Behind the scenes of Hypebeast’s September Digital Cover with WHATMORE, our latest Diaries series features the boundary-pushing New York collective—composed of Cisco Swank, Elijah Judah, Jackson August, Yoshi T., and Sebastiano ($eb)—the energy is as raw, electric, and effortlessly laid-back as their music.
Originating from their high school days at LaGuardia High, the group’s real-life bond and yearslong group chat have finally manifested into live festival stages and a defining digital feature. Pulling up to the venue with Toyota’s all-electric C-HR parked outside, the crew blended modern city mobility with their distinct streetwear aesthetic before stepping inside to kick off a night centered around pure sound, community, and forward-thinking energy.
Before the venue doors opened and lights went low, the group kept things grounded backstage. Between playing hand after hand of card games on plush couches surrounded by lush indoor greenery and sharing quick bites, the atmosphere felt like a hangout at a home studio rather than a high-profile cover shoot. “I always make sure my homies eat before they get to do shows and stuff,” Elijah Judah shared softly, capturing the quiet loyalty that holds the quintet together. That sense of unspoken trust extends into their prep—whether they are casually running through beats on a laptop, going over vocals, or joking around before soundcheck.
When it was time to run sound, the quiet pre-show ritual quickly shifted into focused performance mode. Taking the stage in a light-filled warehouse surrounded by exposed brick and vintage monitors, WHATMORE dialed in every technical detail. Jackson August plugged into his headset mic with an easy confidence, leaning over the mic to declare, “I’m listening to a banger right now… You can’t hear it, but this shit is fire.” Behind him, the rest of the crew dialed in tracks on their laptops and soundboards, ensuring that every layer of their genre-defying sound hit with exact intention.
As the venue filled up, the collective proved why their story made it off the group chat and onto Hypebeast’s September cover. Dressed in relaxed tailoring, boxy tees, wide-leg denim, and custom caps, the band took control of the room under moody red spotlights and glowing disco balls. Moving seamlessly between energetic rap verses, soulful hooks, and live mixing, they kept the intimate crowd moving from the first beat to the final bow.
The night wrapped with the group mingling through the crowd and hanging out beside the sleek silhouette of Toyota’s all-electric C-HR parked inside the venue, serving as both a backdrop to the afterparty and a symbol of modern design. From high school hallways to packing out New York venues, WHATMORE’s journey is a testament to organic growth, creative vision, and doing things on your own terms. Check out our full September Digital Cover story now on Hypebeast to read more about the real lore behind the group.