Digital Social Hour: The Truth About Reselling – Insider Insights Exposed | Yeezy Busta DSH #937
Host: Sean Kelly
Guest: Easy Busta
Release Date: November 30, 2024
Introduction
In episode #937 of the Digital Social Hour, host Sean Kelly engages in a compelling conversation with Easy Busta, a prominent figure in the sneaker reselling community. The episode delves deep into the intricacies of reselling, Easy Busta’s personal journey, his philanthropic endeavors, and his perspectives on the evolving sneaker culture.
Reselling and Sneaker Culture
Reseller Challenges and Market Saturation
Easy Busta opens up about the current state of the reselling market, highlighting the oversaturation and diminished exclusivity of sneakers. He articulates the dilemma many resellers face:
“If this shoe came out three years ago, you'd be drooling over it. But now, because it's three years later, you don't like it.” — Easy Busta [00:46]
He emphasizes the importance of not letting sneakers sit unused, advocating for their appreciation by others:
“I have a rule if I buy a pair of shoes, and I don't wear them in the first week I'm selling them.” — Easy Busta [21:50]
Reselling Ethics and Personal Values
Despite the challenges, Easy Busta maintains a principled stance on reselling. He differentiates between buying sneakers for personal use versus purely for profit, stressing the value of genuine appreciation over financial gain:
“I don't care if people wear fake stuff... my biggest thing is when people wear fake stuff and pretend like it's real and they know it's fake. That bothers me.” — Easy Busta [03:05]
He further elaborates on his approach to maintaining authenticity in the community:
“I wear my slides more than anything. And then I bought these Nikes... they're the most comfortable shoes I've ever worn. I wear them every single day.” — Easy Busta [28:26]
Philanthropic Endeavors
Beast Philanthropy and Charity Work
Transitioning from reselling, Easy Busta shares his passion for giving back through charity. He recounts his significant project involving the donation of 20,000 pairs of shoes:
“I did one pretty big project a year ago, working on a few others behind the scenes.” — Easy Busta [04:15]
He details a transformative trip to South Africa with Beast Philanthropy, highlighting both the rewarding and challenging aspects:
“We went to South Africa, we went to Cape Town... There was some... really unsafe environments.” — Easy Busta [06:43]
Despite encountering dangers, such as threats from armed individuals, the experience reinforced his commitment to helping underprivileged communities:
“We were there for like an hour and just playing with the kids and, you know, giving them their new shoes. They were so happy.” — Easy Busta [08:58]
Impact and Future Projects
Easy Busta underscores the importance of impactful charity work, ensuring that donations directly benefit those in need:
“I want to make sure exactly where every penny is going. And it's not paying someone's salary.” — Easy Busta [05:20]
He expresses a desire to continue expanding his philanthropic efforts:
“I have a few other projects in the background. I started a digital marketing agency. We have some really amazing clients that I'm... working on a lot of stuff behind the scenes.” — Easy Busta [32:33]
Travel and Cultural Insights
Experiences in South Africa and Beyond
Easy Busta speaks passionately about his travels, particularly his time in Cape Town, South Africa. He highlights the cultural richness and the stark contrast to his experiences in the United States:
“Cape Town is one of the most beautiful places on Earth. It is breathtaking. It is unreal.” — Easy Busta [09:50]
He emphasizes the importance of immersing oneself in different cultures to gain a broader perspective:
“There's so much more than just America. You immerse yourself in new culture and people, and it's... a wonderful thing.” — Easy Busta [10:13]
Influence of Diverse Cultures on Personal Growth
Easy Busta’s travels have profoundly influenced his worldview and approach to business and philanthropy. He advocates for continuous exploration and cultural exchange:
“I highly recommend you should go to Cape Town and you really get to see what... it's so beautiful.” — Easy Busta [10:56]
Influence of Kanye West and Brand Storytelling
Kanye West’s Impact on Sneaker Culture
A significant portion of the conversation revolves around Kanye West’s influence on the sneaker industry. Easy Busta credits Kanye for igniting his passion for sneakers:
“The thing that got me into sneaker culture was actually Kanye. I was always a die-hard Kanye fan.” — Easy Busta [16:13]
He discusses Kanye’s unique approach to branding and storytelling, which revolutionized the sneaker market:
“Adidas and Yeezy, that partnership was just something that absolutely changed sneakers forever. Like, everybody became a sneakerhead after that.” — Easy Busta [18:00]
Evolving Brand Partnerships and Market Dynamics
Easy Busta critiques the dissolution of the Adidas-Yeezy partnership, explaining its impact on the market:
“Adidas kept all the shoes and they kind of did whatever they wanted with them, which recently, I think they started doing 60 off sales. Just to dump all the product.” — Easy Busta [22:18]
He reflects on the fleeting nature of brand collaborations and their long-term effects on sneaker values:
“A pair of Turtle Doves, which was the first 350 that Kanye put out with Adidas, used to go for like three grand. And you can buy the original one for around like, 600.” — Easy Busta [23:20]
Personal Stories and Anecdotes
Face Mask Journey
Easy Busta shares the story behind his signature mask, which started as a form of trolling against a defamation threat:
“I started wearing a mask... And then I just never took it off.” — Easy Busta [01:28]
He contemplates the possibility of a future face reveal, linking it to his subscriber milestones:
“I always said that I'll do it at a million subscribers.” — Easy Busta [13:08]
Tennis and Personal Passions
Beyond sneakers and reselling, Easy Busta reveals his love for tennis and his admiration for players like Roger Federer and Taylor Fritz:
“Roger Federer is like the Kanye or the Elon or the Tiger Woods.” — Easy Busta [29:03]
He reminisces about his own tennis background and his friendship with Fritz, illustrating the blend of personal interests that shape his multifaceted identity.
Future Plans and Closing Thoughts
Upcoming Projects and Continued Growth
As the conversation wraps up, Easy Busta discusses his ongoing and future projects, emphasizing the continuation of his charity work and the expansion of his digital marketing agency:
“I'm working on a lot of stuff behind the scenes. A lot of charity projects are coming up.” — Easy Busta [32:33]
Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
Easy Busta offers valuable advice to listeners, encouraging them to pursue their passions with authenticity and purpose:
“Make sure that it's coming from the heart. That's the most important thing.” — Easy Busta [04:41]
He underscores the importance of transparency and dedication in both business and philanthropic endeavors, inspiring entrepreneurs to balance success with meaningful contributions to society.
Conclusion
This episode of Digital Social Hour with Easy Busta provides an insightful exploration into the world of sneaker reselling, the importance of authentic brand storytelling, and the profound impact of philanthropy. Easy Busta’s journey from a Kanye West enthusiast to a respected reseller and philanthropist offers a blend of entrepreneurial wisdom and heartfelt generosity, making this episode a must-listen for aspiring entrepreneurs and sneaker enthusiasts alike.
Notable Quotes:
-
On Reselling Ethics:
“Just because in my head, why just have them just sit in the closet when somebody else can appreciate them?”
— Easy Busta [21:50] -
On Charity Commitment:
“I've always wanted to give back to the community as much as I could. And, you know, I'm blessed enough to be in a position where I could do that.”
— Easy Busta [04:15] -
On Cultural Exploration:
“There's so much more than just America. You immerse yourself in new culture and people, and it's... a wonderful thing.”
— Easy Busta [10:13] -
On Brand Storytelling:
“Adidas and Yeezy, that partnership was just something that absolutely changed sneakers forever. Like, everybody became a sneakerhead after that.”
— Easy Busta [18:00]
Listeners who missed this enlightening discussion can catch up by tuning into episode #937 of Digital Social Hour. For more insights and actionable takeaways, subscribe and stay updated with Sean Kelly’s in-depth conversations with industry leaders and innovators.