Feb 3, 2014
Sometimes I run,sometimes I hide, sometimes I'm scared of you...
Hola amigos!Hope Monday is treating you well.Really trying to blog more.Not the mindless repost yadda-yadda you see across your favorite RSS feeds daily,but something meaningful and "thought about".
We mentioned having taken a breather the last few.Ever since deciding rest was for the underfed and the weary, now I'm all about building up and gaining back, or "summoning" traction (kudos to anyone that remembers that from the original website.
Actually, I guess that's what I'll talk about.The original website was poorly laid out, juvenile,and a bit naive in where it was coming from, but it was "REAL". I read the way I wrote before I cared about what people thought, or what tee would or wouldn't sell if I "used big words" and it just seems like it was a lot more interesting.
There's an expression "don't say anything nice if you don't have anything to say at all " wait that's wrong...it's " if you don't have something nice to say, then don't say anything at all". I look at all the people I hold in high regard, the majority of them are radicals,liberals,revolutionaries, people that DID SOMETHING in spite of what obstacles the world and their relations gave,they strived,struggled,and persisted to their goal.
I think the last few years were a part of that process for me.If you ever hear me speak about designs,games,people..it's very blunt and overly direct to the point that it can almost seem for lack of a better word , "mean".It's not that I feel animosity towards certain things or individuals , it's that I really don't have the time or feel the need to sugarcoat things such as an opinion.It's both a strength and a weakness, which I'll expolain shortly.
Looking at the old website, there seemed to be a lack of conventional design elements or branding, but the one thing about the articles and posts was that they were cohesive.You knew who was writing, their mindset,tastes,where everything was coming from.
Reflecting on the past few years, I see that I've developed the brand more and there are improvements, but it's not executed completely : I was holding back.
With the ideas of past and present , there's a need to do more. I ask so much of all of you.To struggle,run blindly,to believe in everything you are and will become if you only move forward.
These things are not musings or wishes, but things we have done together and there was a point where I feel I stopped moving.Fear slowed me and confusion bound me.I was a prisoner.Mediocrity had won.
With the growth and insights I've been afforded over the past few months.I feel it's time to open some doors and move past the familiar once again into the unknown.
The brand comes from a place of adversity,hardship, a NEED that is more than you can bear to ignore.And that need is what has got all of us this far.To look away or turn a blind eye to something that is a part of your very being is unnatural.It can't work.
I had to think about that last expression often over the winter, "it can't work". I had to look in mirrors and away from demons.These demons came from myself.The little voice that says , "maybe I shouldn't" or "what if" , they became "you won't " and " this can't..." for days at a time.
I struggled with every piece of myself to get stronger...and I'm telling you all of this because some of you know how hard it's been.Others just really like stickers and fruit snacks...that's cool too and I love you all the same for it, but some people need to know : this is not easy,this is hard work.And it's not going to stop.Not unless you do.So embrace it.Struggle with me.
If you've read any of the past articles, you'll notice they all echo a similar message, these last ones have actually been a re-telling of the same story a few different ways.It's commentary on the world mixed with a bit of practice.
I've always had good taste in burrito pictures
You see.People always look to champions, people that have successes and they think to themselves, "what did they do to get ____ to happen?" or "why didn't ______ work for me?".There is always the element of timing and luck involved in any endeavor, but at the end of success you'll see more often than not, that person kept trying more than anyone else.They were hungry.
I want you guys to see my failures and struggles more often because I want you to know this is not magic.This doesn't happen overnight.Whatever comes from the brand or myself will be a product of this effort, this hardship,this burden that is also a strength, it will come from hunger.
I'm not writing this for the kids that know the brand and run the streets with us or got kicked out of some events with us...no, I am thankful for you ,and appreciate all that you do, but there are people that have never heard of trying.The ones who think there circumstances are permanent or that the world has to be a certain way because someone told you so.The person that told you that started somewhere too,just think about that.
Your limits are not what people tell you
Fifty years ago, I could have been killed.That's right : KILLED for eating certain places.There are people that die over education,drinking water,and whatever other messed up stuff there is in the world.And I'm here complaining that someone won't answer their email.
I sit here some days and just think about what it's going to take to make this all work.And it's a lot.It's so much that it would scare the average person to read.And I can't stop at just the beginning.So, now is the time to put in work.
The next stuff you'll see will be more in line with this thinking.It's about breaking out of comfort zones and pushing boundaries, and heck, maybe even having some fun while we're at it.
No correlation or anecdote, I've just always liked this one.
I really want to move the world, and it feels like the time is better than ever to do so.So why not try? ...so why not try?
Try Hard,Never Settle,Stay Hungry -h_h-
Feb 3, 2014
Long time friend of the brand Curbside Jones just posted a Kickstarter to make an animated video for his single, 'Pink' from his album "The Cherry Blossom Effect: Endless Dream Theory".The album serves as a nod to anime,life,struggle,and pop culture while giving a flavor and tone that is not prevalent in today's hip hop.
At any rate, the Kickstarter is awesome.The rewards are too. So check it out and also make sure to check out all of Jerry's other work at CurbsideJones.com when you can.
"Pass the Capri Suns...."
Try Hard,Never Settle,Stay Hungry -h_h-
Jan 31, 2014
You know, reading my own posts are quite liberating.Past and present it always seemed that there was an underlying something that we wanted to convey, but just didn't know how. I look back at moment where all we had was a name.There weren't colors,mascots, shiny things to stick in awkward places (I'm talking about stickers you sickos!),nada.
As the brand grows, I have been forced to take looks back, not only to assess what we've done,but where we're going.For the first time in a good while, I trust that we're on the right path.It was a rocky,turbulent existence for some time, and it still is.But I can feel a calm that was never around for more than a moment when we were doing anything.I can see, I can plot, but I can also move: the right way.
Obviously a strong part of our influence comes from games.Through them I have been able to convey and articulate things in a manner that would never had happened had they not been a part of my life.The suttleties and nuances of every gesture make a difference.You convey who you and also what may come by how you move.
For some time, I did not know how to move.Everything was instinctive and erratic, there was an aire unpredictabilty that was just as volatile and detrimental as it was rewarding.It all seemed like a gamble,it still does.One of the things that can make gambling worthwhile is something outside of the promise or reward, it's belief and confidence in your investment.That was always there, but it feels less like a farce and more like a long term dealing.We will build and it will come together.We just have to try,and above all else commit when doing so, "ganbare" as the Japanese would say.We have to do our best.
The Jimmy Loko.If there is anything crazier than this thing that looks so good, it's probably illegal or imagined.I miss this one.
I never gave less than 100% to HH, but I never realized how intertwined myself and the brand are.If you get sick,die,have a breakdown ( when McRib went away), it stops.Well, I will correct that statement,I thought it stopped.
I took a respite to do more than recoup, it was to think.When you're in a rat race and so busy running , whether from security at events you can't sponsor or in the philosophical more figurative sense, you find there isn't enough time to take anything in and see the big picture.
There were so many nights I spent plotting,scheming,hustling,to make everything work.I never took the time to plan things like sleep,showers,hydration, anything.It was wild to go to sleep before midnight or or be able to wake up to the sound of things that aren't an alarm telling you you're overdue or late on whatever project,solo mission, or collaboration is at hand.
All the people that go far have teams.The concept eluded me.I knew what was best for the brand, but never myself.You guys are the ones that helped with that.
During the time off, you guys post stickers,email,slap stuff on the HH page, and just offered whatever support was possible.So many of you that were once strangers are now family, all from pieces of cotton and vinyl shared in the strangest places (there goes your guys' heads in the gutter again!).All that this is became so clear during those times.Times where I could not move, and I had to trust you to help move me gave way to thoughts and notions not yet revealed to my withered mind: This brand.You made it.We made it.Together.
Back to the games.Anyone that knows me knows games have always been such a strong part of my existence.I think in games, I see in them.Alongside pop culture,music,and some choice memes, a large part of my comes from a joystick ( I give up.).And I had to learn how to control something I have never been able to fully utilize with all that I learned from the time I spent behind one.Me.
The elements of what we do have always been deeply rooted in places I've been,people I've known, things I feel.But the world comes together when I see it in a monitor.It's my Cerebro,my Rosetta Stone, Persephone to guide me through the darkness and abyss of the underworld that can be life on certain days.They define me.
In relation to those attestments, I will say this about HH: It plays like a game.That is a bit broad, but it will make sense over time.But when you look at what we've made, or even how certain things come to fruition, really stare at it and think about what that may mean.Not just the original intent, but also what that means to you.
There is time to go over more on a different day.But I want to leave you guys with this thought.Think about how you move.Movement is the only way you can make anything change.
Oh yeah, get on the mailing list too.We're overdue to make a move of our own very soon.
Try Hard,Never Settle,Stay Hungry -h_h-
Jan 30, 2014
I look back at last year.I told you guys it was rough.I was serious, it was RUFFFFFFFFFFFF .I'm talking so bad I had to spell it phoenetically and italicize it rough.But, like all things that are not McDonald's Apple Pie or mineral based (separate things mind you), it came to an end.
I wrote two blog posts and they were the best two blog posts I ever wrote, at least from my perspective.It's always been troublesome having a brand that has a concise and concrete message because as an owner, there are times where my life or mindset may not even matchup with the direction of the brand at the time.
I was struggling with worlds that were new and people that were familiar,which despite the contrast,became an entity all it's own.I was banished to the realm of indecision.There's no right answer to anything in some situations.Business,people,life, they are a series of happenings that may or may not yield an expected result.
I've had a love for the world for a good while that's almost romantic.I see it for what it is: organic,chaotic,terror,and beauty intertwined to become one's existence and here you are.Scratch that here WE are.
There's a saying I use often from an Eiffel 65 song I used to listen to in high school.It goes like this :
"You want to move the world,
Start with your body.
Yo, come on you gotta start with something.
If you wanna move your mind,
Just move your body.
Move your mind, move your mind,
It's gonna cost you nothing..."
That last line echoes in my head the most prominently, "it's gonna cost you nothing".I think back to what is "costed" to start HH: a home,a heart, a hand.Cash wasn't the issue.I didn't have a lot and still don't, but the goal of HH is not to have billions of dollars, it's to work with what you have to make the best possible creations for the time.I think we've done that time after time...but at what cost?
There was a point where I expected to have more interactions with the fans.We have gone from nothing to a 'lil' somethin'" as I call it,and we're getting bigger.The more of you that discover,support,and spread the word HH, the more cool stuff gets to come out.It's not really deeper than that,just a circle of life and commerce,at least for now.
It was so hard trying to conjure the right words at times that for more than a moment , you the fans were left neglected.I didn't have the heart to say , "I'm down today", or "this person wasted our time".Random guy #4 stealing a concept or idea doesn't seem noteworthy when a fan is having it much worse or talks of death circle the homes of familiar ones we know.It just seemed so damn heavy,and the goal of HH is to lighten the load and inspire.It's armor for a world that's already tough enough as is,but is getting progressively harder.I want you all to have the best defense against that and hopefully see every one of you thrive.That would make for a happy hambre here....man that's a lot of H's isn't it? Moving on.
The cost of what we did here by leaving you out of the loop and not sharing as much is that you guys don't know a lot about the brand.Great designs,candy,cotton, they're all nice.But they don't mean anything compared to everything else that's in the same realm of the streetwear landscape.
As I glance to my left all I see is stickers.Stickers you put up, ones we gave out, each one with a different destination and story.Like clothes,they may seem the same,but upon further inspection,they're not.You the fans make them different.Our hearts and minds make them matter.
Back to what matters.I was scared to speak my mind.I thought it to be a distraction.The thing some of you may have picked up from our reading and interactions is that the brand is very direct and blunt.This is a reflection of myself and the people I choose to work with.
We don't sugarcoat things,we don't make up weird stories,our actions and passion are the tools given to speak to the world whether in thread form or other means.That being said, I just didn't know how to be real.I spent time practicing that.There's an expression that "if you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all".That works in theory, but when you realize that the world isn't all 'nice',what do you say? And more importantly what do you do? That matters.
I feel like I have slighted you all by not giving updates on concepts,leaving out stories about the influence for a piece, even just not making enough videos.The intent was to spare you guys the things that make life and a brand troublesome.But if you think about it, that's what Hungry Human is : "highs,lows,and everything in between".So,here's to more than just the highs and doing more to share the whole picture,even if I don't think it matters. -h_h-
Found this on The Internet.I forgot I used to draw so many of these.They were actually all pretty funny because I wrote them without sleeping and wouldn't remember them until you guys posted them.So,I'd laugh at the crazy stuff I drew or wrote just like a fan would! Ha!
Stay Hungry
Jan 15, 2014
I will be the first to admit: this stuff is hard. Between interactions,doing the majority of anything and everything HH, while trying maintain a real life and some degree of sanity, I am burnt out.
I still have trouble being real with you guys at times,not because the truth is hard, but because it can be de-motivating.A lot of what we do is based around making you inspired and for lack of a better word, "hungry" to do and be more. There is a lot of stuff that I feel like if I shared with you guys, would make you feel quite the opposite.
This has been a very rough ride, and you guys get to see some , but not all of what goes into making it work. The people we deal with,situations, they are too crazy to note on the internet at times (without a book deal at least), and I have a habit of editing out all of the craze so that you guys are able to focus on what matters more : yourselves.
I must say however,the majority of people that do help out and are eager to hear more is always a ton more than expected, and I am on the fence about so much, including how far to go with both HH and what we do in the background.Most people share their process for the sake of vanity or possible notoritety, that isn't really what we're about here, at the end of the day, you guys are really supposed to pursue your own goals and have some nice product that makes you feel good about doing that.
With the previous statement, I can say with confidence that I dropped the ball in that aspect.My focus was on dealing with hardship and ultimately myself so that we could do more of what you love in a more consistent manner.It was a bit of prodding and gouging (the physical one, not the one your favorite retailers do to you daily) that made this post come about.It is a lot like the previous post, but without the fluff: JUST REAL SPIT.
So, to not ramble on,last year was tough.I needed some time off.I was just not feeling anyone I dealt with or any of the situations we were running into.It was just a bunch of not fun to deal with people and their issues becoming our own.Not fun and definitely not conducive to anything worthwhile.
The decision to take time off gave me a lot more insight than I expected and also a degree of discipline coupled with respect for what it is we are trying to do.
There aren't a lot of people that really go out of their way to show love to HH just yet,and that's fine.The people that do are loved and appreciated.Real fans matter more than fake friends,bandwagoners,and "business partners".There is not really more I can say that will sum it up better than this sentence: WE ARE AWARE OF WHAT MATTERS.It's not random designers trying to come up, people that want 5 figures for advertisements, or kids that want gear based on what their favorite athlete or celebrity is wearing.It's not them.We are not them...we are not them... remember that.
To the people that rock with us.Cop stickers, write emails, or offer any kind of support.You guys are the ONLY reason I do this.It's not to pay a carnote, because my other business endeavors didn't work out, or because I want any sort of fame or recognition...it's because of ya'll...you are all that matters and as always "it doesn't work without you" , it all stops.
That being said, there is gear, there are concepts, lots of stuff as always. It isn't important at the moment that any and everyone rock with us or mess with HH, it's about the people that want more.Those are the ones we want.If you want more for yourself and the world around you.You are hungry.If you are not, there are other brands you can wear...TONS...so please feel free.
Work is coming, lots of it.Hardship is abundant and will be for a time to come.So, to the fans that inspire ME to keep going.This is for you from me: THANK YOU.I will try to honor every dollar,tweet,instagram photo, or hashtag you put out there trying to raise HH to the next level.It's not something that can happen alone, so for every fan,friend, or moment you give us,know that is the reason we have made it this far and will continue to.
There may be a moment where I ask for more help from you.If and when that moment comes, give all you can and we'll give all we can to make it work.That is a bit cryptic, but it has to be, at least for now.Much love and get on the mailing list.Here's to 2014 and beyond. -h_h-