The Versatility of teezo touchdown
By Zuza Gaboush
Image via Pitchfork
Teezo Touchdown, a relatively new artist who’s making big waves in the music industry has come onto the scene through the debut of his first album, ‘How Do You Sleep at Night?’ and even more notably, through his style’s eccentric fusion of punk, rock and roll, southern culture, athletic gear and of course, a head of hair overflowing with nails. Teezo’s style is hard to categorize or confine to a single genre, but there are obvious influences of streetwear, in the baggy silhouette he often sports from oversized jackets, jerseys, etc. The presence of graphic tees is also a major influence of streetwear fashion, and he recently wore some of his new merch during a set for Camp Flog Gnaw, a simple, giant tee with his face blown up against the black background. While his style mainly consists of basic black items, he blurs the lines between a multitude of stylistic genres, highlighting his fits with accessories that include but are not limited to: body glitter, shoulder pads, 4” platform boots, hats with nails, or giant chains that drape across his neck and torso. He describes his style as very ‘DIY’, combining a variety of elements to create the cohesive and individualistic style he has grown notorious for.
Teezo was born and raised in Beaumont, a small town in Texas where major elements for the inspiration of his style originate. In a town of around 100,000 people, Teezo began to experiment with his image by rifling through his garage and using his dad’s nails to accessorize hats and eventually, his hair. The punk, rockstar flair that his hair of nails exude is accompanied by a medley of fashion genres and utilitarian wear that somehow work perfectly together. His ingenuity hasn’t gone unnoticed, and brands like Telfar and Moncler have taken interest in him, with Telfar sponsoring his current tour and Mocler providing the opportunity for Teezo to perform and model for their 1017 Alyx 9SM collection. Combining hunting apparel, all-over denim, studded leather belts and cuffs, hardware and athletic gear, Teezo’s style inhabits and radiates a rock-star persona, similar to looks worn by Playboi Carti or Travis Scott in his recent UTOPIA era.
Image via FLAUNT
However, these current artist’s styles stem from a history that long precedes and supports its arrival; specifically, Andre 3000, whose style was revolutionary for the 90’s and 2000’s, and paved the way for a lot more creative expression through fashion in the hip hop industry. Andre 3000’s fashion line, Benjamin Bixby, was conceived to create clothing that contradicted and rejected the stereotypical restrictions placed on black men surrounding fashion, expression and femininity. Working from the foundations that Andre 3000’s and other revolutionary artists (including the likes of Prince and Jimi Hendrix) paved for fashion in the music industry, black artists today have the ability to experiment and intertwine multiple styles to better express themselves.
Teezo’s experimentation with different forms of hypermasculinity (jock gear, hardware nails) and femininity (wigs, bejeweled fingernails, a bouquet for a microphone), that merge and move seamlessly between rock and roll, hip hop, and punk culture is emblematic of Teezo’s versatility, individuality and trendsetting style that audibly tinkles as he moves with his nail hair to take center stage.
