Getting Your Grown Man On
Hip Hop Fashion is Growing Up, So What About the Attitudes?
By Adrian Avila

Bay Area Hip Hop is trying to grow up, at least in terms of fashion. By putting on button up dress shirts and blazers, young men all over the bay are trying to be seen as big players in the game. The only problem is that as the dress style grew up, the people forgot too.

Over-sized pants and White-Tee's have been somewhat of a uniform for the Bay Area's hyphy scene. Baseball caps and stunna shades are the accessories that complete the look.   But with the huge hit from East Palo Alto rappers “Hoodstarz,” things might be changing. The rap duo made up by Band Aide and Scoot Dogg came out with their hit "Grown Man On," produced by San Jose's Traxamillion back in 2006. The song talks about looking so fresh and so clean, and being an OG. Ever since its release, it has been played in all the clubs and house parties across the bay. Thus the “Grown Man Movement” has begun, at least for Friday and Saturday nights. It is made up of nicely clothed men in their twenties dressing up in order to impress. Not to say that this is the first time that young adults have gotten dressed up, but now it is seen as being hip and on top of your style.

On a more national level, rap stars such as P. Diddy and the “CEO of Hip Hop” Jay-Z have been getting their grown man on for a while now, sporting suites and diamond cufflinks and hand made silk ties. Most people from the streets could not relate to them, but what the Hoodstarz have done is bring that grown up style to the hood. The song speaks of dressing up like a “big boss” and still being able to go “stupid-dumb-and-hyphy” at the same time.

What this means is that it is a time to hang up that long White-Tee and bring out your pop's cardigan sweaters and ties. Some would say that hip hop is growing up, and that it is a good change for the hood game. But with the statement “the clothes don't make the man” being true as ever in this case, just because the gear is being stepped up, it doesn't mean that attitudes or people themselves are growing up.

“It is cool to look grown up now-a-days,” says 21-year-old Mark Cruz, who has hung up his brightly colored Bape sweater and is reaching for his suede blazer, something that many have been doing since the release of the song. In the past Mark would only dress up if church was in his schedule, or was going up for a job interview. It is the image of wealth, respect and power that being grown brings. And with that comes the ladies, or it would seem.

“Just because these guys are in a nice button up shirt doesn't mean that they are any different,” says 25-year-old Nancy Corona from East Side San Jose, who witnessed an out of control riot-style fight at a New Year's Party two weeks ago. The fight that ended with a 23-year-old man beat down on the ground. “They think just because they look nice they are different people, they still have no jobs and are out there doing drugs and getting into fights, the only difference now is that they look better doing it,” says Nancy.

Growing up can't be achieved simply by changing the clothes you have on; it is a long process of life. It would be nice to see men acting like men and not just trying to look like them. Realistically one can't look all that grown up while going “stupid-dumb-and-hyphy.” The Bay Area hyphy movement is getting a wardrobe make over, now we can only hope that people's personalities get it as well.

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