LeBron 9′s & Rick Ross with Groovey Lew

Groovey Lew is a legendary stylist in the world of hip-hop. Styling hip-hop artists and athletes since the 90′s and has continued throughout the years doing what he does best. We asked him a few questions to catch up with him, including what his favorite sneakers to style with are (Lebrons of course), and how he linked up with Rick Ross, who he styles on the regular. Click below to read the interview and click above for a quick video where he mentions the Nike Lebrons movement and his affiliation with Ross.

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So what sneakers do you see yourself working with the most when styling different people nowadays?

The Lebron sneakers is what’s going on right now. From the younger kids to the older g’s. From New York City to California and Miami, its the colors. All the fly colors that go back to all the snapbacks and all the jerseys and everything that everybody’s swaggin’ with right now. That’s the definitely the top sneaker out in the streets. And I like the ["Miami Vice"] color that came out on Memorial Day. The whole Miami was rocking them joints. Its on some Nike ID flow, but they’re putting out the colors on their own. That’s one of the top sneakers out in the streets besides Jordans.

You’ve been working with Rick Ross a lot and have been traveling a lot with him. How did you first link up with him?

I started working with Rick Ross by dealing with Def Jam. They were telling him that I was from New York but that I knew how to [style] some things he’d like and the whole big n’ tall thing. I used to style some big n’ tall brothers back in the day. So they put me on to Ross when he had the “Hustlin’” video. I met him in Miami and I brought some flavors for him and we just built our relationship from there. The more albums he put out, videos, and photoshoots – the more we grew with the clothing and the wardrobe. We would sit down and speak fashion and we just turned him into a fashion icon. Now they look to him for his trends, his flavors and swag to see what’s next. He’s another cat besides B.I.G. that has made the big fellas feel good again. He brought that flavor back into it. Whatever it is, we’re just trying to keep hip-hop alive with the clothing. We rolling like that a little more than just getting dressed.

From back in the early Bad Boy days, you used to work a lot with Jonathan Mannion, how has it been working with him all these years?

Working with Mannion, photographer, he’s definitely an A-Lister. It was definitely a pleasure working with him and still working with him. At that time, it was like a package. We did Jonathan and we did Groovey Lew. It took us all over the place. It took us so many places with so many different artists. He loves to shoot. When you think you’re done at 2 A.M. in the morning, he’d be like “let’s just get two more looks” or “let’s get three more looks”. But he definitely has passes to get into places that regular photographers couldn’t get into. But I definitely have a lot of fun working with him.

And I know you get asked often, but are you ever coming out with a clothing line?

I have a clothing company I’m working on. I’ve been working on that for years, but I think now’s the time to show people what I want to present the world. I’ve learned so much dealing with all these labels and players in the game and I want to present that to the world, 2013 flow.

When did you first get introduced to Miami and how’s it in comparison to Miami fashion-wise?

When I was first introduced to Miami, this was my second home. The nightlife is lovely. I don’t know what else I could say about Miami. Especially when you come down in the Winter from New York and still have that summer feel, its a beautiful thing. New York, we have seasons and seasons change and you can front with your winter coats and such. But Miami you come and just enjoy the breeze all year long.

Within your career, what is your most memorable moment?

I would say the most memorable moment is just with the Notorious B.I.G., Biggie Smalls. Without him you might know Groovey Lew, but maybe not on this level. When we were in Amsterdam for a show in front of 20,000 people, he just gave us the mic to rock with him. We got to feel what an artist feels like in front of a crowd like that. But just him making Versace what it was and Coogi sweaters, and even today, him being in the heavens and still making us eat food and still cut checks with his legacy…..there’s plenty of moments, but Notorious is forever.

Any last words to the younger crowd and tips on how they should dress?

Put your pants up, tuck your shirts and look decent. Make your parents proud. I just think that as Black Kings and Queens, every time we would see our elders step out to go anywhere, they would dress up. So stop walking around and looking lost like you have no direction. Feel good about yourselves because certain clothes make you look different and talk different. Keep your self presentable.

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