According to Merriam-Webster dictionary Swagger has been around since 1596. The general definition is to "walk with an air of overbearing self confidence."1 Even the urban dictionary knows the definition ,"Swagger is to to move with confidence, sophistication and to be cool. 2 Swagger is to conduct your self in a way that would automatically earn respect". Basically when a man or woman has a complete confidence in who they are it shows in the way they carry themselves. Now this can be best described as a chin up stride that makes you look like you know everything that's going on and exactly where you are headed. The opposite of swagger is someone with their head down, shoulder hunched, clothing out of place, and an air of false/lack of confidence...I basically described 3/4 of the rappers on top right now. NOT Every rapper though. I'm not picking on them but they are the reason we are here today to mourn the death of the true meaning of swagger.
In 2008 we elected President Barack Obama. Now Barack, he had true swagger. He is a man with the walk, the talk, the brain and the woman that makes people pay attention when he walks into a room. The only problem is that he's black (well kinda). Now African Americans were/are extremely proud of him for being the first black president, and came out in full support. The problem is that when describing him everyone new and therefore noted his overwhelming amount of pure swagger and the rap community noticed. Now when teaching a child to read its best to associated a word with a visual. In this case the word swagger was openly, and apparently overly, used with the visual of a black man and suddenly every black man thought it was okay to associate themselves with the word swagger. Not cool. Swag surfing, putting your swag on and so many more instances have lessened the true meaning of swagger making it something common. Urban dictionary best description of this is a Swag Rap 3 A popular style of rap characterized by its emphasis on swag, rather than lyrical creativity. It can usually be identified by its lack of talent and inspiration, awkward pauses during the verses, and excessive bragging. Every rapper has been guilty of this a few times but some have evolved past it. Jay Z, Kanye (depends), ....I can't think of any more, which is sad. The point is that they killed it. At least for me. I said they made it common, like when rappers started buying fur coats and diamonds making them nothing special and sometimes embarrassing.
Status symbols that were once reserved for the highest class to portray themselves as animal skinners and blood diamond purchasers, were now open and available for the hip hop community to do the same. Somethings can be made common and the special feeling that was once there ripped away and no one misses it. I mean really killing an animal just for the fur is grotesque and diamonds have much greater purposes and uses then to waste money on, so to me it's great that both became a joke as status symbols. But SWAGGER wasn't for the rich, the high class or the poor it was for the deserving. Stripping that word of its magic is a crime really. It was a great way to sum up a person in two syllables.
So here is to swagger. The word is dead but the essence still exist and is altogether distinguishable from any and all perpetrators. You can't fake or claim swagger. Swagger is earned, manifested, and a part of those who truly possess it.
R.I.P.
Swagger
One day you will mean
something special again...
one day.
1596-2011
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| NO, just NO. |
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