• 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.

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• Bape Spring 2010 Lookbook with Kanye West

Continuing with the topic of Kanye West being featured in Bape’s Spring 2010 catalog is the lookbook that was shot to showcase the season’s offerings. Based on the clothes Kanye’s wearing, it appears as though Bape has an array of styles to offer for that specific season. Whether it’s for the office or a club, there’s definitely versatility with this Bape collection. Pieces include the short-sleeve oxford button-down shirt, satin varsity jackets, URSUS Bape t-shirts, belts, jeans, and the infamous Bape all-over print hoodie.

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• Kanye at Bape LA Store December 20, 2009

With the release of the second Kid Cudi x Milo t-shirt today, December 20th, at the Bape Los Angeles store on Melrose, Kid Cudi will make an appearance at the store this afternoon to sign autographs and meet with customers and fans. I also got word from sneaker head Franalations that Kanye West may also make an appearance with Cudi at the event. I called the Bape LA store immediately after I heard the news and a sales associate was unable to confirm Kanye’s presence, but also did not dispel the speculations. For anyone in the Los Angeles area who is thinking of going, I suggest you call the Bape LA store to see if there are any updates on a possible Kanye appearance, but Cudi’s appearance alone should be well worth it.

Bape LA - 8001 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046 (323) 658-5400

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• Turn Back Thursday: Kanye and Pharrell

For this week’s installment of Turn Back Thursday, I won’t be going too far back for a Kanye West outfit. Here’s a backstage photo from a 2008 N.E.R.D show of Kanye and Pharrell. Appropriately enough, Kanye is wearing a Billionaire Boys Club (Pharrell’s brand) hat, a camo Bape cape, and red Ato Matsumoto shoes. Although Kanye’s recent outfits from 2009 have been more refined and represent a classic look, he will still occasionally put together outfits similar to this one, most notably with the hat and high-top shoes.

Source: Billionaire Boys Club Blog

• Turn Back Thursday: Kanye Wearing Bape

Not only has Kanye West worked alongside many great music talents, but he’s also made quite a few valuable friendships in the fashion industry. We’ve all seen the photos of Kanye with the likes of Marc Jacobs and Karl Lagerfeld, who I’m sure have been a big influence in his journey to develop his own fashion label, Pastelle (Past Tell). However, one friendship that truly sticks out from the rest is his relationship with A Bathing Ape, commonly referred to as Bape, founder Nigo. Bape, and really the entire Japanese street culture, has definitely become a pioneer for many U.S. street wear trends that have emerged the past several years. Here is Kanye, with Nigo,  in the Bape Spring/Summer 2007 catalog wearing a black Bape crewneck sweater, with their infamous “Ape Shall Never Kill Ape” motto on the front.