I caught up with the enigmatic, soon-to-be mogul on a sunny afternoon at a sandwich shop in Goldpond and discussed a wide variety of topics including how the world has changed after his โhiatusโ, the future of fashion, and his goals for 2023. The original version of this interview was published in the January issue of Trendsettia Magazine. Parts have been condensed forย clarity.
BB: I noticed the waiter looked surprised when you asked for no sauce. You didnโt even want it on the side. Is that a new thing forย you?
WLP: It is. They all know me here, and I usually ask them to bring tubs of that shit. Itโs a special house mix. But Iโm trying to form a new relationship with excess. Iโm told this year is going to be a big one for me. There will be big swings, so Iโm trying to learn to love things without the extras attached.
BB: You made me second guess my choice to keep it onย there.
WLP: Itโs your first time, so you gotta try it. Itโs some good shit. And first timeโs areย sacred.
BB: Career-wise, itโs hardly your first time in the position youโre in. I think Iโm going to come out and ask the question weโre all dying toย know.
WLP: Yeah, whatโsย that?
BB: What do you say to people who doubted youโd ever return to this position?
WLP: I know everyone wants me to come out and have some big declaration. Like, โfuck all yโall Iโm coming back for whatโs mine.โ But, I just donโt have it. There were hard times, for sure. I thought we werenโt going to make it back. But Iโm glad people can recognize what I offer in this moment. Iโm just going to keep going. Keep offering.
BB: I have to admit, I didnโt see your return happening the way it has. I was one of your doubters.
WLP: Thatโs how it goes. Canโt really blame you. Iโve had plenty of time to let all that shitย go.
BB: Is there anything you would do different?
WLP: I think around that time I kept getting lumped in with the term โBaggyโ and that contributed to so much of the image I ended up having. It was easy for me to seem unclean and unprofessional because of that wordโฆ โbaggyโ. I think I would have learned more about branding andโโโyou know what. Nah, thereโs nothing I wouldย change.
(At this moment, he stops his meal and looks off in the distance. I could tell he had more to say about the question.)
And you know, obviously hip-hop culture made me who I am. But the truth no one talks about is that at the timeโโ that post-Y2K timeโ the Wide Leg brand was universal. People in office were utilizing the cut on national TV. Corporate America had full belief in us. Dads all over the country were just used to the idea. Incorporating me was a seamless idea for most folks back then. But everything is cyclical, so of course Iโm back now and the young people are embracing meย again.
BB: That feels like that thing they say in design where โgood design is invisibleโ. Everybody was embracing you, and utilizing your brand, but they werenโt acknowledging who was responsible. Gift and the curse. Thatโs so different than now, when if something is hot you will get the credit, but maybe to your detriment. Is it easier to deal with that notoriety now?
WLP: (Laughs) I mean, even today people still donโt know Iโm the same guy from their parentsโย era.
But shout out to blue collar folks. The outdoor sports folks, too. Even though they arenโt the biggest placement and donโt have a ton of influence, those industriesโโโindustries like construction, catering, and postal workers were rocking with me even through the down years. Dickie is still one of my good friends to thisย day.
BB: But even he started going in the other direction.
WLP: Yeah. But the game is the game. You gotta adapt. Me and him still stayed close to the point where I didnโt feel it was just on some industryย shit.
BB: What did you do during the downย years?
WLP: Started a family, learned some new languages. I mean, I was still working. Projects with more niche collaborators. But I was focusing on the simpleย things.
BB: I wanna go back to something you said before. Which is that you had time to think about what all this means for you. Do you have any big picture thoughts about where the shift started? Why it happened?
(Nearby where weโre sitting, thereโs a newsstand. At this moment, WLP put down his fork and pointed at one of the tabloid magazines. On the cover was Sensay Mathesin, one of the biggest rappers in the world, crossing the street in a fashion-forward outfit.)
WLP: Yeah. That guy. Itโs really thatย simple.
BB: Care to elaborate?
WLP: I mean, we all know of his musical influence. But I think everything shifted when he made it cool to appear proper. And then Taper came along under that wave. Tape is a cool dude, and I respect him. Weโve only had a few interactions, and every time it was cordial. But when you get a co-sign from one of the biggest artists in the world, it moves timelines around.
Tapeโs run opened the door for dudes like Cuff. Then eventually you get guys like Jogg, Track, & Lounj. All guys that came from the Skin-E camp. All the while, Levi was doing his thing with the 501 movement. Then the big houses get involved, and you start seeing collectives like Techpack have their fun,ย too.
And then the trickle down effect is too much to stop. The rest isย history.
BB: Youโre spot on. But thatโs funny. What does it feel like to have that same artist co-sign you so many years later? Thatโs gotta feel good,ย right?
WLP: It is what it is. The behind closed doors-ness of it all makes most of these things seem like it was some huge Come-to-God moment. But he liked what I offered and I gave him what I gave him. I donโt really know if thereโs much else to say. Heโs got a pretty deep fixation on the future, and I think he thinks I fit into those plans, but Iโm just trying to stay here in theย moment.
BB: Well, then. If you wonโt indulge in some extra sauce, indulge me a bit elsewhere. Whatโs the future hold forย you?
WLP: Ohย gosh.
BB: I mean it in terms of the big picture. I can sense you donโt have an attachment to the spotlight anymore. You are as laid back as they come. But you also seem to know exactly how and why your run ended last time. Do you care to stay put this time or are you okay fading awayย again?
WLP: Well. Fame is fame. Itโs going to come and itโs going to go. I should know that better than anybody. But thereโs only so many ways you can act in the spotlight. I had the spotlight at a time when it wasnโt cool to have the spotlight. It was when I was outside of the spotlight, where I realized you can act however. Thereโs a freedom that Iโm glad I got to experience. So Iโm just going to keep honoring that freedom if people will have me in this currentย moment.
(Laughs) I guess thatโs a longwinded way of saying โIโm just gonna beย meโ.
BB: Is that self-branding part of the business planย now?
WLP: In some ways. But itโs really just the life plan. In embracing myself, I think I can embrace what I offer. And itโs silly to say, but what I offer is room to grow. Room to make mistakes. Iโm a guy who wants to take it easy most of the time. Who knows how difficult work can be on somebody. So what I offer is more roomโฆ for myself andโโโyeahโโโI guess the brand, too. More room around thoseย ankles.
And Iโll add: I think weโre in a time where people just want to open it up. You should be able to do that. You shouldnโt have to get it right on the first try. You should want the open comfort and the most fabric to get you from one place to the next. Itโs hard enough getting up someย days.
BB: I think thatโs exactly why the culture is gravitating towards you now. In all my research, that seems to be why everyone wants to work with you in thisย moment.
WLP: So yeah. If thatโs my mark on the world, well Iโm glad I was consistent. I helped two generations feel like they didnโt have to be too buttonedย up.
(Shortly after this, a butterfly landed on the edge of our small table. We sat in silence for a beat as WLP took a long moment to watch the butterflyโs wing movement.)
BB: This sauce! You werenโtย lying.
WLP: Itโs good,ย right?
BB: Phenomenal. Okay, so Iโve been struggling with a title for this interview. But now that Iโve talked to you, Iโm curious what you think. Iโm gonna throw some options at you, if thatโsย okay.
WLP: Sure thing. Hitย me.
BB: โThe Open Expanse: The Enduring Cool ofย WLP.โ
WLP: Eh. Not bad, but a bitย much.
BB: โDonโt Hate the Tailor, Hate theย Gameโ
WLP: Catchy and effective. Iโm not mad atย it.
BB: โRelaxโd Fit: WLPโs Comebackย Seasonโ
WLP: Sure,ย sure.
BB: Okay, and hereโs the last one: โReturn Of Theย Mackโ
WLP: Also veryย catchy.
BB: Well?
WLP: I think you should go with your gut. Itโs your interview.
BB: Youโre not gonna help meย pick??
WLP: Oh, no. I canโt. I trust you to make the right choice. Iโm just happy to be involved.
BB: Well, that settles it, Ladies and Gentleman. Thatโs WLPโs way of telling me nicely that Iโm doing too damnย much.
WLP: (Laughs) I think youโll figure itย out.
Got an appetite for the scoop? Subscribe to Trendsettia Mag today so you can tune in next month when we unveil our other exclusive interview with Critical Thinking Portion Of Test. Sheโs got a lot of thoughts about why sheโs ripe for this moment, and how everyone who overlooked her will regret thatย choice.