There always seems to be a generational gap that causes some differentiation between what youth regard as hot and what adults think youth regard as hot. I’m sure you can think of a time when your parents thoroughly misunderstood the pop culture phenomena that were important to you…I’ll never forget the time my Grandmother referred Beyonce’ as Bee-Ons (My sister and I still make fun of her, behind her back, for that one). Youth don’t always take kindly to their heroes being misconstrued, and in case you’re not in the know, let me introduce you to one possible hero: NOFX. 

NOFX is a 4-piece punk and from Los Angeles. They have been together for over 20 years, and for the last 15, they have been punk rock’s most popular and influential band. Beloved by teens and young adults, NOFX is a band that has gotten so big in the underground punk scene that they have amassed the recognition of youth everywhere, even those that aren’t really even into punk rock. Just ask a kid if they’ve ever heard of NOFX, chances are, you’ll get a “yes.” They may not necessarily listen to the band, but to be so widely recognized without the aid of mainstream promotional devices (MTV, commercial radio), makes them somewhat of an anomaly. So what makes them so cool despite the fact that the entire band is pushing 40? Well, for one they have a very loud and liberal voice that appeals to the idealistic leanings of youth. Second, their ability to make it on their own terms garners much respect among youth, because it appeals to the youth’s sense of individuality (even though millions of others are doing the exact same thing).
    

The interesting part is, even ten years ago most hip hop youth wouldn’t recognize NOFX. Today, though, everyone has heard of them even if they don’t listen to punk. So, how does a band that is very genre specific get such recognition without mainstream promotion?
    

If you take a look at current fashion, you’ll see how the lines of certain genres are growing closer together. Youth fashion is developing into more and more of a hybrid of genres. Ten years ago, skater kids would have spiked hair and clearly defined clothing brands. Today, you can’t tell if a youth is a skater or a break-dancer...and who knows, maybe they’re both! The point is, fashion, music and youth culture seem to be evolving together rather than separate. If you take a look at online clothing stores like www.karmaloop.com or www.activemailorder.com , you’ll notice that the digs can be worn by skater and hip hop youth alike, and doesn’t necessarily lean too much in either direction (KR3W Apparel, www.kr3wapparel.com , is a perfect example).

                     

The question that begs to be asked is: is pop culture blurring the lines of the genres, or is this just the clever work of some marketing experts?

Either way, it sells.

While you ponder that, you can see what all the fuss is about, as it relates to NOFX at www.nofx.org , or by checking out this music video . 

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