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It seems that everywhere you turn these days, another rapper is coming out with a clothing line. Successful rap artists like T.I. (Akoo), Nelly (Apple Bottoms and Vokal), Jay-Z (Rocawear), Diddy (Sean John), Kanye West (Pastelle, Air Yeezys), Damon Dash (CEO), Eminem (Shady),Trina (Pink Diamond), Eve (Fetish), Fabolous (Rich Yung), 50 Cent (G-Unit), and music mogul Russell Simmons (Phat Farm/Argyle Culture) have all dabbled in the fashion industry, some more successfully than others.
But are clothing lines another artistic outlet or simply another way for rappers to make money?
"Music and clothing go hand and hand, and it's only natural that a rapper would want to do a clothing line," Dave Saulters, fashion expert and former lead designer of Phat Farm told Black Voices. "The days of just slapping their name and face on a brand in order to sell are long gone. You have to be creative and priced right these days."
After Jay-Z and Dash split, Dash attempted to launch his own clothing line named, CEO. The line was intended to bring out the inner Chief Executive Officer in all of us. Unfortunately, CEO failed and eventually closed up shop.
Rapper Clothing Lines
Hip-hop mogul Jay-z and former partner Damon Dash launched the clothing line Rocawear in 1999. When the two parted ways, Dash sold his stake in the company for $22 million. In 2007, Jay-z sold the rights to the brand to Iconix Brand Group for $204 million, however the rapper still owns stakes in the company and maintains control over marketing, licensing and product development.
Sean "Diddy" Combs will go down as one of the most successful rappers turned fashion designers. His line Sean John launched in 1998 and in the past 12 years has flourished into quite the empire. In 2008, the media mogul added Enyce clothing line to his growing clothing brand.
In 2003, rapper50 Cent teamed up with famed designer Marc Eckoto launch G-Unit Clothing Company. The line offers accessories and clothing designed primarily by the rap mogul, while marketing and merchandising of the brand is handled by Mr. Ecko. After a brief hiatus, the clothing line re-launched in the spring of 2009.
Kanye West is no stranger to fashion. The man that boasted 'Ralph Lauren was boring until I wore him,' seemed destined to create his own clothing line. Sadly, only two days after his line Pastelle debuted online, it folded. Insiders attribute the failure to his bad behavior, primarily his infamous VMA's stunt.
N.E.R.D.'s front runner Pharrell Williams partnered with Japanese designer Nigo to develop the line Billionaire Boys Club and Ice Cream. The luxury lines consist of t-shirts, polos, denim, suits, hats, sneakers and accessories. The exclusive line has flagship stores in New York, Hong Kong, London and Tokyo.
In 2003, rapper Nellylaunched the popular women's line Apple Bottoms. The line's denim jeans became an instant favorite for many young women with 'apple shaped' derrieres. Since then, the rapper launched a line dedicated to men called Vokal.
Eve first launched her clothing line Fetish back in 2003 but the line was unexpectedly canceled due to creative differences between the rapper partnering company INNOVO Group. After re-launching the line three times, the rapper appears to be content with her product.
Eminem launched his urban clothing line in the summer of 2003. The line, which features hoodies, active wear, t-shirts and jerseys, was acquired by Rocawear in 2006. The '8 Mile' rapper still has full design control, but the partnership has helped the quality of the line.
Damon Dash has been working on launching his clothing line CEO for quite some time. The line has yet to debut to the public, but has been featured in a Magic Trade Show in Las Vegas. The former Roc-a-fella executive actually owns a stake in his ex-wife Rachel Roy's successful line. He might want to take notes!
Lupe Fiasco's luxury line Trilly and Truly launched in 2006. The line -- which is based on the three concepts anarchy, peace and history -- re-launched in the spring of 2010.
Comments: (9)
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By: David1 on 8/14/2010 11:25AM
I wonder how many of these successful rappers/clothing designers manufacture their clothes in this country. I read somewhere that Nelly (Applebottoms) was but I'm not sure. Seeing how many poor black people are out of work why isn't anyone asking why these rich black folks are manufacturing their clothes in third world countries and ignoring poor black communities. Black ghettos could use the jobs a clothing mill would bring.
We need to start holding rich black people accountable and stop over praising them for simply being rich. I'm sure they give money to charity but that's nothing more than a tax write off that benefits them as well. We are always complaining what white people and businesses wont do for black people but say nothing about black wealthy business people like these who do even less.
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By: god72father on 8/14/2010 7:31PM
You know very little about the fashion industry and even less about business. The name of the game today is globalization if you want to be competitive and the color of a businessmans skin cannot make his product sell in the market place if he is not competitive. Customers do not buy a product because of who made it they buy because of quality and price.
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By: David1 on 8/15/2010 12:17PM
@ god72father
So only whites or third world country's can produce quality and competitive prices?? I may or may not know anything about the fashion industry but you represent the I don't give a damn attitude of many so called educated Negroes or just another white teabag racist commenting on blackvoices. Rich successful black people have a responsibility to invest and do for their own. Stop making "globalization" excuses for wealthy Negroes who turn their back on their own race. We don't live in a colorblind country or world.
As far as me not knowing anything about business I know enough that white ethnics from Jews to Italians to Irish to various Latino and Asians groups invested in the own damn communities to create jobs for themselves when faced with racial discrimination. You are just a house negro pretending to be business savvy. You probably work for a WHITE OWNED company feeling they owe you a job but on here talking "globalization" bullsh*t excusing rich blacks turning their back on their race. White or black you're a dumbazz either way.
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By: Donna on 8/14/2010 11:31AM
I hope these rappers do something positive for a change that will change the image of the teen Black boy walking from side to side like a mindless "goon" as if not to have to touch cold poop in his pants.
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By: noyb on 8/14/2010 12:53PM
I hope these white heavy metal rockers do something positive so the white teen boy serial killer will stop killing their parents and wearing their hair spiked like a skunk with black nail polish on their fingernils while they worship the devil!
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By: AM Hood on 8/15/2010 12:28PM
it is not about sticking to what one knows best or rappers have no business in the clothing business. It is about a line that respects the body and looks good on the body and for the body/the person. All industry people should care about the people and not about themselves and what they want Not just putting out anything and it selling because they are rappers and popular at the time (i.e 50 cents has that head rag thing). I hate to see men in those things looking thuggish. It just shows he did not care about the public persona. he cared about making money and how cares about what the item says about the person and his line. Care about the people and your race. Those sort of things pull us down as a race of people.It says something very negative about blacks. And as a people we make what is popular because we are the ones that buy them. So we need to stop being led and be leaders.Forget about what is popular but, consider what is good and right to wear and do. We must be proud of who we are and what we wear.
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By: SNJ on 8/14/2010 4:59PM
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By: Yvonne on 8/22/2010 6:11AM
There doing it & doing it well.
http://www.essenceofsilk.com 100% silk & satin pillowcases, hair wraps & du rags.
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By: abercrombie on 11/17/2010 9:28AM
more fashion brands?know?
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