The relationship between the fashion world and the world’s most famous music genre is not new. Since its birth during the 80’s in the streets of New York, hip hop has approached the catwalks and the most sought-after designers without hesitation, sometimes even originating many of the trends that we have later seen on those very same catwalks.
Hip hop was officially kicked off by Sugarhill Gang with its well-known ‘Rappers Delight’, now long time ago. Thus, the adoption of certain styles and brands by rap artists has been a constant since its start, when the first bomboclat sounded accompanied by a scratch produced by Grandmaster Flash in some New York soundsystem.
The kangaroo who conquered rap
Talking about rap also means talking about Kangol. The famous English headwear brand that even supplied British soldiers during World War II became one of the favorite accessories of rappers such as LL Cool J, the members of Run DMC or Kangol Kid, a member of UTFO who, as is evident, took his alias from the kangaroo brand. The quality, the colorfulness and the variety that Kangol presented were enough to make a whole generation of rappers and b-boys fall in love, and their love affair continues to this day. You know it’s like that!
The soul of a surfer, the vocation of a star
Another clothing brand that cannot be separated from the hip hop scene is Stüssy, the brand created in the early 1980s by Shawn Stussy in sunny California. Its logo emulates Stussy’s signature in his own handwriting, which he used stamp on the handmade surfboards he made himself, and has become a status symbol for streetwear fashion lovers, skaters and renowned rappers like Chrish Brown, Wale or Casey Veggies, who have been spotted more than once wearing its hoodies, vests, shorts or limited edition sneakers in collaboration with other big brands.
21st Century: The idyll continues
The influence that hip hop has on fashion continues 30 years after the beginning of their “relationship”, with brands and rappers forming a seemingly indivisible union. Some of its examples include Kanye West with adidas and its Yeezy line or Tyler, The Creator with Golf, the series of garments and accessories of his creation.
Korean brand thisisneverthat® is another favorite within the global hip-hop community. The brand has inherited the best of contemporary streetwear from giants like Supreme, whose collaborations (like its latest with Converse) are true collector’s items. And to top it all off, the latest collaboration between rapper Kerwin Frost and adidas (which includes exclusive and highly sought-after sneakers and apparel) proves that the connection between rap and fashion is stronger than ever.