Like Lil Wayne, Dion Agius is the most collaborated with professional in his industry. This ripper and hip-filming guru is the creative spark behind projects that succeed in a fickle, free-surfing market. Similar to Wayne, he co-owns successful companies and is an international ambassador for popular brands. Agius’ aerial surfing and photography are on magazine covers. Lil Wayne sneezes headline news. These men, themselves, are brands.
Lil Wayne and Dion Agius. Image: Shutterstock, photosthatrock // Screenshot from Globe’s Electric Blue Heaven
Lil Wayne has served prison time, has years of beef with other rappers and Dion Agius has…nah, Agius is the quiet, soft-spoken one. These two short guys are causing a ruckus in their workplace. Standing on a box of their accomplishments, they’ve reached the top shelf and made tall careers. Lil Wayne is the CEO of Young Money Entertainment and Cash Money Records. These companies are some of hip-hop’s most successful. Young Money Cash Money is also a fashion label that creates lines for men, women and children. Wayne and Agius celebrate the cutting edge of trends. They both cut the baggy out of their jeans when it was weird to see how skinny a man’s leg really was. With friends Kai Neville and Mitch Coleborn, Dion Agius is boss of Epokhe Eyewear. This ultra rad group of talent and insight are better for surfing’s heart than a pacemaker. With Clay Marzo, Kolohe Andino, Tosh Townend and Ry Craike, he co-founded Super Brand Surfboards in 2008. Four years later, Super Brand has both men’s and women’s fashion lines. Agius and Wayne take control of something and it succeeds.
Lil Wayne sets trends in the hip-hop arena and has helped jettison recording artists Drake and Nicki Minaj into multi-album multi-platinum success. There aren’t many bigger names in hip-hop than these three. With work ethics to rival the most fortunate of entrepreneurs, Agius and Wayne have managed to craft businesses showcasing the skills of other creatives while never managing to lose their own aesthetic and view on life.
A pro surfer that knows what’s cool isn’t hard to find. But a pro knowing how to create what’s cool and continually stay ahead of the curve without killing the vibe is. Dion Agius has maintained this characteristic by only collaborating with quality people, brands and publications. He’s working with artists, models, skaters, surfers and fashion labels in a way that doesn’t jar the viewing experience or become Agius overkill.
Both Wayne and Agius never had a chance but to be outside-the-box success stories. Agius’ teen years were spent with Paul Fisher (followthefish.tv) and Ryan Hipwood (big wave charger). Lil Wayne’s father figure at a young age was rapper and Cash Money Records owner Birdman. These guys must have stacked little black books. Agius has a model muse in every country and in every landscape. They cast shadows and hold tiny silhouettes that light up his Instagram feed. Lil Wayne is more direct. He raps about his panty dropping love for women with lines like, “I eat her insides, mmm soul food.” Oh, these guys definitely get some.
Where Lil Wayne differs is his initial love for creativity is outweighed by his desire for the dollar. Dion Agius initially produced content for his own enjoyment. The surf industry picked up on the inherent cool factor that comes with his work and career opportunities were offered. Whether creating short films, design projects, photography, art or simply surfing, Dion Agius is producing work that resonates with a different kind of surfer–one who loves the ocean foremost but has multiple hobbies and a hunger for creative expression. Dion Agius’ recent short films and photo diaries in collaboration with What Youth have polarized current surf trends. He’s churning out creative surf culture and, as a result, is an intrinsic part of that culture. Dion Agius is the Lil Wayne of surfing.
