the Golden year
of the Golden Age.
It was the year
Rap renegade Rakim
ruled the True School
with innovative,
creative grammatical gems.
The previous year,
Ladies Love Cool J
dropped Radio
Before that
we stopped on the block
to witness the Planet Rock.
Let's have a moment of Silence for Scott LaRock.
We wore fat gold ropes
and bangle ear rings.
We sported Gucci, Troop suits
and Addidas with wide shoe strings.
Run DMC were the new Kings
of Rock n Rap.
This was before the gun clap.
When we would
give each other dap
and say "Peace Black."
EPMD recorded Strictly Business
provoking us to walk in our 'hoods
tellin' each other "You gots to chill"
Those times were Ill.
It was all about skills.
It was all about skills.
It was all about skills
when it came time to Rhyme.
Slick Rick the Ruler
was still in his prime.
Boom boxes flooded Ghetto streets
pumping fat beats to rich oratorical speech.
A medallion could leave you blind
- culture then was time-less.
KRS-One and Boogie Down Productions
let us know why they were Criminal Minded.
These are beloved memories.
At this very moment
I can see myself and kats
situated in front of the T.V.
bobbin' our heads to
the latest videos on YO MTV Raps.
I grinned when I first heard Paper Thin.
MC Lyte's poetic delight proved women
could be just as dope as men.
Lyte as a rock was like a shot
in the ribs when you and your man
played slap box in the crib.
Sista was like: dig, this is what real rap is.
This was 1987. This was 1987. 1987 y'all.
(c) Christopher Donshale Sims
2006 All rights reserved
Comments for this post
