“I’m a firm believer that when the time is right it will happen. Not before. Not after,” says CurT@!n$. Though this Crown Heights rapper has remained somewhat of a shadowy figure in the hip-hop biz, his influence is already felt behind the scenes. Often seen donning an all black outfit with retired Jordans and Dior denim, his trendsetting style has been admired by icons like Kanye West and he’s made great music with both Kendrick Lamar and Tyrese. The Brooklynite’s new album Dior & Jordans is set for a fall release date, but not before his new set of EP’s drop. RESPECT. catches up with the stylish emcee about his career and why we Respect. the Fresh.
Introduction to the world of fashion
I was around 6 years old when my brothers were out in the street, doing what they do, and they always had nice clothes. I grew up around people with nice clothes. My mother, still to this day is an impeccably dressed person. She always dressed me in style. I was always attracted to things with good quality. I was surrounded by it. We lived in the hood, but you would never think we lived there. When you came to my mom’s house, we were in the hood but we had a grandfather clock, paintings, and a makeshift fireplace. She always surrounded us with a certain level of taste. When I went outside all the drug dealers dressed very nice because they had the means to afford these things. My favorite rapper was LL Cool J at the time . I’m a competitive person, so if LL Cool J is the freshest person on earth, I want to be better than him and that just developed my style.
Dior & Jordan’s
It’s really in its post production phase. Before we put Dior & Jordans out, I have two EPs coming, which are also done. The first one is called 23. That’s the first time I’m ever saying that. I think everyone knows what that 23 represents. I’m working on the title for the other one now. They’re going to come back-to-back, and we’re going to release Dior & Jordans for the fall.
The relationship between fashion and music
I feel like it’s always been there. I can’t think back to a time when a rapper didn’t aspire to that level of living. Fashion is just a physical form of an aspiration. As far as young blacks that gravitated toward hip-hop, it was our voice to society. It was about our aspirations and fashion was apart of that. My style is pretty uniform and I like consistency. So my music is basically my thoughts and my experiences. I’ve had three songs about the same situation told differently or different pieces of the situation. It’s not too much going on. I don’t like to be to over the top or too understated. My style is aggressive and it’s just cool.
Inspiration
First, Michael Jordan is from Brownsville, Brooklyn. Second, He’s the greatest basketball player of my generation. If you talk about sports in general, you talk about style and what the Jordan shoe did for culture in general. To my generation, from the people in their early 20’s to early 30’s, that’s our hero. You look at Nike, like this multi-million dollar conglomerate that started with this young bald head kid from Brooklyn. It was his will to win and be better. It’s just, how could you not love Jordan?
Staple piece
My favorite accessory is my watch. It’s a stainless steel Rolex. It’s an early 80’s Datejust. I was born in the 80’s. Rolex is like a Benz on your wrist. I like classics and things that are timeless. It will never go out of style. It will retain it’s value if I ever choose to sell. My first real watch was a Rolex when I was in high school. I think every man should have a good watch. It says a lot about you. I don’t really like gold jewelry. It attracts too much attention. I don’t really like all that attention. I don’t want someone to stand across the street and break down my whole outfit. I like understated things. Nothing with patterns.
Finally, what does style mean to you:
Style is your character. Style is how you carry yourself. Style is where you eat. Style is what you order. Style is the conversation you have at dinner. Style is how you travel. Style is your being.
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Dior ans Jordans pls ….