Hip-hop tees pay tribute to an unforgettable era

April 2, 9:59 PMNY Thrifty Fashion ExaminerMadison Mobley

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I could have cried last week when I saw a young man walking into the Riverside Church for mid-week services wearing a 2 Live Crew T-shirt. I share that to say the following:

All artists ought to know their craft. Inside and out. From its origin to its present, an artist should be a student of his or her game (regardless of what the game may be). There are a countless number of art forms, though only two really matter on this day: personal style and Hip-Hop. The latter is, without a doubt, more accepted as an art form than the former. But, if maintaining personal style is also an art form (and it is), then don't get dressed unless you know what you're wearing.

That said, I must give kudos to Hot Topic for its Hip-Hop T-Shirt Collection. The collection is reminiscent of what might arguably be the most climactic decades in Hip-Hop history. The collection is about twenty pieces strong with bold centerfold graphics implicating the development of Hip-Hop as an art form across the entire nation. From Compton to Brooklyn; from the early 80's to 2009; from Run-DMC to, dare I say it, Soulja Boy.

But, before I suggest that you and a friend run to the nearest Hot Topic to purchase a tee, from present to past, I have got to make sure you know what's for sale.

Digital Underground: By 1987, much of the Hip-Hop industry was consumed by the hardcore/gangsta rap lyrics of groups such as Public Enemy and N.W.A.. Thus, Digital Underground, with their bizarre, funky homage to Parliament-Funkadelic was a breath of fresh air. The group built most of their music around P-Funk samples and an unprecedented style of dress and humor. The groups iconic style was most embodied by member Shock-G, whose alter-ego Humpty Hump -- a satirical figure with a Groucho Marx-esque nose, wide rimmed glasses, and a stutter -- was the most famous. Humpty Hump was immortalized by virtue of the single "The Humpty Dance," which hit the airwaves at the peak of Digital Underground's era as part of their debut album Sex Packets.

N.W.A.: Labeled by many Hip-Hop connoisseurs as the pioneers of "gangsta rap," N.W.A., Ice Cube, Easy-E, Dr. Dre, MC Ren and DJ Yella was characterized by uninhibited, violent, and sexist lyricism. The group came together in the late '80s shortly after groups such as Public Enemy had proven hardcore rap could be intelligent, revolutionary, and socially aware. Yet, N.W.A., instead of choosing to incite social awareness in urban communities, glorified the violence of the street life with crass language. Many argued that upon the group's conception, N.W.A. lyrical commentary seemed real and credible. Yet, following Ice Cube's departure in 1989, the group began to turn comedic, and not by conscious decision. Street tales became overdramatic in scope. The group's core audience transitioned from inner city Blacks and Hispanics to White Suburbanites, yet with that transition, the group became more popular than ever. The crew released two albums before being dismantled in 1992, though their influence would be channeled throughout the 90's by other artists such as the Wu Tang Clan. And, Straight Outta Compton is always among the 150 most influential albums of all time.

For those unsure of what N.W.A. stands for, the acronym is NOT a shortened version of a super thoughtful tag line or verbose characterization. Instead, N.W.A. stands for, very simply, Niggaz With Attitude. 

It is what it is, right? 

2 Live Crew: Founded in 1985, 2 Live Crew was infamous for their sexually explicit lyrics and obscene content. Members are Uncle Luke, Fresh Kid Ice, and DJ Mr. Mixx, and Brother Marquis, though Amazing V, Fat Daddy, and Vern were all temporary members of the crew in 1985, 1992, and 1994 respectively. First single Revelation prompted the group's move to Miami, as the song was best received there. In 1986, the crew released its first album, "Is what we are", Move Something came two years later. Only a year following the second album release came a third LP entitled "As Nasty As They Wanna Be," which was ruled legally obscene by the Florida state court, and thus forbidden. The ruling was later overturned by the Supreme Court. The Crew's 1990 court appearance was the first of many legal disputes on the subject of free speech, and where the line, if any, should be drawn.

Public Enemy: Musically and politically revolutionary, Public Enemy was formed by rapper Chuck D in 1982 while attending Adelphi University in Long Island. The crew, which, besides its founder, consisted of DJ Terminator X and Flavor Flav. Best known for promoting awareness about the social problems plaguing the black community through rhyme. Public Enemy was also characterized by their use of unfamiliar samples that meshed funk beats with sirens and other street sounds. Note that two other groups, S1W and The Bomb Squad are often associated with Public Enemy, though I wouldn't classify all three crews as one in the same. The first Hip-Hop group to book extended world tours. First hip-hop group to release MP3 only albums, this changing online music distribution capabilities.

Where the present day is concerned, the most visible member of the crew has been Flavor Flav, though it's a shame that most people were first introduced to Public Ememy's work through the relatively trashy VH1 reality series "The Flavor of Love." Please don't allow such foolishness to muddle Public Enemy's legacy as revolutionaries in their own right. Please. 

Run DMC: Run DMC pioneered the pioneers, in a sense. Comprised of Joseph "Rev Run" Simmons, Darryl "DMC" McDaniels, and Jason "Jam Master Jay" Mizell, the group's accolades and widespread appeal since its start in 1983 are unmatched. Industry firsts include, but are not limited to the following: first rap group to have a #1 R&B charting rap album, a Top 10 pop charting rap album, RIAA gold, platinum, and multi-platinum albums, an appearance on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine, a Grammy Award nomination, a video added to MTV, and appearance on Saturday Night Live AND American Bandstand, crossover appeal with rock and hip-hop fans, and an athletic product endorsement deal. 

Today in 2009, Run-DMC is still ever present in American pop culture yet in a different capacity. The most visible member of the crew is, indisputably, Rev Run, who has a show on MTV called Run's House. The reality show chronicles the life of his family, and each episode ends with a motivational quote of some sort, as defined by Rev. Recently, a show called Daddy's Girls hit the airwaves. Daddy's Girls is a Run's House spinoff, which follows Rev's two oldest daughters, Angela and Vanessa around the country. Though both shows are positive portrayals of Black family life, I would prefer to listen to a Run-DMC LP than watch an episode any day. But, I digress... 

Alright- consider yourself schooled on Hip-Hop pioneers from past to present, in an introductory sense. There is, of course, much more to know, but the aforementioned rundown is a good start for those insistent upon buying a piece from the collection.

What I mean to say is this: know who and/or what you are wearing before you dress. For my sanity's sake. Know what's being glorified or demeaned. After all, what you wear is an arguably accurate representation of who you are and what you stand for (regardless of the article of clothing in question). Only then will you really know that you are dressing for YOU and YOUR personal style versus the tastes of the mainstream, which, by definition, are much less personal.