Post by rocky on Aug 10, 2003 7:49:49 GMT -5
Luv your hip-hop? Here is an excellent article by music journalist Paul Milousis. Check this out:
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14/03/02 - Hip-hop broke onto the scene in the 1980s. It was something brand new and completely different from any other form of music at the time. Many in the music industry and society in general felt that this new unorthodox music, popular with young inner city Afro Americans, was just a fad. Little did those nay-sayers know what kind of monster the legendary kool herc would create.
Fast forward 20 years and the once scorned, hip hop, or rap music has not only survived, but exploded to unprecedented heights.
Hip-hop is now enjoyed by people around the world. It has branched out of its birthplace, New York City and shared its unique and cutting edge sound with every corner of the globe. Hip Hop can be heard night and day on a number of radio stations. Hip Hop videos are on heavy rotation on music channels, so much so that in September, Much music decided to launch a separate 24 hour channel devoted entirely to hip hop and the urban sound.
Just like Heavy Metal in the 1980s, and Disco in the late 1970s, Hip Hop has become more than just a popular form of music; it has become a culture, a way of life. Its dedicated followers live and breathe hip-hop, emulating the way their beloved musicians speak, dress, and walk.
"Our rap section in the store is always packed," says Keisha Williams, an associate at the HMV on Yonge St. "Rap albums are hot sellers, and people wait for new releases like their movie premiers, its crazy."
Laurie Graves, an associate from the Pickering HMV, has also noticed the attention the rap section generates. "Young people come in to check out the new releases, and a lot of the time they'll ask me about this album and that album, they're very passionate".
Even though the Pickering HMV is just a fraction the size of the Yonge St. HMV, Graves says it's definitely one of the stores hot spots. It's funny, because sometimes you'll see someone waiting, because there's no room in the rap section.
Multi-millionaire rapper Jay-Z, with his independent label Roc-A-Fella, also runs his own clothing line, Rocawear, which offering everything from custom-made jeans to hats to sweaters and shirts. His is one of several lines of Hip hop gear on the market. "We carry everything from Rocawear to Fubu to Phat Farm", says Tonya Smith, an associate at Champs sports in the Eaton Centre.
"Their big sellers with teenagers and young adults", says Smith. "Everything sells, jackets, track suits, t-shirts, as long as it has that desired look".
Champs isn't the only sporting goods store that has incorporated hip-hop clothing lines.
"Most of our clothing here is hip-hop influenced," says Lester Maxwell, an associate at Athlete's World in the Pickering Town Centre. "We carry a lot of Ecko, which uses famous rap artists to market them. We also have Fubu, Phat Farm, which is Russell Simmons (the owner of Def Jam) clothing line. Even if the apparel is Nike or Addidas, it's baggy or loose, so again there's that influence of hip-hop," says Maxwell.
Aside from selling the gear in stores, rap artists are also promoting their clothes on CD sleeves as well as online on their Web sites.
"When you're out in public, you can spot a hip hop junkie", says Hadi El-Masri, a student at Centennial College and self-proclaimed hip-hop junkie. "You can tell by the clothes they wear, the way that they wear them and even the way they walk". El-Masri described the walk as a confident swagger. There's a bit of bounce.
Along with the authentic look of hip hop culture comes its very own vocabulary. Every rap artist music is laced with his/her own form of customized slang, like 'ice grill', which means a cold stare. Or, the term 'shook', used by Queensbridge rappers like Mobb Deep to describe a person who is spineless. Eventually listeners learn to decode it and add it to their own vocabulary, sometimes unintentionally.
"It's something that you do without even trying", explains Mash Elawar, a devout follower of hip hop since the age of 13. "When you spend so much time listening to rap, it starts to rub off on you."
When asked if he would display some of the hip-hop lingo that he uses in his own speech, Elawar was reluctant. "I'd rather not".
Like anything that stands out, hip-hop culture still has its doubters and its enemies, who question the authenticity of the music, and its negative message. Hip-hop junkies will argue vehemently though that hip-hop is considered negative, only because its real life.
"Hip Hop is freedom', proclaims El-Masri. "It allows the artist to speak his mind, even if it's controversial, but that's not negative, that's reality". El-Masri also pointed out that, as a listener you have be able to separate reality from fantasy. "A big part of rap is story telling, those that don't know about the music open their big mouths saying it's negative, but they don't know nothing."
So until something new comes along, hip-hop: the music, the culture, the way of life, will continue to grow. More rappers will burst onto the scene, and more youngsters will be brought onto the music, the culture, the way of life.
by: Paul Milousis
.....................................................................................
14/03/02 - Hip-hop broke onto the scene in the 1980s. It was something brand new and completely different from any other form of music at the time. Many in the music industry and society in general felt that this new unorthodox music, popular with young inner city Afro Americans, was just a fad. Little did those nay-sayers know what kind of monster the legendary kool herc would create.
Fast forward 20 years and the once scorned, hip hop, or rap music has not only survived, but exploded to unprecedented heights.
Hip-hop is now enjoyed by people around the world. It has branched out of its birthplace, New York City and shared its unique and cutting edge sound with every corner of the globe. Hip Hop can be heard night and day on a number of radio stations. Hip Hop videos are on heavy rotation on music channels, so much so that in September, Much music decided to launch a separate 24 hour channel devoted entirely to hip hop and the urban sound.
Just like Heavy Metal in the 1980s, and Disco in the late 1970s, Hip Hop has become more than just a popular form of music; it has become a culture, a way of life. Its dedicated followers live and breathe hip-hop, emulating the way their beloved musicians speak, dress, and walk.
"Our rap section in the store is always packed," says Keisha Williams, an associate at the HMV on Yonge St. "Rap albums are hot sellers, and people wait for new releases like their movie premiers, its crazy."
Laurie Graves, an associate from the Pickering HMV, has also noticed the attention the rap section generates. "Young people come in to check out the new releases, and a lot of the time they'll ask me about this album and that album, they're very passionate".
Even though the Pickering HMV is just a fraction the size of the Yonge St. HMV, Graves says it's definitely one of the stores hot spots. It's funny, because sometimes you'll see someone waiting, because there's no room in the rap section.
Multi-millionaire rapper Jay-Z, with his independent label Roc-A-Fella, also runs his own clothing line, Rocawear, which offering everything from custom-made jeans to hats to sweaters and shirts. His is one of several lines of Hip hop gear on the market. "We carry everything from Rocawear to Fubu to Phat Farm", says Tonya Smith, an associate at Champs sports in the Eaton Centre.
"Their big sellers with teenagers and young adults", says Smith. "Everything sells, jackets, track suits, t-shirts, as long as it has that desired look".
Champs isn't the only sporting goods store that has incorporated hip-hop clothing lines.
"Most of our clothing here is hip-hop influenced," says Lester Maxwell, an associate at Athlete's World in the Pickering Town Centre. "We carry a lot of Ecko, which uses famous rap artists to market them. We also have Fubu, Phat Farm, which is Russell Simmons (the owner of Def Jam) clothing line. Even if the apparel is Nike or Addidas, it's baggy or loose, so again there's that influence of hip-hop," says Maxwell.
Aside from selling the gear in stores, rap artists are also promoting their clothes on CD sleeves as well as online on their Web sites.
"When you're out in public, you can spot a hip hop junkie", says Hadi El-Masri, a student at Centennial College and self-proclaimed hip-hop junkie. "You can tell by the clothes they wear, the way that they wear them and even the way they walk". El-Masri described the walk as a confident swagger. There's a bit of bounce.
Along with the authentic look of hip hop culture comes its very own vocabulary. Every rap artist music is laced with his/her own form of customized slang, like 'ice grill', which means a cold stare. Or, the term 'shook', used by Queensbridge rappers like Mobb Deep to describe a person who is spineless. Eventually listeners learn to decode it and add it to their own vocabulary, sometimes unintentionally.
"It's something that you do without even trying", explains Mash Elawar, a devout follower of hip hop since the age of 13. "When you spend so much time listening to rap, it starts to rub off on you."
When asked if he would display some of the hip-hop lingo that he uses in his own speech, Elawar was reluctant. "I'd rather not".
Like anything that stands out, hip-hop culture still has its doubters and its enemies, who question the authenticity of the music, and its negative message. Hip-hop junkies will argue vehemently though that hip-hop is considered negative, only because its real life.
"Hip Hop is freedom', proclaims El-Masri. "It allows the artist to speak his mind, even if it's controversial, but that's not negative, that's reality". El-Masri also pointed out that, as a listener you have be able to separate reality from fantasy. "A big part of rap is story telling, those that don't know about the music open their big mouths saying it's negative, but they don't know nothing."
So until something new comes along, hip-hop: the music, the culture, the way of life, will continue to grow. More rappers will burst onto the scene, and more youngsters will be brought onto the music, the culture, the way of life.
by: Paul Milousis
Back it up..with attitude