James Whitner is the founder of The Whitaker Group, an East Coast retail empire that includes A Ma Maniere, Social Status, Prosper and A.P.B. On this show, James talks about getting shot and going to prison in Pittsburgh, finding his escape in fashion, the Tokyo effect, fighting the "hood dude" stigma, what's next for the brand, and so much more. 
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 MIC/LINE, The Anthropology, The HYPE Report and HYPETALKS.

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James Whitner

Business of HYPE is a limited interview series hosted by Creative Director and Founder of Awake NY, Angelo Baque. The conversations dive into the successful careers of well-known creatives, brand-builders and entrepreneurs from various corners of streetwear culture. We learn about the realities behind the dreams they’ve built with encouraging words of advice peppered along the way. 

As always, thank you for tuning into Business of HYPE. Please don't forget to rate, comment and subscribe. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/businessofhype/support

Society & Culture

Personal Journals

History

Philosophy

Places & Travel

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. 

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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/businessofhype/support

Vashtie Kola

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. 

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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/businessofhype/support

Kim Shui

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. 

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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/businessofhype/support

Sage Elsesser

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. 

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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/businessofhype/support

MSCHF

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

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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/businessofhype/support

James Whitner

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