I have a hot pink t-shirt with 'Hip Hop Don't Stop' emblazoned on the front in sparkly pink writing. (Aside from the words, it looks nothing like the one above - I just thought that the visual representation would liven things up!) I bought it in New York City, the home of hiphop music - my genre of choice.
My love for hiphop is relatively new but also lifelong. One of the earliest memories of rap came from an unlikely source - Bart Simpson 'Do the Bartman!' As a 7/8/9 (?) year old, the rhythm and lyrics grabbed my attention; I memorised the words, the attitude intrigued me, it all seemed so cool (ought to give 'The Simpsons' a nod for that word being a part of my idiolect too!).
As a teen I was sidetracked by Indie, rock and Brit-pop but there are a few key hiphop tracks in my personal discography: Coolio 'Gangsta's Paradise', The Fugees 'Ready Or Not', Lauren Hill's immaculate 'The Miseducation Of...'.
To be honest, I'm a late starter, new to this thing and my early days of hiphop are a bit shaky although there were some good albums; Eminem, 'The Real Slim Shady',50 Cent 'Get Rich Or Die Tryin''. Don't knock these, they are tainted by their commercial success, but they have their merits. Others weren't so good (*Insert various wack rappers here, including (Oh my god...) Chingy & Fabolos*). I liked dancing in the 'urban' room in my Fresher's year at Uni and that was about it. I enjoyed what I heard on the radio, but I wasn't aware of how powerful hiphop was.
Until I saw this video. Nas, 'Get Down'.
I was sat on the sofa at my friend's house, we were chilling out with MTVBase on in the background when the delectable James Brown, 'The Boss' caught my attention. My eyes locked onto the set and stayed there for the remainder of the song. The sample, the lyrics, the stripped-back style and unassuming confidence of Nas struck me as something special; I was hooked. Hair raising and breathtaking, it is a moment that will live on in my memory as a life changer. I value music in my life and it felt similar to the feeling of awe I had when I first listened to Oasis as a teen; but as a 21 year old it hit harder.
The next installment of my student loan went on buying Nas' whole back catalogue, followed by a flood of other conscious, political and poetic rappers who I began to know about through affiliation to Mr Nasir Jones. My dissertation topic was even on HipHop. I'm not going to reveal it all yet; I couldn't even if I wanted to! The unravelling of my passion will become clear in future blogs, but let me get back to that t-shirt. T-shirt? Yes, the one I told you about at the top!
On one occasion when I wore it I received a reaction that I hadn't expected to get; cynicism, mockery and critique. I was working at my parent's pub serving beers to a bunch of shaven-headed, goatee wearing, multiple pierced guys. One bloke took a look and said 'It bloody stops at my front door! What do you listen to that shite for?' It was uncalled for and we debated. He said it was 'black peoples' music' and involved no real musical talent or skill...
He didn't get it but that's his loss not mine.
He didn't get it but that's his loss not mine.
