I had the dope mini-essay all ready fuh ya, and I just lost it!!!! aaaaargh! But, what I HAD said, in a nutshell, is yes, cross-cultural connections have been happening for thousands of years.....hell.....most of us (85% of black people) are products of them! so, I think that as long as we remember that "culture" (and think of hip hop culture here....)is inclusive of beliefs, practices, religion, ritual, food, music, art,language,demographics, etc., not just "rockin' FUBU"............<BR>Culture is commodified in this country, and that's why a lot of people get angry about what's happened to hip-hop. When Burger King uses "Bling Bling" instrumentals in their commercials, that ain't no damn cultural "exchange" that's straight jackin!<P>"Y'all don't believe fat meat greasy!!"-my mama