Hip Hop Soda Shop opens

Well, I like the concept and it seems like it will be a family friendly place with lots of things to do (and a healthy menu to boot).

But, and I'm risking getting blasted for this, even if they play all clean rap/hip hop music it still has the chance of attracting a bad element that would try and screw up a perfectly good place for youth to go. I hope that never happens of course, but the news doesn't lie. Anything can and will happen, especially if something might attract low life thugs in all their violent ways...

I'm eager to hear their music selection also. I am all in favor of good places for the young adults in the community. I hope for other places to pop up with other forms of entertainment also.

Sounds like a thug magnet, open mike night will bring out the Ganster rappers. History repeats it's self if lessons have not been learned. At a Ganiesville rapp concert a rappers buddies opened fire on other rappers because someone cut off his mike, so that other performers could rapp. I will hide and watch this one develop. Hopefully controlls will be in place to perclude this from happening again.

I'am with you, this will be a thug hang out. Nothing good will come of this place. The only good thing is they will be easy to catch since most of the thugs wear their pants below their butts so when they start running they will all fall on top of each other.

AFPJ wrote:

Sounds like a thug magnet, open mike night will bring out the Ganster rappers. History repeats it's self if lessons have not been learned. At a Ganiesville rapp concert a rappers buddies opened fire on other rappers because someone cut off his mike, so that other performers could rapp. I will hide and watch this one develop. Hopefully controlls will be in place to perclude this from happening again.

I agree. Right in the middle of suitcase city. I can see it now, instead of crayons and a drawing sheet for the kids they will issue kevlar vests.

We'll soon see what kind of place this will be and what kind of element it will attract.

I don't have high hopes for anything attached to hip-hop. I'd be thrilled if my preconceived notions are proven to be wrong.

This is not going to be good. I wonder who is the money behind all this?

Ya'll must be really old with all these comments about Hip Hop attracts a bad thug like element. OK think back to 1956...ELVIS....a lot of so called older people were burning his records saying he brough out the worst in young people. They would not show him below the hips on TV. Before that in the 1940's when young people danced the jitterbug to big band music. Then we had KISS in the 1970's that were wrecking the young people.

"It's a new kind of entertainment venue aimed at 13 to 35 year olds."

What 35-year old wants to hang out with teenagers? I sure don't know of any.

Teenagers mixed in with 20-something year olds, mixed in with 30+ year olds is a combination that's almost guaranteed to produce disaster.

Da Weatherman Man wrote:

Ya'll must be really old with all these comments about Hip Hop attracts a bad thug like element. OK think back to 1956...ELVIS....a lot of so called older people were burning his records saying he brough out the worst in young people. They would not show him below the hips on TV. Before that in the 1940's when young people danced the jitterbug to big band music. Then we had KISS in the 1970's that were wrecking the young people.

I knew someone would say this eventually, and you know what I agree rap is not the only form of music that has ever promoted or brought about violence. Look at all the killings and assaults that have come about do to death/hard/heavy rock music. But facts are facts, rap is right up there as far as some of it's lyrics and dang sure promotion of a thug lifestyle. And this place certainly has the chance of attracting that element, that's all we're saying here.

I agree totally with weatherman and the dragon on some of their points. The people posting their opinions on the fact that this place might bring "thugs" are probably alot older and don't know the roots of how hip hop started. Have any of you been to the site to see who did the grand opening concert? Doug E Fresh...He doesn't do thug music. Russell simmons is also backing this place...did you all know he is against and boycotts gang music as well with violence? Don't be so quick to judge the type of people that this place will bring. If they play the right kind of music and have the right kind of security I am sure the place will be a good place to go to, to see good concerts, and possibly open mic night(s). I hate how people stereotype different genre's of music assuming what kind of people it will bring. I am a white female who listens to all music...it will attract me...im not a thug nor in a gang, I appreciate all kinds of music. People need not to be so close minded. And regarding the type of people it brings, look at clubs in ybor, they bring violence, but that all comes with having security. Give it a chance, and see what happens.

Big Daddy wrote:

"It's a new kind of entertainment venue aimed at 13 to 35 year olds."
What 35-year old wants to hang out with teenagers? I sure don't know of any.
Teenagers mixed in with 20-something year olds, mixed in with 30+ year olds is a combination that's almost guaranteed to produce disaster.

Its a concert venue style shop...not a club....who cares on age? They are catering the music to people who are in their 30's (doug e fresh, older style hip hop) to newer hip hop like chris brown etc... When you go to a concert venue at ford ampitheatre or any other venue do you pay attention to the age crowd?

before you knock it wait an see where it goes.but has afpj said suitcase city.

"Ya'll must be really old with all these comments about Hip Hop attracts a bad thug like element. OK think back to 1956...ELVIS....a lot of so called older people were burning his records saying he brough out the worst in young people. They would not show him below the hips on TV. Before that in the 1940's when young people danced the jitterbug to big band music. Then we had KISS in the 1970's that were wrecking the young people. "
elvis' songs did not promote violence, rape and racial unsettling! mr. weatherman

Watch out people, I listen to the hip hop. Clearly I'm one step away from a lengthy incarceration!

On a related note, did they just completely give up with that Hip Hop Soda Shop they were trying to open on 4th Street in St. Pete? That place has been sitting their half-complete for about nine months now.

betty wrote:

"Ya'll must be really old with all these comments about Hip Hop attracts a bad thug like element. OK think back to 1956...ELVIS....a lot of so called older people were burning his records saying he brough out the worst in young people. They would not show him below the hips on TV. Before that in the 1940's when young people danced the jitterbug to big band music. Then we had KISS in the 1970's that were wrecking the young people. "
elvis' songs did not promote violence, rape and racial unsettling! mr. weatherman

Not to mention you didn't see Elvis and Jerry Lee Lewis shooting at one another.

what a joke wrote:

<quoted text>
Its a concert venue style shop...not a club....who cares on age? They are catering the music to people who are in their 30's (doug e fresh, older style hip hop) to newer hip hop like chris brown etc... When you go to a concert venue at ford ampitheatre or any other venue do you pay attention to the age crowd?

It's a relatively small building. To compare it to the Ford Ampitheatre, Ruth Eckerd Hall, Performing Arts Center, St. Pete Times Forum or even Janus Landing is ridiculous.

The Ford Ampitheatre doesn't typically book teeny-bopper acts. The only event booked there I can recall that might bring together an audience with an age range spanning teens to 30+ year-olds was the Anger Management Tour.

I don't typically pay attention to the crowd mix when I go to a concert, because I don't go to hip-hop/gangsta rap concerts. So there's no need for me to tbe concerned with the crowd mix.

I went to see Anita Baker last Friday. I can assure you that there weren't enough teenagers there to fill up two SUV's. The same held true when I went to see Kem at the Performing Arts Center last year. Likewise with India Arie's PAC concert a couple years ago.

I have no crystal ball that enables me to predict how this is going to turn out. However, if I HAD TO bet my life savings one way or the other I'd bet it on something bad happening at this venue rather than betting on everything going smoothly.

I hope all goes well. I seriously doubt that is going to be the case.

Peace.

Whatever happened to the one that they were building on 4th Street in St. Pete? They've been working on that for at least 2 years, and it still sits dormant.

"What a joke"

I know where hip hop started, it essentially has its roots in Jamaica and was created like every other type of music was which is as a new form of expression through the art of sound. And that's why I wasn't lumping all rap and hip hop together, nor everyone who listens to those styles of music (yes I see you Ballz). It's not all bad by any means, and this place should be a family friendly environment and hopefully one with security to deal with what might come in (those certain listeners of rap and hip hop who have the more thug-like lifestyle choice, who make the rest of the listeners look bad).

*whew* And this is my final post on the topic...

13-35 year olds? My goodness, why would a 35 year old want o hang out with 13 year olds? I see trouble already.