How A$AP Rocky Is Appropriating “Babushka” Culture

A Russian’s perspective on how my grandma’s go-to garment took the rap and fashion world by storm.

“Babushkas on deck”

Here’s a picture of 12 year old me back when I lived in Moscow, sitting in front of a bunch of Russian babushkas in their natural habitat.

No Russian city would be complete without a gaggle of grandmas in their signature garb, posted on a park bench spreading juicy gossip, bragging about their grandchildren, and not so silently judging innocent passerby’s.

Nobody is safe from a babushka’s gaze — in fact, they were probably trashing me in this photo for my ridiculous Justin Bieber haircut. Although they usually mean well, there’s no denying that babushkas talk a lot of shit.

If you’re confused, contrary to what A$AP Rocky would have you believe, “babushka” isn’t what you call the headscarf – it means grandma in Russian.

If you still don’t know what I’m referring to, Rocky has been channeling his inner babushka lately, and being the international trendsetter that he is, my grandma’s go-to accessory has become all the rage. Babushkas all over Russia are suddenly at the forefront of the fashion world and don’t even know it.

Rocky at the LACMA Art and Film Gala

Unsurpisingly, Lord Pretty Flacko pulls off the look, but Rocky is by far not the first to hop on the “babushka” wave. As a Russian, I’ve been rocking them since the day I was born.

Proof.

So where did his obsession with the headscarves start? According to this GQ interview, Rocky started wearing “babushkas” after he cut his face riding a razor scooter. He told the magazine:

“I did a pop up wheelie and just ate shit and I just had a fucking big gash on my face. Had to get plastic surgery and here we are.”

In an attempt to cover it up before appearing on Trevor Noah’s Daily Show, he threw on a yellow “babushka” inspired by Alfalfa from The Little Rascals.

Source: Cc.com

On his Injured Generation Tour that followed the release of Testing, Rocky sported a “babushka” at his shows, and even previewed a new track dedicated to the garment:

Source: YouTube.com

The trend caught on quickly, with friend and collaborator Frank Ocean posting a selfie also rocking a “babushka.”

Not everyone was feeling the look though, and memes mocking Rocky’s fit were all over Twitter and Instagram teasing him for his grandma-inspired getup.

Source: @mannystarrebel on Twitter

Known for pushing fashion boundaries, Rocky was unfazed by the haters, even changing his Instagram bio to “BABUSHKA BOI.” In the past, he’s been ridiculed for wearing women’s clothing, massively over-sized outwear, and an inflatable raft jacket.

Much like the babushkas in all of our lives, A$AP runs shit and doesn’t give a fuck about your opinion. He’s going to keep pushing the boundaries of the rap game and the fashion world, and the rest of us are just going to have to catch up. Personally, I’m all about this new look, but unless babushka boy can cook a mean bowl of borsch, he’s not replacing my grandma anytime soon.

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