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Freedom

Freedom

Freedom

By Jordan Croff

Posted September 18, 2021

In Blog

Freedom2021-09-182021-09-20https://akepele.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/akepele-varsity_blk2_rnd.webpAkepele Apparel - Streetwear With Rhythmhttps://akepele.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/screen-shot-2021-09-20-at-9.06.59-am.png200px200px

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akepeleapparel

Here’s a quick look into how I created the two-t

Here’s a quick look into how I created the two-tone fat lace drawstrings for my On A Mission zip-up hoodie.

-Renzo

#akepeleapparel #streetwearwithrhythm #akepele #smallbusiness #behindthescenes #diy #customapparel #streetwear

Another throwback. This was about 25 years ago,

Another throwback.

This was about 25 years ago, back in 1999-ish, a collective of us dancers in Portland, OR were invited to a photo shoot for a new radio station’s ad campaign and outdoor media (billboards, bus stops, and busses). They didn’t even tell us the station name at the time.

I was pretty excited and this was a big deal for me, I was going to be on a billboard dancing. The shoot was 8+ hours long, didn’t pay much, and unfortunately the photographers weren’t experienced in capturing movement from dancers, not their fault. But because of this, they couldn’t anticipate our movements to snap the camera at the right moment for the perfect shot. Two of us were BBoys trying to give them gold, it just wasn’t happening. We ended up just doing jump shots where we’d jump up in a pose and they’d snap the shot. “ 1-2-3…Jump!” We did this multiple times giving all sorts of freezes and air poses.

After the shoot, we wouldn’t know the station name nor which images made the ads until they were up and live. Well, the station was my future employer Jammin 95.5 Portlands Party Station and as my luck would have it, they chose a single image where my hands were covering my face. Smh lol. Literally, unless I told you, you’d have no idea that was me on the ads.

I was bummed out but made the most of it. I told everyone, that is me… and event tried to duplicate the jump. Haha shameless.

There were a series of images that featured all 5 dancers from the shoot, two BBoys and 3 “hip hop” dancers! These ads were up and in play for close to a year or more I believe. Not long after, we were hired to dance at the stations street team events and give out these posters with us on them. The funny thing is that the station had no idea, at first, that we were the same dancers from the billboards when we were brought on to dance. It’s funny how things work out.

Thanks for rolling with me back down memory lane.

-Renzo

#akepeleapparel #akepelepdx #streetwearwithrhythm #akepelestreetwear #jammin955portlandoregon #jammin955portlandspartystation #kxjmjammin955

Here’s a throwback from 20 years ago at the Mons

Here’s a throwback from 20 years ago at the Monsters Of Hip Hop choreography/dance conference in Seattle, WA in February 2004. Damn it hurts to think this was 20 years ago. Lol

I attended a few of these conferences and they were pretty dope. This one in particular had some heavy hitters in the industry at the time, check out the schedule on the next pic. We took from these OGs that are still killing it 20 years later, @theofficialdavescott, @mrkudelka, @nappytabs, and @mrwigglesrsc.

I really enjoyed THIS conference, because after one session we hung out and chopped it up with Napoleon of @nappytabs and @mrwigglesrsc. Both really cool people and they had stories for days.

It was extra dope because Wiggles used this platform as an opportunity to educate the dancers about hip hop history as he taught the class. It was cool to experience a legend preserving the culture on a commercial level even way back then.

Unfortunately, I didn’t get a pic with any other choreographers. Things moved too fast after the sessions. Great memories all around.

I will say, I do miss dancing, however my knees and my back do not.

-Renzo.

#akepeleapparel #akarenzo #akepelestreetwear #streetwearwithrhythm #rocksteadycrew #mrwigglesrsc #electricboogaloos #theelectricboogaloos #zulunation #nappytabs #davescott #martykudelka #monstersofhiphopseattle2004 #monstersofhiphop

Reeeeeemix!!! The homie @vursatylthegreat, one of

Reeeeeemix!!!

The homie @vursatylthegreat, one of Portlands dopest MCs, has this song called “Hard On The Boulevard” that slaps. To add there is a dope azz remix by the legend @tallhomeyvita and on a collectors cassette too, not flexing but mine is signed.

You can get one too, just slide to the Vursatyls’ page and hit him up. You want this. Keep an eye out for the video that drops today 5p PST on YouTube. See Vursatyl’s page for link.

-Renzo

#vursatyl #hardontheboulevard #pruducervitamind #akepeleapparel #akepele #streetwearwithrhythm

Here are a couple of badges from my days at KXJM J

Here are a couple of badges from my days at KXJM Jammin 95.5 circa 2002-2006.

It’s a funny story how Trent Diesel became my radio name, short version…we were doing a street team hit in Salem, Oregon and part of our promo swag was for a new Vin Diesel movie. While hanging out and joking around with listeners, I had convinced them that I was the little brother of Vin Diesel, Trent Diesel. It was hilarious how conVINcing I was and that they believed me. The listeners then shared this new knowledge with excitement to new people that walked up. From that day on I was Trent Diesel. l liked it, it was cool.

The concerts and events we were part of as staff at the station was pretty dope. Backstage passes to roam and see artists about to take the stage. Also, to be part of a team that curated some incredible moments for Portland was pretty cool.

I definitely miss working in radio, I think that’s why I enjoyed DJing on Twitch so much during the pandemic, it brought me back to those days.

Lastly, Check out the hair in these!!!

Definitely some “You Got Served!” vibes, it’s fitting because I was heavily into saving at the time.

#akepeleapparel #akerenzo #akepelepdx #streetwearwithrhythm #jammin955portlandspartystation #jammin955portlandoregon #kxjmjammin955 #theplayhousemorningshow

Oh snap!!! I was going through my storage unit a

Oh snap!!!

I was going through my storage unit and found a box of my air-check tapes from my days at KXJM Jammin 95.5 in Portland, OR from 2002-2006.

For those not in radio, an air-check tape is a recoding of all talk breaks during your show. I recorded all of my shows to listen back and find ways to improve. Bi-weekly, I’d sit with our Program Director and get pointers on execution and voice. Super fun.

I hosted the weekend mix shows Friday and Saturday nights. I can’t remember Friday’s show name but Saturday Night Street Party was the other. It was cool because the live DJs during the shows were all my homies, we’d chop it up on talk breaks and joke around. This was before I started my career as a DJ and probably what inspired me to get into it.

On occasion I’d host the Slow Jams and Dedication’s show during the week, I even auditioned for it when the position came up. Unfortunately, I wasn’t seasoned enough to land the spot.

My time at Jammin 95.5 was my favorite job to date, I loved it. Music is everything to me and working in radio was the closet I could get to listeners next to being an artist or music producer. I learned many skills in that 4 years that continue to be helpful today.

For the record, I’m terrified to even listen to these. lol. So I won’t and neither will you!!!

-Renzo

#akepeleapparel #akepele #jammin955portlandspartystation #kxjmjammin955 #jammin955portlandoregon #radiohost #weekendmixshow

On A Mission Zip-Up Hoodie. Take a walk through t

On A Mission Zip-Up Hoodie.

Take a walk through the features on the new Akepele Zip-Up. It’s my new favorite piece and it’s super comfortable with a dope silhouette!

I think you will like this one too.

-Renzo

#akepele #akepeleapparel #streetwearwithrhythm #musicbringspeopletogether #akepelestreetwear #portlandstreetwear #streetwear #skateboardstreetwear #surfandskate

Remember this??? My editing skills came alive. It

Remember this???

My editing skills came alive. It took me a few hours to film and edit this short clip.

I had to create a sequence of how I wanted the garments to come and go for each clip then film them accordingly. I taped a spot on the floor to know where to stand for each shot and did multiple takes using a remote to trigger the video to start filming. It came out pretty dope!!!

-Renzo

Music:
@official_edje
Dis Goe

#akepeleapparel #streetwearwithrhythm #akepele #hiphopculture #streetwearfashion #videoediting #hoodieseason

#waybackwednesday *link in bio (Linktree) Happy V

Throwback Thursday #tbt 3 months ago to the day,

This was back in 2020 just after I moved into the

This was back in 2020 just after I moved into the new Akepele studio. As you can see it was a tight fit, I outgrew the space immediately. I made great strides in this space and have since moved across the hall into a space twice as big and as you guessed it, I outgrew the new space immediately too. 🤦🏻‍♂️🤷🏻‍♂️

#akepeleapparel #entrepreneurship #entrepreneur #entrepreneurstruggles #akarenzo

You can’t say you’re a fan of @vursatylthegrea

You can’t say you’re a fan of @vursatylthegreat if you don’t know about IZAYA.

Thursday February 8th. Doors 8pm at Star Theater. Tickets available now (link in bio) $12/$15

• PIGEON JOHN
• VURSATYL
• DONTE THOMAS
• SOOP DREAD
• NO REQUESTS DJS (Ambush & Klyph)

Big up to @startheaterpdx , @pacwestgroup, @musicportland, @xrayfm, & @akepeleapparel.

Don’t sleep, this promises to be one of the greatest events of 2024!

#pigeonjohn #vursatylthegreat #akepeleapparel #pacwestgroup #startheaterpdx #djklyph #djambush

Last month I did an interview with @canvasrebel ma

A modern twist to a throwback!!! Some people are

A modern twist to a throwback!!!

Some people are super and some people are fly, but only a few can be Supa Dupa Fly!!! Is this YOU?

An Akepele Original!!!

#akepeleapparel #akepelestreetwear #streetwearwithrhythm #epitomeofdope #superfly #supadupafly #missyelliot #curtismayfield #rononeal

👀New Drop🤯 If you know me, I love hoodies.

This looks hilarious 🤣!!! @affioncrockett is

This looks hilarious 🤣!!!

@affioncrockett is crazy for this one.

A HIP HOP STORY (OFFICIAL TRAILER)‼️
In SELECT AMC THEATERS FEB 23rd !!

#ahiphopstory #affioncrockett #hiphop

#akepeleapparel #streetwearwithrhythm #pdxpopup202

#akepeleapparel #streetwearwithrhythm #pdxpopup2023 #akarenzo #10yearanniversary #akepele10year

All New Drops Available Now Online. Akepele Dot

All New Drops Available Now Online.

Akepele Dot Com!!!

All of the new pieces previously available only at the pop-up are now restocked and available online.

Also, the Akepele website has been stripped down for a better user experience and I’ve updated the gallery and modified the aesthetic too.

Check it out!!! *link in bio.

Peace,
Renzo

#akepeleapparel #pdxpopup2023 #streetwearwithrhyth

#akepeleapparel #pdxpopup2023 #streetwearwithrhythm #akarenzo

WHAT AN EXPERIENCE. I just wrapped up one of the

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