Your Favorite Rappers Stunt In Mall Brands Too

Fashion has always been an integral part of rap music. In the simpler early days, emcees, DJs and b-boys rocked sportswear brands such as Nike, adidas, FILA, PUMA, Reebok and more. Time passed and hip-hop eventually embracing a more high-end aesthetic with the adoption of brands such as Polo Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, and Nautica. Materiallsm continued to gain prominence in the rap aesthetic and by the ’00s, rappers journeyed into luxury brands like Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Fendi and more. Labels like Tom Ford, Givenchy, Christian Louboutin, Versace, Balmain, Salvatore Ferragamo were further added to the rap catalog after receiving cosigns from influential rap moguls and figures like Kanye West, JAY-Z, A$AP Rocky, Migos and others.

We now live in a time where rappers are expected to be fitted in head-to-toe high-fashion gear. There are a handful of popular rappers, however, who choose to take the more humble or down-to-earth route. Although they can very easily afford high-end pieces, these artists choose to stay low-key with accessible options and mall brands (each for different reasons, of course.) We’ve rounded up eight rappers who are either known for rocking (or occasionally wear) mall brands.

A$AP Rocky

Brands: Topman

Pretty Flacko is not one to be known for rocking mall brands. Afterall, he is one of the first rappers to speak on then-semi-obsure high fashion brands like Raf Simons, Rick Owens and Maison Margiela. However, at 2014’s Met Gala, A$AP Rocky showed up in head-to-toe Topman — a brand known for its affordable high-fashion-inspired pieces. Rocking a topcoat-style jacket, crisp white shirt and tailored pants, he taught fans that it’s possible to look a million bucks without having to spend a bank account-breaking amount on an outfit.

Chief Keef

Brands: Aéropostale, Hollister

When you think of Sosa’s current ‘fits, colorful Fendi and Gucci shirts, Ferragamo belts, soccer jerseys, v-neck tees and such come to mind. Even when Keef first popped off in late 2011 – early 2012, he was already rocking the mall’s higher-end offerings such as North Face windbreakers, Gucci polos and True Religion jeans. Before that, however, the Chicago rapper didn’t have his hands on that much money yet; he and his GBE boys often rocked middle-of-the-mall brands like Aéropostale and Hollister, much like any other 15-year-old kid would.

Kendrick Lamar

Brands: Reebok

Kendrick Lamar is known more for his artistry and lyrical ability than his fashion sense, but that isn’t stopping the Compton rapper from working with brands. Last winter, Kendrick Lamar has partnered up with Reebok to deliver his own classic leather split pack. Before that, he dropped the original Red/Blue version of the sneaker in July ‘15. Lamar says that he’s been a fan of the classics since middle school, when Cash Money Records hit the scene. Lamar teamed up with acclaimed director Anthony Mandler to shoot the video, Reebok Presents Kendrick Lamar, which was shot at locations that the rapper grew up in.

Lil B

Brands: Vans

You might remember The Based God when he and his crew The Pack dropped their hit song, “Vans” back in 2006. Lil B wasn’t kidding about how much he loves Vans; he’s been wearing the same pair for many, many years and famously said that he won’t stop wearing them until he makes a million dollars. They’re extremely worn out and distressed, barely holding on to his feet, and Lil B once estimated that they’re worth close to $45,000 dollars (and this was back in 2011). They’re so rare that he claims to have a dirty decoy pair in case a thief is trying to rob the original pair.

Lil Uzi Vert

Brands: Abercombie & Fitch

We’ve seen Lil Uzi Vert rocking with various brands: VLONE, Vetements, rock tees, Goyard, Bape, etc. Last month, though, the Philadephia rapper uploaded a photo of himself on Instagram lying on a hotel bed covered in hundred dollar bills and Pokemon cards. The biggest eye-catcher in the photo is his outfit — Uzi was donning head-to-toe Abercrombie & Fitch. In the 2000s, the A&F thrived as a “cool kids”-type brand but this year, it was deemed as the most hated brand in America and is planned to close the doors of up to 60 of its 270 stores before the end of 2017. Let’s see if Uzi can bring it back.

Stormzy

Brands: adidas, Nike

Head-to-toe athletic gear has always been popular in European countries and the UK, even before “athleisure” became a trend. It’s especially a staple to grime music; case-in-point, Stormzy is usually seen donning an adidas (and sometimes Nike) sweatsuit. Sure, mans is now an ambassador for adidas, but he’s been rocking the three stripes before any deal was made and continues to do so even after finding money and fame.

Vince Staples

Brands: Converse, Levi’s, Vans

Vince Staples is definitely not one to be donning loud, high-fashion gear. Supreme, Tommy Hilfiger and Polo are the highest he’s willing to go and even then, those are the statement pieces. Although he claimed to have a big Air Jordan collection at one point in his life, Vince has only been rocking Converses and Vans excluvely for the past few years. The Long Beach rapper has once said that when he’s on stage, he doesn’t want to be seen as someone who is better than his fans. He’d prefer kids find virtues from him that does not include materialism. He has promised time and time again that he would never be caught with a watch or chain on.

YG

Brands: American Apparel, Converse, Kirkland, Nike, Toms, Vans

YG has never been one to wear rock guady or high-fashion outfits. Although he collects Jordans, Young Gangsta claims to only wear Converse Chuck Taylors, Nike Cortezes and Vans shoes. Recently, he added Toms to his ensemble, infamously wearing a pair (along with a bulletproof vest) at Tyler, The Creator’s fashion show, just because they remind the Bompton rapper of the shoes he wore in county jail. It’s not just the shoes that he keeps it simple with either; YG is known for wearing American Apparel flannels, Kirkland white tees and even pieces that look like they’re from Zara and H&M.