The Project

Bodega 1st is an independent record label created to develop and release music while maintaining control over the creative direction, branding, and presentation of each project.

The goal was to build a label identity that felt connected to hip-hop culture without looking like a generic independent record company.

The Challenge

The label needed a visual identity strong enough to stand on its own while also working across artists, music releases, apparel, promotional materials, and digital platforms. The challenge was creating consistency without allowing the Bodega 1st brand to overpower the individual identity of each artist or release.

My Role

As a co-owner of Bodega 1st, I helped develop the label from its early concept into a functioning independent music brand.

My role also includes artist development and helping connect the creative presentation of a release with the larger direction of the label.

The Approach

I approached Bodega 1st as a brand first and a record label second.
Instead of creating a completely disconnected visual direction every time music was released, I developed a recognizable identity that could extend across the website, music releases, apparel, and promotional campaigns.
The Bodega 1st name and block-style visual language became recurring brand elements while individual releases were still given their own creative identity.
The goal was consistency without making every project look the same.

The Results

Bodega 1st developed into a recognizable independent label identity capable of supporting music releases, artist development, apparel, and promotional campaigns. The brand now provides a consistent creative foundation for releasing and marketing music while allowing individual projects to maintain their own visual identity. The project demonstrates my ability to develop a brand across digital, visual, and entertainment platforms while maintaining a clear creative direction.