I was on the Twitter this evening questioning people about the things that matter in life most: pop culture. You see, without pop culture, Rosa Parks would never have gotten out of her seat…or wait, did she refuse to get up. I can’t remember. Little known facts about Black history always throw me off.
The point is, pop culture is what makes the world go ’round. Now, I tend to fancy myself as somewhat of a pop culture tycoon. I don’t have the breadth of knowledge as some of my compadres who know little intricate facts about every movie, song, or act that’s come out since Cicely Tyson started radio, but I know enough. While my arms may be too short to hot box with God, they’re long enough to slap the monkey shine sh*t out of all perpetrators of the funk.
And what does this have to do with the price of love muffins in Malaysia? Nothing. I just felt like sharing.
The question I posed on the Twitters was this: Is Coming To America the defining movie of our generation, with the caveat of our generation being 25-44 year olds. Arguably, that range is too long but did you know a generation is considered to be an 18-year period? Did you also know that Coca-Cola was originally green? I didn’t either ’til I just googled it.
To me Coming To America is the most quoted movie, most omnipresent movie, and most entertaining movie that 99 percent of all ninjas are aware of. You may disasgree. You may be wrong. But also, you will know. There’s no doubt about it.
Of course, there are arguments to be made for various other movies like Friday, Boyz N The (Tha?) Hood, and any movie starring Stoney Jackson. But as is plainly obvious around here, we’re big fans of Coming To America. It’s the Jay-Z of movies. Plus it might the most stereotypically racist movie ever created. I love it.
But you can’t stop there. What about music? There have to be something like a gazillion songs out there, but there has to be one song above all else that kind of defines the generation you come from right? Anything else would be uncivilized.
(By the way, Preparation H commercials are hilariously disturbing. Lady, I hope that bike your riding isn’t a RideShare bike.)
While picking a TV show like Martin, A Different World, or The Cosby Show as the show that most well represents our generation presents less interpretive dancing, picking music is way more difficult, especially when you consider how many actual albums Master P managed to sell. No really. Look it up. And did you also know that there was a time when groups like The Dayton Family ACTUALLY sold real records. This from a group with members named Shoestring, Backstabber, and Bootleg. Only in Flint, MI, does Shoestring seem like the odd name.
If I had to pick one song to use as the defining song of my generation, it would be Notorious B.I.G.’s “One More Chance” Remix. Mostly because it’s the defining song of Bad Boy and hate them or love them, Bad Boy (while Biggie was alive) was at the top of the food chain.
Oh, and I’d pick A Different World as the tv show.
So basically, I just took 552 words to ask this question:
If you had to pick one movie, song, and television show to define your/our generation, what would it be and why? Or if there are other things you think would stand out as significant, what might they be? Simply, what defines your/our generation?
It’s Friday, its not a day for depth. It’s a time for fun and fellowship. Plus, if one more person calls me a narrow-minded, ignorant papoose, I just might just have to slap a mofo. Yeah you think you can outshine me? Boy I bet. I ain’t met the motherf*cker that could do that yet.
Hold me.
Panama Jackson, signing out.
-VSB P aka TICKLE ME EMO P aka SLAP ME AND I’LL SLAP YOU BACK (POUR LOTION ON ME) aka GIIIIIIIIIIIIIRL HE A 3
“It’s Friday, its not a day for depth. It’s a time for fun and fellowship. ”
AND foolery.
..It’s not Friday yet in my world..but I am definitely using this as my Facebook status in a couple of hours.. Including the foolery.
of course foolery.
PJ,
TV show: A Different World. It was my first introduction to east coast college life and made me want to go to Spelman or Howard so badly. And I eff’ed up and went to UWMilwaukee. #isuck. Oh and I wanted Shazza.
Song: Biggie Smalls: One More Chance: This came out when right after I got my driver’s license and it was on constant rotation in the Olds Delta 88. I was in college, being halfway grown, having relations, and getting illegal bottles of likkah. Ah I miss college…
Movie: Hmm…I really don’t have a movie. I wasn’t a movie person when I was younger (still not). So I can’t really say right now…but I’ll got with Coming to America for $400 Alex. Just by default.
KMN
It’s still funny to see Shazza dating white girls now.
Damn. That hurt my feelings. That’s why he got shot on CSI. LMAO
KMN
Shazza gone? That ninja dead?!?!?!?!??
(whatever his name is on the show)
THIS!!!
This made me guffaw.
A Different World. It was my first introduction to east coast college life and made me want to go to Spelman or Howard so badly.
RIGHT?! You couldn’t tell me I wasn’t going to Spelman or Howard back in the day because of A Different World. SOMEHOW… I’m currently at some online college *woe is me*. At least I had a chance to spend the last 4 yrs living vicariously thru baby sis attending Spelman and her bff at Howard. Damn, I can’t believe they’re about to graduate. Time flies at the speed of lightning in my world *sigh*.
tell me about…can you believe 2011 is already almost over?!?!
You know how most folks fake it and say that they choked on whatever food they were eating or whatever beverage they were drinking to express how funny you are?
Nicca, I ACTUALLY choked on my soup. I hatechu.
lmbao
I wanted Shazza so bad, lol. Because of A Different World I almost applied to FAMU, nuff said. I’m applying Howard for Grad School though, I wonder if its the inner Whitley within me. I had a nightmare I had shmexy time with Dwayne Wayne once and almost cried.
you are aware that the grad school experience is markedly different than the undergrad though. a lot more africans. somehow us ole american ninjas didnt get the grad school memo.
that’s a joke people.
More truth than joke there! I’m in gs at HU now and there is no Black experience, just exams, papers, and meltdowns. As a pseudo instructor at least I can find out about the HU culture from ridiculous 90s babies.
Also, night of the week for the generation: fox thursday nights – Martin, Living Single, and NY Undercover (I think those were all on the same night)
NY Undercover! Man, that was the show! Still hate the ep when Eddie got blown up. *Sigh*
LOL you aren’t joking. Grad school is full of Africans, Asians Whites and West Indians.
Yeah, grad school is more job than school. It is not “the college experience” in any sense of the word.
I agree with “A Different World.” But for a different reason. When Tupac guest-starred and got in a fight with Dorian/Clarence the So Fine…that s**t made my year and decade. Felt good to see a fellow brotha with juices and berries in his hair stand up to somebody “hard” like Pac!
i guess we all get our inspiration and moxie from somewhere.
yo, is it me or has bumper robinson seemed to have gotten shorter? he was mad tall on a different world but on The Game, he seems average height like a mofo.
and have y’all seen that dude’s list of credits. looks like samuel jacksons
yeah, he’s made appearances everywhere.
I’m still mad his foine a*s name is Bumper.
SAME way I felt about Pooch Hall of The Game. Which, funny enough, Bumper has appeared in as well.
thing is, Pooch’s real name is Marion and Bumper’s real name is Larry. their real names just suck more than their nicknames so they ran with them.
Get outta here!
Oh.
See, I was out here hoping that they had ratchet enough parents to name them that ish… like for real. And you just crushed my dreams.
Ah well, here’s hoping that La-a is real…
Marion Pooch Hall is fiiine.
Bumper Robinson is fiiiine.
the nicknames suck, but they fine.
And I love that Bumper has been around since I was a kid.
@dwewan gibson
i thought i was the only one that called him Clarence the so fine!!!!!
And the theme song on A Different World was the business. We would be jamming for those few seconds. Can’t nobody get with Aretha.
Song: Biggie Smalls: One More Chance
Love that song
Dwayne and Whitney Love affair was epic (kinda glad Denise left)
“Baby please. Please!” That’s one of the best TV moments ever.
Girl, Shazza was married to Roshumba somebody…a real pretty dark-skinned sista…for a minute.
I thought he was the BIZNESS too. Until I got to Ohio State and the football team was imported from FL and GA and TX and the chocolately goodness was too much for me. I was done with “team light-skinned” for good.
LOL
Their marriage broke up because Gary has a problem with his hands
Thankfully Roshumba had the good sense God gave her and divorced him.
movie: friday/belly
song: mo money, mo problems
tv: the cosby show
im 24, so im lumping my self into the higher bracket, cause i cant get down with step up 3d/teach me how to dougie/thats so raven
“im 24, so im lumping my self into the higher bracket, cause i cant get down with step up 3d/teach me how to dougie/thats so raven”
hey don’t cheapen my generation! we also had moesha, sister act 2, and lauryn hill
Wait a sec…your generation can’t claim Lauryn Hill honey. LOL.
::insert boisterous laughter::
yeah, i gave the serious side-eye to that comment.
lol. can’t we just share her? just because i didn’t quite understand everything she was talking about or we aren’t in the same age bracket doesn’t mean anything. lol that would take out old mj, marvin, and stevie out of a lot of people’s generational memories
If you weren’t at least in high school when The Fugees dropped “The Score” you can NOT claim Lauryn Hill…although we should let you have her since she’s been actin madd stank lately…
Ummm, yes we can! Just because she’s in you guys age bracket, her stardom commenced during the mid eighties’ babies’ wonder years. HMPH! I’m taking Lauryn!
your wonder years happened when you were 8? lol.
I cosign moesha, sister act 2, and lauryn hill. I;m 21. I think we can claim lauryn hill because she went solo when I was growing up.
i’m sorry. you can’t claim anybody as part of the 21 year old generation when her first entrance into music and the industry was in the early to mid 90s. you just cant. plus…the miseducation of lauryn hill, her solo joint came out 13 years ago. you were 8. aint saying she didn’t speak for you, but i’m pretty sure ex-factor was a little bit above your pay grade.
id have to agree. just because you know OF lauryn and later developed an appreciation for her doesnt mean shes part of your generation.
Well said, Gemmie!
a little bit above your pay grade?
pannie (yes. go with it) why you such a fool?
I will be turning 23 this year and my mother purchased Miseducation (for me) when it came out (yes my mama let me, that same day I got The Score too and I still have both worn copies). So yes, we can embrace Lauryn as our own. In fact, I was a Disney child (Zenon, Jett Jackson) and back then they played music videos during the late night daypart which is where I learned about Ex-Factor… yes they played Ex-Factor on Disney… and you can’t tell me I’m lying. Lauryn is my homie. They also played music from b*witch, vitamin C, and some black boy group, I can’t remember their name.
but i considered myself a mature kid, ya know?
I think we can claim lauryn hill because she went solo when I was growing up.
right. that was my rationale.
I think we can claim lauryn hill because she went solo when I was growing up.
right. that was my rationale.
Sorry, we’re taking Lauren Hill. Y’all got Nikki Minaj.
oh hell.. *jumps out window*
I’m fighting for Lauryn! I’m going on 26! And 13yrs ago, I was 13, i understood Zion! I got Doo Wop (That Thing). Ya’ll are being selfish on this one. I’m not saying give me Anita Baker because my mommy always played it, I’m letting ya’ll have her, I say, circa 1982 and later gets Lauryn Hill! Now, I’m not budging on this one!
To understand Lauryn is to also understand The Fugees… sorry y’all lose!
You might win some, but you just lost one… heehee
have to agree…
I’m 26 and i knew the fugees, so lauryn is my generation…i was claiming her Haitian too which everyone hated in the bronx…to bad ‘Clef messed her head up…at least we got good music from it Ha!
i can side more with a 26 year old than a 21 year old claiming her as part of their generation. but here’s the thing, lauryn is 35. experiences were totally different. so its a bit of a reach though. but you’re on the cusp.
“You might win some, but you just lost one… heehee”
Well played!! Lol
co-sign!
@alana: co-sign.
#madthere’sno”EDIT”button…
awww, you poor thing. you really can’t have lauryn and her crazy marley loving self.
maybe you really meant alicia keys? or beyonce? i mean she did star in “carmen: a hip-hopera” back when mtv still played videos and ish.
since everyone wants to claim her ya’ll can have the 2011 lauryn. since she sacrificed her life for ya’ll and that’s why it takes her 3 hours to come out and sing at a concert
Lol, were you at the Oakland concert or did she do that everywhere?
@talorymay! No chile, if we give them 2011 Lauryn, they are going to want 90s Lauryn. We get all of her years! Now, I think we’re wearing them down, you can’t give a little, they’ll want more. We won, take it!
On another note: Lauryn is not crazy! I think here MTV unplugged album is *deep breath* phenomenal! I def listen to it everyday!
oh we finna start the pop culture draft up in his beyotch. LOL
darlin.. “sister act 2″ did nothin for your argument here..
lol.
Friday and CTA are neck and neck.
“OH, I need to borrow yo’ car”
“What phuck was you stealin’ boxes fa? You tryin build a clubhouse?”
I could go on but, Grey’s Anatomy is on.
Why did I look at the Coming to America acronym (CTA) and curse a little?
Because I’m still Chi. My Chi folks will get it… lol
YES!!!!
When I saw ‘CTA’ I thought “why is he talking bout the ‘el?’
LMAO!!!!
i thought that same thing. i was like “waiting for signals” and the smell of urine is a defining moment? lol. that acronym is sullied forever.
OMG! I totally thought bus all the way! SMH. It’s a curse Cheekie, we need to shake it *looks in coat pocket to ensure 7-day didn’t fall out*
I love “They ain’t got me on tape.” That ninja ain’t never say he ain’t steal the boxes, he just say thay ain’t got it on tape! This is one of the best conversations in movie history.
Ima have to go with Friday as well maye because im from the younger crust of the generation….but i remember everybody knew that joint word for word, we use to act it out during lunch…..”he gon cry in the car” lol!
i’m from SoCal so i definitely have a first-hand appreciation for this movie. its hella funny but…. its not nearly as quotable or as widely quoted as CTA (no transit lol).
thats just the way it is. sorry kids *shrugs*
As widely quoted? I don’t know about this. Friday gave us “Ms. Parker.” Friday gave us “Deebo”. Bernie Mac, Chris Tucker, John Witherspoon. Nah….Friday got GTA.
*CTA
its not. this is fact lol.
um john witherspoon? naw. gonna go ahead and say boomerang gave him more shine. he got more quotables from that movie than Friday.
The late 80s to late 90s was just a boon of black creativity in terms of pop culture in general. I don’t know what the hell happened since…
But in song, I would say the One More Chance Remix as well, because damn near anybody who was anybody in hip-hop/R&B (on the east coast) at the time was in that video, and nothing like it has been done since.
Moviewise, I like the choice of Coming To America, because I don’t know about other households, but when it came out on VHS and my aunt got as copy, it was watched. Everyday. Twice a day. For at least 8 months.
For TV shows, I think it’s a tie between A Different World and Martin, though both shows ran outta steam in their last seasons. I think a case can be made for Def Comedy Jam as well, for the immense amount of talent Russel and them broke.
Rap album? I know that’s not a category but I would have to say The Chronic. And living in Cali at the time, I had it a full 2 weeks before it went nationwide and people kept asking “what’s that CD with the leaf on it?”
Ohhhh The Chronic. HOW could I forget that one. Excellent choice in real life.
KMN
Yes – “The Chronic” Oh how I loved my college years………”Compton and Long Beach together now you know you’re trouble cause ain’t nothin but a G Thang baaaaaabaaaaaay 2 loc’d out niccas going caraaaaazaaaaay”
Oooooh The Chronic! i was in elementary school when it came out, but i bang it HARD now. so yes, The Chronic is a winner. I’d also offer kanye’s College Dropout for those of us under 25
on point
LOL, I put Nothing But a G Thang as my defining song. I got the Chr0nic on tape!
The Chronic, De La Soul is dead, EFIL4ZAGGIN, midnight marauders are all like the defining albums of my youth for me.
and of course, “T.R.O.Y.” that song changed my life.
The beat from T.R.O.Y and the beat from Electric Relaxation are like two of the best beats ever made in any genre.
I included Midnight Marauders in my post down thread. Hell yes! And the horns on T.R.O.Y. are insane. I actually have Today, by Tom Scott, in my regular rotation because of the sample.
De La, Tribe, Pharcyde and Del the Funky Homosapien – concert in Hollywood in 90 something or other! Top 5 concerts fa sho!
“T.R.O.Y.” by Pete Rock & CL Smooth is the only song that I love, but I hate it as well. Kind of how Beyonce stans feel like.
Replace Midnight Marauders with Low End Theory (we will not discuss that again) and add Step In The Arena and you have my first semester in college. Think about that for a sec. Besides the fact that I’m old, I mean…
And T.R.O.Y. is like the G.O.A.T.
@ PJ
I was a big fan of the EFIL4ZAGGIN album but it didnt age well…plus it had terrible skits(“Always into something” and “Appetite for destruction” are the only acceptable songs)
“T.R.O.Y” is the only rap song that it would okay if a dude got teary-eyed listening to it…
De La Soul has always been slept-on…(their first album introduced the “skit”)
Being from Cali….I’ll have to agree with you about The Chronic
Movie…I’ll say Friday
In Living Color for television show (even though I wasn’t allowed to watch it.
and Family Matters….as a matter of fact the whole TGIF line-up.
The Chronic….ahhh yes. When Snoop released his first solo album, Doggiestyle, I dubbed it (on tape…yes tape ninja!) and it was the un-edited version. My mother wanted to hear it and I was like “uhm….no” Keep in mind I was only 13 at the time and she found my tape and put it in during a road trip. She gave me the side eye at some of the lyrics…before she turned it up. LOL, she’s been a life long Snoop fan since.
You know what other movie black peoples LOVE? (Well maybe this is a Midwest/Southern thang…The Five Heartbeats and the Temptations. I swear if you haven’t seen those movies at least 15 times (This year. and I mean in six days this year) something is wrong with you.
KMN
Well maybe this is a Midwest/Southern thang
lol i watch the temptations almost every holiday and i live in oh. i never thought of it being regional but now that you mention it…
My BFF who has fam in Louisiana sd that her people LIVE on The Temptations/Five Heartbeat two for one bootleg. It’s ridiculous. But I have no objections to watching Leon for several hours…especially if he’s taking off shirts lol…
KMN
amen! he was on an episode of the housewives of atlanta and i stayed fanning myself. he’s not “cute” to me
actually he looks like the bad chameleon monster in monster’s inc. but his voice and body? yum yum delishOh girl…let me tell u, Leon would make me cancel my tubal ligation appt. on the 27th (should I throw myself a sterilization party?). He could get it everywhichaway and twice on Sundays.
KMN
Leon is gay. I’d bet money on it.
He actually has a daughter with the chick Cynthia from Real Housewives of ATL….not that you’re assumption still can’t be true, LOL
Dunno if he is but he seemed like he would try ‘freaky’ stuff
Leon is either a vampire or an alien he looks the same age as he did in Five Heartbeats and that movie came out 20 years ago.
lol he played a gay dude in one of those nsecure type movies
@V.E.G., not sure if this is true of course, but someone told me he was bi. NTTAWWT, but perhaps your vibe is correct. I just know I thought he was noteworthy ever since he was in Madonna’ “Like A Prayer” video. Plus I felt so bad when he died on Oz (like the first few episodes).
I constantly watch both the Five Heartbeats and The Temptations.
They def. make the Top 10 Most Watched Negro Movie List.
I love the “top 10 most watched negro movie list”
LOL
This isn’t a regional thing. I’m from the east coast and these were my CHILDHOOD movies. I could quote The Five Heartbeats ALL DAY. I dare anyone to test me.
Sorry, i got hyped up.
“I gotta fight every night to prove my Love.”
I care about that boy! I just want him to be a better man than me.
Baby Doll, don’t you think you’re over stepping your bounds just a lil bit?”
No, I guess it’s a Philly thing too. I took my parents to see the Five Heartbeats and my father actually cried. My mother bought the Temptations movie – this from a woman who can’t operate her DVD player.
I can’t recall seeing either one…maybe 5 Heartbeats. I’d say it must be more Midwest and less Southern.
naw it aint a midwest/southern thang. ninjas watch those movies coast to coast religiously whenever we can. don’t let either of them come on TBS or BET or TVOne. it’s like national ninja movie viewing day.
I’m not sure if its regional, but The Five Heartbeats is definitely a “Black Classic” in my book. I have it on VHS! lol In high school, two of my bffs and I referred to each other as Flash. I can quote that movie in my sleep! My mom even hit me with “Naaaannng” one day when she showed me a new dress or something…The Temptations, well admittedly, I watch that pretty often but for different reasons. It was filmed in Pittsburgh (my hometown) and 89.5% of all Black people (Including me) that lived in Pittsburgh at the time are in that movie with small parts or as extras, so its more of a hometown shout out/vanity thing. But its still good though!
BTW, Leon, not very sexy in person.
“Naaaaanngg” is my FAVORITE part of the movie. Actually that whole scene.
“Nites like this….I I I I I I I wish. That raindrops would fa-a-a-a-a–allllllll!”
Yes sir…foolery at its finest.
Yes!
That and :”I don’t need no ash tray. The whole world an ash tray to Eddie Kane!”
I think VSB just set up my Friday Movie Night selection: Ninja Classics!
I know every line of The Five Heartbeats. It is definitely one of our Negro institutions.
Movie – Love Jones – It made black love so beautiful and hip and intellectual (as it has always been) to the masses and turned so many of the most unlikely of us on to poetry. We actually thought Lorenz Tate’s 5 foot nuthin arse was fine as hell after this movie.
Song – BBD’s Poison…………….man,,,,,,,,, men still think they can’t trust me – WHY IS THAT?????? !!! I ‘m not poison – forget the non-singing members of New Edition! You tainted my dating life for years – but I’ll still bust out in full blown running man when the break comes in this song! Poison poison ppppp poison!
– but I’ll still bust out in full blown running man when the break comes in this song! Poison poison ppppp poison!
jus’ bout fell out my chair with this one
Love Jones def. Though I found out over Christmas my older (by three years) brother has NEVER seen it. I called an emergency family meeting. LOL.
your choices are good ones..
and I tell erryone that Poison is my “get it” song.. I don’t care how sad the party is, one quick turn of “poison” and the party just got saved..
and please DJ, let the blastid song play!!
Poison is every DJ’s go to song for a crowd of ninjas that read if the party aint quite jumping off. once they throw that song on, its a wrap.
YES on “Poison.” How old was I… SIX, when they came out? I remember hearing it THEN and thinking, “Dayum, dis my SH*T!” (or I probably said something more age appropriate like, “This melody is quite delicious.”) I still go apesh*t when it comes on in the club as if I’m hearing for the first time.
If I were you, I’d take precaution because I’m bout to break it down:
*does the wop*
This melody is quite delicious.
LOL
“This melody is quite delicious”
Loves it! LMAO
Poison is the truth, they just played it on the radio this morning. You wanna see a bunch of “too-old-to-be-in-the-club” folks start dancing their a$$es off, play Poison. [I was doing the Roger Rabbit to that sh*t in the club this weekend matta fact...]
You wanna see your girl lose her mind? Yeah, Poison will do it. I was in high school when it came out and I almost told my mother that I wanted to forgo college and go ion tour to be a BBD dancer because of that video. Yeah… that never happened, but each time I hear that song, I relive my dreams. Watch, I’ma cut a rug when it comes on at the VSB cookout. Who’s wiith me?
i cant co-sign on the Love Jones thing. while plenty of Black folk swear by that movie being the best thing since no lye relaxers, there are just as many who hate it, have never seen it, or just plain dont remember it/care for it well enough to incorporate into daily musings.
it has NOTHING on Coming to America. NADA. not even close.
interesting……….never met any of those people but hey that’s what makes the world go ’round
“…never met any of those people…”
Well, now you have met one.
My name is Mimi and I didn’t like “Love Jones”. In fact, every time I watch that movie, I fall alseep.
Every time I watch it, I can feel the “neo-soul/hipster/berries and spices d ouche-baggery” creep into the room.
Say it loud. I’m a Pegro and I’m proud LOL!
Shout out to areefuh.
I was at a BBD concert in July and they have a dance contest to see which ladies can do the “Poison” dance. Some can do it…and others shouldve just stayed in the crowd and fantasized.
Movie: Friday, – only because I probably wouldn’t have seen Coming to America in the movies and at a point most of the people I knew, knew the whole movie by heart
Song: Tha Crosswords by Bone thugs-N-Harmony – You probably have to remember the video to truly appreciate this. This song was number 1 for like a year.
TV show: Chappelle’s Show – This was late in the game but this show was perfect while it lasted.
Bone Thugs- YES! Crossroads- ehh…
It’s the thuggish ruggish boooone…every girl used to be singing that ending and putting her name in it. For the Love of Money is still the business…damn, y’all gonna have me on Youtube AGAIN making video montages.
What about: First of the/ (tha?) Month?
I loved that one!
“Wake up, wake up, wake up.. It’s the First of the Moonnth!!”
THAT was anthem.
“Standing on the corner straight slanging rocks, ooooooooh ish, here comes the MF cops…” For the Love of Money, all day.
I have so much e-love for you right now for giving props to the groundbreaking group Bone…from my hometown/home state.
I find where ever I go, folks STILL love them some Bone. They download Crazie’s new joint and have all the solo stints on their Ipod and sh*t.
I was 15 when they came out, and 16 when they dropped that classic Crossroads.
**Oh and fun fact….I used to date the 1st cousin of the chick who ripped the beginning singing intro. She still could sing too. Like sing her ass off. She was signed to their label, but Bone (mainly Lazie) was grimy and signed them for 10 years….so she could never use her voice for ANYTHING else during that time. Kinda sad cuz she is/was very talented.
If you had to pick one movie, song, and television show to define your/our generation, what would it be and why?
brandy-i wanna be down: at the time she was a positive and relatable representation of black girls.The braids, skinniness, pure lyrics, clothes, and earnest love in that song was refreshingly honest and something my friends and i aspired to be in the future.
movie: hmmm this one’s hard- oh wait no its not! hands down LION KING!!!- you can still watch that and cry.
show: degrassi. i remember having to sneak and watch that show when my parents were gone at work or preoccupied. and then me and my friends would talk about it the next day at school. even though my dad admitted to watching his generation’s version when he was my age i still got my butt whooped for getting caught watching it. oh yeah and degrassi was responsible for that 3 toed sloth- aubrey graham.
“movie: hmmm this one’s hard- oh wait no its not! hands down LION KING!!!- you can still watch that and cry.”
And with this, you are my best friend.
Hmmm…
For movie, I’d also go with Coming to America and House Party as an honorable mention. Heck I went to see HP instead of going to my Junior prom.
Album, definitely the Chronic. As for song though, I’d say Jay-Z’s Hard Knock Life.
TV Show, A Different World. That just solidified my keeping the family tradition of attending SCSU
Jay Z Hard Knock Life did come to mind.
How could I forget House Party? “YO! Who broke my toilet?!!”
I remember going to see that at the movies and people were dancing in the aisles when the intro music came on. I was in the 10th grade. Dang all of a sudden I’m feeling real old…lol.
Slightly off-topic:
When I was a teen, i was robbed out of having the house party experience. I guess parents didn’t want a bunch of kids wrecking the sh*t that they paid with their hard-earned cash.
However, the only house parties that was thrown (and I heard about from friends) were ones that were thrown inside of housing projects…which happens to be in the most violent neighborhoods in Queens.
Yeah, I can say that I’ve NEVER been to a Baisley or a 40 party, but I’ve been to plenty of Rochdale parties.