alwaysabgirl

17 Mar

Black folks have always been about the presentation. Before street wear, Gucci and bling, there were zoot suits, silk, mohair and let’s not forget Stacy Adams. Having your hair tied, dyed and laid to the side, white church gloves and a hat at a not so rakish angle were par for the course. In hip hop culture this manifested itself in the iconic Kangol and trunk gold chain, but even more so a love of sneakers. Since before the days of My Adidas folks have been peeping kicks.

In our ongoing series on hip hop and aging I’ve been talking to people who are members of the community. Next up we have an entrepreneur whose business is closely tied to hip hop. Brandon Williamson, Thee Ambassador of Sole Search. The first sneaker pimp app on the market (available in android and iphone/ipad/itouch format). This app/business model aids us in our ongoing fashion obsession by allowing the user to search for nearest sneaker boutique no matter where you are in the world.

Our conversation just happened organically on day on twitter…Check the panel ——> for the details.

17 Mar

Hip hop and aging and your business model

@sole_search OK real question: How closely tied do you think your business model is to hiphop?
@alwaysabgirl EXTREMELY..they go hand in hand in each and every level of my business..wouldn't exist without the inspiration from the music
@sole_search So how does the aging of hiphop affect your business model?
@alwaysabgirl Well in my questioning, it was related to what was memorable fashion wise, but as a whole? The maturity that takes place from...
@alwaysabgirl who came up when the focus was more on content and individuality and self worth, it's key in knowing what age group I want to...
@alwaysabgirl appeal to and attempt to have their senses alerted by the endeavors I set out upon..running with what's effective vs what's cool
@sole_search but your business model --interests GenX, GenY and Gen Whatevathehelltheycall them right? So aside from style and...
@sole_search fashion's influence directly... How does the growing pains that exist in the culture affect your project? Appealing to more ...
@sole_search than one demographic?
@alwaysabgirl Hmmmmm...not purposely. Never against young consumers because I have several, but they also have an understanding for my point...
@alwaysabgirl one thing I have been successful in doing is focusing on what I like and hoping others will like it too..to purposely cater...
@alwaysabgirl away from my core, I can't say I'd never, but if I did, it would have to be for so much doe I'd never have to sell out again #phonte
@sole_search But do you think we'll still be your core... 15, 25 years from now? Or does the business model not allow for something that....
@sole_search I mean will it go from hot kicks to hot walking sticks? Is the business model that long term?
@alwaysabgirl Under this business? Yes. If something happens where I may have to restructure or create something within to appeal otherwise,
@alwaysabgirl that's possible and likely, but at the core where I'm at, the long term is to create an even more narrow lane in that regard
@alwaysabgirl but in this particular endeavor, as I grow, the brand grows up as well and hopefully the clientele grows up..like hip hop : )
@sole_search so as the demographic ages-your inclination is to specialize further rather than trying to appeal to a diff demo.#interesting
@sole_search well you know that's a question I'm exploring on my blog what does it mean for the culture that the primary demo is growing old
@sole_search Can you be 40 and still be a bgirl? 50? and what does that mean for the underground and commercial arenas...
@alwaysabgirl yea..I kinda base it how ralphie [lauren] has done..he embodies his brand as a whole, but so do a lot of other demo's not his own
@sole_search who are we listening to? are the artist of our generation still performing, speaking to us, for us? I mean yr allowed to be ...
@alwaysabgirl its almost like you HAVE to be..but I think it evolves..like my mom can still tell me all about the music of her time, but with
@sole_search old in RB Jazz and Rock and Roll... right?
@alwaysabgirl hip hop, like thats something you genuinely live and embody so no matter what, from backroads to boardrooms, it remains
@alwaysabgirl now THAT is an issue forreal..are the artists of our era even talking to us anymore? true isht..and most cases, no...
@alwaysabgirl right...
@sole_search ralph doesn't have as many trends to contend with-- I mean some these styles aren't necessarily classic. I can't wear ...
@alwaysabgirl TRUE TRUE! its some questionable stuff in there for sure..lol..
@sole_search I can't wear ice creams at 60 but I think I could wear these http: //tinyurl.com/noticecreams
@alwaysabgirl always! you will be able toe wear those now, 5 ago, and 15 from now..i can't ever ice creams..lol
@sole_search I know im talking your ear off brother...so excuse me. LOL ok but...
@alwaysabgirl very interesting tho i must say..it really requires me to consider where it'll be when its all said and done...
@alwaysabgirl lol! not an issue at all!
@sole_search walking around telling my grandchildren u dont know nuffin about this...LOL which brings me to my next question
@sole_search so I know how I represent and participate in the culture now. I write, I purchase, I share, I try to teach but
@sole_search when yr a certain age don't you have to demonstrate that in another way? I mean how many 20 yr olds am I gonna know when I'm 60
@alwaysabgirl hmm...yea...without being teachy because most at 20 won't know about what we know about..even now me to a 20 is a big gap
@sole_search I guess we'll figure it out as we go... didn't think hiphop would make it this far... ;-)
@sole_search so would u be salty if I put this convo on my blog?
@alwaysabgirl wooooord!! and to have grown the way it did is CRAZY! seemingly as anything grows, things like this happen
@alwaysabgirl NOT AT ALL! I'd be perfectly fine with it and look fwd to seeing how it may be responded to
@sole_search fo sho stank you very much
@alwaysabgirl : -) thank you b girl

16 Mar

A quote from a recent article by Byron Hurt entitled Why I Am A Male Feminist.

Perhaps best known in hiphop and academic circles for Hip Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes. If you aren’t familiar with his work check him out. Insightful is but one word I could use to describe it. I was lucky enough to see a working version before the final cut at the Hip Hop and Feminism Conference in 2004 on U of Chicago campus.

I was tweeting the other day about this blog not being exclusively for women. That there was information here for men to comment on, appreciate and share. Please take heart people. A dialogue has to begin somewhere and why not right here? Instead, of some academic ivory tower setting where the community won’t hear it or be aware of its existence. This shit here, was created by the people for the people and so it must be that the people are the ones that feed its growth and critique the community when necessary. One.

For more information on how to begin this conversation peep this

16 Mar

Feminists did not hate men. In fact, they loved men.

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16 Mar

RA RA but of course she is…

I must say when I ventured forth on this lyrical journey I knew that there were women emcees out there that were hot. That just hadn’t been getting their due. It happens to women folk all the time, In all walks of life, in all kinds of business. And let us not forget in our personal lives how many times women have held down a family, a crisis, we even hold down movements and don’t get no motherfucking credit. But let me calm down. Because what I really want to say is I am delighted at finding the plethora of talent available to highlight. You gotta listen to ALOT, and I mean ALOT of wack shit before you find that jewel (and that’s with any music scene) but when you find it. You praise baby jesus and press rewind.

The emcee making me press rewind today is RA the MC. She does not hesitate, she is a MC aka mic controller in the true sense of the word. Repping for the DMV area (that’s D.C., Virginia and Maryland for the uninitiated) She has been doing the thing since a teen. As they say practice makes perfect. The evolution of an artist is a beautiful thing to behold, the end result this time is this. The second video in support of her current effort Heart of A Champion. A fixture on the underground scene for a while with several mixtapes under her belt and a 2009 VMA Breakout Artist Nomination this emcee has only just begun her rocket to the finish line despite having a mix tape called Victory Lap. What can I say about her ability as an emcee that hasn’t been said already? Perhaps its best to just let her speak for herself. Get the motherfucking tape. You can thank me later.

16 Mar

She is a Boss But I Can Do Without The Bitch.

Now I may have given you the impression thus far that I am all about the underground, backpacker rap. Well, that’s true to a degree. I love backpacker rap, it takes me to the days when I rocked a fisherman’s vest and doc martens what can I say. However, don’t let the girbauds fool you. I can get crunk. I been getting crunk since befo’ they called it crunk. I mean really what was Onxy and M.O.P but an excuse to act up and out, but I digress.

Most of all what I respect is lyricism and tight production. One without the other isn’t artistry, it’s just some shit that needs improvement. There I said it. So with that in mind at all times I want you to remember this blog is not solely dedicated to big upping women emcees. First and foremost I support hiphop. Supporting mediocrity does not help the culture grow. It creates a marketplace where niggas look to get paid and add nothing to the cultural landscape that is hiphop or the business that is rap.

So please allow me to hip you to an indie artist, very well known in many circles. She is Rasheeda the GA Peach. Claiming her southern hood chick flava, repping for team DLO and currently the mixtape queen of da south. Plus her name Rasheeda, my nig. The only way it could get mo better is if it was Keisha. I’m not gonna discuss what is likely a killer management team given her underground status. I’m not gonna discuss how fly or authentic I think this sister is. We are gonna talk about her latest project Boss Bitch Music, Vol II. Yes the title leaves a little to be desired in my point of view, but this chick here can spit. Witty? check. Funny as hell? check. Bumpable? check. Versatile flow? check. Varied vocabulary? check. 15 years of writing rhymes will do that for ya.

Now given her contemporaries some of y’all may think she falls in the same category. I am here to tell you she does not. Still don’t believe me? Listen before you buy .