I’ve wanted to get this guy down for an interview for a while, and it was only a matter of time. Neek is an interesting one, coming to relative infamy through various streetwear internet forums, he then went on to offer creative and consultancy services to high profile streetwear brands, including UNDFTD, Supreme and The Hundreds. He’s a mainstay of the Las Vegas car scene, manages Stussy’s Vegas location and runs his own lifestyle brand ‘LURKN’.
He explains it better than me however, so I’ll leave it to Neek to explain LURKN and what it’s all about.
Who is Neek?
Born in New York City, moved to Vegas a while ago. I’m 22 years old but mentally I am 35 years old. Taking it one day at a time learning life lessons and experience the good and bad shit of this world. I take photos and LURK.
You’re back in Vegas. How did you start working at Stussy?
Being involved with Fruition and having Chris J. (owner of Fruition) as a mentor helped a lot in working with Stussy. He got me connected with them and now I am here managing the shop..
Tell us about your involvement with the LV car scene?
I wanted to see the Vegas car scene grow and actually have a community of dope people with dope rides come together. No one was really doing anything like throwing weekly meets. One night over a cup of tea, my friends and up with a crew name called, LOWBALLERS. We wanted to have fun and take everything in humour. It also means driving damn low to the ground.
What is Lurkn? And how did it come about?
LURKN is a lifestyle brand. It means what it stands for, have you ever checked some chicks Facebook and see what is going on with her even before you met her. Then you have LURKED. It also applys to everyday life, like going out to a bar and checking out what everyone is doing. You are LURKN. I have been doing the good ole fashion sticker slapping around Vegas. It makes sense when you spot it.
What have you got planned for Lurkn next?
Just whatever comes…I like things to organically happen.
You’re obviously involved with Stussy LV, and have your own line Lurkn, but what do you think of the streetwear scene in general?
Yes I manage/Market the Stussy LV Shop. I try not to think of the streetwear scene and focus more on the lifestyle side of things at the moment. Anyone can buy a t-shirt from a shop but what separates brands is the image and what it represents. A hip hop rapper dude to a hipster kid can wear Stussy that is the beauty of the brand.
Do you think that a solid blog and social media plan gives a brand an advantage?
Of course, with twitter and facebook it makes the world a lot smaller. Think of it as a tree, it has many branches…being connected thru social media you can reach your audience better then an ad. Kids are online sitting at home lurking thru a vast online community. Posting periodically throughout the day a business or shop can have a great presence with these kids.
How much of your internet presence to you contribute to your relative success with your companies and brands?
A lot….I was more of a anti-social kid back in high school and my release and a so called 2nd life was online. Way before the boom of the social media networks I lived online. Putting my life and what I see through photos and words. I guess you can say I found a niche when I didn’t even know it…
I hear you have a mild obsession with Japanese porn? And that you have a big collection?
HAHAH! Man I love Japanese porn. Not only do they have amazing scenes but the way they shoot and portray certain situations that can happen only when you day dream. From the layout of the DVD cover to the interaction in the scenes it’s fucking epic.
What does 2011 hold for Neek?
Who know’s? I need a Japanese girl though…
