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00:00Hello, everybody, how are we?
00:05Listen here, y'all look good, hey.
00:07Y'all look fantastic.
00:09For those of you that don't know, my name is Blake Newby.
00:11I am the beauty and style editor here at Essence.
00:14And I'm so excited today to be joined by this multi hyphenate singer,
00:20dancer, Grammy award winning songwriter who is joining me
00:25today for a discussion with none other than our sponsors Coca-Cola, 7th Streeter.
00:30Thank you for joining us.
00:32Thank you so much.
00:34So, so excited to be, see, she's sisterly, y'all.
00:37She just told me I got lipstick on my teeth.
00:40So, you know, I kind of want to jump right in.
00:42We don't have too much time, but like you said, we can talk all day.
00:46We can talk all day.
00:47How y'all doing, by the way?
00:48How y'all doing?
00:48We're going to kick it right off.
00:50So when you think about fashion, what's your relationship with the industry?
00:55Well, for one, I'm going to let you in on a little secret.
00:58So when I record, literally, I have a studio in my house, but I like to record
01:03and write according to how I feel and what I wear that day.
01:06So if I feel like I want to write a little sexy song, you know, for my baby,
01:11who I'm writing it for, I'm going to throw on a sexy little black dress.
01:14My split going to be up to here.
01:15My red lip going to be on.
01:17I'm going to have me a glass of wine, you know what I mean?
01:19But no, it'll be a whole vibe.
01:21And I like to dress according to how I write and vice versa.
01:24If I feel like I want to write something that's a little cooler,
01:26I'm going to throw on some J's, some sweatpants, a leather jacket, however I feel.
01:30And it really does influence the music because I like to envision
01:34what people are going to, how they're going to dance to the music
01:36and how you're going to dress when you dance to it
01:38and how you're going to get dressed with your friend.
01:40Like, you know, that all goes hand in hand for me.
01:43And kind of keeping with that same, that same energy,
01:46how have you seen, you've been in the industry for a while.
01:48How have you seen music and fashion really collide outside of yourself
01:52and how you make music?
01:53I mean, for me, when you think about it, music and fashion has always been,
02:00they've always had a beautiful marriage.
02:02When I think about back in the day and I was watching, growing up watching 702 videos,
02:08watching all, you know, Mary J. Blige videos,
02:10we would look at the videos to figure out how we wanted to dress.
02:13You know what I mean?
02:14We would go, oh, Mary had them boots on child.
02:16I need them boots.
02:17Yeah.
02:18You feel me?
02:19Still.
02:19Still.
02:20Still.
02:20Still.
02:21Still.
02:21You know, we would look at 702 and I would,
02:24I would love how the girls would wear their hair bumped under.
02:26And it was one of those things.
02:28So it's always been a beautiful marriage.
02:30And I think we see it even more even today because now we can spread it
02:33through IG and spread the information.
02:36So it's even more, you know?
02:38And women inspiring women really kind of leads us to the next point.
02:41So, you know, there's nothing like bouncing ideas off of the women in your circle.
02:46So how has your relationship and the women that are in your circle,
02:50how do they impact you fashion wise as well as keep you inspired?
02:54Well, I will say this.
02:55I happen to have a lot of, I have friends in different walks of life who their fashion
03:00just speaks to me.
03:02You know, I have model friends.
03:03My friend, Winnie Harlow is a great friend of mine.
03:05Her fashion's, y'all know Winnie, she dresses down, honey.
03:08You know, Mary Amidiallo is another one of my best friends.
03:12And, you know, I always say this.
03:13My grandmother and my aunts and the women in my life,
03:18it's something about classic fashion that they just going to,
03:22oh, baby, before you go out the house, take that off, take off one thing.
03:25We've all heard that, right?
03:26So between my friends who are very fashionable and my grandparents and my, you know, my mother,
03:33and my, listen here, there's nothing like having a gay best friend.
03:37A guzman.
03:38Listen, listen, a gay best friend.
03:40My stylist, Dio, honey, Dio is, he does not play.
03:45So I say, listen, they say when your wedding, something old, something new.
03:48Listen, something old, something new, something gay, something blue.
03:51You know what I'm feeling?
03:52But they're going to keep you together between those three for me.
03:56So we're going to play kind of like rapid fire.
03:59So you talked about how you'll wear certain things when you're recording.
04:03So I am going to give you three different scenarios.
04:07And you're going to name three songs on your playlist for during these times.
04:13Okay, let's go.
04:15All right, so when you're on set for a photo shoot.
04:21On set for a photo shoot.
04:24It depends on what the vibe is.
04:26Okay.
04:26But I will say, for one, I'm obsessed.
04:29I'm a lifetime NERD fan.
04:31So like my go-to when I first get on set, you're going to hear,
04:34burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn.
04:37And you know what I mean?
04:38I got to hear like, you know, don't worry about it.
04:41You know, that's my, no.
04:42So I love me some NERD and then when I'm feeling sexy,
04:47I love to listen to tonight.
04:49I want to dance for you.
04:51Beyonce has a song for every occasion.
04:53Beyonce got a song for every occasion.
04:55So I love, I love that.
04:57And then, yeah, those are like my, my go-tos like, yeah.
05:02When you're getting dressed for a performance.
05:07When I'm getting dressed, you know what?
05:09I used to do this years ago when I was in my group, Rich Girl.
05:14I used to like to watch Janet Jackson's Live in Hawaii DVD
05:18before, before every show.
05:21So I still kind of continue with that.
05:23And I love to listen to, to Janet when I'm getting ready,
05:27because it's like, she's the ultimate performer.
05:29You know what I mean?
05:30So it's like, I was like, get me so excited.
05:33You know what I mean?
05:34So it's one of those, Janet.
05:35I like, I like Janet.
05:36And when you're creating, when you're taking selfies for IG.
05:43Selfies for IG.
05:48You know what?
05:49It never fails you.
05:50I like, beautiful.
05:53You got to feel it.
05:54I just want you to know.
05:55Sing it.
05:55But you're my favorite girl.
05:57Exactly.
05:58See what I mean?
05:59That's what I'm trying to tell you.
06:01That's, that's a good one.
06:02You know you're getting dressed.
06:03You want to feel like your best self and feel beautiful.
06:05So.
06:06Do you ever, is there ever a time where your songs are your mood?
06:09Where you're like, you know what?
06:10Hmm.
06:10Um, I will say, and I'm not just saying this, and it's not no shameless
06:14plug, but right now, like my record, Nasty Girl with Bia is like, it just, it makes me feel like
06:21the bossiest, sexiest, like most in control.
06:26You know, I love this body and this skin I'm in type of, it's, it's one of those.
06:30Same.
06:30It's one of those.
06:31So Nasty Girl for me right now.
06:33Okay.
06:33Okay.
06:33And talking about your style evolution specifically, um, what are some of your favorite fashion
06:39moments, either from yourself, from other celebrities?
06:45Um, some of my favorite fashion moments, I'm gonna keep it all the way, Hunter.
06:49I think that because like I said, I had a lot of, um, my stylist, I give him a lot of
06:55credit because, you know, he came up under, um, you know, Marnie who is, is Marnie X Marnie
07:00is such an amazing stylist.
07:02And he came up under my Marnie and he, um, he just has such a great sense of fashion.
07:06So he's taught me a lot over the years.
07:09So I will say my favorite, honestly, is our most recent is our BT awards.
07:12Look, I just, um, it, I felt like myself, you know what I mean?
07:17I didn't feel like it was something he, he, he never puts anything on me.
07:21He always wants me to feel great in the clothes, but I think this year was probably my favorite.
07:26Um, my least child, first of all, everything circled two years ago, three years ago, because
07:35I literally had to learn to, first of all, learn to, and I say this in everything, learn
07:41to listen to the people that have done the things that you were trying to step into.
07:45And he's been like that with fashion for me.
07:47So every girl, every time I didn't listen to him is my least favorite.
07:53And I'm so happy that you mentioned, uh, actually, where is he?
07:57Is he not here?
07:58He's not here.
07:59It sounds like he deserves a hearing clap.
08:01I love my Dio.
08:02Um, so, you know, you mentioned your new single out with Bia, big deal, big vibes,
08:08big energy.
08:09And you tease some of the visuals for the video on Instagram.
08:12Can you talk about the fashion in that video and how it really helped bring the song together?
08:18Well, I, well, you know, I said early, I love, I love early, uh, late nineties fashion,
08:23early two thousands fashion.
08:25And I'm going to just be honest, the record is competent.
08:27It's very sexy.
08:28It's very comfortable in my skin.
08:29I wanted to feel like a early two thousands, like video vixen.
08:33I loved how they, they was fly back in the day.
08:36Like the way they would wear their little denim, two pieces and just their shoes.
08:41Everything was fly.
08:42And that's, that was my inspiration for a lot of it.
08:45So I was like, Dio, can you make me feel like, and you know, I have a plethora of videos,
08:50my team, like they, they tease me because I will sit and watch music videos from every genre,
08:56like for hours.
08:57It's like, you know, I love.
08:58So, and the fashion was just amazing.
09:00And you speak about inspiration.
09:02If you had to pick one person, who is your style inspiration?
09:06One person?
09:08Let's do three.
09:09Can we do three?
09:10Um, yeah.
09:11Okay.
09:12Um, I'll say, I'm going to say Janet Jackson.
09:15Okay.
09:15And because I feel like in terms of bridging fashion and music,
09:20she was my origin for seeing that when I was a little girl, I would watch that and watch every
09:25album, she would be a different version of herself.
09:28And it was still her, but it was like a different take on how she felt in the,
09:33in the music and the fashion with hand in hand.
09:35Um, I bringing it all away to today.
09:38I have to give credit.
09:39Rihanna is a hell of a fashion killer.
09:42Yeah.
09:43And when it comes to her fashion and her music, I just, I, it's just like,
09:47you have to bow down to that.
09:49It's, it's, I love how she does it.
09:50Um, and then who else can I say that, let me think of another really, really good one.
09:58Um, I mean, honestly, one thing I, well, uh, it's hard.
10:06It's hard.
10:06Um, because, okay, well, I will say this too, and it was not a female, but it's,
10:11it's, I'll say Prince and I say Prince because Prince knew who the fuck he was.
10:15Excuse me if I'm not supposed to curse.
10:16I'm sorry.
10:17But he knew who he was.
10:18And, um, and, and he didn't care what anybody had to say about what he felt and how he dressed.
10:25And if Prince loved it, then y'all better love it, you know, like, so, you know, those three.
10:30And you speak about that confidence.
10:31Have you always had that confidence in the way that you've carried yourself in the way that you've dressed?
10:36Absolutely not.
10:37No, I think confidence is something that builds slowly each and every day.
10:42It's not a, you don't wake up and say, oh, I'm confident today.
10:46That's like, not how that works every day.
10:48You're like, okay, this bothers me today.
10:50I feel like I don't like this part of my body and that bothers me.
10:53So how can I make myself feel better about it?
10:56And you gain a little bit of confidence, confidence that day.
10:59And the next day, it's like, you know, it varies.
11:02So, um, it's just, I'm a work in progress like everybody else, child.
11:06It just so happens that today I feel beat.
11:08Right.
11:11What types of, what kinds of outfits or looks make you feel you're most confident?
11:15Mmm, outfits or looks that make me feel most confident.
11:18Um, I think every, you know, there's certain things about my body that I, I will admit that I, I do love.
11:25Um, you know, I used to growing up, I used to tell my mom,
11:28um, cause my mom had really big thighs, like Karen, Karen fine, y'all.
11:32Mama had really big thighs and I always liked that.
11:35But you know, I, I, my father is more slim.
11:37So I didn't like the fact that I was a little slimmer when I was younger.
11:41Cause I'm from the South.
11:42If you, you know, thick, thick is what it is in the South.
11:45And my cousins was thick and fine.
11:47And JD, may I have a napkin, please?
11:50But my cousins was thick and fine.
11:52And so, um, as I've gotten older, I've come to like really, you know, embrace,
11:57you know, this, my, my slenderness and find beauty in that.
12:01And, and know that I like things that make me feel long and tall.
12:05You know what I mean?
12:06I like things that, um, you know, if I'm gonna work on that treadmill and run all of them hours,
12:10I want something that's gonna make this waist look small.
12:12You know what I mean?
12:13So, um, you know, it varies.
12:16And when you're, you know, when you're at home, if you're ever, are you ever in sweatpants?
12:20That's a better question.
12:21What?
12:21Child, I love me a good sweatpants.
12:24Don't play.
12:25Mm-mm.
12:25So what's like your, if you are dressing up sweatpants, how does 7th Street or dress up
12:29sweatpants?
12:29Um, if I'm gonna dress them up, I'm going to, I'm gonna throw on a heel.
12:34Like I love throwing on a heel with a sweatpants, like love, love, love.
12:38Yep.
12:38Nice little heel with a sweatpants, either a crop, a nice little crop, or I'm not gonna
12:43lie.
12:43I love putting a bikini top with a sweatpants.
12:46Give me a bikini top, a sweatpants and a heel.
12:49I actually just wore some like that recently in Miami.
12:51So it's like.
12:52You're inspiring me here.
12:53Ah, listen.
12:53I'm like, we still got more days left of fashion week.
12:56I still got more outfits for you.
12:58So we want to give the audience a chance to ask some questions because I'm sure
13:03that you all have many a question for Ms. Streeter.
13:07So does anybody have a question that they'd like to ask?
13:10And don't be shy.
13:11Right.
13:12I'm like.
13:12Don't be shy.
13:13We're all family here, y'all.
13:14Any questions?
13:15Yes.
13:15Yes.
13:16Don't be shy.
13:17Yes.
13:18I'm like, can we get one mic?
13:22There you go.
13:26Hello.
13:26How you doing?
13:28How are you doing?
13:29Good.
13:29And you, you're cute by the way.
13:31I'm such a fan, first of all.
13:32Um, I actually got in contact with your stylist.
13:35Um, and I'm going to be sending you a dress soon.
13:38Please.
13:38And thank you.
13:39Remember my face.
13:40Yes.
13:40I hope to find you after you so I can show you.
13:43Yes.
13:43Yes.
13:44Um, yeah.
13:45So that's it.
13:46Justin, by the way.
13:47That part.
13:48That part.
13:50Yeah.
13:50My name is Justin.
13:51So.
13:51Listen here.
13:52It's so funny.
13:53I tell people that all the time.
13:54I'm like, listen here.
13:55If you got a something, you trying to, yes, sir, that's how you do it.
13:58You missed 100% of the shots you don't take.
14:00Come on.
14:00You don't take.
14:01100%.
14:02Any questions?
14:03Yes.
14:03Oh, perfect.
14:06Hello.
14:06How you doing, mom?
14:07I'm great.
14:09I'm a swimsuit designer and I relate to you with being slim all your life and being comfortable.
14:15So I'd like to know what styles of swimwear make you feel the most comfortable and sexy.
14:21Cause that's important.
14:21Oh, that's a good one.
14:23Cause that's a real, see, that's, you're my sister in real life.
14:27That's a good one because, cause I have, all right, I always tell, cause my mother doesn't,
14:31she has big, thick thighs, but she doesn't have like a lot of hips.
14:34So I got this little hip dip thing from here.
14:37Any word out to the hip dips?
14:38Anybody got the hip dips?
14:39Yes.
14:39So I have hip dips up top.
14:41I like to wear suits that cut really deep at a V in the front and pull up really high because it
14:47kind of slims out your waist a little bit and it makes you, it makes you feel like you got a
14:51little bit more hip action.
14:52Yeah.
14:52You know what I mean?
14:53So, um, those are the type of swim shoes I like to wear.
14:55And then I like the tops that, um, if I want to make this like really small, I can or cannot.
15:01And I like the wire ones that come up in between here.
15:04You know, y'all know what I'm talking about.
15:05Cause they make, they cup your boobs really good.
15:08And it makes for a really nice, you know, slender little.
15:12Very helpful for my research for my next collection.
15:15Aw.
15:15Thank you very much.
15:16And send me some suits.
15:17Right.
15:18I will for sure.
15:21Do we have any other questions?
15:23Yes.
15:25Oh.
15:28Hi, how you doing?
15:30Hi, um, I'm a big fan of your song, Guilty.
15:34And it's such a vibe, A$AP fur, you got Chris Brown and of course yourself.
15:39Can you just give us a little inspiration or give us some background on your inspiration
15:43of the song?
15:43Because when I bop that song, I feel like sexy.
15:46I feel like a woman, such a vibe.
15:48So can you just give us some inspiration behind that one?
15:50Well, I think that like, well, for one, I will say this.
15:53I think that like music transcends time.
15:56And when you listen to that record, that's a big payback James Brown sample in that beat.
16:01James Brown was a sexy man, you know what I mean?
16:04So it goes all the way back to that.
16:07And when he made it, they felt sexy.
16:08And then when Total remade it and it was like, can't you see?
16:12We was like this, what you do?
16:14So that made us feel sexy.
16:16So when it came back around, it's really the magic I feel like is in the sample and it's
16:21in the bop.
16:21But then when you hear the lyrics and a woman is taking ownership about, yo, like, yeah,
16:27this is like this and it is what it is.
16:29And I could feel guilty about it, but I don't, you know what I mean?
16:34So that feels good.
16:35And, you know, I don't know, melodies that you feel like you can sing along to and you
16:41can make it your own is always going to make you feel even more sexy.
16:45That part is what we got one.
16:47We have time for one more.
16:48So my question is, with all the trends that happen these days, I feel like trends are
17:00going faster than ever with fast fashion and, you know, TikTok and all these things.
17:05How do you maintain your own personal style with the trends moving so quickly?
17:09Um, probably, well, probably because I look back more than I look forward.
17:17I, you know, they say, you want to know where you're going?
17:19You got to look at where you've been.
17:20So I like to study, um, the greats and how, how they did it.
17:24And then even with like, for example, when, like when I'm making music for myself, anything
17:29I'm doing for me, I, I try to not pay attention to how somebody else is doing it at that particular
17:38moment, because all you can do from that is you've taken what was here before you, but then
17:43you're taking the very essence of yourself and you fusing that together.
17:47Next thing you know, you got your own style.
17:49It's your vibe.
17:50So for me, that that's, that's my process.
17:53If that makes any sense at all.
17:56Yeah.
17:56Yeah, it does.
17:59Well, we have run out of time, but seven, thank you so much again.
18:03Another thank you to our sponsor Coca-Cola.
18:07Stick around.
18:08We have more fashion house coming.
18:09Thanks everybody.
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