How is LA's urban culture viewed?

[BarcelonaFan]

I don't feel we have this bond in L.A at all.

Very true. I don't feel like there is a lot of bonds between the different areas. Not that in Houston there's a lot of brotherly love between people but it doesn't really matter which area you're from. In that sense its a little less elitist in Houston

[jm1982]

Yeah true , you see this even within the Valley. So many parts of the valley and 'broken away' from other parts. Like Valley Village used to be in North Hollywood. West Hills used to be Canoga Park, Lake Balboa used to be Van Nuys,etc

If even people in the valley don't want to be associated with one another , it's hard to imagine any really bond/connection between the city in general.

I guess this is one thing that seems kind of cool about a place like NYC, it just seems they have this sort of bond ,connection and being from NYC seems to "mean something" ...although that just might be perception.
Being from L.A doesn't seem to mean much at all....

[hipcat]

Originally Posted by jm1982

Yeah true , you see this even within the Valley. So many parts of the valley and 'broken away' from other parts. Like Valley Village used to be in North Hollywood. West Hills used to be Canoga Park, Lake Balboa used to be Van Nuys,etc

If even people in the valley don't want to be associated with one another , it's hard to imagine any really bond/connection between the city in general.

I guess this is one thing that seems kind of cool about a place like NYC, it just seems they have this sort of bond ,connection and being from NYC seems to "mean something" ...although that just might be perception.
Being from L.A doesn't seem to mean much at all....

I feel that in the South Bay. There's little association with the rest of LA County in slang or anythinhs. Its like we live in our own bubble here.

[Count David]

Originally Posted by BarcelonaFan

I take it but I am still not sure that the urban culture is not highly regarded in LA.

There is an undercurrent of fear that if you pretend to be urban that you will get shot. You either are, or you aren't.

Originally Posted by jm1982

Snoop ,Dr. Dre and Ice Cube haven't lived in the hood for decades i'm sure...they are all multimillionaires

Diamond Bar, Woodland Hills, and Encino, respectively.

Originally Posted by jm1982

Yeah true , you see this even within the Valley. So many parts of the valley and 'broken away' from other parts. Like Valley Village used to be in North Hollywood. West Hills used to be Canoga Park, Lake Balboa used to be Van Nuys,etc

In Southern CA it's all about class, where you live is worn like a badge on your chest, and anything you can do to make yours sound "better", well, you do it.

[BarcelonaFan]

In Southern CA it's all about class, where you live is worn like a badge on your chest, and anything you can do to make yours sound "better", well, you do it.

Sad but true. The element of class/status is very strong here.

[9162]

When I think of urban Chicano, I think of crime and decay.

[BarcelonaFan]

Yikes. You mean all Chicanos? I think of urban style. Unless of course they are actually all tatted up with gang symbols and throwing up gang signs, then I can see them as a criminal element.

But the actual low riding Dickies wearing black shades wearing vatos? That just looks like a cultural staple of LA to me. I actually want to see more of that.

Also, maybe it's because I have not went out in the hoods of South LA but so far a lot of the urban ethnic youth do not wear baggy clothes. It seems like a lot dress like Pharrell with the skinny jeans and tight tees.

[jm1982]

I agree with people associating with where they live. The whole idea that L.A or America is some big ole happy melting post and a "classless" society is pretty much nonsense.

Also regarding Chicano areas in L.A I can't think of many that are upper middle class or rich.

There are some mixed in here and there it seems. I know for the black community there is Ladera Heights and other areas.

People mention Whittier having a 'well to do' Chicano population but that's a whole different city.

I'm trying to think of a place within the city limits.

You want to see more vatos, lol. I really think the style has really just changed for the most part. There also was a big crackdown on gangs by police , so I think some of the gangsters got the message that wasn't in their best interests to look like a gangbanger. You have more people probably removing the neck tattoos now than are actually getting them.

I grew up in L.A and remember when very baggy pants were the trend, and that was all over L.A even West L.A and other areas where the kids where skinny jeans.