De/Coding Culture: Bling, Beats & Big Moves

Maurice Moe Endres

Cultural Marketing Director, Serviceplan Culture

December closed out the year 2024 with a mix of nostalgia, futuristic flexes, and unexpected collabs that blurred the line between fashion, music, and tech. From Snoop & Dre’s long-awaited reunion to Pepsi turning jewelry into a manicure-saving hack, the last month of 2024 proved once again that culture never slows down—it just reinvents itself.

Snoop & Dre Reunite, While Fortnite Hosts the Ultimate Rap Show

Let’s start with hip-hop history in the making. Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre finally reunited for Missionary, their first full-length album together since Doggystyle in 1993. The sound? Grown-man luxury rap, dipped in classic West Coast swagger and rich with samples from legends like Tom Petty and Sting. Snoop’s effortless charisma is still there, and Dre’s production? Flawless. At 53 and 59, they’re proving that icons don’t age—they evolve. Meanwhile, Fortnite continued its reign as the ultimate digital stage, pulling 14.3 million players into a virtual rap spectacle featuring Juice WRLD, Ice Spice, Eminem, and Snoop Dogg. Performances ranged from giant robots to intergalactic voyages, but the real moment? Juice WRLD’s avatar turning players into butterflies while debuting his latest track.

Fashion’s Wildest Moves: Balenciaga x Lamborghini, Palace x NEEDLES

While the rap world was reclaiming its throne, high fashion and streetwear were remixing their own formulas. Balenciaga’s Fall 2025 collection took the concept of "leaks" to the next level—literally. Demna "accidentally" posted watermarked images of the collection on his personal Instagram, feeding into his ongoing play on fashion industry absurdity. The collection itself? A chaotic mix of oversized skirts, micro-mini briefs, and celebrity graphic tees featuring faces like Kim Kardashian and Michelle Yeoh. But the real star of the show? The Balenciaga x Lamborghini collab, which injected car culture into couture with bomber jackets, clutch-shaped driver’s manuals, and key fob-inspired jewelry. Meanwhile, Palace x NEEDLES leaned into playfulness, dropping butterfly-printed hoodies, velour tracksuits, and sherpa-lined jackets that blended cozy and cool in true NEEDLES fashion.

Skims Hits the Slopes, Pepsi Turns Jewelry Into a Can Opener

Speaking of functional fashion, Skims made its first move into winterwear, teaming up with The North Face for a sleek cold-weather collection that’s equal parts performance and après-ski chic. Kim Kardashian pulled from her own experiences on the slopes, blending Skims' signature sculpting aesthetic with The North Face’s legendary outerwear expertise. And in a surprising but genius turn, Pepsi entered the accessories game with the Pepsi Ring—a sterling silver, zirconia-accented ring that doubles as a can opener. Designed with Long Play Jewels, this stylish little tool lets you pop open a Pepsi without wrecking your manicure. High fashion meets high function? We’re here for it.

BMW x Kith and Louis Vuitton’s Luxury Wonderland

But it wasn’t just about looking good—brands were in full flex mode, unveiling massive projects that fused culture, commerce, and creativity. Louis Vuitton opened its largest U.S. retail space on NYC’s 57th Street, a five-story luxury wonderland packed with art installations, mirrored sculptures, and even a café serving custom Louis Vuitton chocolates. Over in the auto world, BMW and Kith returned for their third collaboration, debuting the ultra-exclusive 2025 BMW XM by Kith at Art Basel Miami. Limited to just 47 units, this hybrid beast is drenched in Frozen Techno Violet metallic paint, featuring Kith-branded interiors and a concept model with glowing LED Kith logos. But the real flex? The debut of Ronnie Fieg’s custom 1981 BMW M1 E26, bridging BMW’s racing heritage with modern hype culture.

Tech Meets Fashion: G-SHOCK’s Fire Drop & Apple’s Running Shoe Emoji IRL

Tech brands weren’t about to be left out either. Apple’s running shoe emoji got the IRL treatment thanks to designer Josewong, who crafted Shoe 1—a sneaker that perfectly mimics the emoji, complete with exaggerated tongue, puffy heel, and even a 3D-printed Apple A5 chip embedded in the sole as a cheeky nod to its digital roots. Meanwhile, G-SHOCK turned up the heat with its Flame Inside Series, dropping bold red-orange and purple-blue colorways that capture the flickering glow of fire, proving once again that a watch can be both a timepiece and a statement.

Mariah Carey & Beyoncé Take Over Christmas Gameday in the NFL 

And because no December is complete without Mariah Carey, she took her holiday reign to the NFL’s first-ever Christmas Gameday, kicking things off with All I Want for Christmas Is You before matchups between the Chiefs vs. Steelers and Ravens vs. Texans. Adding to the holiday magic? Beyoncé was confirmed as the halftime performer for the Ravens-Texans game, making this Christmas one for the cultural history books.

As pop culture wrapped up the year, Hypebeast100 dropped its annual list of creatives shaping the future, highlighting designers, visionaries, and innovators setting the tone for 2025. From sustainable fashion pioneers to digital disruptors, this year’s list proves one thing: the culture doesn’t just evolve—it reinvents itself every season.

So, what did December teach us? That the lines between luxury, streetwear, tech, and entertainment don’t just blur anymore—they don’t exist. Rap legends became virtual performers, soda brands made jewelry, and cars became fashion statements. If 2024 was about bold moves, 2025 is shaping up to be about breaking every rule left standing.