Fashion and Hip-Hop: A Marriage Like No Other
By: Josh Feldstein
Streetwear, luxury brands, and vintage styles have always had a direct relationship with hip-hop. At the start of the genre’s rise to popularity, sportswear giants like Adidas and Puma became go-to fashion statements for MCs/DJs, and as rap developed, so did its correlation with fashion. Through looks such as tracksuits, snapback caps, Supreme box logos, and more, countless trends in style became targeted to rap culture.
By creating their own brands and putting together unique, eye-catching design choices, rappers have become the kingpin for where everyday citizens look to recognize and discover new brands. For those new to this wave, here are some of the standouts hitting the runway by blending the two industries together.
Young Thug
Known for a healthy dose of Louis Vuitton, Marni, and out-there designer wear Thugger’s biggest splashes have come from blending in pieces of women’s fashion into his wardrobe. Young Thug’s 2016 dress worn on the cover of Jeffery, a lavender, rippled dress designed by Alessandro Trincone, is just one of the many well-known pieces that Thug has worn that have defied gender norms.
The female aesthetic popularized by him has pushed ruffled shirts, high-heel boots, and bright colors into hip-hop’s fashion forefront, going against a past emphasis on athletic brands and the oversaturation of baggy streetwear.
2019 brought a streetwear line of Thug’s own, Sp5der Worldwide. Matching hoodie/sweatpants sets are joined by bedazzled spider web designs, influence from his album PUNK, and references to himself (the King Slime).
Lil Yachty
In today’s fashion scene, we have seen an emerging rise in vintage streetwear and athletic jerseys led by one of the hottest rappers in the game: Lil Yachty. Boat’s representation of a “Blasty” Calgary Flames sweater or a ‘90s Pittsburgh Steelers block number look fills in some of his vintage resume. Additionally, Yahcty is known for an overwhelming sneaker collection packed with some of the rarest in the game to pair with his unique, nostalgic style.
An article by VOGUE in 2017 highlighted the up-and-coming artist’s vintage haul of Nautica, debatably bringing it back into the public eye when he was named a creative director. The same can be said with the abundance of older pieces from Polo Ralph Lauren.
A flood of Burberry, Bottega Veneta, and Balenciaga balances out with well-known non-designer brands (Carhartt WIP, Timberland, Nike, etc.) to complete more of his signature outfits.
Tyler, the Creator
It would be very hard to write a hip-hop fashion article without the presence of Tyler, the Creator, a figure who has compiled one of the most recognizable styles. Known for his chokehold in the West Coast streetwear market with Odd Future and their collaborations with Santa Cruz, Tyler’s journey now goes beyond the Supreme box logo days of the past.
Golf Wang (Streetwear) and GOLF Le Fleur* (Luxury), both designed by Tyler, are staples to rap and Tyler himself, as he is often seen representing the pastel color-wave clothing lines. A recent crossover with Lacoste has opened the door for jacket, cardigan, skirt, and accessory combinations that have been paired with his classic Converse shoes he often rocks.
A$AP Rocky
It is hard to explain Rocky’s experience with fashion, and most of the time, the pictures of his outfits just speak for themselves. The Harlem rapper is an icon in both industries, and across his tenure in the music community, he has been “Mr. Put It On” like nobody else. Much of A$AP’s 2023 outfits have included under-the-radar names coucoubebe 75018 and Denim Tears, both of which continue to rise in popularity.
The “Fashion Killa’s” promotion of brands since 2011-2012 places him near the top of the fashion pyramid, as close relationships with many designers and Rihanna have opened the door to plenty of opportunities. With A$AP Rocky’s recent promotion to creative director of Formula 1’s sportswear, we will get a glimpse at a creative vision outside of the luxury field.
A recent campaign for Bottega Veneta’s 2024 collection used the paparazzi to his advantage, going out in public completing tasks in the designer brand’s latest releases to have TMZ and other celebrity photographers capture the newest photos for the advertisements.
Pharrell Williams
A new era at Louis Vuitton commences with Pharrell at the helm as he takes over for the late Virgil Abloh, who passed away in 2021: a new look for one of fashion’s largest members. At the ripe age of 50, Pharrell’s evolution in the industry includes collaborations with fellow designer Nigo in the foundations of Billionaire Boys Club, Human Made, and BAPE, to name a few.
From lyricism to production to design, he may be one of the most influential pop culture figures since 2000. It gets hard trying to brainstorm many other figures like Pharrell who have consistently pushed out the amount of content that he has.
Several fashion shows are already in the books to start Pharrell’s Louis Vuitton creative directing campaign, and it looks to be going beyond the right direction.
The Best of the Rest
Other than the five figures already mentioned, additional groups of artists are creating their own trends in the fashion community. Opium members Ken Carson and Playboi Carti dominate the all-black, dark outfits that match the theme of their music. Rick Owens, Chrome Hearts, and Vetements have directly been associated with these rappers, and you could also throw Lil Uzi Vert into these brand conversations as well.
The only hip-hop musician that will be featured on the cover of GQ’s Men of the Year edition, Travis Scott’s Cactus Jack clothing collaborations and knowledge of the market also make him a very valuable member in the field. Most recently, a collaboration with Swiss watch company Audemars Piguet expanded his designs to the accessory field.
André 3000 and Jay-Z’s veteran presence resembles some of Pharrell’s qualities as well, and with André’s recent solo album, it is another opportunity in the spotlight for the Atlanta legend.