Here to shed light on a up and coming clothing line known as Ethik, is Matt Garrett  who is better known to be the “Overseer” for the brand. Ethik is ascending and for those who aren’t hip need to start paying attention; this is the type of brand that is slept on but ends up coming on top. RESPECT. linked with Matt and was able to break down the brand and the ins and outs of the industry. Check out the interview below.

RESPECT.: Where did the idea of Ethik originate from? How did you come up with the name for the brand come about?

The name “Ethik” was originated by a couple of kids who attended PACE university I actually was not on board at the company at the time, essentially the name represents strong work Ethik, persevering , never taking no for an answer, which he haven’t.

RESPECT.: With the rise of Ethik, have you guys been able to collaborate with any other brands?

We have been able to collaborate with other brands, as our name gets a bit more established we are able to tackle these collaborations, one in specific we have worked on recently was “ANIMAL BIKES” definitely the largest BMX company out to date, was super fun to work with them, we hold a strong presence in the BMX scene as well.

RESPECT.: How about artists and athletes to represent the brand?

That’s where I come into play, I handle all artist relations and PR. Most likely if you fit our style and are super supportive of the brand we tend to work with you, ultimately you reflect the brand. Our SXSW presence every year solidifies these connections.

RESPECT.: As a brand what is your goal?

Our goal is to prosper and grow however stay focused and do not step away from the vision never step away from the vision, ultimately to have longevity as a brand, you know your Stussy, Supreme, LRG. Within street wear most tend to see brands watered down towards the end of their run we are trying to stay clear of this.

RESPECT.: With all the different types of brands and clothing being released, what separates you guys from the rest and makes this product a must to cop?

I feel our style is different than most, we have a few core pieces that really stand out from the others, the culture and vibe of our brand as well makes a difference, our store events, heavy hip-hop influence really makes a difference.

RESPECT.: As for marketing strategies, which method works the best to spread the word of the Ethik brand?

Guerilla Marketing, usually events like SXSW as well as in-store events really work well, I hold a ton of in-store album releases, video releases, art galleries etc.

RESPECT.: What role do you play exactly for Ethik that makes your job such an importance to the brand?

I handle all Artist Relations and Public Relations for the brand as well as oversee events and marketing, it is a crucial position here because I essentially oversee how the brand “looks” to the public eye, picking and choosing how we should release information/visuals are extremely important.

RESPECT.: What made you guys set up shop in Toronto, Philly, Boston and New York? Are those locations the most profitable?

We decided to go the brick and mortar route, open up shop… make a name for yourself, make an imprint, which we have. We have a lot of love in Philadelphia I would say we have definitely started a nice little ripple in the pond out in the city of brotherly love. After Philly comes Toronto, great staff and an on-site recording studio from our friends over at KarmaXWave. After Toronto came Boston.

RESPECT.: What are some thoughts of change for the brand and what do you see for the future of Ethik?

Change for Ethik in my opinion is great, constant switch is needed, change is needed for a street wear brand, pushing the same garments, same material, same events gets a bit old.

RESPECT.: Talk to us about your input in the music industry?

On a side-note I am heavily involved in the industry as I run my own booking/consulting agency on the side @mgbooking, I incorporate my Ethik events with my agency and kind of piggy back off each, it’s a nice system and I have gained great relationships over the past years.

RESPECT.: Which artists are you working with?

Currently I am working with “Frank Castle” out of Staten Island, “History” from MogulClub from out in Brooklyn, “BuddhaGxD” from the East Side of Harlem , and Produce/MC “Eprosounds” from Rockland County just to name a few. I have curated meet and greets for artists such as PnB Rock, Private Club Records, Tsu Surf, Jimi Tents, The Doppelgangaz, J57 and Koncept from the Brownbag Allstars and more…

RESPECT.: How would you like to combine fashion with music?

Fashion with music go hand and hand in my opinion, we associate ourselves mostly with the hip-hop community, fashion is extremely crucial in that world, and I feel they are closely related.

RESPECT.: What does respect mean to you?

To “Respect” means to show and receive love mutually in my opinion, if you know me you know I am here for the culture, not for the bread that comes later.

The post RESPECT. Interview: Matt Garrett Represents Ethik & Breaks Down How the Business Works appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

The post Madwiz Criticizes Gangs And Promotes Love On “Belly Of The Snake” EP appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Dre Dollasz has been relatively quiet in front of the camera, but his debut visuals for “Flight Green” showcases a new side of the uprising artist. Particularly known for his production skills, Dre Dollasz has been making a name for himself as an MC and the video for “Flight Green” featuring guest appearances from fellow Mogul Club members Jay Richwell and History, further cement where this artist plans to go. Self-produced and directed by J-Emz, watch as Dre and his partners provide some ill inspirational vibes over a somber beat, backed by a hustler’s mentality. The visual is the first promotional video for Dre’s recently released project “Green Hues.” Be sure to download the full-length project here and stay tuned for more heat from the upcoming Brooklyn creative.

The post Dre Dollasz Soars On “Flight Green” w/ Jay Richwell & History appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Grammy nominated producer Kokayi releases “History”, a track apart of the House Studios #5149 playlist on SoundCloud. Kokayi delivers soulful vocals over the pop track produced by Reggis Volume and Brandon Carlye. Listen to the track below:

The post Kokayi Delivers A Soulful Story On “History” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

The Mogul Club collective are back at it again with the new banger entitled “Jump”, a collaborative effort between Brooklyn MC’s History and Madwiz. Fresh off their show with the TeamBackPack family this weekend, the two make sure to give everyone listening a reason to jump and bug for their new music.
Be sure to stay tuned to History and Madwiz’s projects both set to be released some time this year. For now, check the Soundcloud link down below and get hip to their movement.

https://soundcloud.com/historytheartist/history-madwiz-jump

If you want to stay tuned to their upcoming releases, make sure to follow History and Madwiz on Twitter.

The post New Music: History x Madwiz – “Jump” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

With two Golden Globe nominations under “SELMA’s” belt thus far, the one that makes history is the nomination for Best Director. Ava  DuVernay is the first Black women to be honored in the category. There has been two African American directors nominated in the past, Spike Lee ( 1990, Do The Right Thing) and Steven McQueen (2014, 12 Years A Slave). To top off more reasons to celebrate DuVernay’s Digital release of her critically acclaimed film Middle of Nowhere finally arrives on DVD, Digital HD and On Demand January 13, 2015! Check out the film Digital release Trailer right here:

The post HOLLYWOOD NEWS: ‘SELMA’S’ AVA DUVERNAY BECOMES FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMAN TO RECEIVE BEST DIRECTOR NOMINATION AT GOLDEN GLOBES appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Off his highly acclaimed project that’s been making a lot of noise in New York, “Gods x Pimps,” (available for download here) History is back dropping the anticipated video for “EVIL!“. Featuring a stand-out verse from his fellow Mogul Club member, King Critical, the duo put together an impactful and extremely emotionally-driven lyrics over the thundering of the instrumental.
Produced by H. Illa (the alternate producer name History goes by), the extreme energy is filled with subject matter commenting on subjects such as negative cycles within their Brooklyn hoods, questioning true faith in religion, scandalous women, and overall staking claim of their place in Hip Hop while boasting their lyrical prowess.

The video was directed was also shot and edited by J-Emz, another up-and-coming New York based director that his been making a name for himself lately. This is what History had to say about the initial creation of the record:

Creating the record I didn’t care about anything and hated everything going on at that time in life so the only thing that could sum up the way I felt was saying “That’s Evil!”, everything followed after that. I felt like King Critical was the only person that could make the song better than it actually was so I put him on the song. Even though he didn’t want to hop on it at first, I convinced him that the beat and song was ahead of it time and he ended up doing the verse anyway and now we have a quote on quote hit.

Let us know what you think about the video and be sure to show up to their December 10th show at SOB’s (info).

The post New Video: History – “EVIL!” feat. King Critical appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.