Notorious BIG and His Coogi Fashion History

Saturday marks the 16th anniversary of the death of rapper Notorious B.I.G., and Vibe took a look at the MC's relationship with the Coogi fashion brand and who wore it before him, like one of America's favorite dads.

During the mid-90s, Christopher Wallace undoubtedly made it a hood priority to rock the iconic knit pattern. However, he wasn't the first to put a generation of urban style seekers onto the COOGI brand.

Back in the 80s, another figure in African American pop culture made COOGI—more importantly, their sweaters—a go-to for guaranteed freshness: Bill Cosby. Everyone's favorite TV dad made the COOGI sweater a staple on his timeless sitcom, The Cosby Show (1984 – 1992). 

The now-deemed "Cosby sweaters" became so popular, three of them went up for sale on eBay during a 2008 auction to benefit the Hello Friend/Ennis William Cosby Foundation (named in honor of Cosby's only son, who was, eerily similar to Biggie, murdered in L.A. in 1997 on the brink of beginning his doctoral studies). According to The NY Daily News, the money was raised to help fund educational programs. 

Oh, and in case you were wondering, minimum bids were set at $5,000 per sweater. If you don't know, now you know.

Read more at Vibe.

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