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.
Name: Jameel Spencer
From: Edgewater, New Jersey
Occupation: Executive Vice President, Marketing
Affiliations: Iconix Brand Group (Rocawear, Ecko, Starter)
Iconix Brand Group’s EVP Jameel Spencer believes that, like fine wine and a diversified portfolio, style only gets better with age. Having worked for two of hip-hop’s top five earners (Forbes), Spencer has acquired training that rivals the best business schools in the country. Now responsible for all of the men’s wear under the Iconix umbrella (Rocawear, Ecko, Starter, etc.) the marketing executive applies a vigorous work ethic and a unique sense of style to his profession. And with the years of experience on his resume, things can only get better.
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How important is style and grooming to your career?
Well, I think that there are a number of different layers to that whole thing. I’m in the fashion business to a certain extent. That goes a long way. How you dress and how you are groomed are part of how people judge you. Like everything else, your sense of fashion, style and grooming evolves as you get older. It becomes more important to take care of yourself, more a part of your daily routine. For me, it’s about having a lifestyle positioning you to be successful.
How much do you interact with Jay-Z?
He’s very involved. We just shot a Rocawear commercial with him in it. He approves all of the product. The ironic part is he probably wears Rocawear more today than he did when he talked about it back then. We have to do our job and communicate that as well. The brand is at an impasse; it’s at a critical moment in its history. When the brand was born, it wasn’t difficult to be successful. It represented a movement and a lifestyle that everyone felt like they were a part of. That music and lifestyle and industry is a lot more inclusive now. Rocawear is at a moment in time where we could be left behind. These types of companies, the Sean Johns, the Rocawears, these companies are owned and operated by us. Where in the world can a brand like For Us By Us (FUBU) not exist anymore?
Working for Jay-Z, has he even given out any grooming advice?
I get facials on a regular basis now. Jay talked me into that. I was walking into the spa at the Mandarin Oriental one day and I see Jay. He asked me if I was getting a facial. I’m thinking, ‘a facial that’s for girls.’ He told me ‘You should try it, it’s good.’ I tried it one time and then I realized I needed it. I go on a regular basis now. The older you get, you stop limiting yourself. You have all these rules when you are younger about what you are not going to do, thinking they weren’t cool, or ‘manly’ cool. But it’s really cool to take care of yourself. That you got good skin and the right hair cut, and wear the right clothes. Quite honestly, when I wear a suit, I feel great. I feel like I got a special light on me. I can get a cab that day. That initial reaction to what you look like is consistent throughout life.
What’s on your iPod playlist?
The same music that’s been there forever. I don’t buy a lot of new music. The last hip-hop album I bought was Watch the Throne. I definitely still listen to Ready to Die or Life After Death when I work out, or The Chronic, or Songs in the Key of Life [by] Stevie Wonder, The Best of Donnie Hathaway. I’m more likely to listen to old R&B or late 90’s hip-hop. And I love Coldplay.
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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