Hip Hop Appreciation Week Day 5

Yup yup! It's his Birthday and theres no denying that he deserves the respect. Here we gooooo!!

Notorious B.I.G. - Ready to Die

Released: September 13, 1994

1. Intro

2. Things Done Changed

3. Gimmie the Loot

4. Machine Gun Funk

5. Warning

6. Ready to Die

7. One More Change

8. Fuck Me

9. The What

10. Juicy

11. Everyday Struggle

12. Me & My BItch

13. Big Poppa

14. Respect

15. Friend of Mine

16. Unbelievable

17. Suicidal Thoughts

18 Who Shot Ya?

19. Just Playing (Dreams)

First things first, I Poppa, freaks all the honeys....

With the blow up in technology, everybody & their momma puttin out a mixtape (trust, I'm putting one out too, WITH my momma) and every single album released being "leaked" out a bit too early, theres not much left to be said about the anticipation of new music. However, my infatuation with this album came mostly from the NEED to run out and get it, as well as it being a lyrical masterpiece, of course.

In '94, I was barely pushin 10 years old. My mom worked the graveyard shift and wouldn't make it home til after my dad, brother, & I had left for work/school in the mornings. The day this album dropped, I forged my mom's signature in an absent note, sent my lil bro off to school and walked the mile up Sepulveda Blvd. to Tower Records to get this CD. It was that serious.

Just from radio play alone, I knew this man was a genius. Being from the West Coast, there was of course the whole "we don't respect East Coast artists" at one time but this album always stayed true to me. Biggie had this sense of ease about him, you felt comfortable listening to him and inclined to sing along. He rapped as if it was easy for him; like spittin out "Straight at your dome homes, I wanna see cabbage, Biggie Smalls the savage, doin your brain cells much damage..." was nothin to him.

But that feeling I had; that want, that NEED for this album, you don't get that anymore. Theres not one Hip-Hop artist out today that I can truly say "I'm not gonna be right if I don't go run out & get this the day it drops". I miss that feeling, I want it back. And I thank BIG for giving me that.

Happy Birthday B.I.G.!

Hip Hop Appreciation Week Day 4

So I found out about this show about 3 days ago. A couple of the guys from the Luminaries come into my restaurant often, some of them every single day. They mentioned the show and of course, I was on board.

First off, KRS-One doing a show about 7 blocks from my job, derrr, I'm in! Second, I absolutely adore Simple Citizens. They remind me of everything that I love about Hip Hop and more. Not only are their rhymes on point but give me anything with a live band/horns/woodwinds, I'm yours forever.

Before tonight, I had never seen Luminaries perform live. I always say I'll go and end up working late or whatnot but I was excited to finally attend a show of theirs. A conscious Hip Hop Group with I think more white people in it than blacks; an observation pointed out to me by a source that shall remain nameless.

So we'll start at the top:

My girl, Philene ended up working late so we only got to catch the last 2 songs done by Simple Citizens. Of course they did not disappoint. Then the Luminaries came on and blew my fuckin face off. Raw talent, (Raw. Get it? Cause I'm a Raw Chef... No?? Never mind...) Musicality beyond measure and a message that you can not ignore. I had no idea how great these guys are and how drawn everyone was to them. I figured most people at the show were there to see KRS-One but to see everyone so into Luminaries and rocking out the way they were, I was astonished. They did an amazing job.

And then there's KRS-One. Fuck. The man. Theres something that I've been dreaming for years and tonight, my dream came true. I've always told people, if there was anyone on this planet that I could just sit and listen to while they talked for hours, it would be KRS-One. The man did not let me down. I think about 98% of his set was freestyled. And anytime the DJ would put on a beat he wasn't feelin, KRS would stop and switch directions taking you on a whole new ride. Then we get to the end of his set and dude just starts going on and on and on about life, love, peace, music, equality... Seriously my dream. I damn near cried. Everything I've ever wanted to hear him say, he preached it to us tonight. *Bonus round* He was completely gracious with the photo/autographs and even made us retake a picture with him cause the first was too blurry. LOVES!

Literally the best $20 I've ever spent. So grateful for tonight. Ahhh!

Hip Hop Appreciation Week Day 3

Slick Rick - The Great Adventures of Slick Rick

Released November 3, 1988

1. Treat her Like a Prostitute

2. The Ruler's Back

3. Children's Story

4. The Moment I Feared

5. Let's Get Crazy

6. Indian Girl (an Adult Story)

7. Teenage Love

8. Mona Lisa

9. Kit (What's The Scoop)

10. Hey You World

11. Teacher, Teacher

12. Lick The Balls

One reason why I love this album was to me, Slick Rick was so Fresh. He was fun, dressed real slick, and he was genuinely his own person. Not "unique" like we'd use the term today but if you put on a dope outfit and an eye patch, everyone KNEW you was tryin to be Slick Rick. I found humor in almost all his music and his ways of telling stories reminded me of myself growin up; writing plays & stories and poems, etc. and finding an alternative way to display them to the world... If there is anyone in Hip Hop that I say I can relate to based on personality, it is hands down, Slick Rick (with a touch of Kanye & Diddy, of course!)

Cheers.

Hip Hop Appreciation Week Day 2

A Tribe Called Quest - Midnight Mauraders

Released November 9, 1993

1. Midnight Marauders Tour Guide
2. Steve Biko (Stir It Up)
3. Award Tour
4. 8 Million Stories
5. A Tribe Called Quest
6. Midnight
7. We Can Get Down
8. Electric Relaxation
9. Clap Your Hands
10. Oh My God (A Tribe Called Quest song)
11. Keep It Rollin'
12. The Chase, Part II
13. Lyrics to Go
14. God Lives Through

Hip Hop Appreciation Week; Day 1

It's Hip Hop Appreciation Week. This week, I'll be mentioning a few of my favorite Hip Hop artists and giving you at least 1 of my favorite albums by them. Lesss Gooooo!!!

Day 1: Tupac Shakur

2Pac - All Eyez on Me

Released Feb. 13, 1996

1. Ambitionz Az a Ridah
2. All About U {Nate Dogg, Yaki Kadafi, Kastro, Hussein Fatal}
3. Skandalouz {Nate Dogg}
4. Got My Mind Made Up {Daz Dillinger, Kurupt, Method Man, Redman}
5. How Do You Want It {Jodeci}
6. 2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted {Snoop Dogg}
7. No More Pain
8. Heartz of Men
9. Life Goes On
10. Only God Can Judge Me
11. Tradin War Stories {C-BO, Outlawz, Storm}
12. California Love [Remix] {Dr. Dre, Roger Troutman}
13. I Ain't Mad at Cha {Danny Boy}
14. What'z Ya Phone No. {Danny Boy}

So here's my intro to Hip Hop:

I grew up on the likes of Prince, Anita Baker, Stevie Wonder, and all things Gospel. My parent's generation. I wasn't introduced to Hip Hop til I was about 5 or 6, late 80's, early 90's. What initially started my love for Hip Hop was that radio stations during this time would incorporate the music of my parents with this "new" movement. The grooves, the rhymes, the energy, it all appealed to me. Of course the Internet and technology then wasn't like it is now so my main source for discovering Hip Hop was the radio. Up until High School, every chance I had, I created what is now highly publicized as the "mixtape". I'd record the radio for hours on end onto a cassette tape to listen to on my walkman that would get taken away from me 2-3 times in a month's span at school.

Moving on. In 1996, I fully fell in love with 2Pac. All Eyez on Me came out and it spoke to me in a way that I had never experienced before. I can't remember where I heard it from but this is the best explanation of 2Pac as an artist that I've ever heard:

"I believe Pac pulled from MLK, Malcolm X. That singing it & meaning it, pouring those words out because it was from the heart..."

Or as expressed by Radio Personality, Devi Dev, in a recent interview:

"The way that he spoke to people, he knew how to invoke every emotion humanly possible in you. Be it greed, anger, generosity, love, hate, empowerment, inspiration or degrading, he knew how to do that. It showed me the power we have as speakers to touch a lot of people's lives..."

With his ability to make me feel things I've never felt or experience situations that I never knew existed, 2Pac open my eyes to the world. To something outside of my little Valley Girl bubble. And that is why I listed him first in my Hip Hop Appreciation Week.

I'll see you tomorrow for Day 2.

Gratitude

Had an interesting conversation with one of our patrons at the restaurant yesterday. This is what he had to say:

"How do you make my drink so well? I know you're a music fan so let me describe it in a way that you'll understand. For instance, when you prepare my meals/drinks, it's like old school. Like Sam Cook, Otis Redding. The good stuff. The stuff you love & appreciate. But when you're not around and someone else makes the same thing, it's like the Karaoke Cover Band of Otis Redding. You just get it."

I've never felt so flattered in my life. I LOVE my profession.

Stay blessed folks! God's working on you too :)

Recipe of the Week

In honor of Mother's Day, and the fact that I was broke paying for shit to keep the feds off my back, I made my mom dinner to show her my appreciation. Seriously the best meal I've had in ages.

Herb Roasted Chicken breast, Stuffed shells atop a Leek & Carrot Salad. Peas on the side cause my bro is picky & won't eat most things green.

Super easy to make, incredibly affordable (I spent less than $50 and it serves 6-8 people). The Chicken was marinated in Ginger, Oregano, & Basil. Shells stuffed with Ricotta & Mozzarella Cheeses with fresh Crab & Shrimp and sprinkled with Parmesan. Leeks blanched & chilled with peeled carrots.

I'm probably gonna need a gym membership to work off this meal but either way, Happy Eating!!

Blurb

As a fantastically single girl, and extremely happy within that right, I must admit; the best part of not having to sleep alone is Hilary Duffinately not having to wake up alone.

Well, maybe the second best part.... :)

Happy Cinco de Mayo puntas!

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