The Southside Fashion designer has a unique eye for photography. Fresh off a recent collaboration with Chicago staple, Iridium, and a once in a lifetime opportunity to shoot Kanye West for Chicago State, Dshootupdascene wants his style to speak for itself.
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Top 3 Influences: Basketball, Chicago, Art
Favorite Chicago Artists: CDot Honcho, FreeNews, G Herbo
Favorite spot in the city: The Point (Lakefront)
What’s your background? What got you into creating?
I'm from Chicago born and raised on 75th. A real Chatham/Park Manor baby, I grew up a kid always into things; the negative things too, but it was basketball and drawing that made me express myself way more and took me further from it. My grandad was a great contributor to the sports and my ma is a CPS teacher so she would always do arts and crafts. I was inspired by those two so heavily so when you know who I am you really get to know them as well.
How would you describe your style?
My style is one of one but like a quiet storm or a swiss army knife. I'm a person of many facets in many areas. I want to be good at more than just one thing so I take so much in and learn so many things and teach myself just as much as I hear and see things. I want to introduce existing and innovation all into one style of work no matter what I do to remind people of things that are existing but showing things that are new coming into play so that it’s timeless. That’s what I want my style to say before I speak.
How does where you're from influence you and your craft?
It's easy to become a product of your environment in the wrong way and that rejection from it can be a push towards greater ways to mark where you’re from on the map. Running up and down 75th and 76th it's so visible of what goes on and my mindset was to always oppose, but reflect it as well. Another great who from my same hood is Sonny/ HateSonny and it goes to show. I can say “I'm from here and this goes on here but this isn't all that exists here.” you do what’s not the norm and it stands you out from everything else.
You’ve worked with artists like Cdothuncho, Preme, and other emerging talents from the city, what moments have been the most memorable for you so far?
You know, it's hard to pick which is my most memorable because through my own eyes everything staples to me but by far doing Summer Smash with Honcho it gave me so much perspective of how it would be working while on stage and it was something that changed how I approached shooting, it made me want to be that much greater being around so many talented people. I love working with FreeNews too (BadNews and FreeGang) and Preme. They’re defining music for me. A lot of my friends who make music are honestly. In the past year I’ve transitioned heavily from mainstream to my peers I can relate but I really love the sound and style.
Can you share a bit about your Chicago Icons brand? What is it about?
Chicago Icons is made for everyone who truly believes they’re meant to be someone great even if they don’t know when it is yet. It started as a sketch in the back of my reading class as a junior in high school. I took my time with it, but I feel it hasn’t hit its high point. It's great for entry-level clothing but I want to make it so much more than designs and emphasize the pieces themselves and that comes with growth. The designs and ideas come from influences everywhere I compile them from seeing things and adding my spin on it and when it's promoted it draws you in. I go under Madstar a lot because it's a direct lane under the brand but it's all one in the same, just an inclusion of the brand’s mascot. More pieces are releasing solo too. I think I've grown from big collections since its so many great pieces hitting you at once. More is coming so soon I promise.
What’s next for Dshootupdascene this year?
I want people to see me get even better so if you expect things from me that’s unreal and I delivered before, I want to prepare myself and everyone else to watch me break the fourth wall all while being true to who I am as an everyday person. I was going to keep it a secret but since I no longer can keep nor use the images for personal use. I did get a chance to photograph Kanye earlier this month for my school. They personally asked me and I found that cool because my work pertaining to outside vs inside school are entirely different. It was cool to do and I got to speak to him but like I said i kept it under wrap until now it inspired me to be even greater. I'm so hard on myself as a critic so when I do something great I have to remind myself that I'm making the younger me proud. Ye is an interesting person to converse with; it's a brain teaser. Outside of that, I'm going to start doing videos now I'm anticipating what comes from it and more people collaborations. I'm open to everything.
Intro Written by: Jimmi Gordon
Interview Conducted by: Reina Danzy
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