HOMETOWN VANDALS

WRITING: NATALIE BACOME LAYOUT: EMMA FENDER HOMAGE

DAPPER DAN

BIRTH OF RAP

Modern rap as we know it originated from block parties in the Bronx as a technique used by MC’s who wanted to add some flare to their mixes. The ability to transition from song to song or introducing DJ’s created an opportunity for MC’s to incorporate creative elements such as rhyming in sync with the music. What began as sound to fill radio silence later grew to an expressive art form.

There is a push and pull relationship between high houses and underground culture. High end designers take cues from subcultures. These designers do not ordinarily credit them, and even turn around and try to shut down the original creators. That is a lot to digest, so let us break it down.

Dapper Dan, born Daniel Day, grew up in Harlem, New York. He grew up gambling and in an interview shared advice to “look for a hustle that has a loophole in the law.” At the time that was what he called the “paper game” or gambling. He later found his next loophole in the law: fashion. He invented something fresh that no one had seen before. Dapper Dan emerged with his 125th street shop that began as a furs boutique that he grew into a world-famous shop. He would buy luxury hardware from designer handbags and repurpose them onto his pieces. He created custom made-toorder pieces with repurposed designer logos from brands like Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Fendi. This popularized the concept of “logomania”- when logos adorn various unique pieces. Dapper Dan mastered the art of what he called “knock-ups” and rather than copy designer looks, he adopted the logos in creative ways. In an interview with the New York Times, he discussed the connection fashion has with spiritualism and materialism. Growing up, he saw women admire luxury goods like furs and diamonds. He saw the same connection when heavily branded items became popular. This logo obsession people have is what led him to create one of his most popular pieces, the Louis Vuitton bombers. Through the years, his designs have been worn by Mike Tyson, Jay-Z, LL Cool J, Beyoncé and countless others. Once brands like Fendi and Gucci took notice of their logos being used on Dan’s work, he began to receive cease and desist letters but that did not stop his creative talents. Even while his store was shut down, he continued. 25 years after brands wanted to take Dapper Dan’s designs out of existence, Gucci looked to him for inspiration. The Gucci x Dapper Dan collection came out in 2018 and featured 80’s inspired bomber jackets and an ad campaign with a vintage street style aesthetic.

HOMAGE

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Content Director: Madison Taylor Content Assistants: Camille Campbell, Kristen Haupt, Trinity Gates Photography: Stephanie Lopez Writing: Morgan Quinn Layout: Nastasia Rozenberg, Riley Keuroglian

Q: What does the word “Vandal” mean to you?

A: It’s going against the grain, being confident in that, not caring too much with respect. I feel like it’s just about— putting into the same connotation as my project “Black Sheep” right— someone who is an Q: Where do you find unexpected inspiration? independent thinker. I feel like we’re in a time where everybody is really sensitive and if you have a difference of opinion you’re like an A: People. Yeah, conversations. I think the evil person – that’s literally the temperament of our society right now. things that inspire me most are the moments you don’t really prepare for. You might make a song about something in your life and then you go and you play that song in Alabama and someone’s like “I really like that song that you wrote about this because it meant this this and that” and you’re like wow that translated as that to you and that’s great because, you know, the definition of art is communication, and so as an artist you are supposed to communicate things either that people can’t communicate themselves or that they don’t want to or fear, so I find my biggest inspiration just in my communication.

Q: Many young creators struggle with imposter syndrome. Do you struggle and how do you overcome those self-doubts?

A: Yeah for sure, but that’s how you grow. It’s interesting, that’s the first time I’ve actually heard it called that. I think I look at it differently— I’m constantly around people that push me and motivate me because they are better than me or smarter than me in some way, you know, and we can let that intimidate us or it can help us. Ultimately, you shouldn’t be the smartest person in any room, because then you’re not gonna grow— everyone’s just gonna take from you, and that’s cool but it has to be an even exchange. But, yeah I definitely deal with that and everybody does, it’s totally normal.

Q: What destroys your creativity? What nurtures your creativity? A: What destroys my creativity, oddly enough, is consistency. I live, breathe, sleep this. When I leave here, I’m gonna go straight back to the studio and work, you know. And everybody around me does that as well. When you’re in it, and you’re a part of it, you’re so close to it sometimes, it’s like “dang, I just made five songs this week and I feel like none of them are hitting me the way that I felt like they should.” So what destroys my creativity is being so close and so consistent, and what nurtures it is taking a step back from everything. Or, doing what we talked about in the previous question, putting myself in uncomfortable situations and being around people who are better than me at something.

A: I think of the graffiti you see around downtown Atlanta, the whole concept of being sneaky and not wanting to get caught. That whole process to create something unexpected, you know, you’ll drive past and suddenly you see something new and you’re like “what? I didn’t realize that was there before, someone created that in a really quiet way!”

Q:In a world of rule-followers, who is your favorite rule-breaker?

A: The whole theme I’m trying to focus on this year is sustainability, making it not only a trend, but relatable to anyone—Greta Thunberg is my favorite. She’s just so badass, taking on the biggest corporations in the world and, in reality, they’re the ones breaking the rules —she’s just calling them out. But it takes a lot of guts to do that.

Q: What destroys your creativity and what nurtures it?

A: I would say pressure and trying to get things done perfectly hinders creativity so much. My teachers always say that the best things come from mistakes, which is so true. When you try to stick to this perfect plan, you end up being not as original as you could be. I work really well under time restraints too.

I whipped out one project in one night right before the due date. Not what I would recommend, but I really suffer from having a perfect idea in my head, and not doing anything because I don’t want to mess with it or ruin it. Then, it ends up being the night before a project is due, and I have to get it done.

A: A big part of my inspiration comes from color, a huge pattern in my work. I’ve always enjoyed making stuff pop, making your eye wander, so I’ve never really been, I don’t know, boring? Pop culture is a big one, too. Music is also a big part of my work. Also, I think Athens is a big part of my creative process. I grew up in Augusta, so a similar vibe, but now it’s more clear for me to establish what I want to be involved with here, especially being in art school, too, which has a huge impact. The people around me have different ideas of what art is, so it’s nice to be around a bunch of creative people.

Q: What does the word “vandal” mean to you?

A: Someone who can create their own narrative and stick out among the rest. For me, a big part of the “vandal” idea is being more confident in [sharing my work]. Like, “Hey this is what I’m doing and I really like it,” a come-as-you please kinda thing? If you’re passionate about it, force it down people’s throats, because I’m sure people will listen.

Q: Many young creators struggle with imposter syndrome. Do you struggle and how do you overcome those self-doubts? A: Yeah, I’d say I do. In high school, I went to a fine arts school in Augusta, and I didn’t really know what I wanted to do. So with art, I’ve never stepped into that role, that I guess I’m now in, until I got on my own. At school, when I was able to establish myself, that helped me narrate my time here and be able to have my own idea of art. Establishing yourself and just being different to the point where you have your own creativity and style.