Whats Buzzing in the Streets – Page 90

Brooklyn’s Don Diva: Happy Birthday Foxy Brown

When it comes to female rappers, depending on the person you ask, an older person from the first generation of hip hop would say either MC Lyte, Queen Latifah or Monie Love, a younger person would say Nicki Minaj or Remy Ma but my all time favorite female MC is Brooklyn’s own Foxy Brown. When I listen her spit she gives me goosebumps, I get an ugly face just listening to her. She has that tough, ghetto girl, Caribbean attitude that I personally love so much. Joints like “I’ll Be”, “I Can’t”, “Oh Yeah”, or her guest verses on “Touch Me, Tease Me” or “I Shot Ya”, every time I listen to Foxy her energy and attitude keeps my attention and focus on her. She’s raunchy and materialistic with an attitude that says “I’ll slap the shit outta you if you try to play me so come correct”, it’s almost sexy to me. LOL! Her 1996 debut album “Ill Na Na”, which turns 20 this November, is one of my favorite hip hop albums but my all time favorite from a female MC. The entire album from beginning to end is another banger. Her sophomore 1999 album “Chyna Doll” was okay. Some songs stood out and others were decent but it didn’t have the same energy as her first joint and 2001’s “Broken Silence” was a confessional album about everything she been through during her life and career. I wish Foxy could bring back that ’96 fire she did with her first album but I still love her. She showed me love on Instagram last year for the anniversary of “Ill Na Na” and it made me very excited and happy. She’s really cool too. Much love to Brooklyn’s Don Diva, the ILL NA NA, Inga Marchand aka Foxy Brown. Happy Birthday Fox.

A Tall Glass of LEMONADE: Happy Birthday Beyoncé

It was 1997, and I was three years old at the time, that same year I remember hearing both an original slow version and a upbeat hip hop remixed version of the single “No, No, No.” It was sung by a girl group who came all the way from Houston, Texas and the group consisted of four girls and their names were Beyoncé, Kelly, LaTavia, and LeToya who went by the name Destiny’s Child. To this day, that remix version of “No, No, No” featuring Wyclef Jean, of the hip hop group The Fugees, is hands down my all time favorite Destiny’s Child joint. Then throughout the very late 90’s up til 2004, Destiny’s Child kept coming with bangers after bangers, albums after albums but it was in 2003 when this woman emerged into something the world wasn’t ready for. In 2003, Beyoncé went solo and released her debut album “Dangerously In Love” and the first joint she dropped was “Crazy In Love” featuring Jay-Z. I remember that summer like it was yesterday. When that album dropped, Beyoncé was everywhere yo! “Crazy In Love”, “Naughty Girl” and “Me, Myself and I” was played back to back, you couldn’t get rid of Bey if you wanted to. 3 years later, she released her sophomore album “B’Day.” On this album she put out a music video for every song on the album and she was on “Dreamgirls.” Songs like “Dèjá Vú”, “Upgrade U”, “Ring the Alarm”, and the biggest one of all “Irreplaceable”, that joint was written by Ne-Yo for those who didn’t know. Beyoncé still keeps getting better, still selling world tours all over, still putting out music videos, albums, she was on top of the world, and she puts out “I Am… Sasha Fierce.” This album is my least favorite from her because the songs to me, besides the singles, didn’t move me and the whole “Sasha Fierce” thing to me was too robotic to me but Bey made up for it when she puts out my favorite album vocally from her called “4.” This album, she was vocally going in. “I Was Here”, “Love On Top” and “I Care” are my top favorites on the album. Bey then disappears for a while and everybody was wondering when she was gonna put out a new album but instead she puts out her documentary called “Life Is But a Dream.” It was a documentary about what her life is like on and off the stage, life with her family, life on the road, she’s in the studios and doing rehearsals for shows, Beyoncé is a hard working woman and that documentary shows. Then in 2013, Beyoncé does a Prince move and drops her new surprise, visual self titled album. That album blew me away, it was such a genius move and hands down my favorite era from Beyoncé. The videos posted on her YouTube channel shows the creative process she did to create the album along with the music videos and she said that everything is a reflection of her inner thoughts and fantasies and she decided to create the songs with music videos that match the visions she was seeing in her head. This is my favorite Beyoncé era because to me reached Michael Jackson status as far as being an entertainer. She was taking risks, she became even more powerful on the stage and she being unapologetic about who she was and how she felt and she continues to be even more powerful with this recent album called “LEMONADE.” Another powerful album about infidelity, love, being Black in America, she shut down the “Illuminati” rumors that everyone was claiming her to be, she’s taken a more spiritual side with her art and it’s amazing to me. She came from being that country girl from Houston, Texas in a girl group with the country accent to being a woman whose not afraid to be who she wants to be. Beyoncé is the Tina Turner, she is the Michael Jackson of this generation and with a serious and enormous fan base, she definitely keeps the people and the press talking. Beyoncé is an amazing performer on the stage, her voice is powerful, her dances are fierce but clean and her energy and vibe screams “I am the greatest!” Some people don’t wanna give her props and there are others who give her too much props and treat her like a God, which isn’t so good. It’s one thing to move people in such a powerful way that makes the world fall in love with you but it’s another thing when people act like she’s the only one to do it like the way she’s doing but I salute Bey. She’s on top of the world right now and with a huge variety of albums, hits and music videos under her belt and electrifying performances, she’s doing her thing and she’s not going anywhere no time soon.

Naughty 25

Coming from East Orange, New Jersey, Treach, Vinnie and DJ Kay Gee aka Naughty By Nature, are one of the DOPEST hip hop groups of all time. Treach is the frontman of the group and he’s one of my favorite voices in hip hop. He has that kinda voice that perfectly matches the sounds that you hear when you listen to a Naughty joint. His delivery on the mic is incredible too, very swift and powerful, it’s like watching a Muhammad Ali fight. Without his voice, Naughty records wouldn’t be the same. Then there’s Vinnie or Vin Rock. His energy in the group reminds me of what Phife Dawg has with Q-Tip, what Spliff Star has with Busta Rhymes and what DMC has with Run, it’s that perfect yin and yang thing that works in hip hop and then there’s DJ Kay Gee. Kay Gee is the DJ and producer of the group. His production skills is the perfect sound for the East Orange natives, the sound that reflects who they are and where they come from. That sound you hear that’s hard with DJ scratches and those hard to figure out samples that you don’t know if you’re not familiar with them. Also, he’s very cool, quiet and laid back, he reminds me of Ali Shaheed Muhammad. They’re mostly recognized for their hit “O.P.P.” which comes from their self titled album released on this day 25 years ago. I remember hearing this album all the way through for the first time ever and never skipped a track on this album. The entire album is a banger from beginning to end. The album starts off with a joint called “Yoke the Joker.” A hard but kinda smooth joint with the Queen Latifah loop, the next joint “Wickedest Man Alive” features Queen Latifah, whose another New Jersey native and a legendary female MC. I like the hook on this joint, it was catchy and almost sounds like a reggae joint. The next joint “O.P.P.”, is the first single released from this album and the third joint on the album. They say there’s a charm and this song is definitely one of their best and what makes people remember who they are the most. This song to me has one of the catchiest hooks ever in hip hop history and it’s even better with that ABC, 123 Jackson 5 sample and the music video had a party vibe where everyone came out to have a good time. The next joint “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright” is the fourth joint on the album but the second single released from this album but if you have the uncensored version on the album, the CD says “Ghetto Bastard.” Makes me happy and feel like a true hip hop fan to have the uncensored version. LOL! I like this joint mostly because of the beat, it’s hard to not wanna nod your head or get up and do the wop real quick. The next joint “Let the Ho’s Go” is my favorite on the album because of the Run-D.M.C. “Peter Piper” sample loop and the beat is something I never heard before. “Everyday All Day” is a more laid back joint, it’s a joint you play in the car when you’re cruising on a beautiful afternoon during the spring and summer but Treach is still killing with the delivery. “Guard Your Grill” has a very funny intermission in the beginning with a random dude with a British accent and then when the beat drops, it’s another hardcore joint. Damn, I really wish I knew how to rap though, I would learn from Treach. “Pin the Tail On the Donkey” is my second favorite joint on the album and to me it almost sounds like a song for Young MC or Tone Lōc too. The beat is also something different to me too and the “Go!” chants make you wanna busta move on the dance floor, shit I definitely would. LMAO!! The ninth joint “1, 2, 3” is also another laid back joint and the Eazy E and Dr. Dre loop on the hook is dope. Honorable mentions to both Apache and Lakim Shabazz who appear on this joint. “Strike a Nerve” is a joint that starts with an intermission where they get harassed by cops for playing music but then of course, in classic Naughty fashion, the beat drops and it’s in your face. It’s an in-your-face joint about frustration spending a day in the hood and Vinnie finally spits on this joint. He did his thing on that one. “Rhyme’ll Shine On” had those piano sounds over that Rakim “I Know You Got Soul” beat but a little slowed down and sing along hook where you “clap your hands, just feel it” and say it’s alright! “Thankx for Sleepwalking” starts off with Treach calling Vinnie out for not being dressed, it’s kinda funny and then another laid back joint drops. The piano sounds on the beat almost reminds me of Christmas time, I don’t know why. LOL! And finally the album ends the same way the classic movie “Juice” ends, with “Uptown Anthem.” This joint is the final single released from this album and it’s another one of my favorite Naughty joints. I wasn’t alive when this joint dropped 25 years ago because I was born three years later but when I listen to this album and watch the music videos it still feels like the 90’s, a time when hip hop was so dope. If you’re a true hip hop fan, you’ll definitely enjoy this classic and of course if you’re from New Jersey you should definitely know about this. Classic material like this never gets old, it’s a timeless classic.

The King of Pop: Happy Birthday Michael Jackson

They call him the King of Pop, they call him the greatest entertainer to ever walk the planet earth, he touched hearts all over the world, he made women faint at his concerts, he has a huge catalog of music that goes back to the 70’s and his name is Michael Jackson. Michael Jackson is an iconic artist that inspires a whole lot or artists that exist today, not just in singing and dancing but entertaining period. Every Black household, cookout, birthday party, wedding, has Michael Jackson’s music, whether it’s “Thriller”, “Off the Wall”, “Dangerous” or even music from The Jacksons like their “Destiny” or “Triumph” albums. When you’re listening to a Jacksons album or song or a Michael Jackson album or song, you can’t help but to mimic Michael’s mannerisms and dance moves, especially the classic Moonwalk dance that he premiered on Motown 25 while performing his smash hit “Billie Jean” in 1983. Let’s not forget the classic bio pic movie about the Jacksons starring Angela Bassett, playing Michael’s mother, Katherine, in 1992. Angela, as usual, does an amazing job playing that role. Growing up, my mom would play The Jacksons while she cleaned up around the house, their music was from the 70’s and 80’s and here I was, a 2 year old running around singing these songs. Til this day, their music is still amazing to me and I always loved their harmonies and how instrumental it was. “Destiny” is my personal favorite Jacksons album but my all time favorite Michael Jackson song is “I Can’t Help It” from his 1979 album “Off the Wall.” Also, how incredibly dope Michael Jackson music videos were? Off the chain yo! I personally didn’t care for the extra long concepts and short films and stuff, that was annoying to me, except “Thriller” but when the music finally comes on Michael is doing his thing. Another magical thing about Michael were his live performances. His live performances were just as dope as the music videos. We didn’t know what to expect so you couldn’t miss a Michael Jackson performance. Now music, we would be here for days talking about his catalog. “Off the Wall” was very disco-ish but a classic, “Thriller” was more on the pop side, the early MTV days when they weren’t playing music videos from Black artists and I believe “Billie Jean” was the first music video played on MTV by a black artist. “Bad”, Mike had a new image, people found out he had a skin disease called vitiligo. It’s when the skin loses it’s original skin color but in blotches all over the body. Michael was still loved though, he had the same spark and magic. Then there was the 90’s and there was “Dangerous”, which is my favorite Michael Jackson era. That “Remember the Time” video is my all time favorite Michael Jackson music video. I loved the whole Egyptian ruler theme where Eddie Murphy and beautiful model Iman were the king and queen and Magic Johnson was one of the servants. That choreography was bananas yo! I try to learn that whole dance til this day. LMAO! Then we have the “HIStory” Michael. This was when Michael became more political and was speaking about the injustices and his unfair treatment in the world by the government and the media. “Scream” with his sister Janet is too legendary. That’s another favorite Michael Jackson video of mine. Me and my sister always acted like we were in that video, jumping on the furniture, dancing everywhere, we pretended to have an audience and everything, that’s the Michael Jackson effect right there. “HIStory” is my favorite Michael Jackson album because the songs were powerful, unapologetic, strong, emotional and raw all at the same time. Michael didn’t give a fuck! That’s why they banned the “Scream” video back then. Songs like “Tabloid Junkie”, “D.S.”, “Earth Song”, “Money”, “Stranger In Moscow” and the best song to me on the album is “They Don’t Care About Us.” These songs were the answers to everything. Michael was giving it to the people raw and uncut and of course there was the remix album in 1997 called “Blood On the Dance Floor: HIStory In the Mix.” Me and my sister ran that CD to the death! Those remixes had a flavor of hip hop, R&B, pop and dance and the entire thing was banging from beginning to end but after that, nobody heard another album from Michael until 2001’s “Invincible.” To me that was his last REAL album because the posthumous music wasn’t all that. They should’ve just left it at “Invincible.” I remember when “You Rock My World” came out. They ran that video to death on MTV. Chris Tucker foolish ass was his hilarious self as usual in the video and of course in classic Michael Jackson fashion, it was a short film and lots of dancing all over a woman he was chasing, just like “The Way You Make Me Feel.” Let’s not forget about the remix featuring Jay-Z. When you live in the hood where people are selling bootleg CD’s off the street, you come across some underground dope shit and I loved that remix. I personally liked the remix better. That was a street joint only found on mixed CD’s provided by DJ’s. Songs like “Butterfliez”, “Cry”, “Heaven Can Wait”, “Break of Dawn”, “The Lost Children” and “Whatever Happens”, this was another dope Michael Jackson album but it’s underrated to me, people didn’t appreciate this joint. It’s been seven years since Michael passed and we all still feel the pain of his loss. It’s like a cut trying to heal but it’s healing incorrectly. It gets re opened on the day of his death and his birthday but we all love Michael very much. He’s moonwalking and singing in a new and better place. Happy Birthday and rest in peace King. We love you and miss you. Hee Hee!

Ooohhh, It’s the L-I-Y-A-H!

Aaliyah, one of the world’s greatest R&B artists of all time. With only 3 albums and 2 movies underneath her belt, 15 years after her tragic death, she is still loved and appreciated and not just for her music but for her beauty, class, talent and mostly her positive and beautiful spirit that caught everyone’s attention. She was only 22 years old, that’s my age. I never heard anybody say anything negative about her as far as the industry goes and I never read about anybody saying anything negative about her either. She was well respected and loved by everyone, especially her musical peers both Timbaland and Missy Elliott. I grew up on Aaliyah. I have all 3 of her albums including a CD maxi single of her debut single “Back & Forth” and I have “Romeo Must Die” on DVD. Her debut album “Age Ain’t Nothing But a Number” produced and arranged by R. Kelly, was a dope R&B album with a touch of both new jack swing beats and hip hop glossed over by her smooth and calming vocals and R. Kelly’s ad-libs and an unknown young rapper named Tia who appears on tracks like “Throw Your Hands Up” and my top favorite cut on the album “I’m So Into You.” Aaliyah’s sophomore album in 1996, “One In a Million” is what made baby girl official. Both her look and sound changed. She came out in 1994 with baggy clothes and a hood kinda attitude with a scarf on her head and a groove which she claimed was a “jazz personality, G mentality”, and she pulled it off great. “Back & Forth” still gets people at parties and events going crazy, singing along to it, “At Your Best (You Are Love)” is romantic but the remix with R. Kelly going “1, 2 check it, baby lemme know wassup” was even better and had a low groove that was hip hop but R&B. Of course the title track, also had that same groove and she walking hard but kept it girly at the same time in the video. Then in ’96 she was in crop tops, rocking Tommy Hilfiger or Karl Kani gear, belly button showing, fly dark shades, baggy pants still, and her long beautiful, silky, shiny hair that glossed, swooped across her face over her eye. Aaliyah showed a more sexier side of herself but she wasn’t trashy, far from it. “One In a Million” is my personal favorite album of hers because the production was something different during that time and the songs were more dope and mature than her first joint. The hardest joints to me are of course the album title track, “Hot Like Fire”, especially the remix and video version, “Ladies In Da House” and “I Gotcha Back.” Can’t forget about the first single “If Your Girl Only Knew” and her remakes of Marvin Gaye’s “Got to Give It Up” and The Isley Brothers’ “Choosey Lover.” This album definitely blows the debut album out of the water and almost makes you forget it exists, that’s how dope the second album is. After that, baby girl did soundtrack joints and started doing acting. She put out “Are You That Somebody”, which is one my favorite Aaliyah videos, I know part of the choreography, she also put out “Try Again”, “Come Back In One Piece”, “Journey to the Past” and “I Don’t Wanna.” Baby girl did her thing in Romeo Must Did but I never saw “Queen of the Damned.” After that, her 2001 self titled album came along. My favorites cuts on the album are “Loose Rap”, “Extra Smooth”, “Never No More” and “I Care 4 U.” Aaliyah was at the top of her career and then suddenly, the plane crash that happened on August 25th, 2001. I don’t remember where I was when I found out but I just remember feeling so sad to the point it made me feel dizzy thinking about someone like Aaliyah in a tragic accident. I do remember when “We Need a Resolution”, “Rock the Boat” and More Than a Woman” first came out. “We Need a Resolution”, I swear to everything, that video was too dope. It’s another favorite music video of mine with “Are You That Somebody.” The choreography in that video was bananas. Aaliyah was a smooth dancer. She could be sexy and belly roll or grind with a guy backup dancer or she could do hip hop and bounce and groove all over. Aaliyah was the truth, no doubt. Then it was “Rock the Boat”, the video was amazing, perfect and beautiful too and “More Than a Woman” had the same dope dance moves too. Aaliyah was like the pretty girl you saw in the neighborhood who all the guys wanted but she knew better, she’s the good girl, the one who stays out of trouble and is very nice and popular, that’s how I always saw Aaliyah, even through her pictures, interviews, music videos and movies. Forever she will be in our hearts and forever her legacy will continue. With only 3 albums, over 10 singles, and 2 movies, baby girl has done more than most. Rest in peace Aaliyah Dana Haughton. We love you and we miss you.

Knowledge Reigns Supreme Over Nearly Everyone!

Lawrence Parker aka KRS-One aka “The Teacha.” A man with both the knowledge and wisdom with the rhymes that grab your attention about politics and self righteousness. A man who can sometimes say things that most don’t agree with but his intentions are good. A man from the South Bronx who began with DJ Scott LaRock and DJ D-Nice also known as Boogie Down Productions. KRS demands so much respect both on and off the stage. He teaches others what the true purpose of hip hop is really about and that’s one thing I can truly admire about this man. His words are both powerful and strong with an attitude that makes you want to sit down, listen and learn. Through hip hop, KRS is just like Public Enemy or the X-Clan when it comes to politics but can also be just like Big Daddy Kane, Kool Moe Dee, LL Cool J or Rakim and could spit those heavy rhymes over those hard bass tracks with a bit of bragging by saying that he’s # 1! One of the most important rules written in hip hop history, you NEVER battle KRS-One and that’s a fact, jack. My all time favorite cuts from KRS include “I’m Still # 1”, “MC’s Act Like They Don’t Know”, “My Philosophy”, “Sound of Da Police”, and my personal hip hop anthem, BDP’s “South Bronx.” KRS is definitely a hip hop icon for me because he’s everything that hip hop represents and everything that I wanna be. To be able to say that I’m from the South Bronx also makes me proud and I always say that. I should be quoted by now. LOL! Happy Birthday to the Teacha and rest in peace DJ Scott LaRock.

Kickin’ That Knowledge!

Awwww man! I’ve been waiting for a while to do this right here. Being a part of hip hop culture you come across wack shit, you come across dope shit and then you come across shit that completely blows you away, I’m talking about greatness before your eyes and ears and some people have that ability and affect on others the moment you hear them or meet them. I know a LOT of dope MC’s but my favorite one is who I call my long distant hip hop brother that I never had, all the way from Philly, his name is Knowledge. The name fits him so well because not only can he spit, he got style and he’s super cool, he’s knowledgable about hip hop culture and represents hip hop the same way I do. He’s the definition of what a true hip hop artist is. He’s not a rap artist but a HIP HOP artist and there’s a big difference. The difference is that a rap artist is just simply an artist who raps and anybody can rap but a hip hop artist is for the culture, they live, breathe, eat, shit, sleep hip hop. Can’t forget to mention that he has a DJ too who provides all the dope flava as well when they’re together and his name is DJ Kidroc. DJ Kidroc is an ultimate beast on the 1’s and 2’s. He mixes, scratches, he’s the real deal too. He’s not one of those so called DJ’s who just stands behind a set of turntables and just push buttons all day, he actually has the skills. Me and Knowledge have been cool with each other for a while now. He’s always keeping me updated and giving me the scoop on what’s he doing, what he’s going to do and what he have already done, not to mention that he gives back to the youth through his talent by performing at shows and he’s met so many hip hop vets and legends you can’t even count with your fingers! I will always have mad love and respect for my boy Knowledge and DJ Kidroc. He’s exactly the kinda artist we need more in hip hop, we need more duos like them in hip hop. Sorta like Eric B. & Rakim, The Fresh Prince and Jazzy Jeff, Kid N’ Play, just to name a few. His skills on the mic are untouchable compared to a lot of regular joe’s who wanna rap. They would be the rap artists compared to him. Today, he releases his new joint “Kan I Kick It?” a sort of an ode to A Tribe Called Quest and y’all know how I feel about ATCQ. You can buy his single on both Soundcloud and Bandcamp but you gotta follow him on Instagram @215knowledge. Y’all can thank me later after you become a fan and discovered some Knowledge.

The King of G-Funk: Happy Birthday Nate Dogg!

Nathaniel Dwayne Hale aka Nate Dogg. When I think of hip hop singers, he’s definitely the one. The East Coast have Mary J. Blige and the West Coast have Nate Dogg. I personally don’t know his solo stuff too much but when you hear joints like “Ain’t No Fun”, “21 Questions”, “Area Codes”, “Regulate”, or “The Next Episode” there’s no denying that deep singing voice with a bit of that West Coast attitude underneath it that makes him stand out in a room full of rappers. I just remember feeling so shocked about his sudden death back 5 years ago, it doesn’t even seem like 5 years ago. I might have to spend the day checking out his music. I’m not a fan of too much West Coast hip hop but Nate Dogg I can definitely listen to all day and just like Mary J. Blige, he provides those smooth soulful but gangsta hooks that can give a hip hop track that feeling that you can feel when you hear it. Singing along to it is one thing but feeling it and understanding where that voice comes from and how it makes you feel is another. Happy birthday and rest in peace to the king of hooks, the king of G-Funk.

Just Plain Ol’ MARY!

On this day in 1999, Mary J. Blige aka The Queen of Hip Hop Soul, released her fourth self titled album called “Mary.” I remember vividly that summer when the album came out like it was yesterday. I was 5 years old and I spent that entire summer at my auntie’s house in Virginia with my sister and cousins. Whenever we watched TV, my older cousin used to watch music videos all day from MTV Jams. I remember seeing Lauryn Hill’s “Doo Wop (That Thing)”, Ginuwine’s “So Anxious” and Mary J. Blige’s “All That I Can Say” music videos the most. I am a huge Mary J. Blige fan, the same way I’m a ATCQ fan. I have every Mary J. Blige album, music videos downloaded and saved on my flash drive, magazines, books, posters and a VHS tape from back in 2008. I’ve been a fan of Mary since I was 2 years old and even my family can tell the stories about me being a Mary fan as a kid. Those stories amaze me still to this day but anyways, back to this album. “All That I Can Say”, the very first joint on the album and the first single released from this album was a great way to start the album off right. Compared to Mary’s first three albums, this album was more R&B/soul with that Gap Band, Earth, Wind & Fire, Stevie Wonder vibe than the usual hip hop vibe Mary is known for in her sound. To me it’s like her “Share My World” album only more R&B so the evolution in Mary’s career was a perfect one. “All That I Can Say” was written and produced by Lauryn Hill and she even sings background on it too. It’s a very dope song with a “I’m gonna have a good day” kinda vibe and the music video was something different from Mary too. She presents a whole new femininity side of her that wasn’t seen before. The whole time in the video, she’s dreaming of searching for her man by walking down the street vibing in her usual Mary vibe, singing and doing her little nods and rocking, then she’s all over billboards and street lights with these red balls flying around everywhere on Times Square-42nd Street, then she’s in a dress on an escalator going to the sky and then there’s skyscrapers, the sky and she’s walking on cloud 9 literally towards a man whose just standing there and then she wakes up bugged out about the dream and it ends. This video was in heavy rotation on MTV Jams back in 1999. “Sexy” is the second joint on the album featuring The Lox’s very own Jadakiss. This is the only song on the album with a hip hop vibe and the song takes inspiration from Michael Jackson’s 1979 joint “I Can’t Help It”, which is my all time favorite Michael Jackson song from his album “Off the Wall.” The song talks about making love. The third song “Deep Inside” and the second single released from this album, is a joint about Mary wanting acceptance for who she is and not the superstar. It was only right that Elton John appears playing piano on the song because the song samples from his song “Bennie and the Jets.” The music video was dope too. She’s on tour, she walks backstage and sees these “demons” everywhere. Then she’s walking down the street, drops her jacket and appears in an all white outfit with a fur vest. Then the best part is when she busts out into a dance sequence in all red with backup dancers to her underground hit “Sincerity” featuring Nas and DMX. That song can be found on the limited edition of this album. Then she sings the rest of “Deep Inside” and the video ends with “M-J-B” and a walk off. “Beautiful Ones” the fourth song on the album. I absolutely love the vibe of this song. Everything about it to the beat, the chorus and harmonies, that song I can say low key had a hip hop vibe too cause the beat has this bass in it that’s strong if you have the right speakers to listen to that joint. “I’m In Love”, the fifth song on the album and a remake that was originally done by The Gap Band. Mary puts her own raspy and rawness twist to it. If you have the original “Mary” album release, “Time” is the sixth joint but if you have the limited edition, it’s “As” a classic remake with George Michael and originally done by Stevie Wonder. The video is just George and Mary with their thousands of doppelgängers all over the club. “Time” is hands down my favorite joint on the album. To me this is Mary’s most conscious record. She talks about drugs and crime in the black communities all over America and preaches that people should stop the violence and come together but I can’t forget to mention how sick and wicked the beat is. It reminds of me bugs crawling, when you watch a beetle crawl just like in the cartoons, it has this sound effect and that’s what the beat reminds me of. “Memories”, the seventh joint, this is my second favorite on the album. The harmonies match the beat so well. Mary took her vocal stacking to the next level on this album to me and I get goosebumps. “Don’t Waste My Time”, the eighth joint featuring the Queen of Soul. Aretha Franklin. Both Mary and Aretha battle it out on this song about a man whose wasting his woman’s time by being with her knowing that he still has feelings for another woman. “Not Lookin'”, the ninth joint featuring K-Ci Hailey of Jodeci. This is an awkward song because both Mary and K-Ci were together back in the early 90’s during her “What’s the 411?” and “My Life” days. Mary is basically telling him off about his “mack daddy” ways and avoids him trying to woo her and get back with her but she wasn’t having it. LOL! “Your Child”, the tenth joint and the third single. Mary tells a story about a man’s infidelity and having a baby by another woman and the music video was spot on perfect for the song. “No Happy Holidays”, the eleventh joint, Mary talks about being with a man who never spends his holidays with her. She spends the holidays alone while he’s out maybe with family. The twelfth joint, “The Love I Never Had”, Mary talks about having feelings for a man she can’t have. “Give Me You”, the thirteenth joint and final single. This was my favorite when I was younger but “Time” replaced it instead. This song is about Mary wanting her man to give her his all, meaning love and affection and not materialistic things. Michael Jordan appears in the music video and last but not least Mary’s remake of the classic “Let No Man Put Asunder.” What a great way to end the album with a classic 70’s dance track that was originally done by First Choice. To me, this album reflected a more sensitive side of Mary. She got rid of the “homegirl” attitude and hip hop sounds for the big ballads. I would rank this album maybe fifth or sixth on my first to last list of Mary J. Blige albums.

Written by Jay-Doggz

Lets’ bring Hip Hop Back!

I recently attended an old school hip hop show at The Dell Music Center in Philadelphia. The line up was bananas! Public Enemy, Stetsasonic, The Alumni, Lady of Rage, Three Times Dope, and Sam The Beast–with over 5,000 in attendance the crowd roared as they heard all of their favorite songs from the 80’s and 90’s. Stetsasonic was one of the first hip hop crews to use a live band. They delivered all our favourites such as “Sally,” “Just Say Stet” and “Talking All That Jazz.” They did not disappoint!!! Next, Phillies own Three Times Dope rocked the stage with “The Greatest Man Alive” and “Funky Dividends.” The Alumni, which consists of Chubb Rock, Special Ed, Dana Dane, Kwame and Monie Love killed it with all of our favorites from each artist. Lady of Rage best known for her collaborations with Dr. Dre and Snoop Dog also an actress on Major television shows and movies is described as one of the most skillful Mc’s with her hard core lyrics. Sam The Beast who started off as a DJs transformed into a rapper drawing large crowds rivaling any artists from the 80’s an 90’s. Therefore gaining “Beast” title. Not to mention all the surprise guest and performances by Greg Nice, Schoolly D, Vivian Green and several DeeJays and last but not least Public Enemy known for their politically charged music and criticism of theAmerican media with an active interest in the frustration and concerns of the African American community they gave the people what they wanted as Chuck D and Flava Flav took over the stage to end the night leaving us wanting more. This was a great night for Hip Hop! LET’S BRING HIP HOP BACK!!!

Written by Iris Doveran