Hip-Hop + Fashion= BET's Rip The Runway

The merging of hip-hop with fashion has been a fascination since its inception in the late 70s. Flash forward three decades later and a multi-billion dollar industry, the union is so revered that BET created Rip The Runway to celebrate its concept several years ago.

Last week the network taped their annual fashion and hip-hop showcase which is set to air Tuesday, March 4th.

Directed by video director Chris Robinson, executive produced by Sean Combs, and hosted by cuties rapper/entrepreneur Nelly and actress Lauren London, the event played host to various urban lines (Applebottoms, Sean John) and not so urban ones (Zac Posen!) at Hammerstein Ballroom.

There were performances by Snoop, Missy Elliott, Pharrell, Nelly, T-Pain, Trey Songz, Making The Band's Day 26 and more to collections presented by Zac Posen, Sean John, Applebottoms, Respect M.E. by Adidas, tall women specialty line Sixxfoota, Amaya Swimwear, plus-size favorites Monif C and Qrystal Designs and the debut of Snoop's wife Shante Broadus' collection Rich & Infamous.

Celebrity models included Cassie, Toccara, Charli Baltimore, HBO The Wire's Felicia 'Snoop' Pearson, curvy poster girl Liris Crosse and I Love New York 2's Buddha. Buddha may have lost the competion in the reality show but he was certainly a winner in the swimwear segment. Blackvoices.com