Image via Complex Original
bape-lead
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.
Ye-Bapesta
Who: Kanye West
Sneaker: Bape Bapesta
When: November 2008
Where: Complex Magazine
pharrell-bapesta-croc-spongebob
Who: Pharrell Williams
Sneaker: Bape Crocodile Bapesta "Spongebob"
Where: Private bus
AM-Bapesta
Who: DJ AM
Sneaker: Bape Bapesta
When: February 3, 2005
Where: EMI Post Grammy Party
Joel Madden
Who: Joel Madden of Good Charlotte
Sneaker: Bape Roadsta
When: 2008
Where: Unknown
chad-hugo-bapesta
Who: Chad Hugo
Sneaker: Bape Bapesta
When: May 2005
Where: Performing
Mike D-Crepe
Who: Mike D of The Beastie Boys
Sneaker: Bape Crepe
When: July 2004
Where: Spin Magazine
mandy-moore-bapesta
Who: Mandy Moore
Sneaker: Bape Bapesta
When: February 26, 2009
Where: Los Angeles Airport
kid-cudi-bapesta
Who: Kid Cudi
Sneaker: Bape Bapesta
When: November 2009
Where: Streets of NYC
Posdnuos-Bapesta
Who: Posdnuos of De La Soul
Sneaker: Bape Bapesta
When: 2006
Where: Unknown
Jay Chompers
Who: Jay-Z
Sneaker: Bape x Kaws "Chompers"
When: 2006
Where: Unknown
nigo-creepsta
Who: Nigo
Sneaker: Bape Creepsta
Soulja-Bapesta
Who: Soulja Boy
Sneaker: Bape Bapesta
When: September 9, 2007
Where: 2007 MTV VMAs
chris-brown-apesta-hi-duck
Who: Chris Brown
Sneaker: Bape Apesta Hi Duck
When: June 18, 2010
Where: Streets of L.A.
jeezy-bape
Who: Young Jeezy
Sneaker: Bape Bapesta
When: 2006
Where: Mass Appeal Magazine Shoot
clipse-bapesta
Who: Clipse
Sneaker: Bape Bapesta
Where: Promo photo
Weezy-Bapesta
Who: Lil Wayne
Sneaker: Bape Bapesta
When: 2005
Where: "Tell Me" Video Shoot
pete-wentz-bapesta
Who: Pete Wentz
Sneaker: Bape Bapesta
Where: Performing
q-tip-bapesta-88
Who: Q-Tip
Sneaker: Bape Bapesta 88
When: May 10, 2010
Where: Holy Rollers premiere in NYC
chris-brown-big-sta
Who: Chris Brown
Sneaker: Bape Big Sta Boot
When: February 5, 2010
Where: Help For Haiti concert in Miami
kid-cudi-crepe
Who: Kid Cudi
Sneaker: Bape Crepe
When: June 11, 2010
Where: Trousdale in L.A.
Paris-Bapesta
Who: Paris Hilton
Sneaker: Bape Bapesta
When: 2008
Where: Los Angeles, CA
omarion-roadsta
Who: Omarion
Sneaker: Bape Roadsta
When: 2005
Where: Party in L.A.
TJones-Bapesta
Who: Thomas Jones
Sneaker: Bape Bapesta
When: October 2009
Where: Heineken Red Star Soul Concert
Lupe-Bape Sta Mid
Who: Lupe Fiasco
Sneaker: Bape Sta Mid
When: 2007
Where: Unknown
jermaine-dupri-bapesta
Who: Jermaine Dupri
Sneaker: Bape Bapesta
When: April 23, 2008
Where: Bape store opening in L.A.
kanye-west-bapesta-kanye
Who: Kanye West
Sneaker: Bape Bapesta "Kanye"
When: August 28, 2007
Where: Streets of London
cassidy-bapesta-pink
Who: Cassidy
Sneaker: Bape Bapesta
When: 2004
Where: Get No Better video
pharrell-kanye-bape
Who: Pharrell Williams & Kanye West
Sneaker: Bape Bapesta 88; Bape Bapesta
When: 2008
Where: Bape Winter 08 catalog
kid-cudi-tracksta
Who: Kid Cudi
Sneaker: Bape Tracksta
When: 2010
Where: Bape 2010 lookbook
shay-roadsta
Who: Shay
Sneaker: Bape Roadsta
When: 2008
Where: Bape Winter 08 catalog
pharrell-bapesta-88
Who: Pharrell Williams
Sneaker: Bape Bapesta 88
When: 2008
Where: Bape Winter 08 catalog
nigo-roadsta
Who: Nigo
Sneaker: Bape Roadsta
When: September 7, 2008
Where: 2008 MTV VMAs
kid-cudi-slip-off
Who: Kid Cudi
Sneaker: Bape Slip-Off
When: 2010
Where: 2010 Bape lookbook
cassidy-bapesta
Who: Cassidy
Sneaker: Bape Bapesta
When: 2003
Where: Hotel video
kanye-west-bapesta-88
Who: Kanye West
Sneaker: Bape Bapesta 88
When: August 2009
Where: Bape Spring 2010 Catalog
pharrell-bapesta-88-nylon
Who: Pharrell Williams
Sneaker: Bape Bapesta 88
When: 2008
Where: June/July issue of Paper magazine
kid-cudi-roadsta
Who: Kid Cudi
Sneaker: Bape Roadsta
Where: 10 Deep promo shoot
nigo-george-cox-x-bape-boots
Who: Nigo
Sneaker: George Cox x Bape Boot
When: 2010
Where: Winter 2010 lookbook
shay-crepe
Who: Shay
Sneaker: Bape Crepe
When: January 2011
Where: Appearing on MTV
kid-cudi-yanksta
Who: Kid Cudi
Sneaker: Bape Yanksta
When: 2010
Where: 2010 Bape lookbook
DJAM
Who: DJ AM
Sneaker: Bape Bapesta
When: Unknown
Where: Unknown
Tristian Wilds-Bapesta
Who: Tristan Wilds
Sneaker: Bape Bapesta
When: November 21, 2009
Where: American Music Awards Pre-Party
CBrown-Duck
Who: Chris Brown
Sneaker: Bape Apesta Hi Duck
When: May 2010
Where: Hollywood, CA
Don C-Bapesta 88
Who: Don C
Sneaker: Bape Bapesta 88
When: March 2010
Where: RSVP Gallery x BBC Lookbook
Taboo-Bapesta
Who: Taboo of The Black Eyed Peas
Sneaker: Bape Bapesta
When: 2006
Where: Unknown Shoot
Lupe-Roadsta
Who: Lupe Fiasco
Sneaker: Bape Roadsta
When: 2008
Where: Unknown
