Rappers have always been synonymous with fashion trends. Although it wasn’t always the case. I refer you to the Ja Rule/Burberry incident. Ja Rule’s stylist decided to drape the rapper in Burberry’s house check despite Burberry’s reservations. Due to the stigma attached to urban artists, Burberry weren’t interested in supporting or being associated with the then Grammy-nominated, triple-platinum artist. Ja Rules fans followed suit and bought up Burberry to emulate their beloved favorite rapper. Therefore, Burberry quickly changed their tune. Now, they use multiple rappers for marketing their product such as Skepta, Nicki Minaj and more recently collaborating with Chinese rapper Kris Wu.
Rap had become the world’s most listened to genre world-wide, overtaking that of rock music. Therefore, it also became the sound of teen rebellion, youth. It became cool.
One example of a rapper bringing a new style/fashion to the masses that comes in mind is Eminem’s tennis visor look, which went viral.
A perfect example of how a celebrity can influence the masses, in this case making it ‘trendy’ to wear an article of clothing one thought could never been associated with being cool. But rather, a sunny days tennis get-up, most likely on a female.
Another headwear that moved from tourist to the truest due to a rapper donning it is the bucket hat, all thanks to Eminem’s favorite rapper as a kid, L L Cool J…
LL also claims to have invented the ‘pull-up-one-leg-pant’ look. Unfortunately.
Who would wear a front-tie bandana? Well, people might, all because of one of the biggest rappers in the history of the game, Tupac…
So let’s get to it, which rappers own their own fashion labels?
50-Cent’s G-Unit
Formed in 2003, the G-Unit Clothing Company is American clothing retailer established when 50 Cent teamed up with Selman Hasanaj and Marc Eckō (founder of Eckō Unltd). Since its initial launch, the brand has generated $100 million in retail sales.
P Diddy’s Sean John
Founded in 1998 by Harlem mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs, Sean John quickly became a force. Since its launch, Sean John has enjoyed critical and commercial success with revenues now exceeding $525 million annually.
T.I’s AKOO
A.K.O.O. is a clothing line started in late 2008 and founded by T.I. and Jason Geter, both co-founders of Atlanta-based hip hop recording label Grand Hustle Records. A.K.O.O. is an acronym that stands for “A King Of Oneself.”
A.K.O.O faced a lawsuit from Akoo International, a social Music TV Network established years before the clothing line, for trademark infringement.
Also, in March 2010 numerous calls were made to the CBS Outdoor office complaining that an A.K.O.O billboard in Newark, New Jersey was too sexually suggestive. The billboard depicted a man having his jeans pulled down by a woman who was squatting in front of him. Due to the excessive number of complaints the billboard was removed. Sounds fair enough to me.
Jay-Z’s Rocawear
Rocawear is an American clothing retailer based in New York, created in 1999 by Roc-A-Fella Records co-founders Damon Dash and Jay-Z.
Wu-Tang’s Wu Wear
It wouldn’t be a used clothing retailer or Salvation Army type op shop setup if it didn’t stock some used/low socioeconomically displaced Wu Wear.
It’s 1995 and Wu Tang are riding high off the success of their debut album Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), they decide to eschewed notions of collaboration with bigger companies and opted to sell their own brand. Wu Wear became the first in many future clothing lines to come from rappers.
Early investor into Wu Tang Clan and the creator of Wu Wear is close associate Oliver ‘Power’ Grant. Unable to rap or produce, Oliver investing heavily into Wu Tang early and then became a marketing visionary, assisting in propelling the Wu Tang clan into being more than just another rap group with the “W” symbol now being a world wide phenomenon.
He opened four Wu Wear stores, in New York City, Los Angeles, Atlanta and Norfolk, Virginia. The line was carried in Macy’s, Rich’s, and d.e.m.o, among others. Power says he earned $10 million in 1998. Funnily, the argumentative member of the group METHOD MAN advised that he regretted the fact that the group had merch so widely sold despite the money making.
“When Wu-Wear started making shoes and sneakers and pants, it was shoddy material. I never rocked that shit.” – Method Man
Kanye West – Yeezy
Yeezy outfits are almost always monochrome—grays, browns, blacks, and oranges are favorite hues—and either second-skin tight or so loose the body is swallowed completely. The real heroes of the Yeezy empire though are the sneakers.
Revenue for the Yeezy sneaker line, now with Adidas, toped $1.5billion in 2019. West’s pretax income over the past 12 months came in at $150million, according to Forbes.
Tyler the Creator’s Golf Wang
Golf Wang was an American clothing brand established in 2011 by Tyler, The Creator. The brand is known for its colorful, vibrant, almost childish designs. The name Golf Wang is a spoonerism of Wolf Gang, a common phrase used throughout Tyler’s early music.
Tyler recently starred in a rather peculiar Gucci ad with ASAP Rocky & Iggy Pop, cementing his fashion icon status.
Eminem’s E13
Eminem debuted his E13 clothing line in November 2016, a collaboration with Carhartt. The product is exclusively sold in Carhartt’s Detriot store. The collaboration was established with the purpose of raising funds for the Verses Project, which is a branch of the Community Music School (CMS) – Detroit. The program works in conjunction with the Michigan State University School of Music to teach students literacy through the art of songwriting.
Part of the collection included Eminem x Carhartt x Air Jordan IV Sneakers.
Pharrell’s Billionaire Boys Club
Billionaire Boys Club and ICECREAM are streetwear clothing and accessory brands created in 2003 by Pharrell Williams with Nigo, A Bathing Ape creator. In August 2011 Jay-Z, who is a frequent collaborator with Williams, partnered with the Billionaire Boys Club line, investing in the brand. The following year BBC recorded high $25 million to $30 million in volume, up from $12 million.
Drake’s OVO (Octobers Very Own)
Drake and Oliver El-Khatib(OVO clothing owners) first meet at Lounge, a popular boutique in Toronto, where El-Khatib worked and Graham frequented. It was at this time that Drake was evolving from actor to rapper and looking to create his own unique brand.
OVO was founded using Myspace and various blogging websites as their port of call for the hottest music, fashion, and art trends going, curating a unique aesthetic and vibe.
The OVO label exceeds $50 million USD in annual revenue.
Rap World 
One Reply to “Rappers that have their own clothing lines”