Battle of Da Hustlas pop-up

On June 11, D.C. streetwear icons Frank Thompson and Naeem Khaliq will be hosting a “Battle of Da Hustlas” warehouse pop-up shop at an unannounced location in Ivy City. Both artists will be selling clothing from their brands Rent Is Due and UUV from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., accompanied by a a DJ set from local creative TyraTheZombie, a.k.a. Tyra Mitchell. Both Thompson and Khaliq come from the Kennedy Street NW neighborhood in Uptown and they’ve known each other since 2005. Thompson, also known as Apt 50, created his brand Rent Is Due on October 1, 2014 in response to paying rent to his mother after graduating high school. He released his Rent Is Due adjustable caps later that year, which remain a staple in D.C.’s youth culture. Thompson’s most recent collaboration with the D.C. boutique SOMEWHERE® was mentioned in HYPEBEAST. Before starting his own brand, Khaliq operated as the main distributor for Rent Is Due, making sure it was getting into the streets and onto the people. He credits the high-intensity environment of his neighborhood for instilling him with the resiliency and savviness to popularize any product he’s associated with. Doing business under the name LordyKO, Khaliq eventually found his own route in fashion, creating UUV. The brand is named after the criminal charge “unauthorized use of a motor vehicle,” generally applied to people caught with stolen cars. His brand works to associate a new meaning with UUV, channeling fearlessness into activities that are beneficial for oneself and one’s community. The pop-up store will feature the Rent Is Due 2021 spring/summer collection with a few never-before-seen designs on high quality T-shirts and sweatpants. There will also be pieces from Thompson’s RentTown collection, a twist on the Georgetown Hoya logos that signifies the District’s inexcusably high rent; D.C. consistently has one of the highest median rents in the country. On the UUV side, one can expect to find Khaliq’s most recent sweatshirt releases and his highly sought-after trucker hats. The event takes place from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on June 11. Text (202) 753-6544 for more information. Information is also available at @uuvglobal, @apt_50, and apt50studio.com. Prices vary.