Androgynous “metrosexual” artist DPhill stands out among his hypermasculine peers in hip hop.
The usual masculine stereotype associated with hip hop music, is pretty macho. Guns, ‘hos, gangs, drive bys all feature heavily in rap and hip hop lyrics and imagery. That’s what makes DPhill (aka DJ Spanglish) a breath of fresh air. This 20 year old rapper, DJ and visual artist is different from a lot of men in rap/Hip Hop. He wears brightly coloured lipstick, vibrant shirts and bow ties, and sometimes paints his body and face in abstract patterns.
This fashion statement comes with a message and a thought-through set of beliefs. DPhill is the originator of the “XY Movement,” which aims to encourage everyone, especially men, to be themselves, and dress how they like, mixing feminine (x) and masculine (y) styles.
I asked DPhill what it was like growing up being a bit different from other boys. He said: “Teenage life for me was very adventurous. School sucked! I hated getting picked on for being weird. But I hung around cool people and made it through. I believe it was a major growth period for me.” The best aspect of teen life for DPhill, in his words was: “Sex! And getting a job, girls and freedom. Also finding good music was a great part of growing up. I love Kanye West, Pharrell, Kid Cudi, Outkast, etc. Amazing music!”
When I asked him if boys and girls have different problems/pressures growing up he replied: “Boys are usually pressured to play sports or do something extra in school. Girls have peer pressure problems from other girls such as weight, appearance and style. I think I’m slightly different from the average boy. My style is definitely androgynous, so that’s one thing that sets me apart.”
In his androgynous style, DPhill is a brave pioneer of open-minded masculinity. He is part of the small but great tradition of (mainly white) pop stars from the 70s and 80s such as David Bowie, Marc Bolan and Boy George, and more recently models such as Andrej Pejic.
This is why Mark Simpson identified DPhill as a role model for metrosexuality. He called DPhill’s XY movement “the metroseXY movement” and said:
“What I do think links this to metrosexuality is the way that DPhill (like Andej Pejic) is keen to assert that he is going to wear what he damn well wants to wear and to hell with what’s ‘appropriate’ to his sex. Or genre. Metrosexuality isn’t about androgyny per se but about accessorizing clothes and adopting products and practises previously considered ‘unmanly’. And in hip hop this look is really rather brave.”
I agree with Simpson and I think it is worth pointing out that as a young man who does not identify as ‘gay’ DPhill is particularly brave to wear make up and to stand out from the crowd. I follow him on Twitter, and as well as getting a lot of support and love he also is often criticised by other young people on the social media site, and called “gay” or like a girl. He stands up to that criticism and even wins some people over to his XY values.
DPhill is proud of his achievements so far, in particular: “Landing in Vibe Magazine! And having my face and name known world wide due to the XY Movement that I created.” His ambitions for the future are to “make Oscar winning movies, grammy winning albums, help the world, create crazy cool art!”
Finally when I asked DPhill what advice he would you give to teenage boys/young men reading this he said, “Do what you want to do , no matter who don’t like it!”
About Quiet Riot Girl
I applaud this young man’s view point.
It is good Dphill has social currency amongst the young, maybe with his status he will be able to spread greater acceptance of men wearing (what is now considered to be) women’s clothing.
I can think of 2 periods in history where dresses and trousers were part of men’s clothings, and men preferred to wear dresses.
1. Romans thought that general trouserswearing a sign of barbarism, sure might have to wear trousers in cold climates or for sometimes riding horses. But a dress (the tunic) and robes were the clothes of a civilised man. I remember a documentary saying that Germanics were the butt of jokes for their trouserwearing in Rome.
2. In Song China, floor length robes were the clothes of the aristocratic men. With trousers (an import from the steppe horseriding nations) and blouse for the artisans, labourers, soldiers, merchants etc. Wealthy merchants , particularly the new, preferred the dress of the aristocrat. p129 Gernet, Jacques (1962). Daily Life in China on the Eve of the Mongol Invasion, 1250–1276.
The polo shirt craze of a year or so ago, sold cos it associated and pushed images of the shirt as being desireable because it was the clothing of the elite, clothing of the wealthy, of exclusivity, of polo games, of luxurious living – It worked. Young men from lower income background bought into the association.
So one way to reset the social meaning of clothing is associate dresses and skirts with luxurious freedom from work, like the polo shirt advertising did. Advertising that depicts elite young men showing they do not have to wear trousers, as trousers are workwear – for those who need to work. If successfully advertised, Young men from lower income backgrounds would do as they did with polo shirts – want to appear that they are upwardly mobile and are going places. They too will start wearing dresses and skirts again.
This idea is pretty ridiculous, instead of young men wearing dressing because they want too, young men should wear dresses because it’s acceptable ?
There’s to much pushing to create a new idea of masculinity, from people who supposedly want to be judgement free.
The problem before was a man’s lack of masculine qualities, the problem now is a man’s lack of feminine qualities.
How about we leave it up to the indiviual what qualities they’ll have ?
you appear greatly confused. yet another ‘new id’ crawls out of the woodwork
*shrugs*
“Young men from lower income background bought into the association.”
“So one way to reset the social meaning of clothing is associate dresses and skirts with luxurious freedom from work, like the polo shirt advertising did.”
“If successfully advertised, Young men from lower income backgrounds would do as they did with polo shirts – want to appear that they are upwardly mobile and are going places. They too will start wearing dresses and skirts again.”
All quoted from what you said.
You seem to have no problem with teens following the lead of someone famous as long as it’s for something you agree with.
What happened to personal choice ? does that mean nothing if the person’s choices are ones you don’t like ?
i shall leave you to your confusion
Come on, don’t be like the others.
If you believe what you’ve said, defend it.
Why do YOU believe it’s good for young men to wear dresses and skirts ?
Hi James
you make some very good points. The history of men’s ‘feminine display’ is long and interesting! and yet now there is a lot of tradition and machismo that has to be overcome to do things that were considered normal in bygone ages.
I think DJ Spanglish is truly a pioneer.
Just wanted to say I am a big fan of the XY movement I been down with it all the way from the S mag. I just heard Dphill Spanglish Music his EP(Evolution Process) which was crazy good. And showed he has more than style he has flow to back it up hope to see the XY movement blow up some more
Hi Logan thanks for your comment and support! I’ll pass it on to DPhill.
I think he was totally right about most but not all “Girls have peer pressure problems from other girls such as weight, appearance and style.” This shows a lot of insight for a guy, I would love to interview him to go further in depth on that matter.