While they’ve been around for a while, we’re starting to see more music-inspired soccer jerseys these days, and it’s a trend we’re most definitely here for.
When the worlds of football, music, and fashion collide, we get something special — the band/artist kit. This is a phenomenon that has happened many times before, and it has become more popular as the lines between all three worlds continue to blur.
Whether as a piece of official tour merch, a special one-off release, or an unaffiliated tribute design, there are different categories of music-inspired jerseys, and all are special in their own right.
Brands like Killa Villa, Bands FC, and Stay True Supply have made plenty of custom designs inspired by certain artists and albums over the years, and the results have been fantastic. Bleacher Report even made a hit-or-miss series of jerseys for various artists in 2018 and 2019.
We’ve also seen artists officially getting into the kit game and making their own designs, based on their music, classic jerseys from over the years, and sometimes both. With this trend only continuing to grow, let’s take a look back at some of our favorites.
Nas x Umbro and Nicholas Daley: Illmatic 30-Year Anniversary Kit
It’s not hyperbole by any means to say that Illmatic is the greatest rap album of all time. Nas’ debut LP celebrated its 30-year anniversary in 2024, and as a token of the milestone, Umbro linked up with Nicholas Daley to create a limited edition commemorative jersey.
Daley, a London-based designer whose collections have made waves across the fashion world, has a knack for using different materials and textures to add depth to his pieces, but here we get a simple aesthetic that evokes the album’s iconic soundscape. It works perfectly.
Full Kit Wankers x Mount Kimbie: The Sunset Violet Kit
Full Kit Wankers made a name for themselves through their creative custom jerseys inspired by various music album covers. That work has now evolved into an official collection with London-based electronic group Mount Kimbie and their new album The Sunset Violet.
The kit design is inspired by the classic 1995-96 PSV Eindhoven home kit, and while it looks fantastic, at first glance it might not make sense why an English band is getting a Dutch-inspired shirt. Then you realize that The Sunset Violet’s initials are TSV, and everything starts to click into place.
The Alchemist: ALC Soccer Jersey
He’s been a legend in rap spheres for decades now, but The Alchemist has seen a dramatic rise in popularity in recent years through his work with some of rap’s elite bar-spitters, including Freddie Gibbs, Larry June, Boldy James, Earl Sweatshirt, and Action Bronson.
Uncle Al recently cooked up his own soccer jersey and released it via his website, and there’s a lot to like here from a design perspective. The first thing that stands out is the crest, which is an obvious riff on LAFC’s logo, put in reverse to represent Al’s name. Then you have the sponsor, “Fly Alchemist,” which draws from the ever-so-popular Emirates Airlines sponsor logos from across the globe. The finishing touch is the PSG-esque stripe down the middle, which has become another classic design element in football kits.
Arthur Verocai x Hubik: Official Merch Jersey
This is something special. Brazilian composer Arthur Verocai and graffiti supply specialist Hubik teamed up to release a special edition jersey exclusively available at Very Special in Los Angeles. Verocai released a self-titled debut album in 1972 that garnered little buzz at the time, but turned into a cult classic in the United States in the early 2000s, which resurrected his career. The vinyl is a grail for collectors, with original pressings selling for over $2,000. Now, he has his own merch via a Los Angeles record store and graffiti paint maker. You can’t make this stuff up.
Death at the Derby: The OG Kit & the Icarus Cup Kit
If you’ve rocked with us over the past few years, you know how big of fans we are of the Death at the Derby crew. Rappers Cousin Feo and Lord Juco along with scratch master DJ Dubplates have carved their own lane in the rap game with their soccer-themed series of albums and singles.
Out of all of the jerseys on the list, Death at the Derby’s make the most sense. Which is probably why they have multiple options to choose from. The original was a custom design on top of a Nike blank, and the more recent release comes from the 2024 Icarus Cup, and takes inspiration from the city of Jakarta.
Golf Wang Soccer Capsule
This is the most unique entry on this list, as it skews more towards traditional jersey design and streetwear more than it does to music. However, as it is made by Tyler, the Creator’s Golf Wang brand, it still retains a connection to the music world.
Released in 2022 in the midst of the World Cup, and modeled by football’s fashion man Hector Bellerin, the jersey design features a polo collar along with wavy stripes. The collection also featured a track suit, shorts, a hoodie, and a ball, to fully capture that footy feel.
This wasn’t the first time that Golf Wang dipped its toes into the world of soccer, as it dropped a Juventus-inspired striped jersey in 2014, which it re-released in 2023.
Travis Scott: UTOPIA: CIRCUS MAXIMUS Tour Merch
To celebrate his whirlwind UTOPIA: Circus Maximus global tour, Travis Scott smartly created a line of international-kit inspired jerseys for each country he stopped in. Each piece takes cues from its country’s national team jersey, including Brazil, Argentina, England, Italy, Mexico, and more.
It’s a strategy that’s been used by bands before, but few have had the edgy design that has become a trademark of Trav’s work, be it his own releases or collaborations with brands like Nike and Air Jordan.
