happy 2024 frieeeeennnnndddddddddd
we are 64 days into 2024
i’ve read six books
my kid turned 2
and i finally started writing my book.
i’m excited about this project. i feel really good about it. in an upcoming lunch, i will share a little excerpt. so stay tuned in.
now to our ki-ki.
So last year was the 50th anniversary of hip-hop. The celebrations were lackluster.
It felt very last minute.
But one thing was consistent, ladies love cool James was at just about every celebration.
“Rock the Bells” and “Mama Said Knock You Out” were songs LL repeatedly performed during these celebrations.
I get it. They are historical musical moments of hip-hop from the golden era.
*side note* did you know “golden age of hip-hop” is an actual thing. The golden age refers to the mid-80s to mid-90s. Most of the artists from this time were or have been recognized as the originators of hip-hop.
Rock the Bells was LL’s third single off his debut album and one of his first major hits — I mean, XM radio has an entire station dedicated to it.
I’m tired of hearing Mama Said Knock You Out.
Every time I watched LL perform last year, I rolled my eyes. He deserves all the flowers. He is a true hip-hop legend.
But if I have to see him perform that song one more time.
If I have to watch him pick up that bedazzled mic on its stand and turn to one side while saying “don’t call it a comeback” I will scream.
Yes, this is how LL started his career, but the LL we love ain’t performing those songs.
I wanna see LL perform “Hey Lover.”
🎶 I gotta take ya from your man that's my mission
If his love is real, he got ta handle competition 🎶
LL has always had finesse, but when “Hey Lover” dropped, LL went from “girl he fine” to “my gawd”.
If you search top hip-hop and r&b collaborations of the 90s, Hey Lover is left off several list.
🎶 Last week I saw ya at the mall
Standin' at the pay phone 'bout to make a call
I had a vision it was me on the other end
Tellin' you come by and then you walked in 🎶
While LL does the heavy lifting, we cannot forget the important role Boyz II Men have on this song too. The chorus turns the sexiness up.
~
Doin’ It is the first song I think of when I think of LL.
This is the song that would get played when we would sneak into the gym during summer camp and dance (aka grind) all up on the boys, trying to be cute.
We, I, had no business listening to this song.
🎶 I'ma call you Big Daddy and scream your name
Matter fact I can't wait for your candy rain 🎶
This is the era of sexy hip-hop.
Do we still have this?
Not only was his flow sexy, but LL looked damn good doing it.
I’m glad LL is getting the recognition he deserve, because, in my opinion, he is left out of a lot of hip-hop conversations.
In ’96, LL had two top 10 hits on the Billboard 100. “Doin’ It” and “Loungin” did numbers for him. Busta Rhymes’ “Whoo Hah” peaked at #8 in ’96. Doin’ It was right behind peaking at #9.
Don’t sleep on LL. His mid-90s to early 00s career was something special.
He collaborated with Total on Loungin’ at the right moment. And I think his collaboration with Hype Williams for all three of those music videos was pure genius.
And if we weren’t watching one of his music videos on BET, MTV or The Box LL was on our TVs.
Granted, he didn’t have a character in B.A.P.S., his tiny cameo is included in one of my favorite scenes.
Oh and I knows you wit yo’ baby mama…but if the shit don’t work out you know you can…”
— Mickey
Please tell me you’ve seen Woo. It’s some of Tommy Davidson’s best work.
It’s one of those movies that fits perfectly in the late 90s. And Darryl [Uncle L’s character] fits his “Doin’ It” persona perfectly.
~
’99 was a very good year for LL in the movies — Deep Blue Sea, In Too Deep, and Any Given Sunday!
Deep Blue Sea is my first memory of bald LL. And he surprised us all by staying alive all movie. We just knew that shark was going to eat that Black man.
In Too Deep had an all star cast — Omar Epps, Nia Long, Hill Harper, Pam Grier, Jermaine Dupri, Sticky Fingaz, Mya, Nas and a few other names you wouldn’t know, but you know their face.
You remember this scene?! LL aka Dwayne Keith "God" Gittens does way more with that pool stick. He played this role…GOODT! it’s the hop for me.
Did you know LL knocked Jamie Foxx smooth out frfr while filming Any Given Sunday??
And before 2Pac, Kiada Jones was boo’d up with Mr. Smith.
Their love story only lasted two years. Apparently, LL wasn’t feeling Kiada’s spiritual choices. Stating “she praised a guru and statues, and I praise God.”
But James Todd Smith double backed to his baby moms who he met in ’87 and they been married since ‘95. I love to see it! but why they pick the photo with a bottle pressed up against her face like that?!
I just wanted to celebrate LL for a second. Maybe we can get a Tiny Desk performance soon.
I chat with y’all later. I hope you enjoyed today’s eye candy…I mean lunch.
xo, jemia