Who knew a few pins and a fresh wash and set could cause this much chatter? Yesterday, Rihanna put emphasis on how much of a “real RiRi” she is, when she showed up to the American Music Awards sporting a beautiful two-piece look in a bandeau bra top and full sequin skirt. But it wasn’t her look that stole the spotlight; it was her hair, which was secured in a tight doobie wrap held in place by some diamond pins.
The internet, of course, exploded with memes of Rihanna and her new style, and shortly thereafter, a manager came to the foreground to express that she believes Rihanna stole the AMAs look from a talent she once managed, a rapper from the Bronx known as Patwa. According to the manager, back in 201o, Patwa was in talks with Roc Nation and some unnamed “big wigs,” who wanted to give her a development deal – only if she softened her image and sound and lost the jewel-pinned doobie.
In a letter, she explains the look Patwa worked, saying:
The image we were trying to run with was what Patwa knew from the streets, which was the doobie wrap. She wore it proudly with jeweled pins to signify she was a Queen and this was her ghetto crown. Something that many females coming from where she came from could relate to. You know when you get that hair wrapped you feel like the Bomb You just got your hair did no one could tell you nothing.
She later followed up with her reaction to seeing Rihanna wearing the look:
You see during 2011 Patwa and I crossed paths with Rihanna at a Roc Nation event. Rihanna who on that evening was wearing a hairstyle that she “borrowed” from Cassie, complimented the jeweled pin wrap said it looked nice and even inquired as to who did it? We of course were flattered out of our socks and felt almost validated. Two years later it appears middle America is ready and Rihanna really liked what she saw. By no means did we invent the doobie wrap or name. However prior to the AMA’s no one had attempted to wear the doobie as a hairstyle in public. No one!!!!!! I just find it very insulting that something we brought to those people was to “ghetto”. But now Rihanna can accept awards while proudly displaying it.
Hmmm, could this just be an actual coincidence or a blatant style rip? Take a look at Patwa’s music video below and let us know your thoughts.
Head over to Necole Bitchie to read the full letter.
SOURCE: Necole Bitchie
