If you know someone who lives and breathes H-town hip-hop you may want to surprise them this Hanukkah or Christmas by showing them your cultural awareness and gifting something related to the rich local rap scene.
Use this handy guide that showcases books, custom automobiles and of course music created for and about Houston.
SCREW TAPES DJ Screw's catalog is vast but limited. True fans have the authentic mixtapes and the best place to get them isn't online, but at the namesake store. Help someone complete their back catalog of Screw tapes by visiting Screwed Up Records & Tapes in person, or online.
Why? Nothing says Screwston hip-hop like some authentic Screw tapes.
ACTAVIS CLOTHING Since pharamceutical company Actavis pulled its prometh/codeine off shelves earlier this year, your favorite rappers' favorite brand of purple drank potion is harder to find than a nun in a whorehouse. And there's now a bit of throwback appeal in the fact you can buy a full-on jumpsuit advertising prescription-strength cough syrup, or a hat, or a T-shirt. Think of it as an appreciation of a substance that's as much a part of Houston's hip-hop landscape as Frenchy's chicken.
Why? Leanin' unfortunately never really went out of style. Just don't forget to acknowledge all the lives possibly lost to purple-drank addictions.
BREAK DANCING The narrative of hip-hop anywhere in the world usually involves break dancing, and it's no different here in H-town. Revered rappers like Devin the Dude were perfecting their backspins before they were rhyming on the mike. (Just take a look for yourself in this 2006 YouTube clip.) Break Free Houston is a community center and dance studio that offers B-Boy classes. Buy a membership or enroll a friend in a class.
Why? Imagine how many battles you can fight and win with the right backspin technique. Probably not a great gift for those who dance worse than Taylor Swift.
RAP BOOKS In Houston Rap and Houston Rap Tapes, writer Lance Scott Walker and photographer Peter Beste have put the entire milieu of Houston rap into two books. These books are especially great for people who hate to read, but like pretty pictures. Add to those volumes, another book Hip-Hop in Houston: The Origin & the Legacy, by Maco L. Faniel and you'll have near-encyclopedic knowledge of the entire genre to wow friends at cocktail parties.
Why? Any one of the three make a great addition to any Houston rap nerd's bookshelf; all three practically complete the set.
DJ SKILLS Another foundation of hip-hop is the art of deejaying. You can't mention Houston hip-hop's impact on the world without travelling through the archives of DJ Screw. Robert Earl Davis, Jr. carried an entire generation of rappers into the mainstream. For any upstart looking to get a local foothold in the industry, maybe DJing is a good a place as any to start. Just gift someone a ticket to a workshop through the Supastar Spin Academy.
Why? Because your iPod/iTunes DJ skills could really use a boost.
Mexican Slang Gear From Chingo Bling Rapper-turned comedian Chingo Bling is an H-town stalwart. He made his fortune on tamales and by having fun with Mexicanisms rapped over chunky beats. His Cancun Life store is an extension of his persona, with gear relating to Mexican culture and hip-hop with a distinct Houston spin. Cop a hat that reads "Feria" (or "cash"), or a shirt that shows off Pancho Villa rocking a gold chain.
Why? Like Houston, the store highlights the intersection of Mexican and urban American culture. You can't go wrong with Chingo's signature hot sauce.
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