This issue is dedicated to every person who’s trying to make a difference; to those who are working after hours, going out of their way to make things work, and dodging bullets and catching fire just to make IT happen. Our first Hustle issue, ladies and gents!
There’s no need for us to talk about how exactly we’ve hustled our way to this cover. But let’s just say this has been YEARS in the making. And who better to hold the flag of this issue but the great, if not, the godfather of all things cool—Nigo.
Nigo was kind enough to let us inside his home and be shot exclusively by our dear friend, Keiichi Nitta. He talks to our Associate Editor, TinDabs, about evolving from BAPE to Human Made. He also speaks about collabs, money, and the lifestyle he wants to live through his brands.
You might be wondering who and what that little egg is doing on our cover. That’s New York artist Craig “Darcel” Redman. His latest collaboration with Colette brought to life Coco Chanel, Rei Kawakubo, Yohji Yamamoto, Rihanna, Björk, and many more. He and GioDion had a nice convo about selling out and The Real Housewives of Atlanta.
And of course, hustle is not the same without the rap game. Meet French Montana. Maybe you’ve heard of him, maybe you haven’t. But songs like “Pop That” and his group MMG, together with Rick Ross, Meek Mill, and Wale, are very much everywhere. French talks to me about Versace silk, gold chains, getting signed, and the state of hip-hop today.
We also have rappers Macklemore and Aesop Rock, DJs Nix Damn P and Miss Badkiss, designers like Abdul Salam, Benny Gold, and Rembrandt Duran, photographer Cholo Dela Vega, and artist, Kai inside as well.
Our issue is filled with musicians around the world like Vavamuffin (Poland), Mzungu Kichaa (Tanzania), Chocquibtown (Colombia), Criolo (Brazil), and Ercandize (Germany). They may have different zip codes but the game remains the same.
Our local editorial this month features a young lady in her grind. With the help of makeup artist Maui Manalo, hair stylist Adam Seth Teh, photographer Miguel Miranda, Lady Zaza, and yours truly, we show you exactly how an Occupational Hazard can work to your advantage.
There’s a lot more inside the magazine, but you just need to cop one yourself. Our mission is always to bring you the best of the best, and with this issue, we feel like we’ve done just that. Salute to the hardworking folks out there! -DIZZYRIZZY
