This is a word, a podcast for your sleep. I'm your host, Jason Johnson. Toys were

coveted items as a child. They cultivated joy and imagination, but pop culture is taking

a turn. An adult toy enthusiast and collectors, like Trinsetting Rapper, producer Kwame, are

refusing to give up their desire to play. As a kid, kid, my top tier of people will hold

Spider-Man, Superman Batman, right? And they will all because of attributes. Pop culture

and black toy collectors and the joy of play coming up on a word with me, Jason Johnson.

Stay with us. Welcome to a word, a podcast about race and politics and everything else. I'm

your host, Jason Johnson. The narrative that toys are just for kids is being reshaped

by passionate pop culture collectors and Hollywood. Parents used to stand in line for

Cabbage Patch Kids or Tick-A-Me-Elmos for their kids. Now parents are standing in line

for Justice League action figures and funcos for their own collections. Toys used to

be just for kids. Now they're big business for adults and kids at heart.

One's popular child favorites, like the 1980s Teddy Ruxpin, can sell for as much as $1,400

today. They're billion dollar movies about Barbie and the Transformers and documentaries

about beanie babies and other 90s toys. Look, toys are big business. The toy collectibles

market is forecast to reach $35.3 billion with a B by 2032 according to marketdesifer.com.

Our guest today knows the value of a good toy. For years he's been feeding his curiosity

for toy culture and exploring the intersection of toys and hip hop. Kwame Holland is a rapper

well known for his debut album The Boy Genius released in 1989 at the age of 16. He has

since emerged as a pop culturalist, writer, DJ and producer known for working with the likes

of Mary J. Blige in 50 Cent. But these days he also produces collectible art experiences.

But the collective he co-founded lets be honest. LBL celebrates pop culture with original

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