French rap icon and gangster dad, Stomy Bugsy poses for Horace. We took the opportunity to find out more about his veganism, the rap scene and his grooming routines.
Right away, he's an imposing figure. Stomy Bugsy, 49 years old, has lost none of his charisma and splendour. The artist of Mon Papa à moi est un ganster has a deep, calm voice when he talks about the trigger that made him vegan and about spirituality. The ambassador of our new Firming Face Gel is very interested in the subject and tells us all about his commitments.
How much do you take care of yourself?
I have to say that I take care of myself a lot. I've been vegan for 5 years. I don't consume any animal products: no meat, milk, cheese, candy and other sweets... I also moisturise my skin constantly with natural and vegan products like those from Horace. And finally, I do a lot of sports, weight training and cardio, every day... Except on Saturdays and Sundays though!
How has going vegan benefited you?
I saw a positive impact on my body right from the start. I felt better, fitter. It's also like I had a third eye that opened up. A third eye that was more receptive to everything. To nature, to animals, to my senses. I immediately felt more human and more alert.
What was the trigger?
It came from a bet. Then from an awareness of humanity and animals. I watched a lot of videos of slaughterhouses. And that the final trigger for me.
How has working in the music industry impacted your relationship with your own image?
It helped me define myself, who I am. I'm more interested in the roots of the image than the image. I think you have to know why you want to go on stage, why you want to sing, show your face and be aware of what you want to inspire in others.
What is this "why" for you?
A desire to change the world, to make it better. To change mentalities and to do things. I would also say not to keep to yourself what you have in your guts. To do everything to make your dreams come true and to tame your nightmares.
How has it evolved over the years?
The content hasn't changed, the form a little. With age, we gain wisdom, strength and love too. We express and transmit things differently, with subtlety.
Why do you think it's still complicated for men to say and assume that they take care of themselves in very masculine environments like rap?
I think it's mainly because of the prevailing macho mindset. I have to say though that it's changing with the rappers of today. And even, if you think about it, when you look at the first hip hop videos, like Rapper's Delight by Sugarhill Gang, they are very coquettish, very dressed up. Hip hop has kept this culture of being dressed up, without necessarily talking about it too much. Things are becoming less complicated. Personally, in terms of style and even rap style, I was very inspired by figures like LL Cool J, and groups like Public Enemy and NWA. They really made an impact on me as a kid. And especially Run-DMC. They were an amazing group, they always had the most amazing looks.
What advice can you give to feel good about yourself as you age?
For me, it all starts with eating well. It's best to avoid eating anything industrial. Doing sports is also good for the body, it's good to read to awaken spiritually. The spiritual realm is very important, more than anything else. You have to stay positive: it's easy to say and it sounds a little bit corny, but it's not easy to put into practice. Especially with the media climate at the moment, you have to be careful with what you see, what you read and what you put on your plate.