Hip-hop goes postal

On July 1, the United States Postal Service issued a new set of stamps composed of four hip-hop designs based on the four elements of the lifestyle: rapping, DJing, break dancing, and graffiti art.

“Since [hip-hop’s] inception more than four decades ago,” says the independent agency of the U.S. government, “the electrifying music, dance, and art movement has profoundly influenced American and global popular culture.”

How is the local hip-hop scene receiving them?

“This set could’ve been done a skosh better, like mix a different set of colors for each exact stamp,” said J-Ski, a Chula Vista hip-hop dancer and artist. “They should’ve consulted with a few more of us hip-hop fans or historians.”

Briskone, a local graffiti artist, said “Graffiti is a letter-based art-form, specifically style based. The graffiti art stamp doesn’t represent any of that; I feel the other elements of hip-hop were done justice. Maybe using an image of an individual in the act of painting would’ve worked better.”

A week prior to interviewing with Brisk, he painted an abstract mural of his name on an El Cajon wall, with his buddies watching.

“I am glad that they used a female on the graffiti art stamp, because I feel that females don’t get enough recognition in the culture. [But] the female graffiti artist on the stamp is non-representative with high fashion ‘cutesie’ looking shoes, rather than ‘get ready to bolt’ sneakers.”

I reached out to a couple of women in our hip-hop scene for an interview but they didn’t reply.

Added J-Ski, “The colors are too colorful, and look more Bob Marley themed.”

“So why not have a known artist that has been there since its inception, such as Futura 2000 or T-Kid or Cope2, hold down the artistry,” suggested Imperial Beach rapper and songwriter Ric Scales. “It also would’ve been nice to see DJ Kool Herc, who could be considered the father of hip-hop.”

On August 11, 1973, Clive Campbell also known as DJ Kool Herc, threw a “Back To School Jam” party at 1520 Sedgwick Avenue in the Bronx. Many say that the party is where hip-hop began.

“The fact that they’re taking the time to pay homage to our culture is a beautiful thing,” Scales continued. “My only issue is it could’ve looked and been represented better.”

“Imma order those stamps asap,” said rapper NEMY, who with Ric Scales uploaded their new “Holy War” music video on August 13.

“Are you gonna send out mail with them, or are you gonna collect them?” I asked.

“Collect them, for sure.”

J-Ski collects stamps as well. “I own over 60,000 stamps; some are worth more than $45 a piece, but the majority are worth $.05 to $.12 each.”

“Will the new hip-hop stamps increase in value?” I asked.

“Maybe,” he replied. J-Ski’s got a “connect” on the inside of his local post office. “He told me some post offices in San Diego got the hip-hop stamps, while others did not. The stamps won’t be re-issued, and roughly 80 percent are sold, or gone. By the time your story will run, [I think] they’ll be completely out.”