WORDSPJ Some
ESTRELLA DE PORTADA - Prettyboy DO
DIRECTORES CREATIVOS - Derrick Odafi y Jessica Rushforth
PRODUCTORES CREATIVOS - Jessica Rushforth & Derrick Odafi
FOTÓGRAFO - Barbara Premo
DIRECTOR VISUAL - John Serunjogi
ESTILISTA - Malcolm Yaeng
ASISTENTE DE ESTILISTA - Gloria Iyare
DISEÑADORA DE ESCENARIO - Jessica Rushforth
MUA - Bendición Kambanga
ESTUDIO - Estudio para tomar más fotos
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Sentimos que tienes un aura militante, ¿crees que proviene de tu papá?
P: Sí, mi padre es un hombre duro, la primera vez que me dijo que te amo fue este año. Mi relación con él siempre fue para demostrarle que era digno. Antes del año pasado no habíamos hablado en 5 años solo para hacerles saber lo duro que es. Siento que me enorgullecí de él el año pasado.
Hablo de eso. Todavía hago cosas comerciales, pero siento que la gente necesita escuchar las cosas reales. Lo he mencionado en mis canciones antes de que nunca hablamos y, a menudo, no siento que la gente hable de eso o diga esas cosas en la música nigeriana. Mis padres no querían que escuchara música, pero tuve que demostrarles que valía la pena hacerlo rezando a Dios y trabajando.
Al igual que en una de tus canciones 'Deh Go Hear Weh', es la ideología que vas a escuchar sobre mí.
P: Sí, esa es la idea, básicamente todo el país. Ves a mi hermano aquí - señala a su manager - es un magnate, magnate digital limpio y musical. Pero si vino a Nigeria vestido así, serán como ¿qué está haciendo este tipo? ¿Está haciendo un fraude? Porque en Nigeria todo lo que conocen son médicos / abogados.
Eso es por lo que estoy luchando, en Nigeria realmente no respetan el oficio de donde la música puede llevarte. Le estaba diciendo el otro día que solo creen que los médicos y los abogados son inteligentes, yo soy jodidamente inteligente.
Siguiente pregunta, ¿de dónde viene el nombre de niño bonito?
P: DO son mis iniciales, niño bonito viene de mi madre y mi hermana, ya que así me llamaban y yo también era un gran fan de Rocky y él también lo usaba mucho.
¿Cuáles son algunos de los rasgos que le gustaría tener en una pareja femenina?
P: Lealtad ... ella solo tiene que esforzarse por algo, sea lo que sea, tiene que tener pasión por eso.
Full Look: Lanvin
El estrellato de Prettyboy DO se difunde
Como 'Wildfire' en el número IX
Cuando piensas en Afrobeats, es probable que los artistas nigerianos sean la imagen de adónde te lleva tu mente, que sabemos que cuentan con una gran cantidad de nombres poderosos e influyentes. La personalidad pionera Prettyboy DO es una que no puede faltar en la lista actual de artistas influyentes de la potencia de la música africana. Este innovador artista nacido en Nueva Jersey ofrece un sonido vibrante y animado que no te deja quedarte quieto. Estos sonidos combinan a la perfección con su estilo excéntrico, desde su interpretación de 'Jungle Justice' en COLORS y otros sencillos de gran éxito como 'Same Energy' y 'Chop Elbow' se puede ver claramente el reflejo de esta creatividad. Prettyboy DO es un artista que camina por la cuerda floja de los comentarios sociales y la música experimental, acreditando su entorno e influencias personales por estos rasgos de carácter. Prettyboy es tan interesante en persona como en su música, con individuos como Dennis Rodman y Sisqo como influencias, su estilo personal y energía son distintos de la cabeza a los pies, desde su cabello colorido hasta su expresivo sentido del estilo.
Tras el reciente lanzamiento de su último proyecto, un EP titulado 'Wildfire' que se inspiró en el Libro de las Revelaciones en la Biblia; Prettyboy DO ha podido divergir entre Afro-Pop y Rap mostrando su versatilidad que lo separa del resto. Al ser nombrado rey de la escena Alte, no sorprende que su influencia se esté extendiendo con música que crea una atmósfera fascinante. Continuando con su viaje, parece que el cantante / rapero tiene un objetivo claro de ser el mejor e inspirar a las personas en el camino, allanando su propio camino.
WORDS Charlene Foreman
“La música me hizo un hombre. Siempre he estado enamorado de la música, incluso cuando era niño, pero más aún del lado de la moda de la música. Biggie, Mase, Tupac ... "
NW: Going into writing is that something which is a big part of your life? What made you so interested in writing in the first place?
LA: I have always enjoyed English; I’ve always enjoyed reading and being able to express myself with words. When I was younger, I had stories published while in secondary school and primary school, so from a young age, I liked writing and I saw it as a field where you can work and be respected, and I really respected the craft. Of course, it's still a big part of my life, because part of the brand is an online magazine so it’s a platform for women to able to share their stories and perspectives on anything albeit relationships, mental health, politics, pop culture, whatever it is, as long as your self-identifying woman you can write for the platform.
I wanted to basically give the gift of being able to tell a story and express yourself to be heard by other women because it was something that was a very important part of my life. I have written articles before that have gone viral, which have inspired me to start in the first place, so I feel like writing is something that is very consistent in my life. I’m currently writing a script as well so completely new format of writing, I’m enjoying it a lot. I probably will write a book in my life, but maybe not now.
NW: As a young black model starting out at the age of fourteen, what was the first initial thought going through your mind when you were given the opportunity for your first show to walk the catwalk for Marc Jacobs?
I was very nervous, it was very nerve-racking and I just knew the runway was really really long, but luckily the shoes were high but not crazy. I had a bag and one thing that is always a lifesaver for a new model when they are walking is to have a handbag or something they have to hold in their hands, because when your nervous when you walk, you often get a stiff arm. You’ll see if you ever watch runway videos, you can tell who the new models are because their arms are really stiff because we are so nervous that we put all our energy into our arms.
I was lucky enough at Marc Jacobs, I had good shoes and a handbag, so I felt quite good. I walked out after Karlie Kloss which was very nerve-racking as she has an amazing walk, but once you are out there, you don’t feel nervous anymore because you’re focusing on getting to the end of the runway and back in one piece. Once you get off the stage, you feel so happy and relieved, and you just want to do it more and more.
Puente: 3 Paradis
Joyas: Rathel Wolf
Sombrero: Kara
Gafas de sol: propias del estilista
NW: How did you find the balance during your career journey as a fashion model, fashion designer, and activist?
Honestly, I like all of it, so you just find time for everything, I find time for everything I enjoy. Obviously, there are times when one thing could be going well and something else could not be going well or all of it could be going bad like that’s always bad, that’s hard to deal with. I enjoy the challenge; I like things that are my own.
With modelling, if people are not picking up the phone to get you to work, then you’re not going to work, but if you have your brand and you have all your other passions and pursuits, as much time as you put in is as much as what you're going to get out of it, so that’s why I like the balance actually. With modelling I have been working now for over half my life, I’m established enough now that I don’t have to go to castings as much or I don’t have to do long stays in New York to get jobs, so I can focus on my other things but at the same token, modelling also helps me fund my other projects. Without modelling, I would have been able to do that. All of them are just as important to me as they bleed into one another and their all-different avenues of expression for me. I just find the time because, without one of those things, I wouldn’t feel like a complete person, I couldn’t just model. I couldn’t just have my brand because I wouldn’t have capital for it.
Full Look: AREA
Stockings: Atsuko Kudo
Shoes: Versace
Jewellery: Swarovksi
Estaba un poco destinado, era un proceso, pero no sabes cuál fue el proceso.
P: Sí, no sabe lo que encontrará en la forma en que conoce gente. La cosa se agranda. Es dios. Es Dios y el trabajo.
¿Qué otras cosas creativas haces fuera de la música?
P: Cine, dirijo muchos de mis videos musicales. Probablemente entraré en el cine dependiendo de cuán ambicioso y dispuesto esté a hacerlo. Realmente quiero empezar ahora.
¿Tienes estilista? Si no es así, ¿de dónde viene?
P: Solo estoy en Instagram, guardo las cosas y luego las mezclo.
Uno de nuestros proyectos favoritos es su proyecto de 2018, ¿cuáles fueron sus momentos favoritos para crearlo?
P: Cuando volví a Lagos, había ido a Birmingham y Los Ángeles, y esa vez decidí dejar un proyecto. Luego tuve una conversación con mi primo quien me dijo “tienes que dejar un proyecto, dejar algo y conocer tu sonido, como si tus singles estuvieran explotando, eres tonto pero necesitas conocer tu sonido”. Así que boom, una vez que dijo que era genial, vamos, vamos a hacer estallar. Tenía un montón de música que ya había grabado, llegar a Londres para grabar 2 canciones. Vete a Lagos, empieza a grabar con mis chicos, Hugo, y luego tenemos 2 en la bolsa. Ahora podemos tener un espectáculo ... un nigga me cabrea, odio la política de la industria, si trabajamos duro, tú puedes trabajar duro, vamos, aprovechemos esta oportunidad. Voy a por una industria del espectáculo, los niggas intentan joder conmigo.Estoy cabreado como el infierno. Pero después del show, estoy molesto. Voy a su estudio y le digo que me toque algo y ese ritmo me hizo más feliz que me sentí. Levantar
" Igualdad, todo debería ser igual. Sin clasismo, tribalismo, racismo, sin ismos. "
NW: In a past video, you have highlighted concerns regarding makeup artists and hair stylists struggling with black models’ hair and skin. From your own opinion, do you think this is an issue that requires further training and encouragement to educate the realities of these roles that do not have enough experience with black models’ hair and skin?
LA: I would, honestly just want the industry to hire more black hair and makeup to then be able to just spread the awareness and educate people. That’s what I would change in that aspect of things because already the industry is very white-washed. I feel like if they want to become more knowledgeable on black models and other minority models' hair and makeup and how we should be treated then I think at this point in time that they just stop gatekeeping the industry. I feel like the industry is very gate-kept and very much about nepotism and I think they need to just allow more black creatives in at this point. I don’t think it’s really about giving the tools to people that are already in there, but I think they need to understand they need new people in, new blood in and allow them to educate people instead. I’m passed that point of trying to educate the same people. I’m passed that because the tools have been there and they still didn’t want to do it so forget it, lets's just move on from that.
NW: Backstage at Fashion Week can be the most chaotic and frustrating space to be in if all does not go to plan. From getting your makeup and hair perfect to ensuring you have the right garments plus accessories to wear, do you have rituals or a formula before you go out on stage?
LA: No, I don’t have anything, I just go out, I just do it. I’m thinking about what I’m gonna be eating when I get home [Laughs]. Or literally, I have done it so many times at this point, I have to be wearing something super amazing for me to feel like, omg, can’t wait to just step out and kill it. Other than that, I’m good at what I do, I go out there and do my best and go home, I don’t really have a ritual or anything that I do beforehand anymore because I just feel comfortable with it, but maybe if I was doing something was completely new or different then I might try a different technique, I might say a few prayers but is something I have done a lot of times before, I feel very comfortable. It's like a second home.
Top: David Koma
Skirt AREA via FLANNELS
Latex Stockings: Atsuko Kudo
Jewellery: Swarovksi
" Me veo siendo uno de los GOATS que alguna vez lo haya hecho musicalmente en Nigeria, si todavía sigo haciendo música ".
¿Por qué cree que es importante que los nuevos músicos que vienen de Nigeria se mantengan conectados y colaboren con frecuencia?
P: Es importante para nosotros ganar dinero, número uno. Estamos subiendo al mismo tiempo, y eso nos une. Tenemos la misma misión de conectar a las personas con la música africana, mostrarles que este es un nuevo momento en nuestro país, todos nos apoyamos y eso inspira a los demás y también a otros artistas.
Muchos de ustedes están obteniendo su brillo en este momento, pero algunas personas que pueden perderse en eso son los productores. ¿Quiénes son algunos de los productores con los que trabaja a menudo?
P: Higo, DARE, Adey ... Muchos de los productores con los que trabajo los conocí en mi ascenso, y es cierto lo que dicen sobre los productores que se pierden o se quedan atrás, pero esta generación de productores, están luchando por tienen derecho ... todos son tan tontos y siento que su nombre y sus marcas se difundirán por todo el mundo. A medida que crezca, mi gente crecerá conmigo.
Otro elemento de ti son tus imágenes y dices que conoces tus películas. Cuéntenos sobre personas como TSE y por qué le gusta trabajar con él.
P: Empecé con ellos, y ellos entienden mi visión, no solo las imágenes y visuales sino todo, cómo se ve y se siente todo… Soy un luchador por las artes en nuestro país, y mi gente, equipo visual, productores, todos han esa mente similar para luchar por ella también.
Alguien cercano a nosotros es Chuka Nwobi, y él también trabaja contigo, ¿cómo es trabajar con él?
Es mi hermano, uno de los más apasionados por las artes, una de las personas más apasionadas que conozco. Es uno de los más jóvenes, pero aún así sigo hablando con él. Hemos trabajado juntos en muchos proyectos, él fue muy instrumental en el video 'Dey Go Hear Weh'.
Eres un chico muy expresivo, ¿con qué frecuencia cambias el color de tu cabello?
P: cada mes
Hablaste de hacer música para tocar temas políticos, etc. ¿Cuáles son algunas de las cosas sociales que son más importantes para ti?
Igualdad, todo debería ser igual. Sin clasismo, tribalismo, racismo, sin ismos. La igualdad de oportunidades para todos es lo que más me apetece.
NW: Where would you say is your favourite place to visit or take a break?
I haven’t taken a break in a long time [Laughs]. Probably, The Caribbean, I’m Jamaican so going back to Jamaica is always beautiful. I took my mum to Barbados. Anywhere in the Caribbean, I think is somewhere that I feel the most at home and where I can really really relax.
NW: You have a YouTube channel that you’ve had for 9 years now which is a really good insight into who you are as an individual, your ambitions as well as giving people advice on things, what would you say throughout that process is your main challenges with that channel or letting people know about yourself which can be nerve-racking?
I’ve never been nervous about letting people know who I am and what I’m about. I’ve never been that person. When I say I don’t care what people think, I really don’t. I think I am very aware, and I think everyone has to have self-awareness. I will always accept if someone is telling me something about myself that is true or constructive criticism because that is also a part of modelling, I take that very very well, but who I am as a person, I don’t mind people seeing the real me, the ups and the downs because I feel like it would be more draining for me to hide my personality then just to let people know what it is, so I’ve never felt nervous showing people who I am.
Generally, with YouTube, it’s really time-consuming, and the editing process…I use to enjoy it when I was younger but once I started working on other things like LAPP, my blog, and all those sorts of things, I preferred the return that I got on that. Doing YouTube video and spending 4 days to edit the video and then at this point I couldn’t really monetise. YouTubers, even if they have been on YouTube for 10-12 years, the first 4-5 years they’re not making any money and that was not something that sat well with me. I can’t be editing and staying up until the crack of dawn and there is no money in site while I had modelling and I knew there is other ways to get the same thing. I could reach out to people through modelling as much as I could through YouTube, I just chose my other outlets, chose to write for publications, and I chose to become more established in the industry as a voice as opposed to focusing on putting out regular content on YouTube. Sometimes, I wished I carried it on because I like looking back at it and I definitely from my personality see to like video. Like I want my own TV show. I don’t want to have to edit myself [Laughs]
Dress: Christopher Kane
Leggings: Atsuko Kudo
Boots: Balenciaga
NW: One of your videos on YouTube, you speak about the value of personal and public life so are there any personal things that are getting too public?
Not really as nobody knows anything that’s going on in my life, only people that I know in real life really know what is going on in my life, I have just been that way for a very long time. Not since I was 17 and I had my first relationship, was I very open. I’m very fine with people not knowing what is going on in my life and it’s interesting because I know for a fact that if I was open about my private life maybe I would have more supporters or more of something else that comes with so much other stuff that I don’t want and is not valuable to me.
You could have a million people supporting you but with how our society is set up, there is definitely like more than 50% of those people are waiting for something bad to happen to you so rather just have my genuine supporters and people that support my work and what I decide to put out there as opposed to them supporting me for my personal life. Realistically, I don’t want my personal life to be entertainment to people and that’s my main thing. I’m happy for people to know things about my downfalls in business, work, and those sorts of things that a lot of people don’t want to speak about but one thing I’m never gonna have is my personal life to be entertainment to someone.
NW: Going back to two people that you hold dear to your heart, two people I would say is Bree Runway who is one of your best friends and Lancey Foux, what is your opinion on how they have grown since your profession to now?
Both of them are very amazing and unique artists and I feel like with Bree, it’s been beautiful to watch her journey, her blossom into the star that she is because I always saw it in her, even if in times she didn’t always see it in herself. When we were younger, I always knew she was it and she always secretly knew she was it too but we have known each other from 16 till now so we have literally watched each other grow up which has been amazing. With Lancey, we have been together for 7 years this year so I’ve been there from the beginning of his career till now. He again same thing, I always knew he was a star from when I first saw him perform before we had even spoken, I knew that he was going to be a star. I have this thing about people, always see when someone is a star.
I can remove my emotions from it and be like that person is going to make it regardless of whatever happens around them because they are just the package, both of those two are the perfect packages in my eyes so to watch their growth has been beautiful and watch people see what I have seen in them from when they were kids is amazing. Same with me, we always believed in each other and now we’ve been there through some of the most, our biggest successes together so it’s been amazing, it’s been a really beautiful experience to have those two people so close to me, I feel very blessed.
" Me veo siendo uno de los GOATS que alguna vez lo haya hecho musicalmente en Nigeria, si todavía sigo haciendo música ".
Vemos que tiene una carrera muy larga y que lidera una nueva carga de artistas. En los próximos 10 a 15 años, ¿dónde se ve a sí mismo y a su oficio?
P: ¿Dónde quiero estar dentro de 10 años ... Maldita sea, seré viejo [Risas] Veo cosas diferentes, pero me veo siendo una de las CABRAS que alguna vez lo haya hecho musicalmente en Nigeria, si todavía sigo haciendo música. . Si no lo soy, tendré un artista, pero aún seré uno de los grandes que lo haya hecho. Probablemente haré películas dentro de 10 años. Quizás en mi cabeza probablemente esté tratando de conseguir un Oscar. Me veo siendo un Titán para entonces, un nombre familiar. Ni siquiera será mi nombre artístico, será mi nombre real.
Increíble, con suerte, ¿hacer películas generacionales que sean recordadas en todo el mundo?
P: Sí, solo para ser un titán en el entretenimiento. No me veo a mí mismo ahí fuera como algo comercial, pero sumergiré mis manos en eso y sé que entraré en películas. En ese momento, no creo que esté en el centro de atención, pero mis películas lo estarán.
