For our January Cover Story, we took a quick flight to Miami for the Basel Art Festival, to witness a groundbreaking moment —The Bashmen made their debut in the Magic City. This iconic musical duo, composed of artist/creative Jidenna and artist/DJ/producer Swanky , brought their signature style and energy to the vibrant streets of Wynwood for a performance unlike any other.
In partnership with Forty-One Magazine and Miami-based community group ABFC (A better football community), we introduced The Bashmen’s fresh new team kit at the exclusive Basel FC House, right in the heart of the Miami art district.
The Bashmen’s performance at Basel FC House was the perfect backdrop to unveil their custom-designed Admiral kits, which merge soccer culture with street style. With the crowd buzzing and the beats pulsating, Jidenna and Swanky showcased their latest singles, "B.I.H." and "MA JO," both of which have already racked up over 100,000 streams across platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and Tidal. During their performance, The Bashmen gave a shout-out to Admiral on stage, proudly rocking the custom kits they co-created with the legendary sportswear brand.
The Bashmen: A Way of Life, Not Just Music
The Bashmen isn’t just a musical project—it’s a lifestyle. For Jidenna and Swanky, it’s a movement that celebrates authenticity, individuality, and the freedom to be unapologetically real.
Jidenna: “We don’t take ourselves too seriously. Life’s a joke—why not make it fun? The Bashmen is for the ordinary people, those who partied in basements, who aren’t afraid to sweat and be themselves. We’re not here for vanity or exclusivity.”
Swanky: “I hate exclusivity. I think bottle service is ridiculous. I think standing in line is stupid. That’s not our vibe. The Bashmen is all about accessibility, about having fun and enjoying life.”
The duo’s down-to-earth approach to life and music is reflected not just in their lyrics, but in their style. The Bashmen don’t follow trends—they create them.
Crafting The Bashmen Look: Merging Sports and Streetwear
Creating The Bashmen’s unique look started with a spark of curiosity. What began as a playful experiment using Admiral ID soon became a full-fledged obsession for Jidenna, who revisited his roots as a painter and designer.
Admiral allows anyone to create unique merchandise live online, with designs produced on demand at Admiral's North America factory. This innovative tool gave Jidenna the freedom to bring his creative vision to life, blending his artistic background with cutting-edge design technology.
Jidenna: “Before music, I was a painter and a hardware engineer. Now, I guess I’m an Admiral ID designer!”
The kit itself is a stunning fusion of sport, art, and culture. Drawing inspiration from iconic soccer kits and street fashion, The Bashmen’s new Admiral kit pays homage to legendary teams while putting their own spin on it.
Swanky: “I know I ripped off A.C. Milan with this one, but I’m proud of it. The kit has elements of AC Milan’s red and black stripes, Juventus, Nigeria’s 1996 kit, and Argentina’s classic style. It’s a tribute to my favorite teams, but with a unique twist.”
The design features the Bashmen’s custom wordmark across the chest, with their distinctive “seal” on the left chest. The back of the kit features Barcelona’s iconic number font, further blending soccer tradition with modern style.
Jidenna: “I drew inspiration from the German national team’s ‘90 kit. The stripes running across the chest symbolize progress, while they also reference the streetwear vibe I saw growing up in New York’s SoHo. This is casual, sleek, and cool—like the perfect blend of sportswear and streetwear.”
The Bashmen’s Deep Connection to Soccer
For Jidenna and Swanky, soccer is more than just a sport—it’s part of their story. Growing up in Nigeria, Jidenna was all about football before he moved to the United States. Swanky, whose family hails from Jamaica, grew up in East New York, where soccer was a unifying force that brought him closer to his family.
For both, the beautiful game has always been woven into the fabric of their lives. It’s not just about the sport—it’s about the culture, the community, and the shared love of the game.
Swanky: “Soccer brought my family together. It was a universal language. My roots in Jamaica—where Admiral now supplies the kits for the professional league—are a huge inspiration for me.”
A Vision for the Future of Soccer in the U.S.
Jidenna and Swanky are not just pushing boundaries in music—they’re also passionate about seeing soccer grow in the U.S. They both dream of a future where soccer is as ubiquitous as basketball, especially in low-income and minority communities. Jidenna sees a future where basketball courts have goals underneath the hoops, allowing kids to play both sports, learning to love soccer just as much as they love basketball.
Jidenna: “I want to see courts across America where kids can play both basketball and soccer. The sport needs to reach neighborhoods of color, especially low-income ones. If you give kids access to the game, they’ll bring a swag to it that the world has never seen before. And once that happens, the game in America will change. It will be something fresh, something new.”
Jidenna also believes that the Bashmen’s kit design embodies this vision. The stripes on the jersey symbolize the growing influence of soccer in the U.S., with the upward line representing the rise of the game, particularly with the 2026 World Cup coming to North America. The kit isn’t just about fashion—it’s a symbol of the sport’s evolving story in the U.S.
Get Your Bashmen Kit Now!
The Bashmen’s new Admiral kits are now available for purchase! Whether you're a fan of music, soccer, or both, this kit is a must-have. To grab your own piece of history, head to Bashmen online shop.
The Bashmen’s vision is big, and their new kit is just the beginning. From the stage to the field, they’re here to make their mark on music, fashion, and soccer culture in the U.S.
Join The Movement. Live the Bashmen lifestyle.