“Freak Like Me” is one of my personal anthems. Every girl has a few theme songs in her music library, this is one of mine. When this song released in 1995, I was way too young to be anyone’s freak, but I’m sure you can sense by now I was fast. Thankfully I’ve gotten most of the hot assness out of my system (mostly!).
This video is really dope because it was shot on Crenshaw back in the day when it was THE place to kick it. Hitting the ’shaw with the homies was akin to going to the club…mad people, mad music, mad cars. People from all over the city would hit the ’shaw on weekends, especially on Sundays, to floss and mack. I know a few people who met their baby daddies/mamas on Crenshaw.
On that note, enjoy your weekend babies, we’ll chat on Monday. Peace! XOXO
Eazy-E is an important artist to my experience as a hip hop fan. As a girl raised in Compton, CA, Eazy E, NWA, DJ Quik ran through my musical veins. I have fond memories of hearing “Real Muthaf**** G’s” blasting from 808s on the back of Impalas, El Caminos, and Regals in the hood. Eazy-E’s music was the local soundtrack for gangbangers who secretly wanted to be rappers. My adult ears finds Eazy-E’s music totally inapporpriate to my adolescent ears, but at the time, this shit banged.
Fox Boogie is my bitch! Chick can flow better than most dudes, real talk. Foxy’s voice is weird to me…when she raps, her voice sounds heavy and carries lots of bravado. But when she talks, she’s straight up Valley Girl. OMG!! Becky!!! See, Nicki Minaj isn’t the first female rap chick to have weird voice fluctuations. iGuess, chile.
Anyhow…love this vid. It captures the flashy, sexy side of late 90s hip hop. So glam.
Enjoy your weekend babies! It’s officially spring come Sunday, let’s get it!
“Love Peace & Nappiness” is one of my fave Lost Boyz joints. This song is fun, has a good message, and it samples my favorite Slick Rick song “Hey Young World.” Lost Boyz were very rugged, grimy, and street, but conscious and fun at the same time. I had a huge crush on Mr. Cheeks, good lord. My teenage self wanted to give him the business.
Unfortunately the group fell apart after the loss of group member Freaky Tah in 1999. Mr. Cheeks went solo, gave us a few hits (”Lights, Camera, Action” etc), but not much else. I think one of the other members went to jail, and who knows what happened to the 4th member. The rest is hip hop history.
I hope you all enjoy your Friday. Have a wonderful, safe, and blessed weekend! If you get too crazy, make sure you name it after me!
In 1998, Timbaland and Blackground ruled hip-hop and R&B. Back then Timbaland was primarily working with hip-hop and R&B artists, mostly focusing on artists on his own imprint: Missy Elliot, Aaliyah, Ginuwine, and Playa. They gave us slowed down and uptempo erratic beats that had fans like wtf is this….this shit is tight!
Cheers 2 U was one of my favorite songs of the Timbaland/Blackground era, it was one of those songs you would dedicate to your boo on the radio. Or you would order the video on The Box, call your boo and be like, “I ordered that just for you..” And then your parents would see the charges on their phone bill for ordering music videos on TV, and would put a 1-900 block on the phone.
Enjoy this week’s throwback video, and have a wonderful and blessed weekend! *Besos*
I was chatting with Rules Girl on Twitter last night, a super cool diva representing Chi-town. She totally repped her city, inspiring me to post her fellow Chicagoan Da Brat for this week’s Friday throwback video.
This video is important for one main reason – this is the only time we’ve ever seen Da Brat dressed in feminine clothing, and not as a butch. Brat represented herself in this video as a chick that’s sexy without being trashy, and who can FLOW at the same time. She showed that a female emcee doesn’t have to dress like a dude to be lyrically respected. I’m all about embracing femininity, not hiding it…but do you, Brat. Chick had a banging body in this video…there’s no way I would hide that under baggy jeans and timbs!
Enjoy your weekend everyone! I hope you enjoy your Valentine’s Day, and hopefully you have Monday off to recover!
I stanned for SWV in junior high. Their b-girl/R&B swag resonated with girls who came of age in the 90s. This week’s throwback track sparks much nostalgia. Enjoy, and have a wonderful weekend!
Brand Nubian dropped major knowledge in their music. “Don’t Let It Go To Your Head” should be required listening for every aspiring hip hop artist. This song reads as a syllabus to getting into the game. I think this was 1996, 1997 maybe. Around the changing of the guard to the bling-bling era.
Happy Friday ppl…have a wonderful weekend. HipHopMuse loves you. Mwah!
