shake it like you BAPE s**t
By Shay • Oct 13th, 2006 • Category: Japan, More, fashion, music 
I’m sure that fans of Asian trendiness and/or Japanese hip-hop are very familar with the word ‘BAPE’. The Japanese urban clothing company has been around for 13 years but has recently found success in the American hip-hop scene.
BAPE, short for ‘A Bathing Ape’ was founding in 1993 by dj/producer Nigo. The Tokyo-based company is most well-known for items such as t-shirts, sweatshirts, ‘kicks’, etc. The brand’s trademark camo pattern is notable as well.
Japanese hip-hop artists such as Wise, Verbal (m-flo), Ilmari, and Ryo-z (both of Rip Slyme) have recently sported BAPE gear. The mentioned artists are all part of a the Teriyaki Boyz project, with Nigo on turntables. That is most likely the connection to American hip-hop artists.
The Teriyaki Boyz supplied the theme song to the third installment of Fast and the Furious. Though a laughable movie, the soundtrack was rather good. Also featured on the soundtrack as well as the Teriyaki Boyz LP, Beef or Chicken is “Cho Large” which features American producer/artist Pharrell Williams. That collaboration and others most likely explain BAPE’s recent success overseas.
Notable American hip-hop artists that have sported the BAPE brand include Pharrell, Clipse, Jay-Z, Young Jeezy, and Lil Wayne.
BAPE is a very interesting story. It is a Japanese company inspired by American fashion and culture that has found success in America. It’s well-deserved for sure.
Now, who wants to buy me a BAPE hoody?…only $100 US. :P
Shay is hanging out with a soccer-playing buffalo.
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Yep… BAPE is so hot right now; exspecially in Asia. But It’s sad that I only have one BAPE tee. I WANT MORE!!
Yeah! I thought I saw a photo of your’s a while back with a BAPE tee in it or sumthing. I’d love to get my hands on some BAPE s**t. :P A hoody is a bit steep but a tee would surely suffice. ^_^
as usual, a japanese company which is gaining success by immitiating something from america.
when will they make something original?
yep… never.
I hate BAPE stuff….just another overpriced trend for the Japanese sheeple (like those awful brown Louis Vutton bags). I saw an interview on CNN with the BAPE originator, and he is a tool. You would think he’s 11 years old. And as the comment above says, imitation of ameriKKKA is BIG in Japan.
anyone who hates BAPE really doesnt know the originality of it. BAPE is sweeping America and you are just hating cause you’re not a part of it. Go school yourselves on the BAPE designs!
Ya..BAPE is hot!
Its crazy becuz a friend of mine Xavier Feliciano has about 19 diff. hoodies, over 26 diff. pairs of shoes…and tha rest i cant even count….he has money..no job..and he has all the new hot clothes!
I’ve been friends with him since tha 3rd grade…he has always been like that…and now we are in tha 10th grade!
WOW!!!
its been a LONG time!!!
Yeah BAPE is crazy down in Brisbane & Sydney In Australia.
THANX NIGO
haha if you play you’re cards right I’ll buy you that bape hoodie :D
Bapes are awesome!
Bapes are great. I have a large selection :)
Bape is a dying brand its too expensive for something that isnt really worth it, you might as well buy a fake, type in bape in google there are a lot of fake sites,
all them hatahs just hatin cause they ain’t got dem’ bapes on deck
I love the bape brand. Expensive but well worth the price when you can have some sweet threads. I own a lot of bape clothing.
I don’t think you can really go past the Bape gear. It leaves the other brands for dead!
I think Bape is still growing strong, no doubt. People are still buying Bape hoodies like crazy. I personally love the style and will continue to wear it.