Drum: COVER FEATURE
Dandy
Andre 3000 was named as best-dressed man in
official: the hip-hop dandy has arrived.
If Andre 3000 is the dandy highwayman of the Gentleman’s
Movement, Bentley is the straight-edged, tweed-clad fundamentalist.
He lives this shit. Bentley’s sudden celebrity has opened a number
of doors for him – he has been a reality TV star (on MTV’s Making
Da Band 2), an entrepreneur (with a range of ludicrously expensive
bespoke umbrellas on sale from his Mr Bentley website), and is
making inroads into the music world. But, he is at pains to point
out,“…I am not an MC. I am not a rapper, I am a renaissance man.
You have to create a whole new category for me. What I do is
dissertation over instrumental.” We have been told.
However, it seems only fair to mention at this point, the true pioneer
of the gentleman’s movement. A man who was rocking this style
years ago, and was met with only ridicule and derision. Andre and
Farnsworth may have taken the look overground but, in the 90s, only
one man had the guts to stay true to his vision of true style: Carlton
Banks, we salute you. Don’t listen to what Will and Hilary say. They
are just jealous; you will always be the man.
So, throw away those Timberlands, burn all your denim, and take that
stinky old beanie down to the charity shop. Drum would like to take
you by the hand, and educate you in the way of the modern dandy.»
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