It's difficult to imagine a world where Kanye West never got the chance to live up to his Louis Vuitton Don status or Sisqó's "Thong Song" never became a karaoke favorite. Always lightyears ahead of their music-label peers, Def Jam Recordings founders Rick Rubin and Russell Simmons have done more to progress the state of music, and therefore the fashion involved, than anyone could have predicted.
Since its inception in Rubin's NYU dorm room in the early '80s, Def Jam Recordings has gone on to sign some of music's greatest legends, who wore some legendary styles. From the Beastie Boys' frat-meets-streetlook to Flavor Flav's various clock chains, Def Jam has continued to represent ground-breaking artists whose personal style speaks just as loud as their tunes do.
As Def Jam prepares to round out its 30th anniversary celebration with a concert at Barclays Center in Brooklyn tonight, we've picked out our Top 5 favorite music video fashion from some memorable Def Jam signees. Check them out below!
1. Sisqó - "Thong Song"
How would karaoke bars continue to exist if it weren't for Sisqó's 1999 breakout hit, "Thong Song"? In the fashion world, too, the R&B singer has had long-term impact. Gyrating on the beach surrounded by bikini-clad beauties, Sisqó's metallic mop and all-white get-up continue to steal the spotlight even as he performs cartwheels on the sand. Add the Acne Maik Anorak to the video and a metallic look is completed.
2. Slick Rick -"I Shouldn't Have Done It"
Hip-hop has contributed many strange and wondrous fads to fashion, from wearing clothing backwards to head-to-toe pink fur. But nothing has compares to Slick Rick's signature look. With his berets/crowns, insanely huge chains, and that iconic eye patch, the hip-hop icon made his unique pirate-chic look so damn good.
3. Foxy Brown - "Hot Spot"
Before Nicki Minaj was causing a stir with her, ahem, assets, Foxy Brown was the hip-hop lady to out-raunch. Signed to Def Jam at the tender age of 17, the young female MC had an attitude just as brash as her lyrics. With her liquid leather get-ups and various hairstyles, her cyber-goth music videos have Hood by Air inspo written all over them. We also can't help but think tha
Since its inception in Rubin's NYU dorm room in the early '80s, Def Jam Recordings has gone on to sign some of music's greatest legends, who wore some legendary styles. From the Beastie Boys' frat-meets-streetlook to Flavor Flav's various clock chains, Def Jam has continued to represent ground-breaking artists whose personal style speaks just as loud as their tunes do.
As Def Jam prepares to round out its 30th anniversary celebration with a concert at Barclays Center in Brooklyn tonight, we've picked out our Top 5 favorite music video fashion from some memorable Def Jam signees. Check them out below!
1. Sisqó - "Thong Song"
How would karaoke bars continue to exist if it weren't for Sisqó's 1999 breakout hit, "Thong Song"? In the fashion world, too, the R&B singer has had long-term impact. Gyrating on the beach surrounded by bikini-clad beauties, Sisqó's metallic mop and all-white get-up continue to steal the spotlight even as he performs cartwheels on the sand. Add the Acne Maik Anorak to the video and a metallic look is completed.
2. Slick Rick -"I Shouldn't Have Done It"
Hip-hop has contributed many strange and wondrous fads to fashion, from wearing clothing backwards to head-to-toe pink fur. But nothing has compares to Slick Rick's signature look. With his berets/crowns, insanely huge chains, and that iconic eye patch, the hip-hop icon made his unique pirate-chic look so damn good.
3. Foxy Brown - "Hot Spot"
Before Nicki Minaj was causing a stir with her, ahem, assets, Foxy Brown was the hip-hop lady to out-raunch. Signed to Def Jam at the tender age of 17, the young female MC had an attitude just as brash as her lyrics. With her liquid leather get-ups and various hairstyles, her cyber-goth music videos have Hood by Air inspo written all over them. We also can't help but think tha