HIP-HOP FLOPS

New York Post ^ | 12/14/04 | SUZANNE KAPNER

[kattracks]

A shakeout is afoot in the world of urban apparel, as sales of once red-hot labels begin to cool, analysts and industry executives said.

The across-the-board slowdown is alarming some of the major department-store retailers that had allocated a growing amount of space to these brands on the belief that the double-digit sales growth of recent years would continue, sources said.

Federated Department Stores, which operates the Macy's and Bloomingdale's chains, for instance, is seeing recent sales of urban brands decline in the double digits, compared with year-ago levels, said one person, who added: "It has everyone worried."

[snip]

Meanwhile, demand for the oversized jerseys and baggy jeans that these lines were known for dwindled, as classic looks regained popularity.

[snip]

"What we had at retail," admits Ullmann, Phat Fashion's president, "was too urban."

[ovrtaxt]

People that dress that way look like idiots.

[Paleo Conservative]

People that dress that way look like are idiots.

[Do not dub me shapka broham]

Flava Flav:

Word!

(Adjusts theatrically oversized sunglasses. Polishes dining room clock necklace.)

[FormerACLUmember]

Gee, the moron/thug/sociopath look is a fad? Who would have guessed?

[radiohead]

People that dress that way look like idiots.

People that dress that way look like idiots criminals.

[ovrtaxt]

Yeah, love that plastic $3.99 Wal Mart clock necklace and the Jackie Onassis size glasses.

The stolen Benz hood ornament necklace is also very slick.

[Do not dub me shapka broham]

I don't know if anyone here has seen "UB-40", but it's one of the funniest satires of the modern Hip-hop industry-kind of like Rap goes Spinal Tap-that I've ever seen.

I can't say that the second and third viewings were quite as funny as the initial screening, but it's still one of the better mockumentaries out there.

[ovrtaxt]

I'll have to check it out. Chappelle does some funny satire on hip-hop too.

[Paleo Conservative]

The urban thugs who got rich on these fads are among the most totally obnoxious and worst possible models for young people, white or black.

They would have been obscure local thugs if not for big the big name recording studios like CBS that signed them up and publicized them.

[cambodia]

Will always be 501's and boots for me.

[Do not dub me shapka broham]

Yeah, you're certainly right about that.

The movie I referenced starred Chris Roc, in one of his earlier-funnier-cinematic roles.

He played a struggling comedian-or something, I don't recall each jot and title of the film-whose parents wanted him to make something of himself.

In the end, he becomes a poseur.

Pretending to be the Don of gangsta rap...until his front is exposed, once and for all!

[shibumi]

Coming next will be the spontaneous reanimation of the distal portion of the third and fourth digits of either hand, thus enabling the users to gesture and point in a polite, conventional manner.

[ovrtaxt]

Ah, the black Vanilla Ice. hehehe

[Do not dub me shapka broham]

Fo' sure, dawg!

[MikefromOhio]

501s are too damn tight...

I like my 569s......

[shibumi]

I got to say the nay-no, mah brothahz! It'z nuf to sine yo pitty on the runny kine.

Sa-Da-Tay!

[ovrtaxt]

I need the cracker decoder for that one!

[wku man]

I think you mean CB-4. UB-40 is a bunch of talentless ass clowns who wish they were a real reggae band.

Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!