There were very few women to break through the male dominated streetwear scene of the early aughts. Vashtie Kola remains among the most iconic of them all. The first woman to design her own Jordan back in 2010, Vashtie has gone on to start her own brand Violet and direct music videos for the likes of Kendrick Lamar, Joey Bada$$ and Drake.

She sits down with long time friend and BoH host Angelo Baque (Founder, Awake NY) to reflect on the years they shared together back on the scene. From shop kids to creative directors to label founders, the two trace through what steps it took to get to the top.

WATCH THE FULL EPISODE OF BUSINESS OF HYPE WITH VASHTIE KOLA HERE.

Executive Producer - Kyle Reyes Director - Jon Fusco Producers - Alejandra Zelaya, Jenny Fu Director of Photography - Julius Ignacio Gaffer - John Izarpate Grip - Rick Lim 1st AC - Brian Nguyen Set Design - Lucy Hislop Production Assistant - Tealoni Butler Editor - Jon Fusco Special Thanks Sarah Schecker Sophie Schieli

Gabriella Koppleman

This season of Business of HYPE is sponsored by Bulleit Frontier Whiskey.

BULLEIT BOURBON Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. 45% Alc/Vol. The Bulleit Distilling Co., Louisville, KY. Please Drink Responsibly. 

Designer and Founder Kim Shui’s collage-esque repertoire reflects her own manifold path to success.  A product of New York City, Rome and a child of Chinese immigrants - she has made a career in weaving these influences together to create clothes championed by Dua Lipa, SZA and many others on the scene.

BoH host Angelo Baque (Founder, Awake NY) sits down with Kim to discuss the different tactics she employed to facilitate her rise to fashion icon - finding the right kind of places and wearing the right kind of pieces that lead to conversations with the right kind of people.

PLUS 

Angelo sits down with Oke Jr. a hip hop artist out of Oakland, California and his mentor, Sickamore the label man who helped launch the careers of Travis Scott, YG, Don Toliver and many others. They reveal how a mentor can help you cut through the noise and keep you in check when even your greatest of doubts emerge.

WATCH THE FULL EPISODE OF BUSINESS OF HYPE WITH KIM SHUI ON YOUTUBE.

Executive Producer - Kyle Reyes Director - Jon Fusco Producers - Alejandra Zelaya, Jenny Fu Director of Photography - Julius Ignacio Gaffer - John Izarpate Grip - Rick Lim 1st AC - Brian Nguyen Set Design - Lucy Hislop Production Assistant - Tealoni Butler Editor - Jon Fusco Special Thanks Sarah Schecker Sophie Schieli

Gabriella Koppleman

This season of Business of HYPE is sponsored by Bulleit Frontier Whiskey.

BULLEIT BOURBON Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. 45% Alc/Vol. The Bulleit Distilling Co., Louisville, KY. Please Drink Responsibly.

Sage Elsesser has always been something special - more than a skater, more than a model, more than a musician. Sage thrives in the blur of his own artistry. Lately he’s found his lane as Navy Blue, and as you’ll find out in this episode his influences run as deep as his lyricism. Most recently, Elsesser's seventh studio album Ways of Knowing was released to critical acclaim under his own label, Freedom Sounds.

BoH host Angelo Baque (Founder, Awake NY) has been with Sage since the very beginning. Together they trace the roots of their relationship, as well as Sage’s own part in introducing Earl Sweatshirt to Tyler the Creator.

Watch the full episode of Business of HYPE with Sage Elsesser on YouTube.

Executive Producer - Kyle Reyes Director - Jon Fusco Producers - Alejandra Zelaya, Jenny Fu Director of Photography - Julius Ignacio Gaffer - John Izarpate Grip - Rick Lim 1st AC - Brian Nguyen Set Design - Lucy Hislop Production Assistant - Tealoni Butler Editor - Jon Fusco Special Thanks Sarah Schecker Sophie Schieli

Gabriella Koppleman

This season of Business of HYPE is sponsored by Bulleit Frontier Whiskey.

BULLEIT BOURBON Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. 45% Alc/Vol. The Bulleit Distilling Co., Louisville, KY. Please Drink Responsibly. 

What is MSCHF? Who are MSCHF? Performance artists? Streetwear mavens? A bunch of pranksters? The only way to truly find out is to go straight to the source. And even then it’s a little confusing. But like everything else the collective puts out - that seems to be done exactly by design.

On this episode, host Angelo Baque (Founder, Awake NY) sits down with Lukas Bentel and Kevin Wiesner - two members of the enigmatic group behind the Big Red Boot, Satan Shoes, and 88 Holes - to try and piece it all together.

PLUS 

Angelo speaks with Sira, a multi-disciplinary artist out of NYC and her mentor, Ebonie Ward - CEO of the management firm 11th and Co - about the importance of mentorship and how you can use the relationship to navigate to success.

WATCH THE FULL EPISODE OF BUSINESS OF HYPE WITH MSCHF ON YOUTUBE.

Executive Producer - Kyle Reyes Director - Jon Fusco Producers - Alejandra Zelaya, Jenny Fu Director of Photography - Julius Ignacio Gaffer - John Izarpate Grip - Rick Lim 1st AC - Brian Nguyen Set Design - Lucy Hislop Production Assistant - Tealoni Butler Editor - Jon Fusco Special Thanks Sarah Schecker Sophie Schieli

Gabriella Koppelman

This season of Business of HYPE is sponsored by Bulleit Frontier Whiskey.

BULLEIT BOURBON Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. 45% Alc/Vol. The Bulleit Distilling Co., Louisville, KY. Please Drink Responsibly.

There are many challenges associated with the come up, but what Tremaine Emory (Founder, Denim Tears) has been through over the past few years is an entirely different story. From a lower aortic aneurysm to a controversial and extremely public departure from his role as Creative Director of Supreme - his near death experience brought unique lessons that are still applicable to even those who are just starting out. 

On this episode, host Angelo Baque (Founder, Awake NY) and Tremaine discuss subduing the ego, trusting in your brand, and the moral responsibilities of being a storyteller.

Watch the full episode of Business of HYPE with Tremaine Emory on YouTube.

This season of Business of HYPE is sponsored by Bulleit Frontier Whiskey.

BULLEIT BOURBON Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. 45% Alc/Vol. The Bulleit Distilling Co., Louisville, KY. Please Drink Responsibly.

Executive Producer - Kyle Reyes Director - Jon Fusco Producers - Alejandra Zelaya, Jenny Fu Director of Photography - Julius Ignacio Gaffer - John Izarpate Grip - Rick Lim 1st AC - Brian Nguyen Set Design - Lucy Hislop Production Assistant - Tealoni Butler Editor - Jon Fusco Special Thanks Sarah Schecker Sophie Schieli

Business of HYPE is back for a special one-off episode with none other than comedian, producer, writer and political commentator, Hasan Minhaj. From being the senior correspondent on The Daily Show, to speaking at the White House Correspondent’s Dinner, to his own comedy special and weekly Netflix show called Patriot Act, to even being named TIME’s 100 most influential people in the world, Hasan Minhaj is a pioneer. 

Hasan worked alongside jeff's creative agency, Reed Art Department to create his first footwear collaboration with Cole Haan.  This partnership comes just in time before his next drop, releasing on December 3 and brings to life Hasan’s personal journey of breaking rules and writing new ones. Recorded in Hasan's hometown of Davis, the episode uncovers the early days of his career to his current days of working through COVID-19. As things continue to be unpredictable during this time, Hasan reminds that for him "it's about understanding and embracing the unknown."

Thank you so much for tuning into this special bonus episode brought to you by Cole Haan. 

For more info:

https://www.colehaan.com/collabs-hasanminhaj.html

https://www.instagram.com/hasanminhaj/

For our season 8 finale, we bring back our "Stay @ Home" series with French fashion designer and creative director of Balmain, Olivier Rousteing. In 2011, at the age of 25, he took over the luxury fashion house and for nearly a decade held this title. The brand has gone under what many would call a Renaissance, as the haute couture brand has smoothly moved into the digital age while still adhering to its iconic roots.

Nowadays there is no area in modern day fashion & pop culture that the brand hasn't touched. From it's numerous collabs with brands to working with A-list celebrities from Kim and Kanye to Beyonce & Jay-Z, Olivier Rousteing has pushed the agenda of the Balmain. 

In this episode, Olivier reflects on his decade at Balmain and the new perspectives he's gained during COVID-19.  He tells us why he is "less scared of tomorrow" and how he believes this time right now is a "revolution that will bring a better future."

Thank you so much for tuning into the Business of HYPE. As always, thank you for tuning into HYPEBEAST Radio and Business of HYPE. Please don't forget to rate, comment and subscribe to our other shows. This episode was recorded prior to COVID-19 with the interludes recorded during. We hope you guys stay safe, wash your hands, practice social distancing and find ways to still stay inspired during this time.

For more info:

https://www.instagram.com/balmain/

https://www.instagram.com/olivier_rousteing/?hl=en

https://www.balmain.com/us

While we're coming to a close on Business of HYPE S8, we'd like to bring attention to another show, Asian, Not Asian podcast by giving you a preview of their episode Comedians vs Asian Audience Members. Hosted by comedians Fumi Abe and Mic Nguyen, Asian, Not Asian is a weekly comedy podcast where "two asian guys NOT from Asia talk about American Issues that no American cares about." There is no topic that goes uncovered in this podcast from politics, model minority myths, sex, race, funny stories and more. They cover it all and in the most honest way possible.

Guests of the show feature people who are killing it in the industry from writers and stars on The Daily Show, SNL, Comedy Central (Ronny Chieng, Bowen Yang, Karen Chee & more) and famous authors like Min Jin Lee (Pachinko) to former Business of HYPE alum, Asa Akira and more. Be sure to check out a preview of their episode. You can catch them at a live at Hack City Comedy or at a live podcast recording at Canal Street Market in NYC. https://www.asiannotasianpod.com/see-us-live 

Be sure to subscribe to their channel below. New episodes Sunday.

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0Tv6EO9KHfTKiQIPeNM5N0?si=NUcE3BXPR8-c2Hog3tuw6A

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/asian-not-asian/id1356303465

Wherever you listen to podcasts: https://www.asiannotasianpod.com/listen

More Info: https://www.asiannotasianpod.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/AsianNotAsianPod/

Fumi & Mic's IG: https://www.instagram.com/thefumiabe/ & https://www.instagram.com/nicepantsbro/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/thefumiabe?lang=en  & https://twitter.com/nicepantsdude?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

Support: https://www.asiannotasianpod.com/patreon

On today's special episode, jeff hosts a live panel discussion from OMEN with two key players in the progressive gaming industry. Nikan Nadim aka FaZe Nikan plays a large role in shaping the creative concept for major esports organization FaZe Clan. Daryl Butler is a marketing guru with over 25 years of experience and currently serves as Head of Marketing at HP (Hewlett-Packard). 

In recent years esports has skyrocketed into popularity, now becoming a billion dollar industry and soon to surpass more viewership than the NFL, MLB and NBA. Gaming is no longer a "basement activity" but a cultural norm. Companies like HP have developed a product line called OMEN, which focuses on laptops, desktops and accessories for the intent of gaming. Meanwhile groups like FaZe Clan have their own massive social following, marketing agency, apparel line, in-house production studio, talent management business, sales team and much more. Together they are both pushing the agenda of esports, especially during a time where people are finding more relevance in online communities.

In this episode they discuss not only the business aspect of gaming, but also its cultural impact. Daryl and Nikan see a bright future for gaming, firmly believing that "everyone is a gamer."

Thank you so much for tuning into the Business of HYPE. As always, thank you for tuning into HYPEBEAST Radio and Business of HYPE. Please don't forget to rate, comment and subscribe to our other shows. This episode was recorded prior to COVID-19 with the interludes recorded during. We hope you guys stay safe, wash your hands, practice social distancing and find ways to still stay inspired during this time.

For more info: https://hypebeast.com/2020/7/faze-nikan-daryl-butler-omen-live-panel-interview-business-of-hype-jeffstaple-episode-78

https://www.omen.com/us/en.html?jumpid=sc_khigexb9mj

https://fazeclan.com/

Social:

https://www.instagram.com/fazenikan/?hl=en

https://www.instagram.com/omenbyhp/?hl=en

https://www.instagram.com/fazeclan/?hl=en

Alexandra Hackett is the founder of Studio ALCH (short for her name: Alexandra Louise Champion Hackett) and also known by many as "Mini Swoosh." In just a few short years, the brand has shown at London Fashion Week, partnered with global retailers and worked with numerous celebrities from Kendrick Lamar to Frank Ocean. The Australian-born, London based creative creates one-of-a-kind articles of clothing from deconstructed pieces of found material from Nike duffel bags to NASA space foil.  

Studio ALCH is the overarching brand that gives fuel to her mission of "exploring the process of deconstruction and reconstruction to extend the lifespan of pre-existing products."  Her personal brand, Mini Swoosh, dives into the more experimental side of her deconstructive projects, whilst giving homage to the brand Nike—which has heavily inspired her design career. In this episode, Alex details her early career from working in the sneaker retail space to participating in 2017's Nike Vote For You competition to creating her brand. She reminds us of the importance of sustainability and how the "best thing to do with fashion is to make nothing new at all."

Thank you so much for tuning into the Business of HYPE. As always, thank you for tuning into HYPEBEAST Radio and Business of HYPE. Please don't forget to rate, comment and subscribe to our other shows. This episode was recorded prior to COVID-19 with the interludes recorded during. We hope you guys stay safe, wash your hands, practice social distancing and find ways to still stay inspired during this time.

For more info: https://hypebeast.com/2020/6/alex-hackett-studio-alch-mini-swoosh-interview-business-of-hype-jeffstaple-episode-77

https://www.instagram.com/studioalch/

https://www.instagram.com/miniswoosh/

https://www.a-l-c-h.com/

Around a month ago we featured our special Stay @ Home series, with former guests of the show and today we’re back for another special episode with Andy Fallshaw, Co-Founder and CEO of Australian accessories brand, Bellroy.

Founded in 2009 alongside Matthew Fallshaw, Lina Calabria and Hadrien Monloup, Bellroy was the answer after the four realized there was a gap in the luxury carrier space. A certified B Corporation, the company only uses functional and durable material all made  with the intent of sustainable efforts.  What started as a meticulously well-designed wallet became so successful that Bellroy now carries various travel bags and tech accessories in their line. 

In this episode, Andy details how he went from designing for Rip Curl to starting nine self-funded startups in an effort to "create something that brings value to people"—one of which became Bellroy. He later discusses how his business has managed to stay afloat and reprioritize workflow during COVID-19.

Thank you so much for tuning into our special Stay @ Home Series. As always, thank you for tuning into HYPEBEAST Radio and Business of HYPE. Please don't forget to rate, comment and subscribe to our other show.

For more info:

https://bellroy.com/

http://www.instagram.com/bellroy

https://www.carryology.com/

https://www.instagram.com/carryology/