The turn of the century could have proved to be a transitional period of growing pains for the Hip-Hop industry as whole. There was a general agreement amongst nearly everybody to leave the sounds of the 90s and all the violence associated with it behind. With the need for identity separation more dire than ever, so did the dress code.
Rappers honed their crafts as fashion designer in the mid-to-late 90s and by the year 2000, the market was their’s for permanent seizure. Thanks to a booming magazine industry that offered pages of ad space and the rise of the Internet videos, there were endless ways to promote one’s custom fabrics.
And just because a Hip-Hop brand wasn’t primarily owned by an actual recording artist, didn’t mean the bridge between them and the game wasn’t taken advantage of. Rappers such as Fabolous, Ludacris and LL Cool J saw their bank accounts increased thanks to their diligent promotion of various tags and labels.
To celebrate your Throwback Thursday, we proudly present the fifteen best Hip-Hop clothing lines. Remember when your closet was so…colorful?
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Photo: Instagram/Nigo
Photo: VEVO
15. Platinum Fubu
“For Us, By Us,” experienced their glory days in the late 90s but thanks to a shrewd rebranding with the Platinum and Harlem Globetrotters lines, they saw a considerable amount of cash flow in the new decade.
Photo: Apple Bottoms
14. Apple Bottoms
While nearly every Hip-Hop fashion line offered a women’s collection, Nelly’s Apple Bottoms won the war for chicks who wanted to tastefully flaunt their goods. He must have been actively listening on the set of “Tip Drill.”
Photo: Ecko
13. Ecko/G-Unit/Shady
Marc Ecko wisely aligned himself with the trendy all-stars underneath the Aftermath umbrella to keep the Rhino in business.
Photo: Marithé et François Girbaud
12. Marithé et François Girbaud
Bolstered by the Hot Boys at the turn of the millenium, Girbaud got the Tommy Hilfiger treatment for much of the 00s. Meaning Black people began to love white people’s clothes.
Photo: Triple Five Soul
11. Triple Five Soul
Offering more style than South Pole and the ruggedness of Carhartt, Triple 5 Soul was an easy and comfortable choice for a median of guys.
Photo: Avirex
10. Avirex
Rocking an Avi back in the day was simply a matter of status quo, not keeping warm.
Photo: DrJays.com
9. Evisu
The Japanese brand became a must-have for rap fans the moment Jay-Z showed us “how to do this, son.”
Photo: Akademiks
8. Akademiks
A go-to choice for players, ballers and d-boys alike. Evidenced from the cast of The Wire frequently being filmed wearing it.
Photo: Enyce
7. Enyce
Pronounced “N-Y-C,” the fashion line bounced around from ownership between Liz Claiborne and Diddy but never lost its way with flavor and affordability.
Photo: Crooks & Castles
6. Crooks & Castles
The Los Angeles-based gear supplier started at the height of the Hip-Hop clothing boom, but quickly rose its way to the top by associated its likeness to several free mixtapes from seasoned rookies. It didn’t hurt that the clothes were actually dope, either.
5. Mitchell & Ness
Every rapper and their entourage sported throwback jerseys in abundance from 2001-2004. The guy pictured in one above single-handedly killed the trend, however.
Photo: PNP/WENN
4. Sean John
Diddy’s cash cow is three decades strong in the fashion gang with no signs of abandoning ship. Can’t stop, won’t stop.
Photo: LRG
3. LRG
The Lifted Research Group masterfully infused its DNA into all the elements of Hip-Hop for years.
Photo: Instagram/Nigo
2. BAPE
When you have stars such as Pharrell, Lil Wayne, Kanye West and KiD CuDi pledging their allegiance to your cause, it’s hard to fail. Two more points for the birth of Billionaire Boys Club.
Photo: Roc4Life
1. Rocawear
When you’re on top, everything you associate yourself with tends to follow suit. It gets like that when you sell your company for $204 million and still keep the stake in your company.
