Tag: hip hop

All Hail The Queen: The Legacy of Queen Latifah

One of hip hop’s earliest female MC’s, the homegirl from Newark, New Jersey, the one who came onto the scene in 1988 when she was just a part of the Flavor Unit. She made a demo that ended up in the hands of Fab Five Freddy, who was a host on Yo! MTV Raps, and then was given to an employee at Tommy Boy Records. After that, she recorded her hit “Wrath of My Madness.” She then released her debut album in 1989 with both a voice and a style that’s iconic in hip hop history. She’s fearless, unapologetic, strong, a no nonsense type of person whose well respected and might give a mean jab or two if you don’t come correct. Mostly known for her female empowering songs and teaching how and what it means to be respected as a woman, especially in a male dominated field that she’s in, she’s definitely the Queen, Queen Latifah that is. She came onto the scene in 1989 when she signed to Tommy Boy Records and released her debut album, that year in November, titled “All Hail the Queen.” Of course, this is the album with her signature hit “Ladies First” with another dope female MC who goes by the name Monie Love. Besides how powerful and uplifting the song is, their rhymes had incredible flow and wordplay, it was something that made you have much more deeper love and appreciation for women, black women especially. Her next joint “Nature of a Sista” is the album with one of my favorite Latifah joints, which is “Latifah’s Had It Up 2 Here.” The opening line in the song is what always made me love Latifah as an MC. “Well, It the L-A, the T-I, the F-A-H, you see why…” It’s the first line that comes to my head when I think of her and her music. Her 1993 joint “Black Reign” is what made us 90’s babies appreciate Latifah the most because of the joint “U.N.I.T.Y.” It’s another dope record from the Queen about not disrespecting our women and uniting. “Just Another Day” is a smooth, laid back joint about chillin’, hangin’ around in the hood with your homies. Latifah’s switch up from her first two albums to this one wasn’t such a bad move either. She still kept it real, stayed herself but on this album, it was more dark and appealed more to the streets. Her first three albums to me stood the most. It marked her legacy as an MC. During the 90’s, that’s when she made her mark on the television screen. She was mostly known for her role as Khadijah on “Living Single” and as a roughneck lesbian named Cleo on “Set It Off.” Can’t forget to mention the talk show she had at the end of the 90’s, which most don’t know about. Throughout the 2000’s, Latifah has been in countless movies as a starring role and has been on Broadway and even doing traditional singing style with her music and another talk show that only lasted for three years. Latifah is definitely someone in hip hop who has influenced a lot of women and opened doors for them. Definitely a queen in her own right.

Criminal Minded: The 30th Anniversary!

This past week has been an incredible one for hip hop and especially those who are from the Bronx, the birthplace. It makes me proud to be from The Bronx this time around, even though I’m always proud, regardless of the ignorant and asinine comments made about my borough daily. This past week, Swizz Beatz went live to reveal an unreleased joint during a DJ battle with Just Blaze that made the entire hip hop community go bonkers and Remy Ma rips Nicki Minaj apart with her diss track “ShEther.” There was definitely a lot of talk about whose the better MC between the two ladies and of course, non hip hop fans jumping in discussions just to defend Nicki by throwing out information about her sales and income when we all know that traditionally in hip hop, it’s the skills on the mic that matters, not the sales and awards, but it was definitely another interesting The Bronx vs. Queens battle, which reminds me of KRS-One and MC Shan. Now speaking of KRS-One, yesterday was the birthday of the late great DJ Scott LaRock and today, “Criminal Minded” turns 30. On March 3rd, 1987, KRS-One and DJ Scott LaRock aka Boogie Down Productions released “Criminal Minded.” A 10 track album that’s definitely one of the greatest and most influential hip hop albums of all time. I usually critique each song on the album when it comes to celebrating its anniversary but for this one, It’s one powerful album for just 10 songs. In classic hip hop, KRS-One fashion, what The Teacha himself is known for, he delivers with such knowledge and wisdom. Teaching the listeners a thing or two about politics and such. At the same time, the two classic bangers, “South Bronx”, which is my personal theme song, and “The Bridge Is Over” are both responses to the MC Shan battle during that time and it shows how an aggressive KRS-One gets on the mic. Like he says, never battle him cause he’s number one! This album is definitely a top 5 for me personally. Not just because it’s KRS-One but because it’s an album that’s actually a banger from beginning to end and what I consider to be an early blueprint or “the guide to being an MC” for a lot of dope and talented rappers in the game, both old and young. I guess this is my way of paying homage to KRS-One and Scott LaRock but mostly to Scott. Definitely a late great whose time was cut short unfortunately but is still respected and loved today and peace to The Teacha. 30 years, BX we here!

Baduizm: The 20th Anniversary

Good music makes me happy but classic shit gets me excited, especially when the anniversary of that specific classic arrives. Sometimes I’m prepared and other times I’m reminded the day of and it catches me off guard like “Oh shit! That’s a CLASSIC!” 20 years ago on February 11th, 1997, hip hop and neo soul artist Erykah Badu burst onto the scene with her debut album “Baduizm.” I honestly don’t feel worthy enough to even write about this masterpiece of an album because Erykah is another level with her intellect and word play. It took me years to understand Erykah and other women who are just like her because I’m used to hood girls and there’s nothing wrong with a hood chick but Erykah is the intellectual black woman who represents a totally different type of creativity that’s rare in the hood. She’s the one who burns an incense and sips on tea with an ankh symbol around her neck, which represents life and completeness. Erykah explains fully what it means on her Live album that also came out 20 years ago. Erykah’s sound had a jazz vibe to it but she definitely is hip hop. It’s not that in your face, kinda rough stuff, it’s that soothing but knowledgeable stuff. It’s honest, it’s real, it’s unapologetic, it’s consciousness, it’s celebrating the beauty of being a black woman whose comfortable in her skin and not afraid of what the masses thinks. It’s inspirational and one of the first of it’s kind, along with D’Angelo’s “Brown Sugar” in 1995 and Maxwell’s “Urban Hang Suite” in 1996 with that neo soul sound. I consider Erykah the Queen of Neo Soul but I read that she doesn’t want to be called that. It keeps her in a box. To me, she’ll always be the Queen of neo soul. “Baduizm” means to be “high” off of her. “Izm” is slang for weed. Just add the “Badu” in front of it and we got this masterpiece which is called “Baduizm.” The album starts off with a joint that’s one of my favorites on the album. “Rimshot” has a catchy hook and a dope beat. “I wanna rimshot, heyyyy diggy diggy.” When I’m spinning and I put this album, this joint definitely stays on a loop. “On & On”, which is the first single from the album, is the next joint on the album. This is the first song that comes to my mind when I think of Erykah. It was this song when Erykah said “I was born underwater with 3 dollars and 6 dimes” and it went over a lot of people’s heads. She was basically saying she was born complete. Goes back to the ankh symbol that I mentioned earlier. Then it’s “Appletree.” Erykah says in the beginning of the song that she has some food but not the edible kind, she has some “food for thought.” As the song goes on she talks about picking her friends like she picks her fruit. Being smart and careful about who the people she keeps in her circle. It’s also something that can make a person “complete.” The company you keep can sometimes make you feel complete if they’re the right ones. The ones whose willing to be honest and real about who they are and something they’re not. “Otherside of the Game” is another favorite of mine on this album. Every time I hear the song, I can see the entire music video in my head with her and Andre 3000 in the studio apartment by themselves. Erykah at the time was pregnant with their son Seven. It’s a song and video that’s about being in a complicated relationship but she stays by his side anyways. The next joint is “Sometimes…” but it’s the #9 Mix. A shorter version. I’ll get back to this joint when the full version comes up. LOL! The next joint “Next Lifetime” is hands down, my all time favorite Erykah Badu joint. Everything about the song keeps going back to it every single time. The beat, that bass, the groove of it, it’s a smooth ass song for real. A song about Erykah being in a relationship already, currently, at the moment but low key wanting to be with another man by saying she guesses that she’ll see him in the “next lifetime.” “Afro (Freestyle Skit)”, a very organic and original freestyle about picking an afro and going to enjoy a Wu Tang concert. Definitely one of my favorite skits from any album in the 90’s. “Certainly” is a smooth but jazz influenced joint. When I listen to this joint, I picture myself in a poetry lounge with incense burning and a man on stage playing bass and of course Erykah standing on stage with her cup of tea on the side and she’s sharing knowledge and giving us a little bit of her sassy but funny and cool personality. “4 Leaf Clover”, for those who didn’t know that song is a remake. My mom played this joint to death. I mean all the time. It made me forget that it was from this album for a while. “No Love” to me is the most underrated song on the album. It’s a nice R&B joint with a vibe. Something to play on a beautiful Saturday morning. Ironically, it’s Saturday but it just hit noon as I’m writing this. “Drama” is the only song on the album to me that doesn’t leave an impression like the rest of the album does but it’s not a bad song. It’s actually really dope and I like the hook but it’s not the song I’ll remember first from the album. Now finally, we get to “Sometimes….” This joint was on constant replay and on a loop for hours the first time I heard it. That beat makes you nod and sway and sing along to the song. “Where did the love gooooooo?” Another favorite of mine on the album. Big time. Then Erykah has a “flipped” version of “Certainly.” I definitely prefer this version more. The hip hop in me automatically fell for this version more than the other one that’s earlier in the album and the album ends with a continuation of “Rimshot.” A nice applause for such an amazing album. Definitely one of the albums anniversary I was waiting for and I was reminded two days ago by a friend on Facebook. He was posting about Erykah and how long it took for him to understand her lyrics. He also posted her “Live” album, which will be 20 in November but Erykah is definitely one of music’s greatest of all time for her positive energy and spirit and her being so knowledgeable. I do wish to meet Erykah someday. Such a beautiful woman as well. She’s so different and definitely marches to the sound of her own drum without knocking others for what they do. Something that I recently learned and someone reminded me of that and going through masterpiece reminded me of how inspiring Erykah is in that way too.

SOB’s Jam Master Jay’s Birthday Celebration

Last night was another incredible hip hop moment in my life. Something else for the vault, something to definitely share way in the future when I’m old and grey. LOL! Downtown at the infamous SOB’s was the birthday celebration of Run-D.M.C.‘s very own Jam Master Jay. So many legends under one roof and so much love as well. Dope performances by Naughty by Nature, ONYX, Parish Smith of EPMD, and Mr. Cheeks, which was a surprise to me. I knew it was him on the stage but I needed to overhear someone say his name to verify it. Besides the performances, dope DJ’s like the legendary DJ Hollywood, Grand Wizard Theodore and none other like the “koolest” one himself, Kool DJ Red Alert and I was introduced to ScratchMasta Jazzy G, and JMJ son DJ. Jam Master JSon. That’s all I can remember but he definitely did his thing during sound check. I noticed a lot of people came there with a fresh pair of Adidas on or some kinda merchandise with Run-D.M.C. or Jam Master Jay and not to mention, I met both JMJ’s nephews and cousins, they’re cool too. Looking forward to more nights like this.

JUICE: The 25th Anniversary

January 17th, 1992, the classic hip hop movie “JUICE” was released. 25 years later and the movie is still a timeless favorite from hip hop fans all over. The movie has plenty of hip hop cameos too. EPMD, Kool DJ Red Alert, Treach from Naughty By Nature, him and Tupac were really close friends and Fab 5 Freddy. The movie mostly takes place in Harlem and it’s about 4 friends who do what it takes to get respect or in other words get the “juice.” They skip school just to hang out in Steel’s house while his parents are at work all day. Bishop and Q have a fight about what it takes to get respect in their own neighborhood and why they gotta stop taking harassment from the cops everyday but in order to escape everyday harassment by the cops in their neighborhood, they all come up with an idea to rob the corner store in order to get the “juice.” Things start to change when Bishop gets control of the gun and decides to shoot Quiles dead in his store. He then gets a little too pistol happy and ends up killing Raheem in a fight because he refuses to let the gun go. Now only Q, Bishop and Steel left, Q tells Bishop that he is “crazy” and Bishop didn’t like that. Eventually, throughout the rest of the movie, Q and Steel team up together to avoid Bishop but he pops up everywhere trying to lure them into his schemes and so he can get back at them. Bishop catches Steel in the hallway of his building and ends up shooting him. Q finds out and decides that he’ll go buy a gun just in case Bishop comes for him and they end up fighting until the end of the movie when Q accidentally let’s Bishop fall to his death off the roof of the building. Everyone that was from the party inside the building saw the whole thing happened and then someone reminds Q that he’s got the “juice” but he shakes his head no and the movie ends. The movie stars Omar Epps, Khalil Kain, Jermaine Hopkins and the late great Tupac. Quincy aka Q or GQ (played by Omar Epps), is the good guy in the crew, aka The Wreckin’ Crew, who doesn’t really want to get involved in their stick up plans lead by Bishop (played by Tupac) and Raheem (played by Khalil Kain). Q is mostly focused on being a popular local DJ and winning contests at the DJ battles that are hosted by Ruffhouse MC (played by Queen Latifah). Raheem is Q’s closest friend of the crew. Raheem denies his responsibilities of being a father to his son by his ex girlfriend. He’s also the leader of the Wreckin’ Crew and it was also his idea along with Bishop to rob Quiles’ store. Steel is the guy in the crew whose always being laughed at by the crew and the one whose always late when they wanna go hang out and skip school. They go back to his place to hang out while his parents aren’t home and Bishop is the one in the crew that’s always ready for something. Always prepared to “throw down” when something happens. He gets harassed by the neighborhood bully Radames everyday and every time Radames gets a chance to. Radames always threatens to beat up or kill Bishop which adds fuel to why he eventually gone crazy throughout the movie but then Bishop comes back for Radames and kills him. The soundtrack to the movie is even just as dope. “Is It Good to You” by Tammy Lucas and “Don’t Be Afraid” by Aaron Hall are my top favorites on the soundtrack. Also can’t forget by Naughty By Nature’s “Uptown Anthem.” This movie will still be a hip hop favorite in another 10 years or more.

Ya Gotta Have the Right SKILLS!

A little more than a week ago, as usual I got a message from this dude about how dope he thinks my Instagram account is and how much he enjoys old school hip hop. Automatically, I knew this is someone I had to associate myself with. Anybody that’s into hip hop is cool with me but old school hip hop, you’re definitely cool in my eyes. Anyways, me and this guy had a few words with each other and he tells me about himself. This guy goes by the name Skills. He’s a 26 year old artist from New York who started a movement with another artist named Gifted, called NxtSkool, and also has a dope designer and has a clothing line but he only sells hats and tees. He personally sent me this really dope Biggie Smalls tee and I was really happy about that because I’m a huge Biggie Smalls fan. You can never go wrong with some Biggie. After checking out a few of his hats and tees, I definitely had to check out the music. After doing some research on the website, I finally came across the NxtSchool YouTube channel and hit play on this joint called “[Nxt]Style, Vol. 1.” This joint to me is an original. Doesn’t sound like what everybody else is doing, whether mainstream or underground, the flow is simple but it’s dope, you can hear the hunger and energy in Skills’ voice. Definitely, Skills can be the next dopest thing in hip hop. Even though there are already so many artists who do both music and fashion, Skills definitely has his own thing going on. It’s doesn’t remind me of anybody else, not that it’s a bad thing if it does but it’s original. Check out Skills on Instagram @Skills_Nxt, check out the gear @NxtSkoolStore and subscribe to the YouTube channel, Nxt Skool and check out their official website NxtSkool.com.

Ladies Love Cool James: The Legacy of LL Cool J

This hip hop legend’s story begins when he was making demos in his grandparents’ basement. The year was 1984 when he got signed to Def Jam. It wasn’t until late 1985 when he released his debut album called “Radio.” This hip hop legend was born James Todd Smith but we all know him as LL Cool J. “Radio” became the label’s first full length album. Singles like “I Can’t Live Without My Radio”, “You’ll Rock” and one of LL’s most infamous joints, “Rock the Bells.” What I personally love about the album is LL’s energy and DJ scratches, especially on the remix to “I Need a Beat.” LL’s second joint had the perfect name for a comeback, “Bigger and Deffer” or simply put “BAD.” On this joint, LL goes harder but also smoother. The adrenaline rush on “I’m Bad” proved LL to be the “baddest” at the time and “I Need Love” showed a more softer, sensitive and vulnerable side of LL but when LL decided to ride that wave of “sensitivity” and being more laid back and softer on 1989’s “Walking With a Panther”, hip hop fans weren’t impressed with LL being so “soft” and they accused him of “selling out” and gone “too Hollywood.” He wasn’t the same LL people were rocking with on the first two albums. Although this album had more hits than the first two, LL had more party joints too. “Jingling Baby” is a classic that gets the hip hop fans moving at a party always. LL returns with 1990’s “Mama Said Knock You Out.” It was a great comeback album from the disappointing persona that he had on the previous album. This album, LL proved to the fans and the people that he was the same and never did change. He proved that he was still the same James and didn’t let his success get to his head and he proved that on “Around the Way Girl.” In the beginning of the music video, LL turns to homeboy and says “I don’t want Ivana, I want Tawana!” The song is a hip hop classic with a catchy soulful hook and chorus. A classic ode to the girls in the hood with the extensions in their hair, bamboo earrings, at least 2 pair, a Fendi bag and a bad attitude. Usually, the only uppity and fancy women are being praised but LL took it there and showed the hood girls love. My personal favorite from the album is “6 Minutes of Pleasure” the Hey Girl Remix. It’s also my all time favorite LL joint and it’s super underrated to me. His next joint “14 Shots to the Dome” is LL’s most underrated joint and it had a more West Coast influenced sound but the singles are still dope. “Pink Cookies In a Plastic Bag Getting Crushed By Buildings” and the Teddy Riley remix to “Stand By Your Man” are my top favorites. 1995’s “Mr. Smith” is the only LL album I own physically. This album to me is the beginning of the more grown up, more mature LL. Besides the dope singles, the album title track is my favorite. 1997’s “Phenomenon” didn’t really do much for me. “4, 3, 2, 1” was the only hot joint I can remember, as well as the album title track. “G.O.A.T.” also had the same effect. “You and Me” and “Imagine That” are dope though. 2002’s “10” I felt like LL was back, the LL I liked. “Luv U Better” is dope but the Amerie track “Paradise” was super dope. It’s another one of my all time favorite LL joints. His last three albums “The DEFinition”, “Todd Smith” and “Exit 13” were all just something to me he just put out. He had nothing to prove anymore as an artist, he’s done it all already. His prime is way behind him now but LL still remains a hip hop legend, both on the mic and fashionably. LL is definitely one of the greats in hip hop. Can’t forget that he’s had a successful acting career as well but I like the artist more personally. More than 30 years later after his days as a 16 year old from Queens, LL is hands down the only hip hop artist of his time to stay consistent with the hits and continued to push it to the next level, on top of the fact that he changed with the times but still remained himself, just like Jay-Z. Always and forever he will be one of the greats of all time.

The Life & Times of Robert Kelly: The Pied Piper of R&B

This man isn’t exactly hip hop but he does fit into the image and style of hip hop and sometimes the sound too. He’s worked with plenty of hip hop artists throughout his 25 year career and has an incredible discography and collection of hits that’s impossible to go through in just one day. He’s worked with The Notorious B.I.G., Nas, did two albums with Jay-Z, Cam’ron, Noreaga, Cassidy, the list goes on. Despite his troubles and controversy and having this reputation that’s not really a good one for a man his age when it comes to young women, this man is a musical genius nonetheless. His image in the beginning of his career was compared to and they accused him of biting his style from New jack swing/R&B legend Aaron Hall. He’s a Chicago native with a voice that represents the baby making style of music, his writing game is absolutely unstoppable, written for many artists and even did the entire LIFE soundtrack, the movie starring both Martin Lawrence and Eddie Murphy, this man’s talent makes him easily a great of his time and today he’s gained a lot of respect and love and also lost love too but still he shines through his talent. His name is Robert Sylvester Kelly aka R. Kelly, the Pied Piper of R&B. He started out in a group and as the lead too with R&B group Public Announcement. Their 1992 debut album “Born Into the 90’s” was a New jack swing smash that garnered the singles “She’s Got That Vibe”, “Honey Love”, “Slow Dance (Hey Mr. DJ)”, “Dedicated”, and “Hey Love (Can I Have a Word).” To me, the album was a combination of partying and love making. The album wasn’t too much but it was decent enough to put Kelly on the map but it was his standout solo debut 1993/1994 joint “12 Play” that officially put him on the map. The entire album was sexually themed and a bit over the top at some moments. Very shocking when he actually made a song dedicated to the woman’s body in a very specific manner too. This joint was another New jack swing/R&B smash and it had a little bit of hip hop influence when Kelly rapped on a few joints too. The remix to “Summer Bunnies” and “Your Body’s Callin'” introduced the new up and coming new singer named Aaliyah. Aaliyah was Kelly’s protégée. He helped her with her debut album “Age Ain’t Nothing But a Number” which released in May 1994. Aaliyah’s album was more hip hop than Kelly’s. Aaliyah came out in the mid-90’s with that hip hop soul trend that started with Mary J. Blige back in ’92. Aaliyah was just as down as Mary, TLC, Xscape, Usher, Jodeci, Faith Evans, this was a time when hip hop and R&B came together. The sound both represented the streets and gave R&B singers respect and a place in the hip hop community. Since we’re on the subject of hip hop soul, Kelly returned in 1995 with his self titled album, which is my top favorite R. Kelly album. That album was completely different from the first two albums. This album had a more hip hop influence and the songs were much more mature and deeper than the first two. This is the only R. Kelly album that I can play all the way through with no skips. This was the album that began the whole Mr. Biggs legacy, played by the one and only Ronald Isley. Mr. Biggs is a man who trusts Kelly around his women when he’s away on business and Kelly ends up sleeping with his women and then there’s trouble. It’s classic R&B shit. It’s hard to pick my exact favorites because this album is so fucking incredible to me. I’ll just say that “Step In My Room” and “Tempo Slow” are my top two favorites on the album. 1996 and 1997, Kelly releases “I Believe I Can Fly” for the Space Jam soundtrack. That song is Kelly’s greatest song to me. It’s the 90’s kid anthem for inspiration. Kelly appears on Mary’s 1997 “Share My World” album on the track “It’s On.” Then in ’98, he comes with an even stronger banger, a double disc called “R.” This is my second favorite R. Kelly album. This album was on another level. Way more darker topics, the hip hop influence is stronger especially on “We Ride.” A hip hop track featuring Cam’ron, Noreaga, Vegas Cats and Jay-Z. “Home Alone” featuring Keith Murray, “Did You Ever Think” and “Money Makes the World Go Round” featuring Nas are also great examples. I just didn’t understand why “I Believe I Can Fly” was added on the album. It fit but it was released 2 years prior. Kelly keeps the ball rolling, he’s super consistent throughout his career. The new millennium comes and he released “TP-2.com”, the sequel to “12 Play.” This album was definitely a perfect sequel because it’s more relaxed and “lovey dovey” than the previous two albums. Kelly goes back to that original 12 play vibe but on another level. It’s another hit for Kelly. He then enters a new point in his career where he gets into trouble with the scandals and it affects his sales on the “Best of Both Worlds” album with Jay-Z. After all that, he ushers in a new Kelly, a man whose more about being holy and spiritual, he’s all about the people and spreading love. The togetherness he spreads on this next album makes him legendary status. At then end of 2002, Kelly was supposed to release an album that was called “Loveland” but when it got leaked, the album had to be put on the shelf and was never released and in 2003, he came with “Chocolate Factory.” This album was a more happier Kelly, he also talked about marriage and of course “steppin’.” “Step In the Name of Love” is the perfect song to describe the vibe of the album. It puts people on the dance floor at any event, no matter the age. 2004’s “Happy People/U Saved Me” to me was a bit of a reach for Kelly. He takes it too far with the gospel vibes and extra happy songs. It’s my least favorite album from him. I’m not the type to bring up an artists’ personal issues but this album to me reflected someone whose almost hypocritical. He reminded me of that uncle at the family reunion who shows up and makes it awkward because everyone knows about his past and his issues and he’s acting like it never happened and instead being extra happy and over the top throwing God and Jesus in your face when you’re the one who messed up. The songs was cool though but it’s not his strongest work. 2005’s “TP.3-Reloaded” was an okay album too but it was better than the previous joint. It’s the third joint in the “12 Play” series. It doesn’t give me 12 Play vibes though. I get a mixture between “TP2” and “Chocolate Factory.” “Double Up” is where I started to not be interested in Kelly anymore. He still had the hits coming but that spark he used to have is no longer there to me. It seems like he was just putting out anything. He still kept his usual love making vibe there and getting married and stuff but it wasn’t the same. “Untitled”, “Love Letter”, “Write Me Back”, “Black Panties”, and “The Buffet” all give me the same vibe. This man is definitely one of the greats and he’s still going strong no matter what. He’s easily one of the greatest from the 90’s and there’s no one else snatching the crown from him. Forever and always the Pied Piper of R&B.

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….!”