Here’s What Jeff Staple, Rico Nasty & Other Disruptors Had to Say About Making It

A trendsetter unlike any other, Jeff Staple has been shaping the world with his own sense of style and fashion for over two decades. He’s a streetwear pioneer, with his Staple clothing brand bringing its iconic pigeon logo to the culture over fifteen years ago. When he isn’t moderating, lecturing, or speaking on panels, he expands his “Positive Social Contagion” as far as it can go. 

How Staple Started…

“I mean, back when I designed my first T-shirt the word streetwear wasn’t invented yet. Street culture was not born. There were other subcultures that existed, like hip hop culture, skate culture, punk rock culture, but nobody was really mixing them all together. And me, going to art school in downtown New York City in the mid ‘90s, I saw that these cultures were beginning to blend but there wasn’t yet fashion or sneakers that exhibited that blending that was happening. So I started to do that, and trust me, nobody understood what I was doing. Stores didn’t know where to put me. Magazines didn’t know what to write about me. Stylist didn’t know how to style me. So it was just this genre-bending thing that I was doing. And so when someone asks me, what is the opportunity I saw, it wasn’t even like a white space, it was like an entire universe was there for me.” Trust yourself, then see what others can’t.

And Then Leveled Up…

“For the first 15 years of my career it was all me in front of the creative apps doing every single pixel pushing thing on the design work. Now I have a team where I oversee over 50 people and I’m making sure that they’re able to bring in fresh ideas.” As Staple proves, even disruptors have to delegate in order to level up. 

As An Iconic Disruptor… 

“To me, being a disruptor is bending the boundaries that society has put on you. When someone tells you, No, you can’t do this. It’s not necessarily always saying that’s false, but it’s questioning whether that is actually valid or not. It’s doing your own investigation work to see, is that really the case? Can I figure this out myself in my own way that doesn’t necessarily break the rules, but definitely redefines what society has put on me?” Disruptors like Staple know questioning everything pays off. 

While Staying Motivated… 

“The motivation for me is actually really easy to come by because I always feel like the perennial underdog still.” Disruptors stay hungry, even when they’re successful. 

And Keeping Things Consistent… 

“I think when I was coming up, one of the biggest differences that I noticed between me and everyone else is consistency. I think a lot of other people maybe wanted to be the coolest thing, the hottest thing, the freshest thing, but it was always my concern, my number one goal to be here forever. It was always about legacy, longevity, even down to the name of my brand, Staple, which is essentially a raw element that you can’t live without.” If you want your hard work and hustle to pay off and last, consistency is crucial. 

While the Right Tools Helped Him Ascend.

“The perfect device is the one I don’t have to think about. Is my battery life ok? How many dongle cables do I need to bring with me? Is it heavy? The best device is the one that becomes invisible when I don’t need it, and powerful AF when I do need it.” And the ROG Flow Z13 fits that bill. 

Rico Nasty

Rico Nasty has had no problem shaking up the music industry. The 25-year-old queen of punk rap has evolved a style all her own, bringing a sense of chaos to the music she makes. The rapper and songwriter from Maryland has released multiple hits and bangers, which, according to her, are the result of working hard and having fun. Makes sense to us. 

How Rico Nasty Got Started… 

“I started getting familiar with music at a young age with my dad because my dad and my mom used to play a lot of rap music, but my dad was a rapper. And as I got older, I could read something and kind of just feel it. It’s always been a part of me.” That history is what inspires her to keep going, no matter the obstacle.

On Her Journey to Being a Disruptor… 

“To me, being disruptive in the world really means, in a sense, that probably one way or another, you’re a conductor in the world. You are breaking stuff apart to rebuild it, or you’re just trying your own wave.” According to Rico Nasty, the second step to disruption is to rebuild what you’ve upended in your own specific way.

While Proving Herself to Others… 

“There were a lot of people who tried to tell me that I wouldn’t make it, or that I wasn’t taking myself serious enough, or that the chances were too slim. There’s too many people that want to be rappers. It’s always that though. And I don’t even think it’s specific to being a rapper, but I feel that’s anything that involves the unorthodox career route. It’s kind of on some, you believe it when you see it, type stuff, especially with parents. So you just got to show them.” Disruptors like Rico Nasty always disregard the naysayers. 

By Trusting Herself and Having Fun… 

“I got older and I started telling my own story. And then I started really looking to people for things. And I just started looking at myself like, what sound good to me right now in this moment? What do I like right now? And I know I liked a lot of softer stuff. I went through a lot of phases with music. I like soft stuff. I like the hard stuff. I like the pop stuff. I like the rap stuff. I like the hyperpop stuff. So I feel like I never go in there trying to be anything but fun. Seriously.” Rico Nasty proves you also gotta work hard to have fun. 

Which Led to Becoming Influential… 

“I just do what I want all the time, and I think that influences other people to want to do what they want, and also find confidence in doing what they want. Because I don’t know. They say, Hey, if she can do it, why can’t I?” The lesson here is be yourself to influence others. 

All With a Little Help From the Right Tools.

“I love the Z13 because immediately, once I’ve already picked a beat or finished a song while my engineer is getting my vocals right, I can already start on the next beat. Personally, the Z13 literally speaks to my personality. I feel like it’s a baddie computer. When you walk in and you prop it up… The lights? The girl’s going to eat it up. Seriously. I don’t know. It just brings light to any studio session too, because most studio sessions are very dark so you pull that out with the rainbow keypad, they’re done. They’re over with. They’re going to be like, Where did you get that? And I love showstopper pieces like that with my fashion. I really love stuff that people are like, Oh my God. Where did you get that? It looks so fun. And that’s for sure, it looks very, very, very fun.” A great artist can’t afford to slow down while having fun. 

Dr. Woo

An elite tattoo artist, Dr. Woo doesn’t have time to waste. Learning the tools and tricks of the trade from tattooing’s finest practitioners, Dr. Woo has perfected wielding his needle and machine to weave a tapestry of art on his clients’ skin. From the simple to the intricate, Dr. Woo is leading the movement where art, fashion, and tattoos collide. As he told us, pushing boundaries while respecting tradition has allowed him to explore a new world of possibilities, with a little help from the right tools.

Dr. Woo On Taking a Risk… 

“It was a big risk. It was quitting my job, not going to school, not having a formal degree or education, a big risk coming from the type of family that I came up from… At the same time, the fear and anxiety of taking a chance was also big, but again… the freedom of it was very light, made me feel very light.” Doing you brings freedom, despite the risks involved. 

And Starting As An Apprentice… 

“I never thought I would give tattoos. I just didn’t think that I belonged in that kind of world. It was so closed off, and it’s kind of like getting a scholarship to Harvard even if you didn’t want to be a lawyer, but if you got it, you can’t really turn it down. And that’s the way I looked at it. If I had this opportunity to work for such a legend in a field that… Anything someone is that passionate about, I would love to be involved in that. And that’s kind of what happened.” Even disruptors can learn from legends.

Then Pushing Boundaries… 

“I think you mentally have to have the capacity to explore and engage in other ideas that are new and exciting and push your boundaries a bit. Someone that has the quality of standing up for themselves and speaking out loud when something is not going the way that they think it should be.” To push boundaries, you have to be an explorer and an analyst, as well as a creative

While Practice Led to Breakthroughs… 

“I wanted to perfect the technical skill. And once I did that, the concepts and the ideas came.” Disruptors like Dr. Woo know hard work unlocks breakthroughs. 

On His Path to Becoming a Disruptor…

“To be a disruptor, to me, I think initially it means something going against the grain, something a little bit chaotic. But I find being a disruptor to be a little bit smoother and actually make things work traditionally against the way that we’ve been taught, but to have a beautiful benefit and something that ends up being more proactive than actually kind of just being contrary.” Done right, disruption can go down smoothly and even build on tradition, rather than destroying it. 

And Benefitting From the Right Tools on the Way.

“When you work with the sharpest tools that give you the best output. What I’m using now is the ROG Flow X13. For me and most artists, I feel like we’re very unorganized. There’s a lot of clutter and always pencils, papers, things to keep together. But with the Flow X13, it’s super nimble. I travel a lot. I can just throw with me. A lot of times I’m drawing on the plane. A lot of times I’m sketching out designs in hotel rooms or getting my morning coffee. So having something handy and accessible, but also that has very high processing power is important. And just being able to execute your creative ideas at your fingertips at any time, it’s good.” That means ROG’s Flow X13 allows Dr. Woo to bust out the sickest tattoo designs, sizing them or down and tweaking them on demand, making his sought-after custom work even sicker, all while on the go.

Rhymezlikedimez

An artist with a unique vision, Rhymezlikedimez animates bright, crisp, colorful visuals that are truly a sight to behold. Working with artists like Anderson Paak and Bruno Mars, he’s mastered an animation style that pairs well with good vibes. Drawing inspiration from hip hop culture and magic, his focus on quality allows his work to feel as timeless as it does euphoric. 

Rhymezlikedimez On Starting Out… 

“When I started doing Rhymezlikedimez, I did just tributes to music artists that I loved. And I just thought, What if I make them move and make animations? And then I just combined my passion for good design and applied it to music, and hip hop more so. And I felt like that wasn’t there yet. You didn’t have a lot of good animation in the music industry.” Disruptors like Rhymezlikedimez  know finding your niche isn’t easy, but creating quality art never is.

And Ignoring Naysayers…

“There was not a second in class when I was not drawing or doodling on the side of my book. And teachers always told me to stop it, but my grades were really good. So I was like, Why? I have good grades. Why can’t I draw? Maybe it works better for me, because I make connections.” Knowing how you work best is key, especially when you’re still learning. 

While Making Sacrifices… 

“To be a disruptor, I think you have to be willing to sacrifice a lot of the stuff that distracts you. But that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s negative. I think it comes naturally if you’re really willing or if you’re really invested in creating something beautiful. I think you just have to be focused on that and think–actively think–about how you want to approach it and how you are going to set yourself apart or stand out from the masses.” The right sacrifices can lead to gains later on. 

To Become a Disruptor…

“I think being disruptive in the industry that I’m in means that you think differently about something and offer something that’s not there yet. I think that’s very important as an artist because no one is waiting for the exact copy of something that already exists. It makes a lot of sense. And I didn’t overthink it back then. I just did it naturally, I think, because I really wanted to create that. Because I wanted to see good, high-quality visuals on a good track or on one of my favorite tracks. So I think I just did it from a place of sincere passion.” Passion leads to innovation. Trust your passion, like Rhymezlikedimez.

While Working on the Go… 

“That’s what I like about it [the Z13]. When I’m on the road and creativity strikes, the stylus and portability of the product help a lot.” There’s no telling when artistic passion will take hold, especially on the road.

And Animating at the Highest Level.

“The amazing thing about the Z13 is that I can take it anywhere and complete all the tasks that I would do at home and that’s crazy. It gives me a lot of freedom. Then, at home, the XG mobile allows me to crank up the performance even more, which allows me to do the previews when I’m animating super quick. I can do rendering. I can attach multiple monitors and still not see it slow down, which is crazy. Both the Z13 and the XG Mobile have such powerful GPUs that it gives me the freedom to create what I want wherever I want.

Fvckrender 

There’s something so undeniably beautiful and unique about the digital art Fvckrender makes. The Vancouver artist working has been one of the leading figures in the NFT marketplace, showing the world what web3 can really do. Conjuring up one work of art a day, his trippy, pastel-infused pieces require a deft hand, unending creativity, and a strong device to render them into the world.

Fvckrender On Empowering Yourself… 

“The most empowering thing you can do as an artist is do what you want, because I feel like we all have different goals. And if I can do it, anyone can do it. Everyone can do it. We just need to actually do it.” It’s crucial to empower yourself to start and to finish. 

To Pull Away from the Pack… 

“I feel nowadays everybody’s a little bit copying each other and it creates this whole general aesthetic. So I think it’s important to always look at what’s been done and try to elevate yourself from that.” When your competitors settle, keep pushing yourself beyond all limitations. 

And Becoming a Disruptor… 

“A disruptor is someone that takes no’s and turns them into yes.” Simple but not easy.

Who Benefits From the Right Tools… 

“I think this computer [ROG Flow X16] is good for all types of people. I would say by the aesthetic, it’s more for designers and artists, but I also play video games. So I like this computer because it’s super-fast, and I can just play games and do my art at the same time. I really love having the Flow X16 with me all the time. Even if I go just to the cafe or anywhere. Like I was just in the plane, it’s amazing to be able to just create on the go and have something that’s so powerful that you can literally start to finish a piece of art with this, which is amazing.” You can always accomplish more using the right tools, especially when combined.

That Become Your Favorites… 

“My favorite feature is the XG Mobile, because it feels like you’re bringing your old desktop with you everywhere because you’re able to plug in monitors, you’re able to plug in an external hard drive, and it just gives your computer so much more power. Then, I really love the Nebula Display because for me, as an artist, it’s important to have true colors and have colors that actually make sense. And this is perfect.” For Fvckrender, the XG Mobile means speed and power, while the Nebula display guarantees the best visual experience, no matter if he’s creating, gaming, or just kicking back to catch a flick. 

To Help Keep Your Options Open.

“I don’t like to define my style with any type or in general. I think I just like to do what I like to do and just be creative and try something always different. Because my style has evolved and changed through the last eight years.” Disruptors keep on disrupting throughout their careers.