Urban swag and style

People would argue on whether rap is the "hottest" part of the music industry. Those that disagree would still have to admit that it is among the most captivating. From Yo Gotti's stunningly fly hip-hop jewelry to Ace Hood's intense lyricism, rap music is continuing to shine. Quite literally, as a matter of fact.

So what exactly is it that makes rap music so exciting to watch and listen to?

For starters, its all about how these rap artists look.

Hip-hop and urban clothing are becoming increasingly popular. While some attempt to copy the "swag" of their favorite rappers, others prefer to stick with the urban look and "rock" their own style. Either way, it's easily noticeable that the hip-hop fashion industry is growing fast, particularly within the younger crowd.

Trends have a huge influence on urban style. Clearly, the style wore in the '90's is not what is being worn today. This includes clothing but also hairstyle, language and slang, accessories such as jewelry and hats, and even how the clothing is worn.

It varies from region to region. Teenagers in West Los Angeles obviously do not wear their urban-style clothing the way they do in Detroit or Atlanta. However, diversity and fashion go hand-in-hand. People relocate and generally stick to their same style they had at their previous location.

There are a variety of different urban streetwear labels, some more common than others. Some celebrity rap artists have actually started their own personal clothing lines. These rappers include T.I, Nelly, P. Diddy, and Jay-Z.

The following list displays some of the most popular urban clothing labels currently trending today:

• Marc Ecko:The Marc Ecko clothing line includes four individual lines: Marc Ecko Collection, Marc Ecko Cut&Sew, Ecko Unlimited, and Eckored. Ecko Unlimited is perhaps the most popular line, while Eckored is specifically designed for women.
• Southpole: One of the original hip-hop clothing lines, Southpole is gradually decreasing in popularity. However, Southpole is a favored selection as it consists of a wide variety of apparel at a cheaper price.
• Ed Hardy: Ed Hardy is often considered a tattoo urban clothing label. The clothing almost always displays eye-catching design. A little expensive, Ed Hardy clothing can be found on online sites, including Dr. Jays.
• New Era: New Era is not really a clothing line. New Era clothing mainly consists of fitted baseball caps. Snapback caps are the most recent trend in head-wear. New Era's online store has hundreds of caps from sports such as baseball, football, and basketball. Each available sport has many caps that can usually be found on the website.

The above listed clothing have been around for a while and are widely popular. All four can be purchased online and in various stores that sell clothing.

You don't necessarily have to be an enthusiastic rap fan to be aware of who has what out, what's nice to wear, and whether its worth the time and money investing in. Artists with their own personal clothing labels have either been around for a while or have a high charismatic status.

• AKOO: AKOO stands for A King Of Oneself and was created by the southern rap legend, T.I. Although the line is rapidly attracting more and more attention, it does tend to be one of the more expensive labels. The rapper, B.o.B was recently appointed as the "ambassador" of the AKOO clothing line.
• Sean Jean: Created by the accomplished rapper and entrepreneur, P. Diddy, the hit film, Love Don't Cost A Thang, featured multiple references to this clothing line.
• Rocawear: Who hasn't heard of Rocawear? Considered to be one of the best by many, the rapper Jay-Z started this urban label.

Usually, clothing lines created by rap artists end up being very successful. Unfortunately, they are often extremely expensive and can't be found everywhere.

So if you've seen some urban clothing in your local stores, you might think it's nice-looking stuff. Maybe you're in a younger crowd and you might have been dressing up in your favorite hip-hop gear for a while now.

Of course, your fresh gear has to be purchased before you can wear it, a task that you may find difficult in itself. Its up to you to know whether the investment is worth it. If so, buy a fresh pair of Enyce jeans to match your new hoodie.

If Soulja Boy was able to turn his "swag" on, why shouldn't you?