Rhymezlikedimez – aka Belgian artist Robin Velghe – tapped ToyQube for his first venture into the art collectible space. After the cloudy-headed character Puff hit a slew of high-end events in 2022 including Art Basel Miami and Paris Fashion Week, Rhymezlikedimez has shrunk Puff down – without removing any of his notable features – to a practical and more concise “Skate To The Sun” collectible.
Puff is a resident of the dreamy Rhymezlikedimez universe: Velghe’s otherworldly world full of alluring color and culture. While Puff’s original form saw him at life-size proportions, the smaller iteration stands at just 10 inches tall. Donning his signature sky blue hoodie, oversized sunglasses and chunky yellow sneakers, Puff (and his apple) are comprised fully of vinyl, and his skateboard is crafted from zinc alloy.
The “Skate To The Sun” drop saw hype from an array of notable figures leading up to the launch. Garnering social media support from Sarah Andelman and Bobby Hundreds, Erykah Badu played an active role in the collectible’s campaign. Ms. Badu appeared in the Rhymezlikedymez animated “Badu’s Forbidden Fruits” video, which kicked off the NYC-wide search for Puff’s magic apples – which he was drawn to after listening to Badu’s hit “Appletree” – to kick off the release’s rollout. Watch the video below.
“It has always been my goal to build a world for people to walk into. Having a physical sculpture out there for you to collect makes that dream a little bit more tangible,” Velghe shared in an Instagram post announcing the toy’s release. “This piece is a symbol for appreciating the moment, getting out there in the world and going on silly but yet such important adventures.”
The drop is complemented by a limited line of archival merch. Crewnecks and tote bags that debuted in 2022 are now seeing a full release on the Rhymezlikedymez webstore. The Erykah Badu-inspired “I Picks My Friends Like I Pick My Fruits” long sleeve features Puff chillin’ – in blue on the front, and in red on the back – in front of Badu’s apple tree. The lyrics “I picks my friends like I pick my fruits” are embroidered along the sleeve. Tote bags see a similar design, with Puff lounging in the middle amidst an array of trees, with a cursive Rhymezlikedymez logo underneath.
Still craving Puff’s larger-than-life form? A life-size 1:1 version of the “Skate To The Sun” collectible is on display and available for purchase at the NTRWK store in Los Angeles through the end of July. Otherwise, the “Skate To The Sun” collectible is available for purchase for $375 USD on Toyqube’s webstore.
Elsewhere in the art space, go BEYOND THE STREETS in Mister CARTOON’s new 180-page sketchbook.
