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Smif N Wessun The All Zip Top Here

"The A.L.L." is the eighth track on Brooklyn duo Smif-N-Wessun's 2019 album The All, produced by 9th Wonder. The song features veterans Steele and Tek reflecting on their legacy and longevity in hip-hop, with a chorus centered on unity, while the album itself, featuring guest appearances from artists like Raekwon and Rapsody, explores themes of family and their roots in Brooklyn. You can find the full lyrics at: Genius Dork

The Legacy of the Zip Top

Hip-hop packaging is a lost art. Today, we download files or stream plastic MP3s. But in 1995, holding that zip-top bag in your hand was a statement. It signaled that Smif-N-Wessun were street-level. They weren't trying to be glossy pop stars; they were selling you a product that looked like it just came off the corner.

That "Zip Top" became a shorthand for authenticity. If you saw someone carrying that CD, you knew they weren't a tourist. They were a head.

The Lyric That Launched a Thousand Fits

On their seminal 1995 album Dah Shinin’, specifically the gritty, head-nodding anthem “Wrektime,” Steele delivered a four-bar verse that acted as a style manual for the underground: smif n wessun the all zip top

“My whole crew dun wearin’ the all zip top / Standin’ on the block, glocks held by the cock / Livin’ in a state of heart, New York / Bucktown n**z is the rank of the crook.”

Before the internet, before GQ covered streetwear, this is how you learned what to wear. If Smif-N-Wessun said the “All Zip Top” was the move, you went to the mall or the army surplus store immediately.

The Branding

Here is where the magic happens. The front left chest features the iconic "Smif-N-Wessun" logo in a heavy, gothic/heavy metal font—usually embroidered (never screen printed on the authentic vintage runs). On the back, centered between the shoulder blades, is the massive "Duck Down" pigeon logo. "The A

However, the "Holy Grail" variant of The All Zip Top features reversed contrast stitching. The stitching on the zipper track is deliberately thick, orange or cream-colored, clashing violently with the dark fleece.

SMIF N WESSUN "The All Zip Top": A Deep Dive into the Boot Camp Clik’s Cult Classic

In the sprawling tapestry of 1990s hip-hop, few acts have maintained the gritty, unvarnished authenticity of Smif-N-Wessun. The Brooklyn duo—comprised of Tekomin "Tek" Williams and Darrell "Steele" Yates—has long been revered as cornerstones of the Boot Camp Clik. While casual fans know their seminal debut, Dah Shinin’, true aficionados ride for the deep cuts, the B-sides, and the rare promotional pieces. Among the most sought-after and discussed relics in their discography is the elusive track and accompanying merchandise known as "The All Zip Top."

For years, younger fans scrolling through vinyl forums or old Boot Camp message boards have stumbled upon the phrase "Smif N Wessun The All Zip Top" and wondered: Is it a song? A clothing item? A lost music video? The answer, fascinatingly, is all of the above. The Legacy of the Zip Top Hip-hop packaging is a lost art

This article unpacks the history, the fashion, and the sonic landscape of "The All Zip Top," explaining why this niche piece of 1995-96 hip-hop culture remains a holy grail for record collectors and streetwear enthusiasts alike.

Report: "Smif-N-Wessun — The All" (often stylized "The All / Zip Top")

Release & Context

The Cultural Significance: Hip-Hop and the Leather Jacket

To dismiss "The All Zip Top" as merely a "lost song" misses the point. Smif-N-Wessun were chroniclers of the material reality of their environment. In the mid-90s, the "all zip top" (as opposed to a button-up car coat or a snap-down windbreaker) represented a specific economic tier. It wasn't luxury (not yet mink or gators), but it was quality.

The song became a cult anthem because it validated the everyday attire of the underground. While West Coast artists rapped about khakis and Chucks, and Southern artists were beginning to talk about ice, Smif-N-Wessun anchored themselves in the pragmatic toughness of Brooklyn streetwear.

Vintage fashion archives have noted a resurgence in interest for "The All Zip Top" specifically because of the song. In the last five years, resale platforms like Grailed and Depop have seen sellers tagging their vintage Fila, Pelle Pelle, and Avirex jackets with the keyword "Smif N Wessun The All Zip Top" to command higher prices. It has transcended music to become a style keyword.