Hip-hop was my first real love, one that was my own and wasn't my parents' music. Initially, I was inspired by hip-hop fashion. Over the years, I kept the hip-hop sensibility, but make it my own. Mayer Hawthorne More Quotes by Mayer Hawthorne More Quotes From Mayer Hawthorne I DJ all the time, as much as I possibly can. I'll never stop. That's my security blanket, that's what I'm good at. I still consider myself a better DJ than a singer. I can DJ in my sleep. Mayer Hawthorne blanket singers sleep Even when I was a hip-hop DJ I always kept it classy. The motto is always 'flashy but classy.' You've got to be original and stand out from the crowd and take some chances. But you've always got to keep it classy. Mayer Hawthorne crowds hips hip-hop Marvin Gaye was the ultimate ladies' man and a big part of that was the way he dressed. If you're having trouble getting ladies, step your suit game up and see the difference. Walk into a bar in a tailored suit and I guarantee every girl will check you out. Mayer Hawthorne girl games men My grandma Ricky - that's where I got classic look from. She was the most stylish person ever. She had her own clothing store and even her furniture was stylish. I got my "Flashy, but classy" motto from her, too. Whenever she walked in the room, she was always the most stylish person in the room. Mayer Hawthorne motto classic grandma I just want to make music as long as I can and reach as many people as I can. Mayer Hawthorne want long people A big part of the Motown formula was, they took music and turned it into this sort of automotive assembly line. They were cranking out 10 songs a day in that studio, or more. Mayer Hawthorne assembly lines song I didn't appreciate Mick Jagger until I got older, and mainly because of the Mick Jagger swagger. He defined that for the world. He was bold and adventurous with it, too - just the ultimate rock star. Mayer Hawthorne rocks appreciate stars That's one of the most important things to me is that Detroit and Ann Arbor got my back. If you don't have hometown love, then what's the point? Mayer Hawthorne arbors detroit important I think that Detroiters are some of the most resilient people in the world. Mayer Hawthorne people world thinking I think that what happens is that all of my modern influences blend together with the older soul influences and you get Mayer Hawthorne. Mayer Hawthorne soul together thinking Having stuff that fits you perfectly makes the craziest difference. I remember the first times that I was introduced to that - having a shirt that's actually tailored to your body and not just made for your average American. It just changes your life. Mayer Hawthorne changing-your-life fit remember I try to make sure that I make music that can stand the test of time. Mayer Hawthorne test-of-time tests trying I've always made sure that I tour with bands that people aren't expecting me to tour with. Mayer Hawthorne expecting band people Nowhere on earth has more soul than Detroit. Mayer Hawthorne detroit soul earth Barry White is my musical hero. He was the guy who you danced to in the club and then when you took your lady home to the bedroom, you listened to him there, too! That's who I always wanted to be - the guy who was always there. Mayer Hawthorne guy hero home My dad taught me to play bass. He's a bass player; he still plays in a band in Michigan to this day. He taught me to play bass when I was about 6. I used to just go to band practice with him, and whoever didn't show up for rehearsal that day, I would take their spot. Mayer Hawthorne dad player practice I shopped at J. Crew in high school, I studied computer science. I was a nerd-nerd, now I'm a music-nerd. Mayer Hawthorne nerd computer school I never have, but I would love to pick R. Kelly's brain. Mayer Hawthorne r-kelly picks brain I'm trying to just drop so much music that people cannot ignore it. Mayer Hawthorne trying people I make soul music for hip-hop heads. It's music I'd want to sample if I were a rapper. Mayer Hawthorne rapper hip-hop soul
