Kunle Martins Reflects on New York's Streetwear Golden Age in New Highsnobiety Interview

In Highsnobiety's latest deep dive into the "Everything Is Streetwear" series, Kunle Martins—the legendary New York graffiti writer, IRAK founder, and downtown scene stalwart—offers a nostalgic yet unflinching look at the golden era of early 2000s New York that helped birth modern streetwear culture. Known for his prolific tagging as "Earsnot" and his evolution from teenage runaway to gallery artist, Martins reflects on a pivotal moment when digital culture was nascent and consequences felt less permanent: "We were doing all the worst things that you could do on the internet because it didn't matter. It didn't count, it wasn't real."

The interview captures Martins at his most contemplative, discussing his transition from street vandalism to legitimate collaborations with brands like Converse, Supreme, and Adidas, while maintaining the raw authenticity that made IRAK legendary. Perhaps most poignantly, he speaks about Virgil Abloh's continued support of IRAK even after ascending to Louis Vuitton, praising the late designer's loyalty: "It is really easy for somebody to be like, 'I'm being put on by Louis Vuitton. Let me forget about as many things that aren't high level as possible.' Virgil appreciated the things that got him to where he was." The conversation weaves through memories of working at Alife Rivington Club, hanging with Chloe Sevigny, and the bittersweet realization that hearing The Fray's "How to Save a Life" transported him back to "people that have died that I could have stayed up with"—a sobering reminder of the era's casualties alongside its creative triumphs.