Artist Chase Shakur grew up on the diverse cultures and sounds of Atlanta: R&B, rock, jazz — and all of these influences made him the artist he is today. “My city comes with a lot of flavors. There’s a lot of soul in the music. This spreads throughout different genres, too. It’s a sound distinct to Atlanta, I think. Every day the city inspires me, my style and my sound for real, and I always try to pay homage to that in my music.”
Paying homage to the style of the city that shaped him, Shakur looks to UGG to put his own distinct spin on the house’s new designs for the season. He leans towards adaptable pieces like the Lo Lowmel hybrid sneaker style and the Tasman Track Jacket to complete a look that’s reflective of his personality, similar to how he makes music in his own way, blending genres to generate a vibe that’s in a class of its own.
Growing up, the 24-year-old artist and rapper was heavily influenced by the underground music scene in the region. He shared his music origin story, “The short version of the story is that I liked this girl in middle school, and she was in an art summer program. They taught recording and singing. I thought it was cool so I joined too. About a year later, I started rapping and doing cyphers. It was a happy accident.”
Shakur was headstrong about his passion, and it eventually led him to a career in producing and songwriting. Since then, he has released three full-length albums — it’s not you it’s me, It’ll be fine and WONDERLOVE — and he’s got a deluxe version of his most recent release on the way this winter. But he shares that music isn’t the only way he expresses himself; fashion is also a means of communicating his emotions with his audiences. “Fashion and musical expression go hand in hand,” he explains. “Fashion is definitely a form of expression because you wake up and you dress how you’re feeling — you pick out certain colors, textures. Whether we want to wear sweats or jeans, it’s all based on how we feel that day. I think fashion also adds to my artistry because it tells people what you’re going through at that time.
Working with stylist Manny Omitto, Shakur displays his classic sensibilities. He sports the Classic Ultra Mini Weather Hybrid with a layered outfit accented by a tie, and the Men’s Peakmod Lowcut are showcased through a more monochromatic black leather look. The artist expressed that he usually wears all-black, comfortable outfits when in the studio (including a reliable pair of UGG Classic boots — a daily staple for the artist), but when he dresses to the nines, his UGGs still match the vibe as he reaches for more retro-leaning looks. “Lately, it’s been a lot of button-ups and more preppy looks,” he added.
Rocking UGG, Shakur visited some of the spots in Atlanta that shaped him, reflecting on the city’s distinct style codes and how its creative community impacted his musical style. Key locations included Astros Studio and some of Chase’s frequent hangs in East Atlanta. He explained what these special places mean to him. “Golden Glide is a spot I used to go to when I was a teenager. It’s a skating rink, and I hadn’t been there in over 10 years,” he continued, “Astros is where I used to record a lot of my music — the first and the second project. During those times, I didn’t have any money to pay for studio time. But my producers, at the time, worked there, so I used to sneak up there. Gradually, I ended up being able to lock in and actually have studio time. So it was a full circle moment.”
Reflecting on the dedication that propelled the artist and producer forward only makes his upcoming album release that much sweeter. Shakur’s upcoming deluxe album is set to drop this winter, after the original project, WONDERLOVE, hit streaming services on February 7. He’s excited to share his sonic growth with fans and looks forward to audiences observing the genre-bending elements always present in his music. “It gets cold in Atlanta. Last winter, I dropped a project, and now I’m about to drop my Deluxe album this winter as well. I needed these [UGGs] real bad back then [laughs] . I’ll be prepared this time,” he expressed.
Get fall-ready and check out the UGG AW25 offerings at ugg.com.
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