Designer Maurice Malone opened the Hip-Hop Shop on the West side of Detroit on Seven Mile as a spot to sell his coveted jeans and leather clothing in his hometown Detroit. The Hip Hop Shop clothing store opened in 1993 by fashion designer Maurice Malone that was more well known for its open mic contests than its clothing. It quickly evolved into one of the main destinations for rap competitions in the Detroit hip hop scene.

Once located on the Westside of Detroit, Michigan’s 7-Mile Road, The Hip Hop Shop was a boutique and worldwide Mecca for Hip Hop Culture. The spot, located on 15736 W. Seven Mile Road, had open mic contests that were managed and hosted by rapper Proof on Saturdays from about 5:00 – 7:00 P.M. He started promoting Saturday open mics which were hosted by Proof from 1993 to 1997. It became famous for its Rap Battles.

The battles often included Eminem, members of D-12, Slum Village, producer J Dilla and other Detroit Hip Hop Legends who were in their youth at the time. The battles that took place were the stuff of legends and the movie “8-Mile” starring Eminem was the result of its reputation. The location transformed Detroit hip-hop and the world of music forever. This underground music and style platform’s “graduates” include Eminem, Slum Village, J Dilla, Champtown, 5Ela, Phat Kat and many, many more.

These videos were recorded in 1996 by the team at the shop. The Hip Hop Shop closed down in 1997 when Malone and his partner Jerome Mongo decided to move to New York and focus on the clothing line which later became the Williamsburg Garment Company.

Maurice Malone Ad

Maurice Malone in an early Ad

Clothing from the official Hop Hop Shop Brand can still be purchased online at HipHop Shop.com. In the early 1990s, he went on to become one of the founding fathers of the Urban/Hip Hop fashion markets with his popular streetwear brands labels Mojeans and Maurice Malone Designs. The groundwork he laid in Detroit, at his revolutionary clothing store and rap battle hot spot and the work he put in taking urban streetwear to the world makes him one of the founding fathers of Hip Hop Fashion and Streetwear as we know it today.