When it comes to style, MC Bushkin has always stood out from the crowd, sharp, bold, and unapologetically original. A true legend in UK music, he’s known not just for his bars, but for his presence. In this “The 5 Series” MC Bushkin takes us through five garments that have defined his personal style over the years. These are statements. Pieces that captured a moment, held their own through decades, and still speak volumes today.
Introduction
First things first big up the Urban Syndicate as always. Alright, this is Five of the Best, five of my most cherished garments. These garments weren’t just bold, they were sharp. They had that street edge, loud and in-your-face, but still carried themselves with class. That balance of attitude and elegance, of style and substance, thats what made them special. And more than 25 years later, they still hold up. That’s real quality. I didn’t just hang them up as collector’s pieces either, I wore them. But every time, they went straight to the dry cleaners. I took care of them, and they paid me back by lasting. The fabric, the stitching, the fit, it all held up.
I’ve always liked looking smart. That’s what really spoke to me as an artist. When the grime era hit and people started dressing down, it just didn’t sit right with me. I’m a performer. I’m an entertainer. When I step on stage, I want people to see me, I want to make an impression before I even say a word. That’s what these garments gave me: presence, confidence, and a visual identity. They matched my mentality perfectly.
Moschino
First up, I’m starting with a two-piece red Moschino aeroplane suit. This suit is iconic. It’s literally a one-away, I’ve never seen anyone else with it in my life. I got it from a shop called “La Homme”, which was in Soho, West End London. The owner back then used to get one-away suits straight from Italy, and he’d always say to me, “Kin, bring me a grand, I find the right suit for you.”
This was one of those occasions. I went up there, saw this two-piece Moschino suit, and just fell in love with it, totally. I didn’t even have anywhere to wear it at the time, but I had to have it. It was such a one-off. I ended up wearing that same suit in the Heartless Crew Theme video, I think it was either 2000 or 2001 when we shot it. So if you go back and watch the Heartless Theme video, that’s the exact red Moschino suit I’m wearing, all those years ago.
Yeah, that’s what I used to love these garms fit in my character. They were so bold and brash and just in your face and fun and happy and bright. So yeah, this ticked all my boxes and in the Heartless Crew video it smacked it. I think at the time I had a white Moschino belt, which had the peace sign as a buckle, I believe my mum has still got it now. My mum pinched that one off me. Thanks mum. But yeah, even that belt’s knocking around somewhere.
Ice Berg – Felix Face
So this suit here, I believe, was another one from my friend at “La Homme”, that was my go-to shop. Basically, we used to spend so much money there that he actually loved us. When I’d go down, he’d lock off the whole shop, shut the upstairs, close the door, put the “closed” sign up, and then I’d head downstairs, into the back, into the stockroom. He’d just let me wander around. And to be fair, I could do it freely, I’d be in there digging through stuff that hadn’t even come out yet, not even on the shop floor.
That’s where I was finding the real gems, rooting through boxes, picking out pieces nobody had seen yet. That’s why a few people might have eventually seen this suit, but trust me, I had it early. This one was an Iceberg Felix the Cat two-piece suit.
This was a little bit later on, during the garage days, funny enough. I remember wearing this and bumping into Saul from Chase & Status. When I used to drop suits like this, people were just in awe “Yo, what’s this guy doing?”
I remember talking to some girls, proper fangirls back in the early days, like 2000 – 2001 era and they came up to me saying, “You know what? We love your music and that, but honestly, we come to every rave just to see what you’re gonna be wearing next. We love your fashion sense.” And when they told me that, I gave all three of them a big hug. We actually stayed friends after that. The two-piece suits were such an iconic part of that era of streetwear. You just don’t see it replicated anymore.
Dolce & Gabbana
My D&G baby, the quality on this piece is SERIOUS. It’s like a jean jacket fit, a D&G top with the matching pants, but it’s made from a thick cotton material. It’s got that heavy, weighty feel to it. It’s kind of like denim, but not as harsh. It’s a softer, more cottony texture, but still thick. I don’t even know how to properly describe it, that’s the best way I can explain it. It’s not true denim, but it’s definitely got that blade sharpness to it. And it just looks so fresh, the way the monogram is all lined up perfectly. You can tell by the craftsmanship on something like this: every single detail is considered.
You know with a lot of jackets, the print might be a little off centre but not with this, everything lines up inch perfect. These garments here, the quality is just ridiculous. These people went out of their way back then. Nowadays, people don’t make things to last, it’s all fast and cheap.
I believe I picked it up from Proibetos in the West End, this was another one of those stores everyone went to. They just had everything. I can’t even remember exactly what occasion I bought it for, but I’ve got a picture wearing it with Terri Walker. An amazing artist. You can wear this anywhere and fit in. It’s beautiful.
Versace
This right here is honestly one of my favourite pieces. It’s a two-piece black leather Versace set, jacket and trousers. The style of the jacket? That was all me. And those trousers? Cold. If Versace ever sees this, they’re going to want to buy it back off me at any cost, because it’s a one-of-one. I’ve never seen anyone else rocking a two-piece leather Versace suit like this. It’s crazy.
I remember back in the day when I first wore this suit. I can’t remember exactly where I was going, but I do remember the look. I had two pairs of Patrick Cox boots, one leather, one suede. I still have them somewhere, I need to dig them out. I had a convertible BMW Z3, James Bond style, with the red roof. I’ve got a picture of me in that car, in this exact leather Versace suit, boots on… feeling like a million dollars. No, scratch that, a billion. I need to find that photo and include it. That must’ve been around the year 2000.
And now here I am in 2025, still rocking the same suit, and it’s still looking fresh to death. That’s the thing, it just fits so well. Even back then, I knew it was bold. All-black leather? Leather trousers? People didn’t know what to make of it. But I’d hear it all the time: “If anyone can pull that off, it’s you.” Because let’s be real, leather pants were taboo then, and they’re still a bit taboo now. But the way I dropped it? Nobody could chat to me. This suit is something else.
Castelbajac
So this final piece, it’s a custom Jean-Charles de Castelbajac two-piece. Now, Castelbajac is one of those designers where, back in the day, a lot of creatives would work for one brand and then move on to start their own lines. I believe he may have worked for Iceberg before launching his own label. You can definitely see the crossover. Some of the same cartoon characters pop up, and both brands share that loud, bold, in-your-face aesthetic. This particular piece is no exception. It’s like an army-style waistcoat in a mad tiger-stripe pattern, just crazy, bro. Honestly, I’ve never seen anyone else with it. It’s got that repeating print and sleeveless cut, which just makes it stand out even more. It’s bold. Like, proper bold.
I’m pretty sure I bought this one from “L`homme” : and I remember rocking it at the Marcus Garvey Centre in Nottingham. I’ve even got a picture of me wearing it in Ayia Napa, which I’ll dig out. This piece had serious presence. I remember stepping out in it and people couldn’t stop staring. Everyone wanted to know what was going on. They’d never seen anything like it. I’ve lost the shirt now, I’m a little pissed about that. So I wear it exactly like this, waistcoat only, no tee or vest underneath. I rock it with my chest out, real bold energy.
Nottingham was wild back then, big up Miss Valerie. She was a major promoter and ran V Rocket Sound System. Later, she started putting on UK Cup Clash and those big sound system events. She’s properly respected. The raves she threw at the MGC were huge. It had that bashment sound system vibe, walls vibrating from the bass. When we used to come up to Nottingham, it was madness. Proper superstar treatment. And turning up in pieces like this? People were like, “My Gosh?!” It was just mayhem.
Conclusion
Talking about this has properly taken me back, what a time that era was. We need that kind of boldness again. Fashion today feels either uninspired or over-the-top, like it’s trying too hard to be different but ends up looking forced. And then there’s the plain, bland stuff that doesn’t excite anyone. And, let’s be honest, the quality these days? It’s terrible. We’re in a disposable era where you wear something a couple of times and it’s straight into the bin. They talk a lot about sustainability, but the gear doesn’t even last long enough to make a difference. For me, it’s all about quality. I want pieces that are built to last, that look good, and stay looking good after a proper wash. No gimmicks, just timeless style, real impact, and staying power. That’s what I’m all about.
Back in the day, the big names were truly top-tier. Versace and Moschino, especially during the pattern era, were leading the charge. They were the best, and the quality spoke for itself. These were brands at the top of their game, no question. People might not know who exactly made them famous, but it’s clear the Italian swag from gangster movies played a role. Italians have always had that effortless style, the suits, the way they move. You can see the influence in those films. And then you have the Jamaican influence, always putting their own spin on fashion, making it their own.
Yeah, I’m of Jamaican heritage, so that’s probably something that’s just part of me. Plus, I’m a Gemini, and we’re known for being the life of the party, loud, creative, and always out there. We’re air signs, living in the clouds. All of this feeds into my style. And on top of that, I’m a performer. Entertainers, like circus ringmasters, have a certain flair, a charisma. Look at the legends, James Brown, with his slick moves, or the Temptations rocking those shiny suits. Michael Jackson with his zip-up jackets, Eddie Murphy with the red leather suits, it’s about standing out. Those entertainers knew how to captivate. And that’s what I’m about.
