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Showing posts with the label 1997

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  July 14, 1997… I walked into an NC DMV and got my no-longer-a-kid license.   The one with facial hair, a stamp that didn’t peg me for being under 18 and reflecting a height that reflected my last adolescent growth spurt. I also registered to vote.      In the interceding 23 years, I have not missed one single opportunity to inform myself and vote in every single election.   I have avoided being arrested for or convicted of anything that would jeopardize my right to vote.   I avoided being less than informed on issues that would drive who I should vote for, even in a land before ubiquitous internetting and unsolicited (or solicited!) text messaging.   Every first Tuesday after the first Monday of every November, I got my ass up and went and participated.   When Early Voting became a thing in my mid-to-late 20s, I chose a favorite polling location – one alternative one now – and have not missed an opportunity to vote early since. ...

Back on the wayback

I'm sure that both of you have seen where I not-so-famously discussed some years in hip hop past... I started with 1998 and more recently dropped one about 1996 . I have since decided "Hey, Phlip, perhaps it would be a good idea to continue discussion about the years that formed your love of hip hop?" I promptly thanked myself and started typing on this post that the both of you are reading right now... Today, we'll talk about 1997, the first half of which I spent busting ass and escaping Grimsley Senior High School. January gave us Camp Lo's "Uptown Saturday Night," which shared ONLY the 'Blaxplotation' element with the movie from which they cribbed the title. This album was HUGE down here in Greensboro, largely because Ski Beatz (who also did a fuck ton of beats for Jay-Z and later The Sporty Thievz) is from down here in the 336... Or 919 as it was at the time, lol. Only hip hop released that month, and it was a STELLAR kickoff to the year, I...