“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.” ― Plato
Who needs tv when there’s music? Music has always been my escape, and sometimes my saving grace. Have you ever heard a song that brings you to a specific moment in time?
I grew up during the era of boom boxes and Maxwell brand tapes. I grew up during the time mixtapes were made from the magic of record and pause using the latest songs on the radio. Who remembers f#%^ tapes 🙊? Don’t act like y’all didn’t make them, especially if you’re over 35 lol.
Growing up a preachers kid, “secular“ music wasn’t something played in our home, but my love for music definitely came from my upbringing. We were a singing family. My grandmother sang, my father sang, my mother sang, all of my siblings sang. Gospel music was my go to. I can remember the very first non gospel tape I was able to buy, it was Kris Kross’ Totally Krossed Out album. The year was 1992. Y’all couldn’t tell me shit! I was in the 7th grade and we were going on a field trip and that meant we got to bring our Walkmans. This was a huge milestone because every other field trip while the other kids were listening to “worldly” music I was listening to the Milton Brunsons of the world.
While Kris Kross was the first album I bought myself with permission, it wasn’t the first secular tape that I was able to get my hands on. Life for me changed in 1991 when Quik Is the Name dropped. This album was a game changer. This album represented everything I wasn’t allowed to do. I remember sneaking away at the mall and going to the music store. I had saved up money from helping around the church and I was going to use that money to buy DJ Quik’s masterpiece. I knew I had no business buying this tape but I walked in, found it, picked it up, and headed to the counter. I felt like I was buying my very first dime bag…do those still exist? Anyway, I sat that tape up there and the cashier asked where my parents were. I nervously asked why? Well little did I know that because of the parental advisory I couldn’t purchase it without a parent! Immediately I thought, this was God’s way of punishing me for trying buy this sinful music lol. I was so disappointed, but I had a plan. I was gonna get that tape! I didn’t get it that day, but eventually I had someone buy it for me, and when I got it, I learned every word (including the curse words) to every song. To this day, it’s one of my favorite albums #judgemenot
When it comes to genres I’m a 90’s R&B girl. I used to enjoy rap during the DJ Quik days, but this new fangled stuff makes my nerves bad.
My favorite genres: R&B, Jazz, Gospel
Some of my favorite artists: Erykah Badu, Next, Silk, Arrested Development, PM Dawn, Kut Klose, Tevin Campbell, Total, Jaheim, Dru Hill, Mya, Lauren Hill, Adina Howard, Anita Baker, Jodeci, Howard Hewett, Hi-Five…
Y’all can thank me later…
Until next time…💖
Photo cred: Google
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