DBTE and Hip-Hop
I am a fan of hip-hop music.
I know that I have reached an age where that may surprise some. And many might assume that I’d prefer Tchaikovsky or straight jazz, but I can’t help it.
I was entering my teenage years just as R&B had reached its golden age and as disco died; and when rap music began to spread from Queens and the Bronx and capture the national interest. While growing up in DC during that period meant that PA tapes of Rare Essence and the Junkyard Band were predominant in my tape deck, I also spent plenty of money at the record store buying Sugar Hill Gang and Fat Boys albums. And countless hours in our unfinished basement trying to memorize “Rapper’s Delight” (the long version) yielded me a skill that I still break out on Karaoke nights occasionally.
High school years had me bouncing to “Roxanne Roxanne” and “Roxanne’s Revenge,” along with Run DMC and LL Cool J’s hard beats. The highlight of college years was Doug E. Fresh (“the human beatbox, the entertainer… ”)! But Whodini, Salt n Pepa and the Beastie Boys were also doing their thing. And it’s simply not possible to forget “Planet Rock!” That song morphed a genre – combining rap and techno – and I still think that it’s one of the best songs ever.
The late 80’s is when hip-hop matured. Artists like Too Short, the 2 Live Crew, Erik B. & Rakim, Dana Dane, NWA, Ice T, Big Daddy Kane, M.C. Hammer, Slick Rick and De La Soul highlighted the diversity of rap music as they took over parties on campuses, and in backyards, basements and clubs from coast to coast. My personal favorite in business school was DJ Quick! One of his tapes, along with some sweatpants and Timberlands are what got me through that first year.
And, of course, Public Enemy raised the consciousness of the nation with their militant lyrics when their song “Fight The Power” was featured in Spike Lee’s film, “Do The Right Thing.” That was followed by John Singleton’s “Boyz In The Hood” and Mario van Peebles’ dark “New Jack City,” both of which featured hip-hop soundtracks that illustrated the pleasure and pain, decadence and destruction that is the cauldron from which all hip-hop emerges.
Certainly, this piece would lack any credibility at all if it didn’t mention Biggie and Tupac. Not only are they both still alive (for you conspiracy theorists), but the debate about which is the best of all time will never be settled.
But the moment when rap became hip-hop, and when I knew that it was here to stay was in 1990. That was the year that Janet Jackson released her Rhythm Nation album which featured a collaboration with Heavy D – “Alright.” As I moved around the New York area and noticed response that people had to that song from the stoops in Harlem to the bodegas in Brooklyn and from the German cars in Short Hills to the pristine dorms of Ivy League schools it was unmistakable. This was different. It was hard enough to have street cred, yet light-hearted enough to appeal to the masses and even to crossover. From that point on, hip-hop couldn’t be stopped.
50 Cent, Nas, Kanye, Eminem, Jay-Z, T.I., Lil’ Wayne and many others carry the torch forward. The beats get us up. The lyrics confront and challenge us.
Mostly though, the music we listen to, whether it’s classical, jazz, gospel, Go-Go, house or hip-hop, inspires us. Our music inspires us to think, to reflect, to cheer, to love, to pray and to listen. It also inspires us to dream and to execute.
And so it was recently when Usher’s new song, “Lemme See,” shuffled up on my iPod. I turned up the volume and adjusted the bass as I sang along in my car that afternoon. I must admit that I also winced when the explicit hook registered, but when Rick Ross’ “mmmmmmMaybach Music” signaled the beginning of his verse I tuned back in. And then, as Usher rejoined the song I paused: “Don’t talk about it, be about it! Lemme see, lemme see!”
There’s the inspiration! It sounded a lot like Dream Big Then Execute to me.
The Dream is nice, but “don’t talk about it, be about it…” The Execution is what really matters. Get it done! “Lemme see, lemme see!”
Yeah, I’m a hip-hop fan. I can’t help it.
Don’t talk about it; be about it… and #DBTE!
