The influence and importance music has had on NY and skate culture throughout the years is undeniable – and as a result has shaped Supreme into what it is today. Here’s a look back into some of the most notable musical collaborations.
Peter Saville for Supreme
In 2005, Supreme teamed up Peter Saville for the first time, a Manchester born graphic-designer, best known for his incredible work designing some of the most iconic New Wave album sleeves in history. The original collection consisted of two tees featuring cover art designed by Saville, the first being Joy Division’s Unknown Pleasures, as well as New Order’s Blue Monday artwork. As well as a deck collection to commemorate the 25th anniversary, of the death of Ian Curtis.
Following on from this, in 2013 the Supreme x Vans collaboration celebrated the 30 years since the album release of Power, Corruption & Lies – the second Joy Division sleeve designed by Peter Saville.
Supreme and The Supremes
In 2001, the most likely, un-likely tee was released – and the streetwear brand channelled the Motown girl-gang The Supremes into their Spring collection.
Pretty much impossible to come across, or find any info, or even pictures of but, it’s one the most obscure collabs of the lot, and definitely worth the search.
James Brown for Supreme
On various occasions, including the late 90s and 2005/6 – Supreme teamed up with the creator of Funk – the one and only James Brown. As such a crucial and influential part of the music scene, Supreme honoured him with more than just one collab – all featuring unique styles commending the artist.
Raekwon and the 1st Photo Tee
In 2005, Supreme released the first photo tee in a collaboration with Wu-Tang Clan‘s Raekwon. Raekwon has been cited as a pioneer of Mafioso rap. In 2007, the editors of About.com placed him on their list of the Top 50 MCs of Our Time (1987–2007).
The image features the Chef, and his bodyguard, guns and… Elmo. Following this, there has been many photo tees, some even featuring other rappers – but, this must be the most iconic.
N.W.A T-Shirt
In Spring 2001, released an unofficial collab with the infamous N.W.A. The track ‘Fuck The Police’ was protest song against white America, police brutality and racial profiling. The tee features Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, Ice Cube, MC Ren, and DJ Yella as caricatures. This tee and info on it seems to be lost somewhere in the depths of the internet – ‘Fuck The Police’ is considered one of the best songs of all time, and this shirt is cool as fuck.
Bunny Wailer Tee
Neville O’Riley Livingston a.k.a. Bunny Wailer was an original member of The Wailers alongside Bob Marley. A three-time Grammy award winner, he is considered one of the longtime standard-bearers of reggae music, and more than deserving of being part of one of the rarest Supreme tees on this list.
Probably the hardest tee to find info on out of all past music collaborations, but recently a Bunny tee did pop up on GRAILED. If you’re wanting to get your hands on one of these beauties, be prepared to spend a LOT of time and money.
SUPREME/RZA
In 2005, Supreme featured the leader of the Wu-Tang Clan (their main producer) RZA on one of their tees. Viewed as one of the greatest producers of all time, and also a successful actor in his own right – it doesn’t come as a shock that Supreme would collaborate with this hip-hop icon.
Dipset x Supreme
The Diplomats, lovingly known as Dipset, were a 90’s New York City hip-hop group, which was originally composed of members Cam’ron, Jim Jones and Freekey Zekey, all of whom grew up together in Harlem. In 2006, Supreme released a photo tee featuring Julez Santana and Jim Jones – which is now one of the most sought after and expensive photo tee’s of all time.
It was revealed on the 10 year anniversary of the tee, that at the time of the collaboration – the duo actually had no idea what Supreme was. But Dipset shared the same “fuck you we do what we want” values as Supreme and as a result, were the perfect choice for the 2nd photo tee.
The Public Enemy collection
In Fall/Winter 2006, announced they would be using the famous P.E logo in their newest collection. Public Enemy is an American hip hop group consisting of Chuck D, Flavor Flav, Professor Griff, Khari Wynn, DJ Lord, and the S1W group. Formed on Long Island, New York, in 1986, they are known for their politically charged music and criticism of the American media, with an active interest in the frustrations and concerns of the African American community.
The Public Enemy logo represents the spirit of revolt and action, identifying the individual under the scope of getting snuffed or national surveillance. Released first were a Nylon Pull-Over Athletic Jacket and a Full-Zip Hoodie.
Public Enemy provoked revolutionary expression through message and sound: Two t-shirts were also released to accompany the collection as well as a zip-up hoodie and beanie utilising the quote “The Government’s Responsible” to complete this capsule.
Supreme x Joe Cool
Darryl Daniels, better known as Joe Cool, is famous for his unique artwork which has been featured on many best-selling album covers. In 2007, best known for this work with Snoop Dogg, Joe Cool created four new limited edition t-shirts for Supreme using his distinct design style.
Bad Brains S/S & F/W 2008
Bad Brains were a American hardcore band with reggae influences, formed in Washington, D.C., in 1977, of whom members were followers of the Rastafari movement. Bad Brains had a massive influence on skate culture, so it seems only natural for Supreme to have joined the band to produce a small capsule collection – which then turned into two.
Supreme first announced a collaboration with hardcore punk pioneers Bad Brains, in Spring 2008; which featured Vans Sk-8 HI in three colour ways, a Harrington jacket and two t-shirts.
The second instalment of the Supreme/Bad Brains series came in F/W 2008 and consisted of two t-shirts and a hooded sweatshirt; with all original imagery used being supplied by Bad Brains.
Miles Davies for Supreme
In 2008, in light to commemorate the 50th anniversary of “Kind of Blue”, which is regarded as one of the best records of all time, Supreme, in collaboration with the Miles Davis, and Sony music – released a Limited Edition collection of three of Miles Davies most influential records.
Alongside the records, 3 Tees were released, each matching one of the records, to celebrate the milestone.
Lou Reed for Supreme
Born as Lewis Allan Reed, American musician Lou Reed is best known as one of the principals in The Velvet Underground, a band long associated with the late Pop-Art pioneer Andy Warhol. His soulful vocal highlights the gritty side of life and often extrudes from his personal experiences.
For this collaboration t-shirt, Supreme went for a late night raid across SoHo with handful of posters, just when the information on the S/S19 was released.
The Supreme x Lou Reed T-Shirt was released Spring 2009.
Isaac Hayes for Supreme
Isaac Lee Hayes Jr. (August 20, 1942 – August 10, 2008) was an American singer-songwriter, actor, voice actor and producer. Hayes was one of the creative forces behind the Southern soul music label Stax Records, where he served both as an in-house songwriter and as a session musician and record producer, teaming with his partner David Porter during the mid-1960s. Hayes and Porter, along with Bill Withers, the Sherman Brothers, Steve Cropper, and John Fogerty were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2005 in recognition of writing scores of songs for themselves, the duo Sam & Dave, Carla Thomas, and others. Hayes was also a 2002 inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Unfortunately, Isaac Hayes passed away in 2008 and to pay tribute, in 2009 Supreme released a t-shirt featuring artwork from his iconic “Shaft” soundtrack.
Curtis Mayfield x Supreme
Curtis Lee Mayfield was an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record producer, and one of the most influential musicians behind soul and politically conscious African-American music.
Sampled namely by Kanye West, he first achieved success and recognition with The Impressions during the Civil Rights Movement of the late 1950s and 1960s, and later worked as a solo artist. In Spring 2011, Supreme used artwork from the cover of the soundtrack to the 1972 blaxploitation film, Super Fly, on a tee in tribute to the icon.
Sean “Puffy” Combs x Supreme interview: 2009
John Coltrane/SUPREME
In October 2009, very fittingly, Supreme collaborated with the John Coltrane foundation, created a group of t-shirts to honour the American icon. Coltrane influenced countless musicians, and remains one of the most significant saxophonists in history.
Lee Scratch Perry for SUPREME
In early 2010, Supreme released a video interview with Lee Scratch Perry, Jamaica’s Musical Shaman. Talking about the history into the life of Lee Perry and his musical achievements throughout his time as a musician. He is seen as one of the most important, artistic and musical figures to emerge from Jamaica.
For Supreme’s 2010 Spring Collection, they collaborated with Lee Perry on two t-shirt designs featuring his written word and original artwork.
The Clash/Supreme
In 2010, Supreme played tribute to another iconic punk band – The Clash. The Clash were an English punk rock band formed in London in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk.
They were a group whose music was, and is, special to their audience because that music insisted on addressing the conditions of poverty, petty injustice, and mundane life experienced by the people who bought their records. Moreover, although their rebel stances were often no more than posturing, from the Clash’s stubborn principles came a fundamental change in the perception of what is possible in the music industry, from subject matter to authenticity to quality control to price ceilings.
True architects of modern music, The Clash reached beyond song and continue to inspire generations with their messages of resistance. Supreme released a group of select T-shirts and a hooded sweatshirt in conjunction with The Clash.
Lady Gaga and Terry Richardson for Purple Fashion Magazine: 2011
“CHARLIE IS LOVE SUPREME!” Britney Spears tee
This tee recalled a rather darker period in Britney’s career when the entire world was certain that she had gone completely insane, which was only further endorsed when the pop singer hastily decided to shave her head. To commemorate this moment, Supreme decided to sprinkle a bit of social commentary in their SS11 line by dishing out a bald-headed Britney tee complete with an “X” emblazoned on her forehead; making her analogous to another even more insane person, murdering cult leader Charles Manson.
Prodigy for Supreme
Albert Johnson, better known by his stage name Prodigy, was an American rapper, actor and author who was one half of the hip hop duo Mobb Deep with Havoc. Unfortunately, Prodigy passed away in this year.
In 2011, Prodigy of Mobb Deep joined a long list of influential personalities making their way into Supreme history, as being the next celebrity photo tee.
Supreme x Bad Boy Records “Biggie” Collection
Bad Boy Entertainment is an American record label founded in 1993 by Sean Combs. Today, it operates as an imprint of Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment. The label’s first release was “Flava In Ya Ear” by Craig Mack, followed quickly by Mack’s debut album, Project: Funk Da World in 1994. On the heels of these releases came “Juicy” and Ready to Die, the lead single and debut album from The Notorious B.I.G. (a.k.a. Biggie Smalls), released the same year. While Mack’s album went gold, Ready to Die achieved multi-platinum success. Dominating the charts in 1995, B.I.G. became one of the genre’s biggest names of the day and Bad Boy’s premier star.
In 2007, Supreme teamed up with Bad Boy Records and played tribute to B.I.G with a tee and keychain.
Daniel Johnston for Supreme 2012/2015
Daniel Dale Johnston is an American singer-songwriter, musician, and visual artist who is regarded as a significant figure in outsider, lo-fi, and alternative music scenes. Most of his work consists of cassettes he recorded alone in his home.
His music has been used in several films including Kids, Where The Wild Things Are and the award winning documentary about his life and art The Devil and Daniel Johnston.
Supreme first teamed up with Daniel Johnston for a group of three t-shirts in 2012, which highlighted his original illustrative style.
The duo then paired up again in 2015, with a more extensive collection.
Stax Records(®)/Supreme
At the end of the 2012 season, Supreme teamed up with Stax Records for a small collection of tees. Stax Records is an American record label, originally based in Memphis, Tennessee.
Stax Records is critical in American music history as it’s one of the most popular soul music record labels of all time – second only to Motown in sales and influence, but first in gritty, raw, stripped-down soul music. In 15 years, Stax placed more than 167 hit songs in the Top 100 on the pop charts, and a staggering 243 hits in the Top 100 R&B charts. It launched the careers of such legendary artists as Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Rufus & Carla Thomas, Booker T, & the MGs, and numerous others.
The t-shirts released featured Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes, and the classic Stax Records(®) logo.
Three 6 Mafia for Supreme
Three 6 Mafia is an American Hip Hop group from Memphis, Tennessee, signed to Columbia Records. The group was formed by DJ Paul, Lord Infamous, and Juicy J in 1991 and was at first known as Triple 6 Mafia.
Group members DJ Paul and Juicy J grace the front of another great photo tee.
Supreme and The Misfits
Misfits are an American punk rock band often recognized as the progenitors of the horror punk subgenre, blending punk rock and other musical influences with horror film themes and imagery.
In 2013, Supreme teamed up with The Misfits to create a spring capsule. The extensive collection included a trench coat, work shirt, crewneck, 3 t-shirts, long-sleeve, 5-Panel, pins, buttons, and lighters. All items were designed using original artwork from The Misfits.
SUPREME/WACKIES
Wackies is an American independent record label specialized in reggae and dub music. Founded in the 1970s by Lloyd Barnes, as the Wackie’s House Of Music based on White Plains Road in New York, the name Wackies also include a record shop and a studio. It is considered by some to be the first significant reggae studio and label in the United States.
Wackies music, while mainly known for its contribution to reggae, influenced the burgeoning hip hop movement of late 1970s and early 1980s New York. Reggae sound system dances were quite popular throughout New York City.
In Spring 2013, Supreme joined Wackies to present a small capsule collection. The group consisted of four graphic t-shirts, a tank-top and a 5-panel hat.
Shane MacGowen for Supreme
“I wouldn’t change the past for anything,” says The Pogues’ toothless frontman, Shane MacGowan, who made headlines earlier this year in his search for a new, Hollywood-ready smile. While his quest for a dentist continues, the punk icon is making news of a different kind with a Supreme video and T-shirt collaboration for fall 2013. Here, the excess-prone MacGowan chats with Don Letts about his attraction to punk music, “Cannibalism at Clash Gig,” and a lifetime of doing “extremely dangerous things.”
Supreme/The Dead Kennedys
Dead Kennedys are an American punk rock band that formed in San Francisco, California, in 1978. The band was one of the first American hardcore bands to make a significant impact in the United Kingdom
Dead Kennedys’ lyrics were usually political in nature, satirizing establishment political figures (both liberal and conservative) and authority in general, as well as popular culture and even the punk movement itself. During their initial incarnation between 1978 and 1986, they attracted considerable controversy for their provocative lyrics and artwork.
Supreme and the Dead Kennedys teamed up in 2014 to present a small, soon-to-be-released capsule collection. Consisting of a work jacket, pullover hoodie, sweat shorts, long sleeve tee and three graphic tees, the items incorporate original artwork from the hardcore punk band. One noteworthy mention is the black hoodie with an upside-down print of “Too Drunk To Fuck,” taken from the 1981 single of the same name.
The collection consisted a work jacket, pull-over hoodie, sweat shorts, longsleeve tee, and three graphic tshirts – all items have been designed using original Dead Kennedy’s artwork.
Souixsie Sioux for Supreme
Susan Janet Ballion, better known by her stage name Siouxsie Sioux (born 27 May 1957), is an English singer, songwriter, musician and producer. She is best known as the lead singer of the alternative rock band Siouxsie and the Banshees (1976–1996) and the drums-and-voice duo the Creatures (1981–2005).
AllMusic named Siouxsie as “one of the most influential British singers of the rock era”. In their SS14 drop, Supreme released their Siouxsie Sioux tee.
Mark Flood for Supreme
Mark Flood is an American artist and musician. Flood has been making art for 30 years and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Rice University in 1981. He sings in the band Culturcide under the pen name Perry Webb. His art sells for upwards of $200,000.00 per work.
In 2014, Supreme released a series of two limited edition skateboard decks designed by Mark Flood himself.
Supreme/Barrington Levy & Jah Life
Barrington Ainsworth Levy is a Jamaican reggae and dancehall artist and vegan working together with Hyman “JAH LIFE” Wright in 1979. Alongside Henry “Jungo” Lawes, Levy’s first 3 albums were released and quickly pushed him into the spotlight, making him the lead star in the uprising dancehall genre.
Barrington Levy and Jah Life continued to work together throughout the 1980s, producing massive hits such as his “Murderer”. They broke boundaries within reggae and showed that top quality music no longer had to made me exclusively in Jamaica.
In summer 2016, Supreme worked with Barrington Levy and Jah Life on a hooded sweatshirt, three-tshirts and a tank top featuring original artwork.
Morrissey Photo Tee
Steven Patrick Morrissey, professionally known as Morrissey, is an English singer, songwriter and author. He rose to prominence as the lead singer of the indie rock band The Smiths, which was active from 1982 to 1987.
In 2016, Supreme and Morrissey’s relationship was short lived, when a feud surrounding the release of this tee arose. Here’s the official statement from Morrissey:
“I apologize enormously for the enfeebled photograph of me issued this week by Supreme. The shot was taken in October 2015. I considered the photograph to be fit only for a medical encyclopedia and I pleaded with Supreme not to use it. This was before I learned that Supreme were sponsored in part by the beef sandwich pharaoh known as White Castle. Supreme were issued with a legal caution not to use the photograph and their fee would be returned. Evidently Supreme have ignored my lawyer. No safety within the corridors of law. Ugh.
I offer excessive apologies for this association. Shame is indeed the name.”
Supreme x Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath were an English rock band, formed in Birmingham in 1968, by guitarist and main songwriter Tony Iommi, bassist and main lyricist Geezer Butler, singer Ozzy Osbourne, and drummer Bill Ward.
Gucci Mane Photo Tee
Radric Delantic Davis (born February 12, 1980),known by his stage name Gucci Mane, is an American hip hop recording artist. In 2007, Gucci Mane founded 1017 Records. He helped pioneer the hip hop subgenre trap music, alongside fellow Atlanta-based rappers T.I. and Young Jeezy.
In 2016, Gucci was the next hip-hop artist to be featured on a photo tee. This time, the tee also featured Gucci’s signature – which is unlike what we have seen on previous photo tees.
Supreme/Slayer
Slayer is an American thrash metal band formed in Huntington Park, California in 1981 by guitarist Kerry King and drummer Dave Lombardo.
The band’s lyrics and album art, which cover topics such as murder, serial killers, necrophilia, torture, genocide, human experimentation, Satanism, hate crimes, terrorism, religion, anti-religion, Nazism and warfare, have generated album bans, delays, lawsuits and criticism from religious groups and the general public. However, its music has been highly influential, often being cited by many bands as an influence musically, visually and lyrically. Between 1991 and 2013, the band sold 4.9 million albums in the United States.
With 20 million records sold, Slayer are considered one of the greatest metal bands in history and to this day resonate with the same intensity.
In 2016, Supreme collaborated with Slayer on a collection for their Fall collection which consisted of a m-65 jacket, a coach jacket, sweater, thermal, hooded sweatshirt, crewneck, sweatpants, four graphic t-shirrs and a 5-panel hat.
Sade photo tee
Helen Folasade Adu, CBE, known professionally as Sade Adu or simply Sade, is a Nigerian-born British singer-songwriter, composer, arranger and record producer.
The band was ranked at number 50 on VH1’s list of the “100 greatest artists of all time”. In 2010, The Sunday Times described her as the most successful solo British female artist in history. In 2012, Sade was listed at number 30 on VH1’s “100 Greatest Women In Music”.
The old photo Supreme uses for its 2017 Sade T-shirt is actually from a series of promo materials shot by renowned photographer Ellen Von Unwerth. It was shot in 1982 for Epic Records and was used as a set for newspapers and magazines to incorporate into articles. It was also utilized in conjunction with the release of the album, Love Deluxe.
Rap-A-Lot Records for Supreme
Rap-A-Lot Records was founded in 1987 in Huston, Texas – and was the label that championed artists such as Sir Rap-A-Lot, Scarface, Bushwick Bill, Willie D and DJ Ready Red. Rap-A-Lot tested the boundaries of the music industry in the late 80’s and gave sub-genres of rap at the time, a chance to reach their full potential.
The staple graphic feature on this drop, was the iconic image of Bushwick Bill in hospital after being shot in the eye by his girlfriend. This collection consists of a Satin Club Jacket, Graphic Image Hooded Sweater, 5-panel, Beanies, T-shirts and… a cushion.
Supreme/Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American singer, songwriter and dancer. Dubbed the “King of Pop”, he was one of the most popular entertainers in the world, and was the best-selling music artist at the time of his death.
In spring 2017, Supreme released a collection featuring imagery of Michael Jackson. The collection consisted of hoodies, t-shirts, short-sleeve work shirt and a skateboard deck.
Wilfred Limonious/Supreme
Wilfred Limonious was an iconic Jamaican illustrator and designer – who is now known as the father of ‘dancehall art’. Born in Trelawny Parish in northwest Jamaica, Wilfred began his career in 1970 working for The Star newspaper and then working for JAMAL (Jamaican Movement for the Advancement of Literacy) as illustrator, before moving on to impact the Jamaican music industry. During his long and very successful career, Limonious designed hundreds of album covers and record label logos, for the likes of House, Studio One and Techniques.
After working with the Limonious Estate and One Love Group on it’s newest collection, in June 2017, Supreme dropped a group of tshirts featuring original artwork by Wilfred Limonious.
OUT OF STEP 