stray-bullet

When you think Dipset, you probably think of foreign rides, staying fly and baaallin! You probably think about chains, relaxed fit jeans and pretty boys too. What might not come to mind is the United Kingdom.
DXStyle caught up with S.A.S. to talk about fashion and to put the stamp of approval on Dipset being the “undisputed” flyest rappers in the game. From London to Harlem, S.A.S.’s Mayhem (Making All You Haters Envy More) talks about staying fresh, Dipset style.
DXStyle: Before we start the interview, let's tell the people a little bit about S.A.S. Eurogang, and the Dipset affiliation. What is S.A.S. and what do you guys stand for?

Mayhem: S.A.S stands for Streets All Salute because we get respect from the streets globally, whether it is North London or Harlem, or even Barcelona and Ireland. We were also once known as Straight Across Seas when we lived in NY from '98 - '01 and Strictly About Stackin' when we were gettin' money in the streets, whether it was in £'s or $'s, we don't discriminate.

DXStyle: With Nigerian born parents and growing up in Europe, how did you guys become connected to the U.S.?
Mayhem: I played basketball (Mayhem) and was into music heavy, so when I got the opportunity to play for a Varsity High school team in Staten Island Mega, I packed our bags. We ran game on our parents that if they paid our rent for a year, I'd get a scholarship to play in College and save them all that money [laughs].

DXStyle: What are some of the main differences between Hip-Hop in the U.S. and the wave of Hip Hop in the U.K.?

Mayhem: Difference...hmmm...depends; the 'traditional' UK way of rhyming is a heavy cockney accent on 'early 90's NY' production. These days, we have Road Music emerging (Road is UK slang for street), which are basically real individuals that really do put in work on the streets that rap in London's native road slang about those lifestyles on up to date US type production. Then u have 'Grime' which is an up-tempo fuse or rap, garage, two-step and sublow dance music, which the kids are really into it because it's energetic. Road Music is suppressed in the UK, on radio and TV. We might be the first to break through with our US affiliation.

DXStyle: Since this is a fashion story, tell me some of the things we would see walking through the streets of London?
Mayhem: If you’re fly, Maharishi, Prada, JC De Castelbajac, John Richmond and Lyle & Scott. The most common fly sh-t is Gucci, D&G, Georgio Armani and Ralph Lauren.

DXStyle: How important are fashion-trends, appearance and individuality in London as far as the Hip Hop community is concerned?
Mayhem: The 'Grime' artists keep it basic with Nike sweat suits or Adidas sweat suits and brand new footwear and 'Road' artists dress pricier like in the brands I mentioned earlier because that's what people on the road are wearing. The traditionalist wear whatever they can put together because they're not in that lifestyle of buying the most expensive bits.
DXStyle: You guys were inspired musically by greats like Biggie, Slick Rick and The Rock Steady Crew, who else has made a huge impact on S.A.S’s style and swag?

Mayhem: I would say Biggie, Diddy, Hoffa, Dame and Jay because they were the first in Iceberg and Versace shirts outside of the UK that is...so I could relate; and Major Figgas because they were the first rappers I seen in Franco Ferre, Fendi and Christian Lacroix -- but a young Juelz on B.E.T Basement [Rap City] made me get Coogi crazy in '99 when I seen him in a baby blue one. I went out and bought 3 of them that weekend.

DXStyle: Since being around Dipset ( Jim Jones, Cam'ron, Juelz Santana, etc.) what are some of the similarities you see in the fashion in Harlem and the fashion in London?

Mayhem: Now everything is fitted, [laughs] I never thought I'd see the day. We got into a lot of fights in NY because our clothes were fitted in the late 90's. Harlem is still much more colorful; in London we wear bland, we wear dark colors to suit our weather [laughs].

DXStyle: People know Kanye West as one of Hip-Hop’s fashion gurus, how much of an impact did he make on S.A.S’s style, since he introduced you guys to major industry heads?

Mayhem: When we met Kanye in '02, we had on Evisu jeans, Coogi sweaters and matching Prada sneakers but it was refreshing to see his style was completely different to the average American. He put me on to that Louis [Louis Vuitton] scarf and woolie hat though, I'm not even gonna lie.
DXStyle: How do you feel about men wearing skinny jeans and form fitting shirts? Do you guys think that it takes away from the hardcore street image?
Mayhem: I'm from London, remember? All the gangsta's wear fitted clothing round here. The roads is still mad at us for wearing loose fittin' Rocawear '03 - '05 when Dame sent the sizes too big, I ain't even joking.

DXStyle: You guys can be seen with a lot of Louis Vuitton, crisp denim and urban sneakers. Who are some of your other favorite designers and pieces?

Mayhem: Maharishi everything, Futura sweaters True Religion jeans, Triumvir tees, Affliction thermals, Greedy Genius footwear.

DXStyle: Since you guys move around a lot, what are some of the essential pieces for Mega and Mayhem while being on the road?
Mayhem: Louis luggage and everything I just named. If we forget anything, I'll have Steve Stash, my A&R, get one of those brands to send us a box wherever we at in the world.
DXStyle: With Jim Jones working on a new clothing line, how huge is fashion within the Dipset movement?
Mayhem: The Diplomats are the flyest rappers in the game, undisputed. At this point we could wear a lot of brands and have people on to it because it's all in the swag and how u put things together. So, naturally, whether it's Jim or Juelz droppin' a new line, it will move just because of their taste in hot clothes in general.
DXStyle: Urban fashion wouldn’t be the same without who and what?
Mayhem: Too many people to name, but Hip-Hop has a lot to do with it. If u look at the catalogues of all the designers' labels I've mentioned in this interview, the way the clothes are modeled isn't really appealing to the hood. Untill they send us a box in our sizes and we throw our swag on it and rap about it. I feel different rappers and icons break different brands everyday, and it's ever changing, which is the fun part of it because once something gets played out, everyone is searching for that new look.
DXStyle: Last question, what’s next for S.A.S.?
Mayhem: Two Independent releases for Streets All Salute, and then we're going for the major first official album release on whatever label has not only the funds and machine, but the belief that London is next. In the mean time, go get Coming 2 America Vol. 1 and look out for The Gang's All Here Vol. 2 and Coming 2 America Vol. 2: Family Vacation.

Twace Klasik SBF

madddd props son - i like them sas boys - dude ripped it in that jr writer song on his album

billeaveit

props on the SAS info