“Welcome to Hell, where you are welcome to sell/But when them shells come, you better return ’em/All scars, we earn ’em, all cars, we learn ’em like the back of our hand/We watch for cops hoppin’ out the back of vans/Wear a G on my chest, I don’t need Dapper Dan/This ain’t a sewn outfit, holmes, holmes is about it”- Jay-Z, You Don’t Know

When you put Hip-hop and fashion together, there are a handful of actual designers that come to mind (if you are really into the culture) however, there is one name that truly stands out, making him a household name, even if you never had Hot 97 or Power 105.1 bump through your speakers, in the morning. I am pretty sure, somewhere in your life, the name Dapper Dan, rings a bell.

Dapper Dan is a man born and raised from the planet of Harlem. Born as Daniel Day, Dapper Dan was born August 8,1944. Dap, he was also known as, grew up as a hustler in Harlem, New York. By the age of 13, he became a skilled gambler and his earnings allowed him to earn the funds to start up his first boutique at age 38 (along with his earnings from selling shoplifted clothing from the back of his car).

A man with a sketchy past, Dapper Dan was only pursuing his dreams with the means he had. According to XXL magazine, Daniel Day, opened up his famed boutique in 1982, on 125th Street in Harlem. The shop would quickly become a hot spot for rappers, hustlers, athletes and other other people of note. When Dapper Dan began to take the logos of popular fashion brands like Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Fendi and MCM and create his own custom designs, his business skyrocketed and his clothing was worn by rappers on album covers, in music videos and on the streets of New York City and beyond.

Rap legends such as LL Cool J, The Notorious B.I.G, Erik B., Rakim and so much more dawned the brand of Dapper Dan. Even “Iron” Mike Tyson who infamously brawled with Mitch Green not only wore Dap’s brand, but his brawl happened in front of the store, which actually gave it, international coverage. This made Dapper Dan’s boutique popularity that was short lived with European designers learned that Dapper Dan’s brand was customizing their labels.

After a series of lawsuits, Dap had to close shop. However, Dap never stopped designing as he went underground and still outfitted for celebrities and athletes. In 1999, he started to outfit for Floyd Mayweather, Jr.

In the beginning of 2010 era, Dapper Dan started to make a resurgence into the public eye of fashion. Gucci released a homage piece to Dapper Dan in 2017 as they recreated his most famous piece, the jacket he designed for Diane Dixon. Since then, according to XXL, Twenty-six years later, Dapper Dan, who was tapped as the face of Gucci’s current menswear ad campaign and is working on a capsule collection with his new partners, is back on the map and in position to shake the world of fashion up once again.

A salute to the culture. A salute to progression. Here’s to Daniel Day and his legend of Dapper Dan.

– W.I.B.