This is by far the worst song out right now - "Throw It In the Bag" by Fabulous and Loso. Not only have rappers these days taken the designer brand name dropping too far, now they just look stupid doing it. The video makes the song far worse - I just don't think it's hip-hop to tell your boys that you're girl(friend) does not have to look at the price tag. Let alone, that in the video, this talentless Loso character takes a couple of women's shirts from the rack and throws them like any other rapper would do money (not that the money isn't stupid too, but that's another discussion). I laughed out loud at the hilarity of "hip-hop" and shopping going hand in hand. Long gone are days when hip-hop fashion was about rockin' your wardrobe (no matter how little money you spent on it or what is was worth) in the most unique way possible. Back then, you'd save your money to buy that fresh pair of Adidas (the simplest designed ones at that!) all so that you could put your own spin on it. Nowadays kids and teens see that Louis Vuitton is the go-to brand for the mainstream "artist" and want it for themselves.
- PAUSE for LV INFO -
Known around the globe as a leader in luxury leather goods, Louis Vuitton started in 1854 and has grown to be the most recognizable and highly priced producer of men's and women's clothing, shoes, handbags, and luggage. The company is said to be worth over 20 billion dollars.
And now as more and more "mainstream" rappers and their entourages talk about and promote these once, seemingly very unattainable luxury brands, their followers (mostly teenagers without a full-time $100,000+ jobs) become obsessed with owning LV, Burberry, Prada, Dior, Chanel and Fendi. This want, in turn, leads to the growth of the counterfeit trade.
Young people shop Ebay or the streets for knock-offs of the LV Monogram Canvas Pouchette or the Classic Chanel Flap Bag. Instead of paying the retail prices of over $800, you can find a fake for less than $100, in some cases with some negotiation, under $40. While the originals are indisputable to a hard-core fashionista, the fakes look pretty good in high school. Which leads me back to my original point, brand dropping makes you look stupid. When you can afford the real thing there is no need mention it, just the simple fact that you have it says it all.
1 comment:
"Mainstream" rap stopped being revolutionary, or at least anti-conformist and oppositional long time ago.
Rappers' embracing of consumerist materialist dominant culture is, in my opinion, unfortunate. I guess it's the price to pay for recognition and acceptance by "mainstream audiences".
Hopefully Hip Hop is not dead yet:
"It's the T to the A-L-I-B the deep rooter
Rolling with my wanna battle cats who chief buddha
And see through the overspecialized, underpressurized
No lie texturized, emcees who got the masses mesmerized
with empty rhetoric, they better quit
Niggas so hollow that they echo like sentiments
Nowadays rap artists coming half-hearted
Commercial like pop, or underground like black markets
Where were you the day hip-hop died?
Is it too early to mourn? Is it too late to ride?
Is it too early to mourn? Is it too late to ride?
Is it too early to mourn? Is it too late to ride?"
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