Hip-hop music, the universal language
by Ray Ndlovu
15.11.2009 12:09:29 P

High heels have become the ultimate fashion accessory for every woman in the global fashion environment. It has become a trend that every lady who is informed about global fashion trends has to have one or two pairs of heels in her wardrobe.

Is it that our women have become slaves of fashion, or is there another driving force behind their love for high heels? Stilettos have become the ultimate symbol for the urban, independent, extremely fashionable and unquestionably sexy woman. Past global fashion and film icons like Marilyn Monroe and Pamela Anderson all wore stilettos. Because of the status that has been accorded the stiletto, every 21st century woman who is well versed on fashion trends has to have a pair or two in her wardrobe.

Research suggests that women wear stilettos because it has been discovered that men are generally attracted to women on high heels, as they find them more attractive.

“Stilettos make my breasts look a bit larger, my legs longer and my bum sexier” said a woman who was asked why she loves heels.

The belief that stilettos give an optical illusion of longer, slimmer legs and that they alter the wearers’ posture and gait, making the bust and buttocks more prominent, has actually encouraged more women to purchase more stilettos and wear them frequently.

The stiletto remains sophisticated, smart and elegant. Women feel that stilettos make them feel more feminine and let’s face it; they are much more elegant than a pair of tennis shoes. Women find the shoe itself more erotic and seductive. That the stiletto has over the years dominated women fashion, especially foot wear, has convinced many that there is something peculiar, and extremely special, about the shoe.

While women’s legs have been one of the most attractive features and man-grabbing centre of attraction for men, stilettos have enhanced the allure of women’s legs and made every woman who wears high heels somewhat seductive. The high heel has changed the way women carry themselves, such that they walk a bit differently, with the pelvis sort of jutting out, when they wear stilettos.


But the fact is that the stiletto has been doing more harm than good. Statistics show that about 82% of women who wear stilettos suffer from foot pain, and a further 72% have been faced with foot abnormalities, including ingrown toenails, fungus, calluses, bunions and corns. According to a survey done by the American Podiatric Medical Association, stilettos come with a lot of complications on the human body .They have discovered that stilettos trigger points and put pressure on different parts of the foot that will lead to head aches ,migraines, nervous tension and even anxiety. They also discovered that women who wear high heels for extended periods of time are at an increased risk of high stress levels in their backs, knees, hips and shoulders. Stilettos have proven to be very uncomfortable; they encourage the wearer to center their body weight on the ball of the foot such that they will be practically tiptoeing as they walk.

Despite repeated warnings about the negative effects of stilettos, women of the world continue to wear high heels. Despite their impracticality, their popularity remains undiminished. As Terry De Havilland, a UK shoe designer has said “people say they are bad for the feet, but they are good for the mind.Whats more important?”
Ray Ndlovu

One wouldn't be too far from the truth if they posited that hip-hop is probably the one universal language spoken by many young people in many countries all over the world. Looking at young people all over the world one cannot help but notice that they all have something in common, an undying love for hip hop music. One also cannot help but notice the all too familiar flat caps, baggy jeans, tattoos, T-shirts, i-pods and doo-rags that are the characteristic clothes worn by hip-hop artists.

Symbolized by the likes of Kanye West, Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, T-Pain, 50 Cent and Dr Dre, hip- hop music is clearly a popular genre that is filtering to our tastes in fashion, how we speak and relate with one another. Locally hip hop supremos like Scar, Zeus, Kast and Hip Hop Pantsula are also driving local youngsters crazy with their localized motswako version of hip hop.

But what is it that makes hip-hop music have such a universal appeal? Surely, the trendy dress sense of its proponents, and the ‘bling bling’ lifestyle that is usually shown in hip hop music videos, cannot be solely responsible for the worldwide appeal that hip hop has among young people.
The fact is that hip-hop’s appeal lies in that it is up to date with modern trends, fashion and events. It is commonplace to see hip-hop artists using their blackberry phones to send Tweets (messages via Twitter) and updating their Facebook profiles, or even driving the latest cars such as the Aston Martin, Range Rover and Cadillac.

Hip-hop prides itself in providing the latest and current trends about life. It catalogues trends just about everywhere and anywhere from politics, fashion, technology and relationships.
Barack Obama’s rise to the presidency of America was partly due to the support he enjoyed from the hip-hop community, with artists like R.Kelly, Will-I-Am of Black Eyed Peas, and Ludacris composing songs in his support. Obama of course knows fully well that his endorsement by hip-hop artists drew the crucial vote of America’s young people.

The flipside of the coin of course is that former president George Bush was dissed more than once and maybe that explains why he isn't popular among the young people.

The term, “hip” in hip-hop is in reference to something that is informed and current, up to date and a’ la mode. Now who out there wouldn’t want to be associated with something that’s brings the world to their fingertips?
The dilemma of hip-hop music is that while on one hand it has proved hugely popular among young people in that it is up to date with the latest fads, older folks have not accepted this seemingly “vulgar, loud and stereotypical depiction of women as sex symbols” as a form of music. Booty shaking and bikini-clad women wouldn't pass off as good music from where I come from. But oh well…times change!
Older folks tend to settle with 'serene' music and many will not miss an opportunity to reminisce about their years in the 1980’s when reggae music was the only thing that mattered to them. That’s so 80's man!

The public outrage against hip-hop artists Snoop Dogg, Dr Dre and Eminem over their use of vulgar language in songs is proof enough that a 'dark cloud' hangs over hip-hop music. Isn't society just making a fuss over hip-hop, because it reflects the reality which our society would rather turn a blind eye to? Our society is riddled by abuse, fatherless children, rape, sex addiction and extreme poverty, and hip-hop is trying to make people aware of that.

Hip hop is partly a celebration of the peoples’ triumphs against insurmountable odds, and the struggles they face everyday trying to make ends meet. Hip-hop is an outlet for many who have been scarred by the hardships of life. It enables the under-privileged and the mistreated to be heard. These cultural translations cross borders. While the music may be 'Western', the message is something that many people can identify- something not "foreign" at all.

Stay informed, stay current and listen to hip-hop music, the only universal language.