No Label Needed

by Amber Nefertari

Is it such a felony to have Tupac rotating with Babes in Toyland on your iPod? In escaping labels many of us are going hybrid - splicing the music and lifestyles we like to form something new. For one brief second before the media catches up, there's no label...

In society, so much emphasis is put on creating labels that those who cannot be defined are just plain confused.

What about people who are hybrids of multiple categories? I for one happen to be a perfect example. With one foot in the alternative world of punk and metal, and the other in hiphop, my way of self-expression is quite different from someone who is mainly influenced by one or the other.

The results? Black lipstick, doorknocker earrings, and a healthy dose of criticism. I'd like to call it rockhop.

'Rockhopper' girls don't have a particular ethnicity and as well as listening to traditional artis in rock and hip hop they tend to gravitate towards bands like Korn, Rage against the machine, Hed planet earth, Slipknot, and other influential musicians that fuse elements of rap and rock.

Rockhoppers tend not to fit into either category 100% because we are too busy enjoying the best of both worlds and not giving a crap. We also gravitate towards a very random style of dress that reflects our ecclectic musical interest.

Unfortunately, the world doesn't seem to understand this. Even in the second decade of the 21st century, people are still caught up with dictating who should listen to what, what everyone should wear, and what they must look like according to something as menial as skin colour. What gives? As time progresses we are all going to be purple anyway.

But I digress; it is indeed possible to be a product of two totally different genres. For a minority who is totally immersed in the alternative world it is easy to diss a fellow minority for liking things that are stereotypically black as well as things that aren't.

However, one must remember that they too are treated like outcasts and that being elitist is hypocritical.

Consider this: Is it really such a felony to have Tupac AND Babes in toyland rotating on your iPod? Surely there is no written rule that says in order to be goth, punk, hippie, metalhead, scene, etc. that one must have a deep disdain for urban culture. Some of us actually embrace that aspect of our upbringing because we like it too.

I won't hide my love for some good old 90's rhymes just because I heart thrash. Not only would I be doing myself the disservice of denying who I am, but I'd also be the exact opposite of what a true individual is - someone who is simply themselves. So I say, wear your spiked leather bracelet and ghetto name necklace together proudly. There is room for everyone!

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