MEN ON THE STREET; CALL IT WHAT YOU WILL, BUT URBAN IS ARGUABLY THE MOST INFLUENTIAL MARKET SEGMENT IN MEN'S WEAR. HERE, SEVEN VOICES FROM THE WORLD OF HIP-HOP APPAREL WEIGH IN ON THE LANGUAGE, LOOKS, POLITICS AND CULTURE OF THE URBAN JUGGERNAUT. THEY OFFER DIFFERING OPINIONS, BUT ONE THING'S FOR SURE: AS LOOKS FROM THE CITY STREETS KEEP GETTING BIGGER, MORE AMERICAN YOUTH ARE GETTING DOWN.(Panel Discussion)(Industry Overview)

Daily News Record, January, 2003

THE PERFECTIONIST

Donwan Harrell, President, Akademiks

NOT A BAD WORD. In the beginning people were reserved about using the word urban, but I embrace it more or less. I can't neglect or escape who my audience is; it doesn't bother me anymore because there is in fact a different style and cut that applies to this market. Kids from suburbia just don't wear it, although some of them try to emulate; it certainly gets adapted. My goal is just to bring a lot of class and style to the urban segment. It's true that urban has the connotation of being young and ethnic, and it will remain that way.

MEDIA, THE CULTURAL BLENDER. The urban concept has been popularized over time by MTV; the young male watching Ja Rule and Nelly will take on their looks....

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