Niko knows...CULTURE // Issue #22
What's going on in the #Nikoverse? â¨đŞ There's a ton of hip-hop, soccer, podcasts, basketball, football, and gaming happening. To sum it up: a lot of culture.
Yoo! Happy 2025 and welcome back to #Nikoverse and my Cultural Marketing newsletter on Substack! Hereâs whatâs buzzing this week:
Fynn Kliemann Goes Deep: The German artist Fynn Kliemann presents his first solo art exhibit, TOD. The showcase blends reflections on mortality with striking installations, including plastic flowers and mannequins. As a bonus, his new album is launching alongside the Hamburg exhibit, showcasing how creativity and introspection go hand in hand.
For the fourth consecutive year, Arsenal London and adidas address youth violence with the No More Red campaign. Featuring community leaders and star players like Declan Rice, the initiative supports safe spaces and mentorship to help young creatives thrive.
John Cena + McDonaldâs McValue Menu = Nostalgia Overload! The McValue menu is back, with Cena dishing up $5 Meal Deals, free fries Fridays, and more. The WWE legend also spilled his go-to orderâdouble cheeseburgers and nuggetsâand shared fond memories of Happy Meals and Big Macs.
At the same time, ASUS redefines mobile gaming with the ROG Phone 9 and 9 Pro. Boasting Snapdragon 8 Elite chips, insane AMOLED screens, and even haptic shoulder triggers, these phones turn gaming into a next-gen experience. Console vibes in your pocket!
Kith x New York Rangers: Hockey Never Looked Cooler! Kithâs iconic Night at Madison Square Garden now goes NHL. From AVIREX leather jackets to Mark Messier jerseys and co-branded Bauer gear, this drop is a full-on tribute to New York pride. Hockey sticks and fashion? Say less.
Catch you next week for more culture goldâstay creative!
Best,
Niko
#NikoKnowsâŚHOCKEY
Kith Takes Over the Ice with New York Rangers Collaboration
Kith expands its NYC sports collabs with a Rangers-inspired collection
The lineup includes outerwear, jerseys, hockey gear, and accessories
Kith is taking its New York sports obsession to the ice, launching a new collaboration with the Rangers just in time for hockey season. Following its successful partnership with the Knicks, Kith is bringing its signature design language to the NHL with a collection that blends classic hockey aesthetics with contemporary streetwear.
The collection is packed with standout pieces, including AVIREX leather jackets with bold embroidered patches, Mitchell & Ness Mark Messier jerseys reimagined with Kith branding, and sleek Bauer-designed quarter zips and track pants. The hockey gear gets a premium upgrade with a co-branded Bauer Vapor HyperLite 2 hockey stick, Pro Gloves, and a game-ready helmet. Accessories like custom hockey pucks and coasters round out the drop.
To celebrate, Kith is hosting its first-ever Kith Night at Madison Square Garden on January 18, when the Rangers take on the Columbus Blue Jackets. Expect a mix of sports nostalgia and modern design, both on and off the ice.
#NikoKnowsâŚWRESTLING
John Cena and McDonald's Tag Team for the New McValue Menu
McDonald's unveils its new McValue menu, featuring $5 meal deals & app exclusives
John Cena shares his go-to order and nostalgic McDonaldâs memories
McDonald's just dropped its new McValue Menu, and they've enlisted none other than John Cena to help spread the word. The wrestling legend-turned-Hollywood star kicked off the campaign, celebrating budget-friendly meal deals, in-app exclusives, and nostalgic bites that take him back to his childhood.
The menu includes $5 meal deals, a buy-one-get-one-for-$1 offer on select items, and weekly freebies like medium fries with a $1 purchase every Friday. Cena, a self-proclaimed McDonaldâs fan for life, swears by his go-to order: two double cheeseburgers and two six-piece McNuggetsâno drink, just pure flavor. His love for the Golden Arches goes way back, from swapping Happy Meal toys with his four brothers to late-night McDonald's runs during his WWE touring days.
As he gears up for his 2025 WWE farewell tour, Cena reflects on his journeyâboth in the ring and at the drive-thru. "McDonald's has been a constant in my life," he says. "From Happy Meals to Big Macs, every bite comes with a memory." Now, with the McValue Menu making fast food even more accessible, Cena is once again proving heâs all about giving the people what they want.
#NikoKnowsâŚSOCCER CULTURE
Arsenal x adidas Keep Fighting for Change with "No More Red"
Fourth year of Arsenalâs anti-knife crime initiative
Focus on safe spaces, mentorship, and community empowerment
Arsenal and adidas are continuing their "No More Red" campaign for the fourth consecutive year, reinforcing their commitment to tackling knife crime and youth violence. Launched in 2022, the initiative provides young people with safe spaces to play, mentorship from positive role models, and opportunities to engage with their communities.
This year, Arsenal has enlisted Zakaria Hassan, George Hobden, and Amy Scanlonâfigures making a real impact in their local communitiesâalongside Declan Rice, Myles Lewis-Skelly, and Alessia Russo to highlight the importance of guidance and security for young people. Captured in a short film, the campaign underlines the need for role models and places where youth can express themselves, grow, and stay safe.
#NikoKnowsâŚART
Fynn Kliemannâs "TOD": A Bold Exploration of Life, Death & Rebirth
First solo art exhibition opens in Hamburg from January 11-24, 2025
Multisensory experience blending visual art, music & personal reflection
Fynn Kliemann is stepping into the art world with "TOD", his first-ever solo exhibition in Hamburg, running from January 11 to 24, 2025 at LagerstraĂe 34A. This immersive showcase explores the themes of impermanence, transformation, and renewal, seamlessly merging sculpture, painting, and music into a thought-provoking experience.
Kliemann's fascination with the cyclical nature of life and death is evident in his unconventional use of materialsâdiscarded mannequins, plastic flowers, and deconstructed objects, all symbolizing the endless loop of decay and rebirth. Drawing inspiration from cemeteries across the world, he reflects on how different cultures interpret lossâwhether in silent mourning or vibrant celebration.
The exhibition also features a powerful STEINWAY SPIRIO installationâa self-playing piano that echoes Kliemannâs own music, only to fall silent as the exhibition concludes. Coinciding with the release of his fourth studio album, also titled "TOD", the project challenges visitors to rethink endingsânot as finality, but as a gateway to something new.
#NikoKnowsâŚGAMING
ASUS ROG Phone 9 Series: Console-Level Gaming in Your Pocket
Ultra-smooth 6.78-inch AMOLED screen with 185Hz refresh rate & 2,500 nits brightness
Powered by Snapdragon 8 Elite for next-level gaming performance & AI enhancements
ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) has just unleashed its most powerful gaming smartphones yetâthe ROG Phone 9 and ROG Phone 9 Proâtaking mobile gaming to a whole new level. With a stunning 6.78-inch AMOLED display, 185Hz refresh rate, and Corning Gorilla Glass durability, these devices are built to handle even the most demanding games.
At the heart of the ROG Phone 9 series is Qualcommâs Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, delivering console-like performance with its Oryon CPU, Adreno 830 GPU, and AI-powered Hexagon NPU. ASUS has packed 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM, with storage options up to 1TB for the Pro model. To keep things cool, the phones feature ROG GameCool 9, with an optional AeroActive Cooler X Pro for serious gaming sessions.
Other standout features include AirTrigger virtual shoulder buttons, customizable mini-LED AniMe Vision display, and OZO Audio-enhanced speakers for immersive sound. Whether you're aiming for high FPS gameplay or just want a phone that delivers raw power, the ROG Phone 9 series is redefining mobile gaming.
