New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Few hip-hop artists have been as intertwined with the fashion industry as Ye, formerly known as Kanye West. Over the past decade, the controversial rapper has released some of the most viral fashion collectibles. The most notable of these included sneakers from his now-defunct label with Adidas called Yeezy. In 2021, a prototype pair of these high-end sneakers was even sold at an auction at Sotheby's for a whopping $1.8 million. This sale made them the first sneakers ever to sell for over a million.
To the delight of Ye's fans, it seems he has a similarly inclined mini-me. Recently, Ye's daughter North has started dabbling in music and fashion, and just two months ago, the father-daughter duo officially released their first collab.
Like father, like daughter: A look at Ye and North's music and fashion
Ye has always been fashion-conscious. In the early '00s, when he started to make it big, he even announced his goal to be the best-dressed rapper of all time. From his earlier days, Ye has been a fan of luxury clothing. This included wearing Ralph Lauren Polo bear tees and Lacoste polos. By the time of his marriage to ex-wife Kim Kardashian in 2014, the pair were often seen donning haute couture, like Balmain and Balenciaga. This sartorial focus manifested in his music, too. For instance, in his 10th studio album, Donda, there are references to fashion forces, including Givenchy, Junya Watanabe, and Burberry, to name a few.
Growing up with this influence, 11-year-old North has been a style prodigy of sorts. Much like her dad and mom, North loves to style herself in expensive items. Specifically, North has been seen using exclusive bags, across various events. On a recent Japan trip, she was photographed using Prada and Judith Lieber. Kim has even said that she seeks her daughter's approval on certain outfits, given the budding fashionista's natural eye for style. North's penchant for following her dad's footsteps in fashion extends even to her ventures in the music industry. Just this year, she performed the role of Simba onstage and announced her debut album, Elementary School Dropout. What pleased fans the most, though, was her inclusion in the song "Talking / Once Again."
The stylings of "Talking"
Initially released in early 2024, "Talking" is a song off the Vultures album by the supergroup ¥$, which is composed of Ye and Ty Dolla Sign. The track features a verse from North, which music site NME described as a rare highlight. Perhaps thanks to this positive reception, the supergroup released another music video for "Talking." What sets this one apart is that this one is North's directorial debut and she features more heavily in the imagery.
As expected, fashion takes a central role in the storytelling. The opening scene sees North dressed in all black. As she stares into the camera, North is seen donning a furry black hat and oversized eyewear. Although there is no visible brand on these, they're reminiscent of the extravagant styles seen in luxury sunglasses. Through the years, iconic fashion houses such as Versace and Dolce and Gabbana have perfected the oversized silhouette on sunglasses. Most commonly, these styles also come with gilded accents, like shiny metal iconography. These provide extra sun protection, given their coverage, but they also double as accessories that provide a sense of confidence and mystery to the wearer. In "Talking," North wears her sunglasses similar to how her famous family does - as a form of self-expression but also armor from unforgiving attention. By pairing this with a large black coat, North is seemingly padding herself from the world that seeks to scrutinize her as she rises to the top. This is aligned with her verse, where she says, "Don't tryna test me (talkin') / It's gonna get messy/ Just, just bless me".
On Ye's side, he takes more of a backseat in this music video, making no appearance. Instead, Ye makes his presence felt via his Vultures merch. Everyone featured in the music video, including Ty Dolla Sign, is wearing exclusive merch from the album. This includes graphic shirts with the album logos, branded sweatshirts, and caps. Of course, using the music video as a way to market this clothing is something fans expect from business-savvy Ye.
Consequently, the music video also doubles as subliminal advertising, which is perfect given that Ye will be going on a world tour. Via his social media, the artist shared that ¥$ would be touring Vultures across North America, Latin America, Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and Africa. While concertgoers will certainly be treated to his fashion and an in-person performance of "Talking," whether North will be joining him is yet to be determined.
