We Interviewed Le1f About Basic-Ass Bitches

It's New York Fashion Week, and Le1f just released one of the most fashionably sexy and fun mixtapes that we can think of. His latest shit is called Fly Zone, and it will make you rub your butt on people and get rubbed on by other people's butts, which is the goal of life.

We got Le1f on the phone for a quick chat to see what he's been up to for NYFW. Here's what he had to say:

VICE: What sort of participation have you had in this year’s fashion week so far?

LE1F: This year has been pretty low-key for me so far. I was hoping to go to the (sounded like Meatball party, let’s hope that’s what he said), but I missed it.

In all the previous Fashion Week events that you’ve participated in, what’s the weirdest thing you’ve seen? Has there ever been a fashion-week freakout that you witnessed?

Freakout? Hmmm. Well, I kinda like all the weird shit. I’m really into menswear, and like almost not-wearable, not-ready-to-wear shit. I love to see stuff that’s made of like latex or rubber or has crazy patterns or is just weird and fun.

It seems like in the world of fashion—at least the little of it that I’ve witnessed—people take the clothes and themselves so seriously. Have you ever been at a fashion event where maybe someone showed up and created a “happening” and just busted the place up? I’d be so tempted to do that. Just show up at some fashion shit and go insane.

No. Not really. No one in my scene has ever really gone off. Surprisingly.

Your new mixtape, Fly Zone, mentions “basic-ass bitches” a lot. What do you think makes a basic-ass bitch?

You know, it's a bitch who wears broke shit. Like really typical, Macy’s ad, Payless shit. Or they try to wear something cool with something dumb and end up looking like a basic-ass bitch. Newport News shit.

What is the closest you’d come to wearing sweatpants outside? Like what’s your version of leisure wear?

I will definitely wear sweatpants outside. I still wear sweatpants.

What about pajama jeans?

Pajama jeans? What the hell are pajama jeans?

They’re a thing. They look like jeans, with the stitching and the pockets, but they’re really sweatpants.

That’s gross.

Do you ever think it’s OK for lesbians to wear fedoras?

I don’t think it’s OK for anyone to wear fedoras. I wouldn’t pick on lesbians for doing that, but nobody should be doing it. The worst is actually straight folks who'll come out with these fedoras with really wide brims that sit up high on their heads. Not OK.

Who do you think would win in a fight, Beyoncé or Rihanna?

Damn. Shit. I don’t know, I feel like Rihanna is more scrappy. But Beyoncé has those thighs. Are they fistfighting? Because I feel like if kickboxing was involved, Beyoncé would win. But if it was like straight-up fists, Rihanna would win.

Why do you release your mixtapes for free? Is there a reason?

To be honest? Nobody’s gonna buy that shit. I mean, I think I own like five CDs that I actually paid for. Everyone’s always gonna download shit for free, so you might as well just give it to them. And I think it’s a culture thing. Like my culture knowledge came from the internet and $2 mixtapes from the street. So I think it’s more about playing live shows, at least in my scene right now.

The first time I saw you perform was actually during this past CMJ at the Terrible Records showcase. I was there with my gf and we had just started dating, and it was the first time I’d seen her dance. From the minute you came on until the minute you left the stage, she was doing these amazing rubber-leg dances and rubbing her butt on me. Thank you.  

[Laughs] Yeah. A lot of people have their first times with me.

@WolfieVibes