Does Fashion Compromise the Integrity of Hip Hop?
Start writing a post
Beauty Fashion

Does Fashion Compromise the Integrity of Hip Hop?

Hip hop and fashion go hand-in-hand, but does fashion take away from music?

261
Does Fashion Compromise the Integrity of Hip Hop?
IG: @asaprocky

In 2014, rapper Drake released a track called "Draft Day" where he dropped one of the most, honestly, prophetic lines I've heard in the new wave of hip hop thus far: "They too worried 'bout b****** and fashion / they go missin' in action".

We're all used to Drake dropping "hashtag relatable" lines about everything from love to money to life in general - on Instagram on any given day, you're sure to see someone posting something with a Drake caption. It's strange, however, for him to drop such a hot take about fashion and its role in hip hop.

Drake is one of the most popular rappers in the world; he's the epitome of what industry hip hop truly is. This begs the question: if one of the biggest sellouts in the industry is calling rappers out for it, is it true? Is there a case to be made for rappers caring more about their clothes than they do about their music?

The rapper that comes to mind most when talking about fashion isn't actually Drake at all - it's A$AP Rocky. Any interview with Rocky shows that he's been interested in fashion since a young age - he even said once that he's the one who made skinny jeans popular, after him and fellow A$AP Mob rapper A$AP Ferg were "bashed" for their outfit choices, claiming that they were often ostracized for not wearing exactly what everyone else wore.

Since blowing up, Rocky has walked in countless fashion shows and become a hip hop Mecca, of sorts, for fashion. Since then, he's also released some incredible albums: his first mixtape, "Live. Love. ASAP", released in 2011, has become a certified underground classic, remaining popular eight years later despite never making it to major streaming platforms like Spotify. "LONG.LIVE.A$AP" and "AT.LONG.LAST.A$AP", his following projects, are, again, still celebrated to this day.

He's collaborated on multiple A$AP Mob albums, "Cozy Tapes" Vol. 1 and 2, both of which were well-received - but then, he released Testing. Testing was a long-awaited album that received mixed reviews - maybe it was because he abandoned his signature sound, one that had been established for years with his previous three projects. A quick scan of social media at the time of its release, however, showed one common sentiment: Rocky's album isn't as good as it could be because he's spent too much time focusing on fashion. And I think it makes a bit of sense - since Rocky's first album, his lyrical matter has increasingly become more and more about fashion with each passing album and each passing feature.

Ultimately, however, I think this criticism is unfair. A$AP Rocky wasn't the first to care about fashion by any means, and he certainly won't be the last.

Since hip hop's conception, luxury brands have been a staple of success - hip hop was a voice for the oppressed, and there was nothing more powerful than kids who couldn't afford to eat who grew up to wear gold chains and Coogi sweaters on the regular.

Eventually, rappers began taking over the fashion game altogether; one of the first examples was the great Wu-Tang Clan out of Staten Island with their brand Wu Wear. Then there was Diddy with Sean John, Fat Joe with FJ560, Jay-Z with Rocawear, and 50 Cent with G-Unit. More recently, there's Lil Wayne with Trukfit, Tyler, the Creator with GOLF, and, perhaps most famously, Kanye West with his Yeezy line.

As with most other aspects of popular culture, hip hop has been a driving force behind fashion for decades - when people see a rapper wearing something, they want to wear it too, and not only did rappers capitalize on that by creating their own brands, but already established brands such as Burberry, Gucci, and Versace capitalized on it as well, jumping at the opportunity to dress rappers in their threads.

Some of the best rappers are business people, and the bottom line? Fashion sells - especially when people are so influenced by what celebrities wear.

But has this breach into fashion, both in business and in lyrical content, actually overshadowed the music itself? Or is it an integral part of hip hop and its culture, so much so that the two are inseparable?

Ultimately, I don't think that hip hop and fashion will ever be mutually exclusive. And I don't think that a focus on fashion is necessarily a bad thing - both music and fashion are art in their own right, so the two merging makes sense. Hip hop relies on this status symbols - on those symbols of success. It's a driving force for many young artists, and it's relatable, and it's part of what keeps the music real and grounded when it has opportunities to be anything but.

In cases like A$AP Rocky's, I think it's unfair to write him off as an artist because he's focusing on fashion, and further, it's unfair to blame a changing musical style and signature on inattention and lack of commitment to the music. This is a whole other topic in itself, but it needs to be said that rappers, and other artists, are allowed to change and evolve, even if it's in a way that fans don't prefer. That includes not only musical style, but personal endeavors as well - as much as we all miss the "Live. Love. ASAP" version of Rocky, we can't have that music forever. Him choosing to focus on fashion doesn't discredit his contributions to music - if anything, it just makes him more versatile as an artist.

Instead of compromising its integrity, I think that fashion has enriched it - and while it's disheartening to see great artists choose other ventures over music in some circumstances, it's not cause for a personal vendetta or the damnation of an entire genre; it's simply people evolving, as they should.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

40397
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

25009
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

950705
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

131870
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments