Recently when having a conversation about Darlie (once known as “Darkie”) and whiteman toothpastes, and someone said that they once say a girl with a bag from a shop called “Nigger” or “Nigga.” I’m wondering if anyone can back this up.
There was a store in Taichung called “Nigger Soul” on the main road that leads to Feng Chia University. I don’t know if it is still there; that was back in 2000. A friend and I went in there and asked them if they knew how rude the name of their store was. The staff were just kids, and they said they understood, but their boss didn’t care. In the store window was a television that played break-dancing videos and inside was all hip-hop gear.
I googled it. Is this the place? I can’t read it. It says 台中 somewhere in there.
Might be. I can’t read Chinese well. Either way, that’s a crazy website. What are thinking?
They post their phone number, so if you really want to know, just call.
My Chinese reading ability is sub-kindergarden, but I don’t think that is the store’s website. There actually are a couple of phone numbers and addresses for other stores selling hip hoppery in Taiwan.
We need to get someone actually literate in Chinese to read, but my guess is either:
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Somebody’s page on why “Nigger Soul” is not a good name for a store selling African-American designed and oriented clothing.
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The establishment is no longer with us, and this page is redirecting would be shoppers to other places. Any Taizhong Formusans know this?
Fun fact: Nigger Soul is billed as selling “jie tou” clothing.
A quick and dirty translation:
[color=blue]The Nigger Soul street clothing specialty shop is located on the second floor of Bigen Square adjacent to Fengchia University in Taichung. Its main item of business is selling brand name street clothing. The shop’s owner, A-Feng, is a member of the DOD street dancing group. Because the Hip Hop culture is burgeoning in Taichung but information is not easy to access, he started up Nigger Soul to introduce correct Hip Hop dress and culture to the masses.
Shopkeeper A-Feng states, “The styles of the Nigger Soul street clothing specialty shop are mainly from the Hip Hop culture of East Coast USA. The reason for this is that the styles of East Coast Hip Hop culture are more likely to receive the acceptance and attention of Taiwan’s Hip Hop crowd. And because of this, in choosing clothing brands it is necessary to be selective; for example, FUBU, PLAYR 2 and South Pole. These are all top-of-the-line, famous American street brands. However, price-wise, the corresponding prices are somewhat higher than those of ordinary brands. But the reason these brands are able to enjoy a good reputation all over the world is that they each have their own distinguishing features. Take FUBU for example: in East Coast USA it represents a clothing brand worn by black gangs: only black gang members can wear this brand; this perhaps is how they want to show they stand out from the crowd!! However, because black people are the originators of Hip Hop culture, the FUBU brand exudes an intense Hip Hop air. Of course, when we wear FUBU clothing it doesn’t mean we’ve joined a gang, because in Taiwan, Hip Hop is everybody’s; everyone who likes Hip Hop culture is our friend. No matter what your sex or age, as long as you’re willing to take part, Nigger Soul will happily welcome you to join in. Hip Hop is borderless, and as long as you hold onto the Hip Hop spirit, you will better understand how to enjoy life and build yourself!!”
If you want to find Hip Hop products or gain information, here are some shops that will introduce it to you:[/color]
…followed by a list of shops, including the above-mentioned one.
There’s also a shop in Jhongli selling all things hip-hop called “Nigga King”.
So dressing like an undereducated street thug and dancing to songs about “bustin’ a nut in all deez f*ckin’ bitches and hos” is the way to understand how to enjoy life?
I knew there was something missing from my existence…
When are they going to open up a Ji Pai Hao Ke Ai store to embrace the cuteness of the Taiwanese female?
When is somebody going open a store and name it…
CHIGGAS PLACE!
[quote=“Chris”]for example, FUBU, PLAYR 2 and South Pole. These are all top-of-the-line, famous American street brands. [/quote] FUBU is played (out of style) and PLAYR 2 and South Pole have got to be rip offs.
I guess she doesn’t carry Apple Bottoms or any clothes by 50 cents.
[quote] Take FUBU for example: in East Coast USA it represents a clothing brand worn by black gangs: only black gang members can wear this brand; this perhaps is how they want to show they stand out from the crowd!! [/quote]I’m really tempted to send this translation to the owners of FUBU. Majority of black gang members define themselves by colors. And stand out from the crowd, well that’s where the good ole AK-47 comes in…
Ah, well thanks for bringing up this…It’s moments like this that I could show the lovely rappers this and tell them this is reason 45,344 as to why Mr. Wong at the local corner store hates on you … :s
I guess they don’t know that just because Dr Dre keeps on using the term it doesn’t mean they can.
Almost as funny as the Motherfker store in Hsimen!!
[quote=“Battery9”]I guess they don’t know that just because Dr Dre keeps on using the term it doesn’t mean they can.
Almost as funny as the Motherfker store in Hsimen (Ximen)!![/quote]
While I hate for anyone to use the term, it’s really not my business to legislate someone’s mouth. But the problem here is that every one of their customers is going to believe and relate to blacks, especially males, as potential gang bangers. God forbid they think its okay to use the word in conversation with another black because they are “down” with hip hop.
If they were down with hip-hop like they perpetrating they is, then they’d know it’s “nigga” and not “nigger”.
Of course, if they want to claim FUBU is the clothing choice of gangsters, I’d have to say it’s a better choice than blue plastic sandals and wifebeaters.
Since the word “nigger” or “nigga” (doesn’t matter) is being thrown around so freely here, I’ve got to insist that you be fair and call “wifebeaters” by their original street name. The proper term for said “wifebeater” (t-shirt) is really “dego-t” as in “Italian”. Fair is fair.
Carry on.
[quote=“TainanCowboy”]When is somebody going open a store and name it…
CHIGGAS PLACE![/quote]
The locals won’t get it.
Most of locals shopping there most likely don’t have a clue about the fact that “Nigger” etc. are very offensive terms.
Calling a cafe “Adolf Hitler Cafe” with swastikas etc on the billboard is also offensive, there used to be one on Heping East Rd, sec 4. (this is 1996 though). I think that the patrons found it cool.
[quote=“Mr He”][quote=“TainanCowboy”]When is somebody going open a store and name it…
CHIGGAS PLACE![/quote]
The locals won’t get it.
Most of locals shopping there most likely don’t have a clue about the fact that “Nigger” etc. are very offensive terms.
Calling a cafe “Adolf Hitler Cafe” with swastikas etc on the billboard is also offensive, there used to be one on Heping East Rd, sec 4. (this is 1996 though). I think that the patrons found it cool.[/quote]
Here’s the one that was in Danshui:
Pretty f*ckin stupid of them…In My Opinion.
Bah! Neither Hitler nor nigger have anything like the hysterical ressonance they do in the west. How stupid of whoever complained.
By the way, there was another Hitler Cafe replete with Nazi flags and so on in Yong He several years ago. Food sucked. Not even a pigs trotter let alone sauerkraut to be had.
HG