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Why we love 2000s nostalgia and its influence on the culture

The 20-year nostalgia cycle turns once again and as a kid of the 2000s, it’s refreshing to see the decade I grew up in the spotlight. To be real, it was a troubled decade from the start, but what decade doesn’t have its downs?

Just like the 80s and 90s have been all over everything for the past decade, it’s only expected that 2000s nostalgia is next up to take over…

Remember that funky 2000s nostalgia style

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For my fellow lovers of cargo pants, keep em sagging! Ridiculed relentlessly by the start of 2010, these handy many-pocket pants have hit shelves again. Now you can store as much as you could please on you at once!

Merch for hot properties of the day, like Dawson’s Creek, Jackass, Lord of the Rings, and others will likely see a return. Vintage will sell like crazy second hand, so watch out eBay hunters.

Ladies, expect to see a return in the super low and super high waisted shorts and pants. Reviled by the end of the decade, people can scoff no more.

There was nothing more 2000s than a sideways hat.

https://twitter.com/NYGELSARTORIAL/status/1095823250049941510?s=20

Whether it’s a slouchy knit beanie cap or a snapback, we can expect a return. Speaking of headwear, visors may come back in, this time not just for douchey frat boys!

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was told this is a solid fashion choice by my adVISOR. 🤷🏻‍♂️

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Denim on denim is not just for Britney and Justin, it’s for everybody. When the weather allows, of course. Goofed on to no end, even then, wear it loud and proud, friends. I do.

Keep that hair crimped and those tips frosted.


That dial-up was no joke

dialup | Tumblr

Yes, the internet is so old now it has a history to it. With a culture forming around the internet taking hold in the 2000s, there is historical interest in this time now.

For fans of technology, there were a few times as exciting as this. With twenty years going by, many born then are interested in seeing what the Internet of their youth looked like.

Recently, I covered Napster, an online phenomenon of the day that sent ripples through the entire music world.

Let’s also not forget, in five years, YouTube will turn 20 years old. That is insane for those who remember the early days. What an internet video was even ten years ago differs from today.

Merch for old tech sites, from this time, are already starting to get a bit pricey online, but snag them if you can. They’re rare.


That nostalgic 2000s aesthetic didn’t slap, tho?

The 2000s were all about looking as extreme, in your face, and badass as possible. Just like how damn near everything has adopted the 80s neon grid lately, these graphics of yesteryears may have their day once more.

Flip phones are definitely making their return. Didn’t you miss banging the phone on people in that 2000s type of way?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FC5FcfZf7xw

The grand gaudiness of the 2000s is something I sorely miss. With the 2010s being about dismal minimalism, we could use some excitement again.


Classic remakes of our favorite early 2000s video games

The 2000s was when games really started to get huge. Not just in popularity, but in size and scope. Entire open 3D worlds were now a thing, never thought possible in the 90s.

With so many of the greatest games of all time coming out in the 2000s, we should see quite a few remakes.

With the rerelease of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2, memories of the Underground days came flooding back. Skating games took a major nosedive at the end of the decade. This could revive interest in the genre, and we may get more.

Enjoy your 2000s nostalgia, friends.

How Menyelek Rose is bringing back the early 2000s for SS21

Menyelek Rose has been reinforcing the crochet aesthetic since his early designs that graced the styling-choice of Young Thug in 2017. Now he is diving into a “Bling” era of the early 2000s.

Rose is transitioning his crochet looks of comfort and conservatism, to the polish, glam, and liberation of the new millennium. This is what Menyelek describes as,

“the free-flowing, careless vibes of the 2000s; make-up, baggy clothes, the love, and togetherness.”

Although deterred by the current pandemic Rose has kept a level head and pushed through deciding to unveil Menyelek 2000s, his Spring-Summer 2021 collection for New York Fashion Week.

Menyelek 2000s

Menyelek’s brand of denim, knits, distressed shirts and crocheted heels have made statements about the current care for societal distress and has been the brands’ homage is to the grandmother.

Rose’s grandmother would always tell him “take time,” as she sought to encourage him to make thoughtful decisions as a young Black man.

Referencing the 2000s in this collection takes note of the young designer’s growth. This season’s collection shows off full-length leather jackets, fishnet leggings, animal prints, bright-colored pencil dresses made of a poly-stretch fabric, tube tops with matching bottoms, and oversized recycled blazers.

Creating an even glitzier and baggier silhouette calls to the innocence of when streetwear and high fashion started to acknowledge one another and things seemed to shine bright.

“I don’t believe in categories of fashion. Where do I think fashion is going? I’d say it’s going in my direction.”

Rose makes claim when considering the brand’s streetwear aesthetic.

Menyelek 2000s

Personified in a short fashion film Menyelek Rose put together for NYFW, the idea of sitcom parody gives context to the entire collection.

A mostly digital fashion week, the intense visuals of a house party shot like a 2000s music video references the “Bling” era as the “strongest and most influential time for Black culture and Black Americans,” as Rose describes it. He mixes pop culture and hip-hop culture to the tune of how we may envision the era and not how it actually was.

Menyelek Rose continues to push forth the envelope on Black cultural references and pop culture, from Rose’s grandmother’s crocheting to one of the most influential eras of Black culture, the 2000s.

Embarking on a new era of most influence, the young designer is breeding a new life into his work. Suiting remains a constant and so does his most unique womenswear pieces, as his crochet technique takes a season off as the party is just getting started for the designer.

Rose concludes,

“like any cycle, I feel like change must come, but crocheting and mixed knits or mixed fabrics will always be the identity of the brand. This specific collection – not really to do with the brand, but more so black culture and pop culture.”

Look out for this article on PAGE magazine.

On his 35th birthday, take a look back at how Lil Wayne owned the 2000s

Lil Wayne turns 35-years-old today and while things have turned slightly sour for the artist of late, haunted by legal disputes with his former mentor Birdman and various scary health issues, Weezy dominated an entire decade of music, beyond just hip-hop and rap.

We’re gonna take a look at how a kid from Hollygrove, New Orleans became the biggest music star in the world.

Tha Block Is Hot (1999)

It all started in 1999, when a 17-year-old Wayne dropped Tha Block Is Hot and while we’d seen Weezy with Cash Money collective Hot Boys alongside Juvenile, B.G., and Turk, this was Wayne’s exclusive introduction to the world.

It’s clear on Tha Block Is Hot what a talent Wayne was even at such a young age. Over a variety of production from the great Mannie Fresh, Wayne rhymed in different tempos, styles, all the while mixing in his trademark wordplay and metaphors.

Wayne painted a picture of his neighborhood in Hollygrove, New Orleans. At times going hard over jumpy Mannie Fresh beats.

But he had the ability to slow down and meditate on the shit he saw growing up. Like on “F*** Tha World,” over a contemplative and emotive beat from Mannie.

Despite the fact that he promised his mom he wouldn’t curse on this album, he couldn’t resist on this track, singing on the chorus, “I don’t curse but in this verse, man fuck the world.”

Even to this day, this might be one of Wayne’s most emotional songs. It’s as conscious as he gets, rapping,

“So I just maintain the struggle and I keep tryin
But how can I when my closest people keep dyin’
I ain’t lyin that the law tryna’ bust my clique
But I scream fuck the world man, I’m too young for this”

The album peaked at 3 on the Billboard charts, the music world at large was already feeling Weezy as a 17-year-old.


Lights Out  (2000)

A year later, Wayne dropped Lights Out and continued rising to the top. Backed up once again by exclusive Mannie Fresh production, Wayne could hang right along with the legendary producer despite all the wild shit Mannie was doing.

No longer held back by promises to his mother that he wouldn’t curse, Weezy was unleashed. On “Fuck Wit Me Now,” Wayne rapped in a rapid flow, keeping up with Mannie Fresh’s firing horns. Wayne was more grown than on Tha Block Is Hot and his subject matter was darker and more pointed.

But Weezy has always been able to make some fun ass music. “Shine” may just be one of my favorite Weezy songs ever.

It’s impossible not to groove along to this song, as Wayne brought the Hoy Boys back together for a celebration of Cash Money’s success at the time.

Lights Out went certified gold. There wasn’t any sophomore slump here.


500 Degreez  (2002)

Inspired by Juve’s 400 Degreez, Wayne dropped 500 Degreez for his third release in three years, making him one of the most prolific artists in rap already despite turning 20 months after 500 Degreez dropped.

It’s a pretty no-nonsense record, with most songs depicting Wayne’s life in the streets. 500 Degreez was propelled by the “Paid In Full”-sampling “Way Of Life,” the only single on the album.

This is probably Lil Wayne’s least accessible album, but upon multiple listens it’s a classic. Regardless, it went gold as well.


Tha Carter  (2004)

I wrote about Tha Carter on its 13th anniversary back in June, and it’s the most important record in his collection. On Tha Carter, Lil Wayne graduated from rap prospect full of potential to established as a legitimate artist in the game. It was his fourth album despite only being 22.

With “Go DJ,” Weezy had his biggest song to that point. To many casual rap listeners, this was their introduction to Lil Wayne and it didn’t disappoint. “Go DJ” was pretty unavoidable on rap and pop radio back in 2004.

Once again Wayne was provided a diverse array of beats by Mannie Fresh (the last Wayne project to feature exclusively Mannie Fresh production) and the rapper adapted his flow and approach to each instrumental.

On “Snitch” he rapped about responding to snitches over a groovy synth beat.

And on “Hoes,” Weezy flows effortlessly over a pan flute beat.

Tha Carter was the beginning of Wayne’s genre-defining run, once again going gold.


Tha Carter II  (2005)

If Tha Carter was the beginning of Lil Wayne’s domination of the airwaves, Tha Carter II was the project that confirmed his place amongst hip-hop’s best. It went certified platinum and reached number 2 on the Billboard charts.

“Fireman” was the single that brought the ears to Tha Carter II, but the whole project is an almost flawless collection of polished rap music.

Free from Mannie Fresh’s funky production, Wayne had a much bigger and intense sound on this record. With different producers, Wayne lost some of the cohesion of the earlier releases, but he made up for it by roasting every beat he took on.

And on Tha Carter II, he officially declared himself the “Best Rapper Alive.” No one was arguing with him.

Looking back on Tha Carter II, it has to be on the list of greatest albums of the 2000s. While it didn’t garner the same hype as Tha Carter III, track after track, Wayne is absolutely going in.

And by bringing in Robin Thicke for the slow-building “Shooter,” Wayne showed he could work with virtually any artist in music… and make a damn hit.


Tha Carter III  (2008)

While the release process behind The Carter III kept getting held up due to lawsuits and constant threat of leaks, Wayne dropped the legendary mixtapes Dedication 2 (2006) and Da Drought 3 (2007), jumping on a selection of beats from the music world and consistently making better songs than the original.

It seemed like Wayne literally couldn’t stop making music. He also had dropped the collaboration album with Birdman Like Father, Like Son, an album that makes the listener look back sadly about how their relationship has deteriorated more than anything.

When we finally got The Carter III, well it was damn sure worth the wait.

From the opening track “3 Peat,” Tha Carter III is a rap masterpiece. It’s Wayne’s magnum opus and displayed the best rapper alive at the height of his abilities.

At times, he goes hard as ever. Like on “A Milli,” when Weezy just keeps going and going with no chorus in one of the most infectious songs of all-time.

He had poppy R&B ballads with Babyface, Robin Thicke, and Bobby Valentino.

“Lollipop” was the biggest song in the world for a minute. I mean, it became kind of annoying but it’s still Wayne’s biggest single to date, spending five straight weeks atop the Billboard charts.

While making these hits for the radio and bangers for the streets, Wayne was still coming with the wild concept tracks. Like on “Dr. Carter,” where he resuscitates wack rappers’ careers.

And on “Let The Beat Build” where he goes in on a progressively growing soul beat.

Tha Carter III peaked at number 1 on the Billboard charts and went triple platinum. No one could deny that Weezy was the greatest at the time.

He ended off the decade with the legendary mixtape No Ceilings, once again flipping other artist’s beats with his own groove.

All the while, Wayne was being featured on songs with crossover artists like Destiny Child on “Soldier,” Lloyd, T-Pain, Enrique Iglesias, Akon, Jay Sean, Chris Brown, Madonna, and Kelly Rowland. Dude was just everywhere.

Not to mention, signing two of the biggest artists ever in Drake and Nicki Minaj (shouts to Gudda Gudda), Lil Wayne simply ruled the 2000s.

He changed the way rappers release music, who rappers make music with, and started an entire wave. Wayne’s been through a lot since and his music has suffered slightly, but we’ll always be grateful for what he gave us during his run in the 2000s.

Salute to the (still) greatest rapper alive.