Old Skool

If you're between the ages of 14 and 50 then you should probably check out VH-1 over the next few days and kick it old school with the Hip Hop Honors ceremony for 25 years of Def Jam. This special will bring you back or educate you on the past of a great era of hip hop artists gone by. I mean who knew DMX was not only still alive, but not in jail? This special reminded me that artists used to actually rhyme, create beats, and have meaningful lyrics. There is a reason that Yo! MTV Raps was created and Midwestern white suburbia used to dress in ridiculous clothes and get their sneakers stolen on the wrong part of town.

While no one wants to remember the days when you couldn't wear North Carolina colors or sport a new pair of Nikes, the rappers of the 80s and early 90s had a message that still rings true today. Maybe the current crop have it too good or didn't have the same level of life experience that these guys had, or maybe they need to get back to travelling in groups. Think about that for a minute. We used to have the Wu Tang Clan, Ruff Ryders, N.W.A., Bone Thugs & Harmony, Cash Money Millionaires, Murder Inc, D-12, and the list goes on. These all-star rap teams brought the best rhymes to a generation of listeners, but now what is left. Somebody please start another east-west rap feud. I must say that I fell on the west side of that one. I remember thinking to myself when I bought a Notorious BIG album that I was cavorting with the enemy. I also used to wonder what would happen if Dr. Dre and Chuck D ever actually got into a real fight. Clearly the world would have exploded.

Those were simpler times. When a young lad could turn on MTV and think that Terminator X was not a DJ, but an actual terminator sent to do the business that Arnold could not finish. Like he was sent here to take over the world in the name of large clock necklaces. Damn shame Flavor Flav had to go crazy and waste a good rap group. You have to give credit to these guys though. Rappers are like pro athletes. They entertain millions for like 10-15 years, then they disappear and spend money. You know things went horribly wrong for this genre when you see Ja Rule and Onyx perform and think about how good things used to be. Son, if you can't bring a rap stronger than Ja Rule, then you need to rethink what you're doing for a living. So it is time to put on your Pump sneakers, grab your shaggy Kangol hat, break out the gold chain with your high school number at the end of it, mount up your fellow regulators, and fight the power.

Digital Ditty

I was well known thoughout the southwest suburbs of Chicago in the late 90s and early part of this decade for completing the best rap mixes known to white people. I think the final album was my seventh compilation. There was a broad spectrum of talent and rhymes, but I'll try to limit you to a few powerful tracks. You definitely need Don't Believe the Hype by Public Enemy and my favorite rap track of all-time is still Dre Day by the Doctor himself. Those two should peak your interest to explore the glory days of the street chorus.