There’s just a look and attitude that comes with being a New York kid. I can’t describe it with words, but when you meet one, you just know. The New York experience and aesthetic are sought for and imitated by many, particularly the kids who come from the suburbs or money. They try to become the New York kids they see in videos and pictures. There is nothing wrong with an appreciation for this culture, but if you aren’t truly about the culture, there’s no way to pretend. The kids who really come from these subcultures and experiences see right past it.

What’s shitty is that the kids with money are the ones with the resources and connections to succeed, to become the “tastemakers”. It’s a cycle of privilege and nepotism that brings these kids to the spotlight and to the powerful publications. The kids that get left behind are the real city kids, doing the real work. On the rare occasion of a real city kid being spotlighted by publications, the city really has his or her back. All brands love to be a New York brand, but are they really using or supporting New York kids, or just their corny friends? I feel like an asshole for writing this, but witnessing the behind the scenes irks me. New York does not belong to anyone.  There are a million New York experiences happening at once, who's to say one experience is the end all be all?

Everyone wants to be a New York kid, but no one wants to deal with the New York bullshit. They claim New York when it is cool and convenient, but leave when it gets too tough, returning to their comfortable lives. You can't get one and leave the other; if you’re really for the culture, you have to be down for both. Very rarely does the narrative feel real. Fashion and streetwear love the word authentic, but no one in the industry knows what the fuck it means. Nonetheless, we must continue pushing and making shit for the sake of it. There are artists and brands that I still look up to and think are truly producing amazing work. I have faith that good work and talent will still shine through. This gives me hope in a sea of cornballs and shitty brands.

With that being said, thank you everyone that helped put my soul to life. Thank you to Casey for the images, Danel, Stella, and Via for repping the tribe, Justin for the video, and Chris for the amazing tags.

Summer has been weird. Eighteen is a weird age. You think you’re grown, when you’re still a child. Growing up in the city is an unique and strange experience. Drugs, booze, and sex are all in an arm’s reach, if you really want it. There are so many vices, it is so easy to get lost. 

The city can be a wonderful place, but it’s also fucking terrible at times. There’s this creative energy you’re not going to get anywhere else, but at the same time there’s something sinister and consuming. There’s always a feeling of competition and negativity. Everyone is on the come up and there are so many people that leech off of the city and others.  

In some aspects streetwear, skate, and rap culture has a negative underlying tone. They come from the streets. Excessive drinking and drug use are glorified in these cultures. Skating is literally pushing on a piece of wood, destroying public property, making loud ass noises, and hurting yourself. In a strange way there is something attractive about it, about not giving a fuck about if you get hurt or if you’re annoying pedestrians on the street. Most of these New York kids I talk to are depressed, especially the kids with clout. Non of that shit really means anything. Shit, all we do is try to flex on each other and try to get one over one another. Everyone is depressed or high out of their mind to hide it.

I wanted to drop some new tees for the summer. They were just some ideas I had in my head that happened to share an underlying theme of delinquency and the city.  

Graffiti is an overused concept in streetwear, but it’s so closely intertwined in everything. You can’t miss it if you grew up in a city. People really live and die for this shit. It’s territorial and it’s everything they have to show for. A quote I love from an artist is, “there will always be laws, but that doesn’t mean everyone will follow them”.  The city is kind of a lawless environment to us kids. At times, it feels like we forget there are actual laws till a buddy gets busted. It’s crazy how much shit goes down at the city parks. Washington Square Park has been THE SPOT for kids, skaters, druggies, and the crazy. (Tompkins too! but Quatersnacks already did a sick tee) It’s the first spot I’ve ever smoked at and many weird nights have ended in the fountain. It’s just a spot where the kids have always gravitate towards The look book was shot by me and Ian Vasquez and huge thank you to Chris and Miguel for repping the tribe.