Artist Catch-Up: Bobby Hundreds
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We’ve been obsessed with Adam Bomb for a long time! Jackson (Our Founder CEO) has had an Adam Bomb deck displayed in the office since day 1 and it’s honestly been such a dream come true for the team to collaborate with the legendary LA streetwear brand, The Hundreds. And f*** yeah here we are, all ready to dissect the sh*t outta Adam Bomb with Jason!
Lucky for us, Bobby has freed up time on his super busy non-lawyer schedule to answer these burning questions we have for him! Thank you for letting us interrogate you on the wicked history of this little iconic character! Let's hop into our exclusive interview.
First off, thank you for taking time out of your schedule to speak with us Bobby! How are you doing? What have you been up to lately?
I’m great! We're excited for our first collaboration with Mighty Jaxx. Aside from this, I've been busy lately for TV, film, and my next book.
Photo: Bobby Hundreds
Let’s take it back to where it all began! What made you not wanna pursue a career in Law and build a streetwear empire from ground-up instead?
Streetwear provided a space where I could be seen and heard through all my creative outlets: writing, design, and photography. Good art is about connecting with the patron. But great art is about connecting them with each other and building communities. That’s what we’ve been able to accomplish through 20+ years of The Hundreds.
Photo: Bobby Hundreds
I heard that the illustration of Adam Bomb only came into the picture 3 years after The Hundreds’ inception. What was life like in the pre-Adam Bomb era?
I think The Hundreds pre-Adam Bomb is not dissimilar to where The Hundreds stands today. The brand’s foundation is cemented in unique design, cultural commentary, and storytelling. Since we were new, we couldn’t even rely on the brand name to help move the product. So, we had to come correct with statements that resonated with a new customer, and an opinion that was shared by many, but few saw on the shelves. We still do that today.
Photo: The Hundreds
How did Adam Bomb come into the picture? How many design iterations did you go through?
One of our first icons was the “Solid Bomb,” which is the silhouette of a Warner Bros.-style cartoon bomb. I wanted an icon that was as simple, yet recognizable, as a McDonald’s “M” or Nike “Swoosh.” Personally, I think the best icons are ones that can encapsulate a brand in as pared-down of a graphic as possible. If a child can illustrate it, then you’ve made something memorable.
After Solid Bomb, my partner Ben suggested I draw an anthropomorphic cartoon interpretation of the bomb, since my art is based in comics and characters. Adam Bomb is our Mickey Mouse — so much so, that I borrowed Mickey’s hues (red, black, white, yellow) to color Adam.
Talk to us about the concept of “being on the cusp of exploding”?
If you notice, neither Solid Bomb or Adam Bomb ever totally explode. They are both right on the edge of blowing up, but don’t entirely get there. This is a metaphor for how we like to conduct business and branding here at The Hundreds. It’s a delicate dance. Get as close to the line of mainstream exposure as possible, while still maintaining underground appeal and attentiveness to our core community.
We understood that the name Adam Bomb actually came from a fan submission. What are some other wild submissions that you’ve received back when you were running this campaign?
Haha, yes, this is true. It’s hard to remember most of the submissions, but I recall “Bombby Hundreds” as a funny one.
Photo: The Hundreds
What’s life like in the post-Adam Bomb era? What was the transition like to the Wildfire logo era?
There never has been a post-Adam Bomb era, because Adam is bigger today than he’s ever been. He not only expanded his universe through a 25,000-piece NFT collection, but his notoriety warranted a standalone brand called ADAM BOMB™ that has found a second life with our younger community.
We have a stable of logos and icons that we use from The Hundreds’ stable that hold different meanings for different demographics. For some of our customers, Slant Logo is more meaningful than a bomb. I personally love Wildfire above all, and gravitate towards The Hundreds product that features our flag.
Photo: The Hundreds
Talk to us about the concept of Adam Bomb being your best friend and biggest foe.
I think most artists that have found any modicum of success can attest to this. But you have a "Greatest Hit" or a signature product that can become the brand’s strongest signal. Sometimes, your "Greatest Hit" gets so big, that it becomes a runaway success and can take a life of its own. Adam Bomb struck such a nerve with young people over the generations, that it’s impossible to contain him. When he’s manageable and pairs well with our narrative at that moment in time, Adam Bomb can be an asset. But sometimes, Adam can wander into territories that aren’t appropriate for the brand, or are off the beaten path for us. That’s where we have to work extra hard to get him back on course.
Photo: The Hundreds
What was the biggest (& lowest) moment(s) that Adam Bomb has gone through?
Perhaps the biggest Adam Bomb moment was when he took over the tallest billboard in New York’s Times Square. The lowest point for Adam Bomb is any time I see him bastardized as someone’s tattoo. But then again, that tattoo might not be how I would’ve drawn Adam, but it’s how that artist intended to see him. Once I shared my art with the world, I also relinquished control of how he was meant to be executed.
Photo: The Hundreds
Making collectibles is definitely not your first rodeo. Do you remember the first time a collectible of Adam Bomb was made? What was that collaboration? And how did it feel making your first collectible?
I believe the first time we made a physical, 3-D Adam Bomb collectible was our Medicom Toy collaboration. It took us two years, from start to finish, so I remember it being a true passion project. At the time, Medicom had high minimums that we had trouble accommodating since we were such a small brand. It took us a while to burn through all those toys, but I still love how it turned out, from the 3-D model to the miniature crate that it was packaged in.
With our upcoming collaboration launching, what are you most looking forward to in this collectible?
I’m excited most to see Mighty Jaxx’s take on our Adam Bomb. Mighty Jaxx has established such a venerated name in the toy and collectibles space, that we trust that Adam is in the best hands.
Any advice for budding artists/entrepreneurs out there?
Follow your curiosity and pour yourself into the work if you believe in it. The money will come organically from there.
Be sure to set your reminders for XXPLAY Adam Bomb by The Hundreds, launching on 25TH JANUARY 2025, 10PM SGT / 9AM ET. Something massive is dropping alongside it—stay tuned!
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