, I can't, it's crazy. i Every time I think about it and when I sit down with Aaron and Andy, you'll hear a full um realization of how much I love doing this podcast on that episode because of the gathering and the stories I'll tell that.
01:08:57
Speaker
Or also, you can also hear a little bit of that next week's episode, but It's just, um I've never thought sneakers would ever put me in front of many listeners that I have now or bring me to Portland or bring me to Detroit or bring me to Las Vegas for ComplexCon.
01:09:14
Speaker
And so, You know, I'm just going to leave it at that. But if you want to check out more episodes of this podcast, which I implore you to do, please check out these two episodes here. Don't forget to hit that subscribe button, too.
01:09:30
Speaker
And, you know, we say you tweet where your kicks. Peace.