Dapper Dan: Made in Harlem: A Memoir
Written by Daniel R. Day
Narrated by Daniel R. Day and Omari Hardwick
5/5
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Currently unavailable
Currently unavailable
About this audiobook
With his now-legendary store on 125th Street in Harlem, Dapper Dan pioneered high-end streetwear in the 1980s, remixing classic luxury-brand logos into his own innovative, glamorous designs. But before he reinvented haute couture, he was a hungry boy with holes in his shoes, a teen who daringly gambled drug dealers out of their money, and a young man in a prison cell who found nourishment in books. In this remarkable memoir, he tells his full story for the first time.
Decade after decade, Dapper Dan discovered creative ways to flourish in a country designed to privilege certain Americans over others. He witnessed, profited from, and despised the rise of two drug epidemics. He invented stunningly bold credit card frauds that took him around the world. He paid neighborhood kids to jog with him in an effort to keep them out of the drug game. And when he turned his attention to fashion, he did so with the energy and curiosity with which he approaches all things: learning how to treat fur himself when no one would sell finished fur coats to a Black man; finding the best-dressed hustler in the neighborhood and converting him into a customer; staying open 24 hours a day for nine years straight to meet demand; and, finally, emerging as a world-famous designer whose looks went on to define an era, dressing cultural icons including Eric B. and Rakim, Salt-N-Pepa, Big Daddy Kane, Mike Tyson, Alpo Martinez, LL Cool J, Jam Master Jay, Diddy, Naomi Campbell, and Jay-Z.
By turns playful, poignant, thrilling, and inspiring, Dapper Dan: Made in Harlem is a high-stakes coming-of-age story spanning more than 70 years and set against the backdrop of an America where, as in the life of its narrator, the only constant is change.
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Reviews for Dapper Dan
50 ratings7 reviews
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Amazing book with historical context and culture value truth. I truly enjoyed it.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Loved this book
It contains great life lessons - Great Read - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A great listen. His story is one of perseverance and strength
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I loved the story and narration. Definitely worth a listen!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5An inspirational, creative guy that grew up with nothing, but the desire to lift himself out of poverty and enjoy life to the fullest. Disrespected by tue legacy brands, but highly respected for his vision and adherence to detail and quality by black celebrities, Dapper Dan has had an interesting and amazing life. I was led to this book after listening to Rakim's autobiography. I didnt really know about him, but found hisvstory to be even better than Rakim's. Both men are readers and are deeply philisophical. I wish Dapper Dan all the best. As a poor white boy born in New York I can better understand the black community and its struggles. One day the underdogs of the world will prevail.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Real good book learned some history about Harlem.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This is a must read for sure. It is a unique history book ranging on topics from the great migration, the evolution of hustling and how Dan shaped how most prestigious fashion brands designs their clothing. Stellar is an understatement!