FASHION // CELEBRITY // HIP-HOP
THE FASHION INDUSTRY HAS PLENTY OF COOL. LATELY, MORE AND MORE MUSICIANS HAVE TEAMED UP WITH CLOTHING DESIGNERS IN ORDER TO REACH FANS FROM BOTH WORLDS WHILE ABIDING BY THEIR DISTINCT BRANDS, AND PLENTY OF RAPPERS HAVE FOUND GREAT SARTORIAL FOILS IN STREETWEAR COMPANIES.
DEPARTMENTS
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LIFESTYLE Business news of both the social and political variety
THE MASTERS The original kings of cool: Kanye West, Jay-Z, & Eminem. Plus, what they’re doing these days
TRENDING This season’s hottest hip-hop accessories and newest releases
REMIXED Snapbacks are back! We cover everything you need to know about modernizing this old school trend
FEATURE
7
UP & COMING A$AP Rocky explains why he is a force to be reckoned with
LIFESTYLE BARACK OBAMA: STYLE ICON The re-election of Barack Obama is momentous for so many reasons: hope for a new generation, the promise of change, re-establishing America’s position in the world. But it also means the return of style to the White House. Not since John F. Kennedy has an incoming President been the target of so much talk about fashion and style. So what makes President Obama so stylish and what can the average guy learn from his fashion choices? HE DRESSES FOR HIS BODY TYPE
HE MATCHES HIS PERSONA
HE TAKES CARE OF HIMSELF
HE GOES FOR A CLASSIC LOOK
One of the keys to looking good is knowing your body type and buying clothes that flatter your body. Obama obviously has a long and lean body and he wisely opts for three-button jackets that match the scale of his torso. He also pulls of anything with horizontal stripes which helps his body look broader. Men with long and lean bodies should avoid anything with vertical lines since that just makes you look taller. And stay away from suits that are tight - these just show off how skinny you are.
The smooth and elegant lines of his clothes perfectly match Obama’s debonair, sophisticated personality. A man looks best when his clothes complement the rest of his persona. This is the same reason that someone like Kanye West looks so great - his over-the-top outfits match his outsized personality. Ultimately, though, Barack Obama’s style is much more than the clothes he chooses to wear. Obama’s unique style is expressed in how he talks, how he interacts with people, and the inner confidence that he exudes.
Obama famously works out for 45 minutes nearly every day and it shows. It’s hard to look good in clothes when you don’t look good out of them. Obama reminds all of us that no matter how old you are, being physically fit is a huge asset. If Obama can make time in his unbelievably hectic schedule to hit the gym regularly, can’t you?
President Obama’s suits are not flashy - just impeccably tailored for a truly classic look. Being stylish doesn’t have to mean hopping on the latest fashion trend - it simply means looking good in what you wear. Obama keeps his outfits simple: great suit, great shirt, understated tie. No man can go wrong with that combination.
NATURAL SELECTION
#THUGLIFE
At Atlanta’s Tree Sound Studios, refreshing music is a product of the environment. The 16 000 sq. ft. ultragreen facility—complete with sun-soaking panels and edible garden—has played host to records by A-list artists of all stripes, from 2 Chainz to Justin Bieber. “People go to yoga resorts to get their minds right; celebrities come here to get peace,” says studio manager Malissa “Mali” Hunter, a singer/rapper who first sought the laid-back lab for recording in 2005. The Chicago-born executive, who also serves as chef, A&R consultant, and den mama, explains why the Tree consistently bears amazing fruit.
Today’s filter-less stars stay getting scolded for reckless tweets. But when can gangsta Twitter activity lead to more than a whack on the wrist? Entertainment and sports attorney Chris Cabott breaks down how digital goons can tweet above the law.
NO DRESS CODES
BEST BEHAVIOR
People come to tree sound to be free. When they first come in, I tell them, “you can chill out with coming in here all fancy. Put on your house shoes and be normal.” It takes them a few days to figure it out.
It’s not hard to keep the peace, ‘cause I’m a beast. Ain’t nobody tryna be embarrassed. You don’t go to someone’s house and disrespect it. People know that. I will call you and your manager and say you can’t fucking come in here anymore. I don’t care if you’re a Grammy-winning artist or the dude from next door.
KARMA CHARMER We planted seeds in people over the years, like, “Your budget ain’t big? We love your music. Fuck it, we gon’ help you.” Then when their budgets are big, they come back.
HUMBLE PIE People say, “Man, everybody that works at Tree Sound is so happy and peaceful.” That’s because most of our staff has to go to the farm once a month. They work, humble themselves. They’re happy because they’re getting fed, peaceful because they’re out in nature and around people that promote peace all the time. ZWAG // 2
GREENHOUSE EFFECT Groove Chambers’ penthouse studio is 100 percent powered by the sun. Our heating and airconditioning too. We have a solar rig that powers events citywide and an eight-passenger biodiesel van that picks up artists and their bands. There’s a rainwatercatching system that waters our garden. We really care about what you put in your body and reducing your carbon imprint.
Celebrity tweets can and have been used against them, but can sending a blasphemous blast land someone in the pen? The first thing celebrities, or anybody, has to remember about Twitter is that it’s a public record. Any tweet, any photos you put out can be used as defamation. There are two types of defamation: libel and slander. Libel is written. Slander is spoken. If you’re putting out false things about people on Twitter, anyone following you can file instant defamation suits. Even if it’s tweeted and deleted? If it’s a legal concern, it’s already too late. It’s still stored in the Library of Congress as public record... Mac Miller tweeted that he tried to reach out to Lord Finesse [about sampling a record] when he heard Finesse had a problem initially. That, in and of itself, is kind of an admission on Mac’s behalf that he used the sample without any copyright clearance, so that can come back to bite him. Do subliminal tweets hold any legal weight? If it’s subliminal, that can be
circumstantial evidence. Direct evidence is tweeting to someone: “I’m going to kill you.” With subliminal tweets, you can say the last couple of tweets were about this, this and this. I can’t tell you how many articles I’ve seen about Chris Brown and Rihanna subtweeting each other. Do different countries have crueler penalties? It all comes down to federal law. A greek track athlete [Voula Papachristou] tweeted something that had a racist undertone and was expelled from the London Olympics. Every country has its own set of rules that apply to Internet usage. Are restraining orders starting to include social networking clauses? Absolutely. If someone tweets you once, it is what it is. If it becomes a continuous thing and people are retweeting, you can see how something can rise to a level of harassment to the point where you have to go to court. A judge tries to prevent that harassment, which means stopping any contact. Twitter would be an obvious example of that.
“PEO
AND THE WITH
THE MASTERS LOUIS VUITTON DON FASHION STATEMENT Beyond music itself, Kanye has been responsible for spear-heading many of hip-hop’s fashion trends from the past couple of years. Whether it’s a pink Ralph Lauren Polo shirt, shutter shades, slim-fit denim, Givenchy, or Nike Air Yeezy 2s, Kanye has put his stamp on hiphop fashion. In fact, Complex magazine has recently ranked Kanye #1 on their list of “The 50 Most Stylish Rappers of All Time.”
WHAT IS HE UP TO NOW? You may as well call Kanye West this generation’s King Midas because everything the Chicago native touches turns to gold. Kanye’s notorious producing skills and his celebrated rapping gave way to create this summer’s hottest collective, G.O.O.D. Music. It’s been two years since West has dropped a solo album, but with Pusha T, Big Sean, and the 2 Chainz affiliation, Kanye continued to keep himself hot by keeping the hot ones around him. Cruel Summer has already spawned three highly regarded singles, “Mercy”, “Cold”, and “New God Flow”. The production—which features West as both a producer and an artist—comes a year after Kanye’s blockbuster album with Jay-Z, Watch the Throne. No stranger to controversy, Kanye now has famed socialite and pop icon Kim Kardashian on his arm, and we know what she’s worth. West’s accomplishments were recognized in 2012 when he topped the BET Award nominations with 17 nods.
OPLE WANNA LABEL ME THROW THAT ON ME ALL TIME, BUT I’M SO SECURE H MY MANHOOD.”
KANYE WEST ZWAG // 3
BROOKLYN’S FINEST FASHION STATEMENT Jay-Z was instrumental in moving hip-hop style beyond baggy jeans and jerseys. His luxurious yet easy-going personal style has led him to continually top best-dressed lists and his knack for dressing for success led him to extended his Midas touch into the fashion world with several impressive and highly lucrative ventures. 2003 saw Jay-Z partner up with Reebok to design, market and front-line the company’s most successful athletic shoe. 2009, the superstar helped design and launch a line of men’s sneakers for the posh French label Louis Vuitton.
WHAT IS HE UP TO NOW? Jay-Z has joined an exclusive list of rappers who can be categorized as hiphop royalty. Not just because the Brooklyn rapper has sold over 50 million records worldwide, but because he’s elevated the game of “moguling.” With heavy stakes in his Rocawear clothing brand, upscale bar and lounge 40/40, and even part of the NBA team, the Brooklyn Nets, Jay-Z has diversified his portfolio, so much so that he’s creating opportunities in hip-hop by just keeping it profitable. In 2012, he produced the Made In America tour, his management compant Roc Nation was home to Rihanna, Shakira, Meek Mill, J. Cole, and M.I.A. And with the Barclays Center in Brooklyn opening with eight concerts, Jay executive producing a basketball video game, and his deal with Duracell, Jay-Z had proven once again that he is still not just a businessman, but a business, man!
“I’M SOME GHETTO CHIC, I’M WHERE THE ‘HOOD AND HIGH FASHION MEET.” ZWAG // 4
JAY-Z
“I WANT TO BE REMEMBERED AS A FASHION ICON BECAUSE MAN, DO I KNOW HOW TO FUCKING DRESS.”
EMINEM SHADY SWAGGER FASHION STATEMENT Hip-hop showed a lot of oversized sweats back in the day, currently the silhouettes are cut leaner as you can see in most current collections. It is obvious that Eminem’s style has adapted to this change and that he continues to be a style icon. Back when he had the bleached hair and the oversized clothing, it actually really worked for him at the time and even today, that look is and always will be Slim Shady.
WHAT IS HE UP TO NOW? Having released six No. 1 albums consecutively and even founded his own record label Shady Records, Eminem is still the highest selling rap artist. Therefore, even though he did not officially drop his own album in 2012, he was still raking in the dough through deals with G-Shock, Chrysler, and other companies that want to be in bed with Marshall Mathers. This past year, Slim Shady focused more on his business at home with Shady Records. The label released Slaughterhouse’s critically acclaimed Welcome to: Our House and is gearing up for 50 Cent’s November release, Street King Immortal. The label, home to the Slaughter, 50 Cent, Bad Meets Evil, and Yelawolf (to name a few) has rejuvenated the brand with Shady 2.0.
NEW ALBUM? It’s been a long time since rap phenom Eminem released the singles-heavy albums Relapse and Recovery. Now, however, he’s confirmed that a new solo album will arrive next year. Marshall Mathers didn’t deliver the announcement via a press release or Tweet, however. Instead, it’s embroidered on the side of a snapback baseball cap. The hat, which is available now in the official Eminem store, comes with the following description: For a limited time only in honor of the big games and the hometown team’s return to The D we are pleased to offer the Eminem Baseball Tribute Hat in both home and away colors. Side panel is dedicated to the landmark Eminem solo albums. A portion of the proceeds will go to The Marshall Mathers Foundation. The most recent year on the side panel is 2013, and we all know that once a date is on a hat it’s set in stone. Stay tuned for more details as they become available. After all, it’ll be interesting to know which female singer-songwriters he’ll be collaborating with on lite rap rock songs in waiting rooms and elevators across North America next year.
ZWAG // 5
A
UP&COMING
A$AP ROCKY “I’VE BEEN INTO FASHION SINCE BIRTH. I GREW UP IN THE ‘HOOD, AND EVERYBODY IN THE ‘HOOD WANTS TO COMPENSATE FOR BEING IN POVERTY, SO THEY WANT TO LOOK GOOD TO KEEP THEMSELVES UP. THAT’S BEEN EMBEDDED IN ME.” Twenty-three year old Harlem rapper Rakim Mayers known as A$AP Rocky (That stands for Always Strive and Prosper) created a rampant knocking storm of street buzz for all hip hop heads after releasing the mix tape Live. Love. A$AP last fall via the internet. Not only was he buzzing in the streets about his lyrical flow along with a mixture of hip hop southern slowed down screwed out beats the rapper has something else that others recognize – His style. A$AP has let it be known that he has a great love and admiration for fashion and fashion designers. Born Rakim Mayers, Rocky endured the kind of troubled childhood that most kids don’t escape: his father went to jail in connection with selling drugs, his older brother was killed, and Rocky wound up shuffling through shelters with his mother and sister for a time. But Rocky’s single-minded confidence enabled him to not only survive, but thrive with good-humored ease and few hints of bitterness about his past. He is part of a large uptown crew, all of whom use the first name of A$AP, which stands for Always Strive and Prosper. Until recently, he himself was dealing drugs in order to pay his bills, but he just signed a record deal with Polo Grounds Music, a label under the Sony-RCA banner, for a reported $3 million—which, for an artist whose music is rife with the steadfast ambition to uplift and transform reality, should allow him, on some level, to do just that. DIMITRI EHRLICH: Let’s talk a bit about your childhood. When you think about growing up, what sort of images pop in your head? I know that you spent the first part of your life in Harlem. A$AP ROCKY: Yeah. When I was a kid, we lived at 116th and Morningside. EHRLICH: I remember that neighborhood, around Morningside Park, being full of crack zombies back in the 1980s. ROCKY: Oh, it was crazy . . . I want to say it was real hip-hopish when I was growing up. You know what I’m saying? But we lived in Pennsylvania, where my dad was, for a good three years, too. I moved there when I was 8 and left when I was 11. I grew up on 116th Street, in the Bronx, then on 140th Street in Harlem. I was back and forth between New York and Pennsylvania. Like, I would live in New York the whole summer and go back and forth. So it was one of those things . . . EHRLICH: Your dad went to jail when you were 12 for selling drugs. What sort of impact do you think that had on you? ROCKY: Well, it fucked me up, man. When my dad was gone, times became really hard for my family. EHRLICH: You started living with your mom in shelters. ROCKY: Yeah . . . That shit was tough. EHRLICH: Where were these shelters? ROCKY: One of them was in North Carolina. It was just like a big-ass fucking gym full of bunk beds and random people and strangers bunking with each other with a big-ass bin on the edge of the bed where they put their clothes. Me and my sister just looked at each other and started crying . . . We moved down there because my mom wanted to get with her high-school sweetheart, or something like that. To make a long story short, she went down there to try to start a new life. My father had made a bunch of babies with her, he was caught up in the street life, and he ended up going to jail, so she was hurt and alone. I don’t know what made her decide to go into a shelter, but she just wanted to get away from the life
she was in. She was with this guy who kind of fucked her life over . . . Then
EHRLICH: How did you get into fashion?
my aunt let us live with her for a while, which was pretty hard because it
ROCKY: I’ve been into fashion since birth. I grew up in the ’hood, and
was like an upper-middle-class kind of neighborhood, so I didn’t get along
everybody in the ’hood wants to compensate for being in poverty, so they
with any of the kids. They used to pick on me and tease me and make fun
want to look good to keep themselves up. That’s been embedded in me.
of me at the bus stop. When I went to school, all my friends were the kids
My father, he kept me in the Jordans and Guess stuff and all that other
from the poor neighborhoods. My mom ended up getting a job, and we
shit, so it was just like I grew up on that fashion shit. It’s just that my
moved to some projects. But then she got into a fight with an employee,
fashion tastes changed and shifted, that’s all.
and after that she lost her job, so we weren’t going to be able to afford to
EHRLICH: But the fashion sensibility in Harlem has always been very
stay in that place anymore. Eventually, she decided to come back to New
flashy, whereas when you were in high school, you were going to SoHo
York, where we lived in another shelter. After school, my friends were
to find things you liked in thrift stores. How did you educate yourself
like, “Yo, Rocky, let’s go to your house.” But I’d just be like, “Nah, man, I
about fashion in that way?
can’t have company.” I was ashamed to let anyone know that I was living
ROCKY: It’s kind of like one of those things where you just research
in a shelter. I remember one time coming home and some kids saw me
one thing that you come upon, and it’s easy once you get into it. The
and were like, “What you doing here? This is a shelter!” But I was like,
hard part is putting it all together. It’s, like, everybody from Harlem
“My mom’s working there.” It was pretty embarrassing. It’s something to
knows what Gucci is—I mean, Dapper Dan up in Harlem was big even
laugh about now because it’s what made me who I am, and I didn’t have
though that wasn’t officially Gucci—but if you shop at Gucci, you say,
any say-so in that. I was a child. I couldn’t do too much . . .
“Okay, where can I get Gucci from? Okay, I can get it from Saks Fifth.”
EHRLICH: You lost your older brother when you were 13. What kind
So when you go to Saks Fifth, you see nice shit, you see other name
of influence did he have on you? What was his name?
brands, and then you gotta do your research. I grew up in the age of the
ROCKY: His name was Ricky, and I just . . . I mean, I wanted to be him.
Internet. You look up the designer, see when they have their shows, and
He had braids. He used to listen to Bone Thugs-n-Harmony. He was into
what lines they bringing up. I mean, I’m not gonna say I went on the
girls. He was more of a fighter, though. He was kinda crazy.
Internet to find everything. It was just something that me and my crew
EHRLICH: How much older than you was he?
used to do. We used to wear what we felt would make us look different.
ROCKY: He was seven years older.
EHRLICH: You were embracing being peculiar or odd relative to the
EHRLICH: So what happened?
mainstream, which is hard when you’re 15 or 16 because what most kids
ROCKY: He got shot—on the block where I was born, 116th Street.
want to do is just fit in.
EHRLICH: Later, you started dealing drugs.
ROCKY: Of course. I didn’t want to be a loser, but I didn’t want to fit
ROCKY: At, like, 13 I started selling weed. By 14, 15 I was selling crack
in at the same time because I don’t like just being ordinary. So it’s one
in the Bronx . . . So that was my life for a few years. Then when I was 21,
of those situations where I always kept my head up. I thought highly
I moved to my mom’s out to New Jersey.
of myself growing up. I still do. There’s not really much somebody can
EHRLICH: When did you stop selling?
say to me to bring down my confidence or anything. We know our shit
ROCKY: I stopped around Memorial Day . . . It’s been hard, and it got
stink, but you can’t tell us that because we feel like we do what we do.
harder last summer. I was kind of broke and had to really be strong
Fuck your laws, fuck your rules and boundaries and limits. We do us.
because we were really striving to be independent, you know what I
EHRLICH: When “Purple Swag” first came out, it wasn’t really
mean? But now money is not really a big issue. I’m just focused on life
embraced in New York. How did you feel about that?
right now. I’m having fun with this music shit and my career.
ROCKY: At first, it was embraced everywhere else, but New York was
EHRLICH: So now you’re 23 years old, you’ve just signed a $3 million
kind of hesitant—reluctant . . . But even now, I don’t try to please anybody
deal, and your life has been transformed in a dream-come-true way. How
because then I will lose focus on what I’m really here to do, which is make
does that impact your ambition and your happiness?
my music. My music is tastemaker shit. It’s the future.
ROCKY: It helps. [laughs] I mean, I’ve always been content, but I’m just
EHRLICH: So what’s the next step?
ready to work hard. I got a great team behind me, a great label. It’s time
ROCKY: I’m gonna have to say the top. The top is gonna be the next step.
to get crazy.
“I THOUGHT HIGHLY OF MYSELF GROWING UP. I STILL DO. THERE’S NOT REALLY MUCH SOMEBODY CAN SAY TO ME TO BRING DOWN MY CONFIDENCE OR ANYTHING.” ZWAG // 7
TRENDING HEADWEAR
NEW MUSIC
They say diamonds are a girl’s best friend. Nowadays, however, that mantra has undergone a technical facelift with the sexiest starlets exchanging gemstones for the dopest headgear on the market: Beats By Dre headphones. The brainchild of Dr. Dre and Interscope Records CEO, Jimmy Iovine (with Monster Cables), Beats by Dre continues to dominate the consumer audio market, while serving as a fashion statement embraced by today’s biggest celebrities.
G.O.O.D. MUSIC
CRUEL SUMMER G.O.O.D. MUSIC/DEF JAM PRODUCTION: KANYE WEST, LIFTED, BOOGZ, ILLMIND, TOMMY BROWN, TRAVI$ SCOTT, MANNIE FRESH, YOUNG CHOP
SLAUGHTERHOUSE
WELCOME TO: OUR HOUSE SHADY/INTERSCOPE PRODUCTION: ALEX DA KID, ARAAMUZIK, BOI-1DA, EMINEM, HIT-BOY, KANE BEATZ, MR. PORTER, NO I.D., STREETRUNNER, SAROM
SAIGON
THE GREATEST STORY NEVER TOLD CHAPTER 2: BREADS AND CIRCUSES FORT KNOZ/SUBURBAN NOIZE PRODUCTION: JUST BLAZE, SHUKO, DJ CORBETT, RICH KID, CLEV TREV
DJ DRAMA
QUALITY STREET MUSIC eONE MUSIC PRODUCTION: ARTIST, CARDIAK, T-MINUS, HITBOY, POP & OAK, HUDSON MOWHAWKE
DAVID GUETTA
NOTHING BUT THE BEAT 2.0 EMI PRODUCTION: ARTIST, SANDY VEE, GIORGIO TUINFORT, OTHERS
FOOTWEAR We’ve noticed a popular theme around the office and from our brilliant range of footwear providers. It seems this Autumn that cool street footwear is all about warm brown tones with a mixture of leather and suede detailing. We’ve selected 3 of our current favorites below from urban clothing giants Reebok, DC Clothing, and Adidas.
ZWAG // 8
REMIXED HOW TO WEAR A SNAPBACK
Snapbacks first came out around the mid-1990s. These caps tend to look similar to standard baseball caps except for the adjustable plastic “snap” in the back that allows the wearer to adjust the size. Snapbacks are a notable part of past and present hip-hop culture, but due to their 1990s origin, they can also be worn in a way that pays homage to the snapback’s roots.
CHOOSING ONE:
STYLIN’ IT (MALES):
STYLIN’ IT (FEMALES):
CHOOSE ONE WITH MEANING
ACCENT YOUR CLOTHING
KEEP IT CASUAL
Picking out a cap based on color or popularity is a quick way to get yourself labeled as a poser. Even if you are not interested in sports, you can show hometown pride by wearing the snapback of your home team. On a similar note, if your favorite team is not the home team, support them anyway.
A snapback is, after all, a cap. Any cap’s basic function is to protect your head and shade your face from the sun. To that end, a snapback can be worn with any combination of t-shirts and jeans, or nearly any other type of casual clothes.
As with guys, girls should use snapbacks for outfits that are meant to be casual. Graphic t-shirts, sports t-shirts, or solid print t-shirts are good tops to start with. Button-down shirts can also work, as long as they are made of casual material and casual prints, and as long as the shirts are paired with jeans.
LOOK AT THE COLOR AND STYLE While picking out a snapback that means something to you is the best option, there are instances in which you may have to make a decision about the color and style. For instance, if there are several teams you root for or if your favorite team sells snapbacks in multiple colors, you may decide to choose a hat based on the color that suits the rest of your wardrobe best.
CHOOSE VINTAGE OR MODERN Vintage snapbacks have subtle styles and logos, and the caps themselves are meant to look more fitted on your head. Many modern styles, worn by tweens and teens, tend to be slightly oversized and may have gaudier logos or unusually bright colors. Some modern caps even have large logos on the side of the cap. For a newer style, consider a louder cap.
HOT ITEM! SHADY SNAPBACK For a limited time only in honor of the big games and the hometown team’s return to The D, an Eminem Baseball Tribute Hat is available in both home and away colors. Side panel is dedicated to the landmark Eminem solo albums. A portion of the proceeds will go to The Marshall Mathers Foundation. Available online at: eminem.shop.bravadousa.com
CREATE A SPORTY LOOK If your snapback advertises your favorite team, consider wearing it with other pieces that advertise your favorite team, as well. You could wear memorabilia for two different teams, especially if the teams are for different sports, but you can also wear memorabilia for the same team.
CHOOSE VINTAGE OR MODERN Since snapbacks are part of the hiphop culture, you can wear the cap with other clothes that suggest hiphop style. Look for “urban” brands and stick too loose clothing, like slightly baggy pants and oversized hoodies. Gold chains and other similar accessories can help complete the look, but if the urban style is not one that you usually wear or pull off, you may want to keep it basic to prevent yourself from looking as though you are trying too hard.
SNAPBACKS BACK The snapback hat is slowly beginning to rise in popularity once again. By early 2011, snapbacks started to hit the shelves of stores and teens and young adults began purchasing the hat. Fitted hats remained popular with authentic baseball caps. Rappers Wiz Khalifa, Mac Miller, Tyga, Chris Brown and MGK have promoted the hats recognition throughout 2011. By mid 2012, the snapback hat has become the dominant head wear of today’s HipHop. Popular brand names include Mitchell and Ness, 47 Brand, DGK, and Diamond Supply Co.
WEAR A PONYTAIL The ponytail is a casual, classic, and vaguely sporty look that matches well with the sportiness of a snapback. Tie a high, straight ponytail at the back of your head and wear your cap forward, with the back opening at the back of your head. Pull the ponytail through this opening to make the style look better and feel more comfortable.
LET YOUR HAIR DOWN If you have short to mid-length hair, you can get away with keeping it straight and wearing your snapback and no one will bat an eye at the choice. You can wear your hair down if it is longer, too, but it is not done as frequently. If you do have longer hair and decide to keep it down, consider wearing it in beach waves or slight curls for a more playful look.
FASHIONABLY LATE
Driicky Graham may have arrived in style, but he doesn’t come without substance. “I’ve been influenced by this game since I was in Pampers.” says Driicky Graham. Seeing as the Newark, NJ, native made his first music video appearance as a threeyear-old rockin’ fronts in Lords of the Underground’s “Tic Toc”, the now 20-year-old spitta’s statement is certainly no lie. Impressively, Driicky remembwers being old enough to comprehend his early casting call. But said introduction to the rap world didn’t propel him until around age 14, when he took his first baby steps to the role of MC. “When I first started writing, I was secretive. Not many people knew I was into rap because I wanted to be able to develop and showcase my skills,” recalls Graham, who would channel his inspirations from “stuff that happened int he streets or with family. Anything I could make my mind imagine.” Fast forward to 2012 and that same imagination led Driicky to land a distribution deal with eOne and perform his infectious debut single, “Snapbacks & Tattoos,” at the BET Awards. Inspired by the adjustable baseball cap’s resurgence and his
first tattoo (which pays homage to his late sister), Driicky explains, “It was intentionally an anthem track. I targeted the youth, but then I realized that everybody from eight to 80 has snapbacks and tattoos. It was an attention-grabber.” And after being embraced by New York’s Hot 97, that’s exactly what the fashionfriendly song did, subsequently garnering spins across the nation. Six months later, Graham’s breakout single remains in the Top 100 on iTunes and has earned the young artist his first gold plaque. Having acquired the attention of mainstream hip-hop fans before reaching the legal drinking ago, the young rhymekicker wants to ensure he’s not getting fitted with the wrong label. “A lot of people first heard me on ‘Snapbacks & Tattoos’ and got a misconception about me being another artist just talking about fashion. [But] I really do this. I really spit about different things that affect me in my life and I’m giving you good lyrics with delivery and flow over good beats, too.” And just as any fashionable dude knows, the best looks come from mixing it up and providing some variety. ZWAG // 9