Boxer-type underwear for men come in all shapes and sizes as you well know. Or perhaps you don’t know. Boxers, as they are called, resemble the trunks that boxers typically wear, hence the name.

There are some significant differences between what men wear and what fighting boxers wear. First, the style of trunks that fighting boxers wear are much longer, often touching the knee (and this style for fighting boxers has changed over the years). They are extremely loose and baggy. The undergarments men might wear only go down to the mid-thigh. Yes, the shorts are loose (yet not as loose as Boxers trunks). the Boxers are made so that nothing inside the shorts are tight. And that’s an intentional design.

One significant requirement that sportsmen boxers have (that regular men don’t have) is the need for their shorts to stay on their hips during a long and sweaty match. The boxing trunks cannot even accidentally slither over the waist even a little (you see Boxers try to pull them up if they do and it’s an interesting sight when they try to do it with their boxing gloves). The boxing shorts are reinforced at the waist with heavy elastic or a tie-string. Boxer-style underwear, conversely, rarely use a tie-string to keep them from sliding down. Instead those shorts rely on elastic, a comfort designed specifically for the boxer underwear.

The similarities between what amateur and professional boxers wear and what normal men wear is that they are made from many types of material: silk, cotton, or a combination of the two often are purchased.

On a quick sidenote, I have also seen boxer shorts made from a fishnet type of material. I suspect the Boxing world has pretty much rejected that impractical material because then it would show the protective gear that boxers wear during a match. Mesh/Fishnet material for boxer shorts are found in novelty stores.

Obviously the mesh/fishnet type of boxers are not designed for comfort or practical purposes; they’re aesthetically pleasing and geared toward the romantic side of the equation.

Boxer shorts, then, are similar to what fighting Boxers wear in physical material (especially the silk and cotton varieties), but differ in length and whether or not they have a drawstring to hold them up. Another major difference is cost: boxing shorts are more expensive than boxer underwear. Specialty boxers, on the other hand, can be more costly initially, but may very well be worth the added expense.

One of the noticeable things that has dominated Hip Hop Culture in the West has been the sagging shorts that Hip Hoppers wear. That’s a given. But what’s not so apparent is that normally the underwear that shows when their shorts are hanging over the middle of the rear end is Boxer Shorts. That’s where I come in.

I should say that I really don’t understand the need for Hip Hoppers to run around with shorts that sag so far down past their hips. Occasionally I hear stories of those who rob places trying to run away and falling flat on their faces because those shorts slid down their legs and tripped them up.

In my countless observations, I’ve seen plenty of plain-colored boxer shorts. I haven’t run across a lot of fashion and design in that area. Why haven’t boxer shorts retailers capitalized on that fact and marketed Hip Hop fashion for the boxer shorts. Perhaps I can start a movement towards that end. A little variety could go a long way.

One thing I see when those shorts sag low is that most of the boxer shorts are made of cotton. Silk doesn’t seem to be a good option as it would produce unnecessary slippage. Nothing’s worse than having your boxer shorts slip when you’re trying to have a friendly political and motivational discussion with friends.

Of course, discussing boxer shorts that Gangsta Rappers wear would not be complete if I didn’t at least address the subject of Hip Hop belts. I know it’s not politically correct or fashionable to suggest it, but it sure would seem like a pragmatic thing to purchase when thinking about a fashionable designer hat ($20-30) turned sideways on your head, having tons of bling gold necklaces dangling around the neck, and a twenty dollar all white t-shirt (displaying all your bulging and tattooed muscles). Certainly fifteen dollars (and upwards) for a practical belt might go a long way, especially if you’re in the mood to grab some quick extra cash from an unwilling source.

One of these belts could be the difference between $700 from a bank or liquor store and 8-14 years in a Federal Prison. Perhaps I’m in the wrong market completely. Fifteen bucks for a belt or fourteen years in the slammer? Hmm.

I know it seems like I’m trying to change Gangsta, Hip Hop, or Rap Culture. I’m not trying to do that at all. However, I’m trying to encourage a young entrepreneur to create a new multi-billion dollar industry: the Gangsta Rap Belt Industry. Maybe I’m on to something here.