The few times Rappers name-dropped black owned brands.
Rappers name-dropped luxury fashion houses since forever and rightfully so. These brands run up billions off bars they never paid for. That is called free promo, the real brand influencers but let’s be real, The same hand is not extended in reverse to support or collaborate with the very artists who keep them relevant, let alone put them in campaigns or shows clearly jacked from our culture. And yet, consumers still scrambling for a piece of a label that barely sees them. So this piece about highlighting the moments rappers gave props to Black-owned brands. Shining a light on the brands that move with the culture by representing, creating, repping with them in mind way before the co-signs.
Kendrick x Martine Rose
The lyrics “Yeah, ***** know that I’m best-dressed / Wear Martine when I board jets” from The Hillbillies, a tag-team track by Baby Keem and Kendrick Lamar delivered in a call-and-response style flow that feels like a playful flex between cousins. Lamar name-drops Martine Rose and Wales Bonner — as he should. Meanwhile, Kendrick has been spotted in Martine Rose fits plenty of times, from the Grammys to the Super Bowl, and laced in the London label throughout his latest tour.
Solange x F.U.B.U.
While Solange doesn’t explicitly name the brand in F.U.B.U., the song stands as a powerful anthem of Black empowerment — echoing the same spirit that defined the American streetwear label so deeply rooted in hip-hop culture. The acronym For Us, By Us speaks directly to the Black community, making Solange’s message feel like a spiritual continuation of that legacy. Years later, Freeze Corleone taps into that same energy in “J’arrive Chiraq comme Mubu, s/o Osirus, par nous, pour nous comme FUBU.” But why does it feel like we haven’t really heard FUBU’s name since LL Cool J was rocking it? Aside from the Black Fashion Fair collab in 2022, the brand has been quietly sitting in the archives.
Nas x Telfar
When Nas said, “I got Birkin money but the Telfar carry different” on Brunch on Sundays, he wasn’t just name-dropping — he was co-signing a cultural shift. Dubbed the “Bushwick Birkin,” Telfar had its breakout moment when bags flew off the shelves with every drop, becoming a symbol of accessible luxury. The brand has since expanded globally and, in 2023, opened its first flagship store in New York. Smino kept the energy going on “Modennaminute”: “And we roam the town in the Tesla / Her Telfar and my motor vegan.” The boys clearly know what the girls like.
Sir Michael Rocks x LaQuan Smith
Sir Michael Rocks drops the line “I’m in LaQuan Smith looking handsome” — a refreshing flex on Mo Money, especially coming from a male rapper name-dropping a queer-owned brand. It’s low-key progressive, and honestly, I bet he does look good in LaQuan.
ASAP Ferg x LUAR
On Allure, A$AP Ferg raps: “Woke up in the Four Seasons, thirty thousand ones in a Luar bag” — a nod to one of the most underrated It-bags in the game. While the Telfar shopper often gets center stage, Luar’s Ana bag is right there beside it, constantly evolving in shape, size, and material. The buzz is real — even Miley’s been spotted in full LUAR F/W ’25, hitting the NYC streets to promote her new album Something Beautiful.
Big Sean x Pyer Moss
On Guard Your Heart, Big Sean raps: “From here on out, we on Pyer Moss / If we leave Reebok, we still bring ‘em pumps and all the broads.” The bar nods to the boldness of Pyer Moss — a brand that had an iconic run, especially during its partnership with Reebok. While its momentum slowed after that collab ended, Pyer Moss carved out a historic era with boundary-pushing New York fashion shows and a headline-making debut couture presentation.