Recently GQ passed by Pharrell’s studio in Miami and sat down with the musician to talk about his upcoming projects – being a consultant for the Oscars, working with shoe designer Mark McNairy, releasing his book ‘Places & Spaces I’ve Been’. They also touch on the upcoming Billionaire Girls Club line and him working on ‘Glory’, the song that Jay-Z dedicated to his daughter.

“GQ: On Rick Ross’ Rich Forever mixtape you rap, “Black boy scoring his life/ I’m scoring the Oscars.” How excited are you for this opportunity—especially since you’re still essentially a music nerd from Virginia who made it big.
Pharrell: I’m just very thankful. And I say that a lot because that’s the most important message. I answer questions the best I can. But most of the answers usually feel the same. And that’s just me being very appreciative of the opportunity, because, like you said, I’m from Virginia Beach, VA. I’m glad that I can exhibit what we can do.

GQ: Academy rules won’t allow you to say what your current favorites are, but what are some of your choice Hans Zimmer-scored movies? He’s done plenty and won an Oscar for The Lion King.
Pharrell: The Dark Knight music was genius! I mean, Gladiator was great. Pirates [of the Caribbean] was great. But Dark Knight? That was, like, a whole different level of…

GQ: Film music?
Pharrell: Yeah!

GQ: Tell me about your upcoming travel book, Places & Spaces I’ve Been.
Pharrell: It’s just things and people that have moved me and inspired me around the world and that I am also honored to know.

GQ: You’re working on a new line of boots, right?
Pharrell: Yeah. We’re working on some boots for BBC [Billionaire Boys Club]. But I can’t really talk about it.

GQ: Well, speaking of BBC, you’re releasing a women’s line soon, BGC, right?
Pharrell: Yup! And it’s crazy!”

Read the full interview here.

Jay-Z will be among GQ magazine’s Men Of The Year 2011, next to Jimmy Fallon, Justin Timberlake, Michael Fassbender. The next issue of the magazine will name Jay-Z King of 2011. For the occasion they sat down with him to talk about Kanye West, Watch The Throne, art, him becoming a father and a lot more.

Check out the interview here.

GQ sits down with Toronto MC Drake to talk girls, “Take Care,” the sweaters (!) and more. Some choice excerpts follow:

GQ: You announced the title of this album, Take Care, with us back in December. What does it mean?
Drake: No one has actually asked me that yet. I came up with the name when I was on a bus in Birmingham, England, going to a show. “Take Care” is this thing we use in passing conversation to dismiss bullshit like, “Oh, you couldn’t make it on time? Oh, take care, take care.” We’ve always used that and then I really took so much care making this album. I knew I was going to go home and take longer than six months, I knew that I was literally going to take care of making this project and be attentive, be clear, be immersed in it. “Take Care” worked.

GQ: On to something a little lighter. We’re GQ, so we have to ask: What’s up with the sweaters?
Drake: [laughs] Now, this I have been asked about several times.

GQ: Do you have a favorite?
Drake: Yes, I do. It’s a toss-up between three sweaters. I’d say one would be obviously the OVO Owl Sweater. I can wear it repetitively and no one calls me out on it. I have a cashmere Hermes sweater that I love. Lastly, any of my Missoni sweaters. I don’t give a fuck what anybody says about my Missoni sweaters! Fuck you, if you don’t like my sweater! [Editor's note: A middle-aged couple sitting next to us sharply turn their heads.] It’s funny because people only talk about me and sweaters because I don’t give them anything else to talk about. I live in Canada, so any dirt I do you’ll never see because we don’t have the paparazzi up there! It’s the stupidest thing, man, but I’ll embrace it. Hopefully Missoni hollers at me and we get a sweater line popping!

GQ: People talk a lot of shit, anything you wish they’d stop saying?
Drake: That’s tough. I wish that we lived in a time and a generation where people would stop viewing my honesty as overly emotional. People always act like I spend my life crying in a dark room. I don’t, I’m good. I’m a man. I want to be remembered as an artist that gave you a piece of me, as opposed to some surface bullshit. I don’t think people realize that we die, we leave here, and either they forget about you or remember you. And how they remember you is up to you. I just want to be remembered as a poet that was open and honest because I wake up every morning and I’m me.

Read the full interview at GQ.

Photo: Mark Anthony Green

GQ presents a funny new editorial in their August 2011 issue. Shot by Peggy Sirota and starring Kate Upton, comedian Ken Jeong, best known for his roles in the two Hang Over movies, crashes each one of the shots. Otherwise, you also get to see the latest Fall 2011 gear in the shoot.

Check out the full series of images after the jump.

Coinciding with the release of his first book, The Selby Is in Your Place, GQ sat down with The Selby for a podcast. Listen to the podcast here.

GQ Italy is celebrating their 10th anniversary and for the occasion they present 10 different covers for their October 2009 issue. They worked with 10 different graphic designers on the covers, including House Industries, Alex Trochut, Matteo Bologna, Leonardo Sonnoli, Milton Glaser, Neville Brody, Louise Fili, Marian Bantjes, Chip Kidd and Experimental Jetset. A special collectors box of all 10 issues will also be auctioned off.

Take a look at all 10 GQ Italy 10th Anniversary Covers after the jump.