One of the most important days in my musical experience took place on hot, sunny fall day of September 29, 1999 - the release date of Black Star, Jay-Z’s Vol. 2, Outkast’s Aquemini, and A Tribe Called Quest’s farewell album. In 1999, there were no leaks, no blogs, no internet album listening sessions, and bootlegging actually required a little money to make money (CD burners were new and expensive, you actually still had to buy the CD to bootleg, and blank CDs were expensive). Marketing required radio singles and music videos along with magazine and newspaper press (it was a BIG deal to get the cover of The Source) and maybe mixtapes, depending on where you lived.
After ditching class on 9/29/99, I took the bus to Target and stood dumbfounded in the Electronics section for over an hour debating which two records where going to end up with my hard earned lunch money. It was critical to make the right decision because I fasted like Ghandi for hip-hop.
*debating in my head*
Buy Black Star – this is the “REAL HIP-HOP” (remember that?)
Wait…that “Hard Knock Life” is a banger. Jay-Z is bringing the heat.
But I love Q-Tip and ATCQ are legends, you can’t deny the heritage of hip-hop.
Hold on, Outkast has never failed to disappoint, they are funky and different.
*the verdict*
Jay-Z because it had a bonus double disc. (Hey! 2 for 1…kinda) Then I picked up “Aquemini” because my HS sweetheart and I were “Aquemini” - She is an Aquarius and I am a Gemini…aww…how cute.
So, I walked ran (I was a geek in HS) to the bus stop, pulled out my discman (remember those?) and put in “Aquemini.” I must have read every word in the linear notes while bobbing my head. I didn’t care if my bus never came because Rosa Parks kept me company. Nonetheless, Aquemini is one of my favorite hip-hop albums of all time.
Do you remember when listening to music was an experience? Do you remember when you first heard Aquemini? Miseducation of Lauryn Hill? Blueprint?
This is why I hate leaks. The iPod and mp3 generation are robbed of a true musical experience and events. Today’s generation are single driven, ring-tone laced, and fast paced moving music listeners that no longer appreciate the epic even that Kanye West’s “Graduation” should represent. I partially believe that while our music libraries and options have dramatically increased due to the internet, we are saturated in the mix of the newest and “hottest” trend/song/dance/music that we no longer recognize a large musical event.
I think the Kanye West versus 50 Cent could have built up the another milestone in hip-hop similar to Outkast’s Speakerboxx/The Love Below or The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, but with the leaks appearing two weeks before its historic release date of 9/11, our generation have robbed ourselves of a great music event.
Rather than asking the questions – “Where were you when you first heard “Graduation”? Do you remember when you open the package?” – we are now downloading an album and then googling its production credits. Before the album is released, we placed our judgment, no longer allowing an album to “grow on you” because you downloaded for free (yet illegally) on your MacBook. (sidenote: I remember buying records I didn’t like, but because I dropped money on it, I forced the music to grow on me – LOL) One listen on your computer speakers and one blogger’s opinion, you judge the album as a classic or as a flop.
*throws the mic on the floor and just leaves the podium*
Do you remember when…? Do you miss the musical events? Do you prefer listening to leaks? Would you rather wait til its release date? Feel free to debate…Why do you prefer leaks?
Note: This is catered to the internet savvy album downloaders and bootlegger. There are alot of people that don’t know how to download albums online…yet.
Reecie
thehonorable
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