[Diana in Wisconsin]

Funny. She didn't tie the escalating violent crime rate among teens in Milwaukee, WI to having money for Hip Hop clothes. THAT, is a very big problem in our state.

Nice that she conveniently ignored the connection. *Rolleyes*

[Leisler]

Primitive cultural feather, face paint. Reversion to tribes.

Where is Darwin and the Maxim gun when you need it?

[operation clinton cleanup]

Who would have thunk poor people had so much money to throw around.

[yldstrk]

The university in Madison is a hotbed of silly ideas-maybe we can look there.

[Our man in washington]

Hope the next generation of teens likes polo shirts and loafers. The parents are going to be saying "enough is enough!" one of these years.

[sgtbono2002]

Anybody that would pay $1,000 for a pair of jeans has Monkey-Brains.

[cobaltblu]

For a year in college I worked for an adoption agency in Phoenix; part of my job was getting the birth mothers signed up for food stamps and the like. I spent hours at a time standing in these lines... looking at shoes.

My parents were well off, but they never spoiled us. I didn't have Nike, Reebok, or anything like that. Yet every single person right down to the toddlers clinging to their Mom's pant legs, had $100 shoes on. I know I was one of the only employed people in there.

I was also one of the few that knew the value of a dollar.

Thanks Mom and Dad

[IronJack]

Remember the YUPPIE fad, when rich, no-kids urban couples would spend idiotic amounts of money on stupid crap? Only the best of everything, from clothes to dog food?

The difference between yuppies and this flotsam is that the yuppies could afford the overpriced junk.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Like many urban teenagers, Ted Robertson doesn't mind spending more than he can afford to emulate his favorite rappers.

They should emulate the way MC Hammer is.

He was from back before HipHop was gangster. Made millions. Spent more millions then he made. Went broke.

Got smart.

Quit spending so much.

Got religion.

Became a minister.

He and his wife have six children.

A'Keiba

Jamaris

Sarah

Stanley

Jeremiah

Samuel

(You can almost see his progression through those names can't you)

Doing ok.

[HereInTheHeartland]

"but I want a pair of Red Monkey Jeans that cost $1,000. I'm going to get them.""

I have always said if some "cool" people surgically drilled holes in their heads to be "unique"; there would be many imitators.

[windcliff]

I miss Kurt Cobain's faded flannel shirts.

[Old Professer]

I wish they would quit using the "U-word."

[Republicus2001]

almost exactly the same article in TODAY's NY Times except the youth was in Africa! odd ...

[Sender]

Just tune in BET and you'll see what hip hop youth want. Case in point: Jim Jones "We Fly High"(Ballin'). They don't add that the only way hip hop youth are likely to enjoy a Lamborghini, suitcases full of cash and jaded women is to become drug dealers.

[Vision]

That's one of the problems in the country.

[abner]

Red Monkey Jeans

I think they are ill fitting, ugly and way too expensive!

[neodad]

My wife just got a pair of American Eagle jeans on EBay for $11.00. We've got 5 boys so I appreciate that she's the queen of EBay.

[Centurion2000]

"I try to dress like my favorite rappers, T.I. and Little Wayne," he says. "I want to save for a car, but I want a pair of Red Monkey Jeans that cost $1,000. I'm going to get them."

This boy is a complete IDIOT.

[dr_who_2]

Stupidity has been in fashion for decades now.

[lesser_satan]

The sad thing is we'll probably all be supporting his worthless ass someday.

[Finny]

That's what all the kids want," says Crawford, who gets money for hip-hop clothing and CDs from his mom.

From his single mom. Does anybody really think that a household with both mother and father is likely to produce boys with such horrifically screwed up priorities? The first thing that should come to mind for anyone reading the article is that the boys who behave this way are very, very far from manhood.

Yet another consequence of a society that unquestioningly salutes single motherhood as something worthy of admiration.

[Max in Utah]

Robertson's story illustrates the tremendous influence that hip-hop music has had on urban youth...

"I told you that stuff would make you stupid!"

[Sybeck1]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJdL_hatb4I

[Churchillspirit]

Despite spending all that money most of them look like c**p.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Is this a Karl Marx thread? What's the big deal here?

[Veloxherc]

"I try to dress like my favorite rappers, T.I. and Little Wayne," he says. "I want to save for a car, but I want a pair of Red Monkey Jeans that cost $1,000. I'm going to get them."

WOW I spend 50 bucks on a pair of pants and think that is on the upper end.

[Revolting cat!]

Once, a long time ago, at a Sears or JC Penney store, or a similar outlet, I chanced upon a pair of corduroy jeans that looked exactly like what I had seen a famous person wear. I put down something like twelve green ones, and, voila, I was walking around looking like a regular Keef Richards, plus a full set of teeth and my own blood flowing in the veins!

[Xenalyte]

I'm fighting this battle at home with a 13-year-old bent on sagging his pants like the rappers.

At the risk of sounding bitchy, Tanette, you are the mother. You make the rules. You buy the clothes. This should not be a problem.

Suggestion #2: lose the hyphen.

[goldstategop]

I spend $200.00 on a good pair of well made leather shoes but on sneakers? Nah ah - the rest of my clothes are department store stuff. Levis, Wranglers and Dockers. I don't spend to impress.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus

[goldstategop]

Its sad. Its not what you wear that creates other people's impressions about you; its your character. Clothes that cost more than you have in the bank will only show you're a person who's more influenced by trends than by what's right. As for fashion, one only has to remember that what's cool today is out tomorrow.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus

[trillabodilla]

Proverbs 10:22
The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.

[mewzilla]

No mention of the 17-year old's dad...