I grew up listening to Hip-Hop music. I grew up break dancing… the first time around. I grew up wearing fat laces in my Adidas. I grew up tagging my break dancing name (Krash, by the way) wherever I could. I grew up Hip-Hop. I still love Hip-Hop.
Feeling the way I do about the lifestyle, it sickens me to watch Hip-Hop get exploited by the sports world... the very same sports world that shuns it when it suits them.
The NBA implemented a dress policy this season that is obviously aimed at the black athlete and at the Hip-Hop generation. The problem? That same generation has lifted the league to the heights it’s at now. The NBA is arguably more successful and powerful than it has ever been in its history.
The Hip-Hop generation drives the retail market for NBA gear to the tune of millions of dollars a year. When was the last time you heard Black Sabbath playing in the background of an NBA game? Do you honestly think that if kids didn’t see rap stars wearing NBA jerseys and caps that they would sell the way they do? And if it isn’t the black youth of America buying their gear, the white youth of suburban America are buying it in bulk so that they can emulate the black youth, who emulate their Hip-Hop icons. Funny, huh?
The NBA wants Hip-Hop to buy the ingredients, cook the meal, set the table, and serve the food. They just won’t allow Hip-Hop to pull a chair up to the table.
I was watching an NFL game on Saturday and noticed that during a replay, the producers chose Hip-Hop as the background music. Three old white guys doing commentary over break beats. That’s hilarious! Those very same guys will then condemn number 84 for the amount of bling he might be wearing. Now, I don’t know about you, but it’s disturbing to me to hear old white guys say “bling”, but what’s worse is that in the same breath, they knock the culture that they just borrowed a word from. It’s hypocritical.
So what do I see last night during the Fiesta Bowl (where my Buckeyes manhandled Notre Dame)? The graphics team for the game used graffiti style images featuring…brace yourselves… graffiti artists spray painting walls all game long. The other problem here is that they can show those images without repercussions. Now, if they showed those very same images in a Hip-Hop video, the producers would be accused of promoting vandalism. When the Dixie Chicks did a video for “Earl had to Die” depicting them planning and executing his murder, it was cute. But if a Hip-Hop group does that same video, it may not get any airplay and deal with a swarm of negative publicity. By the way, isn’t it funny how the Dixie Chicks got away with that video, but were crucified for basically saying that George Bush sucks?
I will be the first to say that the negative images in Hip-Hop don't help. I despise the booty shaking videos and constant mention of weed, champagne and jewelry. Like anything, it can go too far sometimes. You can live and experience the culture without perpetuating the stereotypes. For every 50 Cent, there are a handful of intelligent, positive artists who will never be fully appreciated. Although, I did see Talib Kwali's promo for the Big Ten.
In the end, as far as Corporate America goes, Hip-Hop will always be that cool friend your parents never knew you had. You’d do anything just to hang out with him, but you knew you could never take him back to your neighborhood. Or the fat girlfriend who you never told your friends about, but you couldn’t stay away from because the sex was so good.
Hey, Major Sports World! Fat girls have friends… and they talk.
Sandy while I always enjoy your read, I have to disagree on this one. The NBA is worried about their image as gang violence escalates nationwide. The bling is being worn more and more by white kids trying to emulate the stars of the NBA and Rap Stars. I do not consider Rap and Hip Hop the same thing. Secondly, no one is saying that AI or anyone else for that matter can not wear all the bling they want when they go shopping or anything on their own personal time. The NBA is saying that while you are at work, you need to abide by our dress code, which is the right of the employer to do so. Disney has had a policy of no facial hair on its employees and no one complains. The Yankees have shorn Damon and that is okay. Trying to keep one's image clean is a part of the revenue stream. The athletes who can not understand that will eventually kill the sport. The lesson learned is "never bite the hand that feeds you!"
SoCal,
I am glad that you know that rap and hip-hop are not the same thing. A lot of people get confused. Anyway, It's not that I don't believe people should present themselves in a certain way, it's just that the league had no problem with what they wore as they were helping to bring the league to where they are now. All of a sudden, they want them to be someone else. I am all for professionalism. I think it is shameful to show up to an international dinner dressed in baggy jeans and gaudy jewelry, but what you wear on your way to work is a different matter. Sure, on the bench, wear a suit. But why should anyone care what a guy wears off of the bus?
What these guys truly need is to learn how to turn off the "Street" switch. Adapting to your environment is not selling out. If you have to go to a dinner or other formal engagement, show up in a nice suit and leave the ebonics in the Escalade. I grew up in a predominantly Hispanic, lower class neighborhood. But as a professional today, I know how to act in different situations. I can't talk to my professional peers the way I can to "my boys". I can talk about the #### without talking ####.
And gangs do not exist because of athletes. Gangs were around a long time before professional sports came into prominance. I'm pretty sure gangs existed before Raiders gear.
Last edited by SandyBunkerman on January 3rd at 9:14 AM.
You are right about gangs being around a long time before the bling, but I also think you are naive if you do not think all the hype from the Rap generation doesn't feed that lifestyle. As long as they are on the company bus, being in company attire is acceptable to me. Even if they drive themselves, they need to show up to work in dress attire. Who among us can show up to work they way we want, then change in the office. Mark Cuban has a good idea on his website about having teams wear team sponsored apparel. This is an idea his players have come up with and I think that is excellent. Anyway, our opinion on this matter is just that. It seems the players have adapted and this is much ado about nothing.
I had heard that Dockers offered to supply the teams with what would be the "Official Attire" of the NBA. Nike wiill come out with a line of suit pretty soon, I'm sure of it. As far as the influence the music and the league has on kids, I think we sholud leave that up to the parents who buy them the music and the clothes. Why does everyone else have to watch out for what your kid may believe is truth or fantasy? I grew up understanding that what someone says on a song or does in a movie is not necessarily real life. My parents instilled that sense of "reality" in me. Are parents now leaving the education and mentoring of their children up to teenage and twenty-something athletes? If so, than there IS a big problem here, and it isn't Hip-Hop Culture.
It would be nice to go back to the day that our parents raised us, but we are in a new era where kids walk around with IPODs and the fact is that mom's aren't home with kids. We can not ignor the problem just because we don't like the solution. It is just my opinion, and I certainly think every gang member should be held accountable for his/her actions and not the sports stars, but that doesn't mean they should not try to be good role models. Ultimately it only hurts them anyway. Why do you think MJ was the king and now Tiger in the ability to market themselves? AI cannot market himself beyond one shoe deal. Image is everything in the world of advertising.
Last edited by socalsportsfan on January 3rd at 1:17 PM.
One of the best blogs I've read so far. I think the NBA is stuck in a cultural hard place that only the NFL comes close to sharing. How do you keep the hip hop culture's money and not drive off the guys who buy the luxury seats? What about the suburban soccer mom who may not feel comfortable with the lifestyle many NBA players embrace?
The issue of how hip hop affects or doesn't affect lifestyle choices is a touchy one. Alot of white guys like me listened to the Rolling Stones growing up and didn't go out and do drugs as a result. Hip hop doesn't condemn anyone to anywhere they don't willingly go. But, you can't ignore that gangsta rap and gangster behavior often go hand in hand.
I don't think it's hypocracy that makes the NBA keep hip hop at arm's length. I think it's a business concern with how to keep a balance. Basketball may be on the verge of becoming as demographically startified as baseball is. In fact, I think what you'll see is the sport finally have to make a choice. Within 10 years you'll see an African-American commissioner (about time), a higher percentage of the NBA's money coming from marketing than even today, even fewer white players, and declining attendance in less urban areas. You could even see a throwback league of sorts that plays secondary markets and plays a more conservative brand of ball with a whiter image.
Let's not forget that this is the same debate that was raging in the 70's when basketball was crucified for being "too Black." The only difference is the time.
Anyway, I agree that the NBA should have a dress code. Be professional and, perhaps more importantly, look the part. However, it is extremely hypocritical of the league and the media to portray the hip-hop image as anything more than just an image.
I'm sorry but I have to respectfully disagree. The NBA was doing fine and better than it is now back inthe 1980's when hip-hop culture didn't dominate the sport. The Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Isiah Thomas, Michael Jordan, Dominique Wilkins, Kevin McHale era had a diverse group of super-stars in which none were considered thugs or thug-wannabes. Nowadays, the NBA has fallen way behind the NFL, NASCAR, and MLB as many fans including me have been turned away from the sport. It's street ball and fundamentals are at a minimum. Show-boats, self-absorbing,and narcisists rule the NBA.
Oh yeah and you say that the white youth is buying NBA gear in bulk emulating hip-hop stars, I guess it's geography because most white kids I see are wearing baseball jerseys or NASCAR gear. And I'm not talking about just in the Southeast.
JKDunn,
In the 80’s, the NBA was all about the Lakers, the Celtics, the Pistons, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Isaiah Thomas, and later, Michael Jordan and the Bulls. Sure, there were a few other household names around the league, but nowhere near as many as there are today. Today, the NBA is international. Do you honestly believe that they are worse off financially now than back then? You can hardly look at a team roster without seeing a foreign born player’s name. On top of that, almost every team has a marquee player that is marketed in that city. That means ticket sales, which means merchandise sales, which means money, money, and more money. And that doesn’t include the over seas sales of foreign player merchandise. How many Yao Ming jerseys do you think are being worn in China right now? I have no doubt that NASCAR is huge, but what I meant by “white suburban kids buying the clothing” was referring to the style of dress more than the basketball jerseys in particular. Hip-Hop has transcended beyond Black America. That is a fact.
The game itself has evolved. Call it street ball, call it whatever. It is what it is. People can take it or leave it. You're right. The fundementals of the NBA game are horrible. Heck, if a kid wants to learn how to play ball, I would tell him to watch the women's game. I don't care for the NBA much myself anymore, but the NBA was just one example of how Hip-Hop has been used to help market one minute, then demonized the next.
Last edited by SandyBunkerman on January 4th at 2:58 PM.
Sandy, I totally understand what you're saying, the NBA is more international now and of course they make more money now, but all sports are more profitable now than they were 20 or 25 years ago, with exception of the NHL and Indy Racing League. the NBA in relation to other American sports is not as popular as it was back then.
The basketball and hip-hop culture fusion of the past 24 years that is now being called The "Dunkadelic-Era" In America, 1984-Present will be celebrating its 25th Anniversary during the year 2009. Its the first and only sport-and-music time period in American history. It's cool and historical. Now that's Dunkadelic!
observation!!! FADS!!! IM LAUGHING SO HARD NOW SEEING THESE KIDS WITH THE PANTS HANGING DOWN AND ALWAYS PULLING THEM UP??? when i was their age if?? i dared wear pants like that id been laughed out of school!!!! we live in a sheep world must follow the trends or!!!! ok heres my take!! if i knew a rock star id love to see him or her go on stage wearing a PLUMBERS HELPER SMACKED TO THEIR FOREHEAD!!!!!! now how many in the next few days would be sporting a plumbers helper on their forehead???? id wager the next trend in fashion?????
My name is Nelson Morales. I go by Sandy Bunkerman, N.D. Ruff, and Walt R. Hazzard. I mostly write funny, fake golf articles for my friends, but I figured I'd give this a shot. I am a diehard Steelers fan, a Cavs fan and Ohio State fanatic with an opinion on all things Buckeye. I grew up near Cleveland (not easy for a Steelers fan). I currently reside in Columbus, Ohio.
