New Apparel Line, 80’s University, Offers Classic Nostalgic Themes That Boast A Unique And Colorful Twist.

Imagine the revered 80’s Autobot leader, Optimus Prime, serving as a symbol of American pride and patriotism. What about a rather large, pixelated image of the classic video game persona, Dig-Dug, emblazoned across a shirt with arrows drawn? Does this evoke a sentiment of nostalgia yet? At its core, this is what 80U looks to accomplish; apparel that represents the fond memories of youthful indulgence without the compromise of quality and style. Additionally, with its contemporary creative iteration of classic themes/entertainment, 80U looks to become the preeminent brand that successfully bridges the generational gap.

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For its maiden voyage, 80U released the Brooklyn Pack; a colorful and stylish pairing of his and her shirts that brandish the celebrated lyrics of Brooklyn’s home town hero, Notorious BIG and his voluptuous Protegé, Lil Kim. These items are currently available for purchase at weare80u.com at a comparable industry price point. For an additional discount, use coupon code: SPRINGCLEANUP.

Very simply, 80s University’s long term goal is to become a brand that provides quality and stylish novelty fashion options for the consumer that is looking to revert back to an era where some of their life’s most fond memories were created. And in doing so, bring awareness to those themes that were seemingly lost in time.

So consider this a first class boarding pass onto the 80U train. Our destination? An unexplored location within the fashion universe that grants one wish; an opportunity to, Brand New Your Retro.

For more information on the history of 80’s University, click on the image below. Also, to hear our interview with the Founders of 80U, click on the mixcloud link below.

Straight Outta Compton – A Hip Hop Biopic That Is Worthy of Recognition…

I am a certified, bonified, and qualified East New York – Brooklyn, New York City representative. Hell, without ever appearing obsessive and overbearing, I make it known whenever appropriate. And concerning my birthplace, I’ve never pulled any punches while amidst any conversations that call for the recognition of my hometown. I am exceedingly proud!

But at some point, we all perhaps find ourselves confronted with the wonderment of being from elsewhere; a rightful representative of a place that brimms with an undeniable flyness,  mystique, and culture. Offering full disclosure of my own wonderment of elsewhere, California, Los Angeles’, City of Compton, has always been on my list. And after seeing the NWA biopic, Straight Outta Compton, it has absolutely become my #1 pick.

I am an inner-city born and bred child of the 70s, 80s, and early 90s. Hip Hop culture is undoubtedly 1 of the 4 vertices on the principled square upon which I firmly plant my B-boy stance; right over left.  Being in tune with the culture has afforded me several realizations, one being Hip Hop’s viability as a form of social activism and awareness.

Coming of age in Brooklyn during the Crack Era, and experiencing instances of police brutality and profiling, Niggaz Wit Attitudes’ (#NWA), Fuck The [Mother Fucking] Police, song was pivotal, and poignant to boot. This song [as well as other NWA songs], along with the group’s mere presence, reflected the sentiments of many and reasserted Hip Hop’s power while establishing the West Coast’s position amongst the culture’s collective of pioneering Emcees. The daftness of the group was remarkable and if you’ve ever questioned the group’s street creditability, the biopic, Straight Outta Compton, provides an exciting portrayal for that ass.

While the persona depictions primarily focus on the lives of Eric “Eazy-E” Wright, Andre “Dr. Dre” Young, and O’Shea “Ice Cube” Jackson, it doesn’t miss a beat with the cleverly interwoven yet less explored contributions of Lorenzo “MC Ren” Patterson, Antoine “DJ Yella” Carraby, and the arguably infamous, Jerry Heller; with strong respresentations of Suge Knight, Tupac, The D.O.C., and Snoop Dogg.

To the credit of the actors, their ability to capture and convey the qualities of the portrayed personas proved satisfying and informing. More than an entertaining undertaking, the project provided a history lesson that often goes untold and unexplored by those Hip Hop enthusiasts that were not raised on the West Coast. Suge Knight starting out as a bodyguard for the D.O.C; Dr. Dre relinquishing his publishing rights to make his exit from Deathrow Records; Ice Cube’s issues with Priority Records, and the fearlessness of Eazy-E, represent just a few widely known and speculated topics that the work explores.

In the end, I left the movie feeling both satisfied and proud. The pre-release hype of those of us that revelled in the idea of there being a cinematic depiction of one of Hip Hop’s most pivotal and courageous groups was well justified. This is a #TCOHHL (The Chronicles of a Hip Hop Legend) classic and comes highly recommended as an addition to your Hip Hop film library. -DDTurner, #TCOHHL