Kanye's Hair Parents: A History of the Black Mullet

Mr. West's new haircut is business in the front, party in the back. Take a look back at the pioneers who paved the way for ’Ye's "shag."

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Complex Original

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Our man Yeezy is catching it from all sides recently thanks to his latest foray into retro sensibility. Ironic? Maybe. But as much as homie thinks about what people think of him, trust that he's got a ready explanation for the dead animal he's rocking on the back of his neck.

And while some people are claiming he bit it from a dude named Tum Tum (seriously? Tum Tum?), and others may point out that tiny R&B sensation Bobby Valflagrino Valentino is rocking one in his latest video, Kanye is really just the latest in a long line of mulleteers, those brave and hardy souls who proudly rocked a shag through good times and bad. (Yes, it's called a shag, white people, and it's been around for decades.)

We can't truthfully say we love the 80(8)s, but at least take a trip back in time before you start calling Kanye a Tum Tum biter. Uh, pause...

lionel
LIONEL RITCHIE
Hello? Is it a shape-up you're looking for?

ocean
BILLY OCEAN
Not only could he wear the shit out of a shoulder-padded linen suit, he could rock the neck meat like no one else.

neville
AARON NEVILLE
Homie, just because we're all distracted by that Kuato on your face doesn't mean you can do shit like that, 1990 or no 1990.

jermaine
JERMAINE JACKSON
Fun Fact: Jermajesty's dad here actually named his mullet: Jermutherfuckingkidding.

acgreen
AC GREEN
Even the original 40 Year Old Virgin needs birth control, right?

payton
WALTER PAYTON
"My name is Sweetness and I like to dance/You think this hair is bad, you should look in my pants."

romye
ROMYE/BOOTIE BROWN FROM THE PHARCYDE
Well, in his younger days, at least.

edition
60% OF NEW EDITION
Ronnie, Bobby and Ricky were actually the original members of BBD (Bad Black Decisions).

cru
DR. DRE AND LONZO FROM THE WORLD CLASS WRECKIN' CRU
"Still rock my khakis with a cuff and a crease, still got love for hair grease, reppin 213..."

maljam
cockroach
THEO HUXTABLE AND COCKROACH
Real talk, Denise rocked one too, but she was mad fuxtable.

alfonso
ALFONSO RIBEIRO
Despite the fact that you've already seen this, it remains the Pepsi Kid's greatest moment.

barry
BARRY WHITE
This was his "Nick Ashford, but with many serious health problems" phase.

murphy
EDDIE MURPHY
At 1995, perhaps the last mullet in captivity. This is the closest the African-American community has ever come to Billy Ray Cyrus. Well, until Miley goes to college.

miles
MILES DAVIS
Genius, yes. Owner of a mirror, no.

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