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

Clockwise from top left: a scene from Hajime no Ippo; a favorite snack; Ksubi jeans; a MCM backpack; Pharrell: Places and Spaces I’ve Been, by Pharrell Williams.