GIGI: ----Embodies a collection of thoughts, inspirations, justices, creations, ideologies, expressions, images, sounds, icons, mesmorizations, impact, dreams, power, cultures, languages, energy, voice, response, beauty, faults, past, present, and future. Awaken your fashion senses. Compliment the purpose of womaness. Demand respect. Challenge all obstacles. Motivate and deliver. Music, art, food, travel, nails, architecture, simplicities, complexes, sex, love and loss. To summarize an infinite entirity, GIGI is all the shit you WANT and NEED to know.
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![isis-nicole:
illy Lussiano, a hair artist wonder woman who hopes to positively impact the lives of all girls, is by far one of the sweetest people I’ve ever interviewed. I actually came across her in September when I was on this massive Euroasian hair search, which she probably doesn’t remember! And now she’s on my list of bloggy love. See how life works?! In this Q&A illy Lussiano talks inspiration, a history with mixed hair textures, sex friendly hairstyles, wanting to work with Disco Nail + Eriko Nakao, and more after the jump!
Name
illy Lussiano
Hometown
Boston
Age
(Laughs) Almost as young as I look.
Website
illyL.com or illyL.tumblr.com
Most Known For
I’m not really sure. (Laughs) I’ve encountered so many people in my life and they all probably know me for something different *shrug*
Unknown For
All the things I keep to myself. (Laughs) lf I tell you they won’t be unknown anymore.
Sexiest Place You’ve Ever Been
(Laughs) I’m not really the “sexy” type. “Cute” is more my speed.
Sexiest Hair Style
You can never go wrong with one of my blow drys, but the sexiest is hair that makes a woman feel comfortable and confident!!!
Top 5 vices
I really can’t say I really have any vices… not my kinda thing.
Currently on your playlist
Mavado, Nipsey, Jah Cure, C. veggies, Future, etc. Mostly Hip-Hop, Reggae, R&B.
Least favorite trend(s)
My least favorite trend is seeing all these great hair ideas that girls create themselves but execute HORRIBLY! I just wanna give them my card and do it the RIGHT way!!!
But… I really just don’t enjoy seeing people who are uncomfortable in their own skin… forget a trend just do what you like and what works for you.
How important is the existence of the illy Lussiano and what does your art represent?
Bringing it upon myself to take the time to individually connect, build, help and educate girls and women all over the world is very important. Setting out to help others find themselves and claim or reclaim the confidence that they may not know they have or have lost is huge. A world full of happy woman and girls will be a beautiful place.
It’s not easy being a woman in 2012 and I think sometimes we forget we’re all going through the same struggles and can be of help to one another, weather we want to admit it or not! If unity can start with something as simple as hair so be it.
When did you start doing hair?
According to my mom I’ve been doing hair since I was about five and cut my “My Size” Barbie’s hair into a Bob (laughs) But I’ve been in the industry for about six years.
Who comes into the illy Lussiano shop?!
I wish the sign out side the shop said “illy Lussiano” but I’m not quiet there yet. (Laughs) In due time. But my clientele is pretty all over the place. Very diverse and that’s definitely something I love!
What’s the inspiration behind your styles and how do you prepare for each design?
Each client inspires the style I give them or we collaborate to come up with [something]. Everyone sees themselves a particular way in their mind, and often don’t know how to bring that to reality so the world can see them for who they really are. It’s my job to help make that reality with all of my clients.
I prepare by actually getting a feel for my clients, talking with them via email or text (mini consults). Then they come in for their appointments and we do a full blown consult so at this point we have already established a level of trust and comfort. This allows for my clients to be open and honest about what they really want to know about hair and what they want their hair to look like.
Do you have any particular hairstyles that remain to be your favorite or long lasting?
In all honesty I just love to see healthy hair that moves and really brings out the beauty and key features of a woman. Not everyone that’s had a haircut has had a “real” hair cut, but when you do you’ll know. (Laughs) Your confidence will hit overload.
I consider you to be innovative and much needed to fashion/entertainment working with all types of hair. Does it come in handy being an expert to different textures?
Thank ya lady. I find it to be a blessing that I can relate to everyone. Years ago I had so many hair questions go unanswered, or was turned away because a stylist didn’t know how to handle my texture and I was always torn between what kind of salons were right for me. Black, Spanish, white. etc? Having family and friends that look similar to a box of crayons made it very clear early on that I needed to know how to do ALL hair textures. Also being that I’m multi-racial like many girls today, there are certain things that I have faced in my hair journey that other stylists simply can not relate to or truthfully speak on. There really hasnt been anyone in the hair world who has spoken truthfully on what it’s like to have hair that stems from multiple ethnicity’s or been through a “hair journey”, speaks from experience, has taken the time to learn and care for ALL textures, that also has an extensive art and hair education to back it all up! A lot of things need change and I’m more than happy to light that fire.
What’s your favorite hairstyle you’ve coined or created?
(Laughs) I’d say my dreads and blondes! I love creating blondes. Sounds strange I’m sure but if you know anything about being a blonde you know it’s very hard to achieve a natural look on all skin tones. And my dreads because I put my heart and soul into creating them, their my babies!
How do you set yourself apart from other hair stylist/colourist?
I think a lot of people call themselves hair stylists and never earned that title. I call myself a hair artist because this is my artistry. I take all of my creative skills (painting, sculpture, colour theory, theatrics…) and put it into my work. The same seriousness that doctors and lawyers put into school I put into educating myself on hair and people. I take what I do very seriously. It’s more than just hair to me. Often times I have clients who really put their trust into me with helping them through good, bad, and tough times to help them find themselves. At the end of the day I genuinely care about my clients and their happiness.
Why don’t some guys understand look but don’t touch?
(Laughs) Unfortunately not all men have home training or manners but I’m a firm believer that you give off energy that deserve and demands respect you shall receive.
Are there any sex-ready or sex-friendly hairstyles?
(Laughs) Ohhh gees! Girls are always saying how much their boyfriends love their messy buns, so maybe start with that and end with it down and wild. Keep it simple.
I’m a fan of weave. It’s one of the coolest accessories and I get so excited walking into a hair store or cyber shopping. Where would you say is the best place to hair shop?
…Ehh I’m really disappointed in the weave market right now to be honest.
Have you seen Disco Nail weave nails on Eriko Nakao?!
YES! I want to work with both Disco Nail and Eriko Nakao!!!
Do you feel like there’s a hierarchy of natural hair?
I feel it’s crazy how much more judgmental it has made woman of one another.
What does it take to be successful and motivated in this business?
Everyday is a learning process but for me God, patience, the people, balance, and doing what I love for the right reasons and the bigger picture keeps me going.
What’s the most challenging part of making a name for yourself and how do you overcome it?
The most challenging part is getting the world to see things as you see them. Having patience, never giving up, staying true to myself, and staying humble are helping me get over this mountain.
What do you want illy Lussiano to be remembered for this year and in the future?
If people were going to remember me for anything this year I’d like it to be for my progress. I still have a hard time believing the things I’ve seen, done, and accomplished this year! (Laughs) So many blessings. And in the future I’d like to be known for my hard work, honesty, warm heart, bringing women together, educating, changing lives, creating jobs for others, and getting as many people in the world as I can to experience happiness.
@illyL](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m41wsmmyvc1qzwhpyo1_r2_250.jpg)
![isis-nicole:
By now just about every nail fiend has come across the ‘hoodratism’ Kidney Stone Ale phenom, so I had to get word from the 23-year-old Nail Jerks x Chipped and Broke creator herself, Lila Robles. I mean literally, getting down to what’s really good in order to have a better sense of Robles intentions. What did I find out? She’s in the nail game to invest in her future. Her art exists as a contribution to nail culture, and you can see why Kid Sister, Chippy Nonstop, and more f*** with her after the jump.
Name Lila Robles
Name of Business Nail Jerks
Location San Jose, CA
Age 23
When and why did you decide to work in the nail industry? I loved getting fancy nails forever, but when I came across a t-shirt called NailsDid on MySpace my eyes instantly glued to the screen. It was as if everything that I loved and stood for was captured and silkscreened onto this shirt for me! Patrick Nagel infused ladies with the NailsDid touch and Hoodrat humor. I adored it! Later in that same year I discovered Mama which led me to finding out about M.I.S.S., the ultimate women’s urban culture outlet. This magazine was like no other: it had nails on calendars with sneakers, I was like damnnnn!! I emailed the editor Gabriella asking where I could get these nails done at to look just like theirs and she actually said they had to make them because no other salon wanted to do the outrageous nails they set out to achieve. When I heard that I was like oh my God, I have that same trouble too. When you get your nails done and you want the new new on the nail tip, the salon nail techs get mad. They wither, don’t know what you’re talking about, or they just don’t want to do it. This was a time before nail art really hit its prime. Like now you can go into a good nail salon and ask for what you want but before…it was a whole other ballgame. So I did what any other rational nail lover would do. I went to beauty school and did the manicurist license since it was the fastest.
Do you have a staff or is this all a business run by you?Currently I do not have a staff, it’s all collectively run by me. Entrepreneur …maybe ;)I started as an intern for M.I.S.S. and they let me help on their nail calendars. I worked on the calendar until they RIP’ed, maturing in their business and to be frank they had been there, done that, and onto new and better things. But I continued contributing to M.I.S.S. and ended up on the Nailsdid column.
How do you market yourself?I wanted to do something so I created Nail Jerks a design, photography, nail collective. Nail Jerks brings culture to nails, redefines basic French tip manicures and uses nails as sign language. Nail Jerks is set to bring prints focusing on lifestyles and individuals. I’m gifted in the natural marketing department so it just flows. My work with Nail Jerks comes when inspiration for a print or photo come into place either by client or my own ideas. A lot of people want bling nails and I give it to them. It’s the Hoordatism. The way I market is to effectively communicate with my audience. I like making great visual that attract the eye period. The e online interweb has had a major effect on marketing. You can tap in and access so many people and gather more information faster and bigger then ever. If you’re not using the Internet for marketing or you don’t think that having a Twitter will not impact your business at all then you are totally under a rock. You have so many supporters out there you don’t even know it yet! Sometimes you just start and you invest in your future. When I get paid I’ll let you know.
Has your Tumblr pages performed the way you want it to?I recently got over 1k notes and even hit Tumblr radar from an Instagram picture I linked to my Tumblr. I obviously do not have 15k followers but thanks to reputable nail gurus that reblogged my post I got there. And now I have more like 1k followers. Hashtags also make a difference.
Who are some of your clients?I’ve worked on Kid Sister, Chippy Nonstop, Cult of Beauty, M.I.S.S., and various models.
Are you familiar with organic polishes? How hard are those to come across?Organic polishes? Well I am a Whole Foodie and they do sell nail polish there but I’ve never seen organic.
Who are some of your competitors if any?If you are doing your own thing then competitors don’t exist.
What does nail art mean to you?Nail art means nothing but girliness in your own individual way. It is another form of expression and cuteness.
How would you describe success?Success is when you are doing what you really want, and the creativity never stops, and you are never bored. Success is landing that client, or that gig, or even that stoke of paint in a fathered motion and doing it again and again and the excitement never ends.
What advice would you give to other nail entrepreneurs?If you’re not bringing anything new to the table, don’t come [where] you aren’t welcomed. But if you want to be a “Nail Entrepreneur” then do it why wait, because some other girl will pick up on a wave and run with your shit in your head and then it’s your loss. Don’t be a sorry ass.](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m3qeissU8b1qzwhpyo1_1280.jpg)
![isis-nicole:
‘Chopped-and-Codeine’By Isis Nicole
There’s something spellbinding about slow lo-fidelity, thumps, and blemishes over an ill beat. Maybe it’s the pills? Maybe it’s the codeine? Whatever it is, the overload of ‘trillsetters’ rising from the internet who continue beat making in the name of love for Houston’s chopped-and-screwed origins sprouts beyond the dirty sprite and deep voices. Not bad for opulent G’s very concerned with fashion, respect, and well…southern space dub.
“A lot of the trend in slow and deep songs comes from the image that Houston’s chopped-and-codeine filled music brings,” says producer Junior Dutch (Jordan Dutch), from South London. “The deep and slow style comes from wanting to fully express melodies and create ambiance, leaving music on repeat for hours where you can just chill and enjoy the sound. I always thought ‘if I can make something this slow and people can still enjoy it’, that would be a big deal for me.”
Junior Dutch earned a bit of his buzz in the US after producing “Golden Streets” for upcoming rapper Riff Raff. He continues to work with ‘trap’ acts such as Jelz Much of California and local artists in his hometown of London.
“Apart from the style of music the image is trending too like gold fronts and drugs, bringing back old school feelings of things. A good friend of mine got permanent gold fronts just a few days ago. I don’t remember the image being this popular since the 90’s!” says Junior Dutch whose history with slowed dubbed versions of music came from what he refers to as “Space Dub”.
“Space Dub comes from listening to old school Reggae-Dub, Dubstep, and chopped-and-screwed music. I’d known about chopped and screwed music for awhile but it wasn’t until a few years ago I decided to research and figure it out,” says Junior Dutch. “The sound instantly got me hooked and I understood it.”
When Junior Dutch decided to make music, his production came to him naturally. “I didn’t try to mimic or fit a particular sound, it just happened and people noticed. I had a love for slow, rough and bass filled music whenever I could find it. Slowing music down sometimes gives a really emotional feel to it which I like. From there I was on a mission to push the limit on everything I found addictive in slowed music,” says Junior Dutch.
His main influences have come from the likes of anyone pushing chopped and-screwed music as well as the artists he works with.
“Sometimes I have to adjust the sound slightly to fit certain artists who might not be fully in tune with the sound,” says Junior Dutch. But overall the 20-something-year-old is lucky enough to collaborate with rappers who have a ‘so-what’ attitude, eager to hop on the next unpolished track to fit the scene.
“Music in general is usually polished to perfection before it reaches everybody it’s supposed to reach. Slowed music a lot of the time has a real rough edge to it, but that’s not always a bad thing. With the attitude of today’s young people I’d say unusually slow, deep and sometimes unpolished music fits the scene at the moment. It’s like, that song sounds kind of wrong but so what, I like it, kind of mentality,” says Junior Dutch.
Tashan Watson of IRY Music Group (see project Allmoe- Trillmatic) admits to his experience with the slowed virus spreading beyond the States. “More production sounds southern even if [the artist is] from Canada. Trill wave is like a culture. Once people are connected to the music they want to see what the life is about,” says Watson.
According to a report by MTV News.com, DJ Screw was the creator of the slowing down and chopping up of beats and the most respected DJ in Houston.
“I like the music but it could also be a bad influence on society to start drinking lean, also a dangerous drug that have taken the lives of people,” says rapper Millie Yon of The YES Life.
DJ Screw died November 16, 2000 but his influence still lives in the production of newer acts like A$AP Rocky, Schoolboy Q, Purity Ring, and Clams Casino just to name a few. It’s not exactly that each style mimics the H-Town down to a stammering T, but their take on the slowing down of pace, pitch, and emotion outstrips its recognized origins on a genre crossing scale.
“Being from the Detroit area I got up on all of it when I saw Mike Jones on MTV2,” says Bruiser Skywlkr (Skylar Tait), a 22-year-old producer/DJ of Bruiser Brigade who fuses elements from cloud rap, Rock, Jazz, New Wave and earned buzz after producing tracks on XXX by Danny Brown. “I thought it was annoying how he kept repeating lines at first then quickly started to like it honestly. I downloaded a ton of songs then got introduced to DJ Screw and Michael “5000” Watts and I fell in love with chopped-and-screwed s***. All my friends thought I was tripping. I think I was drawn in because I’m a music dude. That’s why I make beats, and I just think it sounds super cool, trippy, and adds a whole other element to the music.”
Watts, Swisha House producer/ DJ from the North Side of Houston, became the ambassador of the chopped-and-screwed sound after the death of DJ Screw. According to a report by MTV News.com, rapper David Banner’s Mississippi: The Screwed and Chopped Album chopped-and-screwed by Watts and released in 2003, sold roughly 50,000 copies throughout the South, as well as cities outside the south including Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. Following his footsteps rappers like T.I., UGK and Mystikal released official chopped-and-screwed remixes of their albums which later opened a whole new fan base outside of its home in Texas.
“Fast forward to now, the rap game is super trendy and there are kids like me young enough to have been influenced by the whole chopped-and-screwed scene and it reflects in our production and music,” says Bruiser Skywlkr. “It’s really our generation of rap right now. As far as my style of production, I’m just a hybrid of everything I’ve liked musically and I come from a band background.”
At the start of his attraction to music, Bruiser Skywlkr was into rock and played in a metal band at the age of 14. “I didn’t just get a laptop and start making beats. I knew how to play live instruments and record myself before I was [ever] familiar with any beat making program,” says Bruiser Skywlkr.
He soon after got introduced to different styles of Hip-Hop and began experimenting with his beat making productions. “I just love the slow, trippy, bassy sound and it definitely came from the whole chopped-and-screwed [era]. I remember my junior year of high school I bought a Three Six Mafia album chopped-and-screwed and the bass just slapped like 5 times harder and the beats had a mad scarier sound,” says Bruiser Skywlkr. “I was memorized by it, so I can’t help but bring that vibe to some of my work.”
Hip-Hop will always make room for something cool. And what’s cool right now is the rawness and grit of imperfect beats nestled in the candy-coated purple sound wave syrup that keep Hip-Hop aficionados coming back for more. Gold mouth pieces included.](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m3fazoTI7N1qzwhpyo1_250.jpg)
