The title pretty much decodes a very interesting couple of days blueprinting the skin and bone of Y&D. I appreciate the genuine encouragement from friends that ultimately reignited my confidence and inspiration. It’s not easy to start anew once you shed the familiar because not everyone views an exit as a positive thing. Growth is something i always viewed as exciting. But to some, growth is viewed as a clandestine line in the sand. “Sticking it out” or “staying the course” along with every other cliche most throw around while avoiding the albatrosses that are/were clearly toxic and a constant blow to the morale. I’m not one to thwart success, but i am one to walk away if i’m unhappy with an environment if the main purpose begins to fade to become something other than what it was intended for. As i’ve said before, this is about fun, friends and connecting. I’m a fun guy. I collect toys and i love counter culture fashion and i’m immensely inspired by our generation that’s being genuine with a healthy respect for past paths carved. I’m not a fan of disrespect, negativity or ego. But somehow, those 3 poisonous ingredients always make their way into the fabric of potential. I don’t pump sunshine nor am i a pollyanna. I just believe there are other ways to exist as a person or a “brand” without surrendering to faux arrogance and foolish competition, that, in my opinion, impedes success. I choose to take the “long” way in by being a genuine good dude and earning it without harming the mind, heart and lives of others to get an edge. You can be cool, exciting and successful by being a good person too. Just a thought.
As previously stated via my newly created twitter account, i was urged by friends whom i love and trust to create a twitter/tumblr for “You & Die”. I started “You & die” to take my imagination and give it legs via tees, accessories and hopefully toys. At one time or another, i’ve done a few tees and gave them to friends, homeless people and whoever else cared enough to happily have one. I was eventually urged to blueprint a more serious goal for “You & Die”. I was hesitant for the simple fact that i’ve been apart of serious projects/lines before and was stressed and left with a spent heart due to the never ending competition and popularity contests many fall victim to on a daily basis when they choose to enter this rat-race known as business. I’m someone that likes to have fun, make friends and connect. I wasn’t able to do that fully with other projects and it became immensely toxic both emotionally and professionally. So, i made a healthy departure to go it alone and start from scratch. Why “You & Die” as a name you ask? well, it’s simple. It’s fun and dorky twisted. Like me. Fairly simple, folks. No baiting or pseudo approaches. I’m a 90’s kid so a plethora of influences spawn from that well. The only ingredients here are friends, fun, imagination and heart. I dream big with a realistic approach. The agenda is and will always be in the name of fun. You & Die - Negativity, competition and faux elitism = friends, fun, toys and pizza!
