The Best Shiny Suits of the Shiny Suit Era
A look back at the greatest worst fashion trend in hip-hop history.
Image via Complex Original
The Shiny Suit Era of Hip-Hop isn't one of the game's proudest moments. But it is an important moment. Those involved in rap at the time really started to make tons of money and with it came bigger music videos, bigger budgets, and flashy clothes.
A lot of people blameDiddy for the shiny suit.Jay Electronica evenmade a song about it. But what people fail to realize is that Puff was talked into wearing the suit byHype Williams and stylistJune Ambrose (she's the inventor, so blame her) during the"Mo' Money, Mo' Problems" shoot. He was reluctant to rock them at first, but once he saw them on camera, a love affair was born. Diddy ran with the concept and others fell in line. From 1997 until around 2001, the Shiny Suit Era ruled. So, take a trip down memory lane and check out The Shiniest Suits of the Shiny Suit Era.
Written by Angel Diaz (@graffnameramo)
25. Jadakiss
When: 1998
Where: Money, Power, Respect album cover
Jada couldn't live with himself, man. The Lox have been the hardest out ever since.
24. Nas
When: 1999
Where: MTV Video Music Awards
Even Nasty fell victim to new trends. Part of the reason whyNastradamus was nothing more than a weed plate or coaster.
23. Fubu Denim Suit
When: Late '90s
Where: 75% of rap videos
Amazingly there's a whole bunch of Fubu for sale on Ebay. Or maybe that's actually not so amazing. Anyone wearing this in 2012 should be reported to the proper authorities.
22. Total
When: 1996
Where: Total album photo shoot
Puff's shiny suit love affair went beyond just the rappers on Bad Boy. This probably seemed like a good idea at the time.
21. 112
When: 1998
Where: Room 112 album cover
Peaches and Cream and shiny leather suits.
20. Timbaland
When: 1997
Where:Missy's "The Rain" video
Was it raining during this shoot? We'll blame the climate of hip-hop at the time and give Timbo a pass.
19. Jay-Z
When: 1997
Where:Jay-Z "Sunshine" video
Jigga survived the shiny suit era in good style, but relics like this will still haunt him forever.
18. Will Smith
When: 1998
Where:Will Smith's "Gettin' Jiggy WithIt" video
Not sure which is worse, this outfit, or using the word "jiggy" to describe anything, but we can thank Big Willy for both.
17. Puffy
When: 1997
Where:Puffy's "Been Around the World" video
Can't be mad at Puff for rocking this gold joint. That shit helped him bag J-Lo along with millions upon millions of dollars.
16. Will Smith
When: 1998
Where:Will Smith's "Gettin' Jiggy With It" video
Nas wrote it and June Ambrose styled it. Unforgivable.
15. Dancers
When: 1997
Where: Jay-Z's "Sunshine"video
Why did it ever seem like a good idea to cover the dancers in colorful trash bags? This is arguably one of the most tacky videos of all time.
14. Missy Elliott
When: 1997
Where: Total's "What About Us" video
Missy built an empire off of the Shiny Suit Theory. She has like a thousand Grammys—5 to be exact, but who's counting?
13. Dru Hill
When: Late '90s
Where: Does it matter?
We see you, Sisqo. Whoever styled this shoot should be forever banned from the industry.
12. Keith Sweat
When: 1996
Where: "Just a Touch" single cover
Keith Sweat was out in these streets actually sweating with that solar suit on. He looks like he just ran a marathon.
11. Busta Rhymes
When: 1997
Where:Busta's "Dangerous" video
Fisheye and an aluminum space suit? Of course this was a Hype and June project. This is actually when thigns started to get interesting.
10. Missy Elliott
When: 1997
Where:Missy's "The Rain" video
Sure it looks like a garbage bag, but its shiny and it's some kind of suit, so...
9. Puffy and Ma$e
When: 1997
Where:Puffy's "Mo Money, Mo Problems" video
The metallic denim suits were like a car wreck. Hard to stomach, but you just couldn't look away.
8. Ma$e x The Lox
When: 1997
Where:Ma$e's "Feel So Good" video
Everything in this video is extremely shiny. And let's not act like Sheek Louch wasn't killin' it in his Osh Kosh Christmas green overalls. Leaving one strap off was a nice touch, almost genius.
7. Bad Boy
When: 1997
Where:Mariah Carey's "Honey (Bad Boy Remix)" video
Puff was like, fuck it, if I gotta wear one the whole team has to wear one. This was the beginning of the end for the Lox. Mariah was looking scrumptious in the video, though.
6. Puffy and Ma$e
When: 1997
Where:Puffy's "Mo Money, Mo Problems" video
We will never know why they were in a wind tunnel rocking metallic yellow suits, but it will never be forgotten.
5. Puffy and Ma$e
When: 1997
Where:Puffy's "Mo Money, Mo Problems" video
The video that started it all. While most of us never rocked a shiny suit, that red Yankees fitted was the shit for a minute back in '97.
4. Busta Rhymes
When: 1998
Where:Busta's "Gimme Some More" video
Busta took the trend and twisted it in his own demented way. Why is he dressed like Christmas? Best not to ask why in situations like this.
3. Sisqo
When: 2000
Where: 27th American Music Awards
Never mind the shiny suit, son. He's fucking killing it with the two-way pager. Don't front.
2. Ma$e
When: 1997
Where:Ma$e's "Feel So Good" video
Puffy had this dude dancing around in a tinfoil suit. That's enough to turn any man into a born again Christian, too.
1. Puffy
When: 1997
Where:Ma$e's "Feel So Good" video
Puff will forever be the master of the shiny suit. It's easy to clown on him for the look, but that doesn't change the fact that these songs, the videos, and yes, even the outfits, made indelible marks in hip-hop history. Let's just hope the trend never resurfaces.
