The "I'm Not A Rapper" T-Shirt

The first time I saw the "I'm Not a Rapper" t-shirts I felt some type of way about them. For some reason I took offense to it. I think the main reason I have a problem with it is because most of society see being a rapper as negative. So when black people wear that t-shirt I think they're saying "I'm black but I'm not negative." I see a rapper as being a talented individual that has a way with words to make anybody listening to it feel what they are saying. So why wouldn't you want to be that? And why the hell does it cost $34.99 for this t-shirt.

Comments

[Mos Def Master]

Whoah, $35! It should say, "I don't have any mney left" on it. The shirt is pretty ambiguous, and obviously, open to interpretation. Depends on the combo of a) who is wearing it, b) who the person is looking at the person wearing it.

[http://djxplicit.blogspot.com]

well, it could be for someone who gets tired of being asked "hey arent you bun b? no? oh! youre scarface then? no?" and so on.

and the cost is retarded.

[nastack]

On the shirts that I've seen like those, on the back it says "I'M JUST A HUSTLER WHO RAPS"

[Coop]

This is a reference to a Jigga lyric.

Implying I'm not a rapper, I'm a hustler. Come on kids, don't catch feelings.

[mrprettytony]

Why don't I get a white tee and write that shit on it. $35? Stop raping the hood bitches

[achat]

I believe it is the subtle, hand-silk-screened intricacies of the stars flanking the "A" that drives such a high price.

[Fresh]

"Why don't I get a white tee and write that shit on it."

Ha! Really though. I'm loving the fact that Loon has one of the shirts on in the picture gallery on the site. You damn skippy you're not.

[Ekliptec]

I agree that the shirts do carry a somewhat cultural message. The front display, "I'm Not A Rapper" is a nod that not all urban people are the mass media products we see projected on television and in movies, but we are streetwise entreprenurs or "hustlas" that are fortunate to have rap skills. I respect that the game is taking responsibility for self-branding, but I'm not sure if this particular instance is a forward step for us.

[Ekliptec]

I agree that the shirts do carry a somewhat cultural message. The front display, "I'm Not A Rapper" is a nod that not all urban people are the mass media products we see projected on television and in movies, but we are streetwise entreprenurs or "hustlas" that are fortunate to have rap skills. I respect that the game is taking responsibility for self-branding, but I'm not sure if this particular instance is a forward step for us.

[ra.T]

Please don't take offense on the person wearing the shirt.... I could wear one saying I don't hoop either..

Take offense to a society that is so willing to group us all together and limit us to only certain abilities.

I don't know your Black friend..
I can't sing..
Don't Dance..

Has anyone ever asked you if you were a scientist? or engineer?

Please!

[rand]

i agree with ra. T. i don't know the Jay line, so i don't really think of it in that context. But when i see "I'm not a rapper", i just think of it as another way of saying "don't pigeonhole me" just because i'm black, from an urban area, wear certain clothes, and so forth and so on.

its not that being a rapper is a bad thing, it just that the person underneath that shirt maybe so many other things or maybe someone altogether different than what mass public would assume. But the public only sees the exterior and from its assesment of whatever its thinks it sees on the outside the public will make snap judgements, sterotype and generalize.

[Mos Def Master]

Notice the shirt Mos is wearing in this shot from the Breed Love Odyssey Tour:

http://users.lmi.net/kyra/MosDefinitely/catalyst_show/htmls/cat23.html

[Mos Def Master]

Also, I hear that on the back of these shirts it reads:

"Just a Hustler with some smooth sounds" or "...that sounds smooth"

Brings a bit more context into things.

[Mr K]

You could of course go the more graphical route: http://www.komply.com/us/products/?id=17

These were designed with exactly the ' questioning negative connotations' in mind...

I'd actually like to know peoples' thoughts if y'all have the time...

[Shuttabugg]

I first saw these shirts in Toronto a year and a half ago.

The message on the back of the shirt varies. This shirt is not produced by one person. It's a hustle with a message.

Up here, the shirts simply said "I'm not a rapper". Many people see a black dude with baggy clothes, a fade and cell phone and automatically conclude that this individual is an entertainer. This was a way of saying "don't pigeonhole me"... as was mentioned above.

I'm inspired by this. I think I'm going to wear a t-shirt that says, "I just have an afro". On the back it'll say "No, you can't touch it, yes it's my real hair, no I can't style your hair like it, and yes, I think you're an ass for asking me if I sing because my afro makes me look like a f---ing singer."

[Page]

The front of the t-shirt reads
Im not a rapper

The back of the shirt reads
Just a hustler that raps good.

any more comments or inquires HOLLA
imnotarapper@gmail.com

bigapplesworld.com
imnotarapper.com

[Page]

35$ is that really a high price to have a unique T-Shirt that is highly endorsed by so many known Entertainers.
Think about it.
Read the BiG Apple Interview on Hiphopcanada.com

[o-so-swyft]

WELL,
COMMENTS, SUGESTIONS AND PERSONAL OPINIONS ARE A MAJOUR PART OF THE GAME AND ONE MAIN REASON WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO... WE'RE GLAD TO SEE THAT PEOPLE ACTUALLY READ THE SHIRTS MESSAGE FOR WHAT ITS WORTH, INSTEAD OF MAKING SILLY YET CLEVER COMMENTS... ALOT OF YOU I GUESS CANT RELATE TO THE REASON OR ISSUE THAT CAUSED THIS T-SHIRT MOVEMENT BUT LOOK AROUND YOU ANYDAY OF THE WEEK EVEN IN YOUR OWN FAMILY AND YOU'LL SEE HARD WORKING INTELECTUAL BUSINESS MEN AND WOMEN MAKING A GOOD LIVING WITH THE TALENTS THEY WERE GIVEN. URBAN/BLACK SOCIETY MEMBERS, WHO ARE FINANCIALLY STABLE AND MAKING ENDS MEAT PUSHING A BENZ OR A BIG BODY TRUCK MAYBE A CHAIN SOME BLING OR WHAT NOT, AND THEY'RE NOT DOING SO BY SELING DRUGS... WOW! ARD TO BELIEVE, MAYBE TO SOME OF YA'LL BUT THIS SHIRT WAS INTENDED FOR THOSE PEOPLE, THE EVERYDAY HUSTLER... SURE WE CAN RAP BUT WHY STOP THERE, IF WE HUSTLE HARDER IN LIFE WE CAN GET MORE OUT OF IT, BUT IF IT DOESNT WORK OUT AND SOCIETY STILL SHUTS US OUT THEN BET YA LAST DOLLAR WE GONNA RAP!
THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO ACTUALLY READ THIS AND HOPEFULLY IT SETS IN WITH YA'LL...
O-SO-SWYFT A&R IM NOT A RAPPER
SWAGG' FACTORY
BIGAPPLESWORLD.COM
PS/ THERE IS NO PRICE ON GETTING HEARD AND GETTING THE MESSAGE ACROSS, JUST GRATIFICATION HOMIE!

POWERFULL T SHIRT = $34.99
THE LOOK ON THEIR FACES WHEN THEY GET THE PICTURE = PRICELESS

[t-rexxx]

swag aint cheap

[t-rexxx]

i just read the definition of the "the im not a rapper t-shirt" on the website www.bigapplesworld.com where it explains that its not a negative to be an artist but its hopeless to be just a rapper. rappers are broke. an artist must be a huslter/business man or at least have a team behind him/her that can conduct business on a competitive level , promotions marketing etc. therefore all who were confused prior to this posting i hope i brought some clarity- one love get money
swag aint cheap
oh ya -im not a rapper

[5it]

that shirt sick ass hell dunt kno y yall hating cuz yall cant afford it

[Nate1 MPC]

for the real hip hop gear,
designed by a writer...

check the www.shopnewskool.com site.

dope designs..no bs.

nate1 yall.....

Bay Area Hip Hop.....

[Konvict]

anyone got tracks from dis mixtape

[C.]

Big Apple is the Creater, the genius..

www.fashionfreakers.com - we sell the authentics too !

[C]

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