Why New York Isn't NY Anymore...

You see those ' I Love (Heart) New York shirts.' Get rid of em. Bye Bye!



Rocking those shirts is showing that you rep your city and that's great. I've never rocked them though. Not because I think their corny or anything of the sort, but because the love is gone. ITS GONE!

Its no longer there because when I was in love with New York, it was original. My love left for this city a long time ago. Originality is the reason why.

Me and my compadre J.T.W. (Initials Sound like a Premium English Dress Shirt company) (myspace.com/thegameneedsjames) were walking thru Soho a few months ago and I was complaining about NY. Because despite the fact it probably has more to do then any other city and is so culturally diverse, the originality in this city has been squeezed out. Plus, I just needed a change of scenery. I'm still here though. Gotta make it here before I break. Back to originality though. Its been barren for a while out here.

As I kept preaching to Watts, he just listened and went ahead and blurted out he wants to create a shirt that has the heart broken instead of intact. He's from Jersey folks, but he chilled in NY all his life and he saw exactly what I saw.

New York in rap, baseball, basketball, and originality is a thing of yesteryear.

For God sakes, Boston is running sports. Isn't that enough?

This city aint the same city it used to be in relation to Hip Hop culture and fashion. Honestly, New York has never really been the trendsetter it brags it is.

It was in the 80's without a doubt. That was the era where NY swag and style was on that McGwire ish. With the Dapper Dan's and the gold rope chains, etc. You see how a lot of these cats tried to bring back the 80's across the country in the last few years. Didn't work huh?

Let me go back to elementary school.

The last real thing NY cats really put dudes onto in my opinion was the Fila Grant Hill's. Ever since then, I began spending time in Philly and Jersey and even Frisco and saw that cats out there have been overshadowed for years. Robbed of credit. Bamboozled as Nasir would say.

Before I get to fashion though, we all know rap has died out especially when we start copying the South. Nothing against my compadres below DC, but to make it back to the top, you got to be yourself. Obviously, New York isn't doing that.

Onto the clothing though. The superficial part.

For example, throwbacks and fitteds.

That's a Philly thing. Me and a bunch of NY cats used to jump in the cavalier and roll out there to buy tons and tons of fitteds twice a month. We respected their style. Didn't think it was fucking with NY, but respected it. Plus, they were trendsetters. Cats at Total Sports on South St knew us by name and kept inventory for us. We had the best fitteds in NY by far and wouldn't let the cat out the bag. Not braggin, just the truth. Pink shirts? That's a Philly thing way before Cam'ron. I seen cats with the Pink horsies (PRL) way before dudes out here even dared. Even the homey Fat Joe admitted it before on Philly radio when they pressed him on how Philly gets copied. Dickies? That's a LA thing first and foremost before anyone else. NY bit it just recently. Miskeen Shirts? I should know because I was one of the first dudes in this city up on that. Went to Philly and dropped 60 on joints monthly. Then a year later, I seen dudes rockin em. A lil late huh buddies?

Jersey brought the Gore-Tex's to the table and the all-green long coats. Not the army fatigues. Ya know what I'm talking about. Ya seen Jada in videos with it on. The Carhartt looking ones. Years later, NY copied.

Today, NY cats is looking like Frisco cats with all this hypebeastery and nudie's (brand of jeans) and Supreme caps, etc. I'll let Wale tell you where Nike Boots started ( D.C), because it sure wasn't here.


What about slang?

Beans once said:

'City of Philly know that city brought your city the slang'

"Early. Holla at your boy. Bul. Ak. All philly slang used in NY at later times." I still hear cats in NY saying "Early" like 5 years later and claiming the shit started here. SMH.

Then people say this is the hardest city. Brooklyn this or Harlem that or SBX that. I'm just trying to mirror the ignorance of most of the cats on the street and tell them who cares what city is the hardest? Ya'll killing your own people at the end of the day. Cats earning imaginary stripes in the hood for killing cats. So let me be ignorant again, NY ain't the hardest. Not even close.

Oakland, N. Philly, Southeast DC, South and West Side of Chicago, Gary Indiana, Detroit Michigan, East St. Louis, NOLA. Like, we like one of the best cities when it comes to crime. Don't hit me with this BS that our city is tough or the hardest anymore. I'm glad our city is safe, but for the ignorant ones who love arguring: "We were tough in the past, but not anymore."

Anyways, I'm tired of typing. Don't wanna hurt the buttons on the berry. Before I leave...

I'm not hating on my city. I love NY. I'm just telling the truth. I hate seeing people take credit for shit they don't deserve to bow for even if its as miniscule as gear and slang.

El Ranchero.

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