I'm not a huge fan of most modern rap or hip-hop music. I may be too old or maybe I have mellowed with age. These days, rap and hip-hop seem to be more about being hard than they are about having a little fun.
Whatever the reason, most of it doesn't do a thing for me. However... I have been reading a new blog of late, written by a young woman in Washington, DC. She is a smart girl (I don't mean to belittle her by saying "girl', it's just that I am probably nearly twice her age), and I enjoy her writing. This young woman usually highlights an old-school rap or hip-hop song/video via you-tube, from the 80's every Friday.
I have been thinking about some of the songs that she has highlighted recently and decided that some of those songs (and) videos are as much fun now as they were back in the day.
For example: Who didn't love Vanilla Ice's "Ice, Ice, baby"? I know it was cheesy. You know it was cheesy, but we loved it none the less, even if it is just because the song is a vehicle to complain about pathetic, stupid songs. The same can be said for Hammer, and "U Can't Touch This" (recently revived for Emmit Smith and Cheryl Burke to dance to on "Dancing With The Stars" (another guilty pleasure of mine).
One song that this young blogger highlighted was OPP, by Naughty by Nature. Although the subject matter is awful, I have to tell you that I loved that song and still do! ("The other P, well, that's not so simple!)
These songs have had me thinking for a while, and just the other day, I heard the song that put Jay Z on the map, and that song is called H.O.V.A. I don't know what the initials stand for, and I'm not sure what the song is about, outside the illicit drug activity-related lyrics, but I'll tell you, the hook is addictive.
So... Sing with me:
H to the izz-O, V to the izz-A
Fo' shizzle my nizzle used to dribble down in VA
H to the izz-O, V to the izz-A
That's the anthem get'cha damn hands up
H to the izz-O, V to the izz-A
Not guilty ya'll got-ta feel me
H to the izz-O, V to the izz-A
HAHAHAHAHA!
One of my colleagues has been wondering what I have been laughing about all day. When I told him, he just looked at me, laughed and shook his head.
10 comments:
I’m rather indifferent to rap, but do enjoy some Hip Hop. If I find the tune nice, I rarely care about the lyrics (I'm a melody person). Probably stems from the fact that back in the day when I listened to English music, I didn't understand a word anyways...
Though I found Vanilla Ice annoying. I kept expecting to hear the Queen song after the intro, and was mad every time it didn't come on...
And Hammer was funny. But of course, I had no idea what he was singing either…
I do believe an audio clip of you singing that tune would be helpful.
Want a little CanCon? Download Northern Touch by Rascalz.
The song OPP always used to make us laugh because it's well known 'round here that it stands for Ontario Provincial Police. And we were young enough that at first we were confused because we didn't know why some American rapper was singing about Ontario cops.
Hey man,
Yeah... I know that hook well! It is catchy... in a guilty kinda' way.
I'm drifting out of the hip hop demographic myself. Actually, considering the amount of time I spend listening to books on CD, and checking out NPR, The BBC, The Power, and Jazzy 105.9 - I think I've been out of the demographic for a while.
But alas, a guilty pleasure has befallen me too. I'm not sure what the song is called, but the hook is "What you know about dat? What you know about dat?" I think the rappers name is Young Jeezy.
Lord, where is Chuck D, Run DMC, and GrandMaster Flash?
Vasilisa,
No worries, firend, I am a native english speaker and I sometimes find myself unable to understand the lyrics... and sometimes if I do understand them, I can't sing them, because they are just too damned fast for my old tongue!
Words,
Not a chance, baby!
Kathleen,
Funny... you know my feelings about Canada, and that song always made me wonder what you Ontarians thought about it.
TTBM,
You listen to The Power? Godd. I'm not alone.
Although we don't hear much from Chuck D anymore, we still get to be exposed to Flava Flav... I don't know wether to laugh or cringe... I usually cringe.
Bill,
I too, have cringed...
I loved "Ice Ice Baby!" I still know all the words, which I prove to my husband every once in a while, just to remind him that I ROCK. And we had a kick ass cheerleading routine to "U Can't Touch This" in high school.
I liked "OPP," but couldn't relate to it. I once heard a parody of it called "I Gotta Go Pee Pee," with a kid singing it. I can relate to the parody.
I once heard a parody of it called "I Gotta Go Pee Pee," with a kid singing it. I can relate to the parody.
The parodies are funny! I remember that one. "I Gotta Go Pee Pee...and so do we!"
So, wait. You tell us about this young lady in D.C. who's an amazing writer, but you don't provide a link to her blog so the rest of us can benefit from her writing?! Dude! What's up with that? Please share.
In the mean time, Happy Thanksgiving!
Janet,
I will when she gives me permission to do so... sound fair?
I think she is away for the holiday
GF
PS Nice to see you again!
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