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If you ask Vibe Magazine’s Datwon Thomas what it takes to head up such a successful media company, he’d say it takes a lot more than just wearing a suit. Thomas, who serves as the Editorial Director for the magazine, says that in addition to aiding in the execution of the Editor In Chief’s vision, his job is to oversee the company’s digital division. And despite the industry standard, DT, a husband and father of three daughters, would rather do it in a windbreaker jacket and a New Era fitted. So when he walks into that high profile meeting representing his culture, there’s no doubt he understands the business.

You’re surrounded by women, so I’m sure you get a lot of advice from them, especially when it comes to grooming.

My mom, definitely. She always says, ‘I like the way you do the handlebar things.’ (The way my moustache grows into the beard.) I barely have it. I can’t grow that part so I’m doing the shadow. She likes when my sideburns connect to my beard my goatee. When I know I’m gonna see her for extended periods of time, I make sure I look the way she wants me to. My wife on the other hand, she likes it when my beard is all the way gone. It’s funny. I have to go to a wedding for one of her friends, and she asked me recently, ‘You gonna shave all that off, right? I’m like, ‘yes, Niq, I’ll be clean.’

So your wife and your mom are heavy influencers on how you look from day to day?

You know, it’s funny, when I was younger, like 14, I lived in New Mexico for a year and a half. It was tough, it ain’t like a lot of hood barbers out there and I was doing flat tops and stuff back then, things I was seeing on ‘Yo MTV Raps.’ Me and my stepdad went all around looking for a barber. It took us forever to find someone, but when we did, it was this older Black woman in the hood. She had nails like Coko from SWV, using clippers. It was like getting cut by Edward Scissorhands. She was the first female that gave me advice on grooming.

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Who do you think has a great style?

The more I look at Russell [Simmons], the more I respect his style. He’s always been very comfortable in his attire. Kinda street too. I go in that line, just me being comfortable with myself. Being able to go into these different arenas. There are times when I take it very seriously, but for the most part, I do me with a street flair but still kinda casual.

What music do you have in your iPod right now?

I got a bunch of stuff. But right now, Danny Brown out of Detroit. Kendrick Lamar is my favorite rapper right now. I stay listening to Curren$y, he’s a favorite too. That’s my rotation right now. I’ve been listening to his beat tapes too.

What’s the hardest part of balancing your career with having a family?

The hardest thing is knowing that if I’m not spending time with my family, I should be making them money. That’s been my thought process lately. It’s always been for work, but now it’s like, they’re getting older, they need tuition. I have to use my time wisely. We came up in a time when time management was all about the deadline for your story. There were always pressing deadlines and you just base everything around that. Now, it’s based on my family time. I have to make sure I’m being as responsible and productive in family as I am in my career.

The G-List is TheUrbandaily.com’s annual celebration of 40 influential men from various walks of life who define what it means to be a trendsetter with style in their field.

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