The Yuppification of Hip Hop

Hip Hop, namely hip hop clubs, have become the latest victims of gentrification. Over the past several years, hip hop clubs in large urban areas have enacted dress codes that have banned baggy clothing, gym shoes, baseball caps and other apparel that are synonymous with hip hop culture. In the past ten years, a large group of African Americans (the largest groups of performers/listeners of hip hop music) have become affluent  and a large professional black class has emerged; and with them, more Caucasians, Asians, etc have become patronizers of black clubs. As a result, club owners have been receptive of catering to their wants, designing their clubs with slick designs, bars stocked full of high end liquors and attractive female hosts to greet entering patrons with VIP sections. However, these club owners and their dress code restrictions have left a large percentage of the hip hop demographic, hip hop purveyors of the nonprofessional class, out in the cold.

This past Sunday, I went to the Ice Cube concert at the Mid, a nondescript club located in the West Loop neighborhood in Chicago. Before going in, security informed my friend Rob that he would have to take off his baseball cap ("What?" He asked me. "I can't wear a baseball cap at a hip hop show?") Upon entering, I was surprised to find a modern designed night club, lined with columns, a long neon lit bar, and of course a VIP section, patronized by young men and women enjoying what appeared to be a bevy of high end liquor. This scene, though not in the VIP Section, could be seen throughout the nightclub, young men in casual work wear making frequent trips back and forth to the bar. Before Ice Cube got on stage, local Chicago artists Illagit/Alo and Mikkey Halsted gave very spirited performances, however both received lukewarm responses from the crowd, as many took this time to make bar runs. When Ice Cube and W.C. entered the stage, the crowd became excited, but that was to be expected; it's ICE CUBE, one of the founders of gangster rap.

I can recall many experiences like this, and they all attest to the growing class gap between hip hop listeners, the haves and the have nots; club owners have aligned themselves with the haves, which is understandable, as that is where the money is. However, I believe this is unfair to the lovers of hip hop who cannot afford a nice suit jacket, a button down shirt and dress shoes. Let us not forget, when hip hop was founded over thirty years ago, it was founded on the premises of creativity; who could rap, beat box or tag the best; not who could buy the flashiest clothes and the most expensive liquor; it would be good if some people ( i.e.club owners) would keep that in mind.