It's just too bad you don't know what it is

As usual, as Tanya and I wrapped up last night’s YouTube session, she started getting ready for bed and I still had some wine and was determined to smoke another cigarette. There are certain songs I play that Tanya isn’t usually interested in hearing. I’d already managed to sneak in the Commodores’ “Night Shift” and settled into a live version of Fleetwood Mac’s “Silver Springs.”

Then it was time to get into some late 80s/early 90s rap. I’ve been doing an improv show on a boat all summer and I’ve frequently referenced Geto Boys’ “Mind Playin Tricks.” Sadly, almost no one gets the reference. I’m glad to see it has a solid presence on YouTube.

I’ve definitely been excited for many an album release, but, growing up, I can think of two that really got me psyched. One was Beastie Boys’ “License to Ill,” which I ended up getting on vinyl at K-Mart because they were sold out of tapes (I was in third grade). I hope that shit is still somewhere in my parents house. The second is PE’s Fear of a Black Planet (probably fifth or sixth grade). I amassed many an hour listening to that while doing stuff like mowing the lawn or playing NES or Sega Genesis. I also bumped the shit out of the soundtracks to both Boyz N the Hood and Colors. My dad, surprisingly, honored my brother’s wish one Christmas and got him NWA’s Straight Outta Compton, which became the soundtrack to that Christmas day, much to our parents chagrin, as me and my bro played Double Dragon for something like 8 hours straight.