Kristien Wilkinson asked:


From baggy jeans and bling blings to classic gangster-inspired suits and bowler hats, a distinct and evolving fashion style has always been an indispensable element of the hip hop industry. Hip hop fashion traces its roots to the clothing style of African-American youths. Since then it has drawn its influences from hip hop scenes in different parts of the United States, from California to New York, as well as from various elements of underground and popular culture.

One of the earlier clothing styles in hip hop was the sportswear coupled with conspicuous jewelry which became the signature look for old school rap. Tracksuits, bomber jackets, berets, Doc Martens, and sneakers were some of the common apparel then. Men sported gold chains while women wore large gold earrings. The sports apparel of Adidas, Nike, and Le Coq Sportif were some of the commonly patronized brands in the 1980s. The 1990s saw the growing popularity of more sportswear from Tommy Hilfiger, DKNY, Polo, Calvin Klein, and Nautica. This particular fashion style became known as the urban streetwear and was further supplied by such brands as FUBU, Ecko Unlimited, Walker Wear, and Boss Jeans.

The emergence of gangsta rap as a sub-genre of hip hop fueled another fashion statement, this time inspired by the clothing styles of street thugs and prison inmates. Gangsta rappers started wearing baggy pants, bandannas, and tattoos. Not a few conservatives reacted negatively to the sagging pants and low-hanging waistlines. A religious group tried to combat the fashion style by giving out belts while others sought to make it illegal.

Other hip hop personalities opted for the classy gangster look and wore double-breasted suits, bowler hats, silk shirts, and alligator-skin shoes. This Mafioso-inspired image was popularized by the Notorious B.I.G. and Sean Combs a.k.a. Diddy, with the latter becoming known as the Shiny Suit Man.

Recent trends in hip hop apparel show the influence of hipster and preppy styles. Oversized shirts were replaced with tighter-fitting short-sleeved shirts, tracksuits were traded for sports coats, and tighter denims were favored over sagging jeans. Some of the popular accessories are large belt buckles and skull and skeleton ornaments. Decorated hoodies, fitted caps, and trucker hats are also commonly worn.

Heavy jewelry has also become an enduring mark of hip hop fashion, symbolizing an ostentatious display of fame and wealth. Known in hip hop slang as bling bling, these flashy accessories became ubiquitous fashion icons and common semiotic elements in a lot of music videos. Gold jewelry was the craze in the 80s but it was eventually edged out by silver and platinum. Grills or removable metal teeth coverings also became popular among celebrities.

With the development of hip hop fashion, rap artists eventually ventured into the clothing business and started producing their own labels. The rap group Wu-Tang Clan has its Wu-Wear, Damon Dash and Jay-Z have Rocawear, and Diddy has Sean John. Diddy also bagged the 2003 Menswear Designer of the Year Award given by the Council of Fashion Designers of America. Other hip hop personalities with their own clothing lines are Eminem, 50 Cent, Russell Simmons, Kimora Lee Simmons, and OutKast.



Content for WordPress

Ken Wilson asked:


Hip hop is a cultural movement which originated from New York in the 1970s. Rapping, DJing, breakdancing and graffiti art are considered the main components of hip hop culture. Hip-hop music style consists of a rhytmic style of speaking (rap) over backing beats which are played by a DJ. Although rap is often confused with hip hop, it is not quite the same thing. Rapping is a vocal style which implies a performer speaking rhythmically to a beat and it is usually a component of hip-hop. Hip hop music was inspired from funk or disco songs, from which it borrowed the beats. Since 1979, it has entered the American mainstream and became a popular genre. In 1990s, a form called “gangsta rap” evolved. Today, hip-hop is in vogue not only in the USA, but also in the entire world.

The rise of hip hop was not arbitrary. It happened in the 1970s, when people were tired of dance and rock and needed a change. But that was not the only reason. There were also some social and political causes. Hip-hop’s popularity grew in the same time with the power of black and Latino gangs. Hip hop became a protest against middle-class white community from the poor black community living in “ghettos”. The lyrics spoke about the reality in ghettos which wasn’t exactly peachy. Consequently, hip-hopers used their music to express their feelings and frustrations. Of course, what begun as a poor class’s protest transformed into a million dollars industry, but that is another story.

Today, hip hop is listened to not only by Afro Americans, but also by white people. In fact, many successful hip hopers are white, an example being the notorious rapper Eminem. Hip-hop fans have their own way of dressing (with large clothes usually, baggie pants, bandanas, tattoos, sportswear and gold or platinum chains) and speaking. Consequently, we can say that hip-hop is more than just music and has turned into a life style for many. However, given the popularity of rap music, there are very many artists and the competition between them is fierce. The question is how can a young artist, at the beginning of his career, become popular and make himself a name? How can he obtain the attention of a producer who can help him to get into show business? The first step would be to record a hip hop mixtape and send it to several important music studios. The problem is that these studios receive thousands of records everyday. Many young artists, charmed by the mirage of easy success and fame, knock at the doors of music studios with a hip hop mixtape in their hands.

What every aspiring hip hoper must know is that there are web sites where you can post your songs in order for thousands of interested listeners to hear them. If you are lucky, you will receive an offer from one of the music studios and get to record your first album. The most important thing is to believe in your talent and not to give up easily. Send your hip hop mixtape to all the producers that you have heard of. Even if you don’t get any feedback at first, don’t lose hope. If you are talented, your hip hop mixtape will eventually be listened to by someone who realizes your potential. The road to success is not as easy as it may seem; it requires hard work, talent and maybe a bit of good luck, but in the end it will be all worth it.



Content for WordPress

Amelie Mag asked:


Fashion will always be a part of our lives. Not all people are attracted to what is new and hip, and styles vary with every person’s tastes. Even so, every time you walk out the door and stop to look in the mirror if your clothes are suited accordingly, you are trying to make a good fashionable impression.

Fashion is a general term that describes whether something fits with the popular mode of expression at a given time. But, at that specific time there may be a lot of expression modes taking place, and none related to the other. If something is fashionable at that point, that means it fits one of those styles. Let’s talk about the evolution of hip hop clothing.

This is a trend that started with the early hip hop singers like LL Cool J, Run DMC, Kurtis Blow and many others. While there were a lot of things that made a statement about the newly founded culture, like haircuts and jewelry, the most important of them all was hip hop clothing.

Back then, the clothes were mostly black-green-and-red. The 80s hip hop fashion also implied dreadlocks as haircuts and Africa chains as jewelry, which stated that this culture was a part of your life. With the passing of time and the evolution of the music, hip hop clothing also took a turn.

The 1990s brought with them baseball caps and colored clothes for some. Other singers were inspired by prison uniforms, which turned into the no belt fashion. The hip hop clothing trends in America were also divided according to regions. The west favored flannel shirts and sneakers, while the east was often represented by hooded tops and boots. Southern trend introduced gold teeth as fashionable.

The late 1990s also introduced new entries. Mafioso style became popular with alligator skin shoes and hats, with Jay-Z and Notorious B.I.G. as the pioneers, but also shiny suits with platinum jewelry were then a pleasant combination, something usually worn by P. Diddy.

All fashion trends started from a hip hop star. Whatever they decided was fashionable, the hip hop honeys embraced without a second thought. Everyone was free to decide what clothes they would wear to make a statement, but not all clothes were in tone with the current trends.

You may wonder what I mean by hip hop honeys. Well, these are the people that follow this culture anytime, anywhere. They know exactly what the new trends are, the kind of clothes that can be matched and what jewelry to wear with those clothes.

In the early days, hip hop honeys could find clothes to fit their tastes and culture in a relatively small number of brick and mortar stores. However, since the internet has now become more like a necessity than a whim, the stores have taken a virtual form. It takes only a computer, an internet connection and a few clicks to reach a reliable source of hip hop clothing.

This is good new for hip hop honeys, but how do you know which store is reliable. Well, to avoid becoming the victim of a scam, you should visit raininghollywood.com. Low priced limited editions of high quality fashionable clothes are at home on this website.



Create a video blog…instantly.

Robert Waters asked:


Rap Artist: C.James seals Clothing Deal called The Watchcuff. Featured in Forbes and New York Times ( interview)

Q:  What is the Watchcuff Shirt?

A:  The Watchcuff is the newest and most innovative men’s shirt to hit the urban market and the men’s fashion world. It’s more then a shirt, it’s a luxury item, it’s that pool, it’s that mansion, it’s the marble floors you truly want. We are ushering in a new dress code for the urban market, we are taking everyone out of hoodies and jerseys and upgrading their attire and life style with the Watchcuff Shirt.

Q:  What does Watchcuff represent and who is it for?

A:  Watchcuff represents upscale living.  It is for the men out there who are successful and who aren’t afraid to show it.  It’s for the Diddys, the Jigga’s, the shot callers and the ballers.  It’s for the people who love living luxuriously.

Q:  What is your involvement with the Watchcuff Brand?



A:  I will be Blinging the Watchcuff Shirts by recording 3 Hip Hop songs for the Watchcuff Brand.  “My Watchcuff Blinging” is the first song that will launch the Watchcuff Brand and it is now available for free download from my website or myspace page which has attracted over 3 Million plays so far. Two other songs will then follow:  “Watchcuff Blinging On Me” and “Oh My Watchcuff”. I will also produce videos and photos, as well as, serve as the Watchcuff spokes model which can be seen on my website as well. Additional music by C.James is also available on iTunes, Napster, Rhapsody and Amazon MP3.

Q:  What is your favorite song quote from your song “My Watchcuff Blinging”?



A: My favorite quote; I would say is, “My Watchcuff Blinging, celly phone ringing, I’m a busy man mami, if you really want it then bring it” that’s my favorite quote from the song, it just sums what Watchcuff is all about. Being busy, making moves, always on the go.



I continue on saying, “I got the maybach outside, do you feel what I’m spitting?

I got the bezel on the sleeve; don’t you see how I’m living? This is luxury baby …”           

That’s a hot line…

 Q:  What is unique about Watchcuff?

 A:  The unique thing about the Watchcuff shirt is that it allows you to tell the time without having to roll up your sleeve.  You don’t have to hide that expensive watch that you are wearing, you can wear it on your sleeve and everybody will be able to see it. Really why hide it….



Q:  How did C. James and Watchcuff come together?

A:  I just finished recording a 16 track album called “Who Should I Sign To” which is now available on Itunes, Napster, Rhapsody, Amazon MP3 and I was looking for a Public Relations company to help publicize my music.  I had my contact inform me about Transmedia, a highly reputable PR company that has been in the PR business for 25 years.  I sent my press kit to Thomas Madden the chairman and founder of so that he could take a look at it and right away he loved it.  Thomas then had Transmedia contact me with an offer that I couldn’t refuse.  He wanted to Bling the Watchcuff Shirts with my raps. We then paired innovative music with an innovative clothing design and it was a perfect fit.   Now they call me “The Ambassador of Luxury" 

Q:  Where can we check out the Watchcuff clothing line and the Watchcuff songs?

A:  You can check out the Watchcuff clothing line  and download the Watchcuff songs at:  http://myspace.com/thewathcuff



Q:  Is there anywhere else we can go to find out more about you and Watchcuff?

A:  Yes, C. James & Watchcuff have also been featured on:

Forbes New York Times

TSN sports network,

Fox News,

NBC,

Yahoo,

CBS,

Channel Six News,

Business First, Eye Witness News,

Business Journal,

Music Industry Today,  

Channel 3 News,

Toronto Seekers,

Fox Business,

Market Watch and more.

 Q:  So what’s next for the Watchcuff Brand?

A:  Right now we are looking to license the Watchcuff Brand to Hip Hop Clothing Companies such as Phat Farm, Enyce, Rocawear and Sean John we are also in talks with other Hip-Hop clothing manufactures as well.

The Watchcuff TM Shirt holds International patents in 9 Major countries and it is backed by billionaire Carl DeSantis who is the formal owner of Rexall Sundown Vitamins. So you know it’s going to be big!

Q:  What are your final thoughts about the Watchcuff Brand?

 A:  It’s an innovative shirt paired with innovative music.  The Watchcuff Shirt will be worn by everyone and will take every city by storm.  Watchcuff and C. James are a perfect fit. Watch out for Watchcuff!  Now go get your Watchcuff Blinging!

 Download the Watchcuff Song: http://www.zshare.net/audio/15618638fc9091eb/

 For More information contact or media content:

Kevin Hodge

Email: kr.hodge@gmail.com



Content

Ken Wilson asked:


Since its creation (in the 1970s in New York), hip hop has been accused of many things. One of the accusations was that it instigates at violence, promiscuity, misogyny and alcohol and drug use. Are the accusers right? It is true that many of the hip hop and rap artists promote an unreal image of successful male, desired by all women, who drives an expensive car, dresses in extravagant clothes and wears gold and platinum jewelry. Naked women and alcohol are a must in the hip hop videos. Or maybe it’s the other way around: the hip hopers talk in their songs about poverty and living on streets, but they are in fact very rich, which may seem like hypocrisy. What we must not forget, however, is that hip hop and rap music was created in ghettos by poor Afro-Americans. It is normal that the songs talked about ghetto life and poverty. Even if today’s hip hopers have changed, the message of the music has remained the same.

About the other accusations, it is true that hip hop and rap music is not very educational. The rappers talk about weapons, alcohol and drugs in a positive way. Teenagers could be influenced by such words. But that leads to another question: should hip-hop music, and music in general, be moralizing? The artists are free to express their message to the public, but the public is also free to listen to their music or not. It would not be fair to prohibit a genre of music because the lyrics can be promiscuous. After all, the teenagers can hear the same words and expressions at school or at the corner of the street.

Hip-hop and rap fans argue that that hip hop is the expression of a world which may seem tough, but is nevertheless real. To change the lyrics of the songs in order to eliminate the accusations of immorality would mean to fake the reality that you are trying to show. Therefore, people who don’t like hip hop music should simply not listen to it. Similarly, if they don’t want their children to be negatively influenced by rap music, they should forbid them to buy the records. Most hip-hop CDs include a warning about the content of the lyrics.

But do all hip hop songs talk about drug and violence? An example of rappers who don’t promote violence in their songs would be the French band Manau, who talk in their songs about old Breton habits (“Le tribu de Dana”). Another would be Mook E., from Israel, who preaches peace and tolerance in his songs. Famous rappers such as Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five or Public Enemy used hip hop and rap for social purposes, to protest against certain social realities.

In the end, it is always a question of perspective. Hip hop and rap has its admirers and its despisers, like any other kind of music. What makes hip-hop different from other genres of music is the culture that has evolved around it, including breakdancing and graffiti. The conclusion is that we should all try to be more tolerant. If you don’t like rap, it’s OK, but don’t believe that all the persons who like it are would-be gangsters and uneducated persons. You might be surprised to learn the truth.



Content

angeleluniko asked:

UNIKO - ARABA’S CAFE - URBAN FASHION FEST

Create a video blog…instantly.

DJ45DigiScientist asked:

Intro:Rob Egan (WKPS 90.7fm - Lion Radio)
*** Special Performance 5-6 Famalia
http://www.56famalia.com/
MRDomecastle (Ryan) on video
DJ 45 - Digital Scientist on the decks.

Create a video blog

Kristien Wilkinson asked:


The last few years were not a good time for the music industry in terms of album sales. No genre has taken this harder than hip hop, which dropped 44 percent in sales since 2000 and accounted for a mere 10 percent of the total music sales. Despite this, the cash still kept coming in for the hip hop moguls who went beyond being rappers and became big-time entrepreneurs.

In the Forbes’ list of hip hop cash kings, the top earners were artists who didn’t just produce albums and go on concert tours; they were head honchos of multi-million empires which were banked on the entire hip hop and pop culture. These personalities put their stamp on everything, from sneakers to vitamin water, so much so that were already brands in themselves.

The current top earner in the hip hop industry is Def Jam Recordings CEO Shawn Carter, better known as Jay-Z. After a supposed retirement in 2003, the rapper staged a recording comeback three years later with his 11th studio album Kingdom Come. The album fared well with 680,000 copies sold on its first week, topping the US Billboard chart.

Album sales are nothing but a small fraction of Jay-Z’s wealth though. In March 2007, the rapper earned $204 million, before taxes, in the sale of his clothing brand Rocawear to the Iconix Brand Group. He will still manage the marketing, licensing, and product development of the label and will pocket another $35 million if the brand performs well for the next three to five years.

The business-savvy rapper also co-owns the franchise of 40/40 Club, an upscale sports bar, as well as a small stake in the NBA team New Jersey Nets. In October 2006, he was named co-brand director for Budweiser Select after his single was featured in an Anheuser Busch ad. He also earns about $13 million annually for the distribution of the Scottish vodka Armadale. His income for 2006 was estimated at $34 million. All in all, Jay-Z’s wealth as of 2007 amounted to $547 million dollars.

Sean Combs, now known simply as Diddy after a series of name changes, is the second wealthiest hip hop entertainer although he placed third in the Forbes list of top hip hop earners for 2006. With an estimated net worth of $358 million, Diddy rules over an empire consisting of the record label Bad Boy Records, the Sean John clothing line, the Unforgivable cologne, and two restaurants called Justin’s. Forbes placed his earnings for 2006 at $28 million.

Another hip hop millionaire worth an estimated $200 million is 50 Cent. His G-Unit includes a clothing company, a sneakers brand, video games, and a line of fiction. He also owned 10 percent of Glaceau, a line of beverages. When Coca Cola purchased the brand for $4.1 billion, 50 Cent reportedly got $100 million (before taxes). The rapper also owns a condom line and is involved in a number of films. He landed on the number two spot of the Forbes list with a 2006 income of $32 million.

Time magazine once branded hip hop as capitalism with a beat. If so, then these rhyming millionaires are at the helm of it.



Content

Aurelien Berger asked:


Could you be a PIMP ?

No doubt about it, live a pimp lifestyle has becoming a trend. However, pimps, if we stick to what it originally means, should not be considered as role models.

The only appropriate occasions to dress like one was if you were an actual pimp or if you was at a Halloween party. But pimp clothing as evolved with time. Even though you can still find shining pimp suits in green, red or purple; the Era now is to Bling Bling and steetwear.

The reason for that being that Gangsta Rap almost grabbed the Pimp Flag and made it is own. And we will refer to Gangsta Rap on a broad scale. Don’t limit yourself to California. But still, the new pimp anthem became more famous thanks to the featuring of a californian artist. Obviously I am talking about Snoop Dogg and 50 cent. Snoop Dogg is some kindda pimp idol for all the pimps and pimp wannabees.

If American Pimp Idol was on television, the finalists would most certainly be: 1st Snoop Dogg, 2nd 50cent, Don Magic Juan in the old scholl pimp category, Big Boi (Outkast) and LL Cool J for best rapper makeover over the years, and D4L for best pimp band.

The greatest thing is that today, Internet made it possible for the World Pimp Community to get everything online. There are tons of websites that sell all the bling bling, pimp suits or hip hop clothing.

But guess what? Big pimpin is more than that. Because pimps have hobbies too, they have interests: the go to music concerts or sport events, play video games, rent dvds and sometimes do drugs too…but ushh. Now you can even smoke and buy legal buds online.

Well there is a website that thought about all that. It is almost like a concierge for pimps online. Daddy The Pimp took his name because he teaches like pimp daddy would normally do. He will orient you towards the best buying spot from one website. No need to remember or bookmark tons of websites. The starting point for pimps online has just arrived.

So do what you gotta do, and see for yourself! The most probable is that you will get officially pimped.

Peace!



Create a video blog…instantly.

Ryan Schnier asked:


Marc Milecofsky was born on 1972 in Lakewood, New Jersey. For those of you who do not know who he is maybe you know him better by Marc Ecko. Marc started selling shirts back in the 1980’s and founded his very profitable Ecko clothing line at the age of 20 in 1993. Marc Ecko Enterprises has grown worldwide and includes clothing lines such as; G-Unit, Zoo York and Avirex sportswear to name a few. In 2004 The company recorded over 1 billion dollars in gross profit.

Marc Ecko has been in New York Magazines “Influentials” list along with Detail Magazines list of “Most Powerful Men Under 38.” He now lives with his wife in New Jersey and plans on opening retail stores across the United States.

Marc Ecko not only makes money but he gives back to the community, he has also been trying to help the world’s rhinoceros population. In 2005 the San Diego Zoo even named a baby rhino after the designer. He is currently worth over $100 million dollars and continues to grow each year. He also purchased two white rhinos in 2005 which saved them from being purchased by canned hunt operators out of Texas.

If you are interested in Ecko Clothing there are a number of sites currently on the internet selling this fashion line. If you would like to save some money on purchasing the clothing take a look at a review site. These sites will go to a number of different retail websites and review each one. They will then post their reviews and let you the customer know which ones have the best deals. They will also give you information about whether the companies have bonuses, free shipping and a lot more useful information. Save yourself time and money and do a little research before you start buying.



Content - Members-Only Content for WordPress