# Are Timberland boots 'ghetto' now? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 16, 2008, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-timberland-boots-ghetto-now/477454 "2008-12-16T21:03:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![No\_Wikipedia\_Cites](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@No\_Wikipedia\_Cites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/No_Wikipedia_Cites)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-timberland-boots-ghetto-now/477454/1 "2008-12-16T21:03:16Z")
They had a hip hop party in new york and had a list of banned items – no baggy trousers, no doo-rags, gang colors, but strangely, also no timberland boots. Ummm. . . when/how did timberlands go from Montana mountain man wear/Hippie going on hike style, to urban ghetto? Or was this just some strange exception? ---
**Author:** ![Cagey\_Drifter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@Cagey\_Drifter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cagey_Drifter)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-timberland-boots-ghetto-now/477454/2 "2008-12-16T21:20:43Z")
Wu-Tang Clan-- Raekwon specifically-- talked about them on their album “Enter the 36 Chambers” which came out in 1993. The accompanying photos showed them wearing Timberland boots, so it’s been at least that long. They definitely caught on around, or possibly before, that point. One of the most successful hip-hop producers calls himself Timbaland, in fact. ---
**Author:** ![50million](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/9fc348/32.png) [@50million](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/50million)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-timberland-boots-ghetto-now/477454/3 "2008-12-16T21:20:56Z")
Somewhere about 1995. And, no, I’m not kidding. Look at the ad below your post. There’s a direct relationship between size of the logo and urban ghettoness. The whole boot is one big logo! Edited to add: \*\*Cagey Drifter \*\*- I almost said 93, but thought that might be pushing it, and then I took too long writing and you beat me to it. Anyway, glad to see someone backed up my early 90’s guess. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-timberland-boots-ghetto-now/477454/4 "2008-12-16T21:24:35Z")
There was a rumor about Timberland being racist like there was a rumor about Tommy Hilfiger. > **[Timberland and Maya Angelou](https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/shiver-me-timberlands/)** > > Does a poem by Maya Angelou assert that Timberland is owned by the KKK? Perhaps they got adopt as a backlash from this? ---
**Author:** ![J\_Cubed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@J\_Cubed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/J_Cubed)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-timberland-boots-ghetto-now/477454/5 "2008-12-16T21:39:48Z")
> [@sassyfras](#): > > They had a hip hop party in new york and had a list of banned items – no baggy trousers, no doo-rags, gang colors, but strangely, also no timberland boots. Wait, somebody had a hip hop party and **banned** Timberland boots? What’s the point then? If anything, I’d require them. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-timberland-boots-ghetto-now/477454/6 "2008-12-16T21:58:13Z")
In Notorious B.I.G.'s song [“Suicidal Thoughts”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkO7kZGdwkM) he raps: > [@](#): > > It don’t make sense goin’ to heaven with the goodie-goodies > Dressed in white, I like black Tims and black hoodies “Tims” as they are often called in hip-hop are frequently mentioned, it’s hard to date when Biggie first recorded this verse since so much of his material was released after his death (the same verses are sampled on the song “Hold Ya Head” with Bob Marley), but he was producing music in the early to mid 90’s (if Raekwon had a track mentioning them in '93 as **Cagey Drifter** suggests it would likely predate Biggie’s verse) but either way I would concur with the other posters that it’s been like this for a while. The bigger question is why were they banning all those hip-hop culture accessories at a hip-hop concert? ---
**Author:** ![shy\_guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a6a055/32.png) [@shy\_guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shy_guy)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-timberland-boots-ghetto-now/477454/7 "2008-12-16T22:18:57Z")
I was gonna say - were they ever _not_? I’ve associated Tims with hip-hop culture as long as I’ve been aware that such a thing existed (I’m 24). It seems weird banning them at a concert, though. Maybe it was a gang thing? ---
**Author:** ![iwakura43](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de0a6/32.png) [@iwakura43](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iwakura43)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-timberland-boots-ghetto-now/477454/8 "2008-12-16T23:43:05Z")
As an early 20s white guy, I would feel weird wearing them. Does that address your question at all? ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-timberland-boots-ghetto-now/477454/9 "2008-12-17T01:35:28Z")
Hmm, my regular work shoes are Timberlands, and I also have a pair of Timberland boots. I knew they had some kind of hip-hop following, but I had no idea it was such a big deal. I’d no more change my choice of footwear (they’re comfy, dammit!) because some rapper wears them than I’d refuse to drink Cristal or Hennessy 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cab0a1/32.png) [@Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Man_With_a_Cat)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-timberland-boots-ghetto-now/477454/10 "2008-12-17T01:47:53Z")
I’m with **Colophon** here. I’ve had Timberlands as my essential winter boot for as long as I can remember. [These](http://www.timberland.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3310707&cp=1779791.1761081.1761136.1872919&parentPage=family) are the ones I wear now. I found them in a sports shoe store, but all of the stores catering to the hip-hop crowd had much larger displays. ---
**Author:** ![Jenaroph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Jenaroph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenaroph)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-timberland-boots-ghetto-now/477454/11 "2008-12-17T02:55:10Z")
Color me totally bwuh’ed. (Bwuh?) I’ve been wearing a pair similar to [these](http://www.timberland.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2343670&cp=1779792.1761172.1845665&int_prevBucket=-1&showSizeSearch=true&pageBucket=0&hasPagination=false&int_nextBucket=0&pageDisplay=superfamily%2Cfilter&pageType=family&page_bucket=0&pageNum=1&pageCount=2&view=all&page=2&totalProductsCount=29&parentPage=family) for about 5 years. They’re waterproof, comfortable, warm, and totally utilitarian. They’ve held up extremely well; the only thing I’ve had to do is replace the laces. I’m not about to give them up for fear of being mistaken for a hip-hop gangsta. _snerk_ Like that’d happen. ---
**Author:** ![Cagey\_Drifter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@Cagey\_Drifter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cagey_Drifter)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-timberland-boots-ghetto-now/477454/12 "2008-12-17T03:12:14Z")
The kind that are associated with hip-hop look like these: [http://www.timberland.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2475640&cp=1779791.1761081.1761136.1872919.1761161&parentPage=family](http://www.timberland.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2475640&cp=1779791.1761081.1761136.1872919.1761161&parentPage=family) [http://www.timberland.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2420446&cp=1779791.1761081.1761136.1872919.1761161&parentPage=family](http://www.timberland.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2420446&cp=1779791.1761081.1761136.1872919.1761161&parentPage=family) [http://www.timberland.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1776446&cp=1779791.1761081.1761136.1872919.1761159&parentPage=family](http://www.timberland.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1776446&cp=1779791.1761081.1761136.1872919.1761159&parentPage=family) As far as I know, the darker brown kind are not. ---
**Author:** ![Jenaroph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Jenaroph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenaroph)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-timberland-boots-ghetto-now/477454/13 "2008-12-17T03:19:16Z")
> [@Cagey\_Drifter](#): > > The kind that are associated with hip-hop look like these: > > [http://www.timberland.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2475640&cp=1779791.1761081.1761136.1872919.1761161&parentPage=family](http://www.timberland.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2475640&cp=1779791.1761081.1761136.1872919.1761161&parentPage=family) > > [http://www.timberland.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2420446&cp=1779791.1761081.1761136.1872919.1761161&parentPage=family](http://www.timberland.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2420446&cp=1779791.1761081.1761136.1872919.1761161&parentPage=family) > > [http://www.timberland.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1776446&cp=1779791.1761081.1761136.1872919.1761159&parentPage=family](http://www.timberland.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1776446&cp=1779791.1761081.1761136.1872919.1761159&parentPage=family) > > As far as I know, the darker brown kind are not. I guess my reputation as an incredibly white chick is safe then. ---
**Author:** ![Cagey\_Drifter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@Cagey\_Drifter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cagey_Drifter)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-timberland-boots-ghetto-now/477454/14 "2008-12-17T03:27:01Z")
I could be wrong though; my exposure to this scene comes from photographs and records. On an average day I don’t come in contact with, uh, ‘ghetto’ people. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-timberland-boots-ghetto-now/477454/15 "2008-12-17T03:36:14Z")
> [@shy\_guy](#): > > I was gonna say - were they ever _not_? I’ve associated Tims with hip-hop culture as long as I’ve been aware that such a thing existed (I’m 24). Jeez, you’re only 24! Yes, they were ever \*not. \*In fact, [these](http://www.timberland.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1776446&cp=1779791.1761081.1761136.1872919.1761159&parentPage=family) were fairly ubiquitous in the urban gay wardrobe of the '70s and early '80s . . . what was known as the “clone” look. I still have a pair, though mine are deep rust color. ---
**Author:** ![JHE1967](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3bc359/32.png) [@JHE1967](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JHE1967)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-timberland-boots-ghetto-now/477454/16 "2008-12-17T03:41:10Z")
Around '91 or so Timberland’s were standard apparel for rich suburban frat boys. At some point, like Tommy Hilfiger, they were embraced by hip hop culture. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-timberland-boots-ghetto-now/477454/17 "2008-12-17T14:54:53Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Jeez, you’re only 24! Yes, they were ever \*not. \*In fact, [these](http://www.timberland.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1776446&cp=1779791.1761081.1761136.1872919.1761159&parentPage=family) were fairly ubiquitous in the urban gay wardrobe of the '70s and early '80s . . . what was known as the “clone” look. I still have a pair, though mine are deep rust color. My brother happens to be straight and wore those in the early 80s as his boots for everyday wear. So yeah, they haven’t always been associated with hip-hop folks. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-timberland-boots-ghetto-now/477454/18 "2008-12-17T15:46:37Z")
Light beigey nubuck-finished ones with brown leather cuffs around the mid-ankle area, yes. Black or dark brown ones, no. Double ghetto points if you wear them without shoelaces or with one pant leg rolled up. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-timberland-boots-ghetto-now/477454/19 "2008-12-17T16:23:14Z")
> [@Chris Moise](#): > > Around '91 or so Timberland’s were standard apparel for rich suburban frat boys. At some point, like Tommy Hilfiger, they were embraced by hip hop culture. I can verify that. In 91 the standard suburban fray boy uniform consisted of Timberland work boots (great for sloshing around the 2" think beer slime at fraternity parties), a baggy pair of GAP jeans, a plaid J Crew, LL Bean or Abercrombie flannel (over a waffle long sleve T-shirt which was under your Pearl Jam or Nirvana concert shirt) and a fraternity or collegiate baseball cap ([University of South Carolina was popular for some reason](http://store.cstv.com/marketplace/store_contents.cfm?cart_id=1121507927197109101991117524520081712&store_id=141&partner_id=13955&dept_id=1717&product_id=138186)) But here’s a question that will blow your mind. When was rap and hip-hop NOT associated with rich suburban frat boys? > [@gigi](#): > > My brother happens to be straight and wore those in the early 80s as his boots for everyday wear. By any chance, did his “everyday wear” consist of jeans and a denim jacket over a hoody sweatshirt? ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slip\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f475e1/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slip\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slip_1)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-timberland-boots-ghetto-now/477454/20 "2008-12-17T16:30:48Z")
Mmmmmmm … clones :p. Thank you for bringing up good memories, panache! Besides the gay stereotype from a while back, I’ve always thought of Tims as ghetto/banger kinda footwear. Might be from my visits to outlet malls … if I wandered into the Tim store, I usually felt like a grain of salt in a pepper shaker. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-timberland-boots-ghetto-now/477454.md?page=2)