Throwback Thursdays

1995. One of my favorite years in Hip Hop. And I'll go as far as saying it was one my favorite years in life overall. To quote Dickens, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times; it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness; it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity..." Don't I know it.  You know who else knew it?  The Pharcyde.  By the second album- Labcabincaliforna they collectively displayed a more serious side musically and lyrically.  Many of the tracks were produced by J Dilla (Rest In Peace) and you definitely heard a difference.  While they didn't completely depart from the jokes and playfulness which was evident on their 1992 debut, Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde, Da Sharon Getty fell right in step with the growing pains they expressed. Shit, I was going through it my damn self back then. Conceptually- even the videos took a new twist. (Think of Drop and how everything moved backwards while going forward. Trippy.)

Which brings me to Today's Throwback.  Aside from the song itself, which I always liked- the video only  bolstered how I felt about it.  Beginning with Fatlip's verse, the recollections are heartfelt.  He got picked on, jumped and harassed by Crips.  Slim Kid Tre breaks down the lessons of being self reliant; friends are nice to have around, but there's no guarantee they'll be there when it gets thick.  The final verse from Imani hit me hard back then- especially the last line.  All the while, the video has an almost dreamlike quality.  Which is fitting since there's a scenario of flip-flop slavery at play here.  In a surreal role reversal, everything from the servitude on a plantation to an auction block is present- but not in a way you've ever seen in history.  The Pharcyde play croquet while melanin deficient girls style the hair of their mistresses poolside.  It's an interesting juxtapostion to say the least.  Da Sharon Getty's favorite line?  "It's 1995. Now that I'm older stress weighs on my shoulders heavy as boulders- but I told ya- Til the day that I die I still- will be a soldier. And that's all I told ya and that's all I showed ya." I still feel him on that one. It's true.  You can't keep Runnin', you just gotta keep keen and cunnin'.

Throwback Thursdays

Peace People.  I know it's Thursday, but I'm also well aware that this is no ordinary Thursday. It's Thanksgiving Day.  So I'm pretty sure that many of you will be reading this days after you've stuffed yourself on turkey, watched some football, drank way too much and got into it with your dysfunctional relatives.  (At least, that's what my Thanksgiving may probably consist of. ) But I digress.  Since this is tragically recognized as an eating holiday- rather than a day of reverence for the indigenous people of America, I'll go with the flow and post a video in keeping with that sentiment: Greed. Shout out to Nice and Smooth for coming up with a joint that I can appreciate down to the last detail on a day like today.  People can be so greedy.  It's a shame. But this is a reminder to everyone, that you can't have your Cake and Eat It Too.  Hope you've all had your fill.  Uno.

Throwback Thursdays

Big budget videos are nothing new to Hip Hop.  In fact, they are so widespread nowadays that folks hardly notice just how many wasteful dollars are put behind these onscreen images of excess.  It's just a given. The custom cars. Helicopters. Yachts. Plush locales, etc.  Don't forget about wardrobe, hair and make-up for the slew of video vixens who decorate the scenery.  All of which costs a pretty penny. But Da Sharon Getty remembers when it wasn't a given.  I remember when some of the best songs had simple videos that didn't employ all the smoke and mirrors to wow the audience. The music spoke for itself.  And don't talk to me about how it was oh-so-different when it came to bragging on material things. Case and point: Today's Throwback.  In 1989 Special Ed debuted with the album Youngest In Charge. At  just 16 years old, this Brooklynite had a flair for the finer things and the lyricism to match.  His imagination ran wild as he painted a picture of an opulent lifestyle. We knew full and well it was an exaggeration. But so what?  It captured us and it was dope. Period.  You could picture in your mind all the luxuries he rhymed about. Without the benefit of a huge budget, Special Ed had a video that remains a staple; nothing short of a bonafide Hip Hop classic.

Take a good look at the vid.  No lush backdrop of Tahiti. No shiny new cars.  He didn't need anything of that to validate his existence. He's in a junkyard talking about owning 74 Honda scooters, yo.  How fly is that? And peep the Potato Alligator Soufflé. It's a dish of mashed potatoes with a toy dinosaur tail stuck in the middle. Hilarious...and imaginative. This joint came long before the need to impress the masses with mostly unattainable objects that is so rampant in today's music- at least visually anyway. The Roots went on to spoof this sad trend in What They Do years later.  But the Magnificent One made it cool to not have any of these things while articulating what made him so fly. Da Sharon Getty's favorite line? "I never lost cuz I'm the boss / I never will cuz I'm still / The champion - Chief one won't lose until I choose / which I won't cuz I don't retreat / I run you over like a truck and leave you dead in the street / You're invitin' me, a Titan to a battle, why? I don't need your respect cuz / I Got It Made." 

And just like that- he got mine. Nuff 'respect.

Throwback Thursdays

Hello B-Boys and B-Girls. Da Sharon Getty has a very special treat for you today.  I'm pulling a video from my own personal VHS archives today.  Yes, I had this video on tape and can recall very clearly which video came right after it. It was Understand Me, Vanessa by Antexx which I already featured when I first started Throwback Thursdays.  Go watch it over here when you're done with today's feature.  Why not? Anyway, 1991 was an interesting year for Hip Hop.  I can actually mark that as a cusp where conscious music like this, street chronicles (think Kool G Rap)  and even party music (think Heavy D) shared the same space and time. But none of it was irrelevant. It all had its place. I wish I could say the same for what passes for Hip Hop today. (Sigh) So I bring to you today, one of the most slept on posse cuts of all time.  The line up is something you're not likely to ever see again, realistically.  Harmony, Kid Capri, Freddie Foxxx, LL Cool J, MC Lyte, Queen Latifah, KRS-One, Ms. Melodie, Big Daddy Kane and Run-DMC joined forces to bring food for thought to the masses with H.E.A.L (Human Education Against Lies) Every emcee seemed to complement one another on this single that still is so very important when you listen to the lyrics.  LL is noticeably missing from the video but that's okay. The video still evokes good feelings for me.  Summertime in NYC.  The Do The Right Thing poster behind Kid Capri.  The classic Jeep. The fashion, the vibe, the messages and sense of community. Da Sharon Getty's favorite line? "Everybody rise...as I present to a jet black crowd, What it's like to be black and proud..." Call me stuck if you want-but I'll never let go of such a positive time.  So glad I hit record that day. So, so glad.

Throwback Thursdays

Peace People.  Today's Throwback has no history lesson behind it.  I have no personal soliloquy or specific memory that attaches itself to this song.  All I have today is reverence for good music and a special dedication.  This one goes out to a dear friend and amazing person who had a convergence with this artist as they put one in the air.  As he tells it, Pete was just a modest and cool, down-to-earth person who hardly seemed aware of how his talents has touched others.  Which is kinda cool, since the person this joint is dedicated to possesses the same quality of  humble and unassuming character- while inspiring the lives of others in a way only he can.  This is for one of my favorite people who taught me to get it while the gettin' is good but to not rush anything. He shared this with me: 'Everything takes time but most people can't wait.' It's just a matter of time.  Just one of the many jewels I've been blessed with by a true Soul Survivor. And I give thanks. One Love.

Throwback Thursdays

Um...yeah.Shout out to Miami. 



That's all I got today.  Peace.

Throwback Thursdays

Picture it: New York. 1993. The World Trade Center was bombed (from the bottom up), Billy Clinton became the first Black president and Brand Nubian released In God We Trust. I remember all of this clearly. Mostly because it was a time that was rife with duality. Good times and hard times held hands. The mother of one of my closest friends worked in the Twin Towers. I can remember the sense of urgency that day. Where was she? Was she okay? And nobody's beeper would work. Remember those? It was scary. At the same time, I was in love for the first time. That alone made all the confusion in the world alright with me. Anyway, Brand Nubian was still rockin' after Grand Puba bounced for a solo mission.  He's noticeably missing on one of their best singles of all time, Love me or Leave Me Alone.  I'm wondering now, all these years later what a verse from Puba Maxwell might have added to this song.  The other two are so matter-of-fact in their statements to their prospective and  current lovers.  My guess is that he would've told Baby Girl just why she should act right before she gets cancelled in a way that only he can do it. He's such a smart aleck. Either way, without him the other two break it down.  This is not a love song . It's a song about wisdom and understanding- of self and then between a woman and man. At the time, I couldn't appreciate the jewels they were dropping.  I was a teenager in a teenage love affair.  (Nothing really mattered.) But I'm older and wiser now. I can see to a degree why acting tone deaf can be your own mental death. (Props to Lord Jamar on that witty play on words.)  Now, I don't necessarily agree with every point they make. Some of it still comes off a tad chauvinistic to my ear- but truly, if a man is worth it...there should be no shame in dancing to his tune. A strong couple is a blessing. Love, Hell or Right. Either way, a man and woman has to go through all of it to get it right. This joint took me back to '93 while catapulting me into the present. Eight years after the first World Trade Center attack, the intended target was hit once again with devastating results. Seventeen years later, we have another Black president. And I can safely say that I'm in a grown up love affair  now, where the lyrics to Brand Nube's song make sense to my adult mind.  "So on your wisdom I'll shine my light-Bring forth the seeds, created in the night."

 

Throwback Thursdays

Hello B-Boys and B-Girls. Da Sharon Getty is paying homage to a simpler time. A time resolute with "keeping it real" before it became an overused and antiquated term that even requires quotes now. There was a time when genuine Thug Love could be expressed without coming off soft. Enter the Hip-Hop duet to end all Hip-Hop duets. You know the one. The Ticallian Stallion and the Queen dropped I'll Be There For You/You're All I Need in 1995. Method Man and Mary J. Blige showed what comes from a perfect pairing of talents. I don't attach any special merit to awards, but the fact that it won a Grammy speaks volumes for how far the genre itself had come. Anyway, a classic is always a classic. And the revamped version of Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell's 1968 hit You're All I Need to Get By is an amped up tribute to its predecessor. Meth and Mary did it well for my generation. Period. Da Sharon Getty’s 's favorite line? "Even if I'm locked up North, you in the world rockin' three fourths of cloth. Never showin' your stuff off, Boo." Ah, pure 'hood poetry. Enjoy the vid and then take in the original since really and truly...no one can do it like Marvin and Tammi. Shout out to my boy Coco who messed up everybody's head at his wedding when he and his wife came out to the original and then broke out into a fly dance as the DJ mixed in the Meth and Mary version. It was dope.

Throwback Thursdays

What up, People. It's been a minute since Throwback Thursdays. Things are starting to heat up outside and I can't think of a better way to usher in the summer than with this video. Hope you don't mind not watching it here. Youtube is acting up with this one, so be sure to click the link at the end. Anyway... I'm taking ya'll way back to '89 (cuz I'm goin' for mine). This video featured a pool party that I still wish I was at twenty years later. Antoinette was one of the few females who was really doing it back then in terms of Hip-Hop and Rap. Shake, Rattle and Roll was the first single off her debut album, Who's the Boss. Did I have the album? No. Did I have this video on VHS? True indeed. Her style was way more raw than her counterparts and even her labelmates which at the time included Salt 'n Pepa. Dressed in a simple green tee, tight jeans and her doorknocka shells- she epitomized Hip-Hop style while letting folks know she's not the one to step to...or in this case, half-step to. She was fly, yo. Casually making her way around the party, Antoinette breaks down why she's at the top of her game. Granted, lyrics were a lot simpler back then- but it was a simpler time. A time I remember all too well. Sharon Getty's favorite line? "Matter of fact, I can't let a rapper win. I ain't Rerun. That ain't happenin'." Ah, the days when female emcees talked about something besides the riches men throw at their feet for their deep throat skills. Those were the days. Antoinette, Baby Girl... you paved the way. It's not your fault they got lost on the road, tho. Now here's a shout to the borough and my thoroughbred ladies alike.

Queens Stand Up!

Throwback Thursdays

Question: Who could ever do you like I do you?  Nobody can ever do you like I... do.

That's it.  Ain't no more to it.

Throwback Thursdays

Hello Boys and Girls. I'm back with another treat. Ya'll should know by now that when Da Sharon Getty is on a roll, you can expect me to keep it in the same camp when it comes to Throwback Thursdays. So...in keeping with the essence of my last post: Wu Tang is for the kids! And so am I. Plus, Shyheim the Rugged Child was such a cute kid back then- I have to show the love. I know I say this about almost every Throwback I feature but this. was. my. shit. Period. You can't ask me to pick just one. That would be like asking which one of your children you love the most. It just can't be done. Anyway, I'm strolling down Memory Lane today and the pit stop is late '93 into early '94. Ahhh...the tunes were just so official back then, including this one. What I loved the most was that this kid had skills for real. If his rhymes were ghostwritten by some elder Wu member, I sure as hell couldn't tell. Which is more than I can say for Killarmy. Yeah I said it. And Whut?! They all sounded like some amateur versions of RZA and Inspecktah Deck to my ears. Shyheim served up eloquent lyrics like a grown ass man when he had to be... I dunno, a teenager at the time? (This Bug is too exhausted to fact check right now. Wikipedia that shit yourself if you care so much.) My point is that his style didn't seem to mimic anyone else from the Wu. He had his own flow and gave an honest report on what he saw firsthand coming up in Stapleton Projects. I'll say this much: Cute grows up. But when you have obvious skills like this kid possessed, there's no need to rely on folks pinching your cheeks like Kris Kross or other youngsters who just barely got by on that. I could go On and On but let's just get to it. Sharon Getty's favorite line? "Wasn't hard to tell that these kids was no joke. They let the pistols smoke and they nines was doper than Coke." Um, yeah. That boy was the truth.

Throwback Thursdays

What up, Peoples. I'm back with one from my own personal archives for today's Throwback. I had this video on VHS tape back in the day and recently blew the dust off of it and pressed play. Truthfully, I almost forgot how profound this song was. It was always a cautionary tale about how quickly things could get out of hand. Now that I'm older I have a heartfelt appreciation for it due to the things life has shown me. How real it can get. D-Nice dropped To Tha Rescue in 1991. I never copped it but I made it my business to record this video. 25 Ta Life takes you through a day that starts out like any other. He sets the tone by detailing the weather and how he opts to smoke over drinking on such a sweltering day. The black and white video is nice touch. You feel the grit of his lament in a way that would have been lost had it been shot in color. He's on the block, meets some shorties and soon thereafter- things spiral out of control with blinding speed. The day becomes anything but typical. The first day of the rest of his life, so to speak. I won't get into it. I'll just let the TR-808 relay what can happen if you find yourself in the wrong place at the wrong time. This one's dedicated to my nephew in essence. Choc, hold ya head. One Love.

Throwback Thursdays

Today's Throwback is a nod to the one and only GURU. Recently his health suffered a blow when he went into cardiac arrest and slipped into a coma last week. I'm glad to report that he has since had surgery and is on the road to recovery. You can read about it here. Prayers and blessings go a long way. We can't afford to lose another icon. Anyway, between that and the fact that This Bug has always had an appreciation for this song and video- it seems fitting. 1992 for Gang Starr, as Sinatra crooned, was a very good year. Daily Operation was a solid album with tracks like Conspiracy, Flip the Script and Ex to the Next. Guru and DJ Premier are the epitome of a perfect pairing. But Take it Personal was always the standout to me. As usual Premier puts his brand on it with his signature cutting and scratching over the break beat. The perpetual phone ringing is a reminder that dimes are being dropped. And as usual, Guru blessed it with his articulate speech and relaxed manner. The video in itself is classic. It had a plot (which thickens like quick grits by the time Guru is allowed to make his one phone call while in custody) and movie quality cinematography. It's the little things, you know? I can't be the only one who loves how a jury of his peers are sitting there- steady boppin' their heads to a dope rhyme. While on trial for what we can only assume is a crime against Hip-Hop, Guru states his case and let's you decide who is telling the truth. You know his Steez. As you can see by the end of the vid, the verdict is not guilty and he and his peoples leave court looking cooler than you ever could on your best day. This Bug's favorite line? "But I can see clearly now, the rain is gone. The pain is gone but what you did is still wrong. There was few times I needed your support, but you tried to play me like an indoor sport." Ooh wee...Been there.

White Drapes

You know when I come up on the goods I have to share.




One word: Dope.

Throwback Thursdays

You know that one song that can play and just get you amped out of nowhere? The type of joint that has the crazy beat and then the emcee just comes with that energy to match? Yeah. I have a select few but This Bug is only featuring one today. Everything about today's Throwback takes me to a place where I was wild, free and ready for whatever popped. It just has so much soul. I don't know if it's the fact that the melody (sung passionately by Blue Raspberry) is the same as the "I-am-woman-hear-me-roar" anthem that seems to be the birthright of my gender (you know the one, trust.) or simply the triumphant horns of Herb Albert. Whatever it is- it never fails to quicken my heart rate and give me that shot of adrenaline that only a dope Hip-Hop song can give you. Method Man comes so damn hard on this track that it makes me long for the days before he started rhyming in his laid-back Johnny Blaze persona. We all know he displays versatility when he's ready but he shines the brightest when he's raw. His voice and delivery just let's you know it's not a game. Straight up. This Bug's favorite line? "Remedies, cousin I be doin' on my enemies. Penalty, then I drink forties to they memories." If I wrote the book on it- I'd have to say that is what the fuck you call FLOW, feel me? It makes me wanna toke somethin'. Smoke somethin'. Tap somethin'. Yap somethin'. And wash it down with a Mistic. I don't even know how to act. I think you should do the same and just Release Yo 'Delf. One.






FYI: Mistic bottles don't even look like that anymore. The picture contained above is the authentic design for the time that Meth rhymed about it. I searched high & low for that shit. For ya'll. Do you feel the love? You better.

Throwback Thursdays

Of today's Throwback, I once said that I would never feature this video. But this morning changed all of that. You see, I was driving to work like I've done a thousand times before- and bumping this tune in the car as I have millions of times before, but something was different. While heading up a main road thinly coated with black ice- a White van darted all the way out into my lane to make a left and then stopped abruptly. I had no time to think. Only react. I pumped the brakes repeatedly while simultaneously swerving into the other lane of oncoming traffic. Luckily the cars coming my way were far away enough to avoid my skidding vehicle. I swerved back into my rightful lane and watched the driver continue his asinine turn from my rearview mirror. I missed two crashes by mere inches. Heart between my ears, car unscratched. Faith intact. 93 Til Infinity still drifted melodically from my speakers. As I went about my day, it dawned on me how much this song has played an integral role in my life. Seventeen years ago- Souls of Mischief quietly came on the scene and caused a ruckus. Part of Oakland's Hieroglyphics camp, they were the West Coast equivalent to the East's Native Tongues collective. They shattered every preconceived notion I had about rappers from Cali. They didn't employ G-Funk basslines or super violent lyrics. They were just some laid back cats who rhymed effortlessly over jazzy interpolations. To say that 93 til is a classic is a severe understatement. It can fittingly be placed as one of the crowning jewels of Hip-Hop's Golden Era. My brotha-from-anotha once took a look at my music collection and said, "Yo Jayne, you are like- musically frozen in 1993." You won't get any argument from me there. I hold that time very close to me. I was young. I had dreams. I had an ear for uncommon goods; and that year in particular is laden with them. This song will forever be with me. It's almost twenty years since it's release and it has lost none of its luster. It carried me calmly to work today after a very nerve frying instance, resolutely mindful of what I love about Hip-Hop and life itself. I'm here. I hear. I can't ask for much more than that.

"You will see. From now to infinity." Blessed.

Throwback Thursdays

Hello Boys & Girls. It's Thursday again. Today, I'll keep it in the Native Tongues camp from last week because 1. You can't go wrong and 2. This song explores the age old question: When men have something good at home- why do they feel the need to roam. This Bug has been turning that riddle around in her brain for some time now. Does this joint bring me any closer to understanding? Negative, Dun. But I always liked how they try to explain why "Jimmy" goes where he needs to go. Plus the beat was jazzy without losing itself to an RNB swing. The Jungle Brothers always had a way of telling stories with candid relish. The My Jimmy Weighs a Ton Remix carries you through their once happy, now claustrophobic relationships and justifications of why they needed to break free. They never said it was right...but they damn sure had fun while doing some wrong. I know my fellas can relate- so this one's for ya'll. Don't you just love the "Free At Last" jump Afrika makes in the air at the end of the vid? I know I do. And the moral of the story, B-Boys and B-Girls? "Love is a gamble, Life is a lesson."

Out.

Throwback Thursdays

Throwback Thursdays are here again, People! It feels so good to be back. It kinda feels like a sunny day back in High School with all my friends. Chillin'. Crackin' jokes. Playin' games. So it's only right that I return with a tasty treat that puts you where I am nostalgically. De La Soul always puts me in the right frame of mind. Relaxed but focused all at once. This joint encompasses that entire vibe. Lyrically, they deliver artful metaphors and witty quips. But what I always loved was the video. It was shot at a High School and the cameo list read like a virtual Who's Who of Hip-Hop at the time. To me, every artist that appears holds their weight. Look closely and you'll see Organized Konfusion stickin' up the chubby kid for his lunch money. Monie Love holds it down with Trugoy in the schoolyard. Jungle Brothers, Prince Paul, ?uestlove and Black Thought of The Roots, Lords of the Underground, Yung Zee from the Outsidaz, GURU, Kid Capri, Pete Rock and the lovely ladies of Zhane. Even Li'l Neek and DJ Jus joined in the fun. (They were so cute.) And OMG, Comedian Drew Fraser as the Lunch Lady...Priceless. Seen him live more than a few times...He is the truth. I'm sure there are few that even I missed. The cool thing about this is that they're not even on the track. They just all showed up for the love of De La. It looked like a lot of fun to make. This Bug's favorite line? "While you actin' all spicy and shiesty, the only Italians you know is Icee!" I always wondered how the Firm pseudo-gangsters took that one back then. Anyhow, every now and then a video comes along that makes you like the song that much more. I can definitely say that about Biggie's One More Chance and I can say it with ease for Itzsoweezee. Just some good people having a good ole time...and who doesn't need more of that these days? Enjoy.

Throwback Thursdays

Today's Throwback is dedicated to all the fly guys (and fly girls) out there.  This one comes by way of Superlover Cee and Casanova Rud. I don't have a huge background story for Girls I Got 'Em Locked.  What I do have are countless memories from having this video on VHS.  Do me a favor and just peep the hairstyles, the dancing, the outfits.  There was nothing like it and there won't ever be anything of the kind to compare to that time.   I remember dudes around the way doing 'The James' in MCM suits.  Rockin' two cuts in the eyebrow.  (It was fly when Kane did it.) I hear this song and instantly recall dookie rope chains and asymmetrical Salt 'n Pepa haircuts with one side shaved.  My Pops was not having the gold spray designs even though he financed my weekly hair appointments.  Nefertiti earrings where the jewel was her earring and two-finger rings.  I was there, yo.  It was a feeling.  An era like no other. Either you lived it or you didn't.  So what have we learned today, Boys and Girls? Short and sweet: Fly is a lifestyle. Nothing beats confidence. These dudes had it on lock.  "Now c'mon. Get on. Get some. Stop yellin' it."

Throwback Thursdays

In the wake of creating a new blog strictly for my Hip-Hop heads, (see below post) I've decided that Today's Throwback will have nothing to do with a video you might have recorded back in the day. There was no video but thanks to the glorious innovation of Youtube, somebody put one together for one of my favorite joints of all time. Also, I'm paying homage to the original Purple Tape because 1. Only Built for Cuban Linx Part II dropped two days ago and 2. This Bug was at the album release party at Santos Party House. Oh. My. God. Raekwon has done it again. It's like '95 all over again. He has not lost an ounce of ruggedness. Let me tell you, he has officially cooked up something marvelous to get your mouth watering. Made me want to walk backstage to the kitchen and give my compliments to The Chef personally. Bottomline: Go cop that right now! But wait a minute. Not so fast. You can't leave without engaging in some Verbal Intercourse which by the way served as inspiration for this new blog. This track is nothing short of magnificent. From the first verse, which in my humble opinion is one of Nas' finest moments to The Emotions' sample of If You Think It, this song is the flyest. Once again, Ghostface does what he does best alongside Rae. They are truly the Dynamic Duo. This Bug's favorite line? It's a combination of Nas entire verse and Tony Stark's declaration. "Sharpened toothbrushes. 190 mixed with Baby Oil and shit. Your man's in the kitchen stashing ice picks. Well I'ma end this with a big red cherry on top. Me, Nas and Rae got the best product on the block!" Whooo! He ain't never lied. Keep your eyes open and your wallet in your front pocket...