THE CULTURE AT COACHELLA: 11 Stylish Hip Hop Youths Tell Us All About The Festival Lifestyle
Hip Hop’s mainstream omnipresence in the festival space can be easily seen and felt with major acts like Childish Gambino and Kanye West headlining events originally rooted in punk rock. This festival season, we headed out to Coachella parties to get up close and personal with Gen Hip Hop to talk about their style, mantras, and The Culture.
Jesse Tre (23)
Son of Jam Master J + Co-Founder of Dope Roots from LA by-way-of NYC — Spotted at Rolling Stone’s Harvest House of Cannabis
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What festival look are you serving us today?
Velour is my style right now, so I had to do the chartreuse Palm Angels joints — shout out to my pops who made Adidas velour tracksuits a thing! I’m wearing a Jordan soccer jersey because I always gotta rock a Black brand, then I just went to Tokyo so I got these Bapes, and a Fear of God fitted to top it all off.
How does The Culture do Coachella best?
I feel like we DO IT and we’re HERE, and while we’re here, we’re working. We just bring our whole steez to it, and it’s a whole different feeling.
What is your Coachella mantra?
Be authentic.
Grant (29)
Model from Las Vegas by-way-of Nigeria — Spotted at Rolling Stone’s Harvest House of Cannabis
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What festival look are you serving us today?
I love Solange, and I’m very sad she’s not here for Coachella, but I love the Black Yeehaw Agenda so I wanted to represent my people today, and just go off! So I have on these white Ann Demeulemeester pants, a white Raf Simons shirt, this weird random brown leather vest from the thrift store, and I’m just gonna off, and I love it!
How does The Culture do Coachella best?
We’re all here to have fun! We’re living, chilling, happy and perfect!
What is your Coachella mantra?
Go off!
Venance (23)
Model, Mentor + Student from Washington D.C. via Cameroon — Spotted at Cash App Dome
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What festival look are you serving us tonight?
I was styled by Brownie Brown of High Fashion Thrift, a stylist from Alexandria, Virginia with all found vintage pieces from this amazing shop called Nostalgia, it’s all dope as fuck. And my jewelry is all original designs from TruFaceByGrace from the D.C. area.
How does The Culture do Coachella best?
The festival gives us all a way to express ourselves. Everyone is so different, we all have different styles and passions, so it’s is a great way to connect with eachother. Everyone is just so cultural, and I really fuck with that.
What is your Coachella mantra?
Just go with the flow. Just go, enjoy it, and see what happens. Meet dope people. That’s basically what my life is. You’ll never know who you’ll meet, or what kind of vibe you’ll get, so just go with the flow.
Allen (34)
Style Coach + Co-Founder of UpscaleHype from Houston — Spotted at Galore’s Desert Beauty Oasis
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What festival look are you serving us today?
Colors, you know, just something relaxing and colorful. I’m wearing a Dries Van Noten top, vintage tee and shorts by Issey Miyake.
How does The Culture do Coachella best?
Actually this is my first time so I’m just going to experience it!
What is your Coachella mantra?
Just do it big.
Broderick (28)
Model, Actor + Philanthropist from LA — Spotted at Nylon’s Midnight Garden Party
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What festival look are you serving us tonight?
I don’t put much effort into what I wear so tonight I went with a comfortable cool vibe. I was feeling care-free so I cut the collar off my Waikiki sweater so I could breathe a little better. I tuck in my jewelry, and these gold chains are sentimental to me so I never take them off, but they do always add a nice shiny little touch to any outfit. Diesel joggers and Chucks for a touch of personality.
How does The Culture do Coachella best?
From my experience we always bring out the best people with the best vibes. That’s what Coachella is really all about, energy. We’ve got that down pat.
What is your Coachella mantra?
You’re tired?! Hold on, let me get you something for that…
Levi (22)
Music Producer, Engineer, DJ + Model from Hollywood— Spotted at T-Mobile x Pandora’s Indio Invasion
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What festival look are you serving us today?
I put the Yeezy’s on, the 300’s, the blue ones. I got Ksubi skinny jeans with a few rips in them, and then I got a Cozy Tapes x Weedmaps collab shirt from their Coachella party two years ago. I’m weird and don’t believe in rules when it comes to wearing anything, so I have a gold hoop in one ear and a silver stud on the other, I just like to mix it up. I also got my first tattoo yesterday at a house party where Juice WRLD and MadeinTYO performed which is of four hearts. All my friends are making fun of me for it, but hey, I love it!
How does The Culture do Coachella best?
There’s a lot of diversity here. I’ve been to other festivals and they’re just not as diverse as Coachella. There’s a lot of free shit here too, everything’s free! Free water, free weed, free alcohol, everything you need! It’s all good vibes. At other festivals a lot of fights break out but here it’s all about positivity. Also there’s lots of beautiful women here, and the sun is out.
What is your Coachella mantra?
I just want to have a blast, live life, and not worry about anything. Whatever happens here stays here, there’s no rules.
Jayson (26)
Model + Actor from LA — Spotted at Zenyara
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What festival look are you serving us tonight?
I have a few new tattoos that I really wanted show off, and I’ve been working out as well, so I wanted to be able to still be fashionable, and show off the art at the same time. I have on this Helmut Lang shirt that I updated with this see-through camo print vinyl bomber jacket.
How does The Culture do Coachella best?
This is the crème de la crème. Everybody brings their A-game, from the production, artists, art installations, musicians who get to play, and the people who come out and enjoy it. Everyone puts their best outfits together, and that vibe creates a sense of exhilaration that we all want. This is how we all want to live, and we get to live it within these three days of the festival.
What is your Coachella mantra?
Just be free. Libre!
Kobe (21)
Fashion Photographer from Washington D.C. — Spotted at Cash App Dome
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What festival look are you serving us tonight?
Today I’m rocking a custom set by Ivan Kirzonov. Lately I’ve really been feeling the early 2000’s from the music, fashion and all around lifestyle, so I went for this whole look to pay homage to that era.
How does The Culture do Coachella best?
Hip Hop brings all types of people together and has expanded the Coachella audience. Our fashion, music, and events have influenced Coachella in a way that didn’t exist until Hip Hop took over.
What is your Coachella mantra?
One look per party!
Jie (21)
Graphic Designer from Washington D.C. — Spotted at Cash App Dome
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What festival look are you serving us tonight?
I’m serving COMFORTABLE tonight. We’ve had like three outfit changes out of the car today and it’s our last night, so I put together a look with pieces I borrowed from my girlfriends. Dressing is usually all about how I feel, so I felt the cutest in just a pair of baggy pants and a crop top, so I could just come and dance!
How does The Culture do Coachella best?
We just bring the whole vibe. We bring the style, the beats, the energy. It’s all there. When you’re in the presence of it, you can feel the energy. It’s just a good time.
What is your Coachella mantra?
Del Taco and GO!
Jay-R (23)
Creative + Engineering Student from D.C. by-way-of The Philippines — Spotted at Cash App Dome
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What festival look are you serving us tonight?
This is my go-to look with a snake print shirt, good fitting black jeans, and boots. I always go for a good silhouette. I have 10 total piercings, including my septum. I usually color my hair, so since it’s neutral, I had to go off on the earrings. I always need to accessorize and wear something eye-catching.
How does The Culture do Coachella best?
Hip Hop is all about self-expression. Just being out here being woke is an act of rebellion against those who are still sleep. While Goldenvoice may be affiliated with anti-LGBT and pro gun organizations, Coachella still gives us all a place gather so we can create own platform and support our own agenda. Don’t get it twisted, I’m still out here waving my rainbow flag loud and proud!
What is your Coachella mantra?
Tequila.
Jonathan (24)
Nomadic Creative Director based in LA + Portland, Maine — Spotted at American Express Platinum House at The Avalon
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What festival look are you serving us tonight?
I’m wearing Givenchy sunglasses, a T by Alexander Wang shirt, Rag & Bone jeans, and Givenchy slip ons. I think it’s important to wear jewelry with meaning and intention. My mom passed away when I was 19, and I’m wearing two of her necklaces, and a ring from her father. My head scarf is my other grandfather’s piece. When I wear their pieces it reminds me of family and home. To me, that’s everything.
How does The Culture do Coachella best?
Three simple reasons: cannabis, music, and fashion. I live between these three worlds. What I love about Coachella is that it blends these worlds together into magic. I like to look at art through a multi-disciplinary lens, and when you bring various facets of culture together new ideas flourish. Coachella creates an amazing space for artists, which is why it’s one of the most important cultural events of the year. The festival is great, but it’s the branded activations surrounding it that prove that The Culture really does do Coachella best.
What is your Coachella mantra?
This too shall pass. Have fun , but practice non-attachment. Coachella is a dream world — I love it for that, but when the lights turn off, and the brands head home, you should too.
