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It's not often this flavor of condescending twattery makes it to HN. Why do you think Jay-Z raps about/endorses it? If the answer is as simple as, "He's paid t
by mattdeboard 15y ago
It's not often this flavor of condescending twattery makes it to HN.
Why do you think Jay-Z raps about/endorses it? If the answer is as simple as, "He's paid to," then surely he'd be rapping about other brands beyond the traditional Escalade/Cristal/etc. The real answer is that Blackberry is an inexpensive smart phone option that is not the "white and corporate" option. You've got an unrealistic idea of what poor and urban looks like and acts like.
A Blackberry IS an accessory, but only because it's considered a symbol of being part of a particular group, not because rappers endorse it.
"Real money buys Patek Phillippe." Give me a break.
- gaius 15y agoEncore was released in 2003, long before BB was the "inexpensive smartphone". Jay-Z is a businessman first and foremost. Kids don't care about Exchange integration or whatever. He namechecks the brands he likes (as far as I know, he has no official relationship with the brand) and his fans buy them. Same with Rolex, I don't think they have marketing arrangement with any rappers but they get namechecked all the time.
- mattdeboard 15y agoYou're right, if it wasn't for Jay-Z black people would be using iPhones. Also I'm not sure how a mention in 2003 has spurred adoption in 2011.
- gaius 15y agoWhy play the race card? Living in London you will see that "urban youth" comes in all shades. They don't buy BB because it is the cheapest (it isn't) or "the best" (for whatever values of best), but because it's fashionable, because style icons for whatever reason have adopted it. I don't know why you want to argue with this. FWIW I have a BB myself, I am certainly not disparaging anyone else who has one...