@BlowHipHopTV (@FlashBlowHipHop) Interview: @40oz_VAN

40oz Van is a hustler’s hustler. With a talent for making a small idea into a large check, 40 understands the culture and has been able to carve out his niche while sensationalizing and monetizing it in a way largely unseen before.

40’s persona first became popular through a salacious tumblr mostly curated with pictures of provocative women that most men would drool over and check more than once a day. The tumblr site coupled with his infamous 40oz Bounce Party Series where 2,000 to 4,000 rowdy young New Yorkers flocked to smoke, drink and socialize garnered a solid reputation for 40 being that guy who knows what the people want. The events eventually grew so popular that they became more and more difficult to maintain without the typical NYC permit or corporate backing to host events on such a grand scale.

Many people who visit 40oz van site may initially think some of the photos aren’t really user submitted but women from all over the world literally send him pics on a daily basis, “I post everything on the site myself, there’s different flavors of girls on there, cute black chicks, cute white chicks, you might even find some cute Asian chicks on there to.” With almost 10 million page views to date and an international audience, 40’s archive would even leave Larry Flynt a little jealous.

40 was by no means content with mere internet following and took his time to brainstorm a clever way to capitalize on his influence. “Having so many followers all generates a profit an the end of the day. There are kids that have thirty to forty thousand followers on these sites and they’re not really doing anything with it. They (are) sitting on money!”

In 2012, he began to produce snap-back hats and released them exclusively on a 1 day 12 hour window only sales basis. The hats’ designs are inspired from popular hi-end luxury brands or are collaborative efforts between he and celebrity friends who he feels understand his vision. With an understanding of branding and releasing the hats in such a limited fashion, 40 has been more successful then he could’ve ever imagined with one recent snap-back release grossing him an estimated $70k in sales in one day.

“It’s not easy selling hats. People see me cashing out, everyone knows I put my numbers up there to prove a point but then you gotta figure out production, shipping… it breaks down a little bit.”

Van has been able to evolve with his audience while at the same time furthering his brand into the corporate marketing world. With the right friendships, the right access and a great work ethic we are sure that Van will be on the scene for a long time, cashing checks and always making sure there’s a lil bit of G-Money left over!