As I look back at my life and all the experiences that have led me to where I am today, no single event has had a greater impact on my career than the ” Lo- Life” era of which i am proud to have been a part of. Long before I ever studied garment construction or different aspects of the business, my art was the art of getting fresh, going to such extremes as stealing ( or boostin’ ), or having my part in illegal activity, all in the interest of getting fresh! The extremes that people of my era and especially those that came before us. It is a tale that’s nothing short of unbeleivable, but greater than that it was the ” love and loyalty” and comradery that was passed on to me by my “older brothers” that made the Lo legacy an undying inspiration, in my life as well as my career. From an early age adopting the Lo lifestyle, made us stars among our peers, from LA to BK and everywhere in between, I was treated differently because of my quest to be different. I’ll never forget rollin with Thirstin the first time he came to LA in the early 90’s. We had connected through mutual fam and it was just like that! We went to an extremely high profile hollywood venue at the time, I had the pleasure of linking him with fellow Lo generals, Taz Arnold ( Big Yacht ) L.A. Lo fam and Reggie know Jolly ( chicago’s official Lo representative ).Who else was in the house that night but Tyson Beckford, who came and acknowledged the movement and gave Thirstin full respect, the rest of the night was flash bulbs and history as I had connected the Lo fam from east and west, it was a moment in time.
As time passed I made my way to New York to pursue a design career, and was greeted with a genrals welcome by my comrades, eventhough we grew up in different environments, we shared the thrill of the race to get fresh, and they took me in like one of their own. Coming from Cali, it was extra pressure to get fresh in Brooklyn streets, but I was thorough with my collection and swagger and found my fit. I was introduced to most of the founders and spent time in Brooklyn’s Marcus garvey village and all of the memorial places where this movement was birthed. I thought it was important to tell this side of my story, to get back to a time when there was no street wear, just inner city kids who did whatever it took to wear designer labels in the street. With all of my travels, and hieghts that I have seen in my professional life, I can’t ever forget the things that gave me the license to break the rules and dream the dream, love to my Lo heads around the globe, the movement still lives and breathes and will as long as people like myself carry the torch, Love and Loyalty, Brooklyn forever!, thanks for creating such a movement, that has inspired damn near everyone who is anyone in music or fashion today, that’s why part of me will be ( for those who know me) Miki Lo aka Mik Lauren aka Ayel sportiff forever.
This post is a special dedication to my brother Nerd-Lo aka Supa and my Lo Generals everywhere that I’ve rocked with along the way : Thirstin Howl III, Joseph I aka Big Skippa, Rack Lo, B- Born, Fi-Lo, Taz Arnold, Ali El moor III, Reggie Know, Divine Spark Allah, Urban Dynamics, 88 keys, Zhiggy Tribe, The Mop Tops/ Elite forces, Rich Cofinco aka Rich Lo, Emil Soriano aka E-money bags, Lord Akil, Boostin Kev, Disco Dave, Oxini& Eli (EOS), Van Damme, the list goes on and on.
Props to: Flatbush, East New York, Bed Stuy, Crown Hieghts, Marcus Garvey Village, Brownsville, Fort Greene, St. Johns, the 90’s, Utica Ave., Fulton st., home of Brooklyn’s Flyest!
Here’s thirstin’s latest tribute video, he has continued to let the legacy live through his music, ” proud of you family “, keep doin your thing!
peep the white passport frames, told you they were coming soon, look out for them in May.Good lookin to the Robot films/JL fam for havin us come through and Mr. West for lettin me rock in that last shot.
