17 November 2008

Taking You Back, Part 1

My little brother and I are some true old school hip hop and R&B heads. In a day and age where true musical talent is so unbelievably scarce, he and I like to talk and reflect on the "good old days".


Now granted, he is only 18 and a lot of the artists that we reference were out when he was around….2 years old and I was 7 years old, however, what a lot of people don't know nor understand is…my brother and I were always exposed to the stylings of Heavy D and the Boys, Dr. Dre, Public Enemy, Sister Soldja, Mc Lyte, and yes…even Big Daddy Kane. Some of these artists I just mentioned are even risqué for our elementary eyes and ears, but…that's what happens when you are raised by music lovers.


Our parents are something like oil and vinegar. They are literally polar opposites. However, they both shared an immense love for music…of different time periods. While my mom loved the real oldies music of Jackson 5, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, and Minnie Riperton, my dad loved those too…..but also loved 80s and 90s Hip Hop and R&B as well. On Saturday mornings, we'd have a huge clean up day where we clean up the house all day long and while we're cleaning, we'd have combinations of 60s classics all the way down to 90s music blaring on my dad's Radio Raheem-esque stereo that he got when he was in the Army in the 80s. Over time, my brother and I rubbed off on our parents and now we refuse to cave into the powers that be with today's mainstream music…because we know better.


A few weeks ago on a Saturday night, I was at my parent's house. My brother had gotten in from work and we began chatting on one of our favorite subjects—Music. Pretty soon, we started perusing YouTube and taking turns on what we wanted to listen to next. This was only supposed to go on for a few minutes. It went on for several hours. Lol.


Here are a few clips. I'll be taking it back a bit further in more blogs, but this is just a starter. Let's call this: Taking You Back Part 1


Montell Jordan – This Is How We Do It





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Montell was one of my baby daddies back in the day. He's like 6'7" and looks good? I'm 5'9" and the tallies have always been on my radar. For me? The taller, the better. This song was hot back in '95. I think it was hot for a lot longer than that though. Where is he at? Anyone know?


Ginuwine – So Anxious




Maaaan who didn't love this song? At the time of this song, while it was more than obvious what he was talking about, I certainly couldn't relate. So I watched and thought, "dang, Ginuwint is FWOINE!" Now though? I can't really type how I react to this song/video now. I figure it's best to keep my squeaky clean image for you folks.



Silk – Meeting In My Bedroom



Again, this is a hit. Where IS this group? That main singer in this song did it for me instantly back in the day with his hair and his dimples and he looks tall too! I fell in love with him in this video and got a little semi-jealous of the girl in it too. That white jacket is FIRE though, isn't it?


Part 2 Coming Soon...

10 comments:

Diamond~Star said...

Everyone you mentioned was a hit back in the day. I beleive most of the members in Silk are performing in plays even though they do go and perform as a group from time to time. Ginuwine was just in Columbia last month and is supposed to be putting out a new album. We will see. Montell Jordan, yeah he is hella tall. I saw him in concert one year, and he is frequent in this area a lot. I really love the music of the 90's and the late 80's. I like SOME music of this time but at the same time I like to dance too. If the beat is good then I'm going to be on the floor.


I got one for you: Envogue-Runaway Love. I heard that one weekend in Kmart while I was working. I was like Whaaaaaaaaaaa????? Don't get me started. This is a good blog.

Ms_Slim said...

Yea...Im EXTRA finicky about my music. It takes a LOT out of me to buy an album too. I like some stuff of today as well but...MOST of what I like of today were the same folk that were hits in the 90s as well. (See: Q-Tip of ATCQ, Little Brother...)

EnVogue? We hit them up too that night. Not that song though.
I'll post that video (If I can find it) in Part 2

Glad you enjoyed the blog.

A Genius said...

Hmm, even though I liked all those songs...I have no desire to ever hear them again lol. I don't listen to old school shit too much...I just don't feel it.

Ms_Slim said...

Yea the old school stuff is what's up in any day. I can't bring myself to be a fan to a lot of "what's hot" on today's speakers. I just can't. Some of the artists that I do like today arent even mainstream...or they used to be once upon a time (see: Raphael Saadiq of Tony Toni Tone back in the day). He's dope but amazingly so...a lot of the 'youngins' dont even know about him. Shame...

I always imagined you to be a person who didnt do too much mainstream though....*shrugs*...

A Genius said...

I don't listen to "mainstream" music...I just listen to current music more. Old school music (esp. rap) does nothing for me. By old school I mean pre-93ish. I'm more of a fan of modern production and current events.

I don't listen to the radio or look at videos much though...

All-Mi-T [Thought Crime] Rawdawgbuffalo said...

thats classic parents like oil and vinigar

oNe mAn gAng said...

Good stuff...but I refuse to believe that Nick sat there thru this RnB girl's eyecandy-fest that you seemingly were on with this one...SMH

not a STITCH of hip hop in the whole mix...or even a female RnB artist...lol

Ms_Slim said...
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Ms_Slim said...
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Ms_Slim said...

Teef: Yea I love me some oldies. I keep it current too lol so it's not like all I listen to is old stuff haha but...the old stuff is just...better lol...There's too much "mainstream" and wack rap and bubblegum pop goin around these days so this tends to ease the nerves when needed lol

Terrence: They really are like oil and vinegar. From just bout EVERY angle LOL

Ronzie: Not surprised to see you here because your twin is here (hahahaha) But yea...he stuck around for these videos. We were taking turns with what we wanted to see and these were some of my picks. LOL Sure enough, Nick put up a complaint or two when these videos were selected by me but like a good sport, he stayed around and listened.. Oh! Wait for Part 2. I'll post about 5 videos then...and just for you, I'll make mention of which videos were his and which were mine :-). Just wait.

**Note: The deletions you see in the comments...they were MY comments lol; I have a semi-terrible time editing what I say and deleting and reposting at times, smh...**