Category: Whats Buzzing in the Streets

Being A Mom To A Child With Autism

Being a mom is a very challenging job. As a mom your days really never end. A mom is on call from the time she opens her eyes until they close at whatever ungodly time that life situations allows her to go to bed. All mothers have demands on their life, however the life of a mother to a child on the autism spectrum can be a gift and a curse at the same time.

Children with autism are very different from other children because they learn differently. A mom with a child on the autism spectrum have to find new ways to teach this child that has a developmental delay that hinders the learning process. The education process is different. If the child is diagnosed through early intervention there is a wealth of services available for them including speech therapy, occupational therapy and ABA skills. These are in home services until the child is school age after the third birthday. Although mothers of children on the spectrum are pleased with the fact that the child is learning it can also be overwhelming to have service providers in the home on a daily basis. It sometime can feel like an intrusion on life.

At three years old a child with autism begins attending school after getting an individualized educational plan also known as an IEP. The mother than has the pleasure of calling schools to check for class availability and then begin to book tours and interviews for schools. This is a lengthy process. At times it requires taking days off from work. Once the child is in school the mother now has to be an advocate to ensure that the child is getting serviced properly.

Children on the autism spectrum are more prone to getting sick. The immune system of a child with a developmental delay is often times not as strong as other children. This can cause a mother with a child on the spectrum to take more trips to the emergency room resulting in May sleepless nights.

Some children with autism have sensory issues. The sensory issues allow them to be very energetic. The children tend to run instead of walking. Children on the spectrum have a tendency to sleep less due to these sensory issues. Their little bodies do not embrace sleep. So now mom has a messy home to clean.

These are all things that I have experienced on my journey being a mother of a child on the autism spectrum. My son who is now three years old was diagnosed with high functioning autism a little after his second birthday. I contacted early intervention because I noticed a speech delay. He is two years old and had a vocabulary of less than ten words.

When the service providers began showing up in the home it felt like my life was under a microscope. I had strangers coming into my home telling me to do things differently. The change was uncomfortable. They wanted me to stop babying my baby and let him learn to be independent. I didn’t realize the severity of his speech delay because he never needed to talk. I was always at his neck and call. I was making it worst because he never had to ask for anything. I always took care of his needs. Now it was time for me to let him learn to do things like a big boy.

When it was time for my baby to go to school I was overwhelmed. My baby was getting on a bus with strangers and would be with strangers for eight hours of the day. I was in fear. My son is nonverbal. My head raced with thoughts. What if someone hits him or mistreats him? How will I ever know? The transition to school was a really big deal for me. I am happy to report that school is great and my baby is learning so much. I see the progress. He is growing up very beautifully and doing such amazing things.

Although my baby is sick from time to time with colds and stomach viruses he is doing well. I am grateful he doe go to the emergency room it is never an over night stay. At this point he doesn’t like taking any kind of medicine. I give him a diet high in iron. He eats lots of fruits and vegetables. This prevents trips to the doctor because he is getting the nutrients that he needs.

My baby is a big ball of energy. He usually wakes up at six o’clock in the morning and is able to stay awake without a nap until at least 10 o’clock at night. He gets into everything and anything. His favorite pastimes are playing in water, going into the refrigerator, and bothering his older sister. My days are busy and my nights long. I am on a journey through life with a tour guide that has autism. I love my tour guide with all of my heart. I wouldn’t trade my life as an autism life for anything in the world.

 

Written by Regina Alston

street line

The mommy chronicles: general info and myths on being a mom

When people think about motherhood they think about the things that people over the years say just to scare them; your life is over! you can’t follow your dreams because your main focus is your child. well I am writing this short article to put these rumors and put downs to a stop!

YOUR LIFE IS OVER! : This is the first rumor that needs to be put to rest. being a mom does not mean that your life is over, it’s simply a new adventure in your life. Yes you might have to take a break from some of your normal life activities but you still will have time for doing the things you like but you will also get to experience new things you love to do like caring for and nurturing someone who will depend on you but grow to love you more than anyone else has or ever will.

YOU CAN’T FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS: Even though you have a child you can continue to follow all of your dreams and achieve your goals if anything that will make you more likely to adapt to any type of change or environment. Fantasia from american idol had a child before she got famous and she continued to follow her dream and look at where it got her. some of the most successful people have children and it made them strive even harder just so their children can believe they can do anything they put their mind to. so please continue to dream and continue to chase your dreams

A NEW LOVE:  I feel like the best part of being a mother is the level of love you will have for your child and the amount of love your child will have for you. from the moment your child is in your belly you grow a special bond with him or her and you will be anxious to meet your little bundle of joy! it’s definitely worth it. The moment you get that tiny baby in your arms you will know that you have never loved anyone as much as him or her or never will (unless you have more children, then you will love them equally). This love is so power and infinite that you will go through hell and high water to make sure they are safe,happy and healthy and you will be satisfied just by a simple smile on their face.

 

I hope I gave you a few reasons why being a mom isn’t bad if this post did not change your views on motherhood then it might  not be for everybody.but for those of you that felt like this post has helped you, I wish you the best on your journey through motherhood and may you stay happy.

Written by

Rhonda Rodriguez

The Definition of X: The Legacy of DMX

The year was 1998 when this Yonkers native exploded on the scene with one catchy but an inviting, in-your-face phrase, “Get At Me Dog.” His raps are the stories about the hard times in life, including drugs and abandonment. He raps with a sorta bark/growl in his voice that makes you think of the biggest, most meanest pit bull with the biggest bark you’ve ever heard. This man goes by Earl Simmons aka Dark Man X or DMX for short. He was a part of the Ruff Ryders clique, a hip hop clique that includes members of a family who came from the Bronx. Ironically, they come from 1520 Sedgwick Avenue, the same place where hip hop all started with the father himself, otherwise known as the infamous DJ Kool
Herc. In Ruff Ryders, there’s a young, dope and fresh producer who goes by the name is Swizz Beatz. Swizz is the guy who provides all of the sound for the Ruff Ryders artists including Eve, The LOX, and Drag-On. DMX is the stand out guy who catches your attention with his raw, rough and rugged voice with a pain that tells a story of a guy who comes from struggle and pain. His pain isn’t the pain you get over overnight, it’s the kind of pain that takes a lot of healing. You gotta go to a place where you’re willing to change and get better. DMX is trying to get from one place to another. There’s no denying the kind of talent that DMX is and the list of hits he put out for almost the past 20 years. “What These Bitches Want”, “What’s My Name?”, “Come Back In One Piece” with the late great Aaliyah, “Where Tha Hood At” and more. X’s legacy continues and he is well loved and respected, despite his troubles and what he’s been through. The man is a hip hop legend. A legend who represented for the streets.

Hot, Cool, & Vicious: The 30th Anniversary

30 years ago on December 8th, 1986, two young, fly, around-the-way girls from Queens, New York who were good friends released their first album called “Hot, Cool & Vicious.” The two good friends were named Salt-N-Pepa. Originally called “Super Nature” on their first single back in 1985 named “The Showstopper”, these two kicked the door down and were proving to the world that they can do it just like the guys can. People recognized them as the “salt and pepper” MC’s, a line that was said in “The Showstopper” and that was the birth of Salt-N-Pepa. The original DJ Spinderella was another girl from Queens named Latoya Henson. Due to several issues behind closed doors with the group and manager Herby “Luv Bug” Azor, she was later replaced with Deidra Roper as she appeared in the video to “Push It.” Now usually, I like to do a track by track analysis when it comes to these album anniversaries but with this one, I’m not. I’m not gonna do that for this one just for the simple fact that the album to me had the same dope vibe the whole way through. It’s a 9-track LP with singles like “Push It” and “Tramp.” “My Mic Sounds Nice” is my personal favorite on the album and I think the title was perfect too. It perfectly describes the ladies’ personalities and the tracks reflect it as well. The entire album gives me attitude with a party vibe that’s not too over the top. I imagine a group of friends walking down the street listening to this album on a boombox and just dancing in the street, hanging out in the front of the building and rapping along to the lyrics with a pair of Pro Keds or Adidas or Pumas, some ripped Levi jeans at the knees for a dope design but also at the back of the heels because they’re worn a lot and a bubble coat with the fur on the hood cause remember it’s December 1986. Salt-N-Pepa and DJ Spinderella left an impact in hip hop that was empowering to women. They had topics about sex and what they thought about men, in a honest way too, not male bashing, there’s a difference. 30 years later, it’s still something that’s timeless and fun, dope and classic. As they said, “Salt-N-Pepa’s here and where in effect….!”

The Life & Times of Shawn Carter

“Shawn Carter was born December 4th….. weighing in at 10lbs. 8 ounces.” Those were the first words that was said on the track “December 4th” but the first time Shawn Carter aka Jay-Z was seen was back in the late 80’s, early 90’s when he and another dope MC named Jaz-O was spitting dope freestyles together. They even did a joints together called “Hawaiian Sophie” and “The Originators.” I do remember seeing the “Hawaiian Sophie” music video for the first time too. It was definitely around 2008 and they played it on VH1 Soul before it was BET Soul. That’s my favorite music channel on T.V. right now but I stopped watching T.V. Anyways, by 1995, Jay released his first joint called “In My Lifetime.” The song wasn’t released on an album or soundtrack but the remix does appear on the 1998 “Streets Is Watching” soundtrack and then there was “I Can Get With That.” That joint was so dope to me. It had this heavy bass beat with a piano sound in the background on the beat that reminds me of the Charlie Brown cartoon. Jay was flowin’ like crazy on that joint. Only true hip hop and Jay-Z fans know about that one. On June 25th, 1996, Jay finally came with “Reasonable Doubt.” A lot of people say it’s his best work til this day. Jay got a crazy huge discography so it’s gonna take a while to go through them all but I got to. I was only 2 when “Reasonable Doubt” dropped but I do remember hearing “Can’t Knock the Hustle” with my boo Mary J. Blige and “Dead Presidents.” That album gives you this movie in your head about the drugs and street life. Can’t forget about “Ain’t No Nigga” with my boo Foxy Brown and “Feelin’ It” but “Regrets” is my favorite on the album. Now the next joint “In My Lifetime, Vol. 1” is my personal favorite Jay-Z album. This was considered the “commercial” Jay. A lot of people hated Jay for going so mainstream so quickly and thought the songs were cheesy but to me, the entire joint from beginning to end is a fuckin’ masterpiece. A couple of songs I could do without but it’s incredible to me. The production especially. The album starts the same way “Reasonable Doubt” does. I love how he used the sample of “A Fly Girl” by Boogie Boys on the joint “I Know What Girls Like” and “(Always Be My) Sunshine” is my favorite on the album along with “Who You Wit II.” That album takes me back to that little boy growing up in the late 90’s early 2000’s. Then Jay takes it back to the streets with “Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life.” Another dope Jay album in a row. That’s 3 albums in 3 years consecutively. The ghetto anthem itself “Hard Knock Life” is a top 5 Jay-Z record, hands down. “Money, Cash, Hoes” is my favorite on the album too. DMX’s part always gets me hyped and it reminds me of my cousin from the South. LOL! “Vol. 3… Life and Times of S. Carter” I didn’t really like this joint. It was boring to me compared to the first three and the singles are the only songs I like. “The Dynasty: Roc La Familia” was okay too. Nothing too crazy. The whole Roc-a-Fella family appeared on this one. “I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me)” is a top 10 Jay-Z joint to me. Then Jay comes with “The Blueprint.” This album is a top 5 Jay-Z album. His strongest since “Reasonable Doubt.” I personally didn’t consider this album to be that great until later on. “Girls, Girls, Girls” and “Song Cry” are my favorites. “The Best of Both Worlds” with R. Kelly is underrated to me. That was banged from beginning to end. That’s a party album, all the way through. It’s very early 2000’s. R. Kelly’s R&B sex talk and Jay’s good vibes worked together great but no singles were released due to R’s charges at the time. “The Blueprint 2” is hands down my least favorite Jay-Z album. To me it didn’t stand out to me and the singles are the only joints that I like. “Bitches & Sisters” and “All Around the World” are the only joints like besides the singles though. “The Black Album” is my second favorite Jay-Z album. This was supposed to be his last album. I remember him saying that he was retiring after this one but New York without new Jay-Z music then was unheard of. Highly unlikely. “Unfinished Business” was supposed to be the sequel to “The Best of Both Worlds” but it’s another flop to me. “Kingdom Come” is my third favorite Jay album. Another Jay album that a lot of people considered to be his worst but I like this one just as much as “In My Lifetime, Vol. 1.” For some reason, the underrated stuff is the stuff I always seem to like the most. “Beach Chair”, “Do U Wanna Ride” and “The Prelude” are my favorites. “American Gangster” to me is like a sequel to “Reasonable Doubt” just on another level. When I was in high school, “Hello Brooklyn” was on repeat on my MP3 player. I was obsessed with that joint. The beat was something crazy I never heard before. “The Blueprint 3” is the beginning of what I call the “office chair Jay-Z.” His success as a business man stood out more than the music at this point. I didn’t see Jay as that Brooklyn MC anymore, now he’s the one appearing in suits and ties every damn where. I’m not hating or anything, it’s just not the same but this album was dope to me. I do remember these songs coming out at the time it did. My early high school days in the late 2000’s. “Watch the Throne”, I remember people going crazy about it because of Kanye West’s involvement. This album has mainstream written all over it though but it’s another banger and “Magna Carta Holy Grail” was dope too. I enjoyed how different it is compared to the rest of Jay’s stuff. Jay-Z came a long way from those Jaz-O days back in Brooklyn, those “Reasonable Doubt” days but through it all he always put out dope music. I grew up on Jay-Z so that’s why he’s my top 5 favorite along with Biggie. He’s the ultimate hustler who just so happens to know how to rap. The ultimate New York MC.

Malik “ Phife Dawg” Taylor Street Dedication Ceremony

    • phife22
      Someone in the crowd yells, “Can I Kick It?” The crowd yells back, “yes, you can!!”
      Words cannot describe the energy of the crowd. I overheard one of the Politicians
      say that they have never seen such a large crowd at a street sign dedication
      ceremony. Nothing but love is what Malik “Phife Dawg” Taylor was shown at the street
      dedication ceremony on 192nd  and Linden Blvd where he grew up. Represent, represent is what the remaining members of the Tribe did. Q-Tip and Jarobi spoke to the crowd and took pictures with the fstreet lineans, as they anticipated the unveiling of the new street sign. Hundreds of family members, friends, and fans packed the street as the dee jay played A Tribe Called Quest  music.Celstreet lineebrities on hand included Craig G., Consequence, Busta  Rhymes, Curt Flirt, Hurricane, Cool V, The Disco Twins, Pow  wow, Kangol Kid, Big Jeff, and Mr. Walt (Da BeatMinerz).  Memories of Phife were shared by his mom, Cheryl Boyce-Taylor , Senator Leroy   Comrie, and Peter Rosenburg of Hot 97. Some people laughed, others cried, and we all prayed. The show of support for the family was overwhelming.
      “See, I’m not the one to be taken advantage of, and if you really think about it, I got nothin’ but love.”street line
      “Linden Blvd represent,  represent
       A Tribe Called Quest represent, represent.”street line
       Malik “Phife Dawg” Taylor

      Gone too soon…..Your Legacy Lives on…..Your Impact will last a Lifetime

      Malik “Phife Dawg’’ Taylor may you continue to Sleep In Beats…
    street line     Written  By Venus Mizell

Street Line Wins Again!

Street Line wins again. Street Line won the BETA Award for Best Cultural award for the movie Perate.  Read the article BX Times wrote about us.

 

A Dedication to Malik “Phife Dawg” Taylor: My Letter to Phife

Dear Phife,

As I write you this letter, I’ll be as strong as I can. There’s no other way for me to express how much love I have for you and the Tribe. It all started 2 years ago. Now, I grew up on hip hop, and that includes you guys Tribe too. Y’all music was always dope to me but I became an overnight fan 2 years ago. I was at home on my laptop, on Tumblr just scrolling through my dashboard, reblogging stuff for my blog and it was a picture of you guys, including Jarobi that popped up. Black and white, standing side by side. I reblogged the pic of y’all and said to myself how long it’s been since I’ve actually heard y’all music. It was that moment that started everything for me. I immediately started listening to y’all albums all the way through for the first time and something in me sparked up this feeling I never got before. I even heard your joint “Ventilation: Da LP” and loved it too. After hearing y’all albums all the way through, I found myself watching y’all music videos, researching and looking y’all up, watching interviews, saving photos on my laptop and then I saw the documentary. It was the best shit I’ve ever seen but at the same time, it hurt me to see you and Tip beefing like that. That I don’t feel comfortable with seeing or hearing about. Besides the drama y’all two had, I found myself a die hard fan overnight. Everything about you guys was absolutely moving and inspiring to me. As a hip hop fan whose a singer, I wish to have the same elements in y’all music in mine someday. Y’all taught me politics, self righteousness, being proud of who I am, all at the same time, never changing who I was to be something I’m not and that’s why I love Tribe so much. Fast forward to July 18th, 2015. This was the day I finally got to meet you guys. I found out on Instagram maybe a day or two before and I was so amped and hyped to meet you guys. That was the same day my little cousin was having a birthday party but I missed it because I stood on that line waiting to meet y’all. I remember wearing a purple bucket hat, white t-shirt with a purple one underneath, my ripped Levi Jeans and Grape 5 Air Jordans. I didn’t have anything on me but $15 so I couldn’t buy any merchandise, which was a blow to me but when I finally met you guys, I was excited, scared, stuck, frozen, amazed, there was a rush in my stomach and my heart was beating super fast. Q-Tip told me he liked my style, I’ll never forget that, Jarobi was kinda like he didn’t want to be there but he was cool too, then I met you and told you how hilarious you are on Instagram and you said to me “Thanks my man.” I shook Ali Shaheed’s hand and you guys signed my poster. After that, I returned back to the Bronx with this smile on my face. It felt like I just went through an enlightenment. I had a totally different feeling from that day. Now this is the part of the letter that’s gonna be really hard for me dawg but I gotta tell you how it affected me. The day you left us, it was the same day as my cousin’s 23rd birthday and three days before my 22nd. It was around 10 at night. Someone posted a link in one of the hip hop groups I’m in on Facebook saying that you past. I was confused and automatically got angry. I was angry because I remember years ago, someone spread a rumor that you already did and you appeared on an interview like “Here I am!” waving with this smile on your face in a joking way like you always do. I saw the link was from DJ Chuck Chillout’s Twitter account so I hit the hashtag “RIP Phife Dawg” and my heart started racing. I only saw but 30 posts and I just brushed it off because I was sure you were still here. I went to sleep and ended up popping back up around 5 in the morning. When I pop up out of my sleep, something isn’t right. I grabbed my phone and saw that I got a text message from a friend of mine and the text said in these exact words, “Hey Clone, did you hear about Phife? He died” this was when I knew it was for real. I went to Instagram and immediately, my whole entire feed was flooded with you. I was stuck, confused, hurt, angry, upset, this wasn’t supposed to happen yo. On the morning of March 23rd, I had a dentist appointment that day. Right before I left my house, I finally cried, I finally broke down yo. Me and you just met 8 months before that, you were so cool and down to earth, I felt like a family member was taken from me. I cried for about an hour thinking about you and the rest of Tribe. I was thinking about life, about hip hop and the state that it’s in, all of these things came to my head because you were no longer with us. The entire day, I just remember everything being so slow. Time had stopped but the world kept going. My head was spinning and I was in a slump. That had to be the longest day of my life. 2 days before my birthday which made it even worse. A month later, there was a memorial for you in St. Albans. I skipped classes just to be there for you, I had to be. Right after my math class I left school, hopped on the train at 149th Street-Grand Concourse and was on my way to your hood. It’s a long ass ride to get out there but it was worth it. I met other fans, including my bro Shenron, Ralph McDaniels was out there, I missed the part where they handed out free shirts with your name on it and it was raining and so cold but it was worth it. I don’t think I could’ve been able to handle myself if I didn’t go. The next morning, this dude I went to high school with saw me in the papers honoring you. It made me feel like I was this poster guy for you, for Tribe. It was my name, my picture, your picture underneath it and it said I was honoring YOU. So much love I was receiving from my hip hop peers. I was a proud fan of you dawg, nah fuck that, I AM a proud fan of you. Now, lately, you guys have been on top of the world again and it’s amazing. We Tribe fans always wanted a new album from y’all and y’all did that for us. It was hard but at the same time exciting to hear your voice again. The album is amazing and “We the People” is fucking amazing too. I read about you and Tip being on good terms throughout he making of the album, I knew you guys were. I was hoping you two were. I love y’all brotherhood, we needed y’all back in hip hop again, we needed to see that, to feel that, to know that. Just last week, I went to the pop up shop. I didn’t get the shirt I originally wanted but it was worth it. I just wish the people who worked at the shop wasn’t so selfish to be the ones wearing all the merchandise and tell us fans there’s no more stuff. That pissed me off yo but I’m happy I got something. I’m gonna wear it forever, as well as my custom made t-shirt that my guy Curtis made for me. Yesterday, we finally celebrated the street naming after you. I missed the part where they finally showed the sign but I had to be there once again for you. So much love and good energy was out there for you. I seen your wife too, she’s so strong and beautiful too. I heard about your mom being there too, she’s also so strong and beautiful too. Jarobi was right in front of me but I was too scared to ask for a picture. I froze up. I went back home mad about that but then I remembered the time I met y’all last year. Yo Phife, this letter is to tell you how much I miss you and love you, how much the fans, your family and hip hop misses you. It don’t have to be your birthday, a Tribe Tuesday, a Tribe album anniversary for me to represent, I’m always representing. People remind me everyday how much I put on for hip hop culture and I think about you automatically. When my time comes when I’m in the game best believe you’ll be honored in the best way possible in my own way. I do it everyday but still. Man, Happy Birthday Phife. I love you and miss you again. Rest in beats King. It’s Tribe 4 ever and it’s always you 4 ever! You on point Phife? You always were!

Ill Na Na: The 20th Anniversary Edition!

On November 19th, 1996, a young, hardcore chick from Brooklyn, who is my all time favorite female MC, released her debut album. 20 years later, the album is still a masterpiece from beginning to end. Banger after banger, hit after hit, there are no misses on this joint right here. Yo, I hate saying “female MC” because their sex shouldn’t be the focus, it’s the skills that matters and this chick right here definitely got the skills on the mic and that’s why she’s my top favorite. When I listen to her, she’s raw, she’s hard, she’s hood wit it, she’s got the balls, the attitude, the style, and sexy all at the same time. Very hard but feminine at the same time. Skin dark like dark chocolate and has a in-your-face style too. The 18 year old was Brooklyn’s own Foxy Brown. 1996 may be the year she released her debut album but it was the year before that when she appeared as a guest on LL Cool J’s remix to the joint “I Shot Ya” and to me she had the best verse. Foxy from the beginning was a beast. She gives me goosebumps when I listen to her. People pin her and Lil’ Kim against each other from the beginning since they both came out probably a week from each other. They may be similar in some ways but Foxy does something to me that Kim doesn’t. Now, “Ill Na Na”, straight banger and I’m not exaggerating. There are absolutely no skips when this joint is on. The album starts off with the “Chicken Coop” intro that’s in true, legendary Trackmasters style. That deep voice that lures you into what’s about to come through your speakers and gives you an introduction of what you’re about to witness, a little history of the team that’s behind Foxy, the label, the year, everything and then finally it’s “Foxy Brownnnnn, the Albummm.” Isaac Hayes makes an appearance at the end of the intro and then there’s the cross fade transition into “(Holy Matrimony) Letter to the Firm.” How ironic because the song samples Isaac Hayes’ “Ike’s Mood, Part 1.” Foxy spits an entire joint dedicated to her The Firm peers, Nas and AZ. Next, it’s “Foxy’s Bells.” Foxy gives you a LL Cool J “Rock the Bells” but on her own twist. She pulled it off in a great way too. Then, we hear the soft sounds of Teddy Riley’s group BLACKstreet on the joint “Get Me Home.” Now I have to clear this up right now. I notice sometimes, here and there, people say it’s “Gotta Get Me Home” when it’s just simply named “Get Me Home”, okay people? A’ight, let’s keep going. This joint was one of the singles off the album. It’s a certified banger and a automatic classic for both Foxy and BLACKstreet. It’s a song to me that never gets old. It’s timeless shit. Chauncey Black was no joke on the vocals and this was around the time when they had new members in the group. Next, “The Promise”, Havoc of Mobb Deep is on this one. This is the Foxy that I love. She brings you that street shit, her stories of being around men who hustle and do street shit and the guy promises her that everything will be straight but in the long run, things will eventually get ugly and of course they do. This part of the album is like a story of a woman whose trapped in a bind. She’s surrounded by these hustlers and she wants to get away. The short interlude “The Set Up”, she wants to leave her man because she believes the relationship isn’t working out but he’s not taking her seriously and then these dudes run up on him who represent for her and protect her by killing him right there on sight. “If I” comes on. It’s a joint that’s the answer to the interlude. She talks about what would happen if she could rewind time back to when life was good. Her life and relationship changes when she starts to blow up and become an artist. Great storytelling. An original purpose in hip hop that I love. “The Chase” is another hard joint about the street life. Running around just trying to survive. “Ill Na Na”, the album title joint, my dude Mef appears on this one. What I love about Mef is that he has a special way of collaborating with people. It’s not just a normal joint featuring Method Man, he actually blends well with other artists by feeling out their vibe and feeding the listeners who he’s vibing with on the track. He’s the perfect collaborator to me. This joint shows love to Foxy about her style and who she is. She almost gives the men a taste of what she likes and what she’s about at the same time giving the ladies some inspiration to be proud of the women they are if they relate to her style and ways. “No One’s” a smooth joint with the smooth sounds of Khadijah Bass. The joint comes from The S.O.S. Band’s “No One’s Gonna Love You.” It works very well over a hip hop track. I honestly don’t think this joint would work with anybody else on the hook and chorus. “Fox Boogie” is hands down my favorite joint on the album just because Kid Capri is on the track. He provides all the flavor and party vibe on the track. This is the joint you put on at parties when everybody come together and have their red cups and everybody is singing along to “Uggggghhhh, na na na naaaaa!” Foxy keeps it strictly Foxy style still. Giving the people who the fuck she is. That cocky rapper joint. Everybody has their cocky tracks and that’s okay. That’s the best part about hip hop: the boldness and rebelliousness. It’s a beautiful thing. The joint transitions into “I’ll Be”, another single released from the album and my boy Jay-Z appears on this one. This is the joint everybody knows when it comes to Foxy Brown. That Rene & Angela sample was genius too. Foxy and Jay have that 90’s Bonnie & Clyde thing going on before he had Beyoncé. The album ends on a continuation of the intro and Isaac Hayes says the last things that he wanted to say before the beat stops. Hands down, this album is my all time favorite when it comes to women in hip hop. Truly a masterpiece. I enjoy it every single time I listen to it. I get this movie in my head of almost a hood version of Romeo & Juliet. I remember posting about this album on it’s 18th and 19th anniversaries too and Foxy showed me love with kisses and heart emojis. She’s truly my heart when it comes to women MC’s. See how I switched it up? But still. I hate the label regardless. It’s safe to end this on a good note. I can finish the movie in my head I have while listening to this album with her video of “Big Bad Mamma” featuring Dru Hill. Stephon Marbury pops up on the sofa across the room from her and goes “Ayo Fox! Why you ain’t at the ball yo!?” It’s the Cinderella story of a hood girl who made it through the shit she been through during “Ill Na Na” and now she’s a survivor. Fox Boogie Brown is definitely bad as hell. Salute to a legend, one of hip hop’s ILLEST women on the M-I-C. Love you Fox! Word, one love.

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Written by Street Line