Lil Buck first emerged on the arts scene as a dancer. His extensive repertoire includes styles ranging from ballet and modern to Memphis Jookin and hip-hop, and he has worked as a choreographer on the Starz series Blindspotting, in addition to being a guest judge on So You Think You Can Dance. His wide range of interests has inspired collaborations with Lizzo, Madonna, Yo-Yo Ma, and Louis Vuitton, among many others, and he has indulged his love of design by creating a capsule collection for Versace. A documentary about his work, Lil’ Buck: Real Swan, premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival, and he is currently producing stage shows that focus on the transformative power of dance. As he prepares to bring Memphis Jookin’: The Show on tour, he shares his key components to the good life. —Ashley Baker
Airline: Delta.
Airport: LAX
Alibi: “I was playing Call of Duty.”
App: Mail.
Bag: MCM.
Bedtime: Late.
Birthday: ’88.
Boyfriend/girlfriend: Wifey.
Breakfast, weekday: Whatever Chef Shimatsu makes.
Breakfast, weekend: Same as above.
Car: It’s electric!
Child: Soon come.
Cocktail: Old-fashioned.
Cocktail appetizer: Fries.
Couple: Ai Shimatsu and Lil Buck.
Diet: Vegan!
Dinner, weekday: Whatever Chef Shimatsu makes.
Dinner, weekend: Takeout.
Dress: Fresh as f**k.
Drive: Will get you far.
Enemy: Anyone I battle.
Escape: Dance.
Excuse: None.
Flaw: You’d never know.
Friend:
Dance and a small circle of great ones.
Good-bye: “Aight mane.”
Hideaway: Office.
Hotel: Five-star.
Indulgence: Dance.
Insult: “Only one way to find out.”
Jacket: C’est Vingt-Trois.
Kiss-off: “Yo ahhhh done.”
Last Meal: Vegan lasagna, fries, and a cacao shake.
Lunch: Salad.
Match: My wife.
Movie: Powder.
Name: Lil Buck.
Neighbor: Some football fan.
Nonfiction bookS: The Secret, by Rhonda Byrne, and Pharrell: Places and Spaces I’ve Been, by Pharrell Williams.
Pants: Ksubi denim.
Shoes: Chicago Jordan 1s.
Pet: @Coco_le_fluff.
Piece of advice: Give it everything you’ve got.
Podcast: Chanel Connects: Transforming Dance and Conversations on Dance, from Rebecca Ferraro and Michael Breeden.
President: Obama.
Saying: “Go Zodd & Mada Mada Dane.”
Second spouse: You tried it.
Singer: Janelle Monáe.
Spouse: Ai Shimatsu.
Street: M-town Leacrest, Westwood!
Storm: When I’m dancing.
Television series: Hajime no Ippo.
Time of day: 12:22.
Toast: “To life and abundance.”
Vacation: Japan.
Victim: Of art.
View: Sky.
Wake-up time: Seven a.m.
Weekend bag: MCM tote.
Work of art: My mind.
Lil Buck’s Essentials
