Remember when you used to listen the radio and hear good Hip Hop music? I recall a time when I sat in my room with my radio on, two tapes in the dual tape deck waiting for my favorite song of the week to come on to record. Sometimes I would just leave a cassette in and press record until the button popped back up. (Now that was an original mixtape.) Back then you were able to trust the DJ talking to you between a set of 8 – 10 dope tracks; you were confident that he was delivering the best music Hip Hop had to offer. There were radio singles, but sometimes you heard tracks off an album that weren’t meant to be top sellers, just quality. The radio wasn’t the only trusted source for good music, but television had some excellent programming before “Yo MTV Raps” and BET’s ”Rap City” were dismissed by teen friendly shows like “TRL” and “106th and Park.” The days of turning on the radio and not feeling like you’re in the club, or finding a real music channel that isn’t 90% reality shows are long gone. The decline in records sales doesn’t help the situation either, artists aren’t getting the same opportunity for record promotion that was so prevalent back in Hip Hop’s glory days. Fan’s have to dig much deeper to find artists avoiding popular trends and status quo. No longer is good music spoon fed to the consumer, because now the hand that feeds you is keeping the good stuff in the basement.
When Hip Hop was at its pinnacle in the early to late 90’s, a variety of MC’s who wouldn’t see the light of day in todays market were getting plenty of air play in all forms of media. Artists like Jeru da Damaja, Gang Starr, Organized Confusion, and many more were regulars in the radio and video rotation, but now they would be considered underground, and their voices would never reach the ears of somebody not willing to do a little research. We’re dealing with an era where the Internet gives you open access to almost anything you’re searching for. Within that wide open platform it can be difficult to sort through the abundance of media out there, yet there is not a more important time than now to look beyond what’s simply within your reach. The radio and T.V. has turned against us, and if those sources are solely relied on you will only be exposed to a small sample of the music; this is a prime example of why the culture is so misrepresented and abhorred by older generations.
Finding an artists outside of the generally marketed rappers can seem like a burdensome task, but there are plenty of other options that provide quality music for those willing to search it out. There are Hip Hop sites all over the Internet that promote a wide range of music on their sites, like hiphopdx.com. Streaming Internet radio like ”Pandora“ allows you to search for specific artists and create a station based on the genre. A lot of the times something brand new will be played that might catch your ear and the information on the artists is there for you to look into. Get out and attend Hip Hop shows, a local opening act may attract your attention.
The general public can be easily swayed by trends and fads, record labels promote artists that have the best chance of increasing their revenue. The fans no longer decide whose album gets supported and pushed to the forefront to deem their release important. It’s up to the people who really love the culture to go outside the norm and support artists putting their souls and passion into the music. We as fans have to reclaim our voice in a culture we helped create. I’m also guilty as a person who claims a deep affinity for Hip Hop; I rarely take the time to give new artists a chance to crack my rotation. I’ll take the first step forward and write an artist profile once a week here on hoodiepeople.com to show my commitment to recognizing new and innovative musicians in the game. Think of the movie the “The Matrix”,imagine if Neo relied on the Architect to tell him that he was living in a false reality? He would’ve continued to accept anything the machine provided for him without a chance of escape. In that same regard we cannot rely on the radio, T.V. or record labels to provide us with music that is in direct opposition to their very existence.
Mansa Motif @ www.ofoneculture.com
Jedidiah Fader Hoodie
40% OFF | Was $64, Now $39
Deal Ends November 5th, 2009
Free Shipping!
Tags: fader hoodie, hoodie deals, jedidiah hoodies, sale hoodie
Marc Ecko’s exclusive Cut & Sew collection blends fresh urban styles with finely crafted clothing and designer embellishments to create rich clothing that will grab attention and last for years to come.
The Winter 2009 hoodie collection from Marc Ecko features four unique designs each dripping with bold urban images, amazing design, and craftsmanship.
find the new Marc Ecko hoodie collection at the lowest prices online at hoodiepeople.com.
Tags: hip hip hoody, marc ecko, marc ecko hodies, marck ecko cut and sew, urban hoodies, winter hoodies
Zion Rootswear brings you officially licensed Bob Marley Hoodies. These hoodies are fresh, affordable, and represent the legacy of the late great legend. Get yours while supplies last.
Numerous fads have come and gone in the ever changing world of fashion. There have been whole decades synonymous with certain styles like the “bell bottoms” of the 70s, or the neon clothing and leg warmers of the 80s. But over the acid wash jeans, jean jackets, and parachute pants, one outfit has remained constant in modern popular culture, the hoodie. It’s a comfortable clothing option for a quick run outside, colleges and universities create their own hoodies with their logos and school colors, and boxers have made the style iconic attempting to strike fear in their opponents while conjuring imagery of the Grimm Reaper. Yet the garment has not always been universally accepted by the general public or school campuses; the hoodie’s climb to prosperity was a long one from its sole association with urban culture and those who just wished to remain in mystery
The modern appearance of the hoodie was popularized primarily in the late 70s when Hip Hop culture, primarily in New York, latched on to the style due assurance of anonymity and obscurity. The seed of Hip Hop grew out of the eternal struggle of African Americans in the United States, and as the young generation looked at themselves as outcasts, Hip Hop celebrated social alienation and rebellion. The hoodie became a symbol of that very exclusion and represented a sense of anger and frustration. It was perfectly associated with a style of music that projected rage and bitterness towards a country that rejected its own members. Usually specific groups or gangs are represented by specific fashion such as colors, jackets or bandannas, but the hoodie became a universal design and was able to appeal to many different cultures, classes and social groups.
Now that the culture of Hip Hop has become more of a mainstream source of entertainment and its content reaches areas all across the globe, the hoodie has been adopted world wide. Fashion designers have dedicated whole collections to the hoodie alone. No longer is it solely associated with mystery and defiance, but its seen as a staple of modern wear. People from all walks of life ranging from skater and surfers to athletes and entertainers have embraced this apparel. I still enjoy the enigmatic look of the hoodie, of walking through the streets with my face hidden from the general public when I don’t want to be bothered. But I also like the multiple styles the hoodie offers, the option of a zip-up or a pull over, the front pockets that are perfect for warming your hands and the different designs and logos that make each one unique. The hoodie is no longer only associated with ambiguity, but has now transcended decades of change and evolution to become the clothing of choice for every class, ethnicity and age.
-Mansa Motif
The only thing better is a Twilight Jackt in Size Large! Ha ha…for those of you who know that this jacket runs a bit small we’re happy to annouce the arrival a new shipment of Large BB Dakota Twilight Jackets. Just in time for winter…sweet!
Tags: bb dakota, hoodiepeople.com, large bb dakota twilight jacket
AlpineStars Subterrane Hoodie Built to Last
35% OFF | Was $80, Now $52
Deal Ends October 15th, 2009
Free Shipping!
Comfort for track and trail dayz!
Tags: alpinestars hoodie, hoodie sale, hoodiepeople.com, motocross hoodie
Check out this list of brands we’re adding this holiday season and in spring 2010. Each brand has dope hoodies and have something unique to bring to hoodiepeople.com. Triple 5 Soul, Nike and O’Neill were always childhood favorites of mine. So I’m excited, our team is cranking out orders, and we hope you like them too. Have a favorite brand of your own that we’re totally missing? Drop a comment, we need all the feedback we can get!
Nikita
Triple 5 Soul
Artful Dodger
Penguin
Zion Roots Wear
Tokidoki
Famous Stars and Straps
Diamond Supply Co.
10 Deep
American Apparel
Krew
Supra
Enjoi
O’Neill
Nike 6.0
Tags: hoodiepeople.com, men's hoodies, new hoodies, womens hoodies
Cheap deals on great brands such as CTRL, Mark Ecko, Alpine Star, Zoo York and more..
