Niko knows...CULTURE // Issue #25
What's going on in the #Nikoverse? ✨🪐 There's a ton of hip-hop, soccer, podcasts, basketball, football, and gaming happening. To sum it up: a lot of culture.
Yoo! Welcome back to my culture newsletter on Substack – your go-to for culture, brands, urban sports, collabs & all things hype.
From legendary football farewells to hip-hop viral hits, this week’s drops are packed with cultural moments you don’t want to miss.
🏆 SOCCER CULTURE: Werder Bremen’s Diego Gets a Proper Send-Off
Werder Bremen and Hummel are giving club icon Diego Ribas a farewell to remember, unveiling a special edition Legend Jersey inspired by his 2006/07 season. The Brazilian maestro will return to the Weserstadion, wearing the kit one last time.
🎤 HIP HOP: Doechii Drops ‘Anxiety’ After TikTok Hype
After years of fan demand, Doechii finally released her viral track ‘Anxiety’, originally a self-produced 2020 YouTube drop. With mental health bars, ethereal harmonies, and raw storytelling, the track became a TikTok sensation, proving once again that the Swamp Princess reigns supreme.
🛹 SKATEBOARDING: ‘Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4’ Is Back
The Holy Grail of skate games returns! Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 is officially dropping July 11, bringing back classic maps, legendary skaters, and an iconic soundtrack.
👕 FASHION: Rugby Shirts Are Taking Over Streetwear
The rugby shirt is making moves, evolving from preppy uniform to streetwear staple. Once a symbol of exclusivity, the look is now getting global recognition, with brands like Dries Van Noten and The Row embracing it.
🏎️ ENTERTAINMENT: ‘Formula 1: Drive to Survive’ Season 7 Drops in March
Netflix’s F1 docuseries is back, covering the most chaotic season yet—from Hamilton’s Ferrari shocker to Red Bull power struggles.
All this and more in your dose of culture. Tap in!
Best, Niko
#NikoKnows…SOCCER CULTURE
Werder Bremen & Hummel Honor Diego with a Special Farewell Jersey
Some players leave a mark. Diego Ribas left magic. To celebrate his legendary career, Werder Bremen and Hummel have unveiled a special Legend Jersey, a nostalgic nod to the iconic 2006/07 kit—the season where Diego first dazzled in green and white.
Paying tribute to his unforgettable goal from 62.5 meters against Alemannia Aachen, the jersey mirrors the classic Werder look, with a bold splash of orange for extra flair. Diego’s name and iconic No. 10 feature on the back, while green side stripes carry lettering and stars to immortalize his legacy. The Werder diamond and championship star sit proudly on the chest, just above main sponsor MATTHÄI—a design fit for a club legend.
The farewell isn’t just symbolic. On March 22, Diego will return to the Weserstadion, donning the Werder colors one last time in a special farewell match. He’ll be joined by Nani, Quaresma, Mertesacker, Frings, Baumann, and Naldo, all wearing the exclusive kit.
#NikoKnows…HIP HOP
Doechii Drops ‘Anxiety’ After Viral TikTok Frenzy
It’s Doechii’s world, and we’re just living in it. Fresh off three Grammy wins, including the coveted Best Rap Album, the Swamp Princess has officially been crowned headliner for Splash Festival 2025. But she’s not stopping there—she just fulfilled a long-standing fan request with the official release of ‘Anxiety’.
The song’s origins trace back to May 14, 2020, when Doechii casually uploaded a self-produced rework of Gotye and Kimbra’s ‘Somebody That I Used to Know’ to YouTube. Against a colorful mandala backdrop, she laid down harmonies, rapped about mental health, and wrapped it all up with the cathartic mantra: “Fuck it, we get over shit over time.” With nothing but a mic, laptop, and raw talent, she turned self-doubt into sonic therapy.
Fans have begged for a Spotify release for years, and after TikTok sent the track into viral orbit, Doechii finally answered. In a teaser posted on Instagram, she appears face to face with her own anxious self, suggesting she’s made peace with the emotions that once fueled the track.
#NikoKnows…SKATEBOARDING
‘Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4’ Remake Drops This Summer
It’s official—Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 is making a comeback, and it’s dropping July 11. Announced by Tony Hawk, Activision, and Iron Galaxy Studios, the long-awaited remake will be available on PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam, Battle.net, and the Microsoft Store.
This reboot isn’t just a polished re-release—it’s an evolution. Players can expect all the classic levels, new skaters, expanded trick combos, and, for the first time in over a decade, brand-new parks. The roster blends skateboarding legends like Bucky Lasek, Rodney Mullen, Chad Muska, and Bob Burnquist with new-generation stars like Rayssa Leal, Chloe Covell, Jamie Foy, and Yuto Horigome.
And yes, the soundtrack is back. Fans can still shred to Motorhead, Gang Starr, and KRS-One, but new additions will bring the energy of today’s skate culture into the mix.
#NikoKnows…FASHION
Rugby Shirts Are Having a Streetwear Moment—Here’s Why
Sports and fashion have always been intertwined, but while football kits and basketball jerseys dominate streetwear, rugby shirts have flown under the radar—until now. Once a staple of preppy collegiate style, the rugby shirt is making a bold return, not just on high-fashion runways but on the streets where trends are truly born.
Originally worn at Rugby School, where the game itself was invented, rugby shirts evolved from wool-heavy uniforms to cotton classics that found their way into fashion by the 1950s, thanks to brands like Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger. From David Hockney’s pink-and-blue striped rugby shirt to Rihanna and David Beckham rocking the look, the silhouette has proven timeless. Now, it’s making its way into luxury fashion, appearing in recent collections from Dries Van Noten, Dsquared2, and The Row.
But rugby, both the sport and its style, has long carried an elite, upper-crust reputation. Historically played in private schools and royal circles, it was often viewed as exclusive and inaccessible, especially in non-white and working-class communities. In South Africa, rugby was even weaponized during apartheid, with Black players barred from the sport until the late 20th century.
Now, though, rugby’s cultural landscape is shifting. The sport is expanding across Africa, with countries like Nigeria making a mark on the international stage. England’s Maro Itoje, of Nigerian descent, is a prime example of how rugby’s face is changing.
That evolution is now being reflected in fashion, too. The Nigerian Rugby Federation recently partnered with Teezee (a Virgil Abloh collaborator) and Ireti (founder of Street Souk) to design a rugby jersey with streetwear appeal. Inspired by Nigeria’s colors, energy, and eagle motif, the piece represents a fusion of sport, culture, and self-expression.
#NikoKnows…CULTURAL ENTERTAINMENT
‘Formula 1: Drive to Survive’ Season 7 Hits Netflix
Buckle up—Netflix’s Formula 1: Drive to Survive is back for Season 7, delivering another adrenaline-fueled deep dive into the most explosive moments of the 2024 F1 season. Premiering March 7, the latest installment once again grants fans unparalleled paddock access, capturing on-track battles and off-track power struggles like never before.
This season unpacks the most shocking headlines of 2024: Lewis Hamilton’s blockbuster switch to Ferrari, McLaren’s resurgence, and Red Bull’s internal tensions as Max Verstappen chased a fourth title. Add in Guenther Steiner’s unexpected exit from Haas, and the ongoing rivalry between Christian Horner and Zak Brown, and you've got a season packed with more drama than a championship-deciding last lap.
Featuring exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes footage, and never-before-seen moments, Drive to Survive Season 7 promises to be the most intense yet.