#30in30: I Remember That Song

"Cash Money Records. Taking over for the 99 and the 2000." - Juvenile





Those words above are the beginning of everything good in my memory from that time. I was a Cash Money fanatic. The only other artist who was getting any play in my room was Jay-Z. But, Cash Money was different to me. They were the home town boys I would see all the time. And, they were making great music that I was digging. As I sat down to brainstorm on a topic for the twelfth day of this 30in30 challenge, I played an oldie but goodie. The Cash Money play list was just the inspiration that I needed. Back when Lil Wayne had more skin visible than tattoos. Back when Ms. Cita didn't allow Wayne to curse. Or back when Turk or B.G. weren't doing time behind those walls. Back when Manny Fresh was the in house beat maker. Back when the Hot Boys were the ish. This is the Cash Money I miss. Not for nothing, I have no issue with Drake, some Nicki tracks. But, I really want that old Cash Money feel back.







I remember going to a Cash Money concert for $5 at this club Grant Street in Lafayette, Louisiana. My girls & I got our tickets early in the afternoon. We were early to the concert that night as well. Grant St. wasn't a big club nor was it fancy. I am sure that we all had on tank tops and shorts and Reebok Classics (or Souljas as we New Orleanians called them). We weren't dressed up at all. We held up our weekly spot, on the left side of the stage by the speakers. We sat on the speakers vibing to the dj until the concert started. My girls & I were drinking our usual, whiskey sours. The Cash Money crew came on stage with little to no fan fare. You have to remember that this was just before the Universal deal. These guys were very humble back then. B.G. literally sat next to me rapping his verses & talking to us. The concert was great. They did all of our favorite tracks, old and new. We shook hands and exchanged hugs with Juvie, B.G., Turk, Wayne, & Manny. They were happy as hell just performing their music. This was the early days before they were seeing big money. To this day, it is still one of the most memorable concerts I've ever attended.







I miss that era of Cash Money music. The early days it was like they only belonged to us. So, I played the first Hot Boys cd in its entirety last night. It is filled with so many memories. Every song brings me back to college. Back to room 207 in Bancroft Hall my freshmen year. I still feel the exact same way when I hear a song from that era. The music was quintessential New Orleans, Everything about it felt like home. The beats always reminds me of the block parties in P-town. The lyrics are a direct result of growing up here. Somewhere on the journey, Cash Money lost that sound, that feeling. I know that things have to change. I get it. It doesn't mean that I can't miss it and yearn for it back. That's the thing about music. It can evoke the tiniest memory from one simple note. This is what my Saturday night turned into. A walk down memory lane with the Hot Boys and Big Tymers supplying the soundtrack. So, I grabbed a glass of Pinot Grigio while rapping along to every word. Cash Money Records old tracks still hold true today. Enjoy the music.

College is for Snobs?!? Oh really Santorum?

Republicans are stupid or they think we are. It's clearly that simple. I don't know how many of you are actually paying attention to what is going on right now. But you should. The Republican debates have been so utterly bizarre. From their overall stance on healthcare, war to gas prices and birth control. They are all over the spectrum in their beliefs. None of them have been able to land squarely on anything that lines up with me. I don't think I could ever vote for a Republican because our core beliefs, morals and values are polar opposites. This was made clearer by Rick Santorum during Saturday's debate when he said the following: “Oh, I understand why he wants you to go to college. He wants to remake you in his image. I want to create jobs so people can remake their children into their image, not his.”

Really Ricky? I wonder if this statement made sense in his head before he spewed such a ridiculous sentence. I know it sounds like crap to me. So, now college is for snobs? Is that right? I have an issue with someone who wants to be President and doesn't think that higher education should be a viable option for all Americans. Why wouldn't it be? Why would one want to limit what a person can achieve? It's been proven in case study after case study that people need more than a high school diploma to make it in this world. Higher education is the way to go to achieve it. This is just common sense. Why would I listen to a man with three degrees tell me that a college education isn't important? That makes no sense.

Furthermore, this statement sounds beyond ridiculous coming from Santorum. This man holds not one, not two, but three degrees. And, in comparison, President Obama only has two. Seems sort of hypocritical right? I think Santorum is jealous of President Obama for a few reasons. The most obvious one being that President Obama has the job Santorum wants. But more than that, Obama has 2 degrees from far more superior and widely revered schools than Santorum. President Obama has degrees from Columbia and Harvard, two of the most prestigious universities in the U.S. That's just my take on it. Santorum said "President Obama once said he wants everybody in America to go to college. What a snob.” Education makes you a snob? Well, in the wise words of Redman, "I'll bee dat!" If it makes me a snob, I will gladly be a part of that group. Santorum is slyly trying to paint Obama as an elitist. Which couldn't be further from the truth.

How selfish is it to tell people well we all can't smart enough to obtain a college degree? That is exactly what Santorum is saying. This sort of thinking can only end badly. Santorum idea would lead to a wider gap between the haves and the have nots. In my mind, this would make a smaller richer class and a poorer more populated low class or poverty class. There would essentially be no middle class anymore. People move from class to class by way of education, employment and hard work. If we cut out education, how far up could one elevate to? The rich would continue to get richer off of the backs of the poor. Santorum supports this. And, for that, no one (especially the working class) should support him. If I was a voting Republican, I would be worried. There does not seem to be one viable leader in the race. As a voting Democrat, I'm getting even more excited about a second term for Obama. He is still the same change I want to see in the White House.

Degree of Separation

(Me graduating from College!)

"A degree does not indicate intelligence. It signifies completion." (some random person on Twitter). o_O Oh, really? I wholeheartedly disagree.

This was retweeted onto my timeline on Twitter. I instantly made me feel some kind of way. My initial response was "What?" I'm sorry but it signifies a whole lot more than completion. That is just about the simplest thing I've ever read. No one completes a degree course by chance alone. This statement is always thrown out by people who've never attempted college courses or who've never completed them. I totally disagree with the statement. My college degree mean I was intelligent enough to complete 125 credit hours. That means something.


(Me graduating from High School!)

No, I do not believe my degree makes me better than others? Not does it give me a superiority complex. I'm proud of myself for obtaining it. I worked by proverbial ass off for it. Now, it seems that people without a degree feel some kind of way towards those that have them. I do. It look down on people who don't have degrees. I know some who feel inferior because they do not have them. But that's their issue not mine. I went to college for myself. I completed the hours and work for myself. I will not play small for someone else to seem big. If you have a problem with my education, and you should do something about yours. I will be pursuing post graduate degree as well. That's my choice. I am intelligent enough to get it.


(Me graduating from Kindergarten!)

I do not think that I'm more intelligent than people without degrees. I know how much as work goes into completing a degree program. Hard work alone will not get you there. Intelligence plays a huge part. That is a given. I think its dumb for others to downplay what it takes to earn a degree. I will never understand that. I am extremely proud of myself and no one can ever take that from me. I guess people will always feel some kind of way on the matter. And, I guess since I have one, I will always be on this side of the fence? My intelligence, perseverance, incredible study skills and hard work got me my degree. And, I'll be damned if anyone makes me feel bad about it.