Lauren London Honors Nipsey Hussle & Their Love Story In New Puma Campaign
Last year, the world lost a legend. Not only did the rap industry lose an iconic wordsmith, but the Los Angeles business world lost one of the most philanthropic entrepreneurs that ever touched the game. As much as the world lost when Nipsey Hussle was tragically murdered earlier this year, Lauren London and the rest of the Family Hussle lost even more. In her latest campaign with Puma, Lauren paid tribute to her longtime partner in a touching video that will give you all the feels. In the video, the 35-year-old mother of two recites a poem written by Nipsey's sister, Samantha Smith. The poem reads:
"Pain is the light, pain is insight. The body hurts but the spirit grows. The flesh is starving while wisdom overflows. I got a question only Lord knows: Does life birth us twice?"
In September, Puma released their posthumous collaboration with Nipsey Hussle's brand, TMC, and their latest project with Lauren was developed to "signify the continuation of her marathon" with Forever Stronger.
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While Lauren is making moves to secure a bag and a new beginning after her longtime partner's death, the actress says she still hasn't had the time or space to truly process her loss. In a recent article published by GQ, Lauren revealed that one of the hardest parts has been seeing their three-year-old son, Kross, grow up without a father who loved him so dearly:
"I can't talk about our last day together, and I still have to be strong for my children. I have a three-year-old that's still asking, 'Where is Daddy?' He doesn't understand the concept of death."
Although Lauren couldn't bring herself to talk about the last time that they spent together, she did share that he bought her something that they both loved before he passed:
"A couple days before he passed, he bought me three books. One was a book about parenting. He loved 'Power vs. Force'. He swore on that book and got a lot of game from it. I mean, between he and I, we damn near had a library."
In her interview, Lauren also gave us an in-depth glimpse about what really went on behind the scenes of that iconic GQ shoot in Crenshaw:
"We were in the bathroom putting on our clothes, and all of it was music-video, model-esque clothing. I'm like, 'I can't fit in anything, I'm overweight.' This was the first time I was taking pictures after the baby. And he's like, 'You're beautiful, I'm gonna make this work. Don't trip, Boog. Keep your energy up.'"
She went on to confirm that Nipsey was exactly the type of man we all thought he was—the kind who was there to both make her tea and make her feel beautiful at moments of insecurity.
"So he comes out and was like, 'We gotta get her right.' So they set up another fitting for me, later that day. Me and him stayed in the area, went out to eat, and sat in the car and talked until the fitting. I'm all nervous like, 'I hope these clothes fit.' He was so supportive—like making tea for me—and he sat through my whole fitting. Every time I would come out in new clothes, he would clap: 'Look at how fly you look. You gonna kill it.'"
I don't know who's cutting onions in here, but if you want to check out the full clip, click below. Just make sure you grab a few tissues first, sis.
PUMA x Lauren London "Forever Stronger"youtu.be
Featured image by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images
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Taylor "Pretty" Honore is a spiritually centered and equally provocative rapper from Baton Rouge, Louisiana with a love for people and storytelling. You can probably find me planting herbs in your local community garden, blasting "Back That Thang Up" from my mini speaker. Let's get to know each other: @prettyhonore.
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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Sheila Rashid's Androgynous Approach To Unisex Clothing Is A Lesson In Embracing Individuality
The ItGirl 100 List is a celebration of 100 Black women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table.
For Sheila Rashid, it all started with some free-hand drawings and a few strokes of paint.
The Chicago-based clothing designer and creative director of Sheila Rashid Brand recalls using her spare time in high school to hand paint designs on t-shirts and distressed hoodies, distributing them to classmates as walking billboards for her art.
Rashid sought to pursue fashion design at Columbia College in Chicago but eventually took the self-taught route to build upon her knack for crafting one-of-a-kind, androgynous pieces.
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Thanks to the mentorship of local designers taking her under their wings, Rashid was able to gain valuable experience in putting together collections and creating patterns; equipping her with them with the necessary skills to pursue her own collections.
After two years of living in New York, Rashid returned home to the Chi and uncovered the unique flair she could offer the city. “I moved to New York after that because I wanted to be in the fashion capital world,” she tells xoNecole. “That's when I really got a leg up. I found myself when I moved back to Chicago after moving to New York.”
For the Midwest native, inspiration comes from her time around creative peers and the city’s notorious winters — known to be a main character in many Chicagoans stories. “It's a different perspective and mindset when I'm making stuff because of the weather here,” she explains. “When we get summer, it’s ‘Summertime Chi’ — it's amazing. It's beautiful. Still, I find myself always making clothes that cater to the winter.”
"I moved to New York after that because I wanted to be in the fashion capital world. That's when I really got a leg up. I found myself when I moved back to Chicago after moving to New York.”
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Many designers have a signature aesthetic or theme in their creations. In Rashid’s design story, dancing between the lines of femininity and masculinity is how she’s been able to distinguish herself within the industry. Her androgynous clothing has garnered the eye of celebrities like Zendaya, Chance the Rapper, WNBA star Sydney Colson, and more — showing her range and approach to designs with inclusivity in mind.
“I think I do reflect my own style,” she says. “When I do make pieces, I'm very tomboyish, androgynous. My work is unisex because I feel like everybody can wear it. I cater to everybody and that's how I try to approach my clothes.” From denim to overalls, and color-drenched outerwear, Rashid has mastered the structure of statement pieces that tell a story.
“Each collection, I never know what's going to be the thing I'm going to focus on. I try to reflect my own style and have fun with the storytelling,” she shares. “I look at it more like it's my art in this small way of expressing myself, so it's not that calculated.”
"My work is unisex because I feel like everybody can wear it. I cater to everybody and that's how I try to approach my clothes."
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Still, if you were able to add up all the moments within Rashid’s 20-year career in design, one theme that has multiplied her into becoming an “ItGirl” is her confidence to take up space within the fashion industry as a queer, Black woman. “Being an ItGirl is about being yourself, loving what you do, finding your niche, and mastering that,” she says.
No matter where you are on your ItGirl journey, Rashid says to always remain persistent and never hesitate to share your art with the world. “Don’t give up. Even if it's something small, finish it and don't be afraid to put it out,” she says, “It's about tackling your own fear of feeling like you have to please everybody, but just please yourself, and that's good enough.”
To learn more about the ItGirl 100 List, view the full list here.
Featured image Courtesy