Image in Hip Hop
 

How important is it? I know we have the member pictures forum here, and people are flamed regularly. There was a stirup on another hip hop site recently involving allegations against Copywrite dissing other notable netcees and celebrating "himself" incognito. So amongst other things his image, as well as his clique's was attacked. I would link to the forum, but I think that is not allowed. So, what do you think? Is it harder for you to listen to these guys diss and brag when they look like this:



Camu, El-P, Copywrite, Cage, Yack Balls
wtf? Camu and Cage look okay...



Ah! Camu and Cage do not look okay.



Copywrite, the Mongolian Tribesman.



Copy is just weird looking... Denote the shared sunglasses.



So, what is it? We all rag on eachother for our looks, but when it's like this, does it affect your feelings? I haven't seen anyone here that is this depressingly ugly. I don't listen to these guys too much, tracks here and there. Extinction was a hot diss, but... LOOK AT THE MAN. I have to say, I do think about it when I hear him. And not to mention the tacky undermining of a forum... geesh.

as long as the image relates to the culture and art its all good..but people bend the rules...

and all the def jukies look like a bunch of aliens..EVERY-one of em...its kind of like thier trademark...

100

I'm pale skinned, though I'm multi-racial. I have an afro, though I'm not black. I wear lipstick and paint my nails, yet I'm a heterosexual. I always wear pants, but hardly ever blue jeans. And I feel naked if I don't have a watch on my left wrist.

I don't give a flying fuck about my image. I'm a good looking man though, that's the kicker.

But in Hip-Hop itself, at least when it comes to commercilization, image matters. Eminem wouldn't have been where he is today, despite his skills, if he didn't look the way he did. Not only was he white but he was a good looking white guy. LL Cool J, he's a very handsome man. As a rapper, he sucks horribly. But he's handsome. Girls I've talked to, think Fifty Cent is cute. I think he's ugly, personally. But I'm not gay, so I really wouldn't know.

Back in the old days, image didn't matter as much. Every member of NWA, except for Eazy E, are ugly as sin. Yet they were big, because it was the MUSIC that mattered. Dre is still huge. But Dre is nasty looking. He's where he is at today because back in the eightys it didn't matter. Now and days, it's all about marketing gimmicks. It's sad, really.

~Shalom~

lipstick? nails? you a weird mofo indeed.

i think i seen that copy kid in mtv...real life... he looks like that tall kid thats couldn't get any significant piece of ass...

It doesn't mean anything to me.

I'm white. I'm not 'goofy' looking. I'm not the most intinidating looking of people, but I don't look like to total pussy, lol.

But none the less, if you can rap you can rap, and thats all that matters to me.

well said bruklor
same view

the same with me^ even personally, some days i'm in jeans and jersey others i'm looking like a bum and the next you'd think i shouldbe playing golf. in the world of rap and hip hop i don't want to be liked b/c i look good or have nice clothes i want to be liked b/c people see i have skill wether it be battling, songs or just freestyling.
____________
Fo'trill- one MC to serve them all

FUBAR
Crew:
alot of people that i can't remember

^^^Yhea all what ya'll sayin is the moral why to look at it, but it's just not like that. Image plays a big part. It should be about just skills but poeple check for what you wearing and got on and what you reppin almost just as much as the rhyme you kickin'. Just like they say clothes do make the man, people get a good idea what you about form what you got on.

for all I care, an Indian guy could come on stage in a turbin and a swimsuit.. If he spit some good fukin lines, I probably wouldn't notice.

Fuck image its about what u spit about

i think peeps either got a dont give a fuck image or gangster image, i dun realy see how it effects u as an emcee, i dont put much effort into my aperence, maybe i should.. anyways

necro if u dont care about how u look then why do u wear lipstick?

alot of people depend on image, sure looks can play a part but if you made it money can change that right? ..

alot of people depend on where your comin from, if you were poor etc.

to me i dont look at that shit, if your comin raw to a good beat mad props, fuck if your trying, big ups, i respect anyone willing ti try hard at something they probly aint good at.

Love.

i dont care how people look as long as they got talent(unless your jay krupp)