• Turn Back Thursday: Kanye in the Izzo (H.O.V.A.) Music Video

It should come as no surprise that Kanye West was down with the Roc years before his debut album The College Dropout was released in 2004. He laced Rocafella artists Beanie Sigel and Jay-Z with beats at the turn of the millenium. In fact, the man was responsible for about a third of the production on Jay-Z’s acclaimed Blueprint album. He even made a (small) guest appearance in the Izzo (H.O.V.A.) music video in 2001 wearing a camo San Diego Padres baseball jersey that was partially tucked in on the front to show off a large belt buckle. This is a rare shot of Kanye actually wearing a jersey, and this look didn’t last long — he quickly traded them in for what became his signature Ralph Lauren polo shirts in the early to mid 2000s.

(more…)

• Turn Back Thursday: RRL ‘Tiger Head’ Varsity Jacket

This month’s Turn Back Thursday takes us back to December 2008, just a month after the release of Kanye West’s 808s & Heartbreak album. After seeing Kanye West wear the ‘Tiger Head’ varsity jacket from Polo Sport this past weekend, I thought it would be appropriate to dig through the archives and locate the other ‘Tiger Head’ varsity jacket that he’s worn. In this photo, the vintage varsity jacket is from Ralph Lauren’s RRL line, and a smaller version of the tiger head design is embroidered on the left side of the chest. Obviously, this ‘Tiger Head’ varsity jacket is a different style from the one he was recently seen wearing, but when you really look at the outfits as a whole, not much has truly changed between the 2008 and 2011 Kanye; he’s gotten a haircut and wears slimmer pants. If you’re interested in this vintage piece, Lost & Founds has a size medium available for $880.

(more…)

• Turn Back Thursday: Kanye Wearing BBC Hat

This month’s Turn Back Thursday takes us back to 2008, during Kanye West’s Graduation era. In this photo, Kanye wears a hat by Billionaire Boys Club, a BAPE plaid flannel shirt, and a pair of Gucci Shaman moccasins. The more I see Kanye’s latest outfits, the more I believe he is done with the Rosewood Movement and is back to this Kanye. The Kanye that would mix high-end brands with streetwear brands. And the Kanye that would wear Air Jordan and Nike shoes with almost every outfit. Which Kanye West do you think we’ll continue to see in 2011?

• Turn Back Thursday: Kanye Wearing Bape “Teriyaki Source” T-shirt

For the first Turn Back Thursday of 2011, we bring you back to 2008 during Kanye West’s critically acclaimed Glow in the Dark Tour. In the photo, Kanye is seen wearing a “Teriyaki Source” t-shirt from A Bathine Ape, while freestyling backstage for Big Sean and Verbal and Wise of Teriyaki Boyz. Inspired by the Japanese hip-hop group Teriyaki Boyz, the Bape t-shirt was released in May 2008 and was only available at the Bape Shibuya retail store in Tokyo. The hip-hip group is also part of A Bathing Ape’s record company, Bape Sounds.

(more…)

• Turn Back Thursday: Kanye Wearing ‘UniverseCity’ Varsity Jacket

For the last Turn Back Thursday of 2010, we take you back to the summer of 2008, just months before the release of 808s & Heartbreak, where Kanye West made a guest appearance at a Young Jeezy concert. At the show, Kanye wore  the ‘UniverseCity’ varsity jacket, appropriately named after his website at the time, Kanye UniverseCity. It was never determined  if it was a collaboration jacket with an existing brand or a piece from his now-defunct clothing line Pastelle, but it was most likely a 1-of-1 custom made varsity jacket just for Kanye. The ‘UniverseCity’ varsity jacket features a purple body, white satin sleeves, a green ‘U’ on the left-side chest, and a Takashi Murakami ‘Dropout Bear’ graphic on the back. In addition to the varsity jacket, Kanye is also spotted wearing Air Jordan Aqua 8s with a pair of khaki pants and purple Louis Vuitton ‘Millionaire’ sunglasses. Read more to see the back of Kanye’s varsity jacket.

(more…)