Pusha T’s 2023 is off to a busy start. He’s been making the rounds at Men’s Fashion Week in Paris. And right now he’s backstage at Matthew M. Williams’ Fall/Winter 2023 Givenchy show wearing a burnt orange technical set that had a subtle iridescent quality under the lights—he was surrounded by cameras—and black shield sunglasses from the collection.
Williams returned to Paris this season with a collection that once again redefined traditional menswear codes by tapping into elevated streetwear aesthetics. The balance between high and low was in harmony on the runway. Models walked out with double-knee carpenter shorts and hoodies that were paired with luxurious turtlenecks and double-breasted coats. There were distressed grey sweatsuit looks along with classic couture suiting. And of course, Williams also presented futuristic technical looks such as garment-dyed nylon jackets that would have made the late Massimo Osti crack a smile. Givenchy’s latest aptly captured looks that speak to a moment in street style where the barriers between streetwear and luxury, futuristic active apparel and traditional suiting, seem to be nonexistent.
Before joining the crowd clustered around Williams to say congratulations post show, Pusha T talks about his favorite fellow Grammy nominees for the Best Rap Album category, if the Clipse reunion is actually happening, and how Tyler, The Creator inspired him to follow up It’s Almost Dry with a DJ Drama Gangsta Grillz mixtape.
Let’s talk about the show. Did you have any favorite pieces?
Listen, let me tell you something. Those two furs. The two furs caught me off guard. I was like, okay, wait a minute. Full length. I already see what I’m about to do with those.
Yes. It felt very Sean John.
Yes.
And you ended the year making some noise by announcing that your next project would be a Gangsta Grillz mixtape with DJ Drama. Why did you want to take that approach?
Man. I just feel like to me, the Gangsta Grillz and the whole mixtape culture and scene is what I’m about. That’s the purest form of hip-hop to me. So it’s like the fact that Drama is having so much success, the fact that that’s what I love in hip-hop. I want to merge those worlds and see what happens. I’m going to be honest with you, seeing Drama’s mixtape with Tyler and how they won a Grammy, I was like, man, mixtapes really won a Grammy. So I’m trying to be a part of that culture as well.
Do you feel a level of pressure after dropping It’s Almost Dry?
Daytona was before It’s Almost Dry, right? I think we are seeing a little pattern here. Rap album of the year every year. Anytime I drop.
You’re hilarious, but yes, that’s true. And do you have a favorite, outside of your project, from the other Best Rap Album Grammy nominees?
Outside of my album, I’m a fan of Future and Kendrick for sure. They’re two totally different things, but I appreciate both of them.
And I was at ComplexCon last year and watched the Lord Willin 20 year anniversary panel. I saw your brother, No Malice, get very uncomfortable when asked about the Clipse reuniting. Do you think it will actually happen?
I’m not sure, but I’m pressing it. I’m pressing it. But I’m glad you were there and I’m glad that you saw it. Because a lot of people think that I don’t be pressing the issue. But I really do.
