Jaimee A. Swift

                It is 2013 in the Year of Our Lord A.D. Women are able to vote; have leadership positions and receive equal pay—well, we are still working on that. Though we as women have come a long way in terms of equal opportunities and rights, the pervasiveness of rape culture and sexual violence in this day and age is at an all-time high and is evident and alive in a genre that I love the most, hip-hop/rap.

            Mind you, many will argue that there is a HUGE difference between hip-hop and rap. In its inception in the 1980s, hip-hop’s purpose was to promote a state of Black consciousness and to shed light on the Black struggle; making the discrimination, inequalities and issues in the Black community come to life over tight lyrics and dope beats. Some describe rap as more of a kind of music while hip-hop is more of a lifestyle. Hip-hop pioneer, KRS-One describes it simply as, “Rap is something you do but hip-hop is something you live.”

            Fast-forwarding into a new era, it seems as if the lines that used to distinguish hip-hop and rap have been blurred by the onslaught of mainstream or commercialized rap. Though to me, hip-hop promotes a message of awareness and consciousness (artists such as Talib Kweli, Common, even Erykah Badu are examples of this) while mainstream rap lacks what hip-hop represents, I cannot and will not make exceptions for the sexual violence/rape culture that is promoted and exhibited within these genres.

Walking into Salon Blush, a photography/make-up/beauty boutique nestled comfortably in the heart of Alanna Ralph’s, 32, hometown—Fishtown—I did not know what to expect. Actually, I lied just a little. Already a fan (stalker, would be a better term) of the mesmerizing photography of Ms. Ralph, I figured I would be in for a glamorous treat; as her salon was voted top 10 best Salon in Philadelphia two years in a row. And boy, was the word treat an understatement. 

As I stepped into her salon, I was engulfed by vintage “glamourisity.” Pastels, antiques and accessories reminiscent of the fifties filled the area. Black and white photos of the most adored pinup herself, Ms. Marilyn Monroe, were perfectly lined up against the wall as bubblegum and wintergreen hair dryers were placed against a glittery background. Nail polishes of various assortments, make-up and tools were placed in front of big, beautiful and lovely mirrors.           

Needless to say, I was in vintage heaven. And this was definitely the type of atmosphere that Ralph was shooting for.