Arena Mode # Rap, a fashion victim

AMERICAN RAPPERS, THE ULTIMATE INFLUENCE.

Without going into details, let's remember that the various "styles" of clothing associated with U.S. rap were only differentiated by the city in which they originated! Los Angeles was the capital of Snoop Dogg's style consisting of a Lakers jersey and waving a big cigar in his hand. In New York, cradle of hip-hop, big baggy pants and Timberland boots were worn by Jay-Z, 50 Cent, or Nas. The American rap scene is full of legendary stars, and the greatest rappers of all time proudly show off their most beautiful and eye-popping jewellery! Yellow diamond chains, XXL gold pendants, or rings on every finger (we see you LL Cool J 👋). Kanye West is ultimately considered a pioneer in the democratization of rap in fashion. He creates a twist between audacity, provocation, and elegance through his outfits, which he has carefully perfected! The year 2009 is considered the decisive moment when the genre was first introduced within the Louis Vuitton fashion house. With the creation of an iconic pair of sneakers, an unprecedented collaboration is born between the American rapper and the French haute couture brand.

OPEN SHIRT, SHINY GOLD CHAIN.

It's not just U.S. rappers who have style! On the French side 🇫🇷, fashion is an essential requirement for any worthy rapper! Let's be honest, can we really call a rapper good if they don’t dress well? Every rapper has a unique and recognizable style with personal references and influences, and to each their own. Long gone are the days of hooded sweatshirts, caps and big sweatpants worn by bands like Suprême NTM or their Marseille rivals, IAM... French rap is now in its golden age when it comes to looks and fashion. For example, Freeze Corleone with his branded glasses, or SCH with his long hair and atypical look, wearing shirts, blazers, long coats and luxury watches.

Hatik stands out for his singular style, as he is the only rapper who proudly wears his shirt open. Vald also owns a very rich and diverse wardrobe! Moschino tracksuit, luxury French shirt or Levis jacket, the only constant is his black sunglasses. He's one of the few rappers who can easily bridge the gap between streetwear and casual look. Let's be honest again: who would have thought a few years ago that Orelsan would have such a drip? And yet, the rapper from Caen has found a passion and a genuine talent for fashion. With his brand Avnier, he creates a very effective and refined streetwear look.

WOMEN IN THE RAP WORLD.

Nowadays, female rappers rely on their femininity, their independence, their freedom of choice and action, and they play with it to build their image. This proves to be a real asset to finally establish themselves among the overrepresented rappers of the scene. Lizzo, for example, is everywhere! Since 2019, she can't be missed in the media, on stages, and in our playlists. The new queen of US rap has imposed her authentic and eccentric style. With her underground and feminist look, Lizzo owns her body, and isn’t afraid to show it. Wearing shimmering dresses with plunging necklines and feather boas around her shoulders, she stands up for the "self-love" style like the true queen she is.

In the 90’s, it was quite the opposite! In the rap scene, women and men had similar styles. Queen Latifah, Eve, Left Eye, or even the popular French rapper Diam's sported a very masculine look. An exception to the rule was Lauryn Hill, who embodied the grunge look by experimenting with color and shape, integrating denim in a variety of different styles. The great performer of "Killing Me Softly" boldly defined her own style while inspiring the wardrobes of her fans.

ON THE PODIUMS WITH FLOW

At first glance, rap and haute couture seem to have nothing in common. Rap comes from the streets, the blocks, and the projects, where the luxury and high-standards of the fashion world do not really belong. And yet, for more than a decade now, a kind of new osmosis has been taking place between these two initially opposed worlds. Since then, some of the most beautiful haute couture houses no longer hesitate to make a rapper their ambassador, creating stage or video outfits for them. How can we not mention PNL, fashion experts, who never work with anyone but the streetwear brand Off-White? For the video of the legendary Au DD song, the iconic stylist Virgil Abloh had specially created a jacket bearing the brand's arrow-shaped logo - a one-of-a-kind piece that never went on sale.

In 2019, rapper Shay became the new ambassador of the famous British brand Burberry, embracing the world of haute couture and proudly appearing in advertising campaigns around the world. Recently, the stage outfits of our national treasure, Orelsan, are designed by a luxury brand for his new Civilisation Tour, which presents unique custom-made models.

THE BRUSSELS GANG

As shown in the Netflix show "Nouvelle Ecole", Belgian rap is on the rise and not just for its unique flow. When it comes to style, Belgian rappers are making Instagram feeds go wild! From Romeo Elvis and Shay, to the rap star Damso, these Belgian artists are among those who pay the most attention to their looks.

Shay is the embodiment of the seductive, independent, and free woman. Pumps, blazers, dresses… It is through glamorous, eccentric, sometimes even punk and futuristic outfits that the Belgian rapper has built her identity. In 2020, she becomes the first black French-speaking artist to appear on the cover of the amazing Vogue magazine, in Japan. Dam-so stylish! Often in the front-row of the greatest fashion shows, the Belgian-Congolese rapper proves that fashion is not a mere detail for him. Always perfectly dressed on stage, in his videos, or during his media appearances, Damso is a prime example of the genre, and probably the most fashionable French-speaking male celebrity of today. Geometry, bold colors and design patterns, the Romeo Elvis look is defined by a very trendy style with just the right amount of streetwear.