Smino Gives Back To St. Louis With City SC Merch Drop

After St. Louis experienced devastating storms four months ago, Smino knew he had to act. The natural disasters were reportedly responsible for at least five deaths, with tens of thousands out of power and endless damage to business and residential properties. Today, the Gateway to the West continues to rebuild, and Smino’s latest drop is set to contribute financial support.

“I was on tour when my baby cousin called me scared bc it was a storm goin thru the north side of stl,” wrote the 34-year-old on Instagram. “I thought she was jus being a kid (she’s always been scared of storms) but the next day i found out that a tornado had ripped thru where i grew up at in STL . fast forward to now i got the amazin opportunity to collab with the homies at @stlcitysc on this amazing capsule to represent MY city STL the right way.”

Smino / St. Louis CITY SC

In collaboration with the St. Louis CITY SC soccer team, the musician has released a fashion-forward merchandise capsule, with 100% of proceeds benefiting The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis to support tornado relief efforts. The limited-edition drop features two shirt designs and two hoodie designs, available in various sizes and priced from $45 – $80.

“This partnership with Smino represents everything CITY SC stands for: authenticity, creativity, and community,” expressed Matt Sebek, CITY SC Chief Experience Officer. “Together, we’re proving that sports can intersect with culture in meaningful ways while also showing up for our city.”

Shop the collection while supplies last at the official website.

VIBE: Tell me about the inspiration behind the designs and how you landed on these specific items for this drop?

Smino: When I was doing it, I lived in L.A. Me and my homegirl, Ambi, are both from St. Louis, but we live in LA. I was like, how can I make something that feels like the crib as much as an STL fitted hat? That really represents us? I’m just trying to make something that really felt like St. Louis. I think my favorite piece is the one that says ‘city’ real big, and it’s like me behind it, and I got the soccer ball bandana on. I’ve been rocking with City for a couple of years now, doing a bunch of different things with the football club. Every time I work with them, they always try to keep the community forward. I just wanted to feel like I represent our relationship, plus the city.

How involved were you in the design process?

I was 100% involved. Ambi does all the graphic design. I don’t really do graphic design like that. She helped me bring things to life. The whole soccer field—one of my other favorite pieces besides the bandana—is obviously a good hero piece for the capsule. You can see the soccer field. You can see the scoreboard. You can see the city, and there are zeros on there. It represents Zero Fatigue, which is my collective. It was like a little Easter egg type vibe.

Smino / St. Louis CITY SC

You’re able to give back 100% of the proceeds. What is the importance of that for you?

It’s cool that people in the community really want to do something, and sports teams and different clubs want to help us out. I think utilizing my influence to make people come and support it more is even cool. They’re very aware of what’s going on in the city, so I really ride with them for that.

Who would you say are some of your style influences? I’m not going to stunt; I always used to want to look like my favorite action figures when I was a kid. I always liked silhouettes like Dragon Ball Z, the way their pants fit, Goku pants, and stuff like that. As far as designers go, I can list a million people, but I always think that I find my most inspo in like sh*t that really got nothing to do with the clothes. It’s more so just mood and energy that inspires me.

What do you think is something that is most overlooked about St. Louis?

I don’t think we get reported. First of all, I consider St. Louis like Babylon. Obviously, in Missouri, one of the last states to abolish slavery, it’s a lot of old ways in St. Louis. I think that stuff gets reported on a lot, but there’s so much progressiveness in the city. There are so many progressive, young, youthful people,rom art to community-type people. A lot of stuff is cooking and brewing right now in St. Louis, and it’s kind of unheard of.

Even me, just in my whole life or whatever at this big age, I’m like, damn, some of the stuff I’m seeing these kids doing. I wish that me and my homies could have gotten together and thought. I think the sense of community is a little more heightened than it used to be in St. Louis.

What can your fans expect from you for the rest of the year?

I’m about to drop a mixtape randomly.

I’ve got a lot going on. I’m in the midst of a bunch of things. I’ve been working on my cartoon show. It’s called Mad Dog. I got an album coming out next year. I got a clothing line I’m working on. Just a lot of Smino, a whole lot of Smino.

Smino / St. Louis CITY SC