Complex.com recently talked to designer Mikey Trapstar about what it was like to work with Eminem and Rihanna to design merch for The Monster Tour. You can check out the interview by click HERE and you can read few select highlights below:
Were both Rihanna and Eminem hands on?
They gave us great direction. We pretty much got free reign, but it’s their brand at stake, so there were a few tweaks here and there out of their opinions, but other than that I guess they trusted us.
What was it like working with Eminem?
I just tried not to let anybody’s status or their greatness intimidate how I design. And that’s what they wanted. People like messing with people who stand up to them, who stand their ground. You have to bring something more to the table rather than conform a bit too much, so we just did our designs and they, by grace of God, messed with us.
The “Monster” tour merch is currently online, but will you sell it elsewhere, outside of being at the shows?
That’s a conversation we have to have with all three. I think they might want to keep it timeless because that was the big thing, because it’s only six dates. The collaboration itself between two artists is something that’s never going to happen. That’s the other thing—the main thing about merch is, “I was there” and how [the wearer] were there in this epic moment where two of the biggest artists of our time collaborated together. You don’t see that every day. It’s kind of like it should be with sneakers and limited releases these days. That’s why people queue around the block. That’s why people are happy, that’s why some people don’t even wear the clothes and just keep it because it means more to them. I collect graphic tees as well and I don’t wear them.