Hip-Hop Wired: Can a person have a successful brand if they aren’t stylish?
DJ CEO: Yeah! Your brand is whatever it is. ODB from Wu-Tang Clan was a brand. He wasn’t stylish, but he was a brand. A brand is the consistency of what you’re doing. With ODB you expected a certain thing from him and you got it. The entire Wu-Tang Clan was a brand. A Tribe Called Quest is a brand. People expect a certain quality and a certain consistency with whatever it is that you bring. Style has nothing to do with brand. Style is a part of your brand. Your brand can be rugged. Your style can be hobo. If your brand is looking homeless, that’s your brand. My brand is being stylish.
Hip-Hop Wired: What do you look for when you go shopping?
DJ CEO: Outfits should be versatile…certain pieces that are gonna last and you know you gonna wear a lot. That’s why I like going to boutiques because I don’t want to go anywhere and see 12 people with the same thing on—that kills me. If you consider yourself to be someone of style you don’t want to see people wearing your same stuff. Another thing I don’t think people focus on enough is that I think it says a lot more about your style, if someone comes up to you and says, “I like how you look,” or “I like your style.” If somebody comes up to you and says, “That’s a dope jacket,” that jacket is dope just like it is on a hanger. They aren’t complimenting you; they’re complimenting the jacket and the designer. Now if someone says, “Oh, I like the way you look,” that says a lot about your style.
Hip-Hop Wired: What advice would you give to someone looking to find his or her own style?
DJ CEO: Personal style is just that, personal. You need to find out what you like. You also need to know your body type and be honest with yourself. What is your shape? That way you know what looks good on you. Then you have to ask what inspires you? What styles do you see out there, whether it’s on a celebrity or designer, that you like that you can make your own? But the best advice I would give them is to buy what you like. If you like wearing a lot of yellow, wear yellow. If you like wearing sequins, buy sequins. Never be afraid to be yourself.
