Polo and Hip-Hop, an Oral History [Pt. 1]
XXL caught up with Just Blaze, Raekwon, 88-Keys, Thirstin Howl III and more to break down Polo’s lengthy and influential relationship with hip-hop…
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For more than 20 years, Ralph Lauren’s Polo brand has been a staple of hip-hop fashion. Countless name drops, regional reinventions and a timeless style have helped its relevance outlive Kangols, throwbacks jerseys and skinny jeans to become a permanent part of the culture. After the release of Vado and Young Dro’s “Polo (Remix)” video earlier this month marked another moment in Polo and hip-hop’s storied relationship, we had 10 of the game’s biggest ‘Lo heads take us through a timeline remembering the crossing of two very different lifestyles. —Calvin Stovall
The ‘Lo Heads:
Thirstin Howl III (AKA Big Vic Lo) – Rapper, founding member of Brooklyn’s infamous Lo Life crew.
Just Blaze – Super-Producer, Polo Enthusiast, Host of Master of Mix DJ Competition on Centric
88-Keys – Rapper, Producer, has worn Polo exclusively since 2006; working on sophomore mixtape The ALPHA Program Version 2.0; iheartmypololifestyle.com
Raekwon – Rapper, Wu-Tang Clan; 5th solo project Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang due in early 2011
Young Dro – Rapper, releasing third solo album POLO (Players Only Live Once) in early 2011.
Sean Price – Rapper, Duck Down Records
Vado – Rapper, “Polo (Remix)” ft. Young Dro; recently released Slime Flu
Dallas Penn – Hip-hop journalist, ‘Lo Head since 1985, dallaspenn.com
Victor Ving – Co-Creator of VintageGearAddicts.com
Jose Hustle – Video blogger, College student, Star of “Been Had Polo” YouTube video.
polo always been the shit…way better than ralph lauren’s other creation, c.h.a.p.s (coulda had a polo shirt), as i call it.
I’m not gonna lie polos look dope and I do own one, albeit I got it for my b-day, but it gets ridiculous when you have to spend damn near a bill($75 plus tax) for just one basic polo from the Ralph Lauren store. I mean fiscal responsibility must not be in our vocabulary b/c this obsession is just sad. I appreciate fashion as much as the next guy but it’s all made in China for $2. We’re paying 40 times the true cost for a horse logo. I know I’m gonna get some hate here but we’re never gonna get out the hood when we spend it on polos, nikes, jordans, etc. Open your eyes people.
go and rob them then and save the bills
damn yall went in for this i could have read even more. what is in store for part 2??
Yes there is a part 2 but in the Source mag highlighting Malik-Lo, Seminole Sport, Meyhem Lauren and others coming in like Jan/Feb ‘ 11 keep an eye open for it
Yall left out Pimp C one of the biggest supporters of Polo.
Pimp C wasnt doing it when we were u gotta remember we going back to like 85 and better homie.
i bet he was ma nigga. ugk came out in 1990. pimp or chad as he’s known in the area was a bigtime hustler around port arthur, tx and southwest louisiana before the rap shit. so im pretty positive pimp chad was fuckin wit polo in the 80′s bruh
^@brand-new: Ha! Me and my peoples used to call Chaps – Cheap Ass Polo Sport…bc it was basically the lesser version of Polo.
Damn, this takes me back when I was kid rocking Polo here and there bc my pops would get me some things…but once Rae rocked that Snow Beach piece, it was a wrap! I remember wanting a summer job just to get my Polo game up for the summer/next school year!
I get a little mad these days when I see some of these whack ass young kids wearing Polo with skinny jeans and shit just looking stupid…feels like they just not representing right!
Ay don’t be hatin on skinny jeans sayin they not reppin right and shit. when will you see me eva hate on another mans jeans? grow up ya oold nigga
Co-sign^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
HAHA! C.H.A.P.S= Can’t. Have. A. Polo. Sucka
These young boys be killing me with the “Beverly Hills Club” shit too. Part 2 talk about the the rugby Game and “POLP FUCK THAT HILFIGER” -PIMP C, C DA PIMP
i like polo but once ralph said he aint fuck with us he was dead in my eyes
Ralph never said that that was a rumor Tommy Hilfiger was caught saying something to that nature never Ralph. He said he made his clothes as a lifestyle.
I’m A Lo Head And Have Been Rockin Polo Gear For 25 Years… I Was One Of The First Cats To Bring The Polo Buzz To Harlem… It Was A Brooklyn Thing That Was Taught To Me In My Days Of High School In Park West…. I Wore Polo So Much I Was A Regular At The Mansion And The Sales People Knew Me There And I Got A Job There…. That Abled Me To End Up Working For Ralph Directly… So I Can Speak On It.. It Was Tommy Hill That Said That And Timberland Co-signed By Stating That They Don’t Make Or Design Their Clothes To Be Worn In The Urban Market(An Nicer Way to Say They Don’t Sell To The Minorities)… Wearing Polo & Supporting It In This Hip Hop Generation Shows The Power Of The Dollars That We As A People Are Capable Of Generating So As A Business Man Why Wouldn’t Ralph Embraced It To Make His Business Grow??? As You Can See Tommy Has Fell To The Waste Side…. As Far As Polo Being In The Front Line Of Hip Hop Fashion… It’s Always Been For True LO-Life’s & LO Heads That Have Been In The Game… Its Funny How Cats Are Saying They Are Bringing It Back Or That They Started This LO Everything In Hip Hop Without Giving The True Originators There Credit Like The LO-LIFE’S,Ralphies Kids etc,etc…. These Were The True Real Cats That Were In The Trenches Of This LO Movement And That Made It What It Is Today….. The LO-LIFE’S Of Brooklyn Started This Frenzy So Don’t Forget Your Past…. 2 L’s Up & Salute To Malik- LO & The Other Original Real LO-LIFE Fam Of LOve & LOyalty
i thought that was fuck boy tommy that said he didnt mess with black folks on rossie o donnels show
Yall really missed out on Trick Daddy….”Is that bugle boy jeans you’re wearing, hell naw ho you know they polo”. I was heavy into polo until the last couple of years. These young guys have the fake polo with 2 men on the horse. That shit is a disgrace to the brand.
Players only live once
When I first read this the first thing that came to my mind was T DOUBLE D aka Trick Daddy $…….but i was to shocked not to see his name on this blog…….in the late 90s he was iconic for “rocking” nothing but POLO……
P!
dP!
who did this blog? Nice yo…
i thought it was tommy hill that said that