What is the Problem with Skinny Jeans in Hip Hop?

By The Voice
Hip Hop Vibe Staff Writer

In recent years, Jay-Z has been the biggest figurehead in hip hop. But, in 2003, he decided to leave the rap game for the corporate world. In 2006, Jay-Z came back to "save hip hop." During this period of time, several rappers opposed Jay-Z. Lil Wayne also rose to the top of the game, giving way to new artists and a new style.

Hip hop in the post-American Gangster 2007-2008 period, hip hop was dominated by auto-tune and childish rhymes. The style of dress with hip hop artists also changed. No longer were rappers wearing the baggy pants, they had traded them in for the skinny jeans. Jay-Z again returned to the game in 2009, pointing this all out.

On the song, Jay-Z rapped "you boys' jeans too tight.' But, what many tend to forget is the original members of hip hop wore tight jeans. Before his NWA days, Dr. Dre was a member of the World Class Wrecking Crew. During this time, Dr. Dre was not a gangsta rapper dressed in the rough clothes, he was wearing tight jeans.

Grandmaster Flash and many other hip hop figures wore the tight pants and there was no opposition to it and no criticism. During the 1990s, when hip hop truly became commercial, rappers began wearing the baggy pants, as a way to rebel to the older people. Many older people viewed hip hop as negative and the young rap stars fed into this, rebelling against the older generation. Now, hip hop has moved back to the pants that fit, why is this such a major problem when the original figures of hip hop wore the skinny jeans?