By Rob Marriott | Nov 6, 2012 |

50. Big Gipp

Height of Style: Goodie Mob circa 1995
Signature Look: Afro, bucket hat, big smile

Believe it or not, without Big Gipp there would be no Andre 3000 or Janelle Monae or Cee-lo. The original thug funkadelic, as part of the Dungeon Family Gipp did the d-boy Bootsy Collins look about a decade too early to truly be appreciated.

Height of Style: MTV Video Music Awards, 1996
Signature Looks: Dickies, Converse, button down, pimp suits

Snoop defined West Coast gangster cool post-Eazy E—even more than Pac, who pulled inspiration from everywhere—keeping it Crip and codifying the cholo-inspired Dickies, Chucks, and button-ups. He veered toward pimp mid-career and launched a line of custom products, from sneakers to Cadillacs, only to return to the gangster trope in the "Drop It Like It’s Hot" era. With a recent turn to Rasta, Snoop Dogg

Height of Style: "C.R.E.A.M." video
Signature Look: Polo, Buttersoft leathers and sheepskins, Wallabees

In the grimy 90s, Rae’s eye for detail made him a style leader in the Wu. The Buttersoft leather king kept his hair waves precise and took his sartorial cues from the NYC drug lords.

Height of Style: Jim Jones: Fashion Trendsetter?
Signature Look: Ed Hardy, pink, button-ups, scarves

Jim Jones graduated from Cam'ron's vaguely dusty hype man to a stylish veteran of the game. He maintains Harlem's tradition of flash with everything from Arab style scarves to blingy skull and bones belt buckles (before Lil Wayne followed suit). Other things Jim takes credit for in hip-hop style: Pink (the color), button-up shirts, and tailored suits. He's also got the Vampire Life fashion line poppin' off as well as the Protocol outwear. In other words, he's ballin..

Height of Style: "Pop That" video
Signature Look: Versace evrything, copious chains, towel on head

French Montana keeps it simple: All Versace everything and as much gold as his body can manage. Slick Rick lives.

Height of Style: The 90s
Signature Look: Backpack, lip ring, T-shirt head wrap

Before Tyler, The Creator and Odd Future did the whole skate/hip-hop style mash-up, there was Del. His rap style remains unlike anyone else, as does his fashion sense. You may not see many lip rings in these streets these days, but the sentiment lives on.

Height of Style: 2012 Brit Awards
Signature Look: Professor Green x Puma Apparel

Not a household name in the US, but in the UK Prof. Green holds court. The MC made his name as a battle rapper, signing with Mike Skinner of The Streets before going on to mainstream success with his debut album. Along with fame came an affinity for high fashion, and few can rock labels like Givenchy, RRL, and wings horns in such good taste.

Height Of Style: Belly
Signature Look: Wheat Timbs, baggy jeans, leather jacket, black skully

He's had his unfortunate missteps; the Firm era Cowboy hat comes to mind. He has swung from the overwrought white mink of “Hate Me Now” video to the more subtle nostalgia of his Complex cover. He came early with the mafia suits and fake spectacles, but his most iconic look remains the illmatic era leathers with his waves banging and a single gold chain. The pharaoh piece was remixed by Kanye some ten years later as a Ra falcon head and pyramid rings.

Height Of Style: "Hard White" video
Signature Look: Skate style and wild pattern mixing.

Alabama's son is more than just Eminem with some sense of style. The birth of trailer park chic? The next evolution of skate style in hip-hop? A whole bunch of awesome tattoos? Yelawolf is all that and more. Like a countrified Ol' Dirty Bastard, there is no father to his style.

Height Of Style: Mr. Porter profile
Signature Look: Skinny suits, snapbacks, Jordans

Brooklyn's Theophilus London is a part of a new wave—along with Danny Brown, A$AP Rocky, and others—who are pushing the boundaries of rap swagger. His embrace of high-end brands like Lanvin, Balenciaga, and Givenchy, and his penchant for pairing them with vintage denim, shirts, and jackets is changing the game.

Height of Style: Style Wars
Signature Look: Sheepskin coat, afrofuturist eyewear, urban samurai

Rammellzee took a spaced out abstract approach to rhyme, graffiti, and to the classical B-boy look. The sheepskin coat and afrofuturist shades evolved into full blown b-boy samurai armor.

Height of Style: "Everything's Gonna Be All Right" video
Signature Look: Machete, braids, fat bike chain with a lock around the neck

Treach's influence was as far-reaching as it was under-rated. His rough-hewn Jersey hardrock style laid the groundwork for the griminess that would crescendo with Wu-Tang, and later influence 50 Cent.

Height of Style: "The Magnificent" video
Signature Look: Member's Only jackets, Miami Vice suits

Ed's dapper style—marked by Member’s Only jackets and Miami Vice suits—let you know the young Brooklyn MC had "got it made." Ed was dressing sharp before he made any money, if he ever really did.

Height of Style: "Same Song" video
Signature Look: Fur caps, full length trenches

The Digital Underground co-founder may be best remembered for his alter-ego Humpty Hump, who specialized in loud outrageous suits and over-the-top pimp hats. But when not behind the Nose, Shock was a study in Bay Area Black power cool.

Height of Style: "Yonkers" video
Signature Look: Supreme caps, printed shirts, tube socks, Vans

Great style isn't only about the clothes one wears, it's about how cool one looks doing it. That usually means looking like you don't give a fuck, which is something Tyler, The Creator does extremely well. His laid-back California skater style (combining bold printed shirts, denim cut-off shorts, tube socks, Vans, and Supreme snapbacks) has legions of fans buying up racks of clothes on Fairfax to look just like him and his Odd Future mates.

Height of Style: 2008
Signature Look: Wire frames, varsity jackets, crewneck sweatshirts, Nike SB Dunks, Gucci accessories

Lupe was a continuation of unconventional style (for mainstream rappers) coming out of Chicago. While Kanye made it alright to dress in rugby shirts and other preppy classics, Lupe was one of the major reasons skater punk became acceptable to the next generation of hip-hoppers. Plus, he has had two clothing lines under his belt; Trilly & Truly and Righteous Kung-Fu. Most stylish rappers only have one. Since then he has collaborated with Vans and maintained an interest in new Japanese designers.

Height of Style: "So Fresh, So Clean" video
Signature Look: Gator belts, minks, white tux

Even though his flamboyant and daring partner Andre 3000 gets more attention for being a style star, Big Boi's look is just as impressive because he stays fresh without going overboard. He found his own lane combining southern gentleman suits with trap-star standards like jerseys and baggy fits.

Height of Style: Signs to G.O.O.D. Music in 2004
Signature Look: Various millinery

Nobody embodies the power of fashion reinvention better than Common. He got Badu’d in the mid '90s, experimenting with macramé hats and multi-colored jackers, but soon regained his style legs after getting with Kanye and resurrecting his career. He put away the Electric Circus outfits and came back with a clean, Hollywood-ready line of close-knit sweaters resulting in a Gap commercial and movie roles.

Height of Style: "Paid In Full" video
Signature Look: Dapper Dan Gucci suits and gold rope chains

Rakim's trademark look of Dapper Dan Gucci jackets, heavy chains and rings, and the half-moon fade was definitive drug dealer chic in the late '80s. The God's menacing cool made this look iconic.

Height of Style: "911 Is a Joke" video
Signature Look: Kitchen clock as medallion, dark glasses, top hats and tuxes, gold grills

One of the most endlessly creative figures in hip-hop—bar none, Flav is also the greatest hype man of all time, and a reality TV superstar. He could pull off tuxes and Viking Hats with equal vigor. He once rocked a Mohawk shaped like a backward F, and was one of the first to sport his name on his gold grills. His signature kitchen clock hung around the neck —“You know what time it is!”—makes this strangely charismatic man one of the most distinctive figures in all of American pop culture.

Height of Style: Mark McNairy Spring/Summe...unway show
Signature Look: Wild hair, vintage rock tees, Jeremy Scott tiger tux jacket

His signature Wildman conk hairstyle, usually spilling from a under a Black Scale x Fools Gold snapback, goes perfectly with his deconstructed Detroit player aesthetics. Danny took the competitive Midwest hustler style and turned it inside out, rocking streetwear labels and Member’s Only jackets with bold prints. His style has always stood out, and lately the fashion world has taken notice. This year Danny posed in a lookbook and walked the runway for designer Mark McNairy.

Height of Style: Urban Legend
Signature Look: White tees, beanies, raw denim, suits by Ralph Lauren Purple Label

Tip made a smooth transition from hustler swag to CEO smooth. He had all guys thinking they could rock a tilted beanie just-so. Nowadays, he swings from his own Akoo clothing line to Ralph Lauren Purple Label suits. Tip's preppy lean gives him Hollyhood status despite his repeated visits to lockdown.

Height of Style: "Product of the Environment" video
Signature Look: High-top fade and glasses

MC Serch did more than just prove that a white boy could do the running man while rocking a fade. His outerwear game was always on point. His glasses are a cool-guy-meets-nerdy style staple that still holds up today, and he took some risks—like rocking an ivory turtle neck while fishing in the middle of the ocean.

Height of Style: Finally Famous
Signature Look: Gold accessories, denim jackets, snapbacks, Jordans

Sean’s style emphasizes accessories and details: Don C custom snakeskin snapbacks, denim jackets, and Jordans to match. In 2009 and 2010, Sean had fans copying his bright color-blocked looks and his signature triple “Pow” chains. These days, he's taken a liking to Balenciaga jackets, blazers, Cartier frames, and Jesus pieces. When it comes to style, ain't nobody messing with Sean or his clique.

Height of Style: "What's the 411" on Yo! MTV Raps
Signature Look: Polo everything, Tommy Hilfiger shirts, Girbaud jeans, shades

Polo, Tommy Hilfiger, and Girbauds became standard issue in rap circles thanks to Puba constantly name-checking the labels. His crew, Brand Nubian, would become the cornerstone for a conscious-yet-cool movement that would influence fans like young Kanye West to make backpack rap.

Height of Style: "Aston Martin Music" video
Signature Look: Versace glasses, silk shirts, Christian Louboutin sneakers

The Boss is in the details. Ross is one of the more under-appreciated style pioneers who made his immaculate groomed beard a signature, and had a glistening chain made that immortalized that beard in diamonds. Ross went from being clowned about his fake designer shades to having one of the tightest sunglasses, sneaker, and silk shirt collections in the game. He might benefit from keeping his shirt on, but like everything else about Ross, he seems to have a gift of making the entirely unacceptable fly. Rozay himself put it best: "excess is just my character."

Height of Style: Tha Carter IIISignature Look: Dreads, full body tatts, ice grills, bright sneakersHis recent excesses with jeggings and Trukfit aside, Wayne has been a style leader for the better part of a decade. He's been commanding America's attention since his rebirth from Hot Boy prodigy, to being coined "the best rapper alive" after the release of Tha Carter III, to his current skater persona. Wayne has become a unique figure in pop culture and hip-hop and thus, generations of rap fans have looked up to his various personas. Even through his current stage of wild animal-print looks, he remains true to himself. Can't knock that

Height of Style: Supreme Clientele
Signature Look: Knit hats, bathrobes, massive eagle bracelet, Wallabees

Pretty Tony took the Slick Rick approach to oversized accessories and made it his own. The bathrobe and massive eagle piece bracelet were tame style choices compared to the stocking cap pulled over his face he rocked when the Wu debuted. But Ghostface's most important contribution to fashion will always be the custom dyed

Height of Style: Licensed to Ill
Signature Look: Aviators and motorcycle jackets

MCA combined Elvis, punk, and b-boy into a style all his own. His aviators and leather motorcycle jackets even set him apart from the other Beasties. As he and the group grew up, he effortlessly pulled off a more sophisticated suit and tie look, but always in true Beastie style, with just a trace of a punk rock smirk

Height of Style: Take Care
Signature Look: Sweaters, camo pants, varsity jackets, sweatsuits

Drake is the current crown prince of preppy redux and cozy boy cool. When he's not in designer sweaters, he's in sweatpants and custom OVO crewnecks. He loves a good varsity jacket and stunts in Versace silks for special events. Understated, almost aggressively so, his fashion sense is similar to his rhymes: rich in nuance, inviting underestimation and catering mainly for women. Can you argue with the internal logic? No. You mad? Probably.

Height of Style: "Planet Rock" video
Signature Look: Multi-level mohawk, Indian headdress, wraparound glasses

Prescience has its privileges. The godfather of hip-hop in more ways than one, Bambaataa developed a look that was equal parts Funkadelic, UK punk, and Sun Ra, rocking tribal headgear and multi-layered mohawks with shutter shades a full thirty years before Andre, Cudi, or Kanye experimented with these looks. All hail the father of hip-hop's wild-style approach to fashion.

Height of Style: 2010 MTV VMA performance
Signature Look: Bape, Balenciaga sneakers, tribal prints, snapbacks

All the new boys in BAPE and Balenciaga owe the Clipse a check. They (along with Pharrell) started this BAPE shit. And Pusha T, now solo and rolling with the G.O.O.D. Music fashion collective, continues to stunt in the finest labels. Kanye's influence is evident, but Pusha has done a lot of work towards developing a style of his own. The salmon-colored suit at the 2010 VMAs made him one to watch, but since then he's take the black leather minimalism thing and made it his own.

Height of Style: Rolling Papers Tour
Signature Look: Chuck Taylors, tank tops, bleach spot

Like Snoop before him, Wiz Khalifa styles from behind a curtain of weed smoke and humorous bravado. The simplicity of his approach is exemplified by his full-bodied association with Chuck Taylors. He recently stunted on his album cover, but for the most part he keeps it understated in vests T-shirts and converse. His unfussy approach made him the spokesperson for the simple swag of the modern pothead, tying him to the west coast gangster chic and the new skateboard punk ethos at the same damn time. Wiz has recently changed up his style to channel a more '60s psychedelic rocker vibe. He's currently known for the streak of bleach running through his hair.

Height of Style: "Hypnotize" video
Signature Look: Coogi sweaters, double jesus pieces, custom white suits and fedoras, apple jack hats

Biggie's Puffy-assisted evolution from ice-grilling in Tims and bubble vests to the seductive dapper don he became just prior to his untimely death was a study in hip-hop alchemy. COOGI sweaters were just loud enough for this legend. Everything he wore helped define the '90s sartorial lexicon. His leather jackets and Versace shades maintained his street credibility, but when he rocked Groovy Lou's custom white suit, he evoked old blues and jazz musicians of a bygone era. Ashy to classy indeed.

Height of Style: Licensed to Ill
Signature Look: Ska-influenced fedora and suit

Ad Rock's loose, organic style predated the modern-day hipster by decades. First it was frayed trucker hats and other ballcaps worn slightly askew, and then he switched it up to a ska-style suit with fly fedora—a look hardly any other guy has been unable to rock as successfully. His unmade look is now common amongst trendy Brooklynites and pretty much any kid who's ever listened to "(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party)." In other words, pretty much everybody.

Height of Style: Purple Haze Era
Signature Look: Pink fur

Killa Cam's general "middle finger to the world" attitude somehow blossomed into one of the most unique uses of color in hip-hop history. Harlem’s penchant for flash and pastels reaches back to Teddy Riley and beyond, but Cam'ron took it to a new extreme resulting in an explosion of pink and fur and a Range Rover to match. Pastel colors have never projected so much testosterone.

Height of Style: Watch the Throne Tour
Signature Look: Yankee fitted, aviators, suits, spread collar shirts

With pretty much impeccable taste, Hov has established himself as one of the most influential figures in modern American style. A short list of the fashion decisions he's made is like a recent history of rap fashion: the introduction of platinum, the re-introduction of Gucci sneakers in the form of S.Carters, the end of car rims and the full embrace of bespoke tailoring over the label craziness of drug dealer chic. But most impressive is his single-handed murder of the throwback jersey. David Stern is probably still pissed, although Brooklyn Nets merch sales may help ease the pain. Jay's demand that hip-hop "button up" pushed hip-hop to grow out of extended adolescence overnight. His return to gold and embrace of brands like Givenchy shows his continued leadership in American style. But his greatest style coup to date? Beyoncé.

Height of Style: All Eyez on Me era
Signature Look: Versace leathers, gold jewelry, bandanas

Pac remains the template for the fashion gangster: Overzealous tatt game mixed with high-end touches from labels like Versace. His bandana tied into rabbit ears struck mythic chords and remains one of hip-hop's most recognizable style flourishes to this day. A Dickies and Tims man to the fullest, his dedication to workwear was unwavering. Remember when he rolled up to the Grammys in a "Thug Life" beanie and coordinating Carharrt chore jacket, baggy jeans, and wheat Timberlands? Damn.

Height of Style: "Going Back to Cali" video
Signature Look: Red Kangol Bucket Hat, gold rope chain, boom box

LL seemed to understand the art of branding from the very beginning. His red Kangol, if not completely original, became his trademark—along with his "don't fuck with me" muscles. James Todd Smith's penchant for signature headgear—from Kangols to visors—became the subject of much speculation. As hip-hop grew up, so did he, going from endorsing brands like TROOP and FUBU to landing spots in Gap ads and smartening up in sharply-tailored suits. His Hollywood A-list status was recently confirmed when he hosted the Grammys last year.

Height of Style: 2007 Ninth Annual "White Party"
Signature Look: White Suit

Sean Combs is one of the style gods of hip-hop, without question, and the arguably the producer-rapper-mogul with the most fashion accomplishments to his name. His Sean John label was the first hip-hop line to get high-fashion props—a Council of Fashion Designers of America nomination for "Menswear Designer of the Year" in 2000—and his colognes are best sellers. He's also known for his "white parties" where the Ciroc flows aplenty. Plus, he has a bad chick like Cassie next to him. It's pretty clear who's (still) winning at life.

Height of Style: 2009 Ecstatic Tour
Signature Look: Tailored suits, five-panel caps, hardbottoms, accessories

When he first came on the scene, Dante Smith looked like most other backpack rappers. And as the MC formerly known as Mos Def's art form evolved, so did his sartorial style. It was around 2009 when he consciously decided to start wearing a suit and tie every day. Ranking Paul Smith, Caminando, and Isaia as some of his favorite labels, it was NYC brand Ale et Ange that really spoke to him. Admiring the way the designers mix hip-hop inspiration with modern fits and crisply tailored clothing, he's admitted that the brand makes up a majority of his wardrobe today. If anyone could talk about style with Kanye without getting embarrassed, it's definitely Mr. Bey.

Height of Style: Too early to tell.
Signature Look: Jeremy Scott adidas Originlas, Black Scale, Alexander Wang, SSUR, Rick Owens, Raf Simons

"Fuck fly / I am fashion." Trill rapper A$AP Rocky and his A$AP Mob came to prominence as a fully formed, thugged-out crew ready to bumrush the catwalk combining '90s era street standards (Timberlands, grills, herringbone gold chains) and a high-end sneaker game and a penchant for the newest crop of fashion designers with darker tendencies like Rick Owens and Alexander Wang. It's no coincidence that his first magazine cover featured him alongside Jeremy Scott. Black Scale peeped game early and have blown up along with the Harlem rapper, who mixes it with Raf Simons sneakers, Alexander Wang outerwear, and SSUR Comme des Fuckdown beanies with ease. This mix of streetwear and high-end fashion with an overall black aesthetic has come to characterize the "street goth" look that we're seeing more and more of both on the runway and in street style shots. Rocky's brilliance doesn't just shine through his knack for marrying streetwear and high-fashion, but also taking runway risks on the street. Whether you're in NYC's SoHo or Harlem neighborhoods, take a look around: nobody is influencing the kids more than Rocky.

Height of Style: Eazy-Duz-It Tour
Signature Look: Black "Compton" snapback, locs, and the ultimate Jheri curl

There is no overstating how critical this man was to spreading the West Coast street style to the rest of the globe. The ever-present locs and iconic snapbacks showing pride in the Raiders or his hometown of Compton made him one of the most influential style icons to ever lace up a pair of Chuck Taylors. Cholo khakis, coach's jackets, and button-ups became American as apple pie thanks to Eazy's gangster lean.

Height of Style: Raising Hell Tour
Signature Look: Oversized Cazals, black Fedoras and Kangols, Gold cables, all-black with white adidas Superstars

Run-DMC's minimalist approach made the whole group larger than life. They proved that less is more, and maybe even meta. The single gold cable on all black approach represented the boldness of that style. As Run put it: “Calvin Klein was no friend of mine, don’t want nobody’s name on my behind." At first glance the crew's style was indistinguishable, but DMC augmented the look with Kangol hats and thick-rimmed Cazal glasses. His style was more of a b-boy crossover, and that set him apart just enough.

Height of Style: "Mr. Rager" video
Signature Look: Classic streetwear meets progressive fashion.

Kid Cudi has the notion of the personal uniform down pat. Hardly ever seen without his Jordans (notable exception: that time he was spotted wearing Louboutin Rollerboy Spike Loafers), he usually pairs his covetable kicks with well-worn jeans and a variety of outerwear ranging from GANT Rugger and BAPE to custom leathers he designed for Surface to Air. The mini-film "Mr. Rager" put his Surface to Air collaboration in the spotlight, showcasing the jackets in the context of an all-out gang war. Besides his own collaborations, Cudi also has a knack for pairing rare vintage tees with high-fashion jeans like Balmain and Dior. If you're a fan of his style during his BAPE days, good news: Cudi recently tweeted that he plans to sell his BAPE collection on Ebay.

Height of Style: "Hey Ya" video
Signature Look: Throw-back dapper gentleman.

After being the first rapper to get Erykah Badu’d in the late '90s, Three Stacks reconfigured a Funkadelic style that drew heavily on George Clinton, Bootsy Collins and Bambaataa. He went on to father to Janelle Monae’s style and the man behind the retro-preppy Benjamin Bixby clothing line. Ever the contrarian, Dre has experimented with turbans, blond wigs, shoulder pads, a modernist take on Nat King Cole, and barbershop quartets. In recent times, he's settled into the more gentlemanly figure featured in those razor commercials.

Height of Style: "Smooth Operator" video
Signature Look: High-top fades, gold chains, velour suits, four-finger rings

"A smooth operator operating correctly." Kane’s clean lines and the cameo with three cuts in his brow set the standard in the late ‘80s. Velour suits, four-finger rings, and the thick dookie chains—no one was doing it before him. Hands down, he was the most stylish member of the Juice Crew, defining the aesthetic of hip-hop's golden era.

Height of Style: "Children's Story" video
Signature Look: Assorted eyepatches, Justice scales on dookie gold rope chains, multiple rings, furry Kangols

Rick's truly original amplification of British Jamaican rudeboy style turned hip-hop on its ear with his Bally shoes, furry Kangols and cardigans draped in enough gold for an Ashanti King. Whereas Mr. T's layered jewelry came off as corny at times, Slick Rick's never looked out of place. It just worked. His influence is far-reaching—rappers as diverse as Tupac Shakur and Ghostface took meticulous notes. One style choice that no one else has been able to duplicate? His signature eyepatch.

Height of Style: In My Mind Tour
Signature Look: Forward-looking streetwear.

Pharrell is your favorite stylish rapper’s favorite stylish rapper. His approach—understated cool, with offbeat and witty accents—influenced EVERYONE; Jay, Kanye, Pusha T, and just about all the new school rappers owe him a debt. Pharrell pioneered nerd couture in opposition to hip-hop fashion hegemony and made it okay to wear high-end, skate park, anime-influenced accessories in fruity colors and still be rap certified. He was onto A Bathing Ape early and established a continuing relationship with Nigo that led to his Billionaire Boys Club and Ice Cream brands Even in his N.E.R.D. days, Pharrell harnessed the power of the collab, creating limited-edition items with Nike, BAPE, Medicom, and more. To top it all off, he cleans up very well. While he'd be at home in a T-shirt, cut-off jorts, and boat shoes, he's not afraid to dress to the nines in head-to-toe Ralph Lauren.

Height of Style: Paris Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2010
Signature Look: Shutter Shades, Red Suit, Givenchy, Black tuxedo jackets with Balmain T-shirts, Balmain jeans

Don't talk about style, Mr. West will embarrass you. From handing out fashion beatdowns in Complex to spitting couture flows, his ambition in this arena has always been defined by flamboyance and audacity. He bumrushed labels like Ralph Lauren, Maison Martin Margiela, and of course Louis Vuitton, claiming them as his own. His splashy forays into Japanese pop art and European high-end designers like Riccardo Tisci and Phoebe Philo defined the sea-change in post '90s hip-hop style. His arrival in the world of high fashion was most widely noted by his outré looks at Paris Fashion Week 2010. Since then, he's evolved his style into something truly his own, proving himself unafraid to rock a custom red 3.1 Phillip Lim suit, a women's Céline blouse, or a custom Givenchy leather skirt. Unlike so many other rappers who've delved into fashion, he shelved the streetwear-friendly label for a full-on runway show, striving to be seen a bona fide fashion designer rather than a rapper with a side project. Kanye's all-encompassing, zig-zag journey has been a decades-long lesson on how to go from usurper to straight-up king.

I knew it would be Kanye!!!!

Rick Ross... style right........

Anywho glad to see Andre, Big Daddy Kane & Pharrel in the top 10.

I almost forgot Kanye is a big queen when it comes to fashion

This is a fail without Dru Down or Big Mello or Pimp C.

aardvark15 said:

KCool I'd like to realize Will Smith is no where on this list. And that's saying something

Damn KCool!

Say what you want about Kayne, but you can't deny how stylish he is. Yeah Will Smith should have been in there and LiL Wayne, Drake - out.

My top 5 would be:

1. Kanye West

2. Pharell

3. Common

4. Mos Def

5. Kid Cudi

Style?

Not a chance.

Will Smith isn't considered a rapper anymore. He is so much more..He has reached the stratosphere of entertainment.Being included on this list would insult his craft & mega talent. Also the reason why the beautiful successful Queen Latifah wasn't included either...So its a compliment for him not to be included boo boo...

aardvark15 said:

KCool I'd like to realize Will Smith is no where on this list. And that's saying something

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

Will Smith isn't considered a rapper anymore. He is so much more..He has reached the stratosphere of entertainment.Being included on this list would insult his craft & mega talent. Also the reason why the beautiful successful Queen Latifah wasn't included either...So its a compliment for him not to be included boo boo...

aardvark15 said:

KCool I'd like to realize Will Smith is no where on this list. And that's saying something

Damn you're crazy

Some of these dudes are stylish but most of them just parrot a look or a fad. Dudes running around a stage with their pants sagging aren't stylish neither is trying to rock 15 different designers in one outfit. Some cats look like the clearance rack at Macy's exploded with a microphone. Andre 3000 is very stylish in the way he dresses. Would you consider average dudes on the street stylish rocking the same stuff Eazy E and 2Pac wore? No, you'd think they were thugs not fashion plates. Same goes for every high school kid dressing similar to Tyler the Creator, a bunch of clones with no individual thought to what they put on just chasing some perpetuated image of "cool".

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

aardvark15 said:

KCool I'd like to realize Will Smith is no where on this list. And that's saying something

Will Smith isn't considered a rapper anymore. He is so much more..He has reached the stratosphere of entertainment.Being included on this list would insult his craft & mega talent. Also the reason why the beautiful successful Queen Latifah wasn't included either...So its a compliment for him not to be included boo boo...

I agree 100%. So you should stop posting about him in the Music forums. He's about as "general" as General Discussion gets!

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

Will Smith isn't considered a rapper anymore. He is so much more..He has reached the stratosphere of entertainment.Being included on this list would insult his craft & mega talent. Also the reason why the beautiful successful Queen Latifah wasn't included either...So its a compliment for him not to be included boo boo...

aardvark15 said:

KCool I'd like to realize Will Smith is no where on this list. And that's saying something

HonestMan13 said:

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

Will Smith isn't considered a rapper anymore. He is so much more..He has reached the stratosphere of entertainment.Being included on this list would insult his craft & mega talent. Also the reason why the beautiful successful Queen Latifah wasn't included either...So its a compliment for him not to be included boo boo...

I agree 100%. So you should stop posting about him in the Music forums. He's about as "general" as General Discussion gets!

Even though he is not considered a rapper anymore. It doesn't erase him being the first rap artist to win a Grammy boo boo....So he will forever be apart of any entertainment category...

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

HonestMan13 said:

I agree 100%. So you should stop posting about him in the Music forums. He's about as "general" as General Discussion gets!

Even though he is not considered a rapper anymore. It doesn't erase him being the first rap artist to win a Grammy boo boo....So he will forever be apart of any entertainment category...

He look's ready to be gangbanged by Jada & her army of gay mens big dicks

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

HonestMan13 said:

I agree 100%. So you should stop posting about him in the Music forums. He's about as "general" as General Discussion gets!

Even though he is not considered a rapper anymore. It doesn't erase him being the first rap artist to win a Grammy boo boo....So he will forever be apart of any entertainment category...

You do realise that DJ Jazzy Jeff was on that song too right?

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

HonestMan13 said:

I agree 100%. So you should stop posting about him in the Music forums. He's about as "general" as General Discussion gets!

Even though he is not considered a rapper anymore. It doesn't erase him being the first rap artist to win a Grammy boo boo....So he will forever be apart of any entertainment category...

Your words not ours.

[Edited 11/9/12 18:51pm]

aardvark15 said:

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

Even though he is not considered a rapper anymore. It doesn't erase him being the first rap artist to win a Grammy boo boo....So he will forever be apart of any entertainment category...

You do realise that DJ Jazzy Jeff was on that song too right?

True! it was a duo. But Will was the the one rapping & holding the Grammy Award...

[Edited 11/9/12 20:25pm]

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

aardvark15 said:

You do realise that DJ Jazzy Jeff was on that song too right?

True! it was a duo. But Will was the the one rapping & holding the Grammy Award...

[Edited 11/9/12 20:25pm]

Mili Vanili won a grammy to.. as did Rihanna

Im not so sure about some of the people on that list.

Regardless, I would also add Spoony G. He was one of the originals.

Spoony G

Gunsnhalen said:

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

True! it was a duo. But Will was the the one rapping & holding the Grammy Award...

[Edited 11/9/12 20:25pm]

Mili Vanili won a grammy to.. as did Rihanna

Vanilla Ice was nominated

I am sorry but Andre 3000 should be number one and Mos Def a close second....

Kanye is just number one because of his popularity.

HonestMan13 said:

Some of these dudes are stylish but most of them just parrot a look or a fad. Dudes running around a stage with their pants sagging aren't stylish neither is trying to rock 15 different designers in one outfit. Some cats look like the clearance rack at Macy's exploded with a microphone. Andre 3000 is very stylish in the way he dresses. Would you consider average dudes on the street stylish rocking the same stuff Eazy E and 2Pac wore? No, you'd think they were thugs not fashion plates. Same goes for every high school kid dressing similar to Tyler the Creator, a bunch of clones with no individual thought to what they put on just chasing some perpetuated image of "cool".

Bingo.

aardvark15 said:

Gunsnhalen said:

Mili Vanili won a grammy to.. as did Rihanna

Vanilla Ice was nominated

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

aardvark15 said:

Vanilla Ice was nominated

Besides trolling, why do you come here?

mjscarousal said:

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

Besides trolling, why do you come here?

I am a die hard Prince fan whose music was the soundtrack of my life & a fan of anyone who is in the entertainment Industry my career & life boo boo.......

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

mjscarousal said:

Besides trolling, why do you come here?

I am a die hard Prince fan whose music was the soundtrack of my life & a fan of anyone who is in the entertainment Industry my career & life boo boo.......

This isnt the Prince section....Why do you come to this section to troll?

A$AP Rocky?

What the hell? No Grandmaster Melle Mel? He had style for days. Can someone please post a pic pf him??