Hip-hop in the alley

January 31, 2006|by ESPE MARTINEZ

The style: urban. The goal: to bring something new and positive to the community.

The name: Downtown Music and Fashion.

Off Washington Street in Hagerstown, down the lane between Carol & Co. and The Doghouse and next door to The Plum restaurant, Downtown Music and Fashion opened in mid-November. Co-owners Antjuan Lynn and Steven Rosner already have hopes for expansion.

Their urban attire consists of brands such as Tribal Gear, Akademiks, G-Unit, Emotions and Legal Hustle. They've got everything from jackets, shirts and Vibes Jeans to Smack DVDs, Don Diva Magazines and Fitted hats. They also have Northern Explosion thermals.

Accessories on display include $15 belt buckles, dog tags and earrings. Popular cartoon T-shirts can be found here for $19.99 to $24.99. Rosner says Nike footwear and skateboarding shoes will also soon be added to their stock.

In addition to clothing, Lynn and Rosner take pride in their wide selection of official CDs. Dipset, Kochece, G-Unit, DJ Smallz and Smooth Denali are just a few of the artists. Along with hip-hop, they also have plenty of old-school music and reggae tones to provide something for everyone.

Rosner says Downtown Music and Fashion has the "best selection and mix covering every genre of urban music." He and Lynn "deal directly with the top DJs and hip-hop artists in the country."

It doesn't get much better than that.

Promoting hip-hop culture is important to Lynn and Rosner. They want kids to learn about different cultures.

They also promote education. To encourage kids to improve in school, Lynn and Rosner offer discounts to students who are on the honor roll. Bring in your report card to show that you made the honor roll and you will receive a 25-percent discount.

If you got straight A's, you will receive a 30-percent discount.

The young entrepreneurs say business is booming, and they are excited about what the future will bring to Hagerstown's best-kept secret.

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