For years, I've gotten the shivers whenever I see Hip-Hop culture portrayed on TV. Am I the only one who cringed when Special Ed a.k.a. JT Freeze spit that horrible freestyle on The Cosby Show? Was I the only one who laughed hysterically when Kris Kross portrayed themselves as gang members on A Different World? Am I the only one who still hates on Mario Van Peebles for appearing in Rappin'?
Originally, I was supposed to watch The Apprentice last night. Somehow I forgot to tell my DVR to record it. Thank God for online episode guides! In last night's episode the teams would create an ad for Gran Turismo 4, a new PlayStation 2 video game. Each team would get a bare twenty-foot wall in Harlem and use graffiti art to convey their message.
[offTopic]Do you think Trump had to get permissions from DipSet to do this? It would have been hot if Jim Jones ran up on "The Donald" and smacked that kufi off his head?[/offTopic]
Who came up with the idea to have a graffiti project in Harlem? Is graffiti the #1 medium to communicate with us? I guess it's good that crack isn't the #1 medium to get to the urban audience. They would probably put some inside each game. But seriously, why does Corporate America feel the need to talk down to the Hip-Hop culture like we don't get it? We do get it. The problem is when you try to help us get it. That's usually when you start f'ing up the product.
Quick Examples:
- Colored Timberlands.
If it ain't wheat or black, it ain't right. - Sportwear w/ giant logos. (i.e. Tommy Hilfigure, Polo)
The tiny logos was better. - Akai's MPC Remix 16
This was the Akai MPC-60 made *especially* for rap producers. Since then, they have discontinued this model. They don't even list this model in their product archives.
The other team was no better. To be on the safe side, they asked some residents of Harlem to give them feedback. The residents suggested adding elements like money falling from the sky and use terms like 'bling, bling'. I wish I was there. I would have suggested 'Yo Homeboy Cop This Shit' with a picture of the game and a big bucket of chicken in the background.
Finally, what's up with Tara, being Project Manager? Could it be because she's Black and from NYC? If you watch the show on the regular, you'd know that Tara is almost invisible. Maybe Audrey, representing Utah, would have been a better choice, considering she's actually done some graffiti - so she said.
And then there is this new hip-hop term, "Tear it up" which is featured in the ad which was suggested by Tara, who claimed "I am the hip urban demographic." What part of the demographic are you? Anyway, the hip urban demographic was fired for a wick-wick wack campaign and lost any and all street credibility. And just to be fair, the other teams ad campaign was wick-wick wack too. Next time ma, call Tats Cru and get it done right.
(Corporate America && Tara Dowdell) == SOHH Clueless
Come on now what man is going to wear pink Tims? That's more for the female market. We like Tims too!