Where's Brooklyn At? Where Has Urban Culture Gone?

Where's Brooklyn At?  Where Has Urban Culture Gone?

There is no such thing as urban radio anymore!  While driving, I turned to KYS 93.9 and they were playing a techno-ish song by Rihanna.  Yes it is Rihanna, but it's still techno.  While I have had my fair share of late nights with glow sticks and red bulls with vodka (the only way to drink at a techno club), I want urban music on my urban radio station!  So I switched to its local competitor, 95.5 PGC and they were playing a techno ish song by Dev.  I guess her song would be classified as more dance than techno, but again, I want urban music on my urban radio station.  If urban music no longer exists, play gogo!  I mean this is DC, right?!

This music fiasco got me thinking, is urban culture as we knew it, dead?  I was a teenager in the 90's, to me urban music was Biggie, Nas, Jay Z, Mary J Blige, and Monifah (where the hell is Monifah?!)  Urban music was hip hop and r&b.  Now urban music has merged into the mainstream with pop and techno beats.  And the fashion!  While some of you may say urban fashion is alive and well, I beg to differ.  However, to state my argument properly, we all must agree there is a different between metropolitan urban and country urban.  For all you southerners, (remember I am from Phoenix, raised in New York and moved to DC, and yes DC is the south!  Mason Dixon line, you DMV'ers forget!) being in the south doesn't make it "country" (so please, you can return your guns to the safety position) some of the countriest places (as far as fashion) I've been are in Western New York, Michigan, and Illinois.  Sorry, but it's true.  My point is the distinction between metropolitan urban and country urban includes Kool Aid colored weaves with sneakers, belts, shirts, nails, and eye contacts matching.  To me that's just country.

With that said, go to a major metropolitan "urban" area (code for...) and the women look like they stepped out of Lucky Mag or People's best dressed list.  Urban fashion has become quite mainstream.  In my beloved 90's urban fashion was baggy jeans, over sized shirts, Karl Kani, Maurice Malone, Versace shirts, timb's (Timberlands), Air Max, and Up's (for you non-New Yorkers Air Force 1's).  While I appreciate not having to look at a mans under wear in public, I am a little leary of men wearing the same jeans as their girlfriends.  I'm just saying.

So to wax nostalgic about when urban was urban, here are some of my favorite "old school" looks.

Not necessarily 90's, but it epitomizes urban cool from the era with a funky mix of masculine and feminine street wear.  Remember the Manolo Blahnik boots (some of you remember the Steve Madden version better, wink, wink)

Janet Jackson from the "You Want This" video.  Yes, baggy jeans and a half  top/sports bra!  Nothing could be more 90's urban.

Denim everything!  Oh the 90's urban fashion was all about denim...and dark lacquered lips! 

Aaliyah, may she rest in peace.  Who could forget the Tommy Hilfiger craze?  You know, when your jeans and shirt screamed Tommy?  Even the beautiful Aaliyah wasn't spared.

In my search for more 90's urban fashion I came across an article "’90s Hip Hop Icons and the Fall 2011 Looks They Could Be Wearing" and they have some fabulous examples with their 2011 runway counterparts.

Oh...when urban was really urban...I miss those days.

XOXO,