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(02/24/18 4:10pm)
DK: Yo, what up? Welcome to the second edition of FLEX: I had a chance to sit down with Jade Cotton a Junior here at IU majoring in Political Science with a Chinese minor. Jade's style is artsy, yet calculated as she tries to master the balance of high-fashion and streetwear. Enjoy.
DK: When did you first start getting into fashion and dressing yourself?
JC: Fashion has always been a part of something I was doing, even though in the beginning it was very misguided. A lot of Ed Hardy moments, a lot of, you know, DC, big, ugly shoes. But, I always was trying to figure it out and I’m still trying to figure it out. I think the earliest time I could remember being aware of what I had on was in first grade.
DK: What role does fashion play in your life beyond just having to wear clothes every day?
JC: I think when you look good you feel better, right? You feel a little bit more in control of your situation, I don’t know humans are really judgmental creatures, right? So, when you first see somebody you look at a few things: their height, their skin, their presentation. A lot of that has to do with how you dress as far as presentation goes. I’ve always paid attention to it 'cause I’m always trying to get a leg up in any room that I walk into. If I looked better than half the people there or better dressed, at least more coordinated you know something very small or very basic, then I feel a little more confident in the room.
DK: How would you describe your personal style in one or two words?
JC: Simple sheek (chic).
DK:What’s your biggest fashion pet peeve?
JC: A real issue for me is when a man looks disheveled in a suit. You’re not supposed to look sweaty or (like) you do blue collar work or stressed in a suit. You should look completely sharp at all times. I also really like menswear because it’s really simple, and I really like where it’s going with a lot more silk and fabrics that aren’t really seen in menswear. A lot of different fits like, men are wearing crop tops now, you go do you. I think its good. But definitely ill-fitting clothes or clothes that look disheveled when they’re supposed to look sharp.
DK: Who are your biggest fashion influences? -Do you have a fashion icon?
JC: Uh, I am influenced by minimalist style but, on a streetwear hype type influence it’d be Emily Oberg and then as far as something simple it’d be that lady Pepa Mack. I also follow some influences who are Asian and that’s a whole different thing, they deal with silhouettes differently, they have a different relationship with how color works, and tone. Which is also very interesting to study and understand and incorporate into my own style. Just people like that who know what they’re doing.
DK: Do you have any favorite brands?
JC: Uh, higher style would be like Celine, I think Dior does some really cool stuff. Not as high but Acne Studios is really cool. Saint Laurent does some really nice stuff Balenciaga has been killing everything top to bottom, which is ridiculous! I think that this movement of the hype community away from Supreme is positive. Everybody moving toward wanting to put together more distinguished outfits. I guess like that whole Bape, World Gone Mad thing is still going to exist in a certain time and place. But, I’m happy that a lot of people who were influencers or came into the public eye on that stuff are moving toward higher-level fashion.
DK: Interesting that you speak to that, not only do you see streetwear moving towards high fashion. But you see high fashion also moving more towards streetwear.
JC: Yeah there’s definitely a crossover. I think that honestly streetwear is intrinsically influenced by Hip-Hop and Hip-Hop is influenced by Black Culture. And you know high fashion has always pulled from Black Culture like from the beginning and put it on thin not black models. But now we’re seeing these fits and silhouettes that are seen in streetwear, in street culture, and black culture coming to a crux with high fashion: like Raf Simmons.
DK: Funny that you mention that my good friend Chase who we profiled last week was wearing Supreme and Raf Simmons.
JC: Hypebeast, I think that for Supreme, if you see a Supreme CDG shirt, a Supreme Louis Vuitton shirt, or an old school Gucci logo that they had to take off the shelves, like you know you spent some money on that in this time. It’s an instant status symbol. I think that if I put on Supreme that’ll be my only draw to it. Other than that, it’s a skateboard brand, I low key feel for the people who are upset. Because, you know it’s a skate wear brand and you all are wearing it because it’s cool. (Laughs) I have talked to a lot of people who are upset about it, like red in the face. And I don’t want to offend them ya know? But if I put some Supreme it would be just for the hype, just for the clout.
DK: What’s your go to fit?
JC: If I’m trying to look cute? Some jeans maybe, a single tone top either white or black, or gray. Lighter or darker jeans and some single tone shoes, or boots. Something very simple, good silhouettes. I keep saying silhouette but; I think it’s so important when you’re thinking about what you’re putting on, thinking about the shapes you are creating, mixing, and mingling is so important.
DK: Favorite accessory?
JC: Probably the necklaces I wear jewelry and stuff like that. Nothing in particular, no I have this grey scarf that I’ve been obsessed with.
DK: If you could only wear one pair of shoes for the rest of your life, what would they be?
JC: Anybody who knows me know I’ve been trying to get pair Gucci loafers, I’ve been trying to get a pair for two years, and I’m gonna get em’. I feel like if I can get the soul protected I’d wear those every day.
DK: You and me both, on the hunt for some Gucci loafers.
DK: Dressy or casual?
JC: I like to be in the dead center.
DK: How do you think people perceive you based on what you wear?
JC: Hopefully they think I’m cool and easy to talk to. But I take myself seriously which I think is correct, I don’t know. Like I’m not for the BS but (laughs), I’m for it sometimes. No but, I think that its apparent that I think about what I put on, because I do. But it’s not in a way that’s unapproachable.
DK: And is that accurate to what you’re attempting to portray?
JC: I can’t speak to that I don’t know, are they? What do you think?
DK: (laughs) I think with the BS but approachable describes you perfectly.
DK: What do you think is the end goal of fashion?
JC: I think the end goal when you’re dressing yourself, communicate because you’re saying something about yourself. When you’re a writer you put blue curtains or a red sweater in a scene to convey something. And I would hope that I conduct my fashion style with same level of artistic attention. To like, detail that this is what I am trying to say with this particular piece and this is what I’m trying to say with this particular piece. Hopefully all of those elements together convey something that is truthful about you.
DK: If you had to choose one article of clothing you own that you like the most right now, what would it be?
JC: My favorite piece of clothing would be this pair of Guess high-waisted vintage jeans that I thrifted. They fit better than anything that I have come across in normal stores, and they are really thick denim.
DK: On our campus we see that a lot of students struggle to have individuality, do you have any tips?
JC: If you see too many people wearing the same style that you’re wearing stop wearing that. And I think a lot of originality comes from curating your style it seems like it would make it unoriginal but, when you see people do certain you think maybe I could do this or that. Just open your horizons, think about things in a different way and don’t dress for function dress like its art.
DK: You can follow Jade on instagram @jncoolton, and you can check the WIUFLEX.2 playlist here:https://itunes.apple.com/us/playlist/wiuflex-2/pl.u-BNA6rWJtYzqZzm
(07/19/17 10:06pm)
I’ve never written a music review before because well, I hate em. I know I know strange to say for someone working for a radio station. But the reviews always happen too soon, usually within 24 hours of the release. You know who else hates album reviews? Hovito, who once asked, “How you rate music that thugs with nothing relate to it?” Luckily for me both Jay and I’s thug days are over. That was made quite clear on his most recent LP 4:44.
Showing tremendous growth as a black man experiencing success that most only dream of, Jay finally gave us the album Hip Hop needed since he first announced his “retirement” back in 2003. It took some broken friendships with figures such as Dame Dash, Lyor Cohen, and maybe Kanye West? As well as a relationship of 14 years, nine of marriage, and three beautiful children with Beyoncé. Yes Beyoncé. It hasn’t been easy though, that was made clear on her hit album Lemonade. And again, on Jay’s album, “I’ll fuck up a good thing if you let me. Let me alone, Becky.” While this comment on their relationship stole headlines, and was the source of some great memes Jay dug even deeper.
Within the album, Jay touched on major social issues in a personal manner when speaking on his mother coming out to him as a lesbian on the track ‘Smile’. In music genre where homophobic word play is a norm this was huge coming from the big homie. He didn’t stop there heavily touching on issues of being black in America. Something that isn’t it easy no matter your status or personal wealth. He made that quite clear on ‘The Story of OJ’, with the line “I’m not black I’m OJ, OK” ‘nough said.
What’s the point of having knowledge if you can’t share it? Jay knows the importance of sharing information with the next generation. Telling the upcoming rappers to not sign deals on multiple tracks, “Y’all out here still takin’ advances huh?” on "The Story of OJ" and on "Moonlight". “Y’all niggas still signin’ deals? Still? After all they done stole, for real? After what they done to our Lauryn Hill? And y’all niggas is ‘posed to be trill?” I find myself asking the same question when I think about what happened to essentially every Motown artist, the Birdman v. Lil Wayne saga, or even the success Chance The Rapper has enjoyed as an independent. Y’all niggas still signin’ deals, for real? After the most recent class of XXL Freshman featuring a bunch of Lil’s, I hope they take this advice from Jay.
Additionally, Jay briefly touches on the lack of role models that exist for young black men today. The OJ line is an obvious one but on "Family Feud" he throws some much-needed shade, “Al Sharpton in the mirror takin’ selfies, how is him or Bill Cosby posed to help me?” Jay name drops three huge figures within the African-American community. When Jay was my age OJ, Al, and Bill were all held to higher status. Now all three for obvious reasons no longer hold that cache.
Jay seems to be transitioning into the phase of becoming one of those role models. He has the finances to do so, hosting multiple benefit concerts through his streaming service Tidal. Even giving a million dollars to a social movement focused on Criminal Justice Reform, Black Lives Matter. Jay knows that financial freedom is one of the major keys to truly reach equality. He touches on this idea on multiple songs, "Family Feud", "The Story of OJ", "Moonlight", and "Legacy". Including these lines from "Legacy", “A nice peace-fund ideas from people who look like we, we gon start a society within a society.
So, after multiple listens the question is how did we get here? How does one go from making a song called "Jigga What, Jigga Who" to "Kill to Jay Z"? Some say experience is the best teacher, which while true, Jay’s is certainly unique. Although he and his wife have a team that crafts their image that any politician would die for, but all his success and failures are eventually made public. For a guy who knows how important he is to his community he has had quite the character makeover.
This includes isolating himself from who most consider his little brother, Kanye West. You can’t go toe to toe with Apple Music or Hennessey and still associate yourself with someone apart of the Kardashian Empire. Nor can you still make it rain in the strip club when you have billionaire aspirations. Jay understands most billionaires aren’t the same hue as he is however, he has studied the way Bill Gates and Warren Buffet carries themselves the way Kobe Bryant studied Michael Jordan’s fade away. Kobe didn’t become a potential hall of famer 81 by watching his 81-point game, a huge issue for anyone is admitting their faults, and Jay finally got around to that on this album.
This is his most personal album. This isn’t an album by Jay Z but one by Sean Carter. In a time where most of the music is boasting about their drug addiction, the diamonds in their chain, the car they just bought, or how attractive the woman their sleeping with is, Jay is bringing Hip Hop back to Hip Hop. Now, he’s not alone in doing so I believe Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, Joey Bada$$, and his formal rival Nas among others served as inspiration for the album. The album plays like a letter to himself saying “damn Jay it’s time to grow up.” It left me feeling damn, black people, it’s time for us to grow up.
Thank you, Jay Z, this one was for the Culture, 7/7.
(01/25/17 4:36am)
This article was written by Mark Bond for WIUX News.
What’s the last piece of news you watched, read, or heard that bore no mention or ties to the January 20th inauguration of President Donald Trump? From the #J20 demonstrations to the Women’s March on Washington, perhaps the most historic inauguration in our nation’s history has been met by a culmination of our most historic demonstration of political will and activism (excluding, of course, the election of 1860 when a civil war broke out and eleven states seceded from the country, but I digress).
As Aziz Ansari mentioned in his SNL monologue this past weekend, an entire gender across the world protested his presidency on Saturday, coupled by countless other rallies, demonstrations and events held here in the States and beyond.
Many believe that Trump’s dangerous rhetoric threatens to dismantle the social justice and equality that many have been fighting for their entire lifetimes. However, the protests of this past weekend demonstrated that Americans will continue to fight for such equalities, perhaps now harder than ever.
Many of the protests that occurred nationwide failed to answer is the question of how we will fight when the protest ends, when we go to work and school tomorrow, when our daily lives and schedules resume and Donald Trump is still our Commander-in-Chief.
In Bloomington this past Friday, a group of activists set out to solve that problem with “Inaugurate the Revolution”, a community-wide day of protest, teach-ins, rallies, and the rejection of the Trump administration’s rhetoric and campaign promises. They demanded a revolution that would dismantle systems of oppression, a revolution that would embody a “radical act of love”, and a revolution that would fight, no matter the cost, to insure no one is left behind.
This “radical love” was displayed from the moment the day began, as individuals of all ages and walks of life were welcomed and encouraged to join a new community of activists. The community, as the organizers expressed, is rooted in both a compassion for one’s fellow neighbor, and a willingness to fight against anyone who impedes on his or her rights.
Workshops were performed throughout the day that served to not only educate attendees about growing problems in our community, but to outline the necessary steps to reverse these trends moving forward. Topics and activities ranged from popular activist efforts to important less publicized movements, with teach-ins titled: “Zones to Defend: Anarchist Territories” and “Moving Beyond Capitalism”. The activities allowed the community to learn from one another and build a mutual respect of other’s opinions and ideologies in a supportive environment.
Inspired, engaged and educated, attendees of the teach-ins and other activities gathered together at the Bloomington courthouse square, eager to demonstrate that this new community is not one that would be ignored. Protestors marched around the downtown Bloomington square and halted traffic and to proclaim that, under their watch, there will be, “No Trump, no KKK, no Fascist USA!”
The demonstration culminated at the Buskirk-Chumley theatre, where the protestors gathered together to watch performers and speakers, as well as to celebrate a new era of activism. Speakers stressed that January 20th will not only inaugurate a new President, but will also ignite a passion to protect those left vulnerable by the upcoming administration, and fight for change in our political, social and cultural values here in Bloomington and beyond. Hundreds roared in applause as balloons and a street-parade band filled the room while Stanley Njuguna of Students for a Democratic Society proclaimed, “The revolution begins now.”