Urban Styles for Men: Hip Hop Outfits for Men

Urban style is associated with streetwear that is comfortable and stylish simultaneously. The urban style movement dates to the 1950s, when the nonconformity of youth was celebrated in the movie, “Rebel Without a Cause.” Generally, urban style is associated with laid-back fashion with influences from the local city scene, music, and politics.

This post helps define urban fashion, especially for men, and it offers a list of 7 essentials for the urban aesthetic closet. 

What Does Urban Style Mean? 

The definition of urban fashions

In today’s world, urban looks for men incorporate seemingly opposing trends from music and countercultures like hip-hop/rap, punk, grunge, rock, and they mix in an element of athleisure (casual sportswear). This casual clothing style can be seen across the United States by men of all ages. Ultimately, urban fashion knows no bounds. What does urban style mean? Urban fashion designers like to keep us guessing, with lots of bold colors and accessories, and unexpected blends of high-end luxury meets ghetto style for guys. 

Urban fashion definition: Technically, urban attire is "born of the streets," meaning fashion arose from skater, hip hop, rap, and metropolitan street cultures.

High fashion streetwear: Luxury streetwear is defined as having higher quality, as found in the fabrics, embellishments, and customizations. This type of urban fashion is made for the runway, and not necessarily for the streets surrounding the fashion districts or everyday wear.

Casual streetwear: What defines casual streetwear? For men, it's two-piece track sets and athletic-style clothes, hoodies, sweatshirts and loose-fit pants, especially stacked and super-stacked jeans.     

Street fashion is a mix of edgy individuality, affordability, accessibility, and IDGAF self-expression. Yet, we are seeing it permeate haute couture and high fashion. 

7 Key Elements of Mens Casual Streetwear 

The key to truly pulling the urban male style, begins with urban fashions and basic staples that you should have in your wardrobe. This fashion born from the street is best associated with people who don’t want to conform and won’t give up on comfort. Some key urban-style fashion pieces include graphic tees, matching or coordinated tracksuits, sweatpants, lots of denim, trucker and bucket hats and hoodies.  

#1 Graphic Tees: Essential to urban style outfits

Whether a logo of a band or a political movement, streetwear graphic tees are a key staple in any urban-style closet. Note the variety of aesthetics that Rockstar Original's designers borrow from: tie-dye hippie culture, grunge and indie rock, biker culture, and of course hip-hop and rap. 

#2 Tracksuits: Core to mens casual streetwear

Matching athleisure sets fit the mold of comfort and style for Men's hip hop outfits. Note the urban trends in today's activewear tracksuits for men: stacked fits, embroidered and rhinestone logos, graffiti-inspired graphics, and crisp, high-quality fabrics.  

#3 Sweatpants: Must-have athleisure 

Sweatpants are no longer about the I-don’t-give-AF, crumpled, baggy rebellious looks. Urban styles elevate the sweatpants look with fitted bottoms that flatter your physique. Yes, sweats can look put together and even luxurious with the right urban style outfit. 

#4 Stacked denim: Core to modern urban aesthetics

We can't emphasize this urban wear staple enough: Denim defines urban wear. Key elements of urban denim include distressed and ripped jeans, skinny fits, motocross-inspired skinny jeans, but for the modern-day urban aesthetic, stacked jeans are core essentials. Denim is the absolute material of sophistication and comfort combined. 

#5 Hats: But not just any hat...

Whether a sports cap with a local sports team, a brand, or even a bucket hat, hats are a popular accessory for urban style outfits for men. Three hat styles stand out among urban fashion: trucker caps, bucket hats and beanies. 

#6 Hoodies: Another core for the urban aesthetic

While denim is THE core fabric for men's urban fashion, and the sweatpant is THE core bottom for the urban wardrobe, the hoodie is THE core top, especially for winter weather. Hoodies are essential to the urban streetwear aesthetic, which is why they make up one of the largest collections on RSO's website. Note the variety of influences among our designers' hoodies: They borrow elements from rock and roll, bikers and motocross, rap and hip-hop, graffiti art, and even a little hippie tie-die style.   

#7 Sneakers: Complete the streetwear look

Urban street wear brings both sports and fashion together. That’s why sneakers and other sportswear fashion pieces are so popular in this fashion aesthetic. Ultimately, fashion is about communicating who you are to the world ... in a great pair of kicks. 

A Few More Ideas For Mens Hip Hop Outfits

We've given you seven key elements to the urban guy's wardrobe, but we have a couple more things to consider as you build your look. One has to do with colors, and the other has to do with fits. 

What color is popular in mens urban wear?

Usually, urban styles tend to rock with more dark yet vibrant tones or neutrals. Note in particular the reds and blues that you see throughout RSO's catalog of urban men's clothing.

Additionally, as you build wardrobe staples, a monochromatic palette helps tie everything together easily. Neutrals make it easier to put together outfits from your closet when you’re learning how to dress like an urban male because you can incorporate stuff you already have with your newer neutrals. 

Are all urban fashions baggy?

We're not here to settle arguments about whether the baggy look is still in for men's streetwear fashions. You'll see throughout our site that our models have a variety of body types, and they rock looks that fit their physiques. We are seeing fewer urban aesthetics with oversized sweats in favor of more put-together looks that are comfortable but fit. 

That said, if you prefer the baggy look, consider mixing baggy with fitted. It’s not uncommon to pair a baggier hoodie with fitted joggers or denim – or vice versa! However, always choose things to feel comfortable and look best on your body type. 

Shop For Urban Looks For Men

At Rockstar Original, we have a large collection of streetwear-inspired 'fits for urban males. Our urban styles fit the mold of anything that you may want to add to your closet. We have tracksuits, denim, graphic tees, and much more. When you want to take part in this streetwear trend and up your urban style game, check out our men’s fashion pieces for real street cred all day every day. Ya heard?