Good Grief Limited, a new collective founded by battle rapper @ironsolomon and graffiti legend @charlie_the_hustler, has partnered with Rotten Island Records in Brooklyn to celebrate real DJ culture with the limited edition New York Crate Diggers strapback hat.
The name Good Grief was inspired by Charlie the Hustler's grafitti name and his use of the Charlie Brown character in many of his pieces, as well as by the good he’s made out of the grief he’s been through in a life full of insane street tales, drug addiction and ultimately sobriety and a message of love and positivity. The Crate Diggers concept is reflective of hip hop culture in general being a beautiful product of pain and struggle and trauma. As Iron Solomon says, "Grief is Good, Pain is pleasure, struggle is triumph!"
The hat is a tribute to old school DJs who spent countless hours digging through racks of vinyl to find the hidden bangers, before streaming services and Discogs and ebay. It was all about what was in your crates, the ammo in your clip so to speak, that made your name as a DJ. The hat is made from 100% melton wool in navy with a white felt Crate Diggers appliqué stitched on the front, a screen printed Miner League Champions felt patch on the left side, the numbers 33, 45 and 78 embroidered on the right side representing the three record rpm speeds and a nylon buckle strap.
The other added element to this project is the packaging, designed to resemble a crate of records. The cube-shaped box is covered in photos of a record crate assembled by Rotten Islands Records owner Zack "Bones" Jones and photographed Caliph Gamble, the son of Kenny Gamble, founder of the legendary Philadelphia International Records, who's music is coincidently sampled on many of the records featured on the box. The entire package includes:
- 7.25” cubed record crate box (fits 45’s for the true collectors)
- 100% melton wool Crate Diggers hat with felt lettering, embroidery, screen printed felt patch, nylon strap and branded sweatband tags
- Crate Diggers informational baseball card in plastic sleeve
- (1) Rotten Island Records wooden 45 adapter, (1) Good Grief Limited wooden adapter
- several Rotten Island and Good Grief vinyl die cut stickers
The Good Grief Limited "New York Crate Diggers" Cap is now available in both in-store and online.
Photos by Quan Harris
