Tyler The Creator kept it real at Converse Creative All Stars Series event in London

Tyler, The Creator was the surprise guest at Converse's Creative All Star Series event. During a conference lasting over an hour, the artist answered fan questions and discussed all the hot topics surrounding him.

BRAND CONTENT FOR CONVERSE | ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN FRENCH ON YARD.MEDIA

On February 13, 14, and 15, Converse gathered the creative forces orbiting the brand in London for a special event, the Creative All Star Series. These were structured around three main themes: "LEARN," "CRAFT," and "CELEBRATE," with the aim of allowing everyone to unleash their imagination. Attendees had the opportunity to rework the Pro Leather model through various workshops led by British designers Feng Chen Wang and Eastwood Danso, exchange ideas with Stéphane Ashpool and illustrator Wu Yue about their creative processes, and let loose at parties hosted by rapper Octavian or the Nigerian skate crew Motherlan.

But such an event would not have been complete without Converse's number one figure in 2020, Tyler, The Creator. Fresh off winning Best Rap Album at the Grammy Awards, where he delivered a breathtaking performance, the 28-year-old artist concluded a rich program with a conference in which he answered fans' questions. It was an opportunity for him to discuss his recent achievements, his perspective on the fashion industry, and (as always) the hypothetical reunion of Odd Future... Here are some highlights.

on his Grammy win and the ceremony experience:

"I'm grateful, but on the other hand, it’s exactly what I deserve. I know I’m dope. I know I’m full of talent. I know I’m fresh. [laughs] I already know all that. It took me a while to realize it and come to these conclusions, but I knew this was going to happen. And I’m already excited for the next ten years because I don’t know what I’ll be doing yet, but I know it’s going to be insane. That being said, stepping onto the Grammy stage and finally being recognized for the music I make, especially considering how much new music drops every day, felt amazing. That’s why I was so excited."

"But as much as I appreciated winning an award, I was telling my people before the ceremony that the only thing that truly mattered to me was my performance. Doing a show like that on such a big platform, getting the chance to perform an album cut… It’s not like I did 'EARFQUAKE' or some single—no, I picked track 6 from the album. And they let me do it. From that moment, my goal was to blow up the Grammy stage. And that’s exactly what happened. People talked about that performance more than any other that night. I didn’t want to just do a 'good' performance in the way they define it, a performance designed to please everyone. I wanted to say: 'Look! This is what I think is fire!'"

on what he dislikes about the fashion industry:

"The race for limited editions and instant sellouts. Not everything has to sell out immediately—it’s also cool when clothes are available and people can actually get them. A lot of brands release pieces in just ten copies just so they can say they sold out."

"I also don’t like reselling. It’s getting out of hand. It used to be fine, but sometimes I’m just like, 'Bro, why are you reselling that? Those are some used boxers!' [laughs]"

"Red carpet events can be fun, but I find it ridiculous when people wear outfits that aren’t really theirs just for the event. They want to look amazing in clothes they would never actually wear otherwise. And then, when the event is over, they have to return them… Just wear your own clothes! What’s the point of showing up in a Gucci dress if it doesn’t even belong to you? You’re just lying to people who see you in that outfit and assume it’s yours because that’s what you want them to believe. It’s so ridiculous—just show up in a T-shirt!"

on a possible Odd Future reunion:

"There’s a 9 out of 7 chance it’ll never happen. I’d be open to the idea, but I think everyone has moved on, and the people asking for a new Odd Future project are just being nostalgic, without considering if it would actually be a good idea. We don’t necessarily need a Bad Boys 5—even though I liked the last one. The Odd Future tapes are still out there, so if you miss them, just listen to them. And honestly, those tapes weren’t even that good. We just had fun making them back then. But musically, we could have done better. They were good for their time, but today… Plus, I don’t even know if our styles would blend well on a project now. But who knows? Everything could change in six weeks."

on how his environment influences his creations:

"Your environment shapes your tastes and a lot of other things. I remember that for the 2014 Golf Wang collection, I designed swim trunks. And I remember people commenting, 'Why are you releasing swim trunks in December? Idiot!' And I was checking the weather where I live like, 'Uh… because it’s hot as hell, are you stupid?' I was so in my own bubble that I didn’t even realize it was freezing in so many other places. Because I never see snow. So when I design my collections, I make shorts because I know the sun will be out in December. In Los Angeles, it’s always bright, the colors are super saturated, and I guess that’s why I love pinks, bright blues, etc. Same with my love for mountains or biking—it’s all I know. Maybe this is obvious to everyone else, but since I’m an idiot, I only realized it last week. [laughs]"

on drugs and alcohol:

"I never wanted to drink. It never interested me. Don’t get me wrong—I’ve been high exactly twice in my life. The first time was when I was 17, I smoked weed, and I was just like, 'This isn’t fun.' The second time was on New Year’s Eve 2010—I was in the studio, took a tiny piece of a space cake, like, 'Fuck it, this won’t kill me,' and that was enough for me to decide never again. To each their own, but it’s not for me. I have an addictive personality, so I feel like if I started drinking or smoking, it would be the end of me. And I don’t even want to, that’s the thing. When I see people after a night of drinking, crying about, 'I regret what I said,' I just want to say: 1- Don’t blame the alcohol, and 2- That’s probably exactly what you wanted to say, you were just too cowardly to be honest. I don’t want to be that kind of person, hiding behind alcohol—I’d rather tell you things straight to your face, sober, with no regrets."

on Fashion Week:

"Just my opinion, but I think Fashion Week is kind of outdated. That’s why I focus more on video when I reveal my collections. Because what is Fashion Week really? You spend tons of money, time, and stress for a seven-minute runway show in front of people who don’t really care and are just there to post on Instagram to show they were there. You fly people in from all over the world, and unless you’re Chanel or Louis Vuitton, it costs a fortune."

"For what result? Today, if you want to see a brand’s runway images, where do you go? [Someone in the audience answers: "The Internet."] Exactly! The Internet! That’s where everything ends up. So instead of putting on a runway show, I’d rather make a video where I bring the clothes to life in my own world, choosing the angles and details I want to highlight—things people might not even notice on a runway. It saves money, and in the end, the video goes to the same place as Chanel’s or Louis Vuitton’s runway clips. And I can control everything just because I chose not to follow these 40-year-old rules. It’s important to realize that even if it works for them, I don’t have to do the same."

on the labels people put on him in the industry:

"Throughout my life, I’ve more or less been rejected by many of my peers. And it never really bothered me because I was happy to do things my way. In fact, it’s what drives me. For example, DJ Akademiks never posts anything positive about me. That’s okay, I don’t care. Instead, I’ll go and land the cover of GQ or Fantastic Man. Rappers sleep on me? I drop Telephone Calls and prove that I can go toe-to-toe with any of these n****s. That’s what keeps me going because, at the end of the day, I’ve never really felt accepted—especially in rap. You say I don’t deserve my Grammy? I guarantee that none of the other nominees in my category could have stepped on that stage and delivered the performance I did. I can tell you that."