A History of Celebrities Wearing Bapes

Image via Complex Original

Before you could buy A Bathing Ape products in the U.S., American cool guys paid top dollar to have the product shipped overseas. The Air Force 1-like "Bapes" were a must for any downtown kid with a sneaker collection, and when the first A Bathing Ape store opened stateside, everyone freaked out. Everyone, from hip hop icons to rich dudes brunching at Balthazar (which may or may not have been a good thing). Recently, Nigo had to sell the brand for a shockingly low valuation, but as far as we’re concerned, the product is still cool. Join us on taking a look back at everyone who has rocked this iconic brand of Japanese sneakers, from early adopters like Pharrell to late comers like Paris Hilton to the man who started it all, Nigo. Check out celebrities who have gone ape by clicking on the thumbnails above.

Who: Kanye West

Sneaker: Bape Bapesta

When: November 2008

Where: Complex Magazine

Who: Pharrell Williams

Sneaker: Bape Crocodile Bapesta "Spongebob"

Where: Private bus

Who: DJ AM

Sneaker: Bape Bapesta

When: February 3, 2005

Where: EMI Post Grammy Party

Who: Joel Madden of Good Charlotte

Sneaker: Bape Roadsta

When: 2008

Where: Unknown

Who: Chad Hugo

Sneaker: Bape Bapesta

When: May 2005

Where: Performing

Who: Mike D of The Beastie Boys

Sneaker: Bape Crepe

When: July 2004

Where: Spin Magazine

Who: Mandy Moore

Sneaker: Bape Bapesta

When: February 26, 2009

Where: Los Angeles Airport

Who: Kid Cudi

Sneaker: Bape Bapesta

When: November 2009

Where: Streets of NYC

Who: Posdnuos of De La Soul

Sneaker: Bape Bapesta

When: 2006

Where: Unknown

Who: Jay-Z

Sneaker: Bape x Kaws "Chompers"

When: 2006

Where: Unknown

Who: Nigo

Sneaker: Bape Creepsta

Who: Soulja Boy

Sneaker: Bape Bapesta

When: September 9, 2007

Where: 2007 MTV VMAs

Who: Chris Brown

Sneaker: Bape Apesta Hi Duck

When: June 18, 2010

Where: Streets of L.A.

Who: Young Jeezy

Sneaker: Bape Bapesta

When: 2006

Where: Mass Appeal Magazine Shoot

Who: Clipse

Sneaker: Bape Bapesta

Where: Promo photo

Who: Lil Wayne

Sneaker: Bape Bapesta

When: 2005

Where: "Tell Me" Video Shoot

Who: Pete Wentz

Sneaker: Bape Bapesta

Where: Performing

Who: Q-Tip

Sneaker: Bape Bapesta 88

When: May 10, 2010

Where: Holy Rollers premiere in NYC

Who: Chris Brown

Sneaker: Bape Big Sta Boot

When: February 5, 2010

Where: Help For Haiti concert in Miami

Who: Kid Cudi

Sneaker: Bape Crepe

When: June 11, 2010

Where: Trousdale in L.A.

Who: Paris Hilton

Sneaker: Bape Bapesta

When: 2008

Where: Los Angeles, CA

Who: Omarion

Sneaker: Bape Roadsta

When: 2005

Where: Party in L.A.

Who: Thomas Jones

Sneaker: Bape Bapesta

When: October 2009

Where: Heineken Red Star Soul Concert

Who: Lupe Fiasco

Sneaker: Bape Sta Mid

When: 2007

Where: Unknown

Who: Jermaine Dupri

Sneaker: Bape Bapesta

When: April 23, 2008

Where: Bape store opening in L.A.

Who: Kanye West

Sneaker: Bape Bapesta "Kanye"

When: August 28, 2007

Where: Streets of London

Who: Cassidy

Sneaker: Bape Bapesta

When: 2004

Where: Get No Better video

Who: Pharrell Williams & Kanye West

Sneaker: Bape Bapesta 88; Bape Bapesta

When: 2008

Where: Bape Winter 08 catalog

Who: Kid Cudi

Sneaker: Bape Tracksta

When: 2010

Where: Bape 2010 lookbook

Who: Shay

Sneaker: Bape Roadsta

When: 2008

Where: Bape Winter 08 catalog

Who: Pharrell Williams

Sneaker: Bape Bapesta 88

When: 2008

Where: Bape Winter 08 catalog

Who: Nigo

Sneaker: Bape Roadsta

When: September 7, 2008

Where: 2008 MTV VMAs

Who: Kid Cudi

Sneaker: Bape Slip-Off

When: 2010

Where: 2010 Bape lookbook

Who: Cassidy

Sneaker: Bape Bapesta

When: 2003

Where: Hotel video

Who: Kanye West

Sneaker: Bape Bapesta 88

When: August 2009

Where: Bape Spring 2010 Catalog

Who: Pharrell Williams

Sneaker: Bape Bapesta 88

When: 2008

Where: June/July issue of Paper magazine

Who: Kid Cudi

Sneaker: Bape Roadsta

Where: 10 Deep promo shoot

Who: Nigo

Sneaker: George Cox x Bape Boot

When: 2010

Where: Winter 2010 lookbook

Who: Shay

Sneaker: Bape Crepe

When: January 2011

Where: Appearing on MTV

Who: Kid Cudi

Sneaker: Bape Yanksta

When: 2010

Where: 2010 Bape lookbook

Who: DJ AM

Sneaker: Bape Bapesta

When: Unknown

Where: Unknown

Who: Tristan Wilds

Sneaker: Bape Bapesta

When: November 21, 2009

Where: American Music Awards Pre-Party

Who: Chris Brown

Sneaker: Bape Apesta Hi Duck

When: May 2010

Where: Hollywood, CA

Who: Don C

Sneaker: Bape Bapesta 88

When: March 2010

Where: RSVP Gallery x BBC Lookbook

Who: Taboo of The Black Eyed Peas

Sneaker: Bape Bapesta

When: 2006

Where: Unknown Shoot

Who: Lupe Fiasco

Sneaker: Bape Roadsta

When: 2008

Where: Unknown