i manifest

Ever have one of those moments where you say something as a kid—something so simple but so big that you’re not even sure you know why you said it—and then, years later, you’re living it? That was me at five years old, telling anyone who’d listen that I wanted to be a firefighter. Did I know what it meant back then? No, not really. But that dream stuck with me, and 30-something years later, I was doing exactly that, as a firefighter in Harlem. And it was work, no question. But in the back of my mind, every day felt like I was living a little piece of that dream.

Growing up in the Bronx, my dreams didn’t end there. Another big one was basketball. If you came up in the ’70s, you might know the name Dr. J—Julius Erving. The way he moved on the court, the magic he brought to the game… he was a hero to me. Although I was in NYC, the Spectrum (home of the Philadelphia 76ers) became this legendary place in my mind because it was where Dr. J played. And I remember thinking, Man, I want to be 6'6"—just like Dr. J. Fast forward, and not only did I reach that height, but I once played in the NCAA tournament against Duke University. And where was that game? At the Spectrum. Talk about dreams coming full circle.

These aren’t coincidences to me; they’re manifestations of dreams I held close, with a whole lot of determination and belief behind them. They’re what inspired the foundation of Onslawt. Onslawt isn’t just about looking good or wearing a logo—it’s about knowing yourself, setting your intentions, and walking the path that’s right for you, no matter how long it takes or where it leads.

So, to everyone reading this, I’ll ask you: Have you ever had a dream you believed in so much that it just became real? Let me know. Because those dreams, those visions—they’re not random. They’re the things that push us forward, make us better, and bring us back to who we truly are.