The Other Becks

Tyson Beckford had the type of life most sane people dream of - making oogles of money while being surrouded by the faces that shill every high-end product imaginable. Strangely, it wasn't enough for the mogul in the making...

This fall he's extending his brand beyond fashion with a new show called Fined Tuned on Speed TV, and a production company that's releasing two feature films. We caught up with former mannequin, while he filled us in on his future in modeling and why it won't involve Diddy.

You reached a level of fame with modeling, that hasn’t been seen by African American male models since you retired; do you think there will ever be another Tyson Beckford?

Of course, everything runs in cycles and there will be another major male model of color.  Can I name a person now that is coming up - No.  But I do think it will happen in time.

Would you model again?

If Ralph Lauren came to me and ask me back, of course I would.

What about Sean John?

No, I wouldn’t do anything with Sean John.  Sean John is not fashion.  All he does is hire people from FIT and take the credit for their creativity.  That dude is not fashion and that’s not a real fashion house.  To be honest, they should really let the women who work at the company, run the company, because they know the business better than those guys.

Last time we spoke, you were doing Into the Blue with my girl Jessica,  what’s up with your acting career?

I started producing now.  I’ve just produced two films, one that I starred in called Hotel California.  It’s about these three cocaine dealers, with Erik Palladina, Simon Rex and Tatyana Ali.

I’m glad you got Tatyana Ali working, how is she?

Yeah, man she’s great too.  She’s coming back like you wouldn’t believe, the girl is hot. 

After that I did a film called Kings of the Evening, which stars Lynne Whitfield, Glynn Thurman, Reginal T. Dorsey and others.  I am the youngest person in the movie, and I also was the co-producer. It amazing trying to tell veterans what do to, it’s crazy man. I feel like I’ve finally found where I am suppose to be.

When are you doing something with Nia Long, I miss her?

You know how a lot of people are afraid to mess with you until somebody else has done something successful with you.  Word of mouth will spread about my producing skills.  When they actually come out and people see how good it is, I think that’s when people will come. To a lot of people I am still the model dude.

We need an alternative from the Tyler Perry’s and Lee Daniels..

I like what those guys are doing, but it’s not what I want to do.  My stuff is not black or white, its just film.  It’s definitely stuff that you would think I would have nothing to do with.

Tell me about your new SpeedTV show, Fined Tuned?

I’m the host, producer, designer and builder of Fined Tuned (July 12, @9pm on SpeedTV).  Basically we turn cars into race cars in a matter of 7 days, everything has to be done in seven days.  We’re like the other car shows but instead we use state of the art parts, and there’s no half stepping.  High end stuff in a low-end car.

What are you tooling around in now?

I got this right side drive RX7 that I am messing with, and my 350Z that I’ve been messing with for years.  I’ve blown the motor two times, but if tuned right it can out run Porsches' and Lamborghinis'.  I got some official guys I’m working with now.

What’s the dumbest thing you’ve ever done with your money?

Buying cars, they are the biggest money pit in the world.  Or blow it at a strip club.

If you were a woman who would you be?

Hell, I would either be Nelly Furtado, Jennifer Lopez, Angelina Jolie or Oprah Winfrey.  But most likely Oprah.

It’s 11pm on a Friday night?

Either reading a script or working.

What are you like when your drunk?

I’m like Eddie Murphy, Chris Rock, Dave Chappelle, and Rodney Dangerfield all in one.  I let myself go, and I have people in stitches.  Sometimes I feel like I should have been a comedian.  I am going to do a comedy soon, the little bit I did in Zoolander was nothing.

When was the last time you hit someone?

Like in a fight? I do sparring and stuff.  Most people are scared of me; I have 18 inch arms, so most people are intimidated by me.

That's funny... I'm not intimidated.

Comments

[blanca]

nice interview. you always asking the shit your not suppose to.

[clay cane]

"If you were a woman who would you be?"

You know im going to use that one!

good interview!

[Bray Mathew]

How did you became a model?

[restless]

I do remember Tyson being in a Sean John show that was aired on BET a couple of years ago.

[restless]

I do remember Tyson being in a Sean John show that was aired on BET a couple of years ago.

[JuniorGatsby]

Well, I just saw him prancing down the runway in their Fall '08 show, so apparently he's chanced his mind now. LOL.