Style Trends That Defined Hip-Hop Every Year For the Last 10 Years

Dog, it's 2013. It's nearly 2014. That is mind-boggling, especially if you're calculating time by Internet standards. 10 years ago is practically a century if you're existing in the ever-changing online landscape. We are able to see what our favorite rappers and hip-hop icons are doing practically every second of every day. We're also able to see what they're wearing, which is crucial since they influence the fashion trends we deem cool or un-cool every single day.

Since 2003, hip-hop has adopted a new trend of their own every single year. Trying to keep up with what was hot back in 2005 is tough, but luckily, we know our shit. Get all nostalgic while you pop in your "Best of" tapes from years past and check out Style Trends That Defined Hip-Hop Every Year For the Last 10 Years.

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A wise investor probably would have bought stock on Mitchell & Ness back in 2003. The oversized jersey manufacturer simply ran the rap game wardrobe. Fab and Jay introduced the world to the label in 2002, but it didn't really take off until 2003. Especially when America caught glimpse of the phenomenon with Cam'Ron rocking the Utah Jazz throwback during his infamous appearance on the O'Reilly Factor in which he taunted the show's host with "you mad!"

If you didn't respond "YEP!" when someone said "white tee," then you weren't doing it right. The white tee is one of the most controversial trends ever due to it's symbolic reference to drug-dealing on the corner, but that crisp white joint was one of the cleanest-feeling and looking pieces in your rotation.

Like the intro to the video for Dem Franchize Boyz' "White Tee" video says, "Great news! I just saved a ton of money on my wardrobe by switching to white tees." Who would have believed that such a simple item would became so iconic.

LRG, Bathing Ape and Ice Cream hoodies were a hot commodity thanks to the likes of Pharrell, Lil Wayne and Ludacris being seen just about everywhere in them. Whether it was Bape's very specific camo, beepers and ice cream cones, or earthy tones, everyone in the hood was trying to cop the 3XL joints (most likely fake) like their favorite rapper because, let's face it; them shits were expensive and hard to find in larger, baggier sizes.

Before haters were getting mad at Soulja Boy, Pharrell single-handedly introduced the world to the luxury Air Force 1 look-a-like from already popular brand Bathing Ape that had hip-hop heads buzzing from coast to coast and hemisphere to hemisphere. Later on, we would see some unnamed rappers rocking the fake version of these, which, like all great things at one point or another, sent the sneakers into obscurity.

Chains. Watches. Grills. More diamonds. Dudes fucking went for it. What a terrible time for hip-hop style, because even the stylish elite were getting in on the gaudy jewelry action. The bigger the chain, the more respect one probably though they'd get as an artist? Show of wealth on top of it? It was a constant competition that the regular Joe just couldn't keep up on.

Lil Wayne was dominating the charts while Kid Cudi and Wale were entering our hearts (I'm a rapper, too.) Cudi and Wale's 10DEEP mixtapes were the first of their kind for streetwear, so that really got the blood flowing back through hip-hops veins while they simultaneously began the resurgence of rocking streetwear everywhere. It wasn't about high fashion designers anymore. Relating to the fans was a little more relevant, and the first way to establish that was to wear accessible brands they could scoop and endorse along with the rapper.

The South had officially taken over the rap game, but it wasn't about tall tees and baggy jeans as much as it was about bowties and V-neck sweaters. Andre 3000 took the Southern dandy look to the next level while other southern rappers like Young Dro and David Banner fell in line alongside him. There was still a market for streetwear and baggier clothes more closely associated with hip-hop, but menswear's evolution with tailored suits and sharp tuxes were surprisingly visible among rap elite, as Kanye's Rosewood Movement would soon attest.

When Tyler, the Creator and the Odd Future crew came on the scene rocking tube socks, Vans, and Supreme tees and caps, it was immediately seen as a symbol associated with their brash, cringe-worthy lyrics. Also, Pharrell's influence popularized flannels and skinny jeans, which was amazing for us normals because we could relate and copy the style without going broke. The brash, skater lifestyle was synonymous with a rebellious attitude towards the rest of society, which has been a central message of hip-hop for some time.

Snapback back. A huge resurgence over the last couple of years, the snapback hat has seen been huge in hip-hop since 2011 with Big Sean and relative newcomer and upcoming fashion icon A$AP Rocky leading the charge. Snap (and strap)backs were taken to a whole new level once Kanye's confidant, Don C, came on the scene with his "Just Don" caps with snakeskin details.

How many cows have been bodied in the name of the leather craze that began last year and has extended far into 2013? You can thank hip-hop icons like Kanye and 2 Chainz for being the catalysts to this bovine blow-up. Whether it was En Noir sweatpants or a leather kilt, the leather trend was bombarding Internet servers. It wasn't just about all-black-everything anymore. It was taken to a new level of luxe.

Wait, didn't we just cover this? All-leather-everything got a two year dosage and, as we mentioned, two years is an eternity in the trend world. Summer Jam was essentially a slaughterhouse. So we suggest that this look die. Quickly. And things look hopeful. In recent spottings of Kanye, A$AP Rocky, and 2 Chainz, there was nary a dead animal in sight.