Neighbors: Korey Townsend

This installment of NEIGHBORS is republished from Issue 1 of Super Empty magazine, now available at stores across the state and in our online shop. Grab yourself a copy and help make our NC-focused culture journalism possible.

If your past year had a theme, what would it be?

Growth, self-determination, and belief.  

What’s one obsession of yours outside of cars and photography?

Conversation. I think there’s a real lack when it comes to that, especially with social media. I just love learning about different people. Most people's perspectives are based on their experiences, and we all have different experiences. I think there’s a rift, and we don't have as much commonality, because people really aren't talking anymore.

How do you break out of a creative rut?

Go outside. My creativity is really based on life and what I see. So if I'm having a bad day or I can't think of nothing, I go on a trip, I drive around. It's really just getting outside for me.

Who are the people and artists that define Charlotte hip-hop to you? 

Definitely Lute, Elevator Jay. Those are the ones for me. They both have distinctive sounds, they're both from Charlotte — but you can touch them, it's one of those things. Someone may say DaBaby, but he’s in a different echelon. You can go down to Thomas Street Tavern and see Lute, you can be like, “Oh, what’s up Elevator?” 

What’s your favorite car and why? 

There’s so many of them… but if I had to choose, I would say the car I really want is a 1970 Chevelle Super Sport. 

Charlotte needs to… 

Stick together. It can be real cliquey out here. I don't think it's always a negative thing, right? You build rapport with who you build rapport with. But I do feel as though a lot of times people just don't work together. For example, we're talking about hip-hop — what's the one thing they used to say about Atlanta? They stick together. They work together, right?

Where are people most likely to find you, outside of home? 

Thomas Street [Tavern]. I’ve been here for 16 years. We’ve got a lot of new transplants, but the locals, the people from Charlotte, they’re not going to the new spots, they’re going to Thomas Street. Really the whole Plaza Midwood area. Idlewild, too.