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Hip hop has gone hand in hand with high fashion since its inception 50 years ago. A genre born of ambition and imagination, hip hop’s boastful and competitive spirit demands the best in everything, including clothing.
From its earliest days, hip hop has always known how to subvert fashion and make it its own. Whether it was putting his name in his lyrics, creating custom clothes for Dapper Dan with the logos of luxury fashion brands, or elevating something as mundane as Adidas to the luxury of Ran-DMC, hip hop culture defined fashion in its own way.
As their influence grew and the money started to flow endlessly, rappers began to interact with high fashion in new ways, using their influence to launch clothing brands and influence all aspects of the industry. For many, these songs about luxury brands introduced a new way of life. Here are 11 high fashion songs to inspire you to rock the coolest outfits.
1. “Fashion Killa” by ASAP Rocky
No fashion list would be complete without A$AP Rocky. By the time he released “Fashion Killa” from his debut album, Long. Live. ASAP, in 2013, he was already fast becoming a fashion icon. By naming brands like Tom Ford, Balenciaga, Alexander Wang, and Versace, Rocky was showing off how he and his girlfriend were the best of the best. That girlfriend was Rihanna, who appeared in the video with him and even appeared in the song. A true manifestation!
2. “Drip” by Cardi B ft. Migos
The Bronx rapper burst onto the scene like a tsunami on “Drip,” showing no emotion. Cardi revealed that diamonds, Dior and Birkin bags are all part of her new lifestyle, and she’ll pull stunts on anyone who gets in her way. Backed by Migos’ signature triple-stack rhythm, the foursome will sonically pump you up and leave an unforgettable impression on your night out. Her raw flow and vibrancy make this the perfect song to dress up when you want to make a statement.
3. “High Fashion” by Roddy Ricch ft. Mustard
Roddy Ricch’s melodic “High Fashion” is more of a gentleman’s love song than a bar brag, but it still serves its purpose with a catchy hook that features lyrics like, “High fashion like a Goyard, a G-Wagon, a Rover,” as Ricch lets the fashionable woman know that options are out there for her.
The concept of the song is about upgrading a woman’s life to a luxurious and carefree level. Produced by popular hip-hop producer Mustard, “High Fashion” is the fifth and final single from Roddy Ricch’s smash hit debut album and is the perfect song to get you ready for date night.
4. “Phresh Out The Runway” by Rihanna
Years before Rihanna built her beauty and fashion empire, she was a big-name pop star releasing a new album every year. After she shed her “island girl” persona for her debut album, she sought to take control of her sound and image. Fashion was one way Rihanna expressed her newfound confidence.
By the time she released fan-favorite Phresh Out The Runway from her seventh studio album Unapologetic, she’d already gone from good to bad. Over a bass-heavy hip-hop rave beat, the star took the lead and boasted about strutting around in Givenchy heels. The hypnotic chorus repeats the phrase “Fresh off the runway” to get anyone dressed up in the mood.
5. “Endless Fashion” by Lil Uzi Vert ft. Nicki Minaj
Lil Uzi Vert is one of the few rappers known as much for his fashion choices as his music, so a song titled “Endless Fashion” is no surprise: They start off the song declaring their love for brands like Chrome Hearts and Carhartt, then swap out the word “wannabe” for brands like Junya Watanabe for a double meaning.
They then slammed the lack of fashion competition from other rappers with lyrics like, “These rappers can’t dress it, yeah, they just hate it,” and bragged about running out of closet space. Nicki Minaj was not to be outdone in the fashion talk, shouting out legends like Dapper Dan and Virgil Abloh, along with a few references of her own, during a bar brawl with Uzi.
6. “Change Clothes” by JAY-Z ft. Pharrell
Years before people were debating whether to take $500,000 or have dinner with him, JAY-Z treated us all to “Change Clothes” in 2003. At the time, the clothes were all loose and oversized, but Hov wanted to flip that around and dress up a bit. This was also around the time that many rappers, including Hov, started having their own clothing lines.
So not only did he have new inspiration, he also had something to sell. The rap world followed suit, and the general public soon followed suit, trading in loose white tees for button-downs and blazers. The song’s music video, starring stylish stars like Naomi Campbell, Pharrell Williams and Kimora Lee Simmons, carried the story even further. To this day, “Change Clothes” remains one of those songs that defines “adult sexiness.”
7. City Girls ft. Kim Petras “Flashy”
City Girls are known for talking big, and they talk some pretty big on “Flashy,” featuring Kim Petras, off their latest album, RAW. The rap duo are big time now, and listeners know it with lyrics like, “Big bags, price tags / All I wear is designer stuff / I’m flashy.”
Bar-hopping to pop-style beats and reminiscing about trips to Milan, private jets to private islands, Egyptian textiles, and all the other luxury items, the duo only expects the best. A modern-day Cinderella story for rap. City girl or not, Young Miami and JT are here to set the stage for a fashion-forward night out on “Flashy.”
8. “N**gas in Paris” by JAY-Z & Kanye West
Perhaps the pinnacle of braggadocious rap is “N**gas in Paris,” the audacious fifth single from JAY-Z and Kanye West’s explosive collaborative album, Watch the Throne, where the two rappers compete bar for bar over a menacing beat that leaves no room for doubt about humility.
Speaking about the song’s inspiration, Kanye previously said, “I’m at the intersection of art and commerce. I’m talking to Karl Lagerfeld and Jay-Z at the same time. I’m in Paris dressed like crazy for fashion shows. I’m in Paris listening to Jay-Z and Jeezy. That’s it.” With that kind of energy, what more inspiration do you need to dress like that?
9. Lil Baby and Gunna: “Drip Too Hard”
Representing Atlanta’s new generation of artists, Lil Baby and Gunna team up for the addictive club banger “Drip Too Hard” from their collaborative mixtape Drip Harder. The fashion talk begins right away, with Baby declaring, “If you want it, you can have the biggest Chanel bag in the store,” before warning people not to get too close to the drip, as they might drown. Gunna shows off some of his own high-end bars and brags about his private jet and diamond-encrusted watches. The talk must have made a difference, as “Drip Too Hard” was certified diamond in just four years.
10. Big Timmers: “Still Fly”
Big Timmers’ “Still Fly” will forever remain a hip-hop anthem. The lyrics may not be the best financial or lifestyle advice, but many can relate to their situations. Over a catchy beat, Birdman (then known as Baby) and Mannie Fresh brag about living in the moment without worrying about the outcome. Alligator boots, flashy Gucci suits, and luxury cars with no gas set the tone for a catchy rap song that will make you feel good at any moment. You only live once, right? So hop up, enjoy life, and worry about the bills later.
11. Throw It In The Bag (Remix) by Fabolous ft. Drake and The-Dream
“You know I gotta go shopping,” Fabolous begins on “Throw It In The Bag (Remix),” before launching into a rap recommending his lady of choice: the bag, the restaurant, the lifestyle. Fabolous knows it’ll cost money, but he’s up for the challenge, warning other suitors that they can’t compete. Drake follows this drip-talk with the lyric, “We’re fools at Barneys again,” while The-Dream sings about Fendi shoes and Bentley coupes.
