began rapping about luxury brands such as Versace, Prada, and DKNY, marking the beginning of hip hop’s lasting obsession with high-end designer brands. began sporting looks inspired by those of old-school gangsters, a style dubbed “ghetto fabulous.” These looks consisted of double-breasted designer suits, bowler hats and fedoras, alligator-skin shoes, and designer sunglasses. In the mid ‘90s, the culture became obsessed with a more lavish, designer style.

Hip hop artists like Public Enemy, KRS-One, and Queen Latifah adopted more militaristic looks, dreadlocks, and the bright colors associated with black-nationalist movements: red, yellow, black, and green. Toward the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, hip hop culture began to develop a greater reflection of African heritage and black-nationalist sentiment, reflected both lyrically and aesthetically. This deal fostered a lasting bond between hip hop culture and the sportswear world, and ultimately paved the way for future collaborations between hip hop artists and major brands.Īs hip hop advanced, so did its sense of style. In 1985, the group even professed their love for the brand in their hit song “My Adidas.” The success of this song eventually led to a formal endorsement deal (the first of its kind) between Adidas and Run-DMC. Soon after, many rappers such as LL Cool J began to adopt the trends set by Run-DMC, introducing a mainstream audience to street style for the first time. By adopting this street look, the group rejected the highly glamorous looks of early hip hop - such as those of Afrika Bambaataa and DJ Grandmaster Flash - in favor of a grittier (although still flashy) look. This look was inspired by the style of New York City b-boys at the time. The group most responsible for establishing and defining hip hop’s trademark “street” look was Run-DMC, who famously adopted Adidas tracksuits and laceless shell-toed sneakers as their signature uniform.

Hip hop artists of this time, began popularizing tracksuits, chains, and kangol hats, among other items, giving birth to a new and exciting street fashion culture unique to the New York hip hop scene. B-boys were breakdancers who helped establish and give birth to hip hop culture in its early days. In this early era, New York b-boy culture largely dominated fashion in hip hop. The genre was born in New York City between the late 1970s and early 1980s. As hip hop arose from the streets with an outsider status, it gave birth to its own distinct fashion style and aesthetic - unlike anything seen in the mainstream fashion world - which has developed and evolved in unique ways over time. Playing with proportions will ultimately make your look stand out. Your body needs space and room to breathe and move, she said. Hip hop’s relationship with the world of fashion has a interesting and very important history. A short crop top with baggy pants is a go-to combination for Copeland, who explained that looser pieces are usually preferred among hip-hop dancers.

80s hip hop outfit