Hip Hop.

Catchy word play that doesn’t stop.

That’s how one could define Hip Hop.

But if Rappers didn’t swear non-stop,

Would they still make hits, or just flops?

I’m here for the heavy baselines when the beat drops,

And the intelligent lyrics which make my heart stop.

Words about life, hardships and running from the cops,

It’s quite a change from listening to sweet pop.

I’m not a Rapper, I don’t drive drop-tops,

I don’t wear Gucci, I just wear flip-flops.

But I can marvel at the excesses and bejewelled cups,

And at the money for private jets they cough up.

Biggy Smalls and Tupac: they were at the top,

The list of legends is too long; I really can’t name-drop.

At home, in your car or even at the barbershop,

You’ll find youself nodding when you hear that Hip Hop.

Written by

©Ivie M. Eke 2017.

I Love Music: The Missy Elliot Edition.

Photo: amazon.com

I was recently feeling nostalgic for 1990s RnB music, so I went on Youtube with the intention to watch a video or two.

Before I knew it, I found myself in a Youtube hole as I watched video after video of the musician, Missy Elliot.

Missy Elliot is an American recording artist and a force of nature.

She sings.

She raps.

She dances.

She is awesomeness personified.

I believe that the first Missy Elliot music video which I ever watched was for ‘The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)’ in 1997 (I seriously can’t believe that it has been 20 years already!

The video was colourful and kind of weird. Missy’s lyrics were playful and witty and the video featured cameos from Hip Hop and RnB artists like Lil’ Kim, Yoyo, Da Brat, Total and Diddy (then known as Puff Daddy). The song was produced by the legendary Timbaland and the video was directed by Hype Williams.

There was no other video like it at the time, and for me ‘The Rain’ symbolises Missy’s uniqueness and creativity.

Photo: genius.com

Here’s a list of my favourite Missy Elliot songs:

-The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly).

-Sock it to me (with Da Brat).

-She’s a bitch.

-Hot Boyz (with Nicole Wray, Nas, Eve).

-All in my grill (with Nicole Wray).

–Cold rock a party (with MC Lyte).

-Can We (with SWV).

–Ladies’ Night (with Angie Martinez, Lil Kim, Left Eye and Da Brat).

-Party to Damascus (with Wyclef Jean).

-Work it.

-Lose control (with Ciara).

-Get your freak on.

-What about us (with Total).

-One minute man (with Ludacris and Trina).

-Take away (with Ginuwine and Tweet).

-Fighting Temptations (with Beyonce, Free and MC Lyte).

–Here we come (with Timbaland and Magoo).

 

I think I’ll just stop here; this list is much longer than I thought it would be!

Are there any Missy Elliot fans out there? Let me know in the comments!

I Love Music: The Mariah Carey Edition.

 

Photo: youtube.com

 

I am a big fan of Mariah Carey’s music.

 

I have been enjoying her music for more than twenty years (it’s a mind-boggling fact to realize!).

 

Even though I have enjoyed listening to her more recent songs (e.g. #Beautiful featuring Miguel), my focus is often on her music from the early 1990s through to the late 2000s.

 

Thinking about Mariah Carey’s songs often takes me on a journey down memory lane:

 

–‘Vision of love’ and ‘Anytime you need a friend’ remind me of watching MTV in Lagos in the early 1990s.

 

–‘Always be my baby’, ‘Honey’ and ‘Fantasy’ remind me of secondary school, when I listened to music on the radio or went for the school social nights which were brimming with fun and hormones.

 

–‘Breakdown’ reminds me of waiting to get admission into the University and wondering what my future would be.

 

Mariah Carey is a treasure and her music will always have a special place in my heart.

 

I really enjoy her ballads, but my favourite Mariah Carey songs are actually her Hip Hop collaborations, my favourite being ‘Breakdown’ featuring Bone Thugs-n-Harmony

 

If I had to pick my top 10 Mariah Carey songs, they would be (in no particular order):

Heartbreaker (feat. Jay Z).

Without you.

Whenever you call (feat. Wanye Morris).

We belong together.

Emotions.

Breakdown (feat. bone Thugs-n-Harmony).

Shake it off.

Sweetheart (feat. Jermaine Dupri).

Against the odds (feat. Westlife).

Thank God I found you (with Joe and Nas).

 

Are there any Mariah Carey fans out there? Let me know in the comments!

 

Ivie.

I Love Music: The Wyclef Jean Edition.

 

Wyclef Jean. Photo: genius.com

 

Wyclef Jean is a Haitian-American Musician. I first became aware of him in the early 1990s when he was a member of the Hip Hop group, The Fugees along with Lauryn Hill and Pras Michel.

 

By the time he released his debut album, The Carnival, in 1997, I was already a big fan of his intelligent lyricism, his sense of rhythm and his sense of humour.

 

His musical sound is definitely eclectic (or as he titled one of his albums, Ecleftic). Wyclef’s music, especially his first album, did not have the standard Hip Hop or RnB sound which I had grown accustomed to in the mid-late 1990s. He created his very own sound.

 

 

For me, Wyclef a.k.a The Preacher’s Son embodies creativity and the willingness to explore one’s talent, even if it doesn’t look like everyone else’s.

 

Here’s a list of my favourite Wyclef songs:

Anything can happen

We trying to stay alive.

Guantanamera (with an awesome rap verse from Lauryn Hill).

Gone Till November.

If I was President.

Diallo.

Perfect gentleman

Peace God.

Thug Angels

Wish you were here

Any other day (with Nora Jones).

911 (with Mary J Blige).

Two wrongs (with Claudia Ortiz).

Party to Damascus (with Missy Elliot).

Hips Don’t Lie (with Shakira).

The sweetest girl.

 

Are there any Wyclef fans out there?!

 

 

***All videos are from Youtube***

I Love Music: The Puff Daddy/Puffy/P.Diddy/Diddy Edition.

Puff Daddy-with The Notorious B.I.G. Photo: weheartit.com

Before I talk about the music of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, I have to stay that I am so impressed that he continues to remain relevant as a business man and music mogul.

So that I don’t get confused, I will just call him Puffy for the duration of this write-up.

Puffy’s music came into my life in the late 1990s in what I would describe as my music-awareness phase. As a teenager in secondary school, and with the emergence of new radio stations in Lagos, I was exposed to the musical stylings of Puffy and the Bad Boy family-which included The Notorious B.I.G., Lil Kim, Mase, 112, Carl Thomas, and so on.

I loved the bravado Puffy displayed in his rap lyrics, hinting at cars, haters and wealth which may or may not have been a figment of his imagination. His music videos were fun and colourful, in which he incorporated lots of ‘bling’ and questionable dance steps.

The period between 1996 and 2000 was the era which I can say was classic Puffy. He knew exactly how to sample from older music, which he made commercial and relevant to the time.

I will continue to enjoy that golden era (in my opinion) of Puffy’s music.

Some of my favourite Puffy songs:

I’ll be missing you (Feat. Faith Evans & 112).

Can’t hold me down (Feat. Mase).

Mo Money Mo Problems (with Mase & the Notorious B.I.G.).

Been around the world.

Bad boys for life.

I need a girl.

I need a girl-part 2 (with Ginuwine, Loon & Mario Winans).

It’s all about the Benjamins (with The Notorious B.I.G., The LOX & Lil’ Kim).

Satisfy you (Feat. R.Kelly).

Hate me now (Nas Feat. Puff Daddy).

***www.youtube.com***