Cosmopolitan Boys Sunday Snippets #020

Nov 4, 2024

For

I always try to make my projects and ideas move forward, even if I’m not in a good place personally, but it’s not easy and it’s not always possible. The search for a more honest and less mechanical relationship with creativity also has its downsides. But I think that’s what discipline is for - to do what needs to be done, rain or shine. We won’t create works of art every day, but at some point, they emerge for those who keep painting.

Each topic is dissected a bit more. Click on the links.

WHAT I'M READING

The Promise of Pyer Moss Kerby Jean-Raymond was one of fashion’s most celebrated young designers. Then what happened?
The article talks about the ‘rise and fall’, so to speak, of Pyer Moss, a brand by Kerby Jean-Raymond that has made waves since 2015 by addressing racial themes and collaborating with Reebok (with global distribution and relevant products). Over time, the project became much more about online noise than actual pieces materialized and available for purchase. The brand faced production issues, quality control, and long-term construction problems, and kind of fell into a negative spiral, until it apparently ‘paused’. In addition to issues related to the founder's work ethic. These are interesting themes to reflect on the darker sides of the fashion world.
David Dobson: Capturing Stüssy Around The World.
I have always been fascinated by the old lookbooks and advertisements of Stussy, one of the brands that shaped streetwear as we know it today. But I had never researched deeply about the person behind these campaigns, and this post appeared for me on Instagram today. His name is David Dobson, and he learned about the brand through surf magazines of the time and did everything to get in touch with Shawn Stussy. Obviously, after years he succeeded and began traveling on missions around the world to help local communities, carrying a suitcase full of Stussy clothes to distribute and photograph, which explains the pictures of children and even the elderly in Egypt, India, the Philippines, etc., wearing Stussy in the 80s/90s, blending the brand's aesthetic with a more documentary and sensitive approach. A lesson on how to do branding 30-some years ago.

WHAT I'M LISTENING TO

Niink - Still In The Same Neighborhood
I feel like we are gradually returning to a trend of rappers with sharper pens. Great work from Niink with many good and honest lines and a well-defined concept and structure.
Westside Gunn - Still Praying
Shouts from DJ Drama, WWE references, mentions of Virgil, and beats from Statik Selektah with the piercing voice and striking adlibs of Westside Gunn. A wonderful combination.
Lexa Gates - Elite Vessel
I discovered this girl through a random recommendation from Youtube, saw that the video was shot on film and had a pretty thumbnail, and clicked. One of the best musical surprises I had recently. I am absolutely sure she will be mainstream in no time.
Tyler - Chromakopia
Obviously a very good and well-made disc, but unfortunately it didn’t grab me that much. I’ve listened to it a few times and will listen a bit more, but probably much less than the others.

WHAT I'M WATCHING

Quincy
I woke up to the news of this legend's passing. I always recommend this documentary because it’s one of the best I’ve ever seen - besides being a genius life/story, the documentary is very well made and told in a very cool way that helps us understand the true importance of Quincy. It’s great that he was able to be honored while he was alive. The man goes, but the work remains, rest in peace.
Tiger Hood: New York City's Famous Street Golfer | Localish
I discovered this guy through New York Nico. He basically plays golf with milk cartons on the streets of New York. But the detail is that he also photographs the streets since the 80s and has an absurd portfolio of street photography. He wakes up, goes out to play golf, sells his prints, and is apparently the coolest person in the world, plus he has the coolest name: TIGER HOOD.
Victory Lap Cypher
Latest cypher from Victory Lap featuring a selection of the most promising names in London's underground rap.
Corteiz x Nike Freestyle
Almost 20 years ago Nike launched these freestyle commercials, both in soccer and basketball. And today Corteiz brought them back in grand style with big names from men's and women's soccer and culture, as well as reintroducing the high-top Huarache. Very cool.
I didn’t talk about this, but a few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to participate in a conversation with the Nike Football team from Oregon, who were in Brazil to conduct research regarding the 2026 and 2027 World Cups. It was an indescribable experience for me, I had one of the coolest conversations of my life, and not only that, I got to hold the cleats that will be used by the athletes (and gave my opinion on them). One of the biggest reflections I had is how the brand moves in advance and in a non-obvious way. Like, before launching the DN, they needed to make a new silhouette attractive/interesting enough for the public and plant the seed in people's heads - so we had the collab with Supreme (partner brand). It’s Nike communicating something, without necessarily ‘saying anything’. Now, we have a freestyle soccer commercial with Corteiz (another partner brand), which also starts to plant a seed in the collective unconscious about the World Cup and how the brand will position itself, without them again 'saying anything.' All these movements are meticulously planned, and we can’t even imagine.

WHERE I'M GOING

Fitó
I visited this Brazilian food restaurant for the first time and I really liked it. It reminded me a bit of the food from Jah Jah. The sub-chef there was one of the participants in the current season of Masterchef. I had the Bahian feijoada, very good and different.
Rua Cardeal Arcoverde, 2773 - Pinheiros
Carnan Store
I also visited Carnan store for the first time and thought it was beautiful, it resembles a house. It feels like a store that I would have.
R. Cônego Eugênio Leite, 932