THE RAF-AELITES

A$AP Rocky, Frank Ocean, and Lil Uzi Vert Love Raf Simons So Much They Made a Song About Him

Also featuring Playboi Carti and Quavo of Migos.


Raf Simons - Runway - NYFW: Men's
Getty Images

Namedropping fashion brands is a flex that rappers have always indulged, and we’re not just talking Versace, Versace, Versace.

Back in 1987, Grandmaster Flash dropped “Them Jeans,” in which he raps about “Jordache, Sasson or, huh, Calvin Klein.” Now, 30 years later, A$AP Rocky just released a single titled “Raf,” which is an ode to Calvin Klein’s creative director Raf Simons.

Featuring verses from Frank Ocean, Lil Uzi Vert, Playboi Carti, and Migos’ Quavo, the line “Please don’t touch my Raf” is posited politely throughout. (But really, don’t.) Each rapper takes a minute to tell you exactly how and why they wear their Raf: Quavo for the “all kind of crazy colors,” Ocean, never one to get overly excited, says he’s gifted it, and Uzi claims he was doing it long before anyone else. Meanwhile, Simons also shares the stage with references to Rick Owens, Rolex (“Rollie”), J.W. Anderson, Maison Margiela, Marc Jacobs, Dior Homme artistic director Kris Van Assche, and Gucci’s Alessandro Michele.

Unsurprisingly, this is not the first time A$AP Rocky has professed his love of brands in a song. His 2013 hit single “Fashion Killa” set the pace for label-dropping with shoutouts to everyone from Tom Ford to Helmut Lang. Plus, he declares himself a “trendy n—-“—which seems hard to dispute today, seeing that he’s not only a fashion icon in his own right, but also has his own collection for Guess, and sits front row at just about any major fashion show he wants, including of course, Raf Simons in New York this February.

Rocky attended his first Simons show back in 2013 when the designer was still at the helm of Dior. Since then, he’s cultivated a gaggle of Raf stans sitting front row, including Luka Sabbat, who referred to Simons as “the god” at his most recent show, adding afterwards that he could “talk about it for three hours.” Plus, Playboi Carti told W months after the fact that he was still in disbelief Rocky had let him tag along in Simons’ presence.

So, it is clear that while wearing rare Raf Simons is the ultimate flex, the designer might also be the only person capable of humbling someone like Rocky.

I Heart Raf: Male Models Explain Why They Love Raf Simons So Much

“Raf is sick! He is meticulous with his work, and that produces great fashion.”

Photos by Biel Parklee and Alex Hodor-Lee.

“I don’t really know a lot about fashion, but this show has gotten me excited.”

Photos by Biel Parklee and Alex Hodor-Lee.

“What I love most about Raf is his shoes. I love the look that I’m wearing for the show.”

Photos by Biel Parklee and Alex Hodor-Lee.

“He’s very meticulous in everything he does. He makes sure everything is perfect, which is so inspiring.”

Photos by Biel Parklee and Alex Hodor-Lee.

“I love the jackets.”

Photos by Biel Parklee and Alex Hodor-Lee.

“What I love about Raf is that he has a variety of clothes, from suits to like basic t-shirts. Almost everything he makes is comfortable and goes with everything. He has a good symmetry with his clothes.”

Photos by Biel Parklee and Alex Hodor-Lee.

“I love his creativity and the way he looks at certain things.”

Photos by Biel Parklee and Alex Hodor-Lee.

“I like his designs… Raf is cool.”

Photos by Biel Parklee and Alex Hodor-Lee.

“The clothes are very cool.”

Photos by Biel Parklee and Alex Hodor-Lee.

Raf… I can’t even begin to say what I love about him. Because the man amazes me every season, is always so special to work with him. And I think that creatively he is maybe the best one who delivered the past 10 years.

Photos by Biel Parklee and Alex Hodor-Lee.
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