ROX-TV presents the “Dope Merch” top five breakdown. Reviewing some of the freshest gear from the underground.
Welcome back to ROX-TV. We are always happy to have you along for the ride. Today I’m going to be discussing some fresh gear that has made it into my hands from the underground. I’m an old school kind of person that appreciates the finer things in life and those are physical copies of music, concert shirts, merch, and show posters. Digital shit is ok, but nothing last as long as good old fashion merch. I grew up collecting my favorite underground artists gear and I still have most of it today.
If anyone out there has fresh swag that they want to have featured in future “Dope Merch” top five breakdown articles, send that shit in and if its fire, I will make sure it receives its proper place in the “5”. Today I’m going to be reviewing some items that I’ve recently been sent or picked up. So without further to do, lets get to it…
#1 OUIJA MACC “Dirtbag” shirt
This forest fire was picked up at the “Death by Denver” concert at the legendary Roxy Theatre in the Five Points neighborhood of Denver. As our loyal readers know, ROX-TV invaded the town for the LSP show featuring some of the best in the underground. Scum, Ouija Macc, Cody Manson, Insane Poetry, and many more rocked the mile high headz and I was there with my fellow Los Drifters, capturing everything for the article series and the pure fucking enjoyment of a live show.
While I was walking into the show, my homie flintjuggalo810 aka Chase hit me up. He wanted to make the show but some shit came up, like it tends to do in all of our lives. Anyway, he was looking for one of the brand new red “Dirtbag” shirts that Ouija Macc had available at the show. flintjuggalo810 asked me to do him a solid and scoop up a shirt for him, which I was happy to do. As I cruised over to the merch tables, I was able to track down one left. The shirt was so dope, it had sold out, all except for one last “red one”.
I took it as a sign from the underground gods and quickly purchased the last one. It was as if, it had been waiting for the long ride back to Michigan and knew I was there to collect. At least that’s how I felt about it. When I got back to Flint, I tracked down flintjuggalo810 at the G3C club and made sure the red “Dirtbag” merch found a good home. True to his word, my homie dropped a fire bag of the mean green on me for my troubles. (Author’s note: It was definitely worth carrying around all night at the show, the smoke I got in return was over the moon)
#2 TRE LB’s “Detroit Chop Shop” shirt
I met Tre LB at his studio for the first time earlier in the year, when I had just come onto the ROX-TV team. I had been working for a few weeks or so when Bob hit me up and asked if I wanted to meet Tre Lb from the Detroit Chop Shop. Of course I was interested and told him to count me in. Bob told me that Tre was working on some tracks at his studio and we could roll through.
I grabbed my camera and hit the door. When we arrived at the studio, Tre Lb was cool enough to give me the grand tour and show me all the ins and outs of the place. Daniel Dahmer showed up a short time later to drop some new material for a track he was working on. I did what I do best and that is float around the edge of the room and observe.
The studio process feels like a very sacred thing, especially to be in person watching it go down. I was appreciative to be allowed to kick it and it got my mind moving for different articles that I planned to do in the near future. A few weeks later Tre Lb was doing a show at Simon’s After Dark and ROX-TV was on hand to capture the event. WARAQ had just come to town, fresh off some buzz type shit they had generated out East. Anyway, I was able to catch Tre Lb’s set and it was dope. After the set wrapped up, I cruised over to the merch table and started scanning the gear for that perfect shirt. 
As soon as I spotted Tre Lb’s “Detroit Chop Shop” logo on a black t-shirt, I was sold. I forked over the green backs and walked away with some fresh gear. I’ve seen Tre Lb perform twice so far and he always puts on a good show, with high energy, dope lyrics, and a sound that is unique (Which is the coolest of all in my opinion. Don’t sound like everyone else, be who you are, and that shit will shine through). I’ve been to his studio since then and I’ve heard that he is currently working on a banger, which I may or may not have gotten to listen to briefly during a blunt session in the G-Ride.
#3 Even Heathens (King Gordy x ILLtemper) shirt
A few weeks ago, I was at another assignment from Bob. ROX-TV was shooting a music video for Even Heathens (King Gordy and ILLtemper) at Tre Lb’s studio. For those of you that don’t know, ROX-TV offers a variety of services including video productions that are top notch (pay attention if you need a video to go with that next banger you’ve cooked up). So anyway, I showed up to the studio and was introduced to Detroit underground’s very own King Gordy. A short time later ILLtemper showed up as well, and work got started on recording some sounds for a new track by the Even Heathens.
What can I say? To be in the studio is always a dope experience, especially when new material is getting hammered out in the booth. It’s one thing to hear the finished product, but being there for the session is like getting to look behind the curtain in OZ. Most people don’t have the opportunity to see what goes into recording music and I’m grateful every time I’m invited through the door.
While I was there, Even Heathens banged out a track and video. Before King Gordy and ILLtemper bailed out to another location for a second video shoot, ILLtemper dropped the new album on me and also a nice black “Even Heathens” t-shirt. As always, I was happy for the merch and thanked them for the time. King Gordy was a real class act and it was cool to talk with him about music and other projects he is currently working on. This cat is laser focused and to see him putting down lyrics, literally minute by minute, and then boom….he’s blowing up the booth. It was amazing to watch.
#4 Mr. Happy “Jokes and Pokes” shirt
I met this insane clown while in Denver for the LSP show at the ROXY. I had rented a house in the Five Points neighborhood and turned the joint into the ROX-TV far away studio for the weekend. I don’t know much about where this crazy MFER comes from, but he’s as twisted and demented as they come. I heard a rumor that Mr. Happy was going to be bringing his mad-house antics to IBW, but who knows for sure….
I hope the wrestlers and fans at IBW International Big Time Wrestling are ready when this hallucinating, chain chopping maniac lands in the Murder Mitten. Nothing will ever be the same again. I heard that IBW is hosting another amazing show at the Jefferson Event Center in Trenton towards the end of this month, possibly June 27th but check the local listings just in case. Don’t miss your chance to catch a glimpse of Mr. Happy and the other superstars of IBW, get your tickets today!
#5 SWING DEE DIABLO Merch Package
I have to give a massive shout out to SWING DEE DIABLO for dropping a dope merch package on me, which coincided with his brand new release “KING OF SKULLS”. This guy knows how to make a fucking impression. Not only did he send me a copy of “KING OF SKULLS”, he also sent me a copy of “SKUllATOR” and a dope DVD featuring behind the scenes footage of SWING DEE DIABLO. It has show footage, interviews, and much more.
If that wasn’t enough, the homie from The Brimstone Lab also threw in some “classic merch” including some stickers, hand bills, fucking fresh ass magnets, a dope pouch, and even a key chain. My hat is off to this dude. SWING DEE DIABLO knows how to get someone’s attention and I have to send him serious props for the package. If you haven’t picked up his new album yet, go do it…now.
Well that’s all the time we have for today. Please keep checking back for more “DOPE MERCH” Top 5 Breakdown articles, highlighting some of the freshest gear and items from the underground today. Remember if you think your shit is fly and has what it takes to make the “DOPE MERCH” Top 5 Breakdown, step up to the plate and send that shit in. Who knows, we might just feature your gear on the next episode. Until next time…
Signing Off,
Mike Shepard
ROX-TV Head Writer
kidvicious810 on IG
