Never heard the term before. Here's what Wikipedia says:
"
The origin of the term [wife beater] is from the stereotype that the shirts are worn predominantly by men who beat their wives; black tank tops were often worn by Ike Turner, a notorious abuser of his wife Tina. In the 1980 movie Raging Bull, the main character, a boxer, is commonly seen wearing tank tops around the house, including in one scene where he beats his wife. Countless drunk and disorderly domestic abuse suspects who were arrested on the TV show Cops also wear such shirts."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wife_beater_(slang)