Andy Warhol famously theorized that “Being good in business is the most fascinating kind of art. Making money is art, working is art, and good business is the best art.”
Enter Jai Manselle, known in industry circles as the “King of Branding.” Manselle is highly sought out for his innovative mind and over-the-moon success in creative branding concepts. Having worked with top names like Apple, Reebok, and New Era, his MANSELLE brand logo has appeared on over 60 million products to date. And that’s just the beginning. His work further spans into other areas such as design, fashion, technology, game development, and film production with his production projects reaching over 1 billion screens. So if you haven’t heard of Jai Manselle yet, it’s time to meet the man behind all this buzz.
Manselle strives for finding the impossible and turning it on its head. Even as a young teen his creative and entrepreneurial savviness was apparent when he found a way to help hip-hop musicians that were underrepresented by record labels successfully record independently. This success laid the groundwork for MANSELLE and pushed him to further his education earning a Bachelor’s in Public Relations from Hampton University, and a Master’s Degree from Harvard University.
His Warhol-like knack for the unconventional is evident in many of his collaborations. Manselle is often recognized for his work with Rap Snacks, the popular snack brand that collaborates with rap legends like Notorious BIG, Cardi B and Migos. Every Rap Snacks product features original artwork by Manselle, marrying his unique branding with his creative direction. Earlier this year, rapper Lil’ Baby entered the mix when Rap Snacks, along with Manselle, released the drink line Oowee Lemonade.
Breaking into the fashion industry, Manselle and his team launched the MANSELLE clothing line featuring avant-garde hoodies, t-shirts and sneakers. Manselle further collaborated with basketball star Dwayne Wade releasing the Way of Wade brand with sneakers, t-shirts and more.
A big part of Manselle’s movement is to push boundaries and create “disruptive lifestyle products.” Whether it’s technology, food or fashion, he and his team are quick to point out that MANSELLE is a Brand House not a fashion label, advertising firm or marketing agency and they are working to dismantle the “tired idea of what a consumer luxury brand ‘should’ be,” as stated on the website.
Manselle is no stranger to pushing boundaries in the basketball world either.
On November 1st, a story of defying the odds hit home screens with the release of the Showtime documentary, Get Yours. A collaborative project, the documentary follows the Iverson Classic basketball tournament, founded by NBA all-star Allen Iverson, and the unlikely success of pulling it off in Covid-affected 2021. The tournament, which serves as a way for young, amateur basketball players to be seen by NBA scouts, is one of just three such events, the others being the McDonald’s All-American Game and the Jordan Brand Classic.
As the courts and tournaments were shutting down due to Covid-19, the team behind the Iverson Classic refused no for an answer and were able to secure a date for the tournament to take place in Memphis, TN. “Never let people tell you big dreams aren’t possible,” Manselle announced on his Instagram this past April when the tournament was certified by the NBA. The documentary weaves together stories taking place both on and off the court, with an overall emphasis on victory in an unprecedented time.
From food, to fashion to basketball and beyond, Jai Manselle is definitely one to keep an eye on. With this much success under his belt already, the future is only looking brighter for the entrepreneur and lifestyle trailblazer. What will be next?
