Young Jeezy Decides To Launch Clothing Lines Through Jay-z And Rocawear

Article written by: Rodrick Rainey
Posted on: November 4, 2005

Right now, its the must-have fashion item in the hip-hop community – the Young Jeezy Snowman shirt.

Earlier this year, Jeezy and Def Jam started giving out the shirts as promo for his album Let’s Get It: Thug Motivation 101. As Jeezy’s popularity has grown, so has the fervor for the shirts. But not all the feedback has been positive.

Hip-hop fashion company Miskeen Originals has cancelled its production of Young Jeezy’s iconic Snowman t-shirts after finding out the logo’s meaning.

Miskeen owner Yaniv Zaken decided to halt production on the tees when he discovered the snowman represented the dope man. “I never saw the street react so strongly,” Zaken told The Philadelphia Weekly, “and then they told me the snowman is actually the guy delivering ’snow’ on the street.”

Zaken did not want his company to be associated with Da Snowman logo after he connected it with drug dealing. Initially, Zaken requested Miskeen artists to add the phrase “Say No To Snow” to their remaining shirts, but recently he just decided to halt the other half of the original product run altogether.

“Whatever we shipped before I came to the country is shipped,” Zaken said. “But if you come here right now, you’ll see 500 shirts folded. We’re not sure what to do with them.”

URB1.COM, the Original Hip Hop Fashion Site, had open discussion amongst people who wore and saw the shirts being worn by their peers. “For Miskeens to act like they have morals after they stole the clothing line they own from the original brothers that owned it, is crazy” said one person in the dicussion.

“I can’t believe the public would even believe for a second Miskeen didn’t have a clue what this shirt was. And on top of that to believe they will just trash their products? The new owners of Miskeen stole the clothing line from it’s original owners and have prevented the growth of some positive designers from the Urban community. “st, he asked the Miskeen artists to add the phrase “Say No To Snow” to their remaining shirts, but recently he just decided to halt the other half of the original product run altogether.

“Why would people have a problem with a Frosty the Snowman logo that represents a glamour and glitz (referring to the slang “ice”) lifestyle inside inner city communities? It does not mean you have to be a drug dealer. It means to stop procrastinating, be about your business, and get the money to enjoy what some consider luxuries. To me it’s just a huge error in judgement.” said URB1 founder, Rod Rainey.

For now, it seems like the Snowman will continue to pop up with or without Miskeen’s emblem. Bootlegged versions of the shirt can be found all over the country, but Jeezys not mad.

“If the ‘hood likes it, I love it.”

“You gotta understand what it symbolizes,” he explained. “It symbolizes a young hustler. If a cat goes and gets fresh, hits the club or goes to an event and he has a Snowman shirt on, it’s almost like a white tee. You can throw on a white tee and G your way through the party. You might have a Snowman shirt on and it’s all good. Everybody can’t afford the Gucci and everything. It’s the next best thing, the Snowman.

“Snowman is a cool dude,” Jeezy continued. “He’s a gangsta too. There’s a Snowman in every ‘hood, several Snowmen in the ‘hood. You gotta be that dude to look up to with the car and the girl. Whatever you do, be the best at it, because that’s best at it, because that’s what the Snowman is going to do.”

Capitalizing off of the trend, Jeezy has recently announced a partnership with Jay-Z’s Rocawearclothing for his own United Streets and D Boy Apparel line.