Harlem rapper ASAP Rocky’s love for Black Scale gear has been well-documented across various videos and photoshoots, so it comes as no surprise that the San Francisco-based label has gifted the 23-year-old star with his own signature collection. Complex caught up with Black Scale’s MEGA and Alfred to learn more. So the capsule collection was inspired by A$AP Rocky. Tell us more how he influenced the aesthetic of the collection. Alfred: Rocky has been a fan of Black Scale since before we actually met. It just so happened that I was working the sales floor the day he decided to come in and purchase items for his video shoot for “Purple Swag.” He had a great energy and was a genuinely nice guy. The video dropped and the relationship continued to grow organically. The response was so overwhelming that it made sense to do a collabo. The design influences were taken from what the A$AP crew liked about Black Scale. I tried to integrate all the aesthetics that drew the crew to the brand, always keeping in mind that they should look good in it when they wear it. The collection of sweats, tees and caps with be available through BLVCK SCVLE in March. Check Complex for the full interview.

Last night Swizz Beatz was in the studio and had a special guest with him, designer Christian Louboutin. He showed off some exclusive kicks as well.

The ‘Bang Bang Door Knob’ by designer Nikita Kovalev. freshome

A$AP Rocky along with designer Jeremy Scott, make their cover debut on Complex. Read it here. Complex: Why do you think hip-hop is so fascinated with fashion and vice versa? A$AP ROCKY: As black people it was our thing to show that we’re not living in poverty and that we can afford extravagant things—that kind of stuck with us. So when our great-grandparents were putting on their favorite outfits, it was to put on a front for the hard time. And hip-hop is a bunch of people that never had nothing. Fashion is just an expression. It’s an art. It expresses your taste. Good taste is important in hip-hop. I wake up saying I’m going to look the best I can and do what the fuck I want to do. And that’s what it’s all about. I don’t know if I articulated it good because im pretty high right now—and I have a lisp and I’m going to Mars right now. Jeremy Scott: [Laughs]. The thing is hip-hop is one of the only communities that really started its own trends. A$AP ROCKY: Wow. Jeremy Scott: That’s why I’ve always been inspired by hip-hop artists, because they transform things—even just the jean, turning it around, inside out, sagging it—all these different things. Yes, of course we get little things from other music movements, but hip-hip has been like, Pow! It’s really inspiring and it’s the only new music that has come along in eons. Rock and roll has been around—it’s changing forms. But hip-hip is major.

Derick G. shares their recent trip to the Outback with a video and photos. YMCMB IN AUSTRALIA from DERICK G on Vimeo.

The G.O.O.D. Music album is underway in London. Yeezy and his crew are flying in different producers and artists to a private location across the pond. Earlier today, Pusha T posted a few images of the magic happening to his Tumblr.

Beats By Dre, recently collaborated with fashion house, Oscar De La Renta on a limited edition line. As soon as PETA noticed that the headset had fox fur they sent Dre a letter. Dear Dre, I hope this message finds you well. As you may know, PETA is the largest animal rights organization in the world, with more than 3 million members and supporters dedicated to the protection of animals. You have many fans here. We’re writing today after reading about your new fox-fur headphones design with Oscar de la Renta. We wanted to get in touch to urge you to keep fur and exotic-animal skins out of your Beats by Dre designs. Foxes, minks, rabbits, and other animals—including cats and dogs—are bludgeoned, genitally electrocuted, strangled with wire nooses, drowned, and even skinned alive for their pelts. Most animals killed for their fur are slaughtered in China, where there are no penalties for those who abuse animals on fur farms.

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