The Greatest Rapper of All-Time Died on March 9th...

From http://keepittrill.com/online/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/notorious-big.jpg

This past Sunday marked the 17^th year anniversary of The Notorious B.I.G.’s death.  If you’re reading this blog, I imagine you’re familiar with B.I.G. and already know his story, so I won’t waste time going over those details again.  In honor of his passing (you might not call it an honor after reading), I’d like to tell you about the time I saw Biggie in concert.

The year was 1995 and it was my senior year of high school.  I believe the concert was in April and it was supposed to be B.I.G., Craig Mack and Mobb Deep.  B.I.G. and Craig Mack had just released their debut albums in September of 1994 and Mobb Deep was getting ready to drop their second album, the soon to be classic The Infamous.  When I bought the tickets for the concert, my mindset was that as long as B.I.G. and Craig Mack showed up, I would be alright and because they were label mates, I figured they would both show up.  I had only heard Shook Ones from Mobb Deep, so while I wanted to see them, I wasn’t too pressed about it.  The concert was in Grand Rapids and I can’t remember the venue, but I believe it was a smaller venue.  Anyway, the concert came and we come inside and the sign says Craig Mack and Mobb Deep won’t be appearing, but it was still cool because Biggie would be there and he was the main attraction.

From that point, there was just a slew of opening acts.  Bad opening acts.  None were memorable.  I have no idea how long we were waiting for Biggie to come out, but at some point, the emcee that night had to try to settle the crowd down because the crowd had started to become anxious and was chanting Biggie’s name.  After what seemed like forever (it was probably two or three hours), B.I.G. finally hit the stage…for what seemed like five minutes.  I swear it seemed like he only did 3 or 4 songs.  Of course there was Juicy and Big Poppa.  I think he might have performed Warning.  I do remember that at one point he threw a bunch of dollar bills in the crowd and my boy Mike actually caught one of them and said he would never spend it.  At the time, this was only the second concert I had been to and it failed to live up to the hype of the first concert I had been to (Method Man, Gravediggaz, Keith Murray, etc.).  I’m not sure why B.I.G. mailed it in that night.  Maybe it was because the other acts hadn’t shown up or maybe it was because it was in a small venue and in a city he had never heard of.  Regardless, I have to say I was pretty disappointed after that concert and it’s probably the worst concert I’ve ever been to.  Despite this, I still love B.I.G. and he’s one of my favorite rappers of all-time and Ready To Die is one of my favorite albums, so I’m not telling this story to bash B.I.G.  I just wanted to share a story that I know most of you haven’t heard before.  In closing, I leave you with a video of Biggie performing at the Apollo in ’96. 

R.I.P. B.I.G.

Happy Valentine's Day!!!!!

A lot of people that know me would accuse me of not having a romantic bone in my body or being incapable of love.  I’m actually ok with that description and I do my best to embrace it.  However, just because my heart is an icebox, it doesn’t mean that I can’t still give out some music advice as we approach Valentine’s Day.  So, for all you guys out there looking to bring the hip-hop purist out of your lady, put the following playlist together and she’ll be putty in your hands. 

Method Man – All I Need (Original Version)

You’re tempted to replace it with the remix featuring Mary J., but don’t, you’re trying to bring the hip-hop purist out of your girl.  You need the grimy version.

Pharcyde – Passing Me By

MC Lyte – Poor Georgie

It’s not only a love song, but a PSA for drunk driving…Poor Georgie indeed.

Mos Def – Ms. Fat Booty

Ghostface – Camay

For that grown woman in your life that makes baked macaroni and turkey wings.

Lost Boyz – Renee

J. Cole – Dreams

If she has a man, this will persuade her to leave him for you.

UGK & Outkast – International Player’s Anthem

Notorious B.I.G. – One More Chance (Original)

Refer to the comments on Meth’s All I Need.  You need the grimy version.

Goodie Mob – Beautiful Skin

The sentimental moment of the mixtape.

Dogg Pound – Let’s Play House

Outkast – We Luv Deez Hoez

Don’t focus on the misogynistic word.  Focus on that they luv you despite the weave and fake nails.

2Pac – How Do U Want It

Naughty By Nature – O.P.P.

This is for the couples like Will and Jada.

Little Brother – Slow It Down

Mobb Deep – Shook Ones Pt. II

This joint is to mixtapes what ranch dressing is to food, it goes with anything!

Andre 3000 – Happy Valentine’s Day

My Intro To Let U Know

Welcome everyone.  This is my first official blog.  I think every now and then, I would attempt to start a blog a few years ago, but never stuck with it.  However, this time it is a class requirement and I’m hoping it’ll turn into something that I’ll stick with even after the class ends. 

I was told to blog about something that I’m passionate about and the first thing that came to mind was hip-hop.  I remember in the movie Brown Sugar, Sidney’s first question to interviewees was “When did you fall in love with hip-hop?”  My answer would’ve been 1990 when I was 13.  Before then, I was just in “like” mode with hip-hop.  I remember my older brother playing LL, Beastie Boys and Kool Moe Dee, but I remember the first hip-hop tape I bought was Digital Underground’s Sex Packets and after that I became obsessed with hip-hop.

As I’ve gotten older though, my passion for hip-hop has remained, but it’s had its fair share of ups and downs.  When I was younger, I swore I would always be into hip-hop and would stay on top of the new artists.  I turned 37 recently though and I feel like I’ve turned into some of the older people I used to criticize.  The ones that always cry about the good ole days of music.  Sort of like Steve Harvey’s crybaby rant in the Original Kings of Comedy when he talked about why he couldn’t get into hip-hop because they didn’t talk about anything. 

I cussed Steve Harvey out for that rant and now I’m the one sitting around criticizing today’s hip-hop artists, but I swear the music today isn’t as good as when I came of age in the 90s.  I had Wu-Tang, Biggie, Pac, Tribe Called Quest, Redman and the list goes on.  Now my nieces and nephews are stuck with Wacka Flocka, Gucci Mane and Lil Wayne.  Don’t get me wrong though, there are some dope artists out there now like Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole, so hip-hop’s not entirely dead like some people would believe.

Don’t worry though, not all of my blogs are going to be about trashing the current state of hip-hop.  Part of my purpose for this blog is take you back to the 90s era of hip-hop as I reminisce on what it meant to me, but I also want to give some shine to some of the artists that I think are carrying on the tradition that I fell in love with.  I know we won’t agree on everything, but I hope this blog entertains you and please feel free to contact me with any comments, criticisms, suggestions, etc.

One last thing, for those that don’t know, the title of the blog was inspired by Common’s song from 1994 titled I Used To Love H.E.R.  With H.E.R. standing for “Hip-hop in its Essence and Real”.  Peep the video.