Funky Fresh
Don't Tap The Glass: the nod to the 80's you might have missed
Tyler, the Creator dropped the news he was going to release his 9th album Don't Tap The Glass on July 21st. The rollout included Tyler dressed as an 80s MC that kind of looked like LL Cool J from the I am Bad music video. A lot of folks wrote it off as a nod to LL Cool J, but listen up and peep game, it's deeper than that.
In case you are not born in the 90’s or earlier here is the music video in reference.
Yes, this is paying homage to a fit that LL Cool J wore in a music video, but as we all know, Tyler is a man of culture. It is not simply about who wore the fit; no, it’s about who put it together.
The Harlem Legend Dapper Dan was the stylist behind LL Cool J in the '80s. This was still a time where designer brands did not go out of their way to style anyone in hip hop. LL, a fellow New Yorker and style icon on the hip hop scene, turned to Dapper Dan for custom outfits and styling. The fits from Dapper Dan and the swag of LL made this duo the cornerstone of New York street fashion for decades.
Tyler has long been a fan of Dapper Dan.
Tyler has been referencing Dapper Dan since he was a teenager. This should not be too much of a surprise. Since he has been on the scene, since Odd Future, Tyler has designed and made clothing. His clothing brand Golf Wang and luxury brand Golf Le Fleur can be spotted on streets across the country, but especially in LA.
Golf Le Fleur has taken it a step further. Those brands that would not collab with hip hop artists in the '80s are lining up to work with Tyler and Golf Le Fleur—names like Louis Vuitton, Converse, Lacoste, etc. Black fashion in general let alone hip hop would not get these opportunities if not for trailblazers like Dapper Dan.
The rollout of the album was paying tribute to '80s hip hop dance music and the coolest of them all LL Cool J, but it was a giant nod from the modern dandy man to the most dapper of all the dandies.
Alright, stop reading go listen to the new album. Shake some ass and for the love of god DONT TAP THAT GLASS.
Stay woke,
Loc
