Jay-Z founded the clothing brand Rocawear in 1999.
Rocawear grew from the business network surrounding Jay-Z and Damon Dash, including Roc-A-Fella Records. The brand translated the rapper’s public identity into apparel and helped establish a powerful model for hip-hop artists building businesses beyond recorded music.
The company became especially prominent during the early 2000s, when celebrity-backed fashion labels were becoming important parts of music marketing. Its product lines included casual clothing and accessories, and its visibility reflected the growing influence of hip-hop style in mainstream fashion.
Rocawear is sometimes confused with Sean John, the clothing line founded by Sean “Diddy” Combs, or Yeezy, associated with Kanye West. Those are separate brands. Jay-Z’s connection to Rocawear is also distinct from his ownership and executive roles in music companies such as Roc-A-Fella Records and Roc Nation.