Image via Complex Original
LEAD
FINALLY. Jay-Z and Kanye West's long-awaited Watch The Throne album dropped on iTunes today. Rap fans have been waiting on this collaborative project for a minute now. We already know these two hip-hop moguls are music influencers, but it's actually their killer sense of style that has our bank accounts on empty as we try to re-create their red carpet looks and everyday 'fits. Be honest, have you heard of these labels before Hov and Yeezy rocked them? Probably not. Guess you can say they've schooled hip-hop on fashion. In honor of Watch The Throne, we've put together The 5 Brands That Kanye & Jay-Z Taught Hip-Hop About.
Balmain
Balmain
Founded: In 1945, by Pierre Balmain
Current Designer: Olivier Rousteing
Complex Says: We have 20 reasons why Kanye put us up on Balmain. For a second, it seemed to be the only thing the rapper wore. We even noticed pop stars like Justin Beiber and Joe Jonas swagger jack his Balmain bomber. Jay-Z has been rocking the label with his superstar wife, Beyonce, a lot lately. It's also been rumored that designer, Rousteing will be designing Kanye's tour concerts. Regardless of the validity of that statement, it hasn't stopped inquiring (and stylish) minds from dabbling in the label's recent collections because of the two.
3.1 Phillip Lim
3.1 Phillip Lim
Founded: In 2004, by Phillip Lim and Wen Zhou
Current Designer: Phillip Lim
Complex Says: After Kanye's promo run for his album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, the rapper got back into the high fashion scene by attending every (well, almost every) must-see show during Paris Fashion Week earlier this year.The blogosphere kept up with 'Ye's outfits during the week, and his label of choice seemed to be 3.1 Phillip Lim. This fairly new brand was definitely put on the hip-hop map after Kanye's stylish stint.
Givenchy
Givenchy
Founded: In 1952, by Hubert de Givenchy
Current Designer: Riccardo Tisci
Complex Says: "Take off that Givenchy and let's get raunchy!" is not the only time West has showed love to the French fashion house. Yeezy's been supporting the Givenchy team since early 2010, attending shows and sporting the brand at tons of huge events. Jay-Z just recently added Givenchy to his everyday wear with his "Jesus Is Lord" tee. What really made hip-hop "hip" to the brand is when the two asked Tisci to be creative director of the artwork for Watch The Throne's first single, "H.A.M."
MMM
Maison Martin Margiela
Founded: In 1988, by Martin Margiela
Current Designer: Martin Margiela
Complex Says: When Jay-Z dropped the line, "I'm in Maison, uh, Martin Margiela" from his 2009 Kanye and Rihanna-assisted track, "Run This Town," tons of fans hit the internet to figure out what exactly he was talking about. Soon, Hov and Kanye were seen rocking sneakers from the fashion house on a consistent basis. We definitely wouldn't mind adding a pair of Margiela kicks to our closet.
Celine
Celine
Founded: In 1945, by Madame Céline Vipiana
Current Designer: Phoebe Philo
Complex Says: Celine and Phoebe Philo were known to fashion-heads all around, but it wasn't until Kanye name dropped the designer's name in "Dark Fantasy" and wore a blouse at Coachella from the label's Spring/Summer 2011 collection this year that Philo gained a whole new audience: hip-hop fans.