What I have to remind myself to NOT do....before going to work....play old school rap/ hip-hop in my car....man...I was ready to skip work.... go back home... grab up all my Eric B & Rakim and Run-DMC cd's.....and all my old school rap compilations and drive to wherever....
I grabbed an old-school 4 disc rap cd on my way out the door....just wanted to switch up the feel in my car.....heavy rotation in Dayna's Calimobile: Stevie Wonder - Fulfillingness' First Finale, Nirvana - Nevermind, John Legend, Alicia Keys - Songs in A minor, Jay-Z - Reasonable Doubt (my fav- Can't Knock the Hustle) and of course one of Mix Dayna-dee's cd's.
I almost swerved off the road when the beat for Cindafella (Dana-dane) dropped...maybe it's because we share names....or maybe it's just the funky beat and oh how it took me back...... memories of being in high school..trying to go to Nassau Coliseum to see DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince(for the life of me I can't remember who else was performing)....and having my aunt beg me and my friend to reconsider....She told us she'd buy our tickets from us and take us out to dinner....I'm a softy and Nassau Coliseum is a bit of a voyage (unless of course it's Whitney)....so....a meal with my Aunty it was....We were like 15 and 16 years old....I remember my Great-Grandmother, fussing at me and my friend....she called us Stupid and Dumb Dumb...."Wherever Stupid goes, Dumb Dumb follows and wherever Dumb Dumb goes Stupid follows".....she was right...and I can't wait to use that line on some silly kids who think they're indestructible ...me and my high school buddy were definitely fools being watched out for by a higher being..cause'.....FOOLS!!! For sure....but damn we had fun....I can't say I regret not going...I regret not getting to see Mr. Will Smith perform as The Fresh Prince....but.......who knows what would've happen to Stupid and Dumb Dumb on the journey to Uniondale, NY....when we had no idea how to get there....in our new outfits from Annie Sez no less. I never wore that outfit in public....it was a black and white tank...it had a black cross and it read "Lifeguard".....along with my black stretch shorts.....Surely I jest you say.....It became my sleepwear.
And I can't express how pleased I am to have grown up (east coast) at the same time Eric B and Rakim, Slick Rick, Run-DMC, Dougie Fresh, Dana-Dane, Big Daddy Kane, Special Ed, Kid N Play, Salt & Pepa and MC Lyte were doing the damn thing...don't get me wrong....Love hip-hop..now and then...and here's where I might sound a little old.....I feel like I'm at this moment...the proper age to listen to current hip-hop.....I'm right...come on ....you know it.....Rakim was talking about being paid in full and moving the crowd....at 15....I don't know how the WAIT song by the Ying Yang twins would've affected me......I like it now...kind of...if I let go of the reality of what they are saying and just groove to it...but I'm grown. And I definitely feel love for the angry hip-hop songs..ie....The What - BIG and Method Man....because being an adult who has to go out and deal with the stress of adult life and other foolish adults......having a crazy rap release is a wonderful thing...the angry fella' in the movie "Office Space", would agree....in 1988...I needed to roll with Kid N Play (who are like...in there 40's now) and yes Slick Rick was going there a bit with songs like Treat her like a Prostitute....but....he didn't say and after you treat her like a prostitute beat her up, kick her in the teeth and dump her in the trunk (plus he rapped in that crazy "English?" accent to throw us off).....and in 1989/90.... I needed Tribe begging for attention from Bonita Applebum, De La Soul to Take it Off and Queen Latifah schooling us on proper etiquette...... "Ladies First" and more Salt & Pepa of course.....I feel the movement of Hip-hop is flowing with me...personally.....and I appreciate it......Oh..... and even though I'm not feeling this cat as an actor.....Get out of my way if some (old school) LL COOL J should happen to spin....Rock the Bells and I Can't Live Without My Radio...to begin....1985 (I didn't listen until 86) strict grade school....but in high school......in the great words of Prince "Let's Go Crazy". I'm still looking for the purple banana....no truck in sight.
After WAIT(the whisper song)...where else is there to go? I hope backwards so my kids(if I have any) can listen freely...and let me add....
I do remember one west coast hip-hop group who tried....JJ Fad - Supersonic...child...please.....Dr. Dre was their producer and we know he's good at what he does.....practice makes perfect....I was not checking for Supersonic on any level and unlike my beloved east coast hip-hop trailblazers, when this song plays I'm not amazed at all with how I remember the lyrics to a song I haven't heard in umpteen years.....because....I don't know the lyrics, not consciously or subconsciously on any level.
Personal lyrical Hip-Hop triumphs for Dayna.....Learning all the words to Public Enemy's, Bring the Noise......flowing with MC Lyte in Lyte as Rock..Oh yes...I took a deep breath and practiced..... lastly.....I'm still not down from the high of being taught how to make that sound Biz Markie makes...my cousin's best bud told me...all nonchalant about it...She had no idea....in the dictionary under pleased......should've been a picture of me...Make the music with your mouth Biz.....take your hand and lightly yet rapidly tap your throat...while saying whatever you want....until she told me....I used a table fan to get (what I thought was) the same effect I honestly don't know if that's the way he does it... but......What a fool believes.....I'll take it..
I also have RunDMC's , Rock Box, on a 45 yes 45rpm...I'll take my old school hip-hop purple heart now please.
