The Shirt KIngs

In the late 1980s. the Shirt Kings'(Edwin `Phade` Sacasa, Clyde 'Nike' Harewood and Rafael 'Kasheem' Avery) style of airbrush design became a fashion statement made popular by the hottest rappers and deejays in New York City. It seemed like overnight, their designs were eveywhere, from Just Ice's record, to the Audio Two's popular album, to the stage of the Latin Quarters, where all the best MC's were performing weekly. As the Shirt Kings' business took off their style was copied across the Northeast and expanded to, and covered Miami. Pretty soon they had deals with rappers and singers to provide the wardrobe designs for tours and music videos. They were in a sense - everywhere.

Many fashion brands and clothing designers were influenced by the Shirt Kings and its no wonder that one of the early 'urban' brands was Fubu also out of Jamaica, Queens where the Shirt Kings were headquarted. Soon brands like the Shabazz Brothers, Karl Kani, PNB, Sir Benni Miles and others entered the marketing mass-produced clothing designs. The era's customization was dying down but the impact that the Shirt Kings brought to the fashion world is undeniable.

Milk is Chillin' (For rapper Milk Dee) - Shirt King Phade (1988)
Crack is the Word - Mickey on Crack, Shirt King Phade (1987)
Rico105 - Paid in Full film - Shirt King Phade (2000)