Article Complex Mag Remembers 10 Failed "Rapper Clothing Lines"

One_Yaself_Hater · 03-07-2009, 03:40 PM

1. David Brown
Created By: Young Buck
Founded: 2007/8

Just as everyone started to forget about his embarrassing ousting from the G-Unit camp, we learned yesterday that his clothing line, David Brown, is calling it quits. To keep it 100, we completely forgot dude had a clothing line, which he supposedly launched last April when things were a bit rosier for the Nashville, TN native. But now that the entire country is hemorrhaging money quicker than Ma$e’s time on G-Unit, there’s just no place for up-start clothing lines ran by unsigned hypes.

But he’s not the first rapper to launch an anti-climactic clothing line, and we’re sure he won’t be the last. So in an attempt to dry Mr. Brown’s tears and show him that he’s no so alone afterall, we’re taking a look back at the history of failed clothing lines launched by rappers. Pour a little liquor below…

2. BROOKLYN MINT
Created By: Notorious B.I.G.
Founded: 1995/6

Even though he was Black and ugly as ever, Biggie still managed to stay dipped in the finest fashion labels. So it’s no wonder that his clothing line was going to be aimed at larger fellows that dreamed of being Gucci’d down to the socks. Unfortunately, Big passed before the label had a chance to blow up. In 2005, his mother and former managers Mark Pitts and Wayne Barrow tried to bring the name back, but by that time we had enough straight to Marshalls/TJ Maxxx rapper lines to clothe the needy.

3. BUSHI SPORT
Created By: Busta Rhymes
Founded: 1999

1999 was a good year for Busta—he had two great albums under his belt, his Flipmode imprint found a home at Elektra and, like any other successful rapper, he was in the midst of dropping his own clothing line. According to Busta, Bushi meant: “Japanese warrior; Brooklyn’s way of saying bourgeois; a cool way of saying, ‘Busta’s shit!’ and “Couture meets the street.” Sounds like a perfect match for anyone named Spliff Star.

4. Nostic
Created By: Jim Jones
Founded: 2007

Looking to capitalize on the skull and crossbones rocker style that he and Julez traded their throwbacks, Girbaud jeans and Vasque boots for, Dipset/ByrdGang Capo started a clothing line presumably so he didn’t have to go far for his glittery glamor. Strangely, as soon as Jimmy’s music career took off, Nostic disappeared—even on 125th St.

5. SNOOP DOGG CLOTHING
Created By: Snoop Dogg
Founded: 2000

Before he launched his Rich & Infamous clothing line, which is a generic clothing line re-branded with his logo and random bandanna designs, Snoop launched his eponymous apparel line which basically consisted of re-branded t-shirts, jeans and sweatshirts. Same ol’ G thang.

6. FJ560
Created By: Fat Joe
Founded: 1997

Fat Joe wasn’t always a Johnny-Come-Lately when it came to new trends. His FJ560 line started with the best of intentions: Fed up with the way blacks and Latinos were sending their money outside of the community when they bought clothes, Joe opened up a store called Half-Time and started accepting designs from local designers to sell in the store. What happened to FJ560? We’re not sure, but we’re guessing Armageddon, Cuban Link and Tony Sunshine could point us in the right direction.

6. DMX SIGNATURE CLOTHING
Created By: DMX
Founded: 2006

In order to feed his “lifestyle”, DMX started a clothing line to be sold at concerts and specialty shops. We can’t say we were as surprised as DMX to find out that no one wanted to dress like a transient crack head garbage man. X should have stuck to doggy clothing, doggy.

7. NO LIMIT CLOTHING
Created By: Master P
Founded: Early 90’s

In addition to his record label, movie company, credit card company and toy line, Master P decided to add clothing to his portfolio. He even designed face plates for pre-paid mobile phones he sold to match the pieces in the line. But when No Limit records went bankrupt, everything else went with it. No worries, though, Master P re-up’d and launched P. Miller clothing which is still going strong at Wal-Mart. So, yeah, there’s that.

8. CEO
Created By: Dame Dash
Founded: 2006

With his stake in Rocawear dead and gone, Dame set out to start another empire. Only this time he had no superstar rapper to pawn all the shit he was trying to sell, so the CEO line went the way of the Roc Box. Remember the Roc Box? Didn’t think so.

9. OUTKAST CLOTHING
Created By:Outkast
Founded:2002

When Outkast announced that they were going to launch their own clothing line, Andre said that fans would be able to get “everything…the furs, the leathers…hats…everything.” But when it hit stores it looked like a rehashed Enyce. It didn’t represent 3 Stacks, the George Clinton of hip hop style or Big Boi’s fly pimp stylings. It was just kinda boring. And they never wore it. Rule #1 of the celebrity clothing game: If you don’t wear your clothes, no one else will.

10. SOJI
Created By: Common
Founded: 2007

Looking to capitalize on the success of Be and Be Pt.2: Finding Forever, Lonnie decided to get into full capitalist mode and team up with Italian hat company La Coppola Storta on a line of high-end hats. We were excited for the Complex cover star until we found out the hats that could best be described as “bohemian driving caps” were priced at $125. Come on. Smarten up, Com.

Source:

^Pics...

Deuce Six · 03-07-2009, 04:53 PM

Alright props, it was kinda funny.

----------------
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One_Yaself_Hater · 03-07-2009, 05:08 PM

^ Who Said It Was Supposed To Be Funny...

Raskae · 03-07-2009, 05:16 PM

DMX was actually smart selling Ruff Ryders Ts and shit at the concerts, Like Game, they are selling BWS hoodies, Ts and shit at the concerts, DVDs, thats smart, instead of paying retailers and all them license shits,

Deuce Six · 03-07-2009, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by One_Yaself_Hater

^ Who Said It Was Supposed To Be Funny...

No-one, it's just something about other people's failures that get's me all giddy inside

----------------
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MIRANDA · 03-08-2009, 05:41 AM

lmfao didnt even know young buck hadda clothing line
all these "artists" need to stop with this shit
they have one song out and then start a clothing line
or do a perfume or a bag or shoe-line in most female cases
shit is wack

GodToYouKids22 · 03-08-2009, 08:41 AM

i think outta all of them, buck had the best clothing.....alot of them shits were dope as hell

Stay Fly · 03-08-2009, 08:54 AM

i fucks with sean john, rocawear, g-unit and thats it......

btw, bucks shit was tight......sad to hear.

little rappers startin clothing line(jim jones).....

Flipperacci · 03-08-2009, 09:37 AM

Buck had hot shit. I was looking for them David Brown T-shirts so it really hurt me when I heard his shit gone out of business.

I don't know about Outkast but Andre 3000 had some shit that was doomed to failed.

Viktor Vaughn · 03-08-2009, 11:00 AM

biggys clothing line woulda been cool tho, lol @ the others

GetMoneyBoy$ · 03-08-2009, 06:24 PM

only rapper clothin that i fuck wit is fabolous...them rich yung hoodies is crazy

Wshh_Mastermind · 03-08-2009, 07:46 PM

lmfao@ buck bein # 1

LastREALniGGa08 · 03-08-2009, 07:50 PM

propz haha....

GMNRecordsCT3 · 03-09-2009, 09:49 AM

deeeeyum...

One_Yaself_Hater · 03-09-2009, 12:25 PM

====----====

03-07-2009, 05:08 PM	#3
One_Yaself_Hater The "B-Boy" Circa '82-'88 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: In A Weed Spot!!! Posts: 5,855 Repped: 1,209 Repped 11,682 Times in 1,396 Posts Neg Reps: 148 Neg Repped at 108 Times in 99 Posts	^ Who Said It Was Supposed To Be *Funny*... __________________ To Live Is To Suffer, But To Survive, Well, That's To Find Meaning In The Suffering...DMX Circa '98 4Em'

03-08-2009, 05:41 AM	#6
MIRANDA Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 604 Repped: 105 Repped 178 Times in 70 Posts Neg Reps: 13 Neg Repped at 28 Times in 19 Posts	lmfao didnt even know young buck hadda clothing line all these "artists" need to stop with this shit they have one song out and then start a clothing line or do a perfume or a bag or shoe-line in most female cases shit is wack __________________ http://www.myspace.com/_misslipgloss

03-08-2009, 08:41 AM	#7
GodToYouKids22 -Ŧħę Fяëşħ Pŕιиєê- Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Jerz Where We Tuck Heat And Love Shanks -Buddens Posts: 8,926 Repped: 1,514 Repped 2,362 Times in 827 Posts Neg Reps: 909 Neg Repped at 586 Times in 411 Posts	i think outta all of them, buck had the best clothing.....alot of them shits were dope as hell __________________ The Only REAL Jets Fan On Here !! ┌П┐(◣_◢)┌П┐

03-08-2009, 08:54 AM	#8
Stay Fly Purple Life, Live Life Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Sweden Posts: 11,195 Repped: 6,471 Repped 1,199 Times in 451 Posts Neg Reps: 1,245 Neg Repped at 368 Times in 260 Posts	i fucks with sean john, rocawear, g-unit and thats it...... btw, bucks shit was tight......sad to hear. little rappers startin clothing line(jim jones)..... __________________ - Call me Mr IT.

03-08-2009, 06:24 PM	#11
GetMoneyBoy$ GET UR MONEY UP Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: BX Posts: 529 Repped: 143 Repped 28 Times in 23 Posts Neg Reps: 104 Neg Repped at 51 Times in 31 Posts	only rapper clothin that i fuck wit is fabolous...them rich yung hoodies is crazy __________________

03-07-2009, 03:40 PM	#1
One_Yaself_Hater The "B-Boy" Circa '82-'88 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: In A Weed Spot!!! Posts: 5,855 Repped: 1,209 Repped 11,682 Times in 1,396 Posts Neg Reps: 148 Neg Repped at 108 Times in 99 Posts	Complex Mag Remembers 10 Failed "Rapper Clothing Lines" Complex Mag Remembers 10 Failed "Rapper Clothing Lines" 1. David Brown Created By: Young Buck Founded: 2007/8 Just as everyone started to forget about his embarrassing ousting from the G-Unit camp, we learned yesterday that his clothing line, David Brown, is calling it quits. To keep it 100, we completely forgot dude had a clothing line, which he supposedly launched last April when things were a bit rosier for the Nashville, TN native. But now that the entire country is hemorrhaging money quicker than Ma$e’s time on G-Unit, there’s just no place for up-start clothing lines ran by unsigned hypes. But he’s not the first rapper to launch an anti-climactic clothing line, and we’re sure he won’t be the last. So in an attempt to dry Mr. Brown’s tears and show him that he’s no so alone afterall, we’re taking a look back at the history of failed clothing lines launched by rappers. Pour a little liquor below… 2. BROOKLYN MINT Created By: Notorious B.I.G. Founded: 1995/6 Even though he was Black and ugly as ever, Biggie still managed to stay dipped in the finest fashion labels. So it’s no wonder that his clothing line was going to be aimed at larger fellows that dreamed of being Gucci’d down to the socks. Unfortunately, Big passed before the label had a chance to blow up. In 2005, his mother and former managers Mark Pitts and Wayne Barrow tried to bring the name back, but by that time we had enough straight to Marshalls/TJ Maxxx rapper lines to clothe the needy. 3. BUSHI SPORT Created By: Busta Rhymes Founded: 1999 1999 was a good year for Busta—he had two great albums under his belt, his Flipmode imprint found a home at Elektra and, like any other successful rapper, he was in the midst of dropping his own clothing line. According to Busta, Bushi meant: “Japanese warrior; Brooklyn’s way of saying bourgeois; a cool way of saying, ‘Busta’s shit!’ and “Couture meets the street.” Sounds like a perfect match for anyone named Spliff Star. 4. Nostic Created By: Jim Jones Founded: 2007 Looking to capitalize on the skull and crossbones rocker style that he and Julez traded their throwbacks, Girbaud jeans and Vasque boots for, Dipset/ByrdGang Capo started a clothing line presumably so he didn’t have to go far for his glittery glamor. Strangely, as soon as Jimmy’s music career took off, Nostic disappeared—even on 125th St. 5. SNOOP DOGG CLOTHING Created By: Snoop Dogg Founded: 2000 Before he launched his Rich & Infamous clothing line, which is a generic clothing line re-branded with his logo and random bandanna designs, Snoop launched his eponymous apparel line which basically consisted of re-branded t-shirts, jeans and sweatshirts. Same ol’ G thang. 6. FJ560 Created By: Fat Joe Founded: 1997 Fat Joe wasn’t always a Johnny-Come-Lately when it came to new trends. His FJ560 line started with the best of intentions: Fed up with the way blacks and Latinos were sending their money outside of the community when they bought clothes, Joe opened up a store called Half-Time and started accepting designs from local designers to sell in the store. What happened to FJ560? We’re not sure, but we’re guessing Armageddon, Cuban Link and Tony Sunshine could point us in the right direction. 6. DMX SIGNATURE CLOTHING Created By: DMX Founded: 2006 In order to feed his “lifestyle”, DMX started a clothing line to be sold at concerts and specialty shops. We can’t say we were as surprised as DMX to find out that no one wanted to dress like a transient crack head garbage man. X should have stuck to doggy clothing, doggy. 7. NO LIMIT CLOTHING Created By: Master P Founded: Early 90’s In addition to his record label, movie company, credit card company and toy line, Master P decided to add clothing to his portfolio. He even designed face plates for pre-paid mobile phones he sold to match the pieces in the line. But when No Limit records went bankrupt, everything else went with it. No worries, though, Master P re-up’d and launched P. Miller clothing which is still going strong at Wal-Mart. So, yeah, there’s that. 8. CEO Created By: Dame Dash Founded: 2006 With his stake in Rocawear dead and gone, Dame set out to start another empire. Only this time he had no superstar rapper to pawn all the shit he was trying to sell, so the CEO line went the way of the Roc Box. Remember the Roc Box? Didn’t think so. 9. OUTKAST CLOTHING Created By:Outkast Founded:2002 When Outkast announced that they were going to launch their own clothing line, Andre said that fans would be able to get “everything…the furs, the leathers…hats…everything.” But when it hit stores it looked like a rehashed Enyce. It didn’t represent 3 Stacks, the George Clinton of hip hop style or Big Boi’s fly pimp stylings. It was just kinda boring. And they never wore it. Rule #1 of the celebrity clothing game: If you don’t wear your clothes, no one else will. 10. SOJI Created By: Common Founded: 2007 Looking to capitalize on the success of Be and Be Pt.2: Finding Forever, Lonnie decided to get into full capitalist mode and team up with Italian hat company La Coppola Storta on a line of high-end hats. We were excited for the Complex cover star until we found out the hats that could best be described as “bohemian driving caps” were priced at $125. Come on. Smarten up, Com. Source: ^*Pics...* __________________ To Live Is To Suffer, But To Survive, Well, That's To Find Meaning In The Suffering...DMX Circa '98 4Em' Last edited by One_Yaself_Hater; 03-07-2009 at 03:43 PM.

03-07-2009, 04:53 PM	#2
Deuce Six Veteran Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: T Dot Posts: 1,489 Repped: 715 Repped 205 Times in 115 Posts Neg Reps: 84 Neg Repped at 33 Times in 28 Posts	Alright props, it was kinda funny. ---------------- Now playing on iTunes: via

03-07-2009, 05:16 PM	#4
Raskae Banned Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: BWS Posts: 2,811 Repped: 4 Repped 1,301 Times in 473 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 1,057 Times in 516 Posts	DMX was actually smart selling Ruff Ryders Ts and shit at the concerts, Like Game, they are selling BWS hoodies, Ts and shit at the concerts, DVDs, thats smart, instead of paying retailers and all them license shits,

03-08-2009, 09:37 AM	#9
Flipperacci -- Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: South East Amsterdam Posts: 2,648 Repped: 182 Repped 1,116 Times in 558 Posts Neg Reps: 47 Neg Repped at 574 Times in 381 Posts	Buck had hot shit. I was looking for them David Brown T-shirts so it really hurt me when I heard his shit gone out of business. I don't know about Outkast but Andre 3000 had some shit that was doomed to failed.

03-08-2009, 11:00 AM	#10
Viktor Vaughn Krimson Militant Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Sydney City Biotch Posts: 3,286 Repped: 948 Repped 44 Times in 28 Posts Blog Entries: 3 Neg Reps: 1 Neg Repped at 1 Time in 1 Post	biggys clothing line woulda been cool tho, lol @ the others

03-08-2009, 07:46 PM	#12
Wshh_Mastermind WorldStarHipHop.Com Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Worldstarhiphop.com Posts: 1,744 Repped: 598 Repped 727 Times in 122 Posts Neg Reps: 12 Neg Repped at 14 Times in 10 Posts	lmfao@ buck bein # 1 __________________ http://hhboard.ihiphop.com/movies/425526-kill-record-labels-dvd-1-link-mu-new-post.html

03-08-2009, 07:50 PM	#13
LastREALniGGa08 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: NYC Posts: 143 Repped: 2 Repped 18 Times in 9 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 2 Times in 2 Posts	propz haha.... __________________ Text Records: 5-0 [Last Murder: Vince] [2 KO][2 TKO]

03-09-2009, 09:49 AM	#14
GMNRecordsCT3 Macaroni wit the Cheeesse Join Date: May 2005 Location: Wash Heights, NYC Posts: 18,115 Repped: 7,030 Repped 2,386 Times in 664 Posts Neg Reps: 293 Neg Repped at 68 Times in 54 Posts	deeeeyum... __________________ myspace.com/bummydavis - soundclick.com/gmnproductions "The name on my car insurance is YOUR FUKIN FAULT!!"

03-09-2009, 12:25 PM	#15
One_Yaself_Hater The "B-Boy" Circa '82-'88 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: In A Weed Spot!!! Posts: 5,855 Repped: 1,209 Repped 11,682 Times in 1,396 Posts Neg Reps: 148 Neg Repped at 108 Times in 99 Posts	====----==== __________________ To Live Is To Suffer, But To Survive, Well, That's To Find Meaning In The Suffering...DMX Circa '98 4Em'

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