ONE SOURCE WIRELESS

DAY 2

There was a time when Hip-Hop meant something. Summers where filled with switching on that red light in the basement to illuminate a room full of young men eager to express themselves on the mic in fellowship. On any given day a celebrity could pop up in Moving Records on Central. Before the world knew Dana as the Queen and I was the one shooting the jumpers in beginning of her video. When music was fun, yet uplifting and purposeful. When our problems where lyte as a rock and boys were kids and played. House parties where reality not just TV. And children actually went outside. When neighbors knew each other in the hood, thus making neighborhoods. Where Malcolm the fireman kept us in line on the block. Didn't need a police curfew then. We had streetlights and grandma and Mr. Thompson next door and Uncle T before the drugs got him and Uncle Pops who still don't take no crap. And two dollars and a note was all the id needed to buy cigarettes for mom. Ain't No Half Stepping was the jam. Mars Blackmon introduced to the next Greatest. Magic wasn't blue, but black in purple and gold. Mrs. Mary next door always seemed to find a boyfriend that could work on the next step of her home improvement projects. Hip hop was walking cross town to get the swimming pass for public pools. Hip Hop was Sabir's Steak n Take downtown. Hip hop was buying incense from Moorish Fragrance on Halsey. Hip Hop was the Path train to the city. Hip hop was three card Monty. Hip Hop was O.P.P. Illtown down the hill. Little City. South Clinton. Elmwood. Halsted. Central. Harrison. Munn. It was Africuts on Main. It was White Star Diner. It was freestyling in the Booga Basement with Nelly Nel (Wyclef) after Rahkim made a comeback but before Fugee La. Three finger rings where in. Sitting on porches was in. Everyone knew who Bob Ross was but none one ever admitted watching the show. TV turned itself off. No one missed the Cosby's. Families ate dinner. Kids weren't over weight. Super Mario was the game. What happened to hop scotch and Double Dutch. And airless sneakers. Remember Jeepers? And shout shout Lee's are played out. Remember when kids were kids, not having kids? Shaft had a fro not a baldy. If I Ever Fall In Love was the hit. Weed was ses or refer not killer and death and dro. Remember raccoon hats? We were Naught by Nature but still had fun. Orange Park in the summer. Catching the 94 to Irvington. What happened to playground legends? Hip hop used to mean something. We became wireless. And forgot the farther you move away from the source the weaker the signal. How did we ever find our way prior to GPS? We seemed more connected before direct connect and unlimited nights. Respect your adults was practiced not preached. Children were seen but not heard. 45's echoes somewhere in the distance. Turn of the lights, get a lil closer. Red lights. And smoke filled rooms. Card games at the laundry mat. Penny candy! Community Watch. Stop the Violence! We are headed for self destruction. Mike was till black. We are the world. Mary had us searching for real love. Rachelle Ferrell is still whispering Peace On Earth in my ear. Saturday morning cartoons. And Kung Fu Theatre. Karate Kid. The Last Dragon. Revenge of the Ninja. Karate shoes. Remember when water was free? Fire hydrants. The Fresh Prince? I remember.

There was a time when Hip-Hop meant something. Summers where filled with switching on that red light in the basement to illuminate a room full of young men eager to express themselves on the mic in fellowship. On any given day a celebrity could pop up in Moving Records on Central. Before the world knew Dana as the Queen and I was the one shooting the jumpers in beginning of her video. When music was fun, yet uplifting and purposeful. When our problems where lyte as a rock and boys were kids and played. House parties where reality not just TV. And children actually went outside. When neighbors knew each other in the hood, thus making neighborhoods. Where Malcolm the fireman kept us in line on the block. Didn't need a police curfew then. We had streetlights and grandma and Mr. Thompson next door and Uncle T before the drugs got him and Uncle Pops who still don't take no crap. And two dollars and a note was all the id needed to buy cigarettes for mom. Ain't No Half Stepping was the jam. Mars Blackmon introduced to the next Greatest. Magic wasn't blue, but black in purple and gold. Mrs. Mary next door always seemed to find a boyfriend that could work on the next step of her home improvement projects. Hip hop was walking cross town to get the swimming pass for public pools. Hip Hop was Sabir's Steak n Take downtown. Hip hop was buying incense from Moorish Fragrance on Halsey. Hip Hop was the Path train to the city. Hip hop was three card Monty. Hip Hop was O.P.P. Illtown down the hill. Little City. South Clinton. Elmwood. Halsted. Central. Harrison. Munn. It was Africuts on Main. It was White Star Diner. It was freestyling in the Booga Basement with Nelly Nel (Wyclef) after Rahkim made a comeback but before Fugee La. Three finger rings where in. Sitting on porches was in. Everyone knew who Bob Ross was but none one ever admitted watching the show. TV turned itself off. No one missed the Cosby's. Families ate dinner. Kids weren't over weight. Super Mario was the game. What happened to hop scotch and Double Dutch. And airless sneakers. Remember Jeepers? And shout shout Lee's are played out. Remember when kids were kids, not having kids? Shaft had a fro not a baldy. If I Ever Fall In Love was the hit. Weed was ses or refer not killer and death and dro. Remember raccoon hats? We were Naught by Nature but still had fun. Orange Park in the summer. Catching the 94 to Irvington. What happened to playground legends? Hip hop used to mean something. We became wireless. And forgot the farther you move away from the source the weaker the signal. How did we ever find our way prior to GPS? We seemed more connected before direct connect and unlimited nights. Respect your adults was practiced not preached. Children were seen but not heard. 45's echoes somewhere in the distance. Turn of the lights, get a lil closer. Red lights. And smoke filled rooms. Card games at the laundry mat. Penny candy! Community Watch. Stop the Violence! We are headed for self destruction. Mike was till black. We are the world. Mary had us searching for real love. Rachelle Ferrell is still whispering Peace On Earth in my ear. Saturday morning cartoons. And Kung Fu Theatre. Karate Kid. The Last Dragon. Revenge of the Ninja. Karate shoes. Remember when water was free? Fire hydrants. The Fresh Prince? I remember.