Kill Your Idols
Initially, I was going to call this post: Who is your God now? But then I realized that it could lead to a misunderstanding about my belief structure, which is positively atheist, so I decided in good old street culture fashion to re-appropriate / jack off, which ever you prefer, that rather catchy PUNK DIY phrase, and now in retrospect I feel even smarter as that reference will play a part later on. Before I start, thanks for all the emails and comments in regards to my post yesterday. I was positively surprised and engaged by everyone’s thoughts. I talked with Mrs V. about this long into the night, so apologize if these thoughts might come across a little slow / blurred, it has nothing to do with my indecision or opinion but by the alcohol levels in my blood.
Again, before I start I want to point out a few things. These opinions I will share here are entirely my own and are not meant to be hurtful or disrespectful to anyone, I think being an online thug is pathetic, and furthermore, these are observations as I see them. I might not be right and I don’t want anyone to consider this to be holy writ either, but I would rather like to point out a few things as I see them. But more about that in detail later.
So, case in point, I mentioned the new Justice video yesterday and that I wasn’t into it.
I am going briefly mention the music, only to say that, on a personal level, I think it is god awful and close to been ear raped by an elephant. However, music, like love is a personal thing and I don’t want to debate taste, as that is irrelevant. It’s like arguing which colour is better, black or white ( black obviously ). The video in question is called “stress”. Now, to a certain degree I understand where they are coming from. Techno ( please excuse my lack of knowledge as far as sub categories in electronic music is concerned ) isn’t really known as a street-type-of music, such as hip hop ( well used to be ) and New York Hardcore, the
Obviously, due to their connection with Parisian über-street boutique Colette, they have garnered a certain reputation within this beloved super ethical mini culture of ours, you know the one where we all tell everyone how damn street we are by wearing matching neon outfits and being down at haute-couture shows. So maybe, and I am guessing here, the reasoning behind the video was that by showing, and in my opinion glorifying, a group of youths, apparently from the socially bankrupt suburbs of
Here is my criticism of this: On a creative level, it’s weak, mostly, and again only in my opinion, it’s been done before, amazingly so in the French film La Haine by Mathieu Kassovitz in 1995. Personally, I do not have an issue with seeing violence in film, if there is a reason for it, or as in La Haine, a social criticism and / or commentary. So, in my opinion, “Stress” is a blatant rip-off in that regard, without a reason/story behind. What is video telling me? Where is the message? I don’t see one, but if there is one, feel to share with me. My next point I am not as sure about as I would like to be, maybe it is because I am getting older, but in my opinion, musicians, and especially musicians, are role models to a younger generation. Due to the fact that the video doesn’t have a message criticising the conditions and social faults that cause the behaviour seen in the world, irrespective of Paris, London, Berlin, DC or Mexico City, I can only come to the conclusion that Justice must of thought this to be cool and real, but what effect does it have on the already morally orphaned kids seeing this video? Don’t get me wrong, I am not by any means condoning censorship, quite on the contrary, but I also feel strongly about having to point this out. We live in a world where the kids do not have any role models anymore, personalities that lead and do not follow, and are generally good-good in the sense of not necessarily doing “good” things all the time, I mean who wants a priest as a role model, and in case of the Catholic priests around the world raping little children, well, that’s not what I had in mind. Also, I am not on some moral crusade here, I think they are just as bad as all the Evangelists combined, but I think everyone at least that I know has an inner codex of what is right and what is wrong, maybe that is what the Philosophers call a conscience, I don’t know.
I digress, so that’s my problem with that video. I need to say though, Justice have every right to do as they please, it’s, thankfully, still a somewhat free world. However, with fame comes responsibility, at least in my book, and I find that video wholly irresponsible and quite honestly, very fake. I don’t, for one second, believe that they are any more REAL because of the video, I think, again, it is just another case of “buying-in” gone wrong. I might be mistaken; maybe the dudes behind Justice are really part of this gang and just wanted to show their homeys. I can’t find any information in regards to that online though, and I don’t want to spend my money calling
Onto my next point, thanks to the coverage on Hypebeast, HighSnobiety, SlamxHype and Honeyee around a few million kids now know that Nike is throwing a product presentation in the land of the free, China, with everyone’s favourite tastemaker in attendance, I guess to legitimize and influence us all, the greatly named trickle-down effect in corporate speak. Before I get into it, I need to clear a few things up. When I sarcastically call
Now, sure, each to their own you might say, and I would agree, if the Chinese people would actually have a say in this. I don’t think they were ever asked if this is the type of government they wanted, and Mao was clever enough not to stick this information in their face back in 1949. I know, this is a very superficial explanation of the situation and I could get really into it, but suffice to say, I don’t dig the People’s Republic Politburo.Ever since Nixon went over to China in the mid 70s the country has opened up economically to the extent we have today, where everyone and their mum is producing their goods in China, mostly to the same quality standards as back in Europe, America or Japan were only able to a few years ago, which is great, you know, competition is good for any capitalistic marketplace, unfortunately China isn’t a capitalistic society, not yet anyway, and despite everyone’s efforts, personally, I don’t see it happening- on a side note, I also don’t believe in the theory that capitalism is the vanguard of democracy either, but that’s a different story. Again, I digress but only because I think the situation in
RSS-Feed
14. May 2008 - 14:41 Uhr
i don’t have an opinion on the justice thing as i haven’t seen it and they are not my cup of tea anyway, but i must correct you that both techno & house music are black artforms from the ghetto’s of detroit and chicago respectively, it is only later on that they became viewed as european forms. techno & house are at their core just as street as hip hop or whatever-even more so in my opinion as it was more underground and a pure expression of relieving the stress of life and coming together without any pop star ego’s or frontmen.
14. May 2008 - 15:25 Uhr
wow…had no clue the detroit involvement in the techno and house scene. that is so street.
14. May 2008 - 15:42 Uhr
With the greatest of respect, what is “street” about “streetwear”? It’s largely parasitic on long-standing forms of personal expression for which the streets were the only medium — street-skating and graffiti. This so-called “culture” is insincere, nostalgic for a history it has no claim in, and utterly derivative. Full disclosure: I spent years in the late nineties and early this decade making a living at ASRs and Magics. The sincerity, ingenuity and originality that are embodied by say, KASE, Ian MacKaye (sp?) and Natas or Sal Barbier can’t be “appropriated” — that’s why those unique qualities and people are appealing, that’s why this parasitic “streetwear culture” tries to appropriate them, and that’s why the parasite should die. It demeans the host. For anyone reading this whose principal interest and aptitudes are as a consumer, start taking an interest in something real. Because you’re wasting your life.
14. May 2008 - 16:23 Uhr
It used to be called fronting.
14. May 2008 - 17:18 Uhr
inominous-word up to that-
emulat-don’t know if your being sarcastic or not-if so, i know its obvious but it seems to need pointing out i think.
14. May 2008 - 17:50 Uhr
emulat- actually- kiss my rarse
14. May 2008 - 18:48 Uhr
Ditto on Justice’s stress song & vid. Uninventive Crap.
And that’s coming from someone that actually kinda liked the first album.
It was worlds apart. And not just bad noise. Some noise is good, but this- bad. very bad.
14. May 2008 - 19:16 Uhr
When I saw the video, my first thought was that it reminded me a bit of that video from the Prodigy, ‘Smack My Bitch Up’ that debuted some 10 years ago…the continuous shot, the pseudo shock, violence, etc.
Maybe they’re trying to whip people into a violent dance frenzy or something.
Sometimes I’m grateful that I’m insulated from fashion scenes here in the heartland…when I go to trade shows and openings I kind of feel like I’m the set of a Willie Wonka film or something. I still get a kick out of it. I’m all for style but Oscar Wilde was right when he referred to fashion as a vulgarity.
I just hope I never see the day where it’s fashionable to drop in with a guitar strapped around one’s neck. Agent Orange played around with that back in 1983 and I think it was a mistake the first time. No offense to Gator, of course.
14. May 2008 - 19:17 Uhr
yes sarcasm intended. well played on the tidbit of detroit knowledge…i did not know that. a quick google search seemed to validate your statement.
the obvious has been pointed out. did not mean to ruffle the feathers.
14. May 2008 - 19:57 Uhr
safe- i recommend this from our blog to learn more-http://www.slamxhype.com/blogs/d/theotherclub/2007/11/13/underground-resistance
14. May 2008 - 21:13 Uhr
The Justice video made me think about something that I’ve not really been able to shake, for all the special effects ‘real kill scenes GTA crap, a clip on the BBC last year released by the bereaved Parents of their recently Murdered son. Stabbed in the Belly live on CCTV, dead in a second, here in the UK it was a first, a real moment normally just for the eyes of the Jury released with the parents permission. All the vile fodder that washes over us didn’t help soften the blow of that clip, 17 years for nothing… that’s now what I think of when I see this kind of La Haine style clip. Some poor fucker in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Makes me sick.
14. May 2008 - 22:54 Uhr
First off, “techno” is as “street” as hip hop, hardcore or punk ever was. it is the only music kids and or anyone can produce by themselves for themselves for very little cost. the video for justice’ s “stress”, i think, is more of a rip off of Aphex twins “come to daddy” . the video depicts children adorned with the face of richard james terrorizing the streets of london. nothing new here in the justice video. that being said , i dont think music videos need to have a message or a meaning. they are visual representations of the music. we dont ask for literal meanings from artists. just like the aphex twin video ,the stress video had been banned by many tv stations and dumped onto youtube. unlike the aphex twin video which was produced before the days of youtube and blogs, it has now been viewed by millions. in that respect justice are a success and just like so many bands now , they are made or broken by the internet hype.
15. May 2008 - 04:55 Uhr
“What is video telling me? Where is the message?”…
it’s called a promotional video, not a documentary (it definately is FAKE, J are not in a gang and there is not a gang marauding around in Justice cd cover art bomberjackets). The video isnt telling you anything. It’s a visual to get ppl talking about ‘Justice’ (the band). There’s no justice/it’s just us/blind justice, screwed all of us. Steve, your punk-hardcore-hiphop-skate thing is all so literal and narrative. Dance music is the opposite of all that stuff, mostly instrumental based and non-narrative (which is why rock/rap guys dont understand/like it). It’s open to interpretation. I wouldnt dig too philosophically into a promo video (catholic priests?). But i bet they’re glad a tastemaker like yourself blogged so deeply (and quickly) about it. I’m sure Justice is not taking this video as seriously as you… when the youths steal a car and turn on the radio, it’s Justice’s radio hit ‘D.A.N.C.E.”; after a 1 line of the refrain the kids bash the radio in. LIGHTEN UP, bro!
15. May 2008 - 10:22 Uhr
Whats with all the La Haine comparison, it was 10 years ago, and this isn’t actually that similar.
Rather than panning Justice for the video has anyone checked who actually directed it?
I’m pretty sure they don’t take care of promo duties themselves, thats given to some young hotshot out to “shock” you.
What’s scarier is that it’s quite close to things going on in the UK right now, Obviously not stylish gangs dressed in matching satin jackets (although in some cases thats close) but gangs of kids going out stealing from shops around London, guys getting stabbed on Oxford street in the middle of the day, 16 year old kids getting their throats cut and Dads getting their heads kicked in in front of their kids.
Most of those things happened just the past few weeks (way more over the past year) and mostly done by groups teenagers or young men.
In the end it’s just a video, if it had been directed by a big name like Chris Cunningham for example, would that change the opinion?
At least it shows that things have only gotten worse in the 10 years since they “ripped off” La Haine.
15. May 2008 - 11:43 Uhr
RE The situation of a large sportwear corp. importing a bit of cultural credability, I am actually fine with it. Unfortunately as a creative, one is often in need of patronism and as we know brands are constantly in need of the elusive COOL factor, its the grey area of this collusion (collaboration i probably meant to write) that makes people uncomfortable, and most usually the resulting product is never as memorable or as important as the theory of said collaboration itself would suggest. If we looked at creatives represented as PEACE and brands as War then for the best analogy of this situation we would need to look to the lyrics of TheCult to best describe the situation “Peace is a dirty word, she used to be a painted bird - War, she’s a whore, don’t you know you love her, more and more”……
15. May 2008 - 22:53 Uhr
I want to know how you would flip these thoughts if you went for the positivity bent instead. Call it a writing challenge. You ain’t scared, are ya?
16. May 2008 - 11:35 Uhr
Ok Gregg, how about: “Streetwear” is an effect of marketing. It will die on its hole. The bona fide cultures from which “streetwear” cops its attitudes and bites its guises may die but will rise again. The situation SheOne describes is the shortest of short-term shit.
16. May 2008 - 20:12 Uhr
“is it worth it? Is it worth writing about something that makes you angry or is my time better spent writing and sharing positive events and thoughts in my life?”
16. May 2008 - 20:12 Uhr
I was thinking of this. I want to hear more positivity. Personally, for too long I’ve let things like this get under my skin and take up my time and thoughts. Man I want to focus on things that are good. For example, I only need to hear Fall Out Boy’s cover of “Beat It” one time to know that it’s shite, but I could go on and on about the goodness of “Stakes is High” for ages.
So few and farther between, but the real good shit is usually more fruitful. It always gives birth to more original ideas and thoughts. For my creative, thinking side, this is the future I want to see.
20. May 2008 - 06:20 Uhr
I dont agree with you on the Justice rant. I dont think Justice made that video to show their ’streetness’.. I dont really think that the music video idolizes the group of ‘thugs’. It merely shows their day to day reality, and in the suburbs of France this is every day reality. If anything the video shows the horrific side of what is generally known as ‘cool’. I watched the video and I was disgusted, not because I oppose the violence, but because I know that this is what goes on. I also think that the video perfectly complements the song, because these kids are under stress and their rash actions and decisions are coming from the pressure they feel. They have to sustain themselves and resort to violence and crime to do so. I love the video and I thought it would raise some awareness to issues prevalent in but not restricted to the French suburbs..
feel free to contact me if you would really like to discuss this further.. (yeah that might be a little weird, but still.)
21. May 2008 - 14:13 Uhr
Gregg, I agree positivity is more worthwhile than negativity, but a critical stance shouldn’t be just considered “negative”. Overstand that what I’m doing here is defining some of the terms used in the blog post, e.g. “street culture”, which is this website’s aegis. If you care about those terms or that thing, and disagree with what I’ve said, then it’s worth arguing the toss, isn’t it? I.
1. June 2008 - 23:30 Uhr
Again with a controversial article.
And again with an article that I disagree on several points.
First JUSTICE and their new video.
The La Haine arguement was well put to rest by “F”.
Look at the age of JUSTICE. I think that’s a BIG clue as to why the video was made and its possible intentions.
I don’t know where you grew up and how much traveling you did in the 90s or more recently, so I can’t comment on your exposure/knowledge as to what kids were listening to on the STREETS.
So, turning a blind-eye now, S.V. not everyone was listening to punk or hip hop in the streets. And now, people are listening to even more different types of music than EVER before in the HISTORY of civilization.
In Rotterdam you had a HUGE movement with the GABBA scene (a hard electronica), where kids wore, much like a uniform, but BDU pants and MA-1 jackets with Air Maxes. In much of London you had Jungle. Further south in the UK you had ‘trip hop’.
And so forth.
So to say the video is inaccurate in representing the music and dress sense of the youth is well, inaccurate!
It’s a great video.
WHY?
Because it caused a REACTION in people. Everyone’s numb nowadays. And this, like Don P. said, was a smack in the face. Now remember who’s lyrics were used by The Prodigy? Kool Keith. NOW you as a listener of hip hop should be aware of his lyrics.
NOW what is the difference between the material Kool Keith was putting out nearly 20yrs ago to what Justice did with this video?
Things haven’t changed much have they?
Just the medium is now the internet and intensity has increased.
Now NIKE.
If you think it was not appropriate for all these ’streetwear’ creators to go to Beijing because of the ’sell out’ factor.
Well then you should also be appalled by them working with Nike in the first place all those years ago! But you aren’t. You covet those items.
And don’t forget that the majority of Nike products is MADE IN CHINA.
As a SPORTS APPAREL company the OLYMIPICS is the BIGGEST event every 4 years. The biggest.
OFCOURSE they’re going to have a HUGE event to launch their new products and their biggest event at their biggest production point.
And to GAIN MAXIMUM EXPOSURE they’re going to bring the catalytic ‘gods’ that helped give them their recent profitable years - and we all know this already.
FUCK.