“My daughter got to eat,
Her mama be stressing me like I ain't the one who put them J’s on her feet.

Like I ain't out in the field like that,
I might be low for the moment

but I will bounce back.”

— J. Cole, 4 Your Eyez Only

E=Ebt
I Got the Gas
Self Made

What is HustleHard?

 

HustleHard is a visual expression of the struggle to thrive in less-than-ideal circumstances.

The canvas—leftover scrap cardboard—is analogous to the lives of the archetypical characters presented: overlooked, unglamorous, and rarely taken seriously.

As an art form however, cardboard provides a perfect vehicle for telling these stories. The corrugated surface is sturdy, yet brittle. It can handle a myriad of mediums (paint, pastel, marker, ect.) but without proper, thoughtful care and planning, it will warp and break down. Much like the lives of overlooked people in low-income and crime-ridden communities, the physical elements display a dual-consciousness.

Each “sliver” of cardboard represents a different navigation of life for one of the characters, with the overarching narrative of increasing desperation. The characters shoes, body types, and colors morph throughout the series, and well-attuned viewers may notice a shift in footwear as characters sport the types of shoe brands and styles adjacent to their lifestyle.

The project is ongoing, and will be continuously updated.

HustleHard

  • A wooden art board featuring a painted illustration of a figure with a henna brown skin tone, dreadlocks, wearing glasses, a graffitied jacket, and boxing shoes. The figure is holding a white flag with the text "WILL DRAW 4 FOOD" in red. The background of the artwork is a muted, earthy tone with some abstract markings. There is additional text "EBT = ART" at the bottom of the artwork.

    E=EBt

    “Now I was barely 17

    with a pocket full of hope

    screamin’ dolla and a dream

    with my closet lookin’ broke.”

    -J. Cole

  • Painting of a woman with dreadlocks singing, with the words 'I got the gas' written on a cardboard sign she is holding, on a piece of wood.

    I got the Gas

    “Key to life, keep a bag comin'

    Every night another bag comin'

    I ain't been asleep since '96

    I ain't seen the back of my eyelids.”

    -Jay-Z

  • Hand-painted wooden plank with a green creature wearing glasses and an orange headband, holding a black and white object. Above, a smaller creature with a green hand holding a phone displaying 'FUCK 12' in red letters. The background is plain white.

    Self Made

    “Balenciaga slides, so she sliddin'

    She said it's 'cause the vibe

    mm

    she lyin.“

    -Russ

Make It