Sugarhill Gang’s “Rapper’s Delight” may not have been the first song that had rap lyrics in it, but it brought hip hop music to the mainstream and popularized the genre.  It came out in 1979.  That year I was 9 years old and that little sister who would sneak into her brother’s room and play this record ad nauseum.  I loved the album cover — it reminded me of the game Candy Land.  Learning every word seemed as important to me as knowing the Pledge of Allegiance.

Ten years later in 1989 the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences realized they needed to evolve with the times and add two new categories to the Grammy Awards: rap and heavy metal.  On this day DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince aka Will Smith won the first Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance for “Parent’s Just Don’t Understand.”  There was so much controversy surrounding this award.  There wasn’t time given in the Grammy telecast to include the category, so Will Smith and Jazzy Jeff boycotted the ceremony.  Also, other rap artists believed there were more qualified rappers deserving of the nomination, let alone the win.  I suppose it was more than parents who just didn’t understand.

The oldest of three girls, she raised three of her own children and has now lived three quarters of a lifetime.  I guess three truly is a magic number.

Doing it in the park, Doing it after dark, Oh yeah, Rock Creek Park, Oh yeah, Rock Creek Park

Either they don’t know, don’t show or they don’t care about what’s going on in the hood.

On this date 20 years ago Boyz n the Hood was recognized when John Singleton became the first African-American director nominated for an Academy Award for Best Director and Best Screenplay.  He may not have won the awards, but he cemented his name in Black History.

I’d like to say over the past two decades more people are caring about what goes on in the hood.  I think about individuals like Mayor Cory Booker who has worked tirelessly to make Newark, New Jersey, aka Brick City, a safer community and bolster urban renewal.  Inroads have been made, but the work continues.  We cannot let the cries of the Dough Boys out there fall on deaf ears.

We all have creature comforts.  Where would Linus be without his baby blue blanket?  As a caregiver for a mother living with severe dementia, there are a couple of things that I run to for support to soothe an outburst, a crying spell or an on coming glimpse of mood change.  My go-to tricks may not always work, but recently a good old fashion treat has been my savior.  Mommy always loved the candy Butterfinger.  They didn’t trademark the phrase “crispety, crunchy, peanut-buttery” for nothing.  To see the expression on my mother’s face after her first bite change from confusion into the I need to close my eyes-toss my head back due to pure delight along with moans of “ummmm” is priceless.  To silently sing “I want to run to you (oooh)” to a bag of Butterfingers may seem silly, but it’s music to my ears when Mommy is satisfied.

Upon high school graduation he didn’t receive an athletic scholarship.  He wasn’t drafted out of college.  Within a year he was cut from the Golden State Warriors, the Houston Rockets and in and out of D-leagues before he joined the New York Knicks this season as a third-string point guard.   At the end of this January the Knicks were about to release him, but due to injuries to other guards Lin came off the bench in the fourth quarter of a game against the Boston Celtics on February 3^rd, and the rest is history.  In just 2 weeks he has revitalized the league.  He is the pride of his community.  He is an inspiration to all underdogs.  He is simply Lincredible.

Our culture is so obsessed with knowing every intimate detail about other people’s business.  It’s gotten out of hand.  It needs to stop.  Simply because a famous person is labeled as a public figure doesn’t mean all things need to be divulged.  Of course a reporter has the right to ask any question, but they should also proceed by using a moral compass.  They need to respect that the interviewee has the right of refusal to comment — not turn around and scrutinize them if they don’t get the answer they want. Last I checked in the United States of America we have this thing called Plead the Fifth.

As I was preparing this post, my friend Dr. Renee Clauselle posted some extremely thoughtful ideas and insightful questions about the same topic called Mind Your Own Life?  It’s on our minds, is it on yours too?  Let’s give this family and their friends a moment to grieve.  Have you ever lost a loved one?  Would you want hundreds of reporters and photographers preying on you when you get off a plane or coming out of your home to ask you how you feel?  I already know the answers to those questions.  I just wish the media would do unto others as they would want do unto them.

As an adult the system for sending and receiving love may not be as organized and orchestrated as it was ‘back in the day.’  However it would be wonderful if the world could embrace how simple it is to say the three words we all want to hear.  Too much emphasis on whether or not you have romantic love in your life when this date rolls around on the calendar needs to cease.  Regardless if you have a main squeeze or you are sitting solo in that overstuffed loved seat, know that you are loved, worthy and appreciated.  Happy Love Day!  Now, let’s all sing along with Stevie.