Hypebeast Magazine #36: The Platinum Issue

HYPEBEAST magazine is a lifestyle publication that features the latest in men’s fashion, art, design, and music. 

In this issue:

Hypebeast Magazine #36: The Platinum Issue celebrates Hypebeast’s 20th anniversary by putting a spotlight on the cultural figures who’ve reshaped fashion, art, music, and more across the past two decades — a reflection of our roots and also a look at what, and who, shines ahead.

We started Hypebeast 20 years ago, back when streetwear and the subculture around it was still gaining its footing internationally. An urgency, a newness, was in the air. We followed that trail. It led us down a road filled with people who pioneered the intersectional culture that now resonates on a global scale.

A lot has changed in 20 years. But we’re still riding the wave of a cultural phenomena, leading us to both the emerging and established icons featured within the pages of the magazine.

This includes our special-edition cover featuring A$AP Nast styled exclusively in Comme des Garçons Homme Plus, accompanied by a multipage fashion portfolio shot by Goldie Williams of the iconic rapper wearing the AW25 collection.

We also have a cover graced by George Condo, the legendary painter whose practice is stronger than ever more than four decades into his inimitable career. The artist’s blend of chaos and beauty still feels radical, a tension now set to be crystallized in a new landmark retrospective at Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris. In our exclusive feature, Condo traces the contours of his many milestones, from collaborations with musicians like Travis Scott to his development of signature painting styles.

Finally, our third cover features CxM, the newest sub-unit of SEVENTEENfeaturing members S.COUPS and MINGYU. The duo serve as the perfect symbol for how intense fandom can be today and might very well represent the evolution of culture. Fitting, as this issue tracks how every shift in the zeitgeist shapes our identity, and in turn, shapes what our platform is really about.

The Platinum Issue also includes stories on music heavyweights such as James Blake, Ken Carson, and Justice; deep dives into the art practices of George Condo, Yusuke Hanai, and Mario Ayala; a spotlight on skater Bobby de Keyzer, and more.

Fashion stories showcase a curation of global labels and designers, including Comme des Garçons Homme Plus, Our Legacy, ACRONYM, Auralee, Satoshi Nakamoto, Cecilie Bahnsen, Pedro Andrade and his two lines P. Andrade and Piet. Plus, fashion editorials by photographers Caroline Tompkins, Goldie Williams, and Nayquan Schuler.

There’s also a collaborative T-shirt spread showcasing designs by 20 iconic brands and designers, such as KAWS x Human Made, Takashi Murakami, Futura Laboratories, Brain Dead, Undercover, Supreme, BAPE, and HUF, just to name a few.

Across 264 pages, we present our equivalent to platinum, reflected in the output of creatives and collectives we’ve grown with and now proudly work alongside. The talent in these pages remind us of the brilliance around which we orbit and the brightness we’re always chasing.