The 25 Most Stylish Rappers From NYC Right Now

Written by Matt Welty (@MatthewJWelty)

New York City will forever be the heartbeat and birthplace of hip-hop, no matter how many regional stars put their city on the map. As NYC goes, so does the rest of the industry. However, the city doesn't provide a uniform standard for other also-rans to dilute and awkwardly reproduce. It's New York. Its rappers are as diverse as its neighborhoods, and equal parts well-dressed.

Each fragment of the city's hip-hop culture has a sartorial leader behind the sonic thumps. Do you like streetwear? Check the extra wearable styles of Joey Bada$$. How about the mature, tailored but cool look? Yasiin Bey is your new icon. Even if you're into high-end designer clothing or a stalwart of traditional hip-hop swagger, there's A$AP Rocky and Nas; a perfect contrast of where hip-hop is headed and where it has been. And both are super stylish, right now. Without further adieu, here are The 25 Most Stylish Rappers From NYC Right Now.

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Borough: Manhattan (Harlem)
Signature style: A fresh pair of sneakers accessorized by his own brand, Vampire Life.

Is there anyone who reps Harlem harder than Capo Jim Jones? The rapper not only puts on for his neighborhood with his tunes, but with his brand Vampire Life, too. Still, with all the fame and hit records, Jimmy still dresses like the dude from the block. His style is extra approachable as he rocks varsity jackets, cool sweatshirts, and, of course, a fresh pair of sneakers.

Borough: Queens (Flushing)
Signature style: Whatever fits and is comfortable; workwear.

Action Bronson is fat, masturbates into his beard, wears ill-fitting clothes—and is super stylish. Bronson's often-compared-to-Ghostface-like delivery, wrestling references, and penchant for workwear make him a fan favorite. Although it's up for discussion whether Bronson is well-dressed, when he raps, "Somebody save me cause I don't want to go to jail, I'd rather be up in the mansion for the Polo sale," it's hard to not be drawn into his world. As you champion his camo jacket, crocs, and cane.

Borough: Queens (Flushing)
Signature style: Polo down to the socks.

The Lo-Lifes are responsible for the popularization of Ralph Lauren Polo amongst urban youth. The New York City gang members would earn their stripes by the amount of the designer's clothes they stole from department stores in the '80s and '90s. People still love Ralph Lauren, and Lo-Lifes are still relevant, none more than Meyhem Lauren.

You may have caught one of his guest verses on an Action Bronson mixtape, or listened to one of his sprawling albums, but Lauren is still on his 'Lo shit, and still rocks his USA fleece. A few rappers may convince their listeners to wear the same gear because they look so cool, but the lifestyle attached to Lauren's style is what makes it aspirational.

Borough: Brooklyn (Red Hook)
Signature style: Average youth with his own flair.

Kris Kasanova is hardcore. He doesn't rap about flipping packs or sticking-up other rappers, but his flow has a rawness that you wouldn't expect from such a mild-mannered dresser. Kasanova has the appearance of your average kid who wants to look dipped in beanies, leather jackets, and his hometown fitted. That’s most of us. Although his outfits are simple, he knows how to add the appropriate accessory, like a gold chain or layered outerwear. The young emcee might rap “Like it’s ’88,” but that’s a good thing. That was hip-hop’s golden era for style and rhymes. Hopefully, Kasanova can live up that legacy.

Borough: Brooklyn (Flatbush)
Signature style: Bleached hair, large beard, and gear you wish you could find.

Juice of Flatbush Zombies might seem like the weird stoner kid. Actually, he is—dressed in streetwear, vintage sports gear, adorned with a beard most only fantasize about accruing, and sports a fresh set of gold fronts. On anyone else, Juice's style wouldn't look right; the two-tone hair would look clownish, especially paired with camouflage jackets and garments from Supreme. You'd look like a hypebeast. Especially with a bandanna loosely-tied around your head.

Borough: Brooklyn (East Flatbush)
Singature style: Thrift store finds with Native American jewelry.

MeLo-X is one of the most low-key rappers in New York City. Not because he's slept on. He likes it that way. From his early days of getting-down with Mickey Factz and the GFC, to hanging with the folks from Street Etiquette, MeLo-X has produced work that is as eclectic as his fashion sense—rapping over Gil Scot Heron tracks, amassing a thrift store-like style, and sporting his signature dreadlocks.

The rapper, producer, and DJ is able to combine elements of menswear like tweed jackets with a plethora of bandannas and heavy, beaded jewelery. If he ever chooses to come out from the shadows, MeLo-X could bring back the Native Tongues style (and sound).

Borough: Manhattan (Harlem)
Signature style: Lo Horseman.

You may have been introduced to Smoke DZA through a couple guest appearances on Curren$y mixtapes, but DZA's style doesn't follow uniform to Spitta's addiction to streetwear. Actually, the Harlem rapper's personal style best categorizes him as a Lo-Life, goose jacket and all. We've seen bucket hats reemerge as one the much-appreciated trends of last year, and DZA stays on point with the military-inspired bucket that he mixes with a variety of rugbys, printed-shirts, and even a simple tee.

Borough: Queens (Flushing)
Signature style: Thrift store hipster.

There are many "hip" rappers. Hip-hop is a continual quest to ingest and poop out old art as something new and irreverent. But what about a prototypical hipster rapper? Heems is it. One-third of the now-defunct rap crew Das Racist, Heems brings a wit and political conscience to his rhymes, and also dresses like every other dude you see in Brooklyn, but way better.

The rapper mixes ironic vintage gear with broken-in outerwear, plus, when you throw together 'fits that aren't the newest-everything, it shows you're not trying too hard.

Borough: Brooklyn (Crown Heights)
Signature style: Fly street kid with designer gear, Jordans, and furs.

If you keep your bricks in your backpack, it might as well be an MCM. Troy Ave personifies the life of a street hustler, hefty furs and all. Troy's career is fairly new, but he has shown us that he likes to rock streetwear, sports apparel, Jordans, and rep his hood, Brooklyn. That sounds like a couple other famous emcees from the past and present. Hopefully, we get more music and stylish growth out of the up-and-comer in the years ahead.

Borough: Manhattan (Harlem)
Signature style: Super expensive and limited pieces mixed with designer parodies.

Vinny Cha$e knows how to do the high-low thing well. The Harlem native rocks high-end outerwear with vintage sports apparel, and parody T-shirts with Yeezy IIs with Louis Vuitton backpack on the side. Cha$e has proved he can put together complete looks, but his greatest contribution to the style world might be something he designed—this. The rapper is the man behind the "Luxy Mask" that we've seen both 2 Chainz and Justin Bieber recently don.

Borough: The Bronx (South Bronx)
Signature style: Menswear with an athletic and high-end twist.

This past year, Swizz Beatz hit his style groove. The looks he rocks surely aren’t for everyone—not many people can rock Reebok Shaq Attacks with a blue suit (just unbutton the bottom button, please), but he also showed how to mix high-end gear from Givenchy and Balenciaga with streetwear brands. Also, it looks like he has gotten other members of his family into style and music. That ensures a well-dressed legacy for years to come.

Borough: Staten Island (Stapleton)
Signature style: If your dad was one the greatest rappers alive, and dressed like it was '95.

Ghostface Killah is back! Well, he never left, but his latest project with Adrian Younge and recent performance on Jimmy Fallon has thrust the most lavishly-dressed member of the Wu-Tang Clan back into the spotlight. This time, Ghost isn’t rocking huge arm links or dressing like an Egyptian pharaoh, but he did break out a custom pair of Air Jordan IVs, a red velvet blazer, and even a mask reminiscent of the 36 Chambers days. Ghostdini’s style hasn’t changed with the years, and surprisingly, that’s a good thing. His rhymes and steez are just as raw as they were circa ’93. Let’s just hope he’s still on his Wallabee kick.

Borough: Manhattan (East Harlem)
Signature look: Rugged wear and getting fly when it's warm out.

If you're a rapper from New York City, you need to have swagger on and off the mic. No questions asked. Bodega Bamz raps like he knows he's so damn cool, and one quick look at his personal style will let you know he has earned that right.

Bamz sports an assortment of sports gear, military-inspired garments, and looks too comfortable in summer time-only styles. He might do his whole steez "strictly for his Papis," but take a page from Bamz's style book if you want to look fresh year-round.

Borough: Queens (St. Albans)
Signature style: A non-stiff suit with a touch of funk.

Q-Tip has been a mainstay (and influencer) of New York City hip-hop for close to 25 years. There's not many artists that can boast that fact. Tip may have sported funky, African, and sports-inspired gear in his early career, but as the years went on, he also found a solid tailored game, too. In fact, the rapper's style landed him a L'Uomo Vogue photo shoot in 2011, in which he sported a top hat and tuxedo (a look many rappers would struggle to pull off).

With that said, what makes Tip so stylish is that his look is completely his own, much like his demeanor on the mic. Yes, he hangs out with Kanye West and the rest of the G.O.O.D. Music gang. Does he dress like any of them? No, but he looks equally as great.

Borough: The Bronx (South Bronx)
Signature style: Obnoxious outerwear made of various animals furs; Versace.

If you didn't obnoxiously bump French Montana's "Pop That" this past year, you're either stuck under a rock, or lying. Be honest, although Montana isn't the most lyrical or thought-provoking emcee, he's entertaining, and his style plays a huge factor in the rapper's appeal. The Morocco-native, who grew up in New York City, has more than handful of looks that only he can pull off, and looks awesome in each one.

Montana is probably the only rapper who can rock a bear pelt, dress like an Eskimo, or don a full-length Versace robe, and look uniquely fresh, but definitively himself.

Borough: Brooklyn (Bedford-Stuyvesant)
Signature style: Whatever's popping at the moment; leather garments.

Fabolous keeps up with the times, but he's not merely chasing trends; he's looked fresh most of his career. The rapper successfully dresses with as much punch and flash as his lyrics would suggest. The ingrained image of Fab might be a young kid in a Mitchell & Ness jersey, or showing Bobbito Garcia his healthy sneaker collection. However, he's recently found a love for leather garments—proving that not everyone who wears Clothsurgeon or Givenchy is a street goth.

Borough: Brooklyn (Crown Heights)
Signature style: Printed shirts, one of one windbreakers, and very rare pieces.

Mr. MFN eXquire just doesn't look like a young Eric Sermon, or flash a smile that rivals Biz Markie's (with fronts that mimic Ol' Dirty Bastard's). He flaunts African-themed jewelery that Q-Tip would have gladly snatched in the early '90s, and raps with the mid-'90s cadence of any Boot Camp Click member. Most importantly, he embodies what made the world fall in love with New York City hip-hop, but in a new form. If eXquire isn't considered stylish, by reflection, then NYC isn't stylish, either.

Borough: Manhattan (Harlem)
Signature style: Dipped in A Bathing Ape and flashing gold fronts.

Unfortunately, if you put an A$AP in front of your name, you're going to draw comparisons to Rocky, even if Raf Simons and Rick Owens aren't usually what you're dressed in. Such is the case for A$AP Ferg, but he definitely holds his own. The Harlem emcee is a newcomer in the music world, but sartorially speaking, it looks as if he has been practicing for a few years.

A brief survey of Ferg's music, and you'd assume he'd be cloaked in very rare Versace, but he mixes streetwear and menswear looks with the best of them—rocking gear from brands like A Bathing Ape, adidas Originals by Jeremy Scott, and even a velvet blazer with tuxedo piping.

Borough: Brooklyn (Crown Heights)
Signature style: Lots of black with an occasional splash of color; En Noir.

Curt@!ns might be the most influential rapper from New York City that few know about. The emcee is heavily involved in hip-hop's new favorite brand, En Noir, and can talk fashion with the best of them. It's hard not be considered one of NYC's most stylish rappers when you get your hands on the hottest garments before anyone else.

But Curt@!ns isn't just stylish because he rocks super-expensive, limited clothes, he also knows how to dress, and that sometimes keeping it simple is your best bet. If you hadn't decided if a leather motorcycle jacket was for you, check the simplicity and versatility it gives Curt@!ns to look cool without trying too hard.

Borough: Brooklyn (Flatbush)
Signature style: Streetwear that anyone could pull off.

What were you doing at 18-years-old? Leading a resurgence in hardcore New York hip-hop and becoming the creative director of one of streetwear's original brands? If your name is Joey Bada$$, then yes you were. As Pro Era captain, leader of the Beast Coast movement, and Creative Director of Ecko, it's surprising that the young rapper has time to even dress stylish. His mixture of prints, denim, and fresh sneakers is a pretty tough combination to screw up. Joey Bada$$ has also had his hand in a couple great collaborations in the past year, too: most notably for a Stussy T-shirt and 5-panel collection with The Decades.

Borough: Queens (Queensbridge)
Signature style: A slimmed-down version of what was dope in the mid '90s.

Nas has truly "survived the times." 19 years ago, Illmatic changed the rap game. After a multitude of ups-and-downs, the Queens native has reemerged to regain his lyrical throne—looking cool along the road to rap royalty.

Nas' style is a good example of how not to overdress, find what basics work well, and rep a style that is distinctly your city. Styles may have come and past, but Nas still rocks Timberland boots, Champion jackets, dookie-rope chains, and a bucket hat when the weather forecast calls for it. Most importantly, Nas represents the train of thought that although a rapper should be stylish, the focus should be on the artist's work.

Borough: Brooklyn (Flatbush)
Signature style: Tailored garments or leather jackets, a snapback, and pair of Air Jordans.

It's hard to place a thumb on how to categorize Theophilus London's musical genre. The same can be said for his style, too. Yes, he raps, but his music isn't definitively hip-hop. And his consistent play between tailored clothing and high-end streetwear makes it unfair to also box his aesthetic.

London, who has successfully built his own brand, LVRS, has recently collaborated with streetwear and menswear favorites such as Surface to Air, 40 oz NYC, and Del Toro. Karl Lagerfeld has also taken a liking to him. We may have been hooked by his fly gear, but London's lasting-power in the style world may be as a designer and contributor, not simply an onlooker.

Borough: Brooklyn (Bed-Stuy)
Signature style: Brands you dream of affording, clothing designed by his friends, and a suit-and-tie.

The true sign of a stylish individual is their sphere of influence. It seems like a lifetime ago when Jay-Z expressed his distaste for jerseys and over-sized fashion in favor of raw denim and a button-up shirt. But Jay unknowingly helped introduce the possibility of rappers dressing like adults.

Since the lyrics on 2003's "Change Clothes," Hova has since become a style chameleon—rocking the most expensive of kicks, gear everyone can afford, and dressing like Frank Sinatra when the time calls for it. The Brooklyn native has already cemented his spot in hip-hop history, but when you're best buds with Kanye West, married to Beyoncé, and consistently sit courtside at NBA games, it's hard not be one of the best-dressed rappers, now.

Borough: Brooklyn (Bedford-Stuyvesant)
Signature style: Tailored clothing with a touch of streetwear; a modern, young Sidney Poitier.

Mos Def is no newcomer to stylish behavior, but latest his artistic reincarnation Yasiin Bey is the representation of the intersection of style and music. There's nothing inherently fashionable about Bey's music; he doesn't name drop the hottest brands or talk about how fresh he is. But listen to The Ecstatic and try not to catch inspiration to dress your own way, have an exaggerated bounce to your step, or want to create something new. Something distinct.

Yasiin Bey, Mos Def, Dante Smith, Cabbie—whatever you want to call him, he knows his shit about style and its permanence through the lives of its participants. Don't try to be Bey, follow his lead and become yourself.

Borough: Manhattan (Harlem)
Signature style: All white or all black; Alexander Wang, Rick Owens, Raf Simons.

It's impressive that a street kid from Harlem has become the most influential force in high fashion, but there's nothing average about A$AP Rocky. Over the past year, style and hip-hop aficionados hung on Rocky's every interview, photo shoot, and most importantly, lyric.

No matter how many times Rocky told us about his fashion obsession, wore Rick Owens or referenced hard-to-pronounce brands, we awed and pretended like we had never seen this story unfold. Still, every time he did, the blogosphere was re-energized, and something about hip-hop felt new again.