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SOHH's Player To Watch For Series

"Billionaire Boy" Astor Chambers
While most high schoolers live for the latest sneakers, Astor Chambers was making power moves doing market research for Nike. Now after four years with the sneaker giant and another four as Vibe magazine's corporate account manager, Astor Chambers is the brand director for Pharrell Williams' "Billionaire Boys Club" clothing line -- making him a player to watch for 2004.

Unlike his peers, Astor Chambers never had to "find" himself. While attending LaGuardia Performing Arts High School in New York, Chambers impressed a visiting Nike rep and landed a spot with the company. As a Nike contact, Chambers' task was to "penetrate the mind of the consumer" by going to various neighborhoods, talking to people to determine their influences in addition to doing presentations. Years down the line, after graduating from Maryland Eastern Shore University, the accounting major secured a position with the sneaker giant.

"It really was a dream come true. In the beginning I was in charge of New York City retailers," Chambers told SOHH.com via phone.

Though Nike gave him his first break, Chambers is now working with one of the brand's premier competitors, Reebok, to launch Pharrell's "Billionaire Boys Club" clothing line and "Ice Cream" sneaker.

"We looked at somebody who really understood what we're trying to do," Chambers explained in regards to picking Reebok over Nike for the partnership. "We weren't going to be in a situation where they didn't allow what we're trying to do and Reebok totally understands."

With so many brands flooding the market, Chambers promises clothing that reaches beyond velour sweat suits and throwback jerseys.

"[BBC] is the consummate lifestyle that speaks to an eclectic audience and the incredible amount of people Pharrell speaks to. It's nowhere near an urban brand. It speaks to the Soho guy, the skate guy. It's authentic fashion," Chambers revealed.

Regarding working with Pharrell, Chambers has only accolades to offer.

"I met them [The Neptunes] when they first started out and then I understood what those guys represented. And Pharrell is a visionary. He's very humble. We're trying to represent a lifestyle. That's totally evident with the brand. I remember him saying that he wanted his own sneaker and look at him now."

Astor Chambers' Play-O-Graphy

Projects For 2004
Billionaire Boys Club Clothing Line and "Ice Cream" sneaker
Expansion of Oil Paintings. "I'm still pretty much an artist. I paint. I'm trying to get exposure. It's abstract oil paintings. I just don't want my paintings to be exposed. I want them in my peers' offices. When you come into my office you see my paintings on the wall. People are always like...you did that. It's a great representation of art."

Expected Revenues for 2004
The good thing about this brand is we're not looking for your money. What drives this is just to bring quality product and tremendous influence to far exceed the market penetration.

Astor Chambers' "Watchlist"
Mike Parker, Reebok, In Charge of Merchandising
Laz Alonso, formerly of BET. He's trying to do the movie deal. He just did an episode of "Soul Food." He did "The Practice."
Tre Renee--formerly of New York's WBLS now hosting on Sirius satellite radio.

Quote Of The Year
"Wealth is of the heart and mind not the pocket."

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