After conquering the music industry, current culture titans like Travis Scott, Drake, and Kanye West have turned their gaze beyond just album sales, creating personal brands that are impossible to ignore. From hosting high-profile music festivals and events in their hometowns to collaborating with industry giants like Nike, adidas, Jordan, GAP, McDonald’s, and more, artists like these have taken the fan relationship to the next level. StockX has one of the largest artist merch catalogs on the internet and much of your favorite artists’ most popular branded apparel is available for under $100. With the holidays on the horizon, the time has never been better to grab yourself or a loved one that coveted piece of artist merch at a surprisingly affordable price.
Nike x Drake Certified Lover Boy Hat
Drake’s new album, Certified Lover Boy, has been out for nearly two months and it’s very likely that it will end up being the best-selling album of 2021. Likewise, Drake’s collaborative Certified Lover Boy artist merch with Nike will also probably end the year as a best-seller on StockX. This Drake Certified Lover Boy Hat, which features a lipstick print on the brim of an otherwise normal white Nike hat, encapsulates the down-bad spirit of the recent album. The hat was officially released one year ago in October of 2021 and has seen a number of restocks in the last 365 days. The most recent restock, which took place shortly after the album’s September release, sent the resale price of the hat for a nosedive, making it the most affordable it’s ever been. If you’re looking for some new fall headwear at an affordable price, you might have just found it.
Kanye West DONDA August 5 Listening Event L/S T-shirt
Drake isn’t the only artist to release a highly anticipated album in the last few months. Kanye West, now legally named “Ye”, recently released his own new project, Donda. Originally announced in June of 2021 and slated to release in July, the Ye album got pushed back several times and wasn’t officially delivered until September, just a few days before Drake’s Certified Lover Boy. This Kanye West T-shirt was released in August at one of Ye’s three-album listening parties and features a grey graphic that combines the Star of David with a Crucifix. For those who haven’t stopped bumping Donda yet, this T-shirt has fallen below its retail price, making it an affordable option for anyone who wants to rep the album.
Travis Scott Cactus Jack + Kaws For Fragment Tee
Though he hasn’t delivered any new music in a while, Travis Scott’s been releasing merch collaborations on a relatively regular basis. Earlier this year, Travis Scott partnered with Jordan and Fragment to deliver two pairs of collaborative Jordan 1s. Alongside the sneakers, he also released two merchandise collections with Fragment, one of which featured a three-way collaboration that added KAWS to the mix. This t-shirt has been one of the most popular on StockX since its release and rightly so. It features a grey, white, and yellow graphic on the front of it that depicts a baby with the head of a KAWS companion surrounded by Travis Scott and Fragment logos. Originally released at the retail price of $58, this t-shirt is trading on StockX for below its retail price in every size.
Nike x Drake Certified Lover Boy Hoodie
While most affordable pieces of artist merch are t-shirts and accessories, every now and then there’s a hoodie that slides under that $100 price point. This white Nike x Drake Certified Lover Boy Hoodie is a perfect example of that. Released more recently than most of the album’s merch, this colorway has quickly become the most affordable version of the Drake x Nike Hoodie. If you’re looking to rep your new favorite album in a garment fit for cold weather at an affordable price, this hoodie is for you.
Playboi Carti x Cactus Plant Flea Market Whole Lotta Red King Vamp T-shirt
Playboi Carti is another artist who likes to dip his toe in the waters of current culture. His most recent album, Whole Lotta Red, was met with both critical and commercial success and according to the hip hop rumor mill, he’s got a new record coming any day now. If you’re looking to grab some merch for Playboi Carti’s upcoming Narcissist Tour as the buzz around his name begins to pick up, this collaborative t-shirt with Cactus Plant Flea Market might be for you. The shirt features a Cactus Plant Flea Market-illustrated image of Playboi Carti as Vampire-Demon on the front with reference to the album and artist on the back. For around $70, this t-shirt will make for an affordable head-turner at the artist’s upcoming shows.
Travis Scott Cactus Jack x Neighborhood Carousel T-shirt
For some time now, Travis Scott has managed to somehow satisfy the merchandise desires of both his deep-cut loving, long-time fans and his newer, more pop-centered followers. Held in contrast to Travis Scott x Mcdonald’s, this collaborative t-shirt with The Neighborhood demonstrates the artist’s desire to deliver something for fans of every sort. This Travis Scott T-shirt features imagery of a The Neighborhood Carousel Incense Chamber on the back surrounded by bright yellow branding and text. If you’re an OG Travis Scott fan who still basks in the days of Owl Pharoah and Days Before Rodeo, this t-shirt is for you.
Nike x Drake Certified Lover Boy Rose T-shirt
For most of the last year, the supply of Drake’s Certified Lover Boy Merch has been scarce, leading to relatively high resale prices. With the release of the album, Drake restocked most of the merch, and since then, the apparel has gotten far more affordable. If you’re a casual Drake fan who’s really enjoyed the new album, this t-shirt might be for you. The branding on the front of the shirt is relatively minimal and the back of the shirt features a tasteful graphic of the album’s name. At a resale price of between $50 and $60 in most sizes, this t-shirt is a solid wardrobe addition for any Drake fan who’s not trying to break the bank.
