Do Rappers And Athletes Influence Fashion

Do rappers and athletes influence fashion? The quick and perhaps obvious answer is yes. And really, how can you argue that. Since the dawn of hip-hop, fans have overwhelmingly adopted the fashion styles of their favorite artists.

From Run DMC’s Adidas to Jay-Z and his button-ups, rappers’ influence on fashion has always been apparent. The same can be said of some athletes as well. Deion Sanders is one that comes to mind, his flashy personality not only entertained fans, but also appealed to them, as many adopted his flare.

And then there are the many (successful and unsuccessful) fashion lines started by both rappers and athletes. The creation of a clothing line in and of itself suggests that one’s individual style is influential enough to sell to the masses. However, fashion lines are not for everyone, just ask Busta Rhymes about Bushi Sport, in fact Complex Magazine breaks down 10 failed rapper clothing lines that you probably never heard of.

However, while the obvious answer is yes, rappers and athletes do influence fashion, I think the dynamic has changed a bit. The world of hip-hop is infused in so much of our daily lives that it stretches across all types of industries. Fashion is one of those industries that blend well with hip-hop. And I think more rappers are taking their cues from high-end designers, and so are superstar athletes.

It’s not uncommon to find Pharrell Williams or Carmelo Anthony sitting front row at major fashion shows, both in the U.S and abroad. More and more, rappers and athletes are incorporating runway fashions into their wardrobes, and thus influencing the style of their fans.  Kanye West takes it further with his high-end designer collaboration with Louis Vuitton and then debuting his high-end line, DW Kanye West in October of 2011 at Paris Fashion Week. I believe that like all things, influencers of fashion are cyclical, and in 2012, I think the fashion industry is really pushing the direction of fashion and style.

Frank Ocean's Bi - Why We Shouldn't Care

Frank Ocean is a dope artist. And before he came out as bisexual I bet you thought the same thing as you rocked out to Nostalgia/Ultra, his first official mixtape. I mean who didn’t love “Novacane” last summer. “I met her at Coachella…but girl I can’t feel my face, what are we smoking anyway, she said don’t let the high go to waste”, the song has a great beat and tells a story. We loved it. And we shouldn’t feel any different towards him as an artist, a creator of great music, who happens to prefer both men and women.

While his lifestyle may not be the preference of the masses, it has nothing to do with the quality of music he makes and it’s really none of our business. I think all the discourse about sexuality is a sincere case of everyone being way too concerned about other people’s personal business.

It’s 2012, and we are aware of people having different sexual orientations. Therefore we should be able to accept a person for who they are and not whom they date. I have no doubt that Frank Ocean will continue to make great music. I just hope that people use this as an opportunity to explore being more open-minded and appreciate others for being themselves.

Because in reality, it makes no sense to be so concerned about what someone else is doing privately, especially if it doesn’t concern you. And now I will patiently await the release of Channel Orange and I hope you do the same.

Mike Tyson: The Undisputed Truth

When you think of Mike Tyson, I’m guessing the word “thespian” doesn’t come to mind. But that is exactly the new title he will be adding to his resume. Inspired by the play, “A Bronx Tale”, Mike will be making his Broadway debut with his one-man show “Mike Tyson: The Undisputed Truth”. 

And with his recent cameos in The Hangover movies, it’s easy to assume this play is based in comedy, yet it is far from that. Iron Mike will be sharing the most personal of stories, baring his emotions to the world, and you have to respect him for it.

It’s always so easy to brush off athletes for being more brawn than brain, for being more physically gifted than academically gifted. And Mike Tyson has been ridiculed for that and more throughout his impressive boxing career. But, in just watching his interview on the “Today Show”, I became both impressed with his honesty and intrigued by the show itself.

With Spike Lee (director of his show) by his side, Mike talked of his volatile past and what finally made him choose to live a healthier lifestyle. He comes off as a man that is both humble and genuine in discussing the life he has led. He’s also brutally honest, a little too honest for morning TV as he was often steered in another direction during the interview.

It’s his honesty in that interview that perfectly sets up the premise for his show. A one-man show, where Mike Tyson will divulge his darkest secrets in front of a live audience, how is that NOT something you want to see? No topic is off limits, as Tyson will discuss being in prison, drugs, prostitutes, and the rest of the debauchery in which he has engaged. The show debuts on July 31, if you can, check it out. 

Gwyneth Paltrow and her Ni**as in Paris

Hip-hop is totally mainstream in 2012. But it wasn’t always that way. In it’s early days, the entire genre of hip-hop music was considered underground and made primarily by and for black Americans. Fast forward twenty years or so and people of all races and ethnicities are fans and performers of this form of self-expression.

It’s amazing to see how hip-hop has transitioned into its place in the mainstream and to see so many different people embrace it. It has exposed people to a different America, complete with slang many people were not familiar with. And it is often comical to see non-blacks reciting hip-hop songs and incorporating these slang words into their everyday lives.

However, there is one word that will always be fraught with controversy, especially when someone other than a black person uses it in any way or form, the N-word. In recent years there has been so much discussion amongst blacks as to whether this word should be forever removed from our vocabulary. Bill Cosby is against the use of the word, and the NAACP “buried” it in 2007, with a funeral and everything.

On the other end of the spectrum, there are people that believe that in using the word, we take away the power the word has when used by non-blacks, turning a negative into a positive. The debate about the word will likely continue, especially as hip-hop artists continue to use the word in their music and hip-hop music remains in the forefront of the music industry.

And the latest person to find themselves thrown into the mix is Gwyneth Paltrow, who tweeted “Ni**as in Paris for real @mrteriusnash (the dream) tyty, beehigh” with a photo of her on stage with Jay and Ye. Here’s the tweet. When artists make songs like Ni**as in Paris, their non-black fans worldwide have a decision to make about whether they will say it or not, which is well depicted in this Grantland article.

The thing is, she tweeted the song as it is listed on the album. So, really, is there anything wrong with that? If we’re being picky, she called them “ni**as” when she said “ni**as in Paris for real”, but I think it’s safe to assume that is not what she meant. Our society today is extra sensitive about everything, and this instance is no different. Gwyneth has never shown any indication of being racist, and I don’t think this tweet is reason enough to drag her character through the mud.

I think if we are living in a time where hip-hop is now mainstream music, then we have to be somewhat lenient with people and their use of the N-word. I do not condone the use of the word by non-blacks, but in this situation, Gwyneth Paltrow used the word as it’s displayed on the album. Kanye West and Jay-Z just made the lines that much more blurred, and we have to somehow find a way to navigate through this. Perhaps in the future, the N-word will be removed from all people’s vocabularies, but for now, we must remember this is a sensitive subject and tread carefully.