Remembering 10 Failed Rapper Clothing Lines
Poor Young Buck. Just as everyone started to forget about his embarrassing ousting from the G-Unit camp, we learned yesterday that his clothing line, David Brown, is calling it quits. To keep it 100, we completely forgot dude had a clothing line, which he supposedly launched last April when things were a bit rosier for the Nashville, TN native. But now that the entire country is hemorrhaging money quicker than Ma$e’s time on G-Unit, there’s just no place for up-start clothing lines ran by unsigned hypes.
But he’s not the first rapper to launch an anti-climactic clothing line, and we’re sure he won’t be the last. So in an attempt to dry Mr. Brown’s tears and show him that he’s no so alone afterall, we’re taking a look back at the history of failed clothing lines launched by rappers. Pour a little liquor below…
BROOKLYN MINT
Created By: Notorious B.I.G.
Founded: 1995/6
- Even though he was Black and ugly as ever, Biggie still managed to stay dipped in the finest fashion labels. So it’s no wonder that his clothing line was going to be aimed at larger fellows that dreamed of being Gucci’d down to the socks. Unfortunately, Big passed before the label had a chance to blow up. In 2005, his mother and former managers Mark Pitts and Wayne Barrow tried to bring the name back, but by that time we had enough straight to Marshalls/TJ Maxxx rapper lines to clothe the needy.
BUSHI SPORT
Created By: Busta Rhymes
Founded: 1999
- 1999 was a good year for Busta'he had two great albums under his belt, his Flipmode imprint found a home at Elektra and, like any other successful rapper, he was in the midst of dropping his own clothing line. According to Busta, Bushi meant: “Japanese warrior; Brooklyn’s way of saying bourgeois; a cool way of saying, ‘Busta’s shit!’ and “Couture meets the street.” Sounds like a perfect match for anyone named Spliff Star.
NOSTIC
Created By: Jim Jones
Founded: 2007
- Looking to capitalize on the skull and crossbones rocker style that he and Julez traded their throwbacks, Girbaud jeans and Vasque boots for, Dipset/ByrdGang Capo started a clothing line presumably so he didn’t have to go far for his glittery glamor. Strangely, as soon as Jimmy’s music career took off, Nostic disappeared'even on 125th St.
SNOOP DOGG CLOTHING
Created By: Snoop Dogg
Founded: 2000
- Before he launched his Rich & Infamous clothing line, which is a generic clothing line re-branded with his logo and random bandanna designs, Snoop launched his eponymous apparel line which basically consisted of re-branded t-shirts, jeans and sweatshirts. Same ol’ G thang.
FJ560
Created By: Fat Joe
Founded: 1997
- Fat Joe wasn’t always a Johnny-Come-Lately when it came to new trends. His FJ560 line started with the best of intentions: Fed up with the way blacks and Latinos were sending their money outside of the community when they bought clothes, Joe opened up a store called Half-Time and started accepting designs from local designers to sell in the store. What happened to FJ560? We’re not sure, but we’re guessing Armageddon, Cuban Link and Tony Sunshine could point us in the right direction.
DMX SIGNATURE CLOTHING
Created By: DMX
Founded: 2006
- In order to feed his “lifestyle”, DMX started a clothing line to be sold at concerts and specialty shops. We can’t say we were as surprised as DMX to find out that no one wanted to dress like a transient crack head garbage man. X should have stuck to doggy clothing, doggy.
NO LIMIT CLOTHING
Created By: Master P
Founded: Early 90’s
- In addition to his record label, movie company, credit card company and toy line, Master P decided to add clothing to his portfolio. He even designed face plates for pre-paid mobile phones he sold to match the pieces in the line. But when No Limit records went bankrupt, everything else went with it. No worries, though, Master P re-up’d and launched P. Miller clothing which is still going strong at Wal-Mart. So, yeah, there’s that.
CEO
Created By: Dame Dash
Founded: 2006
- With his stake in Rocawear dead and gone, Dame set out to start another empire. Only this time he had no superstar rapper to pawn all the shit he was trying to sell, so the CEO line went the way of the Roc Box. Remember the Roc Box? Didn’t think so.
OUTKAST CLOTHING
Created By:Outkast
Founded:2002
- When Outkast announced that they were going to launch their own clothing line, Andre said that fans would be able to get “everything…the furs, the leathers…hats…everything.” But when it hit stores it looked like a rehashed Enyce. It didn’t represent 3 Stacks, the George Clinton of hip hop style or Big Boi’s fly pimp stylings. It was just kinda boring. And they never wore it. Rule #1 of the celebrity clothing game: If you don’t wear your clothes, no one else will.
SOJI
Created By: Common
Founded: 2007
- Looking to capitalize on the success of Be and Be Pt.2: Finding Forever, Lonnie decided to get into full capitalist mode and team up with Italian hat company La Coppola Storta on a line of high-end hats. We were excited for the Complex cover star until we found out the hats that could best be described as “bohemian driving caps” were priced at $125. Come on. Smarten up, Com.
Slim March 5, 2009 at 4:35 pm
what about Eve’s flop of a clothing like with Eck…oops
BIG FRED March 5, 2009 at 5:17 pm
DONT FORGET BOUT MAKAVELI BRAND. I COPPED A ILL TEE WIT PAC’S FACE PIC ON IT AT MARSHALLS LIKE 2 YEARS AGO!
player player March 5, 2009 at 6:28 pm
lol u know whats even funnier than rappers clothing failing??i know a clothing line that didnt fail but it sold the fuck out.u guessed it ECKO!!!!! what happened to ECKO.u guys had the best shit in the 90s until like 2002 or 2003.damn shame.
nessnice March 5, 2009 at 6:53 pm
what bout shingo? bow wows line? maybe u can still find dat in the toddler section…
Besos March 5, 2009 at 6:57 pm
no VOKAL?
hhahaa
damn nelly
willie March 5, 2009 at 7:20 pm
what about VOKAL by Nelly?
Or would that be on the R & B failed clothing line list?
sean coonery March 5, 2009 at 8:30 pm
Dear Complex…
what about Ecko…..What about Ecko?
hmmm….what about Ecko?
Complex Spelling March 5, 2009 at 9:42 pm
“Joe opened up a store [...] and started excepting designs from local designers”
“excepting designs” – did you guys go to school or is it okay these days to talk like retards?
It is “accepting” designs…nice editing, Complex shines as usual.
Blu March 5, 2009 at 11:07 pm
you shoulda added SHAGO by LIL BOW WOW.
Trill Gates March 6, 2009 at 12:27 am
what about Vokal (nelly)? and WU Wear? and LL Cool J’s sears brand clothing
and these aren’t rappers lines but they’re hip hop related sort of
Ecko?
Nawshis ?( Fernando Vargas)
Last of the ProRicans March 6, 2009 at 12:43 am
Don’t forget about G-unit wear. State Prop cloths. The stash pockets were. Shady wackass shit. Ruff Ryders had a line, had the nerve to talk shit about shiny suits and turn around put out some shiny jeans the bamas use to wear in the late 90s early 00s
The Mind March 6, 2009 at 4:16 am
This is something I will stick my teeth into and have a full article ready in a few weeks to be debuted on http://www.sundayhhtimes.blogspot.com
But yeah them Ecko Assoc Labels (EAL) not to be confised with RAL Rush Associated Labels, but Fetish, G Unit and Shady was poorly done, it mad bread but the clothes were terrible, just not right, the whole putting a logo on something like which was said for Snoop(Good Call by the way) That was done on all the EAL upon your bank book, ya’ll dropped G Unit than brought it back, after Terminate On Sight, smart move
lea March 6, 2009 at 10:58 am
VOKAL actually had some nice prints! Bushi…please, OutKast..please, P.Miller….anything in walmart cant be considered a flop? Ecko is still around…..G-Unit copied Ecko! Shouldnt G-Unit be on the list even tho he made millions for a couple years all of a sudden it was over!
lea March 6, 2009 at 11:01 am
i forgot about Nostic…..and Jim has the nerve to talk about TI having no Swag….AKOO is doing DAMN well right now!!!
Steely D March 6, 2009 at 11:21 am
HEY! I still have/ rock my Outkast red hoodie…(in the house) it’s my fave! haters everywhere! jeez…
Steely D March 6, 2009 at 11:22 am
and can someone please tell this rule: “Rule #1 of the celebrity clothing game: If you don’t wear your clothes, no one else will.”
to beyonce- because her line is t-orrible…and she stays wearing other people’s brands, lol…smh
Belize March 6, 2009 at 1:12 pm
Someone should post the pic of Nas rocking Esco..lol
brandonsoderberg March 6, 2009 at 4:25 pm
What about Jeezy’s “USDA” and then 8232 or whatever, did that ever even come out? Beyonce’s DERREON shit is lining the racks of Marshall’s too.
S. Heasley March 6, 2009 at 10:08 pm
Quit biting.
http://www.satchelofgravel.com/?p=399
gingerBred March 8, 2009 at 11:07 am
How would gunit clothing be on the list last time I checked it was never a failed clothing line it was pretty damn successful so was shadys clothing line.LLCOOLJ LINE WILL BE NEXT.
Vokal March 8, 2009 at 3:49 pm
I think they’re still making Vokal. It’s just that Nelly’s OG brand got covered by Apple Bottom.
GGOSE March 8, 2009 at 9:45 pm
IT’S ‘COOGI DOWN TO THE SOCKS’…COMPLEX DON’T KNOW SHIT..YOUR WHOLE MAG IS JUST POO
Cinsere March 9, 2009 at 10:44 am
Where’s Vokal?
K-wabbit March 16, 2009 at 1:50 pm
This isn’t an economic thing. Maybe all those lil pussies just don’t wanna pose as drug dealers no more. What is it with one-hit wonder rappers that make them thing people wanna dress like them anyway and that the US needs another piece of crap rap clothing line.
Soul 2 Soul Vancouver March 16, 2009 at 2:25 pm
don’t forget Naughty Gear by Naughy by Nature. also Ice T’s Ice wear. Shaq is a rapper member TWISM [The World Is Mine].
Avi March 20, 2009 at 5:59 am
Who knows about Thug Life ? They shit is hard to find but the quality is right. Expensive though. They beat out Makaveli cos dont nobody want Pac all over their body. It’s about the movement not about making money off the departed. Rip Pac and Big
makaveli June 4, 2009 at 11:35 pm
Wow! what a cool outfit.. it seems very fashionable and attractive. now i believe that makaveli is one of the coolest brand ever. keep posting.
-sidney-
Juice September 15, 2009 at 1:40 pm
Nostic is not a failed line, were actually on the up n coming. Jim Jones has nothing to do with it he was more ”the face” of the company. jus used to help sell. but as you can see he’s a flop so……
Czar One September 30, 2009 at 3:04 am
What about ESCO by Nas? Flop. Cant believe nobody mentioned that.
Czar One September 30, 2009 at 3:06 am
Oh and I know Shaq is really a basketball player but he rapped when he dropped his Twism. Another flop.
Black/Cloud October 13, 2009 at 2:27 pm
Esco was never Nas´ own brand , but … well, Willie Esco´s. Nas was just in the ads.
Do yo research before runnin your mouth, homie
big phil October 15, 2009 at 8:02 am
ive still got a green Outkast hoodie , fkn comfy . its a damn shame … love from uk
Sorebushi October 18, 2009 at 7:05 am
Well… WU Wear, G-Unit and Vokal were all successful at first, selling at “regular” stores…but now they’re all at the SALE racks in Marshall’s, TJ Maxx and R.O.S.S. … so I would pretty much consider those failures as well – even though there was a point when G-Unit was selling like crazy.