The Constorium of Greater Minds

The Smoking Section reminds us of ’98

My favorite hip hop blog just finished off a week of articles and album reviews of one of the great years of hip hop – 1998.

Then..

I turned 12 that year, and just finished 6th grade as the new kid in my middle school. I met one of my best friends, who I’m sharing a house with 10 years later. We had uniforms at my school, but every month we had ‘free dress’ days. Everyone else would be dressed in Abercrombie, I was the only one rocking Ecko, Fubu, and anything else I could get at Mr. Rags (Urban Warfare brand for the win). I remember throwing on the Love Movement in my 5th or 6th period art class and no one feeling it while I ran through the ‘Find A Way’ lyrics in my head. Jigga and DMX killed it on my portable CD player, eating up double A batteries. Redman’s ‘I’ll Bee Dat’ got put on repeat when I wanted to go crazy in my room. I was introduced to the Wu through Outkast’s ‘Skew It On the Bar-B’ with Raekwon. I listened to ‘Rosa Parks’ over and over to figure out Three Stacks’ verse. I’m pretty sure this is the first year I got shut down by a shorty too. My dad bought DJ Quik’s Rhythm-Al-Ism and Big Pun’s Capital Punishment for… himself after I put him on ‘Hand In Hand’ & ‘Still Not A Player.”

Now…

I just wish I could tell my 12-year old self, ‘you’ll do alright, kid’ and end up with stories that you never thought you’d ever have the luck of telling.

When…

In 2018 I’ll be 32, but I’ll look like I’m 24, so it will be alright. I got carded for a rated R movie a couple weeks ago and some old lady thought I was still in high school at a dinner party. Hopefully I’ll be married or engaged by then and be doing something crazy ill with design. I should be on my second or third trip to Japan by then too. Other than that, who knows, it never works out as you planned does it?

Peace from ’08 ’til Infinity.

Basically weather over here in Sea-Town has been nuts. Clear skies, a light breeze, and that thing we call the sun. However, the one day that we plan a barbecue, it grays up and starts raining. We had 25 forties, a bunch of meat, and homies coming over. Thank god for covered car ports. Thanks to everyone who came out, and yes there will be a sequel. Perhaps with sangria and seafood, but probably not because that shit is expensive.

As the new draft pick for the Consortium team, I bring to you my first post. Let’s make it an introduction since many of you might not know me.

I was born a Gemini on Friday the 13th in the Pacific Northwest. I spent my youth mostly in Seattle and it’s Northern regions with half of my summers up in Richmond/Vancouver Canada. I just graduated the University of Washington, which is where I met Alex and then Nick when he visited a year or so ago.

What will I be dropping on you?

Life in the Emerald (City) no doubt. Streetwear/shoe criticisms, maybe. A lot of reminiscing (word to Pete & CL) and thoughts of young man trying to make it in his field (industrial design). and Hip Hop. I’ll be talking about that a lot, and referring to it even more. I already did in this post.

Let me end quick like, so pump up the volume like Rakim and dream of the Sesame Street I wish I had when I was a kid.

bert & ernie – ante up
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