Source: Google Images Lil Dicky has been on my radar since his debut, and I’ve often brought him up on the podcast over the years. Much to Brian’s chagrin, I’ve often defended Dicky’s place in the game to little avail. However, at this point, I feel … Continue reading Why Lil Dicky Continues to Be Problematic
We all know DJ Khaled as the living meme he has become today. Through his prolific posting on Snapchat, his involvement in several chart-topping pop singles and his unparalleled chauvinism, DJ Khaled has cemented his place in hip-hop culture. Now, what if I told you … Continue reading How DJ Khaled Went from Club DJ to Mogul
For a genre of music so focused on words, hip hop seems to be lacking lyricism these days, focusing more on sound. Artists are continually leaning on hip hop tropes to pad their bars. “Fuck bitches get money” has become a shorthand criticism of the … Continue reading How Rappers Sound in 2018
By Tyler McLaurin With the internet widening the focus of our media, we’re beginning to see artists from all over the world blow up. We live in a world of physical proximity but also mental proximity or proximity based on interest. No one embodies the … Continue reading Rich Chigga – Successful International Star?
At The Freeze, we like to talk about all things hip-hop, and that includes fashion. One of the most recognizable brands in hip-hop is Supreme. The box logo has come to be a coveted symbol sported by artists, skaters and rebellious teenagers alike. But what is it about Supreme’s branding that gave them the niche they occupy today?
On the surface, they are commendable for being both a counterculture icon and a luxury brand. Their clothes are highly sought after and are often more expensive than their competitors, yet they exemplify hip-hop and skater culture. Kids who care about looking fresh with a few hundred dollars in the bank turn to Supreme to spend their money.
To this effect, the brand has received some heavy promotion from notable rappers; including Drake, A$AP Rocky, and most notably Tyler the Creator, who promoted the brand heavily throughout his career. Tyler has explained that he promoted Supreme because he developed a personal relationship with the brand as a skater. These grassroots beginnings from small skate shops to block rounding lineups is part of what gave the brand a foothold as a counterculture symbol. It’s what allows them to appear authentic.
Supreme’s power as a brand is twofold. In addition to the firm holding they’ve established in their niche, they’ve also managed to conjure self-perpetuating hype that keeps demand for their products high. Supreme products are unique and scarce. Many of their products are limited edition. In turn, this allows customers to define themselves through the brand. And it also creates a niche for collectors, who rigorously attend each new supreme launch so as not to be left behind. By using this model, Supreme has given the box logo an inherent value and created an entire subculture that organizes around their brand.
Many first gravitated towards supreme for the same reason as Tyler the Creator – for their skate shops. Supreme has been around since 1994 when their early skate shops were a hub for local skaters. Many gravitated to the store because of its uncompromising appreciation of their customers. Skating in off the street was not only possible but encouraged. Clothes are placed around the edges of the store in order to prevent accidents and to create an open atmosphere.
It is the cultural capital of the box logo combined with its authentic beginnings made Supreme what it is today. It was worn by the right people at the right time, giving it the buzz it needed to be seen by the masses. However, it also portrays images that create and maintain an ethos of being on the pulse of what’s ‘cool’. To wear supreme is to be respected both for being affluent and for being culturally savvy. So before you question someone who spends $200 on a shirt just for the box logo, keep in mind that it isn’t just a piece of fabric, it’s cultural capital.
Written by Tyler McLaurin
Kanye of the Stone age is a mash-up album by ToTom which combines the rap stylings of Kanye West with the riff driven instrumentals of Queens of the Stone Age. The album features mashups such as “Jesus Walks with the Flow”, No One Knows King Crimson’s Power” or “Runaway Into the Fade”. While there are a few misfires, many of these tracks come out sounding very cohesive, and ultimately complement each other very well. The rock instrumentals imbue Kanye’s lyrics with fire and passion, and elevate the energy levels of his performances. This is especially apparent on tracks like “Black Skinhead Does it Again”, where Kanye’s increases in pitch and excitement is supported by growling guitar riffs and thundering drums. Other tracks take a more subdued approach, but ultimately work out such as “Make it Wit Barry Bonds”. This song uses the jazzy and dare I say romantic instrumental of Make it Wit Chu with the braggadocios lyrics of Barry Bonds, which creates a very smooth listening experience.
“The only track that flat out doesn’t work is “Tree Digger”, which only turned me off because of the c-constant skipping through Kanye’s v-verse.”
I find the main value of this mashup as a hip hop fan is the way they reinvigorate the Queens of the Stone Age instrumentals. While Kanye’s passion and hater hating work tremendously well over these rock driven instrumentals, I was more surprised by how well the Queens sounded as rap beats. I began to suspect this after I heard Berzerk and Survival by Eminem, but guitar driven rock and rap flows are actually a good match. As much as I am a Queens fan, I found myself enjoying Kanye’s raps more than Josh Homme’s moaning falsetto. The only track that flat out doesn’t work is “Tree Digger”, which only turned me off because of the c-constant skipping through Kanye’s v-verse. That being said, when it works it works. The track “Better it Giveth” is a great example of this. The instrumental features a relentless rapid fire guitar riff, giving the track an energy and pace that wasn’t part of the original song. The verses work the same way, replaces the floating vocals with rapid fire flows, which manage to keep up with energy of the guitars. The way the verses roll into the hook is so good, it almost seems intentional.
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The Freeze with Tyler Mclaurin and Brian Capitao 