By Terrell Lipscomb
For years and years, rappers, and musicians have involved themselves in using clothing brands. For example, Migos… Versace, Gucci Mane… Gucci Bandana, and Future… Gucci Flip-flops. Rappers also have a knack for claiming that not having/wearing these brands means you’re broke or hating on them because they have the clothes. Here’s Soulja Boy’s most popular song “Crank That” lyrics.
You catch me at yo’ local party
Yes, I crank it every day
Haters gettin’ mad ‘cause
I got me some Bathin’ Ape
Bathin Ape is another word for Bape, an expensive Japanese clothing line. In these lyrics, Soulja Boy assumes you’re hating on him because he rocks Bape and you don’t. The Migos said the word Versace at least 150 times in the song Versace. While you might say that’s bad lyricism, others have said this is the song that truly defined the decade.
Now let’s talk about some rappers who have their own gear such as Lil Wayne with Trukfit and Kanye West with Yeezy apparel. Kanye West just recently worked on a deal with Gap and his Yeezy apparel that now puts his net worth at 6.6 billion dollars. Also, rappers like 6ix9ine pride themselves in purchasing million-dollar worth of chains. Lil Uzi Vert even brought him a 25-million-dollar pink diamond jewel to be placed in his head. Rappers have even influenced underground rappers or upcoming rappers to step up their jewelry and fashion games among themselves.
So what is it with fashion? ASAP Rocky literally gave up rap to do fashion. Kanye West is on pace to be the richest black person ever because of his fashion. Almost every rapper has some type of sponsor deal with a fashion company. Heck, even Famous Dex had a deal with PUMA before getting dropped after catching a case. Rick Ross had a deal with Reebok before he got dropped from his derogatory lyrics from the song “UOENO”.
Is there some type of goldmine that we aren’t aware of for fashion and rap? Migos Versace was declared the song of the decade by the Billboards themselves. Kanye West–richest rapper of all time and the richest African American in the USA. Gucci Mane made a lucrative career with Gucci in his name, and ASAP Rocky a world-top rapper left rap for the runway. Also “Fashion Killa” by ASAP Rocky is fire if you haven’t heard it.
Anyway, let me know! Is fashion mandatory to do when you’re in the rap game at some level? Then again, for a rap career, you need that LOOK! Or do you feel lyrics are more important? Let me know!
Also, check out Kapital Magazine’s clothing line. It’s straight fire!