Copyright Forbes
Kyren Williams is obviously known as one of the key pieces to the Los Angeles Rams. The 25-year-old running back signed a three-year, $33 million contract extension in the offseason after being named the 85th-best player in the NFL. While Williams has had his shares of ups and downs this season – he had a key fumble in an overtime loss against the San Francisco 49ers – he has had another strong start to the season, rushing for 586 yards and three touchdowns on 4.4 yards per carry. He ranks ninth in the NFL in rushing yards per game and 10th in touches entering the Rams’ Week 10 rematch against the San Francisco 49ers. While the Rams have some major names on their roster including Matthew Stafford, Davante Adams and Puka Nacua, it’s no surprise that the young star running back was selected for the team’s collaboration for their “LA Bold Collection” with well-known Los Angeles tattoo artist Mister Cartoon. The LA Bold Collection is a six-piece collection that personifies Mister Cartoon’s style and his touch when it comes to Los Angeles culture. Mister Cartoon is obviously a Los Angeles native and has done a variety of work when it comes to art, whether that’s screen printing, wall murals or clothing. The collection features a snapback hat, short sleeve t-shirt, skull hoodie and coaches jacket and a clown mask. Mister Cartoon is known for his work in the Los Angeles hip-hop scene and has tattooed the likes of Los Angeles Lakers legends Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal along with countless celebrities such as 50 Cent, Dr. Dre, Eminem and Justin Timberlake. “His murals, his artwork, his pieces, the things that he’s able to do with, old cars, and how he paints the hoods of cars, and it just really represents what LA is,” says Williams in a one-on-one interview of Mister Cartoon’s legacy. " The well-respected tattoo artist details the influence that led to the LA Bold collection. “The influence behind the collection was the streets of LA and the colors that make you think of the team,” says Mister Cartoon. “In addition to the unique fonts that have become synonymous with LA that I wanted to make sure were represented.” The 55-year-old delves into his background as an artist, where his work varies from graphics, murals and airbrushing t-shirts. “My background as an artist started with doing graffiti in the harbor area of Los Angeles, I then went to trade tech to study sign graphics from there I was doing signs and painting murals on lowriders, boats, and off-road vehicles,” says Mister Cartoon. "I started doing album covers for Rap groups and becoming involved in hip hop culture doing magazine illustrations. “I started getting tattoos and I fell in love with the culture and started to study the tattoo life and doing tattoos myself,” Cartoon continues to say. “Airbrushing t-shirts one at a time became limiting so I started silk screening and designing clothing for different brands. I continue to challenge myself and do different forms of art, like fine art canvases and large exterior wall murals.” Mister Cartoon names the coaches jacket as his favorite piece from the collection and says that he’s worked with a number of Los Angeles area sports teams over the years, including the Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Kings and LAFC. Williams – who is a St. Louis, Missouri native – learned of Mister Cartoon’s legacy and impact in the Los Angeles culture after he was drafted by the Rams in 2022. “I didn’t really know much about Mister Cartoon, but I saw a documentary and how it captured just his ability to bring life to his art, and he’s able just to represent everybody that’s a part of that culture,” says Williams of Mister Cartoon. “I guess (it’s) the LA boldness of what we speak about when we collaborate with the Rams. For me, if you look it up, it’s all over the place too. He’s done tattoo art, tattoos for big artists. He’s done murals on cars. He’s done collaborations and clothes and whatnot.” The Rams running back echoes the key sentiment in that Miser Cartoon is able to bring his artwork to “life” and what people are wanting to see. “He’s really taking his artwork and sending it into something that’s a lot bigger than just art,” says Williams of Mister Cartoon. “He really brings it to life. He’s able to bring it to what people's eyes are wanting to see.” The Rams’ Chief Marketing Officer, Kathryn Kai-ling Frederick, also echoes a similar sentiment on why this collection stands out – because it personifies the culture of Los Angeles. “We’re proud to collaborate with Mister Cartoon on a collection that celebrates the culture, creativity, and community that make Los Angeles so special,” says Ka-ling Frederick. “Dropping the LA Bold Collection alongside our LA Bold game makes this moment even more meaningful — it’s a tribute to the city that inspires us and the fans who bring our team to life. Mister Cartoon was the perfect partner to make this happen.” Williams and Mister Cartoon shot a promotional video for the collection, which sees them at a barbershop while getting a haircut and watching sports. When asked which of the six-piece collection is his favorite, Williams says its the mask and the sweatshirt. He says the mask represents Los Angeles and the Mexican culture and he loves the stitching on the sleeves for the sweatshirt. Williams says he would love to have Mister Cartoon’s artwork on his body some day. “I want to be able to get his artwork on my body some way, somehow,” says Williams of Mister Cartoon’s artwork. “We talked about an old school car. I had to do all the paint work and paint job on it, because I like what he represents. He brings his art to life, and it really represents just the culture and the vibe of Los Angeles.”
