We Roc with GETS!!!!

The creative director of Rocawear gave us a look back into the ingredients that builds brands... GETS drops knowledge and jewels of being built from the BX!

Hip hop started out in the Bronx,... how was it growing up in the Mecca of hip hop?

It was fun some days and painful on others. Edenwald projects was no walk in the park.

What are some of the chief influences of the BX mold and shape you into the man that you are today?

I would say my Pops, Grandmother, Michelob and Wane COD. I had a balance of fams, hip hop and graff. Without them, i dont know where ill be.

As a kid what was your favorite toy that you still wish you had?

Wow. There is a few. Snake Eyes from G.I. Joe, Voltron, Optimus Prime, Megatron.

What does your grandmother mean to you?

She means a lot. She basically taught me who not to be.

You were real big into graff. How did you get started and at what age?

I started at about 13 after I gave up my short DJ career (LOL). I met Michelob, who introduced me to the world of graff and I was hooked ever since.

How did Michelob expand your mind beyond the projects?

Mic was the first person to take me to 42nd st!! It was crazy. He used to bring me to the studio when he was working with Funk Master Flex on his first 2 albums. He expanded my mind. He introduced me the internet, AOL 2.0 to be exact. It changed my life. I was able to leave the projects and explore the world from a computer. At 14 that was incredible to me.

What crews were you down with?

COD Crew (Children Of Destruction)

How many heads did you have to bust open being the older brother of two sisters?

A few. Even though they stood with my mom, i always had to look out.

Your childhood seemed to be a bit rough for a kid growing up in NY. At what age did your mom leave you and how did you deal with that?

She left me at 2. She used to come over every 5 years to see me. I guess it was some sort of blessing in disguise.

Are you and your mother in contact at all right now?

No. Life is funny. I worked hard to do one thing and build, but she did less to work less and destroy...and she succeeded.

What are the good times that you remember about her?

We had some good times. I remember going to the amusement park with her once at like 8 years old. But every time she did something good she would up right and bounce.

What role did your father play in your life?

My pops over all was a good man. He never asked for handouts. He always worked for what he wanted, good or bad, and would always come through for me, even if it was small. As a father now, you learn to appreciate things. I miss homeboy! He always kept it real.

What were the good times that your remember about him?

He use to put me on his shoulders and carry me around the house. I also remember him having a 10 speed. He put this kid seat on it and used to take me everywhere when he had no money.

What color best represents your childhood and why?

I would say blue because a lot of it was sad.

When your father passed that is when you got your first computer. Was that the turning point for you?

It was. Sadly, it took him to die for me to be able to get the money to invest into one. I'm just glad that I used the money properly. Before that, i was doing all sorts of things to get by, mostly illegal. Having a pc and learning from it was a life changing event.

Where did you learn your way around the programs?

I taught myself the basics, but i had Michelob by my side, and he made me read the apple computer manual 3 to 4 times. After that, when people fronted on software I had to basically hack the shit on the web on AOL. There was a private room on AOL that was called Mac Files where people used to trade software all day. Later, when AOL found out what people were doing they changed it to zelifcam (MACFILEZ) backwards. There I got everything I needed to start.

I understand that you were literally working to eat when you got on....?

Haha...who told you that?? Learning is eating, and yes, My boy Wane used to give me meals just to intern at this company he made called Writers Bench. It was like my first job in fashion.

What were some of your first job experiences in the clothing industry and what did you do?

The Writers Bench was one where I did anything and everything from graphics to picking up tee's from vendors and over looking some production.
I landed a job at Mecca by my boy Dontay TC5, where I got deeper into the graphics game and met Emmett and Donwan.
Before that I did tee's for underground companies like Ziran Outdoors, DUB, Droors, DC, 555 Soul, Reebok and many more.

You were part of the Akademiks foundation upon its inception. How was life back then for you creatively?

It was fly. I mean besides the bull shit we changed the entire market over night. I believe that we instilled the foundation of what urban has become. By we I mean Scott Sasso, Dontay TC5, Emmett Harrell, Donwan Harrell and Kennith Rivera. Even if some of us got jerked I chalked it up as an experience and not a loss.

Where do you think that the industry is going right now and what >> will it mean for the youth culture?

Its hard to say but I do believe its going through a major change. Its almost as if its going through some sort of fashion rotation.
Thats why this business is tough. You have to stay a few steps ahead for people to catch on.

What color best represents where you are right now and why?

I would say black because sometimes I can give off a cold vibe but at the same time I feel confident in black because I look fly.

Do you have any kids? If so what are some of your main motivations with them?

I do. I would say I just want them to learn off my mistakes. Besides me wanting them to be independent, i want them to create and expand their minds. They can be anything they want to be, they just have to follow what they believe.

What are some ways now that you separate and recharge yourself from the fashion industry?

Wow. Doing graff with my homies Oas and Kerz is one way, but just chillin in the crib and having some driks with friends is another. Besides that, I have not been on a vacation in 2 years and a half. I will rest when I get my shot. (PLUG)

Do you ever go back to the BX for visits,.. how has it changed?

All the time. Its no big deal. I still consider it home. I still have family there.

Drop a jewel for all the people that are trying to break into the >> industry as a graphic designer?

Originality goes a long way. Do something different to separate yourself from cut and paste cookie cutter kids.

tell a friend to tell a friend so we can BUILD!!!