Hip Hop Lemmings

Lemmings. That's the word for them. Hip Hop Lemmings.

When I look at kids, especially those 'kids' that are in their twenties and maybe even thirties, dressing up like their favourite Hip Hop star, I can only shake my head and snicker to myself. Wear a bandana (usually red or blue); wear your basketball shorts or jeans so low, no one is really sure there are any pant legs (except to see them bunched at the ankles); wear a sock on one foot but not the other; one pant leg raised to the knee, the other down to the ankle, etc. ad nauseum. Wear Nike, or Adidas, or whatever-the-latest-brand-craze-is. Do made-up, puffy-haired, bare-stomached, teenage-hooker-wear-clothed-Christina-Aguiliera-wanna-bes really dig these looks? What motivates people to emulate their favourite Hip Hop star?

Why do people do it? To look cool? Because the rapper is their hero? Keeping up with Jones' mentality? I remember seeing a report where a teenager spent about $1,000 a month on clothes that he sees his favourite rappers wear. He has a part-time job just so that he owns clothes that sometimes, he doesn't even wear. He had about 70 pairs of sneakers! His reason for doing it? It looks cool, and because he's the first in school have it. Sounds like insecurity to me.

And what's with the latest 'grillz' phenomenon? Why would you spend as much money as it would cost to buy a small car, for jewellery that you stick in your mouth? It became fashionable when Nelly came out with his Grillz video. I say that it's about as fashionable as a lot of gold chains on top of a hairy chest that we see beyond the unbuttoned shirt. And just like that craze, along with disco platform shoes, white suits and parachute pants, this too will pass (I hope).

Busta Rhymes and P. Diddy (don't get me started on his constant name changes) recorded Pass The Courvoisier after which people went to their local watering hole and ordered it, not knowing what it was! How stupid is that? I think that they only did it because the lyrics to the song made it sound cool, and everyone wants to be cool, right?

So I ask you again, why do people do this? Why do they buy things, sometimes not knowing or caring what it is? Is it cool? Do they have a need to be the first on the block to have it? Do they want to attract the ladies? Maybe it's because Hip Hop stars are anti-establishment and even if you can't sing like them, at least you can dress like them...what a load of BS! If you think rap artists are anti-establishment, why are they wearing and singing about name brands, and often being paid by the brand maker to do so. Sometimes manufacturers will even approach rap artists to write a songs about their products, or at least incorporate their names in the lyrics. Does that sound anti-establishment to you?

I'm sure there are many of you that tape shows off network TV so that you can fast forward through the titles and commercials. I do it. It saves at least 10 minutes of my time for every hour of programming I watch. Or you go to the fridge or washroom during the commercials. Advertisers and networks know this. That's why networks usually charge a premium for spots right at the beginning and end of a commercial break. Advertisers are getting around you not watching their TV commercials by looking for other ways to get the message across. The Internet, is just one example. A few years ago, you wouldn't see a whole lot of advertising on web pages, except for some sites, if you know what I mean. Then pop-ups became de rigueur. The reaction? Get software that blocks pop-ups. Ok, find another way. How about flashing or video advertising. Ignoring that. The latest? Have advertising actually crossing text that you're trying to read. No way to get around that except to wait for it to clear, or look for the "close" button. Somebody will find a way to stop it, and when they do, advertisers will find another method to grab your attention...

Hey, wait a second...Let's use rap stars. Yeah! They have a herd of sheep following them. We'll make a bazillion dollars!

You avoid watching TV commercials. You scan the radio to avoid commercials, or even pay a monthly fee to get commercial free satellite radio. You buy pop-up filters for your computer. Why the heck would you buy something just because a Hip Hop star mentions it?

Stop the madness! Don't give in to those advertisers because they're making millions banking on you buying the stuff they're hawking, trying to make it look cool. Stop being a lemming and find your own style. Don't adopt someone else's. People have been hurt or killed because they wore something that someone else wanted, or because they wore the wrong 'colours.' Don't give into the hype. Make it fashion non grata. Or at least don't run to the fashion store as soon as a music video comes out. Show manufacturers and advertisers that you will not be swayed by a music video.

When you've accomplished this, sit back in your leather La-Z-Boy, watch the game on your Sony plasma TV, smoke a Montecristo cigar, and drink a glass of 18 year-old Glenfiddich. Ahh, that's the life...

Wings Over The World