A profile of the Mid-City native who moved from pro skate videos to underground hip-hop acclaim, brand campaigns and collaborative creative work with peers like Earl Sweatshirt and Frank Ocean.
Sage Elsesser, alias Navy Blue, has distinct careers as a pro skateboarder, a revered underground rapper-producer, and a fashion/model presence.
He has credited writing on Frank Ocean’s Blonde as a teenager and has shaped creative direction for collaborators including Earl Sweatshirt.
Elsesser balances intense public activity—music releases, fashion partnerships and performances—while managing the emotional strain of a multi-focused life.
# Who Sage Elsesser is
Sage Elsesser, known musically as Navy Blue, is a 29-year-old Mid-City native whose career spans pro skateboarding, underground hip-hop, modeling and brand collaborations. He first gained widespread skate recognition at 17 after turning pro and appearing in Supreme's influential 40-minute skate video Cherry alongside peers such as Na-Kel Smith, Tyshawn Jones and the late Dylan Rieder.
# From skate videos to music
Under the Navy Blue alias, Elsesser has built a reputation as a respected rapper-producer in the contemporary underground. The profile notes he received writing credits on Frank Ocean's Blonde while still a teenager and contributed to creative direction for longtime friend and collaborator Earl Sweatshirt.
His music work includes the album Sir Render, released in June prior to the profile. The promotional cycle for that album took him across the U.S. and to Paris Fashion Week, where he collaborated on a listening event and a limited-edition vinyl with Stone Island. Promotional materials around that project referenced a sculptural approach to the album's vinyl cover and themes described as protection and introspection.
# Fashion, modeling and brand work
Elsesser's public-facing roles extend into fashion and modeling. He's appeared in campaigns for high-profile brands including Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger and has a signature Converse skate shoe. Luxury houses like Ferragamo have engaged him for fittings and events. He also worked with Stone Island at Paris Fashion Week.
He and his sisters—Paloma and Ama, both models—share a distinct family presence in fashion. Paloma has walked runways for major houses and appeared on a Vogue cover.
# Entrepreneurship and instruments
Beyond music and fashion, Elsesser co-founded a vintage watch collective called Very Special, whose clients have included public figures such as Hailey Bieber and Future. Musically, he plays percussion instruments including the congas and the batá, an Afro-Cuban double-headed drum.
# How he manages the workload
The profile describes a packed recent schedule: a South L.A. block party performance, an all-day photo shoot, and fittings for fashion brands. Elsesser acknowledges feeling spread thin and speaks about trying to be intentional with his energy. He notes that he gives a lot of himself to each endeavor and tries to be present in his work, and that after the Sir Render press run he likely won't be doing interviews for a while.
# Public image and identity
# Cultural footprint
Elsesser's path—skateboarding fame as a teen, early music industry credits, ongoing creative collaborations, model and brand work, and entrepreneurship—makes him a multi-faceted figure in Los Angeles culture. The profile situates him in Image's Image Makers issue, framing him among other local creatives shaping the city's contemporary scene.
# What's next
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