As early as the 1960s, the concert merchandise T-shirt has been a cultural signifier, a fraternal banner, and a union between music and fashion. The appeal of the merch shirt rested heavily on its exclusivity and limited supply, giving rise to a fruitful bootleg industry. Today, however, bootleg designs are less about inauthenticity and more about a visual wittiness that grasps at nostalgia and irony, and certainly a lot of hype. From a string of ripoff-inspired designs mixing high-end labels and normcore staples, to a federal judge rejecting Desert Trip Festival’s request for authority to confiscate and destroy any bootleg T-shirts and merchandise, it seems like imitation might really be the sincerest form of flattery in our contemporary culture. Here, we present you five bootleg merch T-shirts that marry music with streetwear. Frank Ocean “Nikes” Tee You’ve obsessed over Frank Ocean’s Blonde, and now you can pay homage to the album’s opening track “Nikes” with the Swoosh Frank Ocean bootleg project.

The collection incorporates the iconic Nike Swoosh logo with the Frank Ocean name on T-shirts as well as other streetwear essentials such as hoodies, a hat, and a tote. Young Thug x Thrasher Bootleg Tee This bootleg shirt unites American rapper Young Thug and skate culture authority Thrasher magazine with the word “Thugger” written in Thrasher‘s signature font design across simple white and black T-shirts. The unisex merch shirt is produced by Honeymoon, a Brooklyn-based music and fashion label that is also a branch of Young Thug’s 300 Entertainment record label. Sold out and restocked again, the “Thugger” shirt is available at the Honeymoon web store. Death Row Records Tee by OKOKOK Emerging Hong Kong streetwear brand OKOKOK draws influence from DIY aesthetic and ’80s HK gang films. In this bootleg project, the label riffs on legendary hip-hop record label Death Row Records. The iconic logo that shaped west coast street culture is accompanied with the phrase “death row prison cell” in Chinese and Japanese.

Get this East meets West, music meets fashion staple on OKOKOK’s web store. Bootleg Boys Biz T-Shirts Chicago-based bootleg T-shirt label Boot Boyz Biz, which operates under the motto “We Bootleg, We Boyz, We unmistakably Bizness,” is a collective that takes influence from niche culture tastemakers and underground music references. Subjects range from disco and synthpop godfather Patrick Cowley to the now defunct Temple Records, and although references might not be immediately recognizable, these shirts will surely catch the eye of the in-the-know crowd. kula hoodieSee if you can identify any of these low-key designs at the BBB web store, or head over to the archive to consume some super niche music culture.hoodie inter milan ready stock DIY Life of Pablo Merchjoker hoodie ecko

And lastly, the bootleg “I FEEL LIKE PABLO” shirts made by teenage high school-dropout-turned-designer Austin Butts, also known as @Asspizza. Asspizza saw the hype surrounding The Life of Pablo merch shirts and started screen-printing and selling knockoff versions of the font design on T-shirts. In a hilarious modern-day plot twist, Kanye and his team loved the bootlegs so much that they stocked them in the real Pablo pop-up store. With thousands of people owning authentic Pablo merchandise, and only a few getting a hold of the bootleg iterations, the knockoffs garnered a new level of exclusivity. hoodie zaskia mecca“A lot of people just don’t get it because like they’re like, ‘Why the fuck would you buy a fake shirt?’ hoodie baseball kaskusBut it’s more real than the real ones, you know? alienware hoodies

A lot of people don’t get it,” commented Asspizza. What to Read Next Biz Collection Short Sleeve Polo NITRO in Black/Royal/White - size 2XL Add to Wish List Biz Collections Short Sleeve Base Mens Polo in Black Size 2XL Biz Collections Ladies Short Sleeve Polo HERITAGE Black and Silver Size 8 Biz Collections Short Sleeve Polo F/Biz in Black - Size 2XL Biz Collections Hooded PolyFleece Windcheater in Black - Size 2XL Biz Collections Hooded PolyFleece Windcheater in Black - Size 3XL Biz Collections Hooded Fleecy Windcheater in Black - Size 2XL Biz Collection Mens ICE T Shirt 100 percent Cotton - Size 2XLSIMPLE PLAN - NO PADS, NO HELMETS...JUST BALLS 15TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR MOVED TO FILLMORE PHILLY Click Here for details YOU MAY ALSO LIKEMens Sports Hype Hoodies Supplier: Biz Collection [SW308M] Full front zipper with kangaroo pocket Matching modern loose-fit hem ribbing SIZES - GARMENT HALF CHEST (cm) View Full Product Information

Weights & measurements are approximate & for reference only. Garment colours may vary from what you are viewing."Thank you so much for everything! You guys are amazing. I really appreciate the immediate responses and ease of communication with everyone I have interacted with. I will be highly recommending you to everyone and can't wait for the shirts. I look forward to doing more business with you guys in the future!" - Austin G. • Youth Hoodies & Fleece Tops Kids California Fleece Raglan Zip Up Hoody Zipper For Easy On And Off. Heavy Blend 50/50 Youth Crewneck Sweatshirt A Slightly Lighter Feel for the Budget-Conscious. A Nice Heavy Hoody for Kids. Youth Flex Fleece Zip Hoodie PTech Fleece Hooded Girl's Jacket PTech Fleece Youth Hooded Sweatshirt Ptech Fleece VarCITY Youth Hooded Sweatshirt Heavy Blend 50/50 Youth Hoody Heavy Blend 50/50 Youth Full Zip Hoody Youth Full Zip Hoody A Kids' Version of Our Most Popular Hoody.