J. Alexander Martin on FUBU Parting Ways with Black Lives Matter Amid Controversies (Part 4)

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Part 3: • J. Alexander Martin on...
Part 1: • J. Alexander Martin on...
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In this clip, J. Alexander Martin spoke about his FUBU co-founder Daymond John appearing on “Shark Tank” in 2009, which Martin revealed John came to him about when it was offered. Martin added that he encouraged John to go for the offer, and he explained how it has benefitted Daymond’s life greatly. Moving along, Martin spoke about trying to relaunch FUBU with “FB Legacy,” which he admitted didn’t take off. Martin also detailed buying other clothing brands, including Coogi, which he says is still doing well, and he went on to address Solange’s 2016 song “FUBU.” From there, Martin spoke about the “Black Lives Matter” movement and FUBU’s involvement following George Floyd’s death, and Martin went on to reveal that he has parted ways with them in light of recent controversies. Martin explained that he has built FUBU over the past 30 years, and he didn’t want to risk the integrity of the company with one partnership. When asked about Virgil Abloh’s Off White, Martin touched on Black-owned brands and Virgil breaking the mold with his premium brand. This led to a conversation about another Black-owned brand, Telfar, which Martin points out has exclusivity as a way to set them apart. Vlad then spoke about how Pop Smoke put Dior on the map, which you can hear more about above.

[@CedRockStarr]

Lord Jamar, ironically on vladtv, was the first person (celebrity or otherwise) I saw/heard to call out BLM and why he “don’t fuck widdit”. He was saying what he was saying right at the very height of the BLM hype/“movement”.

[@ajamu4304]

The Dior fashion house has been globally popular amongst the elite since the 1950s.

[@micahhayes8770]

Its crazy how these urban brands like FUBU, Kani, Eco & etc are huge in China&Japan right now.

[@tysons8759]

Just like the music.

[@theadskipper2928]

I’m from Southern California and cholos still wear jerseys and baggy pants even the way they rap is very 90‘s

[@TheNotoriousKID]

Right now?? Bro they been huge there for decades now.

[@tysons8759]

@@TheNotoriousKID He clearly stated Right Now. He’s talking in the present. Why are you talking about the past?Nobody asked you. clown 🤡

[@chuteball]

I've been wearing dior for over 30 years. From Fahrenheit cologne to other items as I got older.

[@vatricegeorge]

Lil Kim and other rappers had been discussing Dior way back in the day

[@ghostdesignstv]

I don't think this is a correct take on Dior, maybe more people are checking for it now in the hip-hop sphere but Dior has always provided top level fashion for celebrities and wealthy people. Even in Hip-Hop Kanye has been talking about Dior for 15 years, maybe people are just bandwagoning the brand, but to say it wasn't popular isnt accurate

[@andrewyb830]

fragrances, sun glasses, shoes these designer houses always items that move apart from clothing

[@don-justemeri7563]

facts

[@cash9739]

Yeah Dior has been around and mentioned in hip hop since the 90’s Lil Kim/Foxy used to talk dat Christian Dior/DKNY ish…Pop Smoke Made it back popular in Hip Hop community 🕊💫

[@justinwheeldonful]

Yeah this was a bad take. I've known wealthy people for over 15 years and Dior was definitely on their list lol.

[@DJ_SECRET_863]

pass the Courvoisier by pharrell, diddy, busta rhymes was another prime example of artists jumping the gun & the company just said thanks

[@Josesandovalll]

Dior used to be at the Cabazon Outlets here in Cali. I bought my gf a bracelet for $100 back in 2011. It’s wild now how that brand blew up.

[@PancakeDiaries]

Puma and Adidas were formed by beefing brothers lol... The Dasslers. They had a company called Geda, and they split up forming the companies in 48 and 49, respectively. Adidas is really pronounced Adi Das for Adi Dassler. Rudolph is the one that started Puma

[@gsignaturemessage]

Yep. When you look at case studies of most major businesses, it usually involved some kind of beef lol.

[@DLM323]

I see somebody else saw the documentary lol

[@PancakeDiaries]

@@DLM323 no, actually I didn't know there was one. I'm a nerd at heart and know hella useless shit. Uncle John Toilet Bowl books are dope for these types of tidbits

[@DLM323]

@@PancakeDiaries That's a good thing lol just 2 weeks ago i saw a doc on here saying what you said.

[@thdoom81]

imagine if you actually studied things that can help you

[@easttremont718]

only thing thatll save fubu is a kanye collab. i dont like everything kanye has his hand in, but i cant lie…when he touches something, people go crazy for it.

[@bjvu9460]

kanye business is not as big as you think it is... what the brand he is signed with does, is make his stuff in limited quantity and then create a cult like marketing strategy around it... what that does is increase the price of it and create a false demand ... kanye stuff is ugly and is not selling huge quantities but the prices are through the roof ... the moron is complaining that his stuff arent affordable at the 19.99 mark and there is a reason why.. most people arent buying kanye worthless stuff but he doesnt get it and you definitely wont

[@wamrainc176]

I see your “Black lives Matter” slogan, and raise you even a better one, “All Lives Matter”

[@donaldprophete5005]

Why’d he go on that long ass monologue about Virgil lol

[@corywill1256]

Picture vlad break dancing 😂😂😂

[@Drediggy]

Listen to this man he is speaking truths. Mind your business is the word

[@antneedahitta3027]

Make the logos smaller

[@positivevibe1123]

who remembers South Pole

[@antneedahitta3027]

Fubu logos smaller*

[@dollazandsense]

Daymond John and him damn near sound the exact same voice wise

[@diddy2612]

Ok I thought it was just me thinking that

[@andrewyb830]

the take on Virgil and what he did i think is wrong, Virgil did not somehow maintain "high end image", Virgil was part of an era of street wear brands in the blog era that concatenate limited releases and artist forward brand designs or collaborations. it was through that grassroot following and releases he developed the street wear lux from 'pyrex vision' to 'off-white' also in recent years luxury brands have been leaning towards street wear aesthetics so it also helped brands like his and supreme get that kind of look

[@soulstalgiarecords77740]

LL was wrapping about Vicks in one of his songs... I forgot what song that was, but I wonder if LL was also first 'minding his business' in a strategic manner on that track, as per how J Alexander implores folks to be?

[@michaelletona6228]

Just bring in modern designs and FUBU a be lit !! But you can’t make a brand for us and market it as expensive and lavish 💯

[@turfhawg7006]

Free Game. Good looks 👍💯

[@doomkid1331]

Lmaoooo imagine Glad breakdancing 🤦🏾‍♂️🤷🏾‍♂️💀

[@dungaanatole1469]

Bruh before pop smoke no one was checking for Dior ,like seriously,smfh Vlad you must be crazy,Dior been a high end brand for a while now

[@regissanders2409]

I gotta be honest. I hadn't even heard of Amiri's before Pop Smoke either

[@dawkinsco6298]

Jay and Dame did this. To the point where they blurred out brands in their videos.

[@dabull4456]

I remember I when to a club in England and they refused me entry for wear a fubu t shirt

[@itr0863]

They did you a favor

[@dabull4456]

The next week I wear it again and they let me in future was the best 👌

[@TruckingWithShomoney]

Now I know what happened to Virgil

[@jabb801st]

Christian Dior was always Popular ; but after Pop Smoke , He made it an even bigger Trend… & that’s Facts…‼️💯

[@sstelevision6376]

All of these high fashion brands are poppin’ in the high fashion world. They’re essentially just ushered in at this point like tradition. But what Special Agent Vlad is saying is correct because it’s not until the common person looks at a brand a certain way that profits can break through a certain barrier. That’s why despite these brands’ high and mighty status they try to carry themselves with, they’ll still do collabs with brands and people with less prestigious names. It’s about the bottom line at the end of the day and Pop Smoke made Dior a household name again from a clothing perspective.

[@thdoom81]

special agent who is giving your dumb ass an education

[@underrated9966]

50 rapped about dior and buying women dior 20yrs ago bro he came up w ‘Many Man’ first too lol dnt let Vlad rewrite history

[@nekaneka-lo2js]

Vlad rewrite history? Lol nigga you too invested into what Vlad says

[@underrated9966]

@@nekaneka-lo2js nigga change the narrative on many situations they talk about is my aim. Maybe I didn’t simply tht further enough for you goofy! Now go have the best rest of the day you deserve.🙏🏽

[@micahhayes8770]

4:13.....Coogi still lit to this day. Vintage and new designs both be lit.

[@BeyBrightOfficial]

I’m so glad J spoke about Virgil and why his brand remains relevant! The only reason is that Off White and Virgil are attached to the Louis Vuitton brand. Had Virgil been unaffiliated with LV he’d suffer the same fate as FUBU and every other Black designer! In addition to Jay’s other point, Diddy took a struggling unknown vodka in Ciroc with major distribution through Diago and saw potential and brokered a massive deal and now he’s at almost billionaire status. He learned from Damon Dash and Jay-Z promoting Cristal for free and when they tried to break bread with Cristal they said “fuck off”. Who’s drinking Cris now? 🤷🏽‍♂️🤣

[@thewatcher9804]

GLad

[@stevofla239]

Smaller logo

[@theodownie7408]

Migos Versace

[@ri067953]

FUBU was cool for a minute. The idea of a minority owned clothing company resonated at the time they came out. But they needed to take the brand to the next level. I mean look at that cap...redesign that FB logo. Put some quality designs in. Thats how you stay afloat. You have 30 years in the game but what did you really do in that 30 years beside skate on the For Us By Us statement?

[@dizmop]

That's it, I was thinking the same, that logo alone needs work

[@ms.b9866]

A LOT of funny, great, and educational comment's to. Someone mentioned FUBU should maybe link up with Kanye, that might do it. Nice Handbags, Suits, every day wear, Plus size clothing... Fragrance, Cologne... Sleepwear, sit down with a Team of People who is Gifted and knowledgeable. FUBU just might be able to do well again in the United States... Dior has been around for decade's. Thanks Vlad another nice Interview. Vlad you are interviewing everybody, giving everyone a Platform. You Mind as well get an Exclusive Interview with Trump. What's really Good?😊. P.S. I could be WRONG!!! But I think Lil Durk, Lil Baby and some of the other Newer Artists, are benefiting from advertising...because for so many years some Black and Brown People may have been Advertising Clothing for free. Maybe didn't get a dime from Polo, Gucci, Fendi, Louis Vuitton back in the day. Maybe many didn't know.

[@liftsomethin1370]

I want that hat

[@NewJackCity1988]

Vlad u buy stock all the time and you don’t watch shark tank?

[@AAAA-nv5cf]

Vlad be in his own mind sometimes because I and others never put Pop Smoke and Dior together lol. Dior was poppin before Pop Smoke and even if he went out his way to rap about them Dior don’t owe him or his family a dime

[@ReVolt_e-Vlogs]

He just doesn't know shit about fashion, any designer he wears he got just got the pure sport of "blending in", he's the definition of a Hypebeast! 💯 I feel if you don't know the history of the expensive designer clothes you're wearing, you should still wear Pro Club shirts & Dickies! 😂

[@simonlee498]

Gucci and Dior has always been popular with rich people it's just these luxury brands are in todays rap videos + socials too flex both these companies ran since ww2 Gucci and Dior don't need rappers lol it's just a huge bonus for free advertising. Look at everyone in the 90 early 00s no one in hip-hop was wearing Gucci or Dior cause back then the words used when rapping mattered, you see rap today an it's only designer goods in the video an no one has a clue what's been said cause they are too drugged up . You take away designer goods from todays rap culture an everyones music video "looks broke" and everyones social media is now just money an chain videos . It's all about flexing lol rappers today have absolutely no content in videos or music apart from Opps , Louis Vuitton, an money

[@hostilesavage4299]

This aint the fckn 90's... nobody wears Fubu anymore.. wtf haha you can find Fubu on the discount racks these days..

[@johnjames7440]

Pioneers big up FUBU

[@kevm243]

Man Nicki Minaj should have made a deal with Michael Kors!! After she dropped that verse in her song about Michael Kors it was INSANE!! Everywhere you looked girls started buying those bags it was like Crack for women! Lol Over like a 2 year period I'm sure she helped boost their sales a few hundred million $$

[@tonyoliver5537]

Addidas is owned by two German brothers who also own's Reebok and Puma.

[@makavelli7211]

A bit of nuance there. Adidas was founded by Adolf Dassler (Adi Das), while Puma was founded by his brother Rudolf Dassler. Prior to Adidas and Puma, both brothers had the Gebrüder Dassler (The Dassler Brothers).A family feud led the brothers to part ways... Adolf went and made Adidas whereas Rudold founded Ruda (Rudolf Dassler). He later changed Ruda to Puma... Adidas did own Reebok for some time. I think they recently sold it.

[@OnlyThe1Son]

I bet the line in France outside of DIOR were 80% chinese , asian. because in ASIA luxury brands have always been HOT.. and I am sure 99% of ASIANS have never heard of Amercan HIP HOP rappers today. and the majority of Sales of Luxury goods come from Asians. now, maybe these Rappers in USA brought a presence to the URBAN, hip hop, street culture community , let them wear some designer labels now. but to say, a rapper ELEVATED a BRAND like DIOR internationally.. is just plain stupid!

[@HooodClassicsTV]

Rap got more influence worldwide than Kpop

[@OnlyThe1Son]

@@HooodClassicsTV sure! I agree. but the majority of people worldwide dont walk around dressed like PAC.

[@HooodClassicsTV]

@@OnlyThe1Son well Pac hasn’t been around for years lol use Kanye as an example. Everyone dressing like him forget blacks I see whites, Asian’s, etc. wearing Ye influences stuff from mask, to jackets, shoes, etc.

[@HooodClassicsTV]

@@OnlyThe1Son also look at BBC, Bape and Ice Cream which are assigns brands but didn’t get popular till Pharell, Weezy and rappers started wearing it.

[@OnlyThe1Son]

@@HooodClassicsTV you are talking about a minority of people though. travel to Asia, travel to Europe, the majority of people dont dressed like Urban black rappers from Queens and LA. sure some influential rappers might set a trend, but they sure as hell didnt start it.. Europeans and Asians been dressing with designer labels forever... Hip Hop and Rap is still not a minority music genre its not the global standard. yes, mainstream, but how many rappers abroad in ITaly, spain, france, China, korea, sweden are black? NONE. and those rappers dont dress like YE or ICE CUBE

[@mlobimkhize5444]

J.A.M: I'm the type of guy; I mind my business... Vlad: * hears shots being fired* 👀

[@theface8997]

Learn how to Pronounce the Champs Elysees properly-!!!!

[@sliderserve]

The butchered mispronounciation of CHAMP ELYSEES by someone who recently went to Paris is trifling

[@itr0863]

I donate to BLM. They need more mansions.

[@sirjefferson4790]

Looks like y’all stop making the fubu hat y’all definitely need to bring that back and sell it again

[@scottsimon769]

Last 🤬 💩

[@stevenguevara2184]

I believe FUBU is a sought after brand that brings a great deal on the resell market.

[@skeezix8156]

Mostly the old school Fat Albert leather jackets are good for reselling. Usually asking is between $6-900

[@Avengeddeath856]

First

[@natalieodom455]

Vlad seriously…… You’re dior comments are not accurate

[@vladtv]

Watch the full interview now as a VladTV KZbin Member: kzbin.info/door/g7lal8IC-xPyKfgH4rdUcAjoin (iPhone KZbin App users click this link: www.vladtv.com/join )

[@jeecee5539]

Oof..

[@LifeOfFlyCecs]

He seems off , energy weird .. like he went broke and hating which doesn’t make sense with such a Huge brand but it happens so..

[@largegod77]

Man he not broke ... he Gucci ...u not understanding the convo ... just bcuz u don’t understand it’s not hate ...

[@williefaulker]

Definitely not broke,

[@PancakeDiaries]

I don't think he's broke, but I get what u mean about the weird and slightly hating energy. He exhibits it throughout the whole interview... He pops his collar enough even tho we as fans know fubu was dead forever ago. I don't care about his pockets, but not being at the top anymore does bruise his ego a bit, and it shows