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. With Coinage smackdown: “Skurban” vs. “Hopster”
Posted Under: The Trend Industry
I don’t know who floated the word “skurban” as a term to encapsulate the mix of skater and “urban” styles.
I do know that it was roundly mocked.
I also know that Complex has offered up an alternative, in the form of “hopster.” Which is meant to connote “hip hop + skate + hipster.”
Is this any better? Worse? Necessary? Interesting in any way? I’ve certainly listened to enough people tell me how their brand speaks to fans of hip hop and skating, as if there was something surprising or radical about that. (If someone said to me that their brand spoke to fans of hip hop and social realist fiction, I might be more interested.)
I have absolutely nothing riding on the answer, but if you have an opinion, let’s have it. No private email to me about it: Say it in public, or don’t. Calling me an idiot for asking the question is acceptable.
No obligation of course.
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Reader Comments
hypester ? hype x hipster ;p
i like this question, i have asked it before.
I would say it’s better than Skurban. That shit sounds like an STD you get from taking a matress you found on the corner of Rivington and Suffolk. Aside from which, Skurban simply continues the use of ‘urban’ as a codeword for black. No one needed to coin a new term for the white Zoo York skaters, who were obviously NYC based, from the 80s. They were just skaters…..
it’s great when people who have absolutely nothing to do with this sub culture start definying to present it at their 100th million board meeting on how to be “down” and “hip” to sell and market their latest shit. Fact is, everyone that has started “this” has already moved on to better things and everyone that does “it” now are nothing but second hand posers- and none of them skate. I know.
All the terms are ridiculous, but “Hopster” doesn’t even suggest skating. Surely “Skopster” would be better if they want “skating + hip hop + hipster.” But why is “hipster” even in there? The rough parallels between skate and hip hop fashion are obvious — hoodies, baggy pants, and sneakers — but “hipsters” tend to dress and act quite differently.
there’s a lot more hesh hipster than hip hop going on in skating these days
All good points and critiques. Before this disappears from the page I’ll give my two cents, which is that, from a pure language point of view, I don’t think either term really has the zing to catch on. Then again, I thought “brand underground” was a catchy phrase, so what do I know?
Good article on “skurban”:
http://www.clevescene.com/2007-08-22/news/skurban-myth/