The Real-Life Wardrobe of Shaboozey, Who Once Wrote a Song About His Favorite NASCAR Jacket

The Grammy winner tells GQ columnist Christopher Fenimore about his new album, The Outlaw Cherie Lee & Other Western Tales, his country roots, and why Jeff Gordon is the Patrick Ewing of Virginia.Christopher FenimoreCollins Obinna Chibueze, better known as Shaboozey, grew up in NASCAR country. A first-generation immigrant, Shaboozey was born to Nigerian parents and raised in rural Northern Virginia, an upbringing that gave him both his stage name (a mispronunciation of his last name coined by a high school football coach) and an enduring love of all things country. It also inspired him to create “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” the preternaturally catchy neo-honky-tonk anthem that earned him nominations at the CMAs, AMAs, and Grammys, and a prominent spot on Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter.Last week, the 31-year-old multi-hyphenate released his fourth studio LP, The Outlaw Cherie Lee & Other Western Tales, a concept album steeped in the iconography of the American West, and featuring a diverse cast of collaborators including Leon Bridges, Orville Peck, and legendary Hollywood cowboy Sam Elliot. On the eve of his album’s release, I caught up with him at his hotel room in New York to discuss growing up in Virginia, his creative influences, and his appreciation for Dale Earnhardt’s personal style.Jeans by No Faith Studios. Henley shirt by Lemaire. Hat by Choppers Magazine. Boots, vintage Frye. Necklace and earring by Chrome Hearts. Belt and watch, vintage.Christopher FenimoreTalk to me about your relationship to music. How'd it begin?It was always about trying to reach my full potential as a human being. I was inspired by a lot of other human beings that did a lot of really cool, amazing things that obviously went into my work. George Lucas, seeing Star Wars as a kid and thinking, "Wow, one person created this." Growing up listening to Nelly and the St. Lunatics and just feeling like, “Man, I want it.” This is just stuff that I'm just super inspired by. It gave me the motivation to ask, “What's my version of that?” I was always creative. There was just no limit to what I felt like I could do with my imagination. I always wanted to exercise that to the fullest. If that drew me to making a concept album, like The Outlaw Cherie Lee, or if that drew me to make a film about the DC punk scene from '79 to '85, it's just having ideas and continuing to push them until they were done.How much of an influence does your background as a photographer and videographer have on your music? Do you write music with visuals in mind?I think so. During early iterations of this album, I would go back and look at concept photos that I shot out in the desert, and I’d find different painters and different Western photography or iconography that I would use to inspire the writing. I discovered through this process someone who's a friend of mine now, Mark Maggiori, a very, very, very talented Western painter. Seeing his art helped show me that there’s a whole Western world out there for photographers to explore.Tell me about the Lone Survivor video.It was a really cool piece. With this album, I’m trying to tell this Western story, and there have been some challenges with trying to do a period piece in a contemporary music space with less budget than you would have for a movie. I just really wanted to continue to tell the narrative that the Western world is still perilous and you still have to protect yourself. You never know when you might run into an opponent or a lawman. You never know what's going to happen when you're outside. I wanted to focus on just the epic-ness of the whole project and this showdown that happens on the album.Christopher FenimoreChristopher FenimoreCountry music has always had a complicated relationship to race. As a son of African immigrants, why did you choose to make this kind of music?I just never wanted to live a life where I felt like I was limited. Imagine living in a world where you can't do something because of the way you look. And unfortunately, I think a lot of people know this world to be like that. I wanted to change that narrative, and if anything, just show people to be brave with whatever you do. I won't even say I knew it would be challenging. I think the fear receptors were off. I just felt like God would not put us here if we weren't able to create and explore and be free to do those things in any way we chose to do.What's your own relationship to country music?Growing up in Virginia, I was surrounded by what people would call a simple life. We didn't have Burberry across the street. It allowed me to find appreciation in what I did have around me. There was a lot of family, barbecues, going down to the lake and fishing, hikes, and just being outside in nature. I was trying to show myself that value isn't from the things that you can't afford. It's about what you have. My dad was also a huge country music fan, and he shared similar values. He also had a chicken farm later in life. It was interesting to see him work all these years, and then when he finally got some freedom, he was like, "Let me go start a farm." It's honestly a little bit of following in his footsteps and understanding all the lessons he taught me. It's why he taught me those lessons. Country music really reflected a lot of the values we share.Why make The Outlaw Cherie Lee and Other Western Tales as a concept album?A lot of my favorite projects, and for a lot of my favorite creators, George Lucas, or Roger Waters from Pink Floyd, Prince, legacy is such a big thing. It’s so important to me, leaving a legacy. It’s really, really important to continue to push what I could be as an artist, especially in today's music scene. We don't find a lot of those. Pink Floyd’s The Wall is one of my favorite albums. It produced hits like Hey You and Another Brick in the Wall, but it also came with this movie component. I really felt that as a storyteller, as someone who wants to push the boundaries, why not make a concept album?Pants by Enfants Riches Deprimes. Necklace, belt, wallet chain, earrings, rings, and boots by Hoorsenbuhs. Eyewear and shirt, vintage.Christopher FenimoreChristopher FenimoreHe's one of those people who's keeping the Western spirit alive. His pieces have spoken to me on several occasions. It's always been a dream to collaborate with him, so to finally be able to do it on this project, especially one [this big], it just made sense. We tried to work on a project before. He has some sixth sense to know when it's the right time, and this felt like the right time. And he's been really involved in the rollout. He did our Stagecoach billboard when we did our Cherie Lee activation. He did so many iterations of the cover just trying to get it right. I wouldn't have picked anybody else for it.You worked with Beyoncé, which was a huge moment. Have you maintained contact or a working relationship since?Man, for sure. I honestly consider her a really good friend at this point. Anytime there's anything going on, she's always sending congratulations, posting me on the page, always celebrating my accomplishments. We need that. This is random, but I was in an Uber the other day, and they were just talking about, "Man, we need to celebrate each other a lot more." She's really someone who does that every step of the way.Can you remember a first moment in which you became interested in clothing and style?My sister won best-dressed when we were in high school. She was the person who introduced me to thrifting, and I was always up on the latest fashion because of her. My sister showed me early on that it's definitely about individuality and standing out from others. Before anyone even knew her, she was always a superstar to me. My dad too. He was always wearing Realtree. Wrangler jeans. The dirtiest sneakers you could find. It really starts with the self. And then that permeates throughout.Jeans by Levi’s. Flannel by RRL. Hat by Wild Hat. Belt by Comstock. Necklace by Goros. Boots by RRL. Thermal and bracelets, vintage. Christopher FenimoreWhat was your first significant clothing purchase?My first NASCAR jacket. I remember going to the thrift store and really being obsessed with trying to find the most iconic NASCAR jackets. That really helped inspire my journey into country music. NASCAR is native to Virginia and North Carolina, that area. It was really cool to find something that felt like, “This is our thing. This is us.” New York has the Yankees and Knicks, but Virginia doesn’t really have a sports team. We didn't have anyone to really root for. But we had the Richmond International Speedway. That really pushed me to explore more of what it means to be from Virginia. That guided me to go down that rabbit hole.How old were you when you got that jacket?I was probably 17. Then it inspired this song called Jeff Gordon.What's your most recent pickup?I got these Red Wing Pecos boots in the room over there. I got these really cool hidden rivets Levi's 501s. I have some friends that work at RRL. So anytime they get cool stuff in, they'll bring it to show me.We've seen you wear a lot of Ralph Lauren. Do you have a relationship with the brand?For sure. They dressed me for a couple of things. They fit my Grammy look. I've always been a huge fan. They also keep the Western heritage alive. I'm such a huge fan of Ralph himself, seeing his personal style, which is super influenced by the West and Americana garments. It’s a timeless look. I wish more people pushed it.Christopher FenimoreDo you have any all-time style inspirations that impact how you dress?Man, I've had so many. Bob Marley had really amazing style. Richard Stark is really dope—his incorporation of bike and chopper culture, but he wears the same pieces every single day. Ralph, of course. [Lil] Wayne, believe it or not. Dale Earnhardt. It gets random.But that's how it works, man. You take from a little bit of everywhere.[Robert] Plant was a big one for me too. Jimmy [Page]. Jim Morrison. Dwight Yoakam. What all those guys do is mix it all together. Going back to what I said with my sister, it's really about individuality and personalization.Do you approach style differently on and offstage?It changes. Sometimes, but the way I stand out is trying to be simple. Sometimes it’s an effortless look, like a vintage white tee, jeans, and boots. Sometimes, when it calls for it, you want to be a little bit more eclectic with what you put on. But there’s not too much of a difference. It's just a feeling. What you feel is who you want to evoke on stage. Especially with this album, I’ve been trying to figure out ways to keep it outlaw, but still keep it contemporary, but still keep it timeless.Christopher FenimoreSign up for Show Notes to get news on the latest runway shows, parties, and insider events on the international fashion circuit.Christopher Fenimore writes and photographs GQ’s Real-Life Wardrobe column. He currently splits time between Cutchogue and Brooklyn, NY. ... Read More