All Damn Day

A Warehouse

October 16, 2013. My first day at a warhouse in Ontario, Ca. It’s not too far from Riverside. I could take Van Buren, and I’ll be there in 30 minutes. Anyways, I’m hired on as a temp. Just for the season, which was over at the end of January.

To celebrate the amount of business the company was getting, the CEO and Owner planned a Christmas dinner. The employees got together and organized a “Secret Santa” gift exchange. I put “Secret Santa” in quotations because word kept getting out about who had who, and we would have to start over. This happened three times. Everything is set finally, and my exchange is for the warehouse manager, Kevin. I thought making a graphic rendition of him would be cool. 

December 27, 2013. After everyone is done eating we do the gift exchange. Kevin loves his gift. I sit back down and the owner turns to me and say, “It’s a lot warmer in the office. Say hello to our new graphic designer”! Whoa. Hell yea. Finally! Warehouse to office in a matter of months. 

(been apart of some beautiful sunsets since being hired)

I come in to work the following Monday not really knowing when I was going to start my graphic assignments, but kind of feeling like I’m still working in the warehouse til the end of the season. Confused. Had a small meeting with the owner. Turns out my feeling was right. I’m cool with it.

The end of January is here. One of the other temps doesn’t want to stay for the rest of the inventory count. He quits. My time is prolonged in this warehouse til the end of February. Hello, The End of February. Not too sure how this or what is going to happen.

It has been an interesting experience working in a warehouse for the first time. Retail is nothing compared to it. In the begininning I thought that I found my “Retail Liberation !” so to speak, but no, warehouse gets old too.

Honestly, this warehouse isn’t that hard. I have a few friends that work in warehouses too. They laugh when I tell them what a regular day consists of. “Thats it?”, they say with a disgusted look smeared all over their faces. Meh.

I got a few of the office girls to buy some Malice stuff. 

The owners are Chinese. Sometime over summer they shipped these 3-Wheeled Basket Bikes. Sole purpose for the pickers in the warehouse to use! Sadly they’re all on flat tires. I’ve been obsessed with this beaut’s since I found them under a pile of previous seasons’ cases. The owner won’t sell one to me. 

In the midst of me whining about still being in the warehouse, a container is dropped off and has this worn out IMP sticker on it. Not my design, not Marcus’. Not sure if it has something to do with the container supplier, all I know is this excited and  calmed me down at the same time. My co workers looked at me like, “whats IMP?”

The IMP Beanie

I don’t even know what to say, except Thank You! Thank you so much for all of the purchases. 

Marcus & I have been at this “It’s Malice Period” project for a while now. It all started with 12 snapbacks July 8, 2010. Can’t even remember how long it took us to sell these, but we didn’t make any money back, no one really knew what it was (we didn’t even really know what it was) & not too many people were willing to purchase an unknown brand from two young ass guys.

If you’re reading this & purchased one..thank you.

So two summers go by and a few more people catch on. It still takes us longer than forever to move our product. Stuff like that doesn’t discourage us though. We make Malice because all of the big brands are looking consolidated, we’re KNCKLHDS, so we rebel. Not a diss or anything, it’s just preference. 

Fall 2012 comes & its been a while since we produced anything. It gets pretty cold in Riverside around this time, so why not run these beanies again. Last year it was only black, this year was supposed to only be grey. Luckily for us our order was mixed up with Local Gold’s order. Production embroidered on LG’s black beanies by mistake and we ended up getting the black set for free. Picked up our order Saturday October 20th, 2012 and started selling the next day. Since then we’ve sold beanies all over Riverside and shipped to West Virginia, San Diego, and Arizona. It’s November 1st, 2012 and we only have one beanie left!! Pretty good for a small brand out of Riverside, Ca. None of it is possible without our supporters. I wish I could see the face I make when you put that beanie on for the first time, the feeling is so unreal. Thank you so much. 

Last Night

Last night was my first night in downtown Pomona. I have to say I’m pretty jealous of how their downtown area is presented; separate districts like a small Los Angeles full of culture and streets lined with art galleries, clothing stores, and bars. 

But the reason I was in Pomona was to see Terrence F. perform. More and more I’m noticing Terrence get better at music as well as performing. His set was maybe 5 or 6 songs long, all songs that I’ve heard and seen perform 100 times or more. Last night watching his performance was like seeing him perform for the first time. Everything was so natural for him. His passion filled stage presence was like nothing I’ve ever seen. I genuinely felt his music all over again. 

Terrence has another show tonight in Los Angeles that I’m going to. Not that I’m not ever excited to see him perform, but I’m a little more excited tonight about it. He claims that last night was a warm up for tonight and that he has a something up his sleeve. 

-Marques

last night

So last night was the October’s Over how at Humidor. The turn out was real cool. The performances were dope. Everyone had a lot of fun and we didn’t get shut down!! (not that we would but it was loud at the plaza)

Okay so I’m enjoying the performances and everything, when I look up. Two people that I know from high school. Actually three. Guy #1 hates me because of some old high school shit. If you can’t get over something from senior year damn man you’re just going to be stuck in the past forever. Guy #2 hates me because of some dumb shit a couple months ago. Some people hold on to shit forever. Time to move on and get over it. Guy #3 him and me used to be tight. Like I would go to his house after school everyday tight. None of them came up to me to say wassup. I mean, I’m not hard to miss. My hair is big as fuck. And you know me! But anyways, no head nod, no how you been, no acknowledgement at all. Then I remember, fuck I’m hosting..be a good host and greet the guests. I go to say wassup to Guy #2 and damn, the fakest shit ever. Lil laugh or whatever. The other two didnt even look at me. Hmm.

As the performances goes on, I’m still enjoying myself. I’m looking around to make sure everyone is enjoying themselves too. I notice Guy #2 is looking at me. I think to myself, “what’s he looking at”? Oooh I realize he’s “dawgin” me. I thought it was funny. You come to my event and and not say wassup then turn around and give me dirty looks in front of..behind Guy #1 and #3. What a clown.

When shit like this happens. It’s the best feeling to me. You know I’m handling my business and you see my progression, you can feel it. But you hate because you’re stuck in the past and you’re getting left behind, and that’s okay.

It’s just some malice shit.

Throwback Thursday “The Beginning..(very beginning)”

In the very beginning, I called this thing MALICE PRACTICE

Even before I asked Marcus to help me. I called it MALICE PRACTICE. Couple things about this first attempt didn’t go so well and I’m not scared to admit it. Mistakes happen. First, I tried doing this by myself, I’m not sure if anyone has tried to create or try to run a “brand” by themselves, but that shit sucks. I had no one to share ideas with. That alone didn’t work. I don’t even know how to say how much that didn’t work. Second thing, the logo really did not say anything that I wanted it to stand for. The font (Engravers, which I thought was Times ahahaa) has no feeling. AND I think I originally saw the same layout in the Anonymous Content’s logo, so this had to go regardless. Third and most important..I had no idea how to use any design program at all!! But thats why I love this shit so much, it started from a dream!!

So after I realized I needed a partner, the only person I wanted to I ask was Marcus. Marcus was the orignal designer of the logo. He made it on paint on his brand new VAIO at the time. We sent it to Marisa for an opinion, via email with “poop” in the subject field as well as the body. Funny how things start.

The Hideaway

Thursday in Riverside, California. So far there have been a lot of blank stares and mumbled answers. I can solely blame that on the hate (not what you think it is). I notice some familiar faces. Some look like zombies, I’ve heard stories from friends about them, but then again there aren’t many truthful stories these days. There’s a lot of tough guys in here, I’m guessing that they’re regulars. I don’t like these kind of locals. I’m out.

Polk St.

What a weird name for a street. I’m outside of my apartment building waiting for my friend Nick to pick me up. He got off at 11..cops just rolled by..but yea he’s of at 11 and it’s 11:06. By now I’m wondering “This mutha’fukka forgot” or “Fuuuuck staters always keeps people after their shift”
Anyways. I see a firetruck and an ambulance go by. “Damn, I hope no one is hurt that bad”. What do you know, a fukkin cop drives by. He didn’t flash his light at me so I’m good.
Now the street is really quiet. I mean I know it’s 11pm but shit, it’s quiet. I look up and to the left at this hotel across the street. Shady ass hotel. It’s colder than most nights too. S’all good though because my Malice hoodie is keeping me warm.
Hey..the firetruck drives by again. This time the lights and sirens are off. Ambulance is right behind it, with it’s lights and sirens off too, and I try to look in the back but the window is on the other side.
Oh shit. Nick finally texted me back. I knew he got held in there longer.

..just felt like trying to describe my street right now. It’s not too exciting but it’s better than being inside.

i don’t think you understand

I COULD LIVE OFF OF TOP RAMEN

This Feeling

I remember this feeling, but its been a while. It’s the best feeling in the world every time. Let me try to describe it. The day has been hot, probably the hottest day of the year so far. But it’s late afternoon and the sun is finally start to let up, and your body accepts the heat and learns to like it. Taking in all of the shades of reds and muddy browns, and maybe use this pallette for an upcoming project. Aren’t sunsets the best! You don’t even have to be at the beach, and they’re still the best time of the sky. Suddenly I’m anxious for the night because I know  it’s gonna be even more comforting. This sunset is unique. It inspires me. Knowing that I don’t have any responsibility at the moment calms me even more Savoring it because now I know how rare this feeling is. A feeling this vivid is addicting, and I want it again.

Well Hello There, Summer

nice to meet you again

What an Odd Week

I left home in a rage last Monday. I finally came back yesterday morning. Everything is back to normal I guess, but it’s weird here now. I think it really is time for me to leave this house. I want to move out so bad, but I can’t. fuck.

Oh and I only have one more day of class then the presentation final. 

You’re Not Here Right Now

My parents left to Long Beach today for a picnic. Naturally I stayed home. I got wayyy too much hw and it’s killing me.

But anyways, I’m painting one of my packaging projects, gazing out the window. This time of the day, where the sun is, the colors in the sky, the smells, and the everyday commotion of the apartment complex are all taking me back to when I used to spend weeks at my cousin Desmond’s house. We used to fuck shit up back in the days. He was three years older than me, but I still went where ever he did. Desmond is the one that got me into skateboarding, football, art, and rock!! Everything he did, I wanted to do. He taught me respect, and how not to be a follower. He taught me to be appreciative of anything anyone gave me.

I haven’t seen Desmond in about a year. I miss him. I wish we could kick it like we used to. We used to hop over the gate at Felton Elementary school to skate. I learned how to ollie there lol when we weren’t skating we were on bikes. Desmond did 360’s n shit, and I hit the burms..barely though lol I knew my limits.

Oh and every single day would start with one HUGE pancake from my auntie Desi. I swear that pancake will fill anyone up!! Each day would end with the Cheese Burger Special at the burger spot right pass the car dealership at the end of the corner diagonally across from the gas station where Artis (Desmond’s older brother) inhaled the air from the pumps. Damn, I miss all of them. 

So yea..

I said last week that Thursday was going to be my last day at my job. Some stuff ha changed lol not a whole lot though. First, Thursday was not my last day. I was kind of relived to hear that because I still have a job. At the same time I was looking forward to not having a job for the last part of this quarter. I’d have a lot more time to put into my portfolio, which is looking better day by day, but I guess I’ll stick it out. And second, I get to keep my job till the first week of June. Mehh.