A Decade of Memories

 

Well I just finished
reading the entire 10^th anniversary issue of XXL and it was thoroughly enjoyable. I am quite fond of reminiscing on the music
that I used to love way back when, and they succeeded in reminding me of songs
and happenings that I temporarily forgot about and brought back a flood of
memories for me. I started my freshman
year of college in 1996 and the next 5 years (yea – 5, not 4) of my life were
perhaps the most revealing, entertaining, emotional and exciting years of my
life. Couple that with the fact that
music is at the forefront (or playing in the background) of every step that I
take and there you have it the most fondly thought of hip-hop (and r&b)
memorabilia over the past 10 years of my life…

 

1997

Singles:

Make ‘Em Say Ughhh –
Master P

All About the Benjamins –
Puff Daddy, Lil Kim, Biggie, The Lox

No Time – Lil Kim

The Rain – Missy Elliot

The City is Mine – Jay-Z

Always Be My Sunshine –
Jay-Z

Mary Jane – Scarface

Tear Da Club Up – Three 6
Mafia

Late Night Tip – Three 6
Mafia, Gangsta Boo

 

Albums:

Ghetto D – Master P

No Way

Out – Puff Daddy & The Family

Hardcore – Lil Kim

SupaDupa Fly – Missy
Elliot

Life After Death – Biggie

Butterfly – Mariah Carey

Baduizm – Erykah Badu

 

1998

Singles:

Get At Me Dog

Can I Get A…

Money, Cash, Hoes

Break Ups 2 Make Ups –
Method Man

Rosa Parks – Outkast

Nann Nigga – Trick Daddy,
Trina

HA – Juvenile

 

Albums:

It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot
- DMX

400 Degreez – Juvenile

Vol. 2 Hard Knock Life –
Jay-Z

Aquemini – Outkast

The Miseduaction of Lauryn
Hill – Lauryn Hill

How U Luv That – Big
Tymers

Suge & Pac, Puff &
Big – Big Tymers

 

Movies:

There’s Something About
Mary

Belly

1999

Singles:

Down Bottom – Juvenile,
Drag-On

Hate Me Now – Nas, Diddy

Quiet Storm remix – Mobb
Deep, Lil Kim

We Ready – Pastor Troy

We On Fire – Hot Boys

I Need a Hot Girl – Hot
Boys

 

Albums:

Ryde or Die Vol. I – Ruff
Ryders

Against Da Grain –
Youngloodz

Nastradamus – Nas

Dirty Harriet – Rah Digga

Guerilla Warfare – Hot
Boys

Tha Block is Hot – Lil
Wayne 

2000

Singles:

Do It – Pastor Troy,
Rasheeda, Quevo Cold, Re Re

Bang Bang – C-N-N, Foxy
Brown

Ya’ll Don’t Wanna – C-N-N

Oochie Wally – Bravehearts

Country Grammar – Nelly

Is That Your Chick –

Memphis

Bleek

The Best of Me remix –
Mya, Jay-Z

What’s Your Fantasy -
Ludacris

Southern Hospitality -
Ludacris

 

Albums:

H.N.I.C. – Prodigy

The

Reunion

– C-N-N

Back for the First Time -
Ludacris

 

2001

Singles:

Dope Boyz – T.I.

I’m Serious – T.I.

Rock The Boat – Aaliyah

 

Albums:

Stillmatic – Nas

I’m Serious – T.I.

The Bluepring – Jay-Z

Aaliyah – Aaliyah

 

2002

Singles:

Why Don’t We Fall in Love
- Amerie

Grindin’ – The Clipse

Wanksta – 50 Cent

 

Albums:

A Rush of Blood to the
Head

Justified – Justin
Timberlake

Lord Willin – The Clipse

500 Degreez – Lil Wayne

 

2003

Singles:

In The Club – 50 Cent

Rubberband Man – T.I.

Prototype – Andre 3000

 

Albums:

Get Rich or Die Tryin

Dangerously in Love –
Beyonce

Trap Muzik – T.I.

The Black Album – Jay-Z

Speakerboxx/TheLoveBelow –
Outkast

Worldwide Underground –
Erykah Badu

 

2004

Singles:

Bring ‘em Out – T.I.

U Don’t Know Me – T.I.

Still Tippin – Mike Jones,
Paul Wall, Slim Thug

Drop It Like It’s Hot –
Snoop Dogg, Pharell

Lean Back – Fat Joe, Remy
Ma

 

Albums:

Urban Legend – T.I.

 

2005

Singles:

Soul Survivor – Young
Jeezy, Akon

Go Crazy – Young Jeezy,
Jay-Z

I Think They Like Me – Dem
Franchize Boyz

Fireman – Lil Wayne

 

Albums:

Let’s Get It: Thug
Motivation 101 – Young Jeezy

Tha Carter 2 – Lil

Wayne

The Emancipation of Mimi –
Mariah Carey

 

Movies:

Fade To Black

 

2006

Singles:

What You Know – T.I.

Throw Some D’s – Rich Boy

Where The Cash At –
Currency, Lil Wayne, Remy Ma

My Love – Justin
Timberlak, T.I.

 

Albums:

King – T.I.

The Dedication 2- Lil
Wayne

FutureSex/LoveSounds –
Justin Timberlake

 

Movies:

ATL

 

2007

Singles:

Bed – J. Holiday

International Players Anthem
– UGK, Outkast

Buy U A Drank – T-Pain

 

Movies:

Transformers

A Writer’s Market

Browsing through blogs
today, I ran across the MySpace blog of Kim Osorio (former Editor-in-Chief of
The Source) and the title immediately caught my eye – “Everybody’s a damn
writer these days.” She compares the new
crop of writers to the new crop of rappers, citing lack of creativity and true
love for writing. She says that being a
writer is the new thing to do now with blogs, upstart magazines and such. To an extent, I agree with her (and before I begin, I am not bashing her, her blog or newbie, online writers).  I mainly say to an extent because I am not
yet an accomplished writer or journalist so my hopes are to one day be considered
a great writer.  I would love to be
separated from the bunch and recognized for my passion and artistic side. I’m extremely proud of what I do but I have not attained my dream goal and
will do whatever it takes to get there, including maintaining my own blog and
writing for new magazines. Writing has
existed within me since I was seven years old. That’s when I wrote my first poem, which was published in the school
newsletter.  I continued to spew out my
heartfelt emotions in this way for the next 10 years.  Admittedly, I got away from writing for awhile
in pursuit of other goals which were not truly of my heart.  But in 2002, I rediscovered my love of words. I started writing poetry again and toyed
around with ideas of writing a true story of my college experience,
nonfiction erotica, a print magazine and even an online magazine before they
were considered popular. A few years
ago, I began graduate school to obtain a degree in Professional Writing. The scatterbrain that I am, I took up
Psychology and Business as an undergrad student which was a complete waste of
time (on an educational level). So what
is my ultimate goal? Before the
disappointing demise of the magazine, I dreamed of writing for one of my
favorites, XXL. To me, it’s the only
reputable hip-hop magazine and it’s one of the few that I can read from cover
to cover, regardless of the content or subject matter. I can always appreciate the informative
interviews and the angles with which they present the hip-hop culture to
us. But music is not my sole love. I am a fashion ADDICT and would equally love
to be on staff of a prestigious fashion magazine. Vogue, of course is top notch. Besides the amazing clothing, they have the
most exquisite articles within its pages.  But I could definitely rock with
InStyle and Lucky!

But back to Ms. Osorio’s
blog, I can only hope that in a world in which being a writer is easily
attainable, that I set myself apart from the hobbyists and turn this into a
lucrative career. There are plenty of hobby
writers and bloggers who are amazing and are recognized for their
talent. So until I perfect my craft and become a successful writer, I will be right here on your computer screens via these
blog pages and any new online magazines or websites. 

And speaking of….check out
my new article for Empress Magazine…

Does Less = More?

“Chocolate Rain” – Tay Zonday

To find out more about this self-proclaimed martian, PLEASE go to HHNLive.com to read the interview…

http://www.hhnlive.com/features/more/322