Transcript
Conor Fowler: Welcome, welcome to yet another episode of apocalypse. How do we keep doing this? ah Today, we've got Jabari Abasi in the studio, who is an extremely cool person with a good voice comes highly recommended to us.
Conor Fowler: um I think Jamal booked this show. So we are happy to get into it. ah This is apocalypse. That's that I already say that and I'm Connor Fowler.
matt: And I am Matt Smith and we are your co-hosts.
Jabari: Absolutely. Jabari Abasi here. Thank you for having me. It's a pleasure.
matt: Yeah, dude. Thank you for coming on.
Conor Fowler: I'm the sound, and the soundproof booth.
matt: Yeah. Right. That's, that is not something cause I am guaranteed that, uh, I will have some like sound issues.
Conor Fowler: lawnmower noises.
matt: Yeah. Yeah. Someone's mowing the grass next door. And of course they are. And ah like doing shit outside. So, uh, yeah, yeah, yeah, exactly.
Conor Fowler: Yeah, the bird sounds is nice. I mean, I feel like it's like we're having a little chat in the outdoors in the courtyard.
matt: I'd much rather be outdoors than indoors. So, uh, yeah, everybody, thank you for listening. Jabari, thanks for coming on, man. Um, So i guess to to get started, saw a lot of Atlanta representation on your Instagrams. ah Are you you know born and raised in Atlanta?
Jabari: Born and raised in Atlanta, probably one of the few natives left. So, yeah, I was...
matt: Yeah, it's true It's true.
Conor Fowler: Peace.
matt: i am a trans, I'm a transplant, but I'm a transplant up from O2.
Jabari: Yeah, so...
matt: So I, and I'm, so I'm still Georgia, you know, like it just, it's the, it's the one big city, you know, that, that all of us, any, any remotely cool people gravitate toward.
Jabari: Okay, yeah yeah, you've been a while. Yeah, absolutely.
Jabari: Absolutely. So yeah, yeah. Born and raised, born at um Crawford Long Hospital, which now not but which now goes by um Emory, Emory Midtown.
matt: Oh, yep. Yep.
Jabari: So yeah, yeah. real Real deal. My parents met at the Dogwood Festival at Piedmont Park. So it's pretty Atlanta as you get.
matt: Oh, that's awesome.
Jabari: So yeah.
matt: Yeah. Yeah. What, not what, like what a neighborhood did you grow up in?
Conor Fowler: Wow, dude.
Jabari: Yeah. So um predominantly, so the first half of my childhood, um East Atlanta. Um, so like, right, like out from Moreland Ave, like from zero, from zero to 12.
matt: Okay.
Conor Fowler: any
matt: Yeah.
Jabari: And then from there, like we just started making our way South. So like, um, I spent time between both, like both my parents' house. So, um, from there, um, college park, East point, Western.
matt: Yeah.
Jabari: Yeah. And then my mom and my mom was in, um, in Fairbairn, Fairbairn, Georgia, which is like South, like South of the airport. Um, so we was, we was down there for um quite a bit and then, yeah, so so that's it.
matt: Right.
Jabari: So, yeah.
matt: That's awesome, man. Yeah, my ah my best friend and her husband live in East Point. And, like, I am there.
Jabari: Yeah.
matt: I was there this weekend staying with them and, you know, just kind of hanging out. And, like, East Point is still, and, like, Southwest Atlanta in general, is still one of the only places that looks like it did 25, you know, 20, 25 years
Jabari: Yeah.
matt: you know twenty twenty five years ago and like, i love that.
Jabari: Yeah. No, it's, yeah, great, great, um great part of town for, seriously.
matt: Yeah, yeah. Some cool shit, but also like a lot of still old shit happening and like going on, which i I'm into.
Jabari: yeah
matt: But ah yeah, and so wherere so you're still in Atlanta. I'm taking it.
Jabari: still yeah Still in Atlanta to this day. um It wasn't wasn't by design, but that's how you know life worked out.
matt: Nice.
Jabari: So I'm not mad at it.
matt: Yeah.
Jabari: ah
matt: Yeah, yeah.
Conor Fowler: way worse There's way worse places to be.
Jabari: Oh, no, yeah, I'm not i'm not complaining. I think you know just wherever it takes you. So um I've been able to squeeze in some traveling here and there to still still feel a little worldly. So, yeah.
matt: Yeah. Fuck yeah. Yeah. And Connor and I, don't know if you've listened to like past episodes, but like Baltimore and Atlanta are pretty synonymous in both of our books. Like it's a pretty, you know, pretty similar vibe and obviously Atlanta's bigger, but it's still, yeah, it's fun when like we get to really go, you know, go into the weeds with stuff like that.
Jabari: Yeah, absolutely.
matt: Yeah. So, uh, how, like kind of what, what, got you into being interested in clothes? Like, has it been ah has it been a lifelong thing? You know, can you remember your first, like the first thing that really caught your eye back of the day?
Jabari: Yeah, it's really simple. That's I was like, when they like invited me on the show, I was like, thanks. i don't know if I'm the best guest. I'm pretty boring, but it worked out. But I think originally they said, we might want your song you some hot take opinions from y'all.
Jabari: Like, sure. But um no, definitely definitely for me, um it really is as simple as my dad.
Conor Fowler: Yeah.
Jabari: um ah my dad my My dad was my first and probably to this day, like my only really fashion person.
matt: Okay.
Jabari: icon and inspiration. And that was just because so like he he was always like seen as a really well-dressed man amongst his like friends and family, things like that. But he just came from that era, man, where you you put on clothes every time you leave the house.
Jabari: ah So hey like like literally, um like I mean, i remember growing up, like he he'll just see he'll be showering, And then, like, he get out he get out the iron and he put on put on his Levi's.
matt: Right.
Conor Fowler: yeah
Jabari: And then, like, he's, like, the the Oxford tucks it in, put his loafers on, spraying cologne. And I'm like, man, where you going? He's like, the Kroger's.
Conor Fowler: right and
matt: he he He sounds like our kind of guy, man.
Jabari: Yeah, so, yeah, so, he yeah, he was he was just of those dudes, like, you know, like, he, like, did didn't lounge in underwear, like, even if he didn't go anywhere, he just put on clothes.
matt: That's awesome.
Jabari: So, um so yeah, so.
matt: Yeah.
Conor Fowler: like two things Atlanta's own tall heat EPS says I get dressed just to sit in the house
Jabari: Go ahead.
Jabari: Yeah. So that that was it. That like that was that was like my my first... like Because he he just cared so much about his appearance and... you know and what us being his children, like he wanted us to look representable.
Jabari: So it it was just always like... t i I'll say like looking back at it, it was probably like some other things I wish my dad like um was harder on me on. But for some reason, and he was he was really hard about making sure um that the socks match the color of our dress pants and our our shoes our shoes match our belt.
Jabari: So like that like that's the kind of that's the kind of stuff here.
matt: Nice.
Conor Fowler: That shit is important though.
Jabari: Yeah.
matt: like Yeah, yeah, it really is.
Jabari: it
matt: It's like that one one of those like early age things that just kind of sticks with you for no real reason.
Jabari: Yeah.
matt: But then, you know, 20 years on, 30 years on, like I don't know how old you are.
Jabari: Yeah. Yeah.
matt: You're like, oh, okay, I get it. I get it.
Jabari: Yeah. Absolutely. so So that's it. So that that's what really got me into it. And I think just as I as i grew older, um it just really stuck. ah Just like clothes, outfits, like just cool objects, art.
Jabari: It's just always something that's just been a passion. um And it and always just came very natural. So it was it was nothing i was it was nothing I ever thought hard about. It was just something I always just really enjoyed doing it like that.
Jabari: um Hence how I got found with my my Instagram. and And, you know, and granted, I don't have a big follow or anything like that. And I'm far from an influencer. But what I i would say, like, um you know, if you, I started that page maybe, i don't know, in 2019, however long ago that was, seven years ago, I just started posting on it consistently within the last year.
Jabari: But I say all that to say was, i just always just been a place where I just like showcasing like what I wear. Yeah, that was it. Yeah,
Conor Fowler: Well, it's not like you aren't a talented photographer too, right?
Jabari: yeah.
Conor Fowler: I mean, that's ah another part of your life that we're going to get into, I think.
Jabari: yeah
Jabari: Yeah, absolutely.
matt: Yeah. Also, gotta say, like Atlanta has always been a stylish city. like it's It's so low-key that no one realizes this, but like like you know I remember coming here or you know coming to Atlanta as like a kid, and we would quote unquote vacation in Atlanta, which if that tells you where I'm from, good on you.
Conor Fowler: fifty
matt: But like, you know, you would see people and you're just like, oh, yo, these don't look like the same folks that I'm seeing every single day.
Jabari: Yeah, no, that that's a fair point. I love that. I love that about the city. um And, you know, we we had we definitely had our own style language, depending on what area you grew up in, depending on depend on the demographic you're around and the neighborhoods.
matt: Yeah.
Jabari: But it was it was always unique and I and always appreciated that. um So, yeah, absolutely.
matt: Totally. Totally.
Conor Fowler: could you say more Could you say more about that? The unique style language?
Jabari: Yeah, so I just, so, you know, the the thing ah the thing about Atlanta, um I just think we always just had a nice mixture of, you know, we're we're in the South, um but we're not necessarily country.
Jabari: Because I always tell people i tell people, I think it's a difference between being country and being Southern.
matt: Right.
Jabari: Sometimes you could be both, but you always have to be the same.
Conor Fowler: Right.
matt: Oh, yeah, totally. Totally. Yeah.
Jabari: So, yeah, so I think it was just, it was very much, um it was just very much like, it was It was a great... it was a it was a I'll describe like this. it was um If you look at the duality of Outkast, I'll say it's very much Atlanta.
Conor Fowler: Yeah.
Jabari: um so you You have Big Boy with the like with the Dickie with the dicky shorts and the fitted Braves cap.
Conor Fowler: yeah
matt: Oh, yeah.
Jabari: And then you have like Andre with like you know a fur bow and an ascot. And that's what I mean. It it was very much it was very much like um like hood, hip hop, very just like you know trap, get stuff done.
Jabari: And it also was just the the artist. um And you found a lot of people who knew how to um tote that line. And I think that's what made us um really unique. like You had you had you had like gangsters listening to opera.
Jabari: um yeah like you
Conor Fowler: Sure.
matt: Right? Right?
Jabari: So it it was it was just very unique. Atlanta was just a place of like just just you know being being being different and i'm also just being versatile. I'll say that.
matt: Totally. And all of of us, if we if we knew anything, we shopped at Walters at least once or twice.
Jabari: Yeah. We had to shop at Walters. the the defeat
matt: Yeah, man.
Jabari: Man, that the Feliz, the Feliz, the Dickie jumpsuit, um all all that stuff is just just so quintessential, man.
matt: Yup.
Jabari: um so Yeah, so yeah, we love it all.
matt: Yeah. I remember going there and like, I think, oh, one was the first time and just like, I wasn't a sneaker hat at that point, but you know, i love sneakers and always have, and just like seeing the walls line with the best shit. You're just like, yeah, this place rules.
Conor Fowler: Fila is a Baltimore brand, I think.
Jabari: Is
Conor Fowler: ah
Jabari: is it well I think um or Go ahead
Conor Fowler: F-I-L-A? Yeah, no, no, no. I'm just saying not like it's not an Atlanta thing, but like I think that its origin, like London Fog and Joseph Banks, I mean, just is from Baltimore, weirdly.
matt: Well, it's not an apartment store. It's like a tiny hole in the wall, or not a hole in the wall necessarily, but like it's a small shop that has like rat stuff.
Conor Fowler: Oh, I thought you said Fila, F-I-L-A,
Jabari: No, Fila, like, no, no, Fila, like, the like the athletic sportswear, the shoes, the clothes, yeah.
matt: Oh, oh, oh, Fila, yeah, yeah.
Conor Fowler: Yeah, that's what I'm saying. that's That is a Baltimore brand, or at least it's based in Baltimore now.
matt: Gotcha.
Jabari: Yeah, no, that's cool.
matt: Damn.
Jabari: I didn't know that. Cause I know, I know like, I know their heritage is like, oh um, I think Italian, I think or something like that.
matt: Yeah, me either.
Jabari: But like, but in the U.S., yeah.
Conor Fowler: That make sense.
Jabari: Yeah, so if you did, I'm probably telling you the skies with water is wet, so you probably know. But yeah, because really, we just really gravitated to it because of the Fairbrile Love Atlanta acronym. So we just, we made it our own.
Jabari: it was just, you know.
Conor Fowler: Well, there's so much of that, right?
Jabari: Yeah.
Conor Fowler: Like there's so the kind of backernoms. Because Matt, what was you what were you talking about? Should have bought a polo shirt, right?
matt: Oh, yeah.
Conor Fowler: Yeah, should have bought a polo shirt.
matt: Chaps. Kuda bald polo shirt is is how a friend told me or described chaps when I, I don't know, years ago. And I was like, that's the best acronym I've ever heard in my life.
Conor Fowler: it?
Conor Fowler: And I think that's like, I don't know. I feel like that's like black style. That's like that kind of like joking around about, ah I don't know, just bullshit um is so.
Jabari: Yeah, no, I think you hit it on the head.
Conor Fowler: genen qua
Jabari: Yeah, yeah, yeah. that No, seriously, that that is funny. The um the shit about a post. and we we We love chaps growing up, man.
matt: Yeah, dude.
Conor Fowler: yeah
matt: I mean, like, honestly, like I sell vintage clothing. i buy cool chaps if I see it. Like, if it's got a, you know, if it's got a dope print or like, you know, it looks really cool and it's not just a basic thing.
Jabari: Man.
matt: Like, fuck yeah, I'll buy that.
Jabari: I remember, um ah because you key know Chaps, um that the the classic Chaps um with the with the laurel wreath and the sea. and i mean I remember i remember um I got my first, um like when I was like like a teenager, I got my first like Fred Perry polo and I was like so proud.
matt: Yeah, yeah.
Jabari: And know, like, you know, Fred Perry is expensive. I felt so good. And that and that was me like like edging into like I'm i'm getting into like clothes and stuff. And I remember I wore it out and then one of my friends, he's like, bro, you got on Chaps.
Jabari: Yeah.
Conor Fowler: Wow, dude. Wow.
Jabari: He's on the lord the lower wreath. Like, you gotta chat.
Conor Fowler: wow
matt: Man, that's that's awesome.
Jabari: Yeah.
matt: And, you know, like, so you've been into clothing, it sounds like, pretty much your whole life, you know, in one way, shape, or form.
Jabari: yeah Yeah, absolutely.
matt: Like, did you know, compared to, say, 15 years ago, like, how do you see the Atlanta like kind of clothing scene now?
matt: Cause we got, you know, you got guilty party, you got the blue and green, Sid Mashburn's been there forever.
Jabari: Yeah.
matt: Like double RL was here for a very long time and polo too. And then they closed and came back. Like, yeah.
Jabari: Yeah.
matt: What's, what's kind of your take on that?
Jabari: um Shop, like, so just shopping-wise, or like stores, as you mentioned, um it's definitely just, and I think it's still in its growth stages. Yeah.
matt: Yeah, totally. Totally.
Jabari: Yeah, do like just and it's just more just pretty like just getting more you know diverse boutiques and places to shop. um so Because I will immediately say Atlanta's never been my favorite shopping destination or some of the best stuff.
Jabari: um But all those stores you just named, I don't have anything to add. Oh, my guys, um um heavy Heavy Market um and Buckhead, too. Vintage Heavy, shout to them, too.
Jabari: Richard.
matt: Oh, shit. i don't I don't know either of those, so I got to research.
Jabari: Yeah, yeah. Same. I think on vintage Vintage Heavy is the brand, but the store is Heavy Market. But they're they're really they're really cool, but they sell a lot of... um They have their own have in-house brand, and they sell a lot of the um the Japanese stuff, Snow Peak and the Capital, all the like that.
matt: Oh, okay. Yeah.
Conor Fowler: Sure, sure.
Jabari: But um but all all that to say is, yes, I'm really happy we're getting some of those stores now because um I think it's just been the biggest thing is um you had to go online or go to New York um to really um get get a lot of those um those brands and touches.
Jabari: So I am happy. So with that being said, in answer to question, I think it's growing. I think they're starting to see that there's demand here for it um because I think, um you know, speaking of transplants, We are starting to get some of those like some of those great creators from other parts of ah the the world and the US who are coming here.
matt: Yeah.
Jabari: um and they and they and they want they want that. So um that that that part of it is great. um Shout out Sid Mashburn, too. I'm an Atlanta institution as far as like traditional menswear. so Yeah, absolutely.
Jabari: um And just the style of the city um alone, I think it's just, I think it's the all the things we talked about in the beginning. um i don't want to um keep reiterating. I think the du the duality, the diversity of it is still there.
Jabari: I think it's just evolving with the time. So I think you're just starting to see more, you're just starting to see um that like the the locals here are trying to create more of a um a community and a um we're but um more of an environment around it, which I think we never really had here in Atlanta.
matt: Yeah, totally.
Jabari: um Because, yeah,
matt: For sure.
Jabari: A lot of times, Atlanta, you really do have a ceiling here as a creative, um and especially like in like in fashion, too. So I think a lot of times you you' always see those creative communities here. And it's kind of, you know, one once the once the ones who are going to rise to the top, once they kind of hit their ceiling, then it's like, all right, I got to get i gotta get it to New York.
Jabari: And that's what you see.
matt: Right.
Jabari: And that's what you see. So I think it's more people here really trying to build an infrastructure um infrastructure here. So I'm really proud of that. So um I think it's awesome. more Just more spaces.
matt: Yeah.
Jabari: Yeah.
matt: Same, same. And there's always been, like, a ah an Atlanta to New York pipeline. Like, I was a i was a part of it. lot of my friends have been a part of it over the years. But, like, people...
Conor Fowler: What all kind of points there, right?
matt: Yeah, yeah. And, I mean, it's just, like, it's it's just one of those things.
Conor Fowler: Fortunately or not,
matt: But, you know, seeing, like, seeing people build shit from the ground up that, like, couldn't have existed 15 years ago was so sick to me.
Jabari: Yeah. Yeah, no. Yeah. So great stories that you named. I'm just happy to see them. So hopefully they don't continue to thrive and we get some more cool experiences like that out here.
matt: Agreed. Agreed.
Conor Fowler: So ah speaking of your creativity, i was going to ask, cause this is how I sort of came, came to know you. When did you start taking pictures? How do you start taking pictures?
Conor Fowler: What that is that whole ah part of your life?
Jabari: Yeah.
Conor Fowler: Like,
Jabari: Yeah. that Also, kind of the same thing um as we talked about, just you know my love for clothes or looking cool.
Conor Fowler: e
Jabari: it just It just kind of bit me at an early age. I just um i just was enamored with it, on photography, um taking pictures. um So one of my first like um substantial Christmas gifts I asked for when I was eight was a camera.
Jabari: So...
matt: Thank you.
Conor Fowler: Whoa, that's pretty early, yeah.
Jabari: it started it started yeah yeah so It started with just um a point-and-shoot Polaroid, um and I was obsessed with that. Just taking taking a bunch of those around the house. and just i still got a collection of a lot of them, um like random stuff from my from my siblings to like my pet guinea pig to like nature.
Conor Fowler: What is your, this is a kind of annoying question, but like what is your database?
Jabari: so
Conor Fowler: like like how much of your stuff have you saved or you have them in binders do you have them in like acid paper like
Jabari: I know, I wish. Nah, I wish, man. I wish I was better. So I probably just got like a handful of like random stuff.
Conor Fowler: it's hard dude it's hard
Jabari: Yeah. Yeah, of course. Well, Hans, like, man, I wish I was really saving that stuff. So, um, yeah, I just got like a handful of pictures now. I still have, but I wish a lot of stuff got thrown away or just like in stores somewhere.
Conor Fowler: he
Jabari: So I got to find it.
Conor Fowler: year
Jabari: So, but yeah, yeah, that that's it. So it just started young age, man. And I just kept it going. Um, I just kept it going into adulthood and i' was just taking pictures. And I think, um, I think, um of course, you know the dream was to be a full-time photographer.
Jabari: And I think i think the goal i think for i think the goal originally when I was younger, i definitely wanted to do like some kind of photojournalism. I wanted to take these beautiful, powerful pictures around the world and um and even work my way up to doing editorial work.
Jabari: And I think um for whatever reason, i just i just didn't i just didn't really... um I guess I i don't know if I didn't work hard enough and then materialize for me.
Conor Fowler: Dude, no. feel like I do this all the time, but the photos are good.
Jabari: I don't know.
Conor Fowler: The photos you have are really good.
matt: Yeah, they're incredible.
Conor Fowler: were talking about this. We talked about this up to the lead up of the show. Like they are exactly as you just described, evocative photos, right?
Jabari: Yeah.
matt: Thank you.
Conor Fowler: I have questions here about like, can you remember the first really good photo you took?
Jabari: Yeah.
Conor Fowler: I mean, do you have, does that exist?
Jabari: Yeah. I don't know about the first. Yeah. Yeah. I remember the first picture that I really took that i really liked. um It was years years ago when I was maybe like 21. It does exist. I can i can probably find it afterwards. But um when I was like 20, 21, it was just um speaking of fashion. It was at like some local fashion show.
Conor Fowler: Yeah.
Jabari: um And I just brought my camera. And I remember um you I was just kind of learning like um using like SLRs. um like so like Sony was like just getting into like um professional grade cameras at the time.
Conor Fowler: yeah
Jabari: It's so funny because like now they're like you know really like top class. But um I just got a Sony and I snapped a picture of this. I snapped this side profile of the model. and i and i remember it um And I remember just looking back at the picture when I got home.
Jabari: I was like, oh, this is good.
Conor Fowler: yeah Yeah, that's exactly it, right?
Jabari: It's good. and and and And it felt, it it was the um it was the first time, least in like my young adult life, I felt that i looked at a picture I looked at a picture I took and it felt like I was looking at art.
Jabari: so So, yeah, I'll say that's probably, yeah.
Conor Fowler: Damn, that's it.
Jabari: Yeah, so that that stuck with me. So yeah, yeah. With that being said, I appreciate the kind words. And you know I know sometimes it's easy to self-deprecate. So I do believe, I've always believed the talent was there. And like my my friends, um one of my closest friends who's a really talented, um creative, and and photographer, he doesn't shoot as much, but um he's always told me, people always tell me, like, yo, you got the talent. So i definitely think it's there. But of course, you know,
Jabari: You got to have the the work ethic, the persistence.
matt: Thank
Jabari: And I think that maybe that's where I didn't, maybe that's where I kind of um could have been a little bit better at it.
Conor Fowler: It's not an autopsy, right?
Jabari: So yeah, yeah, yeah.
Conor Fowler: Because how old are you?
matt: you.
Jabari: So what do you say?
Conor Fowler: how old are you?
Jabari: Oh, 33. 33.
Conor Fowler: Yeah, dude, you got fucking plenty of time. what are you talking about?
Jabari: Yeah.
Conor Fowler: That's like...
Jabari: Yeah. So, so, but so that's it. And, and I did, um, and just to bring to close, I did freelance for a couple of years. Um, so it was just, um, and it and it was, it was paying the bills. What I found myself doing though, uh, I found myself getting a pigeonhole because I was taking a lot of, um, work that would get me paid, which was corporate headshots, corporate headshots.
Conor Fowler: Well, dude, that's the that's the that's the whole game, right?
matt: Oh yeah.
Jabari: Yeah. yeah Yeah. And I was doing, um, I was doing e-com, e-com product photos. Um, and then, um, yeah.
Conor Fowler: It's like the shit that pays the bills is not the stuff you want to be doing.
Jabari: Yeah. Yeah, so I was doing that for a couple of years, and I kind was like, I don't want to be doing you know corporate headshots and Ecom lay flats. of Like, whatever.
Conor Fowler: no. no but The last thing that I will say about this is that you are not... not justified in having a separate photo Instagram, right?
Conor Fowler: Because when I saw that you have an outfit Instagram and a photo Instagram, i was like, oh, that's a good idea.
matt: Thank you.
Conor Fowler: Like, can you back this up? Yes, you can. The outfits are good. The photos are good. It makes sense to have them separately. You know what I mean?
Jabari: Yeah, no, no, for sure. No, I appreciate it. And yeah and granted, yeah, who who knows? Like, I was never really... cock So, like I said, when I first started the outfit page, it really was just supposed to be a separate... It really was supposed to be us just a separate place to literally...
Jabari: Like, nothing else, nothing more. Like, it was like, just want to show y'all what I'm wearing. And, you know, anybody who may get annoyed at seeing my outfits on the timeline every day... I'm going to put him on a separate place so you don't have to see them.
Jabari: And, you know, whoever wants to follow along, wants to follow along. Of course, like the idea of like like um the idea of like gaining followers and, you know, getting good and brand deals, which I still don't have.
Jabari: ah But like that wasn't even a thought. Like I i didn't even think.
Conor Fowler: neith neither Neither do we.
Jabari: i Yeah, I didn't.
Conor Fowler: so
Jabari: Yeah, I didn't think I didn't think that can even be a thing. So. um So, yeah. So, no, I appreciate it. So, yeah, it's it's been it's been awesome. It's been fun.
matt: Fuck yeah. How much photography you are you doing these days? Do you go shoot stuff every week? What's the consistency?
Jabari: Yeah.
matt: what's a consistency
Jabari: Yeah, no, I wish it was better. um I'll say now, um I'm definitely probably like every, I'll probably say every couple months. um So, but but that's been a goal of mine, just to be a little bit more consistent. um even just Even just doing more passion, more passion work.
matt: Oh,
Jabari: So, um that that that's been the goal. So, to get to get back to shooting monthly. So, um I got some stuff lined up um actually next week. um and And that was just more, and and that was just more just me being more intentional about the about the practice and the craft.
matt: guys
Jabari: but Because I do love it. um the same way The same way I like sharing my clothes, is like if i if I never made a dime, I would have not enjoyed doing it. So, yeah. Thank
Conor Fowler: Cause these black and white photos are great. I mean, not as a like, uh, whatever, not like the other ones are shitty, but, um, they really are like, and so they're the way the pictures are supposed to be, you know, make you like, think like, Oh my God, this is a person with an entire life.
Jabari: you.
Jabari: Yeah. no
Jabari: Yeah, yeah, no, absolutely, yeah. Portraiture is something i i really i really love, so absolutely.
Conor Fowler: when So many people suck at that.
Jabari: yeah
Conor Fowler: So many people take terrible, terrible, terrible portraits.
Jabari: Yeah.
Conor Fowler: So like, i don't know. it's It's something you got to go with, you know?
Jabari: No, ah thank you. No, thank you. I genuinely appreciate it. It's really meaningful on the words of encouragement, so thank you.
matt: Yeah, of course, man. Of course. Jamal wanted us, he added this question to our kind of template. But, you know, you mentioned just wanting to show your fits and not really, a like, taking it seriously.
matt: But, you know, the the online spaces are kind of kind of overrun with with people touting themselves as professionals, ah clothing or otherwise.
Jabari: Yeah.
matt: Like, how do you think people can tell the difference between, like, a paid influencer and kind of like someone that just loves what they're doing.
Jabari: Man, that's a great question. i don't know... I don't know how to like, if I can come off like really like, um if I can add anything like really deep to that. Because of course, like there's like the really surface level stuff in terms of, in terms of um like, yeah, like if they disclose this to pay that or they've been seated closed and like that. But when when it comes, but when it just comes to like telling someone who's like really um like passionate about it,
Jabari: I think, i don't know. I just think it's just a certain authenticity and a genuineness. You can just pick up um just from a way a person dresses, the way they talk about it, the way they interact with it, um more more than anything. um If you just ask, don't know if I'm just getting a lost in the question. If like, how do you tell the difference? um Because i don't I don't necessarily know if everybody has that in them. I feel like I do.
Jabari: Like, i could just i could just i could just see I could just see where someone is like, you know,
matt: Right. Right. Yeah. Right.
Conor Fowler: the bullshit kind of detector.
Jabari: Yeah, like, I can just see if someone's, like, really about it um or if it's, like, just, it's just a hustle. and and And that's the thing with a lot of industries now. You know, people always, like, I hear, like, sometimes people, like, talk about that parallel with, like like like, rap music where it's, like, oh, like, man, like, a lot of these new artists, like, don't really have a passion for for the genre or the craft.
Jabari: It's just a hustle, like, you know, because they found out they can make a catchy song and upload. They don't need a label in it. They can upload it. And, you know, and and and I feel like um fashion influencing has become the same thing and a lot of things like that because the reality is is um once money, clout, whatever you want to call it, gets involved in anything that that that may start off as passion or you know, hobbyist, it just dilutes it.
matt: Thank you.
Jabari: And, you know, I can't be mad anybody making income, but that that's it. So, you you get you yeah, when you see when you see guys, like, you know, when like when they're copying and pasting looks from, like, lookbooks or other influencers and just, or whatever's trending.
Jabari: Like, I don't want to see the 30th guy tell me how to do the Ralph tuck. Like, I was like, you know, like, like, I don't want, like, like, it's,
Conor Fowler: Yeah, that's so... Yeah, my God.
Jabari: like yeah
matt: Yeah. Yeah. It's, it's kind of a funny thing.
Jabari: it's
matt: Cause like, like me and Connor and maybe yourself, like we found, you know, the, the kind of online menswear community early in its heyday.
matt: And now like, you know, that was probably 2008 10, right?
Conor Fowler: Yeah.
matt: And like 16 years on, we're just laughing ourselves, which is kind of ridiculous. And I don't know, like, I understand the people that, that like, oh, these are three brands you should know. And I've known about them for 20 years.
matt: You know, I understand that, that I am not the target customer, but it's still kind of annoying.
Jabari: Yeah. Yeah.
Conor Fowler: Are there still people who don't know about these things though? I mean...
matt: Right, right. Like, a Levi's 501 doesn't need a video in 2026.
Jabari: Yeah.
Conor Fowler: yeah
matt: There's plenty of, like, go on Reddit. You can find fucking whatever you want to know about a Levi's pair of jeans.
Jabari: Yeah, like for sure. Like, I mean, you, you don't need someone to tell you that a jeans and a white t-shirt is a, is a good combination.
matt: Right, right.
Jabari: It's just, and I agree with you. I think it's just, um, yeah, like I may not be the target audience, but you know, it, I guess just to say all that, it just makes it much harder. The people online, they still exist, but it just makes it much harder to cut through and find like more like-minded people.
Jabari: Cause said, it is, it is everybody trying to compete for attention and clicks lot of time. And even, and and even the people who may have started out, um, like what real, like just genuine, like hobbyist intentions, Like once once once they realize like, hey, I want to make some money or some get some get some advertisement brand partnerships, they might start chasing um chart chasing the things that kind of, you know, it's just, you know.
matt: Right.
Jabari: So it is what it is. I say, you know, you can either own like the de Corny t-shirt line that's carried at every Walmart and and and make lots of money. And you can also um have the niche boutique that only if you know, you know.
matt: Right.
Jabari: i don't think i don't think either either one is wrong. it's just that It's just a kind of different approach. um I guess.
matt: Yeah, for sure. For sure.
Jabari: But yeah.
matt: And like it, for me coming out of like the music scenes that I've been into and like the music genres that I've been into music and clothing has never been separate for me.
matt: And for a lot of people I know, it sounds like it's kind of that way for you too. like And I feel like it's like modern online clothing discourse. It's basically like your favorite group getting signed to a major label.
Conor Fowler: Right.
matt: You know, like it's it's not as lucrative probably as as it was in the 80s or 90s, but like it's the same kind of shit.
Jabari: Yes.
matt: And you know, like you said, everybody has to get paid. I'm happy for people that can get paid to do what they want to do, but know, it's not always the most often <unk> or the most authentic, most most authenticity driven type of thing.
Jabari: Yeah, absolutely. But yeah, I'll i'll end on a positive note. there There's still some really great people doing some really cool stuff quote cool stuff online.
matt: Oh, totally, totally.
Jabari: I would just, um shameless plug, but i like i mean when I found Conor's page, i was like like when he started following me, I was like, damn, this dude dresses really nice and cool and interesting.
matt: Ha ha ha ha ha.
Jabari: i was like But it was just like, it like damn, like why has this never, like this this his page has never like got suggested to me before. It's never showed up it's never showed up on my algorithm, my feed.
matt: Right.
Jabari: So it's just like so that that's what I mean.
matt: Right.
Jabari: Sometimes it's just it's just harder. It's just harder to like like to find like you know the stuff you want to see sometimes. So, yeah.
Conor Fowler: Because my captions are too sad.
matt: Yeah.
Conor Fowler: The algorithm weeds them all out.
Jabari: so
matt: Well, like, I mean... I kind of don't, I feel like it's the same thing as like when I found my first, you know, clothing message boards and was like, oh shit, other people are into the same stuff.
Jabari: Yeah.
matt: Or like I learned about new stuff.
Jabari: Yeah. Absolutely.
matt: Like it's, you know, our little ecosystem that we exist in, like the show and all of our friends that we've had on, like, it's not about being cool. It's about just like being nerds about clothing.
matt: So
Conor Fowler: Well, it's about it's about not doing it alone.
Jabari: absolutely
matt: yeah, that, that also, that also.
Conor Fowler: You know, and i think that's like a big part of it is like, we have all these people who are obsessed with these kind of idiotic things, and we are together in that.
matt: Yeah, it's...
matt: Right. We're still a community and we we are building community or trying to, you know.
Jabari: Yeah.
matt: That's the goal.
Jabari: hundred percent.
Conor Fowler: So how does not a quote, and this is your quote here, quote, not a fashion person end up in the Wall Street Journal style and fashion section?
Jabari: Yeah. That was, um, a very simple thing. Um, also, ah yeah, yeah.
Conor Fowler: that's like Everything is a simple thing. Yeah.
Jabari: I know. i wish I, sometimes I wish I had more complex, um, like cool stories, but, um, Much gratitude to my guy, Charlie, um did the journalist. Literally, he just he just found my Instagram page and was like sent me a quick message.
matt: so
Jabari: I like the way you dress. um And I'm writing an article um about you know i think so it's about how can men just kind of jazz up um simple outfits with simple swaps.
Jabari: And I want to hear some of your opinions. And that was it. And the funny thing is, um that actually was the second time, the second time I've been solicited um for a journalist, um like like to contribute.
Conor Fowler: but
matt: Thank you.
Jabari: But I learned my lesson. So the first ah um
Conor Fowler: Yes.
Jabari: so the the first time, um another journalist, um pretty and pretty well-known one too, actually, um but um had reached out to me, um had reached out to me. They was writing an article on Todd Snyder at the time, just like last year.
Jabari: And they found my Instagram page um and you know it was like, hey, um you know like the way you dress, I see you have some Todd Snyder pieces. I'm writing a, um continue can you offer some opinions?
Jabari: like I'm just gathering opinions from people. I was like, sure. And I think i i think when I did the interview, i was a little like i think I was a little too honest or maybe harsh or something. And then I ended up not making it into the final article.
Conor Fowler: Ha ha ha ha.
matt: Yeah, yeah.
Jabari: but
matt: Well, dude, you gotta be honest, you know?
Jabari: but yeah
matt: like, yeah.
Jabari: So, uh, so, so when my, when my guy Charlie reached out to me, I didn't, um, and so I was still excited, but I didn't think nothing of it.
matt: Yeah.
Jabari: I said, might not even make it to the, um, said, might not even make it to the publishing, but, um, but but But that was it. So no, literally like, um so that that is the beauty of, um you know, social media has its downsides.
Jabari: That's one of the beauty of it. So literally um the journalist just found me um organically um and just, yeah, I said, hey, I think I like the way you dress and ask my opinion. So that was a really cool, that was just a really cool moment.
Jabari: So I'm really happy.
matt: Oh, fuck yeah.
Jabari: Yeah, got I got the hard copy at the house.
matt: Nice. As you should. as you should.
Jabari: Yeah.
matt: like yeah you know like um love that answer, too, because you're giving your actual opinion instead of a paid-by-the-brand opinion about a brand.
matt: like that's That's fucking great.............
Jabari: Yeah.
Conor Fowler: We're always trying to find clips for the show, right?
Jabari: hey
Conor Fowler: We're forced to find clips for the show. And so we're trying to shoehorn things into little clips of time, but that's a good clip, right?
Jabari: yeah
Jabari: Yeah, and yeah and and to be fair, just to all, ah like, whatever makes it, but I'll say, and and I wasn't, and I i love Todd Snyder.
matt: Totally. Yeah,
Jabari: i I still have, I've i've actively purchased new Todd Snyder pieces this year. I didn't say anything, like, horrible. I just think when I actually saw what the article actually was, it was legit, like, a Todd Snyder puff piece.
Jabari: Like, he actually, like, so I was like, ah said oh, I can see why he didn't want to include what I said, because I i saw the article.
matt: yeah. Yeah.
Jabari: They actually interviewed Todd Snyder himself for the article, too. And so I think they were only looking to include like people praising it. and so And I did praise the brand. I'll take what I said.
Jabari: It wasn't that bad. I think I made a joke. ah and And granted, and I'll also say it's Ty Snyder in the last like year and a half, two years, I think it's gotten has only ascended. like The style and the clothes, it's so good. But I think I had jokingly said that um when I first saw Ty Snyder, I thought it was an overpriced J. Crew, is what I said.
Jabari: yeah so
Conor Fowler: I can imagine them not running that.
matt: I'm going to say...
Jabari: but
Conor Fowler: I mean, that's an astute observation though.
Jabari: but
matt: And I'll go...
Jabari: But
matt: will go on record and say you're not wrong. not wrong.
Conor Fowler: Yeah.
Jabari: but I meant that, but I meant it in a po and i said some other thing about i meant in a positive way. I meant that that wasn't positive, but I meant it in terms of like how the brand, how I saw the brand evolve and how I saw it grow on me.
Jabari: But I i think like, i yeah.
Conor Fowler: It's a perspective thing, right?
Jabari: so i So I think I said like little lines like that. It was like, yeah, maybe we just won't include this. So yeah.
matt: I mean, honestly, like one of one of our like goals for this show is to
Jabari: Yeah.
matt: yeah I don't want to say wage war with like the menswear media, but it's kind of to wage war with the menswear media and do things that are like, different.
matt: Like, I don't, I don't want to talk to, you know, this person that I've been seeing on blogs for the past 15 years.
Jabari: Yeah. Uh.
matt: Like, I want to talk to people like you that are just like into the shit. We can, you know, we can get in the weeds and like figure out how we all came to this like little niche subculture and that's it. Like, that's what it's about. It's about, you know, about, about just talking to normal ass people that are cool.
Jabari: Yeah, man, no, seriously, I'm honored because like said, I don't take nothing for granted, especially like said, I have a pretty small following. So like I said, when win win what went when people when people reach out to me, i.e., the Wall Street Journal, um you know y'all, it's is's always just its it's always just humbling, me I always appreciate it
Conor Fowler: for now.
matt: It's fun.
matt: Well, it's also fun. Like, oh, this this thing that I'm into that like, maybe not everybody in my life is into, like, is getting some recognition.
Jabari: Yeah.
matt: That's dope.
Jabari: Yeah, yeah, absolutely.
Conor Fowler: So you have a picture of these really trashed Birkenstock, I think they're Boston's, is that right? ah Do you think that what is up with that?
matt: Shit.
Conor Fowler: I mean, you took, did you that was that a series of photos of stuff from your wardrobe that you had worn to death or like that was one off?
Jabari: yeah yeah Yeah, those are my actual Birkenstock bosses.
Conor Fowler: And, and so you would figure those are probably the ones you've worn the most.
Jabari: so Yeah.
Conor Fowler: Cause those are really, really trashed.
Jabari: Yeah.
Conor Fowler: Cause I might have like kind of my house shoes. I don't wear them in a rugged manner, but if you really put some work on them.
Jabari: Yeah, no, no. yeah Those are trash. So yeah't yeah, those are my actual bosses. Funny thing is i'm actually wearing a newer version of those today. So, but um like not not not the thrash ones you see in the picture, but yes.
Conor Fowler: Yeah, they're sick.
Jabari: they Yeah, I know. Ballsons was definitely, um yeah, just, the ah already sorry I don't, sorry, I'll let you ask the question, but yeah yeah, the third to thrash Ballsons, I love those shoes. um ah That's one of my, that's one of my go-tos that I've been wearing for years and years and years. um And one of the ones i I was like, I had the pleasure of getting to made fun of like when I was younger for wearing. It's called like potato shoes and something like that.
matt: but Potato shoes.
Conor Fowler: Yeah, they that they've called the students have called them my white man shoes.
matt: Fuck yeah.
Conor Fowler: I mean that the Wallaby is the white man shoe. The Boston is the white man shoe. They're both. But it's like, ironically, like these kids don't get it. Kind of. I think like the whole Wu-Tang aspect of the Wallaby is foreign to them and like they don't give a fuck about Wu-Tang anyway.
Jabari: Yeah.
Jabari: Oh.
Jabari: Yeah. Oh, dude. I mean, i always like go off these lists out, but yeah that just reminded me of like a funny story. So um you you might see it in one of my outfit pictures, but I have this i have this um this modified Braves hat.
Jabari: um we're um So the Atlanta A's at, it says Andre for Andre 3000. And it has like that hat.
matt: Oh, hell yes.
Jabari: And it has the outcast emblem on the side, but I was wearing that hat um like literally last week and I was like outside walking through this park and it was like these group of like little like white kids. And um and literally, they stopp like so i was like I was trying to get past them, said, excuse me. And they stopped and looked up, they said, is your name Andre?
Jabari: And then, so, and I didn't realize I had the hat on. So I thought, I thought it was, i thought it was like some weird, like racist joke or something. And I was like, so so I just paused. I was like, I was like, no, I said, no, my name's not Andre. And then like in that moment, in that snap second, i was like, oh, what this hat I have on.
Jabari: So i was like, oh no. I said, you asked him because of the hat? And it was like, yeah. So I said, yeah. Oh no, no, Andre 2000, the rapper um from Outkast. And I pointed to the Outkast and he said, we don't know what you're talking about.
Jabari: and So that just remind me what you said, like, they're, like not having out a connection from, um like, with Wu-Tang. So it just, ah yeah, so that was it. And I just realized, like, these young, like, they could have been, like, no older to like, 10. Like, they was like, Outkast, what are you talking about, sir?
Jabari: that That's always, and like, that's always, like, those good monikers when you realize that you are now growing older when um when you have, like, those disconnects.
Conor Fowler: Right.
Jabari: You had those same disconnects you had with the younger generation. i was like, oh, you don't know Outkast is? Yeah.
matt: Yeah, yeah.
Conor Fowler: Right.
matt: And i really I really hope that at least one of those kids finds Outkast at some point and is like, yo, this is my world now.
Jabari: yeah
Conor Fowler: But who knows? I mean, I feel like it's so bizarre, like that distance. Like I can't really imagine I don't know, maybe I'm inflexible.
matt: I mean, have to say that I've got hope for younger generations because of what I do. I meet, you know, 14 to 19 year old kids that are into cool clothing, like vintage clothing. And a lot of them are also into like, you know, the history of, of like hip hop or punk or metal or whatever. And like, there's hope out there.
Jabari: Yeah.
matt: I'm not, you know, I'm not one of these old man yells at cloud type of people. Like I can be that, but overall, I think there's, there's a chance that some of these kids, like, you know, one of those kids might remember that interaction.
matt: And then, you know, being like, hey, dad, do you know who Outkast is? And their dad is like, yeah, let me show you this shit.
Jabari: Yeah, yeah. And I, i to to, yeah, to double down on what you said, I think it all depends on the kids too, but hopefully more because I just think like, you know, at least when I was growing up and, you know, and maybe, maybe, maybe the generations before, and and maybe that might not be the younger generation.
Jabari: Maybe it is. But, like, we we we just had such an interest to, like, to learn about old stuff. Because a lot of stuff, because a lot of stuff I love, it was it was before my era, but it was just, like, man, I i just, I just wanted to learn.
matt: Yeah.
matt: Same.
Jabari: Like, i was, like, digging and, like, trying to listen to, like, to old, like, Muddy Waters and Ray Charles, and I wanted to listen.
matt: Oh, fuck yeah.
Jabari: Right? I, like, we were, like,
Conor Fowler: Where were you finding it?
Jabari: Man, like, the so granted, I'm fortunate enough to be like, I'm of the age, like, i experienced the early days of the internet. So ah so early, her early, early mid internet, on for sure.
matt: Right.
Jabari: Like, early YouTube. And then, you know, of course, i grew up with on with with baby boomer parents saying and, you know, my grandparents. So on records on red records in the house, man.
matt: Yeah!
Jabari: all brett Records in the house and my dad's CD collection. You know, we he we had everything. we had everything.
Conor Fowler: I just didn't know if you weren't going to the library.
Jabari: So...
Conor Fowler: That's where I went to get a lot of shit.
Jabari: No, no, man.
Conor Fowler: and I mean...
Jabari: I wish I wish I was a case. And then just the old record shops, man. We go to the old record shop and little file points um like Wax and Facts. ah
matt: Yeah! Wax It Facts!
Jabari: Yeah. Yeah. That was there when I was a kid. Yeah. We used dig through the Wax and Facts crates, man.
matt: It's still there, it's still awesome.
Jabari: Yeah.
matt: Yeah, I've been shopping there since, like, 1999, 1998, something like that.
Jabari: Oh, sweet. Yeah. So, yeah, you know the vibes then, man. So, yeah.
matt: so yeah, dude. I mean, honestly, like, going back to Atlanta, little five points.
Jabari: Yeah.
matt: i So, I worked there for a few years in the neighborhood. Love hanging out in the neighborhood sometimes, but, like, it's definitely... It's definitely like the only neighborhood. And I guess East Atlanta, to a point for nightlife, is like the only shit that's remained constant for me.
matt: like it's It's the two neighborhoods where you know what you're going to.
Jabari: Yeah.
matt: these places Most of these places have been around forever. Minus the nine vape shops that are in east night or in a Little Five now.
Jabari: Yeah.
Conor Fowler: the scourge.
Jabari: Yeah. And Lil' Five, when I was growing up, was was so much more radical than what it was now.
matt: Yeah, it it definitely is.
Jabari: And I'm talking about like, yeah, like it it was straight emo golf, like 100%, like the them the makeup, the spikes, the platform boots.
matt: Yeah, yeah like like I will say now it's kind of like where you know tourists from the suburbs come down for to be in ah in a weird neighborhood for a weekend.
Jabari: Yeah.
Jabari: Yeah.
matt: But like I'm also not mad at i'm not mad about it.
Jabari: Yeah. It's cool.
matt: like it's It still keeps its
Jabari: Nah,
Jabari: yeah ah Yeah, I love it. And yeah and just to um also, what you asked Connor, what I will say is, um well would i would say I would think, um if anything, the younger generation now is is even at a bigger advantage just because of like like just because of like the the internet and streaming.
Jabari: no i'm say you You just have so much access archives, so much access to two archives.
matt: Yeah.
Jabari: like so much easier access to archives that that you know if If you want to if you want a deep dive, you you can pretty easily,
Conor Fowler: Yeah.
matt: Yeah.
Jabari: for sure
Conor Fowler: Because my brother listens to tons of old stuff, like, and he's 22. Um...
matt: I mean, my my buddy Matt was talking about his daughter this weekend, who's 15, and like she loves all the shit that he and I grew up on.
Conor Fowler: um
matt: And is super into finding like old music and old clothes and like just being into you know Kind of like all I think all of us were growing up. like We loved a bunch of stuff that our parents or our grandparents had gone through and and enjoyed. and like it it found us. And then like now we're those people.
matt: Which is wild to me. I'm 42. And like i don't I don't feel like I should be an elder at this point. But I guess I kind of am.
Conor Fowler: I mean, yeah unfortunately, that's how it happens, I guess.
matt: Yeah, right, right. Yeah, I try not to, like, be mad at the, at the like, Gen Z wearing Y2K stuff. I'm just like, okay, you do you. Hopefully you figure figure out this looks terrible.
matt: um So what a what brands do you gravitate toward? I noticed a lot of, like, Double RL, Polo, you know, a couple of others in your FitPix.
Jabari: Yeah, yeah. Lots of... Got on Double RL as we speak. um
matt: Nice, nice.
Jabari: Yeah, so...
matt: It's good shit. It's always been good shit.
Jabari: Yeah, no, no. Double RL has always been cool. um Just expensive as hell, but um it's always been cool, though. And then, course, like, kind of seeing like its rise from like maybe five, six years ago, I'll say it was definitely like more of a, if you know, you know brand.
Jabari: And now and now it's kind of like all over the place, but I'm not one of those people who like, if something that I used to like, that was a little bit more niche becomes cool.
matt: Right, right.
Jabari: Like, Oh, like I hate it. It's just like, you know,
matt: ah No, no, no, no.
Jabari: Yeah, it's it's cool. So, but no, Double R-L, that's always like a tough question because like, um I don't know, like, i don't know if like, yeah, let me just name them. Cause i was like, i don't know if i have a bunch of like, I don't have a bunch of like really favorite brands, but it's definitely stuff I just wear a lot.
matt: Yeah, let's go.
Jabari: But Double R-L, I really like. Of course, polo, just, just really great stuff. I like, um I actually really like what Ralph Lauren as a brand has been doing the last couple of years in terms of like, I think that they they have aged gracefully um into like making like contemporary stuff um that's still like really true to the brand.
Jabari: So like they're really cool. um
matt: Totally.
Jabari: Some newer stuff, I'm a huge fan of um Story, Story MFG. um I think they're based out of UK, but like a lot of that, they're really oversized um the really oversized like like knits and pants.
Jabari: um like the natural dyes made sustainably. I think i think that's her whole ethos. But StormFG, I really like. um ah Surprisingly enough, I'm no shame. I like a lot of big-ass mall brands.
Jabari: um i I like J.Crew a lot. J.Crew, I always say, is some of the best traditional menswear on a budget.
matt: Yeah, totally.
Jabari: But yeah, J.Crew, like Madewell, I really like.
matt: Totally. Yeah.
Jabari: um I love COS, COS COS. It's really, um really cool. um And then, yeah, just, I don't know. was trying to think.
Jabari: um Big New Balance person. Love New Balance. um That was like my introduction. like When it came to like with my love for sneakers, really love it. um So, yeah. um And then, yeah, I guess, i and i I also, I get a little gorpy.
Jabari: I like a lot of outdoor stuff, too. I love Grammichi. Love Grammichi.
matt: Oh yeah, yeah.
Jabari: Love Grammichi. Like Arterics a lot. um Yeah. Yeah, I mean, I could probably... I could probably keep going. I'm trying to think about what's like a bunch of stuff. I also want to be mindful of just like yapping.
Jabari: But...
matt: No, no, no.
Jabari: I try...
matt: We loved it. We loved it. Yeah, my friend.
Jabari: Yeah, yeah. Yeah, I just try to think like what like what I might have um a lot of. But those are off the top my head. So ralph Ralph Lauren, Double RRL Polo. Yeah.
matt: Yeah, yeah.
Jabari: Story with G. Yeah. Yeah.
Conor Fowler: It's a good list.
matt: It is a solid list.
Jabari: yeah
matt: ah
Jabari: yeah
matt: random Random question, but what's your favorite New Balance shape?
Jabari: Man, that's an excellent question. Thank you for asking that. The 990, hands down. 990, specifically the version 3, is my absolute favorite all time.
matt: Oh, hell yeah!
Jabari: And then in the 990 family, 993s, I really like. And then I'll say a close runner-up. used to have a bunch of them, but got rid of all ones I had.
Jabari: But I really like the 998s,
matt: Oh yeah. The 998 is my top.
Jabari: Yeah, so, yeah, yeah, so yeah, but yeah, not not not the whole 990 series, but 990 version 3 is like my top, so yeah.
matt: Uh, yeah.
matt: Oh, absolutely. Yeah. I've got a, uh, uh, I've, I've got two pairs of 998s. Uh, one that I thrifted years ago, one that a friend, my friend found that like tease your max that are essentially my house shoes at this point.
Jabari: Yeah.
matt: Like, and like I wake up, I throw them I go out to smoke a cigarette. Like, Yeah, the colorway ain't great, but they're so comfortable.
Jabari: Yeah. Oh, and granted, just backtrack. was trying to come with man. Oh, shout out. um Also, Samuel's the League, I really like. um A lot of the folk art stuff. i was like, I said, what else? But I just wanted to um say that because I really like a lot of stuff they're doing.
Jabari: um And also um like Capital, capital um Cardo, um um like um and then Cardic Research. So I just wanted to, those brands also really like. just
matt: Oh, yeah.
Jabari: what I wanted to think of, I said, dude, there's some contemporary stuff I really like. I named all those like old heritage, but it's some contemporary stuff really like. But those brands are also just really, um really amazing um stuff too. So yeah.
matt: Fuck yeah. Yeah. That's a, that's a good, a solid list from like top to bottom.
Jabari: Yeah, yeah, absolutely. So, don't know. Go ahead.
matt: All right. So our, uh, our last question we've been featuring, and sometimes we forget to feature cause we're, I don't know, just scatterbrained, but, what are you wearing in the apocalypse?
Jabari: Like, it's just, like, my final days?
matt: Yeah, like like like the world is ending and you've got to figure out a way to survive.
Jabari: Oh!
matt: What are you going to throw Not a bad to do.............
Jabari: If I got to survive, um I'm definitely just going like full on like urban hiker. um So, yeah.
Conor Fowler: Hell
matt: not bad not a bad thing to do
Jabari: Yeah, i'm go I'm just going to go full on urban hiker, man. So, I got these pretty, I got, yeah, i I'm throwing the hiking boots.
Conor Fowler: ah yeah.
Jabari: I've been wearing the same pair of like Gore-Tex Solomon hiking boots for like the last like 10 years. I'm going to throw those on. They saved my life when I was hiking in Hawaii.
matt: Oh!
Jabari: I went off trail and started sliding down the rock. Thankfully, I had those on. They say they kept me afloat.
matt: Holy shit!
Jabari: The hiking boots.
matt: Yeah.
Jabari: ah so yeah so the hiking boots um may and then maybe all just meant Maybe some good maybe some good like um all weather pants so we'll with throw on like some some nice um you know nylon pants if I had to name a brand, I got i got a couple of Grimichi pants that I like.
Conor Fowler: Mm-hmm.
Jabari: um Big, big flowy and water repellent. Yeah. And then a nice... We'll throw in the Andre Braves hat for for good magic.
matt: No, fuck it. Yeah. Man, Jabari, this has
Jabari: yeah so so yeah um Whatever is Gore-Tex. A combination of Gore-Tex and Morshaw Wiccan. So... um If you would have caught me maybe 10 years ago, the answer would have been um little bit more fashion forward. But as I as i like as i creep into older age, as much as I love clothes and looking cool, I definitely find myself prioritizing function and comfort.
Conor Fowler: Hell yeah.
matt: man jaar this has been fucking awesome, dude. Thank you.
Jabari: Yeah, no, thank you.
matt: ah
Jabari: um Yeah, I didn't know if I should have talked a little bit more about like actual like fashion and style takes. but ah
matt: no, we we like to talk about whatever comes up. Like, you know, we we do a little template of questions and sometimes we get to all of them.
Jabari: okay
matt: Sometimes we get to four of them and yeah, we just like seeing how the, you know, the interview progresses.
Jabari: no No, that works. I think how own Jamal found was all was from the Buck Mason post. That's how he found me. So I was like...
Conor Fowler: yeah right
matt: Oh, wait, wait, wait, wait. Hold on. We got to talk about this. You mean the infamous jazz without black people, Buck Bass and Post?
Jabari: That's how he found me, yeah. So he he saw...
matt: there Dude,
Jabari: Yeah, because i posted I posted some stuff on there, and in that and that's when he was like, he's like, yo, like, I was... like, would you be down to the podcast so I can, like, he'd, like, shoot your opinions?
Conor Fowler: here
Jabari: was like, if you want, sure. where
matt: right. Well, let's let's to to go off on ah on a fun
Jabari: But...
matt: Let's go to war with the menswear industry note.
Jabari: Oh.
matt: He actually added that to our doc. So let's talk about that shit.
Jabari: Oh.
matt: What the fuck is my first question?
Jabari: Yeah?
matt: Yeah. Like what?
Jabari: Yeah, I don't know. Yeah, I don't know what the deal with that was.
Conor Fowler: It doesn't surprise me at all.
Jabari: um yeah So...
matt: I mean, it doesn't and I don't I don't know anything about the people that own Buck Mason, but.
Conor Fowler: I was doing some research today. It's two people, i believe from the Midwest.
matt: Yeah, and like...
Jabari: So...
matt: Okay, yeah, let's hear your take, Jabari.
Jabari: So, yeah, so I guess what garnered his interest from my original... what from my original reply, um or my like my like my thoughts on it, was because a lot of people saw it at face value and just reacted. um And then so, and rightfully so.
Jabari: It was just like well like, I kind of did a little digging. um And now when I say digging, I just look through the comments. And so if you see in the comments, like you'll you'll actually see you'll see the creative the creative directors tagged in there. You'll see the choreographers actually tagged down there. people So when I started, so I started actually looking And I saw that the actual, cause so the consensus was everybody was like, oh my God, y'all did a jazz ad with no black people.
Jabari: Like, shame on you, shame on you.
matt: Right.
Jabari: And that that that thought is actually, I understand it. Jazz is a jazz is a is a black art form, black music, um especially during that time period. um like I'm saying like that like that's what it was created about, so i understand that.
Jabari: so So I was just kind of doing a little digging, and then when I actually went on the choreographer's page and everybody else, and then i actually saw, i was like, oh, this doesn't even have anything do with jazz. And I'm talking about for Buck Mason.
Jabari: It does have everything to do with jazz. the I saw the actual ad itself was inspired by this nineteen forty s film called Buck Privates, and they took...
matt: Okay. Right,
Jabari: And they took, and it's an exact, and you can look it up, um post the conversation. i actually have, I think I still have the video up on my actual threads account. But it's a dancing scene from that movie when they're doing like the Lindy Hop, the swing dancing.
Conor Fowler: Mm-hmm.
matt: right.
Jabari: And that and that that exact movie and that exact scene was the the mood board, the inspiration for it. So when I saw it that, I was like, oh, like this is interesting, but this is also kind of weird. because I was like,
Jabari: you like Y'all chose a segregation era film like but like yeah So like, so so if anything, so so granted, so when I wrote like when i wrote my comment, ill just like I was just like, hey, like i don't think everybody's feelings wrong, but I said, i was like, hey, picture this.
matt: Yeah! Yeah, exactly!
Jabari: What if y'all are mad at them for not considering the origins of jazz? And a i said, what if I tell you, I don't think they ever gave a fuck about jazz music. this was there like they They just saw they they saw white people twisting and hopping in the 1940s segregation era film with an all-white cast, and it was like, yeah like yeah it's yeah, this is the inspiration right here.
Jabari: And and what what makes it even, because what makes it even weird is like, I was like, man like they stayed so true to form that they chose to make sure that the casting was accurate.
matt: Jesus Christ.
Jabari: So...
matt: So, yo, that this ah this is so much worse than I thought it was.
Jabari: so
Conor Fowler: Dun, dun, dun.
Jabari: so so yeah so it Yeah, so that that was it.
matt: Holy shit.
Jabari: so i just So when I saw it, I was just like, man, i was like i was like man that's just really weird. So i was i was just saying as i was like so to bring it to a close, I was like, man, I said, I think are giving it too much credit.
Jabari: I don't think they even care about they um they't care about jazz music. it was just It very much just was an act of like, we don't care. we We don't care how this looks, how this represents, how this lands with people.
Jabari: Like, you know, so, and and and that was my biggest thing.
matt: yeah
Jabari: And, you know you know, when you start talking about the conversation of privilege and all those things like that, but I'll say, out that I was saying is that that's quintessential what it is. is like It's like, we don't care. We don't care how this lands with everyone.
Jabari: Like, we're just going to, we're going to do it.
matt: Right, right. We just want to make money.
Jabari: So, Yeah, so yeah, that that was it. So it it was definitely insane. It was weird. And I'll end with this. I mean, apparently i mean apparently they feel they kiss the about they could survive the backlash.
Jabari: I mean, I feel like they doubled down on it. they they dated Not only did they not take not only they not take the ad down, they just continued posting like nothing ever happened.
Conor Fowler: They did.
Jabari: So it like so I mean, you know do it do with that what you will.
matt: Right, right, yeah.
Jabari: um I would never let a brand get me that outrage. I mean, if if I don't want to... purchase and support a brand anymore, then I won't. But I mean, I'm not going to like, you know, write a bunch of soliloquies about it, but it just, um, yeah, it was, it was a thing.
matt: Right, yeah. and so It's just, it's yes fucking, um it's absurd that this is happening in the year 2026. And like,
Jabari: Oh yeah. No, it was, it was a thing.
matt: you know like
Jabari: It was a thing.
matt: You remember the the, I think someone commented on that post, but like, do you remember those old Gap Chino ads from like the late 90s?
Jabari: Yeah.
Jabari: Yeah.
matt: You know, that had more representation and and it was fucking almost 30 years ago than like this kind of bullshit has.
Jabari: Yeah.
Jabari: Yeah.
Jabari: Yeah. Yeah. So that that was it. And it sucked. And then, you know, and then I guess it just kind of shows because I saw i saw a lot of people who was, um, I saw a lot of people who outraged in the comments. Um, as as as soon as Buck Mason was hosting another in-store event, they was there.
matt: Yeah, yeah.
Jabari: So, so it so it just, so it kind of, so I think, you know, you know,
matt: Yeah, right, right.
Conor Fowler: No shit. No shit.
matt: yeah i i on I'll never go to a fucking Buck Mason in my life.
Conor Fowler: Yeah, I've never been to Buck Mason either. I'm
matt: I was already not going to a Buck Mason. This just tells me that I'm on the right track.
Jabari: So, yeah, if anything, it just kind of, you know, what we kind of just talked about, you know, earlier in the conversation just about, you know, people were just trying to get paid and exposure is like, oh you know, just brings back full circle.
matt: Yeah.
Jabari: So it's all good.
matt: Yeah, yeah.
Jabari: you know, I mean, no...
matt: is' it's It's not, but it is. It has to be you know?
Jabari: no No, no, no. Not all good with that. Not all good with they did, but it's like, it's kind of whatever because, you know, I have a couple bookmakes and pieces. um But, I mean, they're not doing nothing spectacular.
Jabari: I mean, it's just a bunch of village um vintage military reproduction. So, I mean, of course, like, you know, in they they they' they've blown up off of, influencers and the lifestyle marketing, but I mean, ah it's okay.
matt: rightot Right, right.
Jabari: I mean, I've already seen enough like white dudes like in baseball tees, baseball tees and motorcycles. Like, I mean, you know, I guess, I guess for someone that's like, that's aspirational, I guess.
matt: Yeah. Yeah.
matt: I commented and i I very rarely comment on anything, um but I commented on that post and was, and don't, I don't.
Jabari: fifty
Jabari: do mean don't Oh, before you answer, um did you do it from the Rebel Rogues account?
matt: Yeah, I did. Yeah.
Jabari: Oh my dude, I saw it, dude.
matt: Okay.
Jabari: That, oh, dude, that comment was legendary. Like, that thepart that the de zoot suits.
matt: Yeah, there's the zoo suit with the ah attachable hood.
Jabari: that With the hood.
matt: Yeah, like, I just, like, I can't abide this shit.
Jabari: Yeah.
matt: And I, you know, that's honestly one of the most liked comments I think I've ever had. it's It's so fucking funny, but I was just like, don't know, I was a little stoned and I was, i' had watched that video like four times and just like trying to wrap my head around it and then was like, I gotta put, I gotta roast these guys.
Jabari: yeah
matt: who Who knows if they see it or not, but I feel better they're about doing
Jabari: Yeah.
matt: So,
Jabari: Dude, that that comment was legendary. so um it' Anyway, yeah.
matt: yeah Nice. Nice.
Conor Fowler: you
Jabari: So, great. and I know y'all was wrapping up. I just made a pivot. So, I'll let y'all bring it to a close.
matt: No, no, that's awesome, man. That, that, uh, dude, that, that gives me like, I don't know. Like I have a huge smile on my face because that's, that's funny that you mentioned that comment.
matt: Anyway, uh, dude, this has been fucking awesome. Yeah. You're going to have to be a regular guest and and we'll just shoot the shit and, you know, kind of hang out, hang out for an hour or so.
Jabari: Yeah. Dude, man, yeah, ah yeah i'm I'm happy to, um you know, if you'll have me back, I'm happy.
matt: But, uh,
Jabari: um I can definitely, I can definitely um a little bit more, um you know, clothing focus or whatever you want to talk about um if if i if I add any value.
matt: Oh.
Jabari: But did this is better this is definitely, yeah, but you know this has definitely been fun.
matt: You add plenty of value.
Jabari: So um I'm grateful to y'all. I'm definitely grateful um to Jamal for actually like recommending me and plugging me. So thank you to everyone. So it's been cool, man.
matt: Hell yeah. Well, tell everyone where they can find your impeccable fits and your great photography.
Jabari: Yeah, yeah, absolutely. So outfit, so just how you spell outfit, and then Abasi, A-B-A-S-I. So at Outfit Abasi, you can find all of my fits. Yeah, just my online outfit diary. I don't know if I'm going pivot into content any day, but for now, you just get to see pictures of my outfits. And then at Jabari Abasi is my personal page, or where you see my photography. So that's, if you find one, you find other. tagged in the bio. Yeah.
matt: Fuck yeah.
Jabari: Yeah, so yeah follow yeah, follow along, man.
matt: Fuck
Jabari: Follow along if you if you if you want to. I appreciate anybody who shows love. um Yeah, and if you want to see if you want to see like some cool like um outfits without without a bunch of layers, I'm not a good at layering.
matt: yeah.
matt: Yeah. Yeah. Well, yeah you you should definitely give Jabari a follow.
Jabari: I get better at that.
matt: He's got fucking great fits and has cool taste. And
Jabari: Thank you. I appreciate it.
matt: Yeah, it's been a good time. um Everyone, thank you for listening. I am Matt Smith at Rebels Rogues.
Conor Fowler: And I am Connor Fowler at Connor Flower.
matt: And we are at Apocalypse Duds on Instagram, apocalypseduds at gmail.com. If you want to send us an email of any sort, ah rank us on whatever your platform is.
matt: Like, leave a review if that's a thing.
Jabari: you
Conor Fowler: Yeah, give us a rating or leave us a review or something.
matt: Yeah, yeah, yeah. we're We're trying to build this and tell your friends if they like, I don't know, clothes, random shit, music, subculture, et cetera, to give us a listen.
matt: we're We're trying to, you know, try to grow this shit. But ah yeah, we appreciate you listening and we will see you next Wednesday.
Conor Fowler: Ta-ta.
