Change is the only constant in life, and hip-hip is no stranger to that. Since its early beginnings in the Bronx, hip-hop sounds have evolved, and so has the fashion associated with it. An unmistakable way to mark the changes is by simply looking at what the most influential rappers of that decade were wearing on their heads.
Men’s Headwear – 1980s to 1990s
The beginnings of hip-hop in the early ‘80s were a great time for fashion. Popular groups such as N.W.A and RUN-D.M.C set the bar high, with rope chains, Kangol bucket hats, windbreakers, and snapbacks being all the rage. Moving into the next decade, the community started getting influenced by traditional African-American dressing which included bright colors, paisley prints, and bold patterns.
As music played a significant role in how people dressed, celebrities turned into fashion icons, especially rappers. Tupac, for example, was not only well-loved for his resonating lyrics, but also his timeless style. Being one of the biggest trendsetters during the ‘90s, his signature style that influenced the masses comprised vibrant bandanas paired with baggy overalls and a Red Wings Jersey. Another distinctive example of this era’s fashion is Will Smith’s character from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, where he’s always dressed in bright, colorful garments, and baseball caps.
Men’s Headwear – 2000s
Towards this era, many hip-hop artists were starting their own clothing lines and fashion labels, namely Kanye West for Yeezys, Eminem for Shady Limited, and Jay-Z for Rocawear, among a whole lot more. At this point, hip-hop was also going through major changes when notable artists like Tupac and Biggie had both passed. Gangster rap was considered dead, and American rapper Lil Jon stepped up to start an innovative wave for the genre – Crunk. Artists began styling baggy jeans and shirts with fitted flat hats, do-rags, and grills.
Men’s Headwear – 2010s
The rebirth of the 1990s snapback is the most notable sign of the new school throwback image, exploding earlier during this decade. Artists like Kendrick Lamar, A$AP Rocky, and Drake were at the forefront of the era’s hip-hop movement, and their “high fashion” consisted of Versace shades, Louis Vuitton belts, skinny jeans, beanies.
Starter Clothing Line manufactured the most sought-after snapbacks in the 1990s and made its return as the hype for the hats grew during this decade. Many other well-known hat companies like Adidas, Reebok, and New Era started to follow suit. Urban fashionistas credit Mac Miller, a well-known rapper, with starting the hype with the release of his song entitled "Snap Back", released in June 2009.
Hip-hop culture has had the biggest influence on street headwear, informing plenty of the trends and clothing brands that rose to prominence. It took only a few decades to evolve from fringe subculture to the most dominant force in pop culture worldwide.
Why Choose Hat Heaven?
At Hat Heaven, we carry caps with a wide array of designs and fits to choose from. With most of them being original and unique to our store, we have products that cannot be found anywhere else in the world to help you stand out from a crowd.
If you have any inquiries about our range of products and services, do not hesitate to contact us today.
