Retro Tuxedo Self-Portrait

Photo Credit: Brad Young

Photo Edit: Myself

I had met Scott “ Kid Cudi” Mescudi a couple of years prior to these photos. He went to high school with my college roommate and came to visit us one weekend. He played his soon to be smash hit “Day ‘N’ Night” off of Myspace and told us that it was the song that was going to change everything. He wasn’t lying.

Funny side story, Scott couldn’t get into one of the bars when he was visiting us because he was wearing these old grey/blue Timberland boots, so we went back to our dorm room and he swapped them out for my roommates Nike Air-Force Ones. Well, Cudi ended up leaving his Timberland boots behind and taking the Nikes, while I ended up cleaning high school boiler rooms in them for an entire summer. Haha!

Fast Forward, I ended up introducing Chip Tha Ripper, Cleveland native hip-hop star to Cudi a few years later and the two would go on to create hit songs like “Just What I Am” and “Hyyerr” featuring Kanye West. They still continue to collaborate to this day.

*These pictures were taken backstage at a Fools Gold show in Chicago during the release of Cudi’s debut mixtape “A Kid Named Cudi.” It was a night to remember.

Jesty is an Ohio native, like me. He is a producer and an artist that I created content with for many years. Jesty is a bi-coastal musician with an extensive background in strategic media marketing, from the subtle detail to the most innovative themes. He is an exceptional talent that insures sure brands and thought-leaders are heard loud and clear.

This Just In is an Ohio club promotor and musician with a voice that would remind you of Tone Loc and a style that could be taken right out of a Spike Lee film.

You may remember Chris as a member of Philadelphia rap duo Young Gunz, formerly signed to Roc-A-Fella Records through Beanie Sigel's State Property collective, early success included the hit single "Can't Stop, Won't Stop.”

I randomly got a call that Chris had seen my work and wanted to set up a photoshoot with me. It was a spur of the moment, “drop what you’re doing,” type of opportunity. I drove to his hotel and did an entire photoshoot in an elevator.

*Fun fact, Chris wasn’t wearing any shoes the entire shoot. Haha!

I met Trevor, lead singer of “Trouble Gang,” through a mutual friend. He had just finished performing at a small dive bar in Cleveland Ohio when he invited me backstage to hang out with him and X-Games legend, gold medalist, Shawn White. Trevor later went on to be the creator of the popular Gucci line, Gucci Ghost. He is now married with children to Pop Star icon, Santigold.

Chip was a relationship that I began to develop straight out of college. It was an awesome opportunity for me because at the time he was my favorite artist.

I had started my own media company called Camera Chameleon and went on to be his primary creator for all of his content from, capturing live show footage, to album covers and promo. There was an added bonus that came with working with him during this time as he was originally signed to Lebron Jame’s record label DreamLife. DreamLife was a label that Lebron and Rich Paul, now one of the number one professional sports agents started together.

I went on to create content for Chip for years to come.

Elvis/James Dean Inspired Self-Portrait.

Photo Credit: Galen Oakes

Photo Edit: Myself

Model: JB Hillard

Kid Cudi and Million Dollar Mano

Roxy Summers is Roxy Cottontail, New York's infamous club promoter, DJ, and up-and-coming rapstress.

Alain Macklovitch, known by his stage name A-Trak, is a Canadian DJ, turntablist, record producer, and record label executive. He is the owner and President of the record label Fool's Gold which was founded in 2007 and is credited for developing the careers of artists such as Kid Cudi, Danny Brown, and Flosstradamus.

Second Photo: Kid Cudi and Chip Tha Ripper

One-Third of the up and coming family band known as, “The Greys.”

Associate Editor at GrandSon LA.

GrandSon is an inter-disciplinary creative studio that cultivates connections and starts conversations. We are an eclectic band of badass makers and innovators united by a singular unspoken motivator: real human connection. With curiosity at the core of our process, we champion creative freedom and craft content to inspire action and reaction.

GrandSon was founded by Goktug Sarioz, an entertainment industry veteran with 20+ years of experience. Deeply rooted in art, design, entertainment, and technology, we are dedicated to designing stunning brand narratives that are larger than life — and screens.

Dave Espionage

Chip Tha Ripper | S.L.A.B. Ent