Foot Soldiers: Sole Junkie
When it comes to custom sneakers there are many artists in the game who can bang out some fresh kicks for whatever the need may be. As the years go on many new customizers step up to the table and try to let their designs shine in the eye of the public. Some of these customizers flop completely . Others create such a buzz that they reach instant stardom. There are many great artists which have already established a name for themselves when it comes to custom sneakers. Artists that will be around for a long time to come, people whos work has already spoken for them. One of those artists who isnt going anywhere for a long time to come and whos work i always enjoy viewing is the work of a man that goes by the name of Sole Junkie. Follow along as Sneaker Obsession gives you a little background on the man himself, followed by a Q&A.
Some of us go through things in life which kind of place us where we are today. We may go through a situation which ends up landing us somewhere totally different then where we started. Sometimes its for the better, sometimes it for the worst. Some times it may be a difficult situation which you go through which in a way kind of helps you along your patch to where you are today. Steven Cedre Jr aka Sole Junkie is a man who has gone through some difficult times as a young teenager who use to escape to his drawing pads. At the age of 11 Steven lost one of his parents and 2yrs later at the age of 13 he lost the other. As kids were out playing and planning trips with their families Steven was trying to cope with losing his parents. One of the things Steven did to escape the reality of it all was to draw. He was a kid who had a talent when it came to the pen and the pad so he put his talent to use. Continue reading to find out how Steven went from a young kid with a love for drawing to a internationally known sneaker customizer, without even having the intention to do so.
Steven is a NY native who calls the BX home. After school he moved out to Long Beach, Cali to attend College at California State University where he studied art. After a few years of hitting the books and putting in plenty of hard work Steven graded with a bachleros in Fine Arts with a specialization in drawing and painting. As any normal college graduate would do, he went out and got a real “suit and tie” job. Things were going good for Steven at this point, he had himself a steady job which was paying the bills, had a wife and kid at home, he was living the normal life. One day after work Steven came home to play with his son like he would do every other day. He laid on the floor for a minute to rest while his son jumped on the bed and all of a sudden his son comes off the bed and lands on his head. By accident of course. This landed Steven in the ER with serious injury. After multiple visits to the doctor they came to the conclusion that he had 2 bulging discs in his neck which almost left him paralyzed for 2 months. An injury this serious had Steven laid up at home and out of work. While he was shacked up in bed with nothing to do he gave his brothers back home in NY a call to see what was good on the home front. Here is where the talent to customize sneakers kicks in.
His brothers told him about this guy out in Harlem, NY customizing sneakers and making a pretty good buck off of them. They knew their brother Steven had artistic talent so they pressured him to do a pair himself. Without really wanting to or really having a desire to do it, Steven decided to customize a pair of sneakers just to make his brothers happy. After he thought out his idea and laid the paint down he took some pictures and posted them on various websites he use to visit daily. Immediately the masses took a liking to Stevens creation and filled him with all sorts of constructive criticism. He always had a love for the sneaker culture, just really never had an intention to customize sneakers in any sort of way until it was pretty much forced upon him to customize a pair. After banging out a few customs after that he picked up the name Sole Junkie and here we stand. We now have a man who has a great artistic background who turned out to be an internationally known sneaker customizer. Check out our Q&A with Steven aka Sole Junkie below.
Q – Steven, whats going on man? Hows 2008 treating you?
A – Its going great man! Started it off with a national publication…URB Magazine and had a bunch of internet publications. Great press and of course now a feature on your site…couldn’t ask for a better start.
Q – I’m a NY man myself and i can truly say there is no place like NY. Originally being from the Bronx whats it like living the West Coast Cali life, any different then home?
A – Cali is nice…but I miss the lifestyle of the East. I think the East coast is more accepting of new styles…Cali has its own regional look, but still feel its a step behind. I know there are a few heads that are reading this and want to yell at me….but thats how I feel. Besides…the numbers speak for themselves….I have more East Coast and International clients than the handful I have in Cali….but I still got love! lol Only one way to change that….buy my kicks! lol
Q – Do you think your location has helped you achieve your goals? We know you moved out to Cali to attend College but do you feel living your life and running your business from Cali has helped you? Or does location have no affect.
A – Cali has helped a bit…sunshine, cool people and great friends…but the internet is one of the greatest modern marvels ever! I never imagined that I would make a name in art through shoes and nonetheless internationally. I still am shocked and humbled by it.
Q – Before i really get into anything else i gotta ask you. How was it getting advice about your customs from the man himself, Mr. Bobbito Garcia? You must of been hyped up about doing a pair of customs for him huh?
A – You know he only dropped one jewel on me….and I’m trying to live by it. I was taken back by him even approaching me…the dude is cool…but mad busy…I’ll write him a paragraph and he’ll drop a line (max), but gotta give it up to him….he still writes back. Besides I’m not famous and I don’t like to bother people…so I take what I can get. His respect is bigger than words! I did a pair of Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos shoes for him…he was a Puerto Rican icon and leader. Bobbito then blessed me in his magazine “BOUNCE” with shout out! That was big!
Q – Your customs are on another level, we can sense the ambition and love behind them. How fast have you finished a custom and whats the longest it has ever taken you? Where do you pull your inspiration and ideas from when it comes to thinking up new designs for that new fresh pair of customs?
A – Man?! Everything! Music, Culture, Fashion, Traditional Painting, Graffiti, etc….The real difficult part is trying to be original. There are millions of people doing the same thing. It gets monotonous.I don’t like repeating what has already been done. But great minds do think alike and themes get repeated but creativity, imagination and quality separate that. I try to focus on more of the really artistic elements of painting, color and quality.
Q – Of all your work, what would you say is your favorite pair that youve done?
A – I think my favorite shoes are the self dubbed…Puerto Rican Gold Series. I did Big Pun, Tito Puente and Roberto Clemente all with 22k gold and the Tito’s with diamonds! Yeah, real diamonds…no crystals! Bling Blaooow! lol One of a kind…not Exclusive…but beyond rare!
These meant allot to me because, they are my inspirations, my culture, my peeps and really exceptionally talented individuals. I wanted to represent my heritage with some unsung heroes or underrated people. We shouldn’t have to wait for someone to die to praise them. Hopefully I can get them one day…the praises not the death! lol
Q – We all have our favorite sneakers of all time, our grails. Whats your all time favorite sneaker?
A – WOW…where do I start? All of them….lol
Ya know…I never had much when I was a kid…so I tried not to focus or set my heart on anything. I figured if I didn’t want it, I wouldn’t get upset when I didn’t get it.
But if I had to choose….Jordan 1’s (Originals, First Ed) or the Classic of all Classics…the AF1 is that shoe…it set the bar so high that it will outlast all of us on this rock.
Q – Whats that one sneaker you would love to have but just cant find in your size anymore, or in a condition thats even worth buying?
A – Don’t know? You would think I would…but I like so many shoes that I would love to have rooms dedicated to them. I may have to get back to you!
Q -Youve done collaborations with many music artists, tell our readers about some of the people you have worked with.
A – I did stuff for Talib Kweli, Tony Touch, MC Serch, Love Bug Starski, Juggaknots, Bizarre and Kon Artist from D12, Ms Yancey (J Dillas moms), Skillz (the producer from Play n Skillz)….Shout out to Dave NY and on my Latin side: Voltio and Alexis y Fido, DJ Tito, La Bruja… I think I’m forgetting a few, but its not like they are going to get at me like…..HEY YOU FORGOT ME! lol
The cool thing about everybody up there is that these weren’t freebies or give aways….All these people supported me and copped kicks from me. I got nothing but respect for them.
Q – Whos somebody you havent worked with before that you wouldnt mind doing a pair of customs for? Any celebrities you wanna put on blast or maybe another customizer you would like to do a collaboration with?
A – Man…there are so many celebs…Fat Joe, Carmelo Anthony, Justin Timberlake, Marc Anthony, Swizz Beats, Nas, Rakim, KRS, Lawrence Fishburn, Tego Calderon, Chyno Nyno, Daddy Yankee and anyone who is a SNEAKERHEAD that loves ART! Really there are too many and really random…just people I’m fan of and some of these cats are real sneakerheads!
Q – How would you rate your kids collection? Or does pop get all the heat?
A – My son get some heaters…P-Rod’s, Maxes, AF1’s, Jordans and a few others. I still haven’t customized kicks for him. He rips through his shoes in like a week! Drives me nuts, but I can’t get too upset. He’s just a kid.
Q – The more popular custom sneakers become and the more artists who venture into the field the more materials and patterns we see being used. Along with all sorts of ideas including lights and such. What types of new materials or ideas do you think we will see on the market in the coming years and do you enjoy seeing things like fur, zerbra print and things of the sort being used?
A – I think since sneakers are becoming less of a subculture ….that big companies are trying to capitalize on it. They even cater to the eccentric to make sure no dollar is left uncollected. I do like some of the materials out there…like some patent leather in small quantities, rare skins, lazer etching, silks, textures…all that makes the possibilities of a great shoe endless. Some patterns are classics…elephant and safari for example. I just feel that with the technology and access to all these tools that these big companies aren’t creative enough with them. Yeah I said it! lol I think thats the void the customizer fills to an extent. We are limited on things. Also, I feel that since these big companies have been in power for so long that they ran out of creative juice and look to us and our work to see whats poppin. I’m sure they will never admit it or come at us for help, but they know and we know wassup! Stop stealing ideas and just hire us!
Future trends…..well I have been using real gold and gems…..who knows? No real trend forecast. The more materials that are invented the harder it is to say whether or not they will have a major impact in the market.
Q – How is your custom paint line coming along? For the people who arent familiar with that why dont you tell us a little bit about the product.
A – Its coming along pretty well. Again more popular in the East and Overseas.
I have my own paints named: Sole Junkie Custom Paints. They are made for leathers and vinyls. They do not crack , peel or chip when properly used. From an artist for an artist! I currently have 22 colors and they come in Matte or Glossy. Currently, a one ounce bottle will run you $5.
When I started, I had to do all the legwork and research to make my paints…finally found one that was manufactured. It still has flaws. So I decided to put out my own…remove the secrecy and encourage more art! Its funny some customizers are really secretive. I know why…they had to work for that knowledge. Its like the old saying..”If you feed a man a fish, he’ll eat well that day. But if you teach him how to fish, he’ll eat well for the rest of his life!” I am just providing the some of the tools…the rest is up to them. I feel we need more artists. Thats one of the reasons why art is so under appreciated in the US, we don’t help educate each other.
So I put it out there….sure there are other companies that make paint, but I actually answer my emails when they ask…HOW DO YOU USE THIS? Maybe one day I’ll get to the point where I can’t, but best believe I’ll find a way to help my fellow artist out.
Q – Is their anything coming in 08′ we should watch what? Ever thought about some Sole Junkie lace locks?
A – Funny you should ask….got those too!
They run about $20/set. I have them in Gold dipped and Chrome. They are of my SOLE JUNKIE SNEAKER LOGO. Definite must have’s!
Everyone is a SOLE JUNKIE! lol
I’m working on a book of my artwork…no title yet, should be out by the mid or end of ‘08.
Collaborating with other companies for T-shirts and Hats….wait till you see those….HEATERS!
And as usual trying to get my name out there and earn peoples respect with my art.
Having platforms like this interview, the web, publications and other media to be able to express myself is major! I am ever so thankful for the opportunity.
Q – If you werent an artist, and didnt have the amazing talent that you do, where would you be right now?
A – Man, i don’t know? This is what I’ve done all my life…the only true constant. I’ve struggled for so long and worked so hard at it…..I don’t think of anything else.
Q – When you arent putting in work what are some of the things you enjoy doing?
A – I like Martial Arts and believe it or not Cooking! lol Love the Food Network. LMAO…yeah man I can get down in the kitchen! If you want to Iron Chef it out ….let me know! Seriously….lol
Q – On an average day how would you describe your fit? What would you be caught in if we were to catch you on the streets?
A – Thats mad easy…I’m so busy doing other peoples shit that I can’t lace myself up! So the attire is NY Fitted, a Tee, Jeans and some decent kicks!
Sad but true…lol ….I can’t say I’m the best dressed dude on the block….but like Kanye said…
“Wait til I get my money right!”
Q – Any last words you would like to give our readers or future customizers?
A – Yeah, master your craft, work hard and don’t be afraid to give credit where credit is due. Reciprocate knowledge and respect. We got to stick together and support each other.
If one of us comes out in a magazine,…buy it.
If we are on TV….watch it.
If we have a product …support it.
And if you disagree with this…we can always use haters to fuel our drive! lol (note: if you just caught feelings…your a hater! Sucka!)
I’m not saying it so I can capitalize on it…I say it because when one of us makes it “BIG”…he/she will open a door for the rest of us. Give us opportunities we thought weren’t possible.
There aren’t many true leaders in the world….so support each other. Its like when Hip Hop first started….just an outlet for cats in the park in the Bronx.
Now look at it!
Yes, I am thinking that far ahead…to where artists can be Billionaires too! We don’t have to be starving artists if we create a demand! A fundemental of Economics.
Without art there would be nothing!
I want to move on up to the East side and finally get a piece of the pie! lol Shit that was funny…don’t know where that came from…..LMFAO
Oh yeah, if you get a minute visit my sites and drop a note…love to hear feedback or comments. Tell a friend and make friend.
