Throwback Thursdays

Yo...2010 is about to be over. I dunno about you but I'm about ready. This Bug is ready for the New Year and all the promise it holds.  That being said- this is the last Throwback Thursday of the year.  So I'll switch it up for the sake of newness.  Instead of featuring one video from a favorite year- I'm bussin' out a few that were always staples of that time for me.  The Golden Era of Hip Hop.  These are some of the criminally slept on joints that I always loved.  Always will.  Classic material. I'm diggin' deep.   No disrespect but- if you're not a true head just sit this one out. I'm not here to alienate anyone but this Hip Hop thing is for those who love it.  I do this for ya'll.  Enjoy.

Trends of Culture - Off and On 



Why is the beat so effin' tough on this one?!  Oooweee.

Original Flavor feat. Jay Z 



Yeah...pre-Reasonable Doubt Jay and a sick ass arrangement of rhymes.  It rarely gets better.


Strickly Roots - Begs No Friends



Dude said "Layin' muthafuckas like ready-cut carpet." What! Grand Puba  and Fat Joe rep to the fullest, too.

The A.T.E.E.M - Get It On 



Hot Dog . Yeah, Chubb Rock's background dancer kinda did his thing. Q-Dog style.  And I don't even eff with Frats.  I never understood why dude said "Not a white Bruce Jenner." As opposed to what?  Bruce Jenner is white, Fam..

Fat Joe feat. Diamond D and Grand Puba - Watch the Sound



One of my all-time faves. Hands down.  Plus, my girl Goldie is in the vid.  Such a sweetie, that one.

Eric B and Rakim - Paid In Full



"Was it good enough for ya?" Ooowee!!! Have a safe and prosperous New Year, Peoples.  Catch you in 20eleven.  Much love.

Throwback Thursdays

C'mon now, you already know a classic is due. Niiiiice....

Have a safe and Happy Holiday, ya'll.

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.

No Business Like Show Business

"Kid, ya gonna be large!!!"

                                             

Underground.  Underestimated. Undervalued. Golden Era.  Those are the words that come to mind when I think of EPMD. Never in the history of Hip Hop has there been a duo who stood the test of time like these two. And yet, I still don't feel like they get the proper credit they deserve.  Last week, I was blessed with a live performance by them at the Knitting Factory- and it was everything I expected from this legendary pair.  Eric Sermon and Parrish Smith have always literally been about their business.  Check the resume: Strictly Business (1988), Unfinished Business (1989), Business As Usual (1990), Business, Never Personal (1992) Back in Business (1997) Out of Business (1999) We Mean Business (2008).  And nothing has changed.  They still  make it their biz to command a crowd without being extra. They give the people what they want. No theatrics. No pyrotechnics.  Just dope beats and lyrics coming out of Long Island, NY.

Of course they did what they do best. Rough Rugged and Raw.  Eric and Parrish launched into Please Listen to My Demo and the hits didn't stop coming.  Backed by the equally legendary DJ Scratch on the turntables, they ran through their catalog of singles that hits just has hard as it did back in '88 and beyond.  There's something about how the beat to Strictly Business starts up that just takes you somewhere.  I looked around at the sea of faces and watched as they recited every lyric in sync with them.  A part of me was waiting for LL to jump out during Rampage, or even Redman for the Headbanger but it wasn't even necessary.  They held it down- just the two of them. Going line for line on joints like You Gots To Chill, Crossover, Jane and So Wat Chu Sayin', they haven't lost their touch.  Not by a long shot.  That effortless flow and the easy way they exchange verses comes from years of really knowing one another and knowing what works. They are tried and true crowd pleasers because they've mastered that formula. And they understand how important it is for that brand of Hip Hop to remain relevant.  The Green Eyed Bandit kept it a hundred when he said onstage that he's not a broke ass hater.  Make no mistake. It's just that most of what you hear nowadays is wack.  That's how he launched into Da Joint. And I quote, "It's not about me fallin' off. I'm good. It's not that I don't have money.  Matta fact...I make a million bucks..." Ooh wee...that was hot.

Still, it would have been nice to hear the classic Gold Digger before they departed. Or even the lesser known It's Going Down off the Juice Soundtrack- just for the die hards such as myself.  I mean...they were among the patrons gettin' stuck up by Blizzard in the bar at like 11 in the morning.  Ha! Remember that?  Shout out to my peoples, Dinco D who I saw up in there. I'll be back in the building next month to check his performance with Leaders of the New School  and Son of Beserk.  All in all, it was a really good show. They closed with Just Like Music off Eric's solo mission and everyone left satisified. It made me realize that when it comes to Eric and Parrish Making Dollars, I'll always make it MY BUSINESS to show love. 

Now press play...

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.

Cream of the Planet

Let the record show that Da Sharon Getty's fondness for Mos Def is river deep, mountain high. It's no secret.  He's not listed as Jayne's Addiction on the right  panel for no good reason.  I could sit here and lick off countless verses and songs which showcase his limitless talent- but I'd rather just let you hear for yourself.  The following video by Ski Beatz featuring Mos is for the single, Cream of the Planet off the new album 24 Hour Karate School by the former. Seriously. How can you not love that album title?  It's been rumoured that all of Mos Def's work on the Creative Control project had been pulled before the September 7th release, but I don't know how true that is. I hope not.  That would be an injustice. Anyway- a friend of mine floated this one my way and incidentally, it played flawlessly on my phone without pausing once.  (You know how it goes: Buffering...buffering...buffer...oh screw this! Effin' Crackberry!) I love everything about this joint. The jazzy horns.  The hypnotic beat.  But the lyrics, man.  The lyrics... "Listen, life is fantastic.  Beautiful and tragic. Plain. Classic." I couldn't have said it better myself, Mos.

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.

C.A.R.D.I. - One to Watch

Alright People, you know I always put you on when I discover something worth sharing in Hip-Hop.  Well, don't say I never gave you nothin'.  I first met Cardi in my days of hosting an online radio show called Strong Island Hip Hop almost two years ago.  He would frequent the studio to battle our featured artists and would kill it each and every time. The kid is a problem.  For the longest time, we would interview artists and showcase their talents- but the best part of each show would be the freestyle cipher afterward, hands down.  You would have to see it to believe it, but a lot of heads came up to the studio just to hear him spit and he wasn't even in front of the camera prior to that. The buzz was always there.  Da Sharon Getty got a chance to ping-ping with Cardi  with a little word association interview, just off the top.  He's just as humble, mature,  laid back and funny as they come, plus something else.  A secret ingredient that makes him real and credible without the commonplace posturing so prevalent in the world of rappers nowadays.   The results were off the top, raw insights into the mind of Cardi Crown Prince. Peep it.

Ipod - "CARDI"

9 to 5 -  "Sheesh..."

Dirty South - "Catchy"

Family - "Priorities"

Swag - "Discontinued" (laughs)

Twitter -  "Nosy" 

Ignorance - "Disease"

Nikki Minaj - "Plastic"

Battle - (smiles knowingly) "Dat's cool."




It should come as no surprise that Cardi knows exactly where he’s going. That’s because he knows very well where he’s been and more importantly, where he could be. The name C.A.R.D.I. which stands for Crime and Real Dollars Involved represents a road many may go down but never make it back. Born Roderick Jones on October 5, 1989 and named for a close family friend whose life was tragically cut short, Cardi Crown Prince is a man destined for success. He hails from Lakeview, Long Island New York. Exit 18 is home to many who aspire to do what comes naturally to Cardi. From shows to freestyle ciphers and special appearances, he quickly became a favorite on the underground circuit with eloquent rhymes and mature viewpoint of the industry that contradicts his short years on the planet. That started way before the ENJ Battlegroundz, Strong Island Hip Hop ciphers and live performances at venues in NYC. He’s a wordsmith at heart. He received poetry and literature awards as a youth and grew up hearing mainstays in Hip Hop like DMX, Nas, Jay-Z and Big in his household along with classic soul greats which influence his music. He cites Otis Redding and Frankie Beverly and Maze as being a few of his all-time favorites. Being the oldest of three children, it’s safe to say he was the youngest in charge in a way. With a strong sense of family values, he has no reason to come off as something he is not. He talks about what he knows. He will take his listeners through true life and its pleasure and pains without a need to brag. If his bravado seems apparent, that’s because he backs it up with a laid back delivery and lyrics that stick. Initially he wasn’t drawn to rap but basketball instead. For a long time, Cardi could be spotted with an ever present basketball, working on his skills. He played basketball for his school team as a guard for two and a half years. But rhyming came naturally as he would rap at school presentations and projects rather than simply speak at them. Some people are nothing but trouble makers and others are straight-A students, but Cardi fell somewhere in between with his share of lunchroom antics while maintaining his grades in order to play sports. It paved the way for things to come. In a short time he established a reputation for witty one-liners and thought provoking stories. In March 2009 he released the mixtape Leader of the New School. His single “The Way It Is” has fast become a sensation on the streets and in cyberspace alike. Proving that he can hold his own in any forum, his guest spots are equally anticipated as his solo performances. In April 2010 he signed with KG Music Group but it doesn't stop there. Cardi flaunts a true confidence while maintaining a genuinely humble disposition. His star is on the rise and it comes as no surprise.  He is the truth.  Stay tuned.


Check out Cardi's live performance of his single, Talk To You.



Download his latest mixtape, THE CO-SIGN at datpiff.com 

Dear God 2.0

Truth be told...I haven't seen, heard or felt anything this powerful in quite some time. Word.   

"If I don't make it through the night, slight change of plans. Harp strings, angel wings and praying hands."-Black Thought

Editor's Note: Throwback Thursdays will return next week.

The Climb

Let the record show that Sharon Getty will always get you the goods when the giving is good.  My girl Jean Grae has done it again. From her collection of songs called "Dusty Jeans" comes The Climb.  Love this chick.  No homo. I guarantee you'll hit replay as soon as it's done just to catch what you missed.  The bitch is bad.

Don't say I never gave you nothin'. 

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!

Son of a...

This is it. What?

Three words: Ooh Muthaf*ckin' Wee!

Credit where it's due. Shout out to my peeps, Crazy Al Cayne for putting me on

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.

Moment of Truth

This is not a Throwback. It just happens to be Thursday.  And my heart is heavy with the loss of yet another legend.  Keith "GURU" Elam is gone from this earth.  From Hip-Hop.  From us.  When I heard the news, I just sat back in my chair and read the words repeatedly, trying to ingest and process what I was seeing.  I knew he was not well.  When I first wrote about his coma scare a month ago, I was hedging my bets and hoping for the best in terms of his recovery.  To hear that he passed away as a result of cancer hit home for me.  Read: Not close to home.  It hit home.  Having lost my own mother to the same affliction, I can tell you that no amount of knowing can emotionally prep you for the loss; no matter how eventual you make it out to be in your head.

I grew up with Guru.  Granted, I might not have literally come up with him, but I listened to enough Gang Starr coming up to be sincerely shocked and saddened by his death.  1989.  Manifest.  1991. Check the Technique. These songs reached me in a way that most didn't.  You see, I grew up in a household that emanated  jazz from the floorboards and walls.  What I heard from them was pure music that just happened to be Hip-Hop.  The combination of Guru's lyrical talent and DJ Premier's signature beats was like nothing that ever came before it.  And on the real, there's been nothing like it ever since.  Think about it.  You know a Primo track when you hear one- but none of them sound similar.  No small feat.  As far as Guru, you'd be hard pressed to find an emcee with such a monotone voice that kept you riveted on his rhymes- and he did it for the most part using little profanity, if any.  How many rappers can you say that about?  His vocabulary, eloquence and capacity for knowledge could damn near fill the Grand Canyon.

When I was in Chicago a while back, I caught Monie Love's  backspin show on Sirius Satellite.  She spoke about his illness and kept it a hundred about not knowing all the details but wished him the best.  She said she spoke to Premier about his being kept in the dark about Guru and his health.  And this is why I love Monie.  She asked the burning question that I feel most true heads were asking.  Who the hell is Solar and what gives him the right to stage his own lock-out from Guru? When I read the alleged final letter that was penned, singling out Premier to not do any tributes- it just didn't sit well with me.   I don't care how much dude defends it.  Who knows?  Only Primo and Guru really know what caused their fallout and perhaps Solar is just an innocent party trying to do right by a dearly departed friend.  But at the end of the day, I'm looking at this new jack like ' Who the eff is you?'  To keep family and friends at bay hardly seems like a noble act to me.  But that's just my opinion.  I know this much- and Mr. Cee echoed my sentiments surrounding this on his show this past Tuesday: Don't let anyone tell you that you cannot love someone and mourn for them how you see fit.  It is your birthright to feel a loss and express that in a manner which is conducive to healing.

Love and respect to Gifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal. You still shine. Bright. One Love.

Now, Who's Gonna Take the Weight?

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.