BLVD Interview: The Brand

New Orleans is full of young creatives embarking on innovative ideas, and really shifting the culture, the staff at BLVD may be one of the most creative, and most innovative brands of them all. Creating everything from music, to clothing, to commercials, these young individuals have carved out their own lane. BLVD!

TheRadioShaq: Why BLVD Etiquettes? Not just why you guys chose that name, but why create that particular brand? What impact do you want it to have on the culture?

BLVD: Well BLVD Etiquettes originated from the street name that CEO/ creative director Dominique Smith grew up on park blvd, and etiquettes meaning the way we carry ourselves and how we present the brand to people. We chose this particular brand to give off the main message that you can be anything you want to be in life if your mind and heart is in the right spot. The impact we want to have on the culture is don't follow the trends they tend to die very often so if anything create a legacy, build an empire...fuck be your own boss! TheRadioShaq: Do you consider what your staff creates at BLVD to be apart of Hip Hop culture? BLVD: I do feel as tho we are heavy in the hip hop culture. We have various artist that have been busting their ass to become great artist and songwriters including CEO Kenyon Jennings, Genius, and Ceil. We often switch things and become a small label when it's time to get projects done for whatever artist is ready to drop a song or a mixtape.  TheRadioShaq: How do y'all manage the daily duties? Who does what? BLVD: It's funny how we issue daily duties lol we have a group message that is very consistent my phone is actually dying during this interview with them constantly sending jokes and different task that need to be done but that is our best way of communication with out schedules being mixed up during the week. TheRadioShaq: What's been the hardest part about creating such an innovative brand? BLVD: The hardest part about creating a very innovative brand is keeping the attention on us new brands well t shirt lines are made everyday and it's easy to go to the printing company with art and buy shirts but it's so much more into this that many people don't understand you have to literally give your all to something that can either make you or break you in the long run. TheRadioShaq: What's been the most rewarding part? BLVD: The most rewarding part honestly is seeing the amount supporters we gain especially when we are together or by ourselves that's a feeling that's not explainable.  TheRadioShaq: What inspires the art that goes into BLVD product? BLVD: What inspires the art for the brand is our surroundings and our different lifestyles not one person in the brand is the same I feel like that's art by itself because how many groups of talented being do you see that different within besides the ones we see on tv? TheRadioShaq: If you were explaining the background of each individual on staff at BLVD to a stranger, how would you describe each person? BLVD: I wouldn't explain the background of each member it's to hard of a task hell I wouldn't explain myself I would invite them into our lives if they were that interested. TheRadioShaq: How does your brand differ from other brands? BLVD: Most brands say they are different when I haven't seen a difference yet niggas still putting out basic cotton tees and hoodies etc and promoting the wrong message the shit is bigger than fashion itself to us so to state how we are different is Cliche we are just blvdetiquettes.  TheRadioShaq: When do you know that it's time to drop a particular piece of merchandise? BLVD: We are trying to work with the seasons do get more into different fabrics and colors but really just drop gear whenever we are ready. TheRadioShaq: How are final decisions usually made for the brand? BLVD: Final decisions are resulting in a lot of arguing and a lot of hell yeah let's do it and fuck no that shit wack moments but in the outcome we have dropped a lot of nice pieces. TheRadioShaq: Who would you say your intended audience is? BLVD: We are not looking for an intended audience we want everybody to be in something made by us to get the message across even faster that we are all believers leaders visionaries and dreamers. TheRadioShaq: Do you feel like your market is over saturated? Or do you feel like you've created a unique enough lane? BLVD: Right now the market is very over saturated by everybody thinking they can make it over night with t shirt and no moral story behind what they are doing I do feel like we are in our own lane because we are giving a lot besides clothing. TheRadioShaq: What would be a message to some of your supporters? BLVD: My message to our supporters would be to always follow your heart everybody is meant to do something just make sure what you do you are the best and always remain humble or in our case REMAIN BOULEVARD LOL.