The 50 Greatest Fashion Moments in Rap Video History

You saw these clips, then you ran to the store.

Not Available Lead
Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

Not Available Lead

Fashion's always been an important part of pop music. From Jimi Hendrix's bandana and open paisley shirts to Jim Morrison's lack of a shirt, musicians expressing themselves through what they wear was a crucial way to further the impact of their art.

Then, the music video changed everything. From the very first broadcast on MTV, the way musicians dressed themselves was totally altered. Forget magazine shoots, album covers, and newsreel footage ruling the day. Given access to a new medium, the rules for a music act cultivating an aesthetic had warped completely. A crackling, live fire, kinetic picture of how an artist defined themselves or their songs was now available.

Enter the rap videos. Slowly but surely, hip-hop—a treasure trove of pop art mostly undiscovered by the world—had a worldwide stage, broadcast via satellite, putting artist most people had never heard (let alone seen) into their living rooms. And of every stripe of music video on television, rap videos took this the furthest, using television as a way to plant their flag on what was cool at that very moment, the kinds of things that rock and roll and pop music had always found a way to adopt and move ahead on before rap could claim it as their own. That wouldn't be the case anymore.

No more was this evident than in the fashions sported by rappers: From Run-D.M.C. to Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg, to 2Pac and Biggie, to Bad Boy's parade of flamboyant bling, and Jay-Z's high fashion ambitions, rap ran circles around the rest of the music video canon as far as fashion was concerned. If music videos changed the fashion game, rap videos changed the way it was played, and it remains one of the most crucial aspects of success in the genre—and in pop music—to this very day.

These are The 50 Greatest Fashion Moments in Rap Video History.

RELATED: The 50 Best Rap Videos of the '00s
RELATED: The 50 Best Rap Videos of the '90s  
RELATED: 100 Photos of Rappers in Sports Jerseys

50. MC Hammer with the parachute pants in "U Can't Touch This."

Not Available Interstitial

49. Jadakiss with the paper towel bandana in "Knock Yourself Out."

Not Available Interstitial

48. Dem Franchize Boys with the white tall tees in "White Tee."

Not Available Interstitial

47. Kanye with the leather pants in "Birthday Song."

Not Available Interstitial

46. Nelly with the band-aid in "#1."

Not Available Interstitial

45. Ma$e with the fitted covering his eyebrows in "Feels So Good."

Not Available Interstitial

44. Nas with the 'I Am the American Dream' T-shirt in "I Can."

Not Available Interstitial

43. Ja Rule with the rare Burberry bucket hat in "Always on Time."

Not Available Interstitial

42. Fat Joe with the powder blue fur in "We Thuggin."

Not Available Interstitial

41. Juvenile with the icy white Reeboks in "Ha."

Not Available Interstitial

40. Everlast with the Boston Celtics jersey in "Jump Around."

Not Available Interstitial

39. Young Jeezy with the Snowman shirt in "And Then What."

Not Available Interstitial

38. Pharrell with the trucker hat in "Shake It Fast."

Not Available Interstitial

37. Kanye with the keffiyeh in "Homecoming."

Not Available Interstitial

36. Jay-Z with the wifebeater in "Big Pimpin."

Not Available Interstitial

35. Biggie with the suede jacket, turtleneck, and Kangol in "Big Poppa."

Not Available Interstitial

34. T.I. with the precisely-angled fitted in "Rubber Band Man."

Not Available Interstitial

33. Pusha T with the "I Got It 4 Cheap" T-shirt in "Drop It Like It's Hot."

Not Available Interstitial

32. Ja Rule with the shirt halfway on in "I'm Real."

Not Available Interstitial

31. Missy Elliott with gigantic black bubble suit in "The Rain."

Not Available Interstitial

30. Naughty by Nature with the Naughty Gear in "Uptown Anthem."

Not Available Interstitial

29. Jay-Z with the wheat Timbs and Beyoncé with the Manolo Blahniks in "'03 Bonnie and Clyde."

Not Available Interstitial

28. Lil Wayne with all the BAPE in "Hustler Muzik."

Not Available Interstitial

27. Andre 3000 with the football pads in "Rosa Parks."

Not Available Interstitial

26. Da Youngstas with the all-Carhartt-everything in "Crewz Pop."

Not Available Interstitial

25. Kris Kross with the backwards clothes in "Jump."

Not Available Interstitial

24. Raekwon with the Snoopy Iceberg sweater in "John Blaze."

Not Available Interstitial

23. Snoop Dogg with the flannels in "What's My Name."

Not Available Interstitial

22. Kanye with the shutter shades in "Stronger."

Not Available Interstitial

21. Juelz Santana with the American flag 'fit in "Dipset Anthem."

Not Available Interstitial

20. LL Cool J with the one pant leg up in "Hey Lover."

Not Available Interstitial

19. Puffy and Ma$e with the shiny suits and ski goggles in "Mo' Money Mo' Problems."

Not Available Interstitial

18. The ROC with the headwear smorgasbord in "Do My."

Not Available Interstitial

17. Mobb Deep with the "HENNESSY" football jerseys in "Shook Ones Part II."

Not Available Interstitial

16. Kanye with the popped collar on the pink Polo in "All Falls Down."

Not Available Interstitial

15. Andre 3000 with the Atlanta Braves jersey in "Player's Ball."

Not Available Interstitial

14. Pharrell with the Ice Creams and BBC in "Drop It Like It's Hot."

Not Available Interstitial

13. Flavor Flav with the top hat and clock necklace in "Fight The Power."

Not Available Interstitial

12. Dr. Dre with the White Sox cap in "Deep Cover."

Not Available Interstitial

11. Cam'ron with the all-pink-everything in "Hey Ma."

Not Available Interstitial

10. Fabolous with the throwbacks in "Can't Deny It."

Not Available Interstitial

9. 2Pac with the bandana tied to the front in "California Love."

Not Available Interstitial

8. Mike D with the Volkswagen medallion in "Fight For Your Right To Party."

Not Available Interstitial

7. LL Cool J with the Kangol in "I'm Bad."

Not Available Interstitial

6. Jay-Z with the button-ups in "Change Clothes."

Not Available Interstitial

5. Snoop Dogg with the Pittsburgh Penguins jersey in "Gin N Juice."

Not Available Interstitial

4. Rakim with the tracksuit and gold chains in "I Ain't No Joke."

Not Available Interstitial

3. Biggie with the Versace shirt and glasses in "Hypnotize."

Not Available Interstitial

2. Raekwon with the "SNOW BEACH" Polo jacket in "Can It Be All So Simple."

Not Available Interstitial

1. Run-DMC with the laceless adidas in "Walk This Way."

Not Available Interstitial

Latest in Music