I'm hip-hop in my own way, so there's no need to push myself too hard.
But, even though you are friendly to such hip-hop royalty, C.O.S.A.'s attitude is neutral, isn't it? There are many people who aim for a stereotypical image of rappers because they like hip-hop.
I know it sounds like a big thing to say, but no matter how hard I try, I'm still hip-hop, so there's no need to force it. No matter how loudly anyone says "I am hip-hop! I'm the hip-hop one, no matter how loudly they say "I'm hip-hop! So it is as it is.
So you don't have to act like a rapper.
I mean, I'm nothing but a rapper. In a good way and in a bad way.
But I think people will call it realistic.
I appreciate that, but that is not my intention at all.
What do you think about the current hip-hop scene, where fresh music and sharp styles are coming out one after another, while the hype game tends to be more exciting on the fashion scene?
It's true, it's like a battle of the big-name brands. It depends on where you draw the line for "hype. I see people in the U.S. now wearing brand-name products with logos on them! That's not really a White Street. In that sense, UK fashion is probably the White Street.
In recent years, the collaboration between "Avilex" and "PALACE" has become a hot topic. That was a symbolic epiphany that Avilex was also part of the grime trend, wasn't it?
Yes, that's right. I feel that the guys in England also admire them. The Millions were wearing "Avilex" last winter, and I was so excited. They bought it when they went to the U.S. for recording and wore it. It was so fresh.
-I think the output of such individuality is simply fresh and surprising.
After the big-brand competition, rappers stopped thinking about how to make fashion look good. It's the same with ski masks, for example. It used to be a game where everyone had to work hard to create a fresh look using cheap materials available in the naves, but now it seems as if all you have to do is just wear the cheapest thing. But it was a lot of fun when leather jackets from Avilex came out in a lot of different colors, maybe two years ago. Dave East was wearing green, Benny the Butcher orange, everyone was wearing different colors of "Avilex.
Hip-hop was originally more on the side of youth culture, but nowadays, freshness of image is becoming more important than age, isn't it?
Yes, I do. I don't think age has anything to do with it. It's simply a matter of talent. In terms of myself, I am conscious of rapping in a way that is appropriate for my age.
So, do you have any negative feelings about getting older as a rapper?
Not at all. When I see rappers who are over 40, I'm rather looking forward to it.
[Claire] Avilex!VARSITY JACKET "TORCH & LAUREL" ¥59,400(Avilex Shinjuku Store), other personal items of the stylist
-I'm looking forward to it. Can you tell us about your immediate vision and plans?
On November, I will be touring the country for the first time as a solo artist. The tour will start in Fukuoka, followed by Osaka, Nagoya and the final stop at O-EAST in Shibuya. We are planning to release some music before the tour. The single has already been mixed.
-Can you tell us a little bit about the new record before we actually listen to it?
The song is about rappers. As I said earlier, I think rappers are the coolest and the strongest, so I made this song from various perspectives. I made this song from various perspectives. It is about what I think are the coolest rappers, what influences me, and what I have to think about and do as a rapper.
For the listeners, the new songs and the tour will be the first opportunity to see C.O.S.A., the "Occupational Rapper," in person.
Indeed. It is a step you have to take in order to grow as an artist as you get older. Everyone else on the label is doing it ahead of me, so I have to work hard too.
