It's so absurd. It was weird when I saw a few rappers flex the average Tesla SUV in their videos lol. But now they're showing the Cybertrucks in their videos as if it's a Rolls Royce or some shit.
As stupid as they are, chains and diamonds and super and luxury cars make sense as something to flex. Jewelry has been a symbol of wealth forever, and luxury cars have the history and reputation of being fast and/or absurdly expensive.
But Tesla? They're literally getting paid by the government. I suppose scamming is a common theme in trap but like... this is just pathetic lol. At least be on the side of Elon and not the guy owning the Cybertruck if it's all about scamming lmao. The government is also paying them to "eventually" become more affordable and widespread. Imagine if Mercedes became as ubiquitous as Camry's. The people driving Telsas and Cybertrucks are the same ones posting motivational quotes on LinkedIn on a Saturday night. Where is the "luxury?" It's expensive, sure, but there are so many car brands out there that are even more expensive, nicer looking, and less annoying. Watching the new Future video and I can't help but think "you can't be roleplaying as a hardened thug while dancing in front of a clown car"
I also notice the Apple Vision Pro in a few videos, but not as prominent as the Cybertruck. The AVP is even worse because it's worn by obnoxious yuppies so they can do spreadsheets in real life. SMH what happened to real rap? Back then these fools would've been robbed
Isn't this all music? Name a metal band that produced better angst after they bought their second vacation home. It's all a sitcom act of two dimensional characters they can't break free of either.
Well yes but that's what I mean. There are much more expensive and better looking things to be bragging about than a 2nd grader's drawing of a car
The Cybertruck is just what's in vogue right now. If you were to look outside of the Hexbear bubble, most people on the street actually think the Cybertruck looks super cool and expensive.
Its popularity is probably not going to last. The PT Cruiser was seen the same way when it first came out, but once there were a million of them on the road, it became positively uncool.
I don't know anyone that likes it, but we probably have different social circles
I mean I do 100% think companies pay musicians etc. to use their products in their videos etc. I mean isn't this the whole idea behind the social media influencer? Famous musicians are the biggest influencers of them all.
But also I think it can be understood organically. The cybertruck is a sign of wealth, it looks sleek and gaudy, and that's what these rappers are going for. Yeah obviously there are other cars, but the cybertruck is new and many people are unfamiliar with it. There's a bit of clout that comes from being one of the first to do something. Mercedes might not be ubiquitous as you say, but everyone knows what a Mercedes is. A cybertruck is still new.
SMH what happened to real rap? Back then these fools would've been robbed
But this is part of why wealth is such a signifier in hip-hop. Back in the day rappers would wear big chains. To walk through the projects with a big gold chain like that and not get robbed means either people respect you, or people fear you, both of which give you clout. The flaunting of wealth in hip-hop is not only about the wealth, but the fact that you can flaunt it without getting robbed or killed for it.
Of course this all breaks down when you have rappers living out in the Hollywood Hills or the suburbs somewhere in some gated mansion where you'd need a military team to break into, or when hip-hop has become so ubiquitous that middle-class rappers are able to get big flaunting their parents' wealth. But, you know, it's a part of the culture at this point as annoying as that is.
It's expensive, rare, and instantly recognizable. That's all you need for people to show it off. Once their exclusivity fades everyone will just move on to the next trend. If Lambos were as cheap and commonplace as Camrys they would lose all cachet.
Part of me wonders how much of the music industry is controlled by the government if they're doing shit like this
Just look at what happened to punk, hip-hop, drill, etc. Art can be very revolutionary, and artists can connect with people in a way a western politician can only dream of. Of course the capitalist class co-opts music to their own ends.
Oh you're preaching to the choir here for sure, and the history tells the story, just look how the music has changed. Of course it's not all bad and can actually gauge how the youth is feeling (rn we're all doing drugs to cope lol), but somewhere along the line chasing the bag needing to survive in a capitalist world became chasing the bag to flex on the have-nots. Add in toxic masculinity, misogynoir and classism and you have modern hip hop, or at least the mainstream.
imo all cartels are just organs of the state, and they don't get to be where they are if they aren't useful
5 years from now they'll either be dead from their cybertruck or from embarassment
rappers to flex fucking Cybertrucks
Is that why
is so bent out of shape?
