As the New York Knicks continue their run through the NBA Finals, streetwear label And After That has found a way to merge New York basketball culture with one of the most memorable moments in hip-hop radio history.
The brand recently unveiled a Knicks-themed collection featuring several graphic tees, including one built around the legendary Funk Flex radio rant that came along with the debut of Jay-Z and Ye's 2011 hit "Otis."
Printed across the front of the shirt is one particularly famous part of the rant:
"New York City, you listen to me. If you're near a convenience store right now, any type of 24-hour store, go into the store right now and put your hand in the cash register for no reason. Their money is your money as of right now."
The line originated during Flex's enthusiastic reaction live on the radio to the release of "Otis," the lead single from Watch the Throne. Over the years, the quote has become one of the most referenced (and parodied) moments in New York radio history.
And After That's design places the quote front and center on both black and blue shirts while incorporating Knicks-inspired colors and iconography. The piece is part of a broader collection that celebrates New York basketball, Madison Square Garden, and the team's return to championship contention.
The collection's creator, Edgar Gonzelaz, who lives in Texas and grew up both there and in Mexico, recently explained the unlikely path that led him to becoming a Knicks fan despite growing up far from New York.
"You may be wondering how and why a Mexican guy from South Texas is a Knicks fan," he wrote on Instagram.
According to Gonzelaz, his first sports love was Cruz Azul, one of Mexico City's most prominent soccer clubs. Years of heartbreak and championship droughts shaped his perspective on fandom.
"Cruz Azul taught me about love and loss... mostly loss," he wrote, recalling years of near misses and devastating defeats before finally witnessing the club win titles during his lifetime.
That experience eventually led him to connect with the Knicks.
"I base all that I love on Cruz Azul," he explained. "Historically great... recently not so much. Championship drought is a cherry on top."
Rather than gravitating toward perennial winners like the the Knicks’ current opponents, the San Antonio Spurs, Gonzelaz said he was drawn to a franchise that reminded him of his beloved Cruz Azul.”
"To put it plainly, the Spurs were always too damn good for me to love them. Too much winning," he wrote. "Instead I chose to love the Knicks, Mexicanly."
The collection arrives at a fitting moment. The Knicks hold a 3-1 lead over the San Antonio Spurs and are one game away from winning their first NBA championship in 53 years.
Complex has reached out to Funk Flex for comment about the shirts, but he did not immediately respond.
