`Wear the crown,” said the young man to the gum-chewing but fashionable woman whose eyes flitted from one headpiece to another. ”Wear it.”
He wasn`t trying to instill confidence in a beauty-queen hopeful, and he wasn`t training the princess of some obscure country. He was a salesman pitching a hat to a self-defined rap fan who wanted to do more than just feel the part-she wanted to look the part.
”A lot of rappers come in and buy the crowns,” the salesman said, as he stood behind a counter full of hats at the Native Shop, 2606 E. 79th St. The small pillbox ”crowns” range from $10 to $50 or more, and come in a variety of colors and patterns. They can be made of expensive African kente (woven)
cloth, a cheaper kentelike material, quilted fabrics, leather, fur or linen.
”Basically, the crowns and medallions are what young people buy,” said Kitty McMurray, owner of the Native Shop. ”A lot of them are into rap music, but they`re also into their culture.”
A little inspiration
Inspired by hot musical artists like The Jungle Brothers, De La Soul and 3rd Bass, young adults are buying the hats, medallions and other accouterments that symbolize not only fashion sense but a love of culture and nation.
So instead of gold chains, the hip set is wearing woven ”friendship”
bracelets or multicolor circular necklaces made of leather, usually with overlays of the continent of Africa or images of black leaders.
Forget neon scarves, Madonnalike lace and gold, knuckle-size rings; it`s now peace symbols that dangle from big hoop earrings, hang around necks with ethnic charms and beads or drape over polka-dot patterned vests.
Price is the object
”They`re really wearing stuff that`s not expensive,” said Charles White, disc jockey for S&K Records, 2530 E. 75th St. He said he believes the trend toward less expensive items was started by rappers who recognized that their fans usually can`t afford gold jewelry. ”Public Enemy has said, `If you don`t own it, why want it?` That`s the mentality,” White said. Youths are now more tuned into buying affordable items that can be easily attained, he added. Armando (who doesn`t use his surname), one of Chicago`s best-known
”house” party organizers, said, ”At my parties, I see lots of headwraps, Converse gym shoes, peace symbols on clothing with names written on them and big, old suits-suits that you probably saw your grandfather wear.”
Peace symbols? Nationalist colors? Headwraps? Looks like rap fashion is taking cues from styles popular before many of today`s rap fans were born. –
