Whats Buzzing in the Streets – Page 78

The Predator: The 25th Anniversary!

After having two successful albums that touched on more political topics like police brutality and injustice, Ice Cube returns with his third album “The Predator” on November 17th, 1992. 25 years later, it’s an album that’s still relevant and still timeless. With only three singles released, “it Was a Good Day”, “Wicked” and “Check Yo Self”, Cube still comes raw and unfiltered, unapologetic and truthful, in your face and knowledgeable about the realities of where he comes from and taking those experiences on another level to connect it to more worldly events that are similar. It’s not a personal favorite of mine from Cube but the lyrics are full of aggression and the production is still hardcore, street and heavy hitting. There’s no smiling or happy things about this man or his words. It’s frustration and demanding. Demanding enough to catch the hip hop fan’s attention and can easily piss of anyone whose ignorant. Not too many artists’ today have albums that’s just as powerful and raw like this. Everybody wants the truth but handle the truth. So who’s the real “predator” I ask?

Introducing… 2Dope4KidzClothing

For the first time ever, I’ll be talking about something different. Something that is hip hop related but not so much about hip hop. I’m always on my Instagram coming across something dope or it comes across me. LOL! Clothing brands often come up on my feed, especially those that are closely related to what my account and posts are about and I came across this clothing brand that really blew me away. There’s so many different types of clothing brands all over social media these days. They’re either similar to what’s trending and popular or it gives you a sense of nostalgia. I’ve seen so many but there is one particular name brand that caught my attention and I was fortunate enough to even gain a friendship with the owner of the brand. We got to know one another and even spoke about a few things we have in common and we both eventually came to an agreement that I do this article. I personally feel like everyone needs to get up on this brand right here. Had to ask my homegirl a couple of questions so that people can get a better idea of who she is and what she’s about. My homegirl is definitely one dope individual and of course, I only deal with dope things and dope people only. Miesha Swain is her name. She’s a 30 year old Alabama native with a clothing company named 2Dope4KidzClothing.

What sparked the idea?
Well, I think as for me I would have to say when I was undeveloped like in my teens was not sure it was called an entrepreneur, but I was quite a teen from my other peers.

What’s the inspiration?
The next part of the question is relatively intriguing because growing up in my family they were all great individuals, and always was taught to always have your own and work hard for it.

Who inspired you?
The inspiration was my BIGMAMA (the backbone of our family) She is fairly a strong black woman that I speak highly of. The 90s culture, music, actresses and actors, and the clothing brands such as Stussy, Cross Colours, Nike, Supreme, and many more.

Did you get any help or did you do it all alone?
Honestly, I have been doing this on my own financially, but my fiancé has make incredible designs for me and has taught me a little about the software, if push ever come to shove. I can design my next T-shirt, hats, or whatever we plan to create in the future.

If you want to get into contact with Miesha, you can add her on Facebook at Miesha Gray. Follow her brand on Instagram @2dope4kidz_clothing. Check her out, support dope fashion.

Harlem World: The 20th Anniversary

20 years ago, there was this skinny, fly guy from Harlem. His style was laid back and he always smiled. Growing up in the streets of New York, nobody likes a person whose always smiling because it didn’t reflect the lifestyle of the streets. The streets are rough and nothing to play with but this guy made it okay for rappers to come from that lifestyle, be fresh, dance a little in your music videos, especially if you’re signed to Diddy and the Bad Boy family, and still smile. This guy was close friends with Cam’ron, Damon Dash was his manager until Big L came into the picture but it wasn’t until his sister got him to meet a guy named Cudda Love. Cudda Love was a road manager for The Notorious B.I.G. and in 1996, Cudda took this guy with him to Atlanta to meet Jermaine Dupri and Diddy. After meeting with Diddy, he was signed to Bad Boy. This guy we speaking of here is Mason Betha aka Ma$e. On October 28th, 1997, Ma$e released his debut album “Harlem World.” A hip hop album that only focused on life in Harlem, the streets, partying, having a good time, looking good, and getting with every pretty woman who walks by with a cute face and a fat ass. With only three singles released and an appearance on the remix of 112’s “Only You”, Ma$e quickly became a superstar overnight and took hip hop to its “bling bling” and shiny suit era. True hip hop fans weren’t pleased with the extravagance of things being in hip hop. It’s supposed to strictly be about the hard knock life but Ma$e definitely had his fair share of telling those hood tales too. Who’s to say that hip hop didn’t already get a taste of that bling bling life when LL put out “Walking With a Panther”? The only difference is that LL got flack for it, Ma$e didn’t get the same flack LL got but let’s keep it on topic. That’s a whole ‘nother story. After the success of “Harlem World”, nothing after that was as successful. Mase did appear on other songs and eventually put out more music but nothing had the same magic as “Harlem World.” Mase is one of those guys where people would debate whether or not he’s a legend. He may have not had a long lasting career but his debut is definitely something to still enjoy from start to finish. It’s a classic only from it’s time when hip hop when fully “bling bling.”

Living Large: The 30th Anniversary

There was once an energetic MC from Mount Vernon. He called himself the “overweight lover.” His name was Dwight Myers aka Heavy D. Heavy D formed a group with Glen Parrish aka “G-Whiz”, Troy Dixon aka “Trouble T-Roy”, and the infamous Edward Ferrell aka DJ Eddie F. Together they were Heavy D & The Boyz. They were the first act to be signed to Uptown Records and on October 27th, 1987, they released their debut album “Living Large.” It was definitely a dope album but it wasn’t a classic. The singles “The Overweight Lover’s In The House” and the remix of “Mr. Big Stuff” were the only singles released from the album. This thirteen track had that 80’s new jack sound and sing along hooks and choruses with the block party energy that got things started and jumping. Although this album is personally dope to me, it doesn’t leave a lasting impression like the upcoming Heavy D projects that followed after this one. The production sounds too similar to each other too. Besides the singles, “Dedicated”, “Moneyearnin’ Mount Vernon”, “On The Dance Floor”, and “Overweighter” to me are the best songs on the album. The rest are just fillers. Sounds more like demos to me. For a debut album, it’s most definitely a good start. A good way to get your foot into the door. Come back harder with on the next few albums and with that, Heavy sure did. Reminds me of his appearance on “A Different World” as well. He was definitely living large. Rest in peace to the overweight lover himself.

It’s About Time: The 25th Anniversary

25 years ago, three friends from The Bronx and Brooklyn came together to form as a singing group and then released their debut album. The three girls names are Cheryl, Leanne, and Tamara also known as Coko, Lelee and Taj, better known as SWV or Sisters With Voices. On October 27th, 1992, the group released their album “It’s About Time.” A 15 track album that’s filled with new jack swing, raw hip hop and R&B tracks. Every song from start to finish is a banger. Songs about relationships, love, and two playful but rapping tracks that perfectly gave the world a glimpse of what these around-the-way girls were all about. SWV was the first girl group in the 90’s to come out with the around-the-way girl image and still able to achieve mainstream success, while others had an image that was more colorful and baggy or the typical high heels and dresses and makeup, SWV kept it hood. Coko’s extremely long fingernails, to 5411 Reeboks and Doc Marten boots to oversized baseball jerseys and jeans, they had an image that regular girls back in the hood of the NYC had. I wasn’t even born when this classic was released but it’s an album that I’m super familiar with and love so much. It’s my favorite album from SWV. This album also had the most hits released. As I sit up at 3 in the morning, looking at and holding the album in my hand, I see the girls on the cover just chillin’ in their element. The SWV logo in a lime green diamond with the letters SWV in dark pink on the top right side on the corner. This means that this is the original 1992 release. This release doesn’t have the “Human Nature” remix version of “Right Here”, instead it’s the Vibe Mix but an instrumental. The April 1993 release has the logo on the opposite side on the cover and has the “Human Nature” remix. It’s 3:14am and for the past almost half an hour, I had “Anything” on a loop. It’s the perfect opening for an album like this. Something soulful, smooth, and gets you ready for the upbeat tracks that follow after. The next song “I’m So Into You” is one of the singles released from the album and then followed by “Right Here.” “Right Here” is SWV’s debut single. The song that put them on in the first place. The song with the video our parents saw back in the summer of 1992. They were bopping and pointing and dancing all over the place. Taj’s rap is unforgettable. Love hearing her rap. Then it’s their signature hit “Weak.” This is the SWV song that everybody knows. Even our little cousins heard it and they don’t know nothing about no SWV. LOL! This is the song you hear girls singing in talent shows all the time. “You’re Always On My Mind” was another smooth joint and “Downtown” was on another level. “You’re Always On My Mind”‘was the phone call to your lover and you told them how much you thought about them but “Downtown” was the invite over to theirs or your place to what we call nowadays a little “Netflix and chill.” The lyrics were very clear about what they meant by “downtown.” Real grown folk music at the moment. “Coming Home” took it back upbeat after you come back “uptown”, “Give It to Me” was also another upbeat banger. This is the new jack swing/hip hop part of the album. “Blak Pudd’n” is my second favorite after “Anything.” The track basically could’ve been a remix to “Downtown” but with a beat. The rapping of course is dope and it hits hard with the beat. Taj holds her own as a MC. The title track itself is just as beautiful as “Anything” to me. The song gives me that classic girl group vibe and Coko reminds me of Stephanie Mills on this song. The harmonies, the hook, the chorus, everything about it makes it such a perfect song. “Think You’re Gonna Like It” is the heaviest new jack joint on the album and “That’s What I Need” is a mix of both new jack and soul. The album ends off with “SWV (In The House)”, my third favorite, an a Capella version of “Weak” and then the Vibe Mix of “Right Here.” Definitely a no wrong doer album. A classic. Very nostalgic for me. Another joint I grew up listening to without my mom’s permission but she played this in that Sony 5 disc changer radio that I loved so much as a kid. The good old days. SWV will be celebrated for their reaching 25 years in the game at the Soul Train Awards in November. It’s the perfect time. It’s about time.

Paid In Full: The 15th Anniversary

Powerful, edgy, intense is what they say. The three words used by TV critics to describe the movie. The streets say real, relatable, a true story, and definitely a classic. On October 25th, 2002, the movie “Paid In Full” was released. Starring Wood Harris as “Ace”, Cam’ron as “Rico”, and Mekhi Phifer as “Mitch” or “Money Makin’ Mitch.” The movie is based on a true story between three Harlem friends named Azie “AZ” Faison, Rich Porter, and Alpo Martine, during the 1980’s, who were notorious drug dealers. Of course, the friendship doesn’t last and things turn very ugly in the end but only one survives it all. Got himself in the game and got himself out in the smartest way possible. The movie is not only a reflection of the streets but it’s also a learning lesson. It can teach you about the realities of the street life and how real things can get. It can also teach you that the street life isn’t for everybody and for the most obvious reason, it’s a dangerous game to play. It’s a hip hop classic that never gets old. A classic that you can enjoy at night after a long day, eating Chinese food and drinking iced tea. Maybe roll a joint and smoke or too as well. It’s exciting, it’s funny, it’s interesting, it’s deep, it makes your head bop along to the soundtrack and there’s not one boring moment in the movie. Altogether, it’s what makes this movie so timeless. 15 years later, watching it is like it just came out. All over again.

The Velvet Rope: The 20th Anniversary

After her 1993 self titled album and a 1995 greatest hits, compilation album, Janet Jackson returns in 1997 with another album. The transition from the “Poetic Justice”, sexy, smooth talking, convincingly enough to draw you in as a man, big braids rocking and ripped high waist jeans, to a much more darker and in your face Janet. An album that touched on deeply personal subjects of depression, anorexia, body dysmorphia, self harm, emotional breakdowns, and even domestic violence, to me it is Janet’s best work to date and my personal favorite of them all. 20 years ago, on October 7th, 1997, Janet Jackson released her sixth album “The Velvet Rope.” With only six singles released between September 1997 and November 1998, Janet had another successful album under her belt. Before the release of the album, Janet renewed her contract with Virgin Records. Other labels were in a bidding war trying to get Janet to join them instead of Virgin, and she renewed her contract with a whopping $80 million, which was the largest recording contract for an artist at that time also making Janet one of the most highest paid artists ever in music history. With production from her husband at the time, Rene Elizondo, Jr. and her longtime collaborators Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, “The Velvet Rope” is a masterpiece from beginning to end. There are absolutely NO skips on this joint. At all. The album’s production had a mixture of hip hop, R&B, pop, trip hop, folk, jazz, rock and electronic. To me though, it’s just hip hop and R&B production with guitars and pianos, a little bit of pop but not bubble gum, it’s a dark but amazing album. It’s sitting in your room alone, in the dark, crying all day and you didn’t bathe or eat or slept, you’re ignoring the entire world and you feel like you no longer want to exist, kinda album. One day you’re like “You know what? Fuck this, fuck that, fuck you, fuck everybody!” and the next you’re like “Hopefully, this will be a good day today. I’m alright today. I’m gonna call up my homies to see what’s the move today. Maybe go shopping, visit a friend, something fun.” It’s that kinda album. With so much topics this album has, you can really easily catch the ups and Down of Janet’s life and world on this joint. She’s happy, then she’s angry, then she’s sad and depressed, lonely, this album takes you all over and takes you there. Her vocals are angelic and perfect. The beats hit hard enough to feel it in your chest and to make you nod your head. The lyrical content is real and relatable. It’s timeless music. Timeless Janet. 20 years later, it’s still as amazing as it was back when it first came out. The transition from this album to her later ones got stronger but later on her career did a dangerous decline over an incident that she was a victim of but of course, Janet still comes back with a stride in her walk and a attitude and energy that’s unparalleled.

A Different World: The 30th Anniversary

After the success of the popular 1980’s sitcom, The Cosby Show, a spinoff show hits the airwaves that started off showcasing the college experience of Denise Huxtable. 30 years ago, on September 24th, 1987, A Different World was aired. The show starts off all about Denise, the daughter of both Heathcliff and Claire Huxtable who in the beginning struggles to find her own way in college life. She’s slacking off, grades not looking too good, she’s trying to find a job to pay off what she owes, and not staying focused on her studies, all the while, occasionally dealing with a southern belle who goes by the name Whitley Gilbert. Whitley is a bit of an uptight, snotty and spoiled young woman who comes from a family who has money. Later on she becomes the star of the show after the first season. As well as Whitley, Denise also puts up with a guy named Dwayne Wayne. He’s a stylish, skinny kid whose smart and very good at math but in the first season, he kind of comes off as annoying and a bit creepy the way he’s always in Denise’s face trying to get with her. After the first season, it was said that Denise drops out of Hillman to go traveling and the show focuses more on Dwayne and Whitley and then everyone else. As the show progresses, each episode gives the viewer a closer and closer anticipation of the friendship between Whitley and Dwayne. They went from hating one another to being an on and off couple to being husband and wife in the end. Besides their love affair, we also get a taste of the other characters on the show who are like the pieces of the puzzle on the show. Each character has their own uniqueness and way of shining on the screen with the way they all connect and made you believe that Hillman was an actual college and that you wanted to attend. There’s Dwayne Wayne’s close friend Ron Johnson, Freddie, Kim, Shaza Zulu, Jaleesa, the lost goes on. The show was important in a way that focused on black students being productive and positive college students with dreams while also touching on worldly topics and issues that mattered. Especially for black people. It was an overall positive show that made you laugh, cry, it was suspenseful, knowledgeable, insightful and powerful. It’s something that needs to be shown on television again today. Something so moving and enjoyable. 30 years later, the show is still just as popular as it was then. It was on Netflix a year or two ago and still being played on television with reruns of the episodes. It’s definitely my favorite sitcom of all time. One of the greatest.

My Way: The 20th Anniversary

For an album that’s so short, it’s heavy legacy is what makes it hard to forget. After his 1994 self titled debut album, Usher returns three years later with a sophomore album that’s way more mature and helped sky rocket Usher’s career to another level. On September 16th, 1997, Usher his second album “My Way.” With only three singles released, the album was a commercial success for Usher. The album starts off with a bit of a dancy but R&B joint, which also happens to be the first single off the album, “You Make Me Wanna…” The song is about a girl who says and does all the right things to him that convinces him to want to leave his girlfriend who he is in a relationship with and start something new with her instead. The music video is just as classic. Usher and the other guy dancers with the chairs and different rooms with the shiny metallic outfits and Usher being himself in front of the camera and singing. The next song “Just Like Me” is the one of the only hip hop/R&B track on the album with a guest appearance from Lil’ Kim. The next song “Nice And Slow” is the first slow song on the album and the second single released on the album. A song about slow loving with his love interest and Kimora Lee Simmons plays as the love interest in the video. She gets kidnapped and held in hostage until Usher comes swooping in and saving her. The fourth song, “Slow Jam” features Monica and I personally felt like it should’ve been a single like the other three. “Come Back” is more uptempo hip hop groove kind of song. The album title track itself “My Way” is easily one of the best songs on the album. It’s the final single from the album and the music video is easily a top 5 greatest Usher music video. The whole carnival theme, the dancing, even Tyrese guest stars in the video. The next song “I Will” is my top favorite on the album. It’s no surprise that Teddy Riley did that joint because it has the same style of vocals as the remix to Mary J. Blige’s “My Love.” So smooth but the beat has a heavy bass that thumps when it plays. The next song transitions in at the end with “Bedtime.” Another slow love song. A Babyface joint this time and finally, the album ends with “One Day You’ll Be Mine.” It’s the most slept on song on the album. Don’t hear people really bringing this song up in Usher conversations that much. All in all the album is classic from start to finish. Usher is definitely one of my favorite singers. Never a flat note or a off key moment in a Usher song. Never. Completely flawless and clear, slick, there’s a sort of a shine in Usher’s voice like a squeaky clean wood floor after waxing it. With a waxy clean wood floor, you can definitely slide and glide just like Usher does in his videos listening to him.

The World’s Greatest Entertainer: The Legacy of Doug E. Fresh

Doug E. Fresh is one of hip hop’s greatest entertainers to ever lived. With such an amazingly and dope ability to beatbox, he still kills at every show he attends. He definitely lives up to his name the “Human Beatbox.” I was fortunate to see him live twice. The first time was at a Krush Groove reunion show at B.B. Kings on 42nd Street back in 2012 I think it was and the second time was recently back in May during Bronx Week uptown, here in the Bronx. Of course, when Doug E. shows up, Slick Rick is not too far behind. Literally, it was the one of the greatest hip hop shows I’ve ever been too. Performing hit after hit, beatboxing non stop, straight for like 5 minutes as he keeps his energy to continue killing it on the mic, Doug E. definitely holds it down and puts on a great show. Never a dull moment. The history of Doug E. Fresh starts back in 1984 when he began as a solo artist on Enjoy Records. Shortly after that, he teamed up with two DJ’s Barry Bee and Chill Will and a newcomer MC who goes by MC Ricky D, later becoming Slick Rick, and together they are the Get Fresh Crew. A year later, “The Show” and “La Di Da Di” was released. Both joints are to be considered hip hop’s earliest classics. Later on, Slick Rick eventually left the crew to pursue a solo career with Def Jam and released “The Great Adventures of Slick Rick”, which is a top 10 hip hop album for me personally and Doug E. and the rest of the crew released two albums back to back. 1986’s “Oh, My God!” and 1988’s “The World’s Greatest Entertainer.” Both albums are written to be hip hop classics and they’re both are out of print and are rare to find nowadays. It would be great to actually find it. Not giving up hope. Another main single from Doug E. is “Keep Risin’ To The Top.” One of my all time favorites and samples from Keni Burke’s song with a similar title. Another personal favorite of mine. Doug E. then returns in 1992 after a hiatus to release “Doin’ What I Gotta Do.” It didn’t have the same success as his first two albums but it did release a single called “Bustin’ Out (On Funk).” A year later, Doug E. comes back with “I-ight (Alright)” and “Freaks” with Lil’ Vicious. In 1995, Doug E. reunites with Slick Rick for a joint album called “Play” with the single “Where’s Da Party At?”, which is also a favorite. With only a list of maybe 10 big hits since the 80’s, Doug E. Fresh still continues and manages to kill shows like he did back then. Never a dull moment at a Doug E. show, it’s impossible. I’m just glad to able to witness greatness not once, but twice and they were both moments I’ll never forget.