Once confined to the terraces, retro football shirts have become fixtures in streetwear and hip-hop culture.
Artists like Drake, Stormzy, and Travis Scott have transformed vintage kits from nostalgic fanwear into high-fashion statements. Today, pulling on a 90s football shirt is as much about style and identity as it is about the game itself.
So how did rappers make retro kits global fashion icons? Let’s break it down.
1. Travis Scott & the Barcelona Retro Kit
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In 2024, Travis Scott debuted the Barcelona X Travis Scott Retro Kit, blending Barça heritage with hip-hop style.
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Its oversized fit, throwback crest, and bold claret-blue design instantly went viral.
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A fusion of blokecore energy + hip-hop swagger, this kit cemented the retro shirt as a fashion crossover piece.
👉 Shop Barcelona Retro Shirts Collection
2. Drake, Arsenal & "Lundun" Vibe
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Drake has long been spotted repping Arsenal retro shirts, linking Toronto culture to North London.
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His OVO brand has collaborated with football apparel, pushing retro-inspired designs.
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Arsenal’s Bruised Banana 1991–93 kit became a streetwear legend thanks in part to this co-sign.
3. Stormzy, England ’96 & Blokecore Pioneer
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UK grime star Stormzy helped re-popularize the England Euro ’96 kit during his rise.
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His styling, pairing the shirt with track pants and Nike kicks, highighted blokecore before it had a name.
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For Gen Z, Stormzy proved retro kits could be both heritage pieces and fashion essentials.
4. A$AP Rocky, Mixing Luxury & Football Heritage
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A$AP Rocky has worn Manchester United Sharp kits and Italy retro shirts, merging luxury fashion with terrace culture.
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His influence positioned vintage kits alongside Gucci, Prada, and Dior in streetwear styling.
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By blending luxury and football, A$AP helped elevate retro shirts to global fashion credibility.
5. Why Hip-Hop Loves Retro Kits
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Nostalgia: 90s aesthetics align with hip-hop’s golden era.
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Exclusivity: Rare retro kits feel like limited drops, perfect for fashion-driven culture.
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Identity: Shirts symbolize cities, clubs, and subcultures, like hip-hop does for music.
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Versatility: Oversized retro kits pair perfectly with baggy denim, cargos, and sneakers.
From stadiums to stages, hip-hop artists have rewritten the story of the retro football shirt. No longer just sportswear, these jerseys now represent style, culture, and global influence.
So whether it’s Travis in a Barça kit, Drake in Arsenal vintage, or Stormzy in England ’96, one thing is clear: retro football shirts are here to stay in the hip-hop wardrobe.
💬 Who wore the most iconic retro kit in hip-hop? Drop your pick in the comments.
