In the past few years, rap and hip-hop have entered the mainstream and have dominated airwaves and television screens.
Rap artists are trying their hands at fashion and making it possible for their fans to take their threads “off the hizzle.”
In 1993, a group of young hip hop extraordinaires, including the likes of Method Man, ODB and Ghostface Killah, banded together to form the hard-core Wu Tang Clan.
Since then, they have been on the hip-hop A- list and are now expanding the Wu Tang empire worldwide with their fashion line, Wu-Tang Wear.
Featuring a variety of pants, shirts, sweaters, T-shirts and wind suits, Wu-Tang Wear sports a casual, contemporary style.
The line also features an extensive variety of footwear.
Jay Z and the star-studded group of artists at Rockafella Records also have established their own line of apparel, aptly titled Roc-A-Wear.
This line targets men between the ages of 18 and 25, said a corporate representative for Roc-A-Wear.
They also feature a larger variety with selections for men, women, and children.
The representative also said the company will feature a new, more upscale line targeting 30 year-old men.
Sean “Puffy” Combs hit the fashion scene as well.
His line, SeanJohn, features a long line of casual wear for men, and formal wear for men and women. Combs’ lineup of formal attire expresses a posh, revealing aura that can only come from P. Diddy himself.
The influence of hip-hop/rap on the entertainment scene has emerged with fairly explosive intensity in the new millennium, and LSU students have mixed feelings about the effects it has on entertainment and fashion.
“It’s a way for them to expand their horizons and make more money,” said Reginald Farlow, a math senior.
Tommy Nichols, an accounting freshman, said rappers have the right to start their own clothing lines, but Nichols said he does not plan on buying any of their merchandise.
Josh Dehghanpir, a biological sciences freshman, agreed.
“It’s just a way for them to make a few bucks over the million they already have,” Dehghanpir said.