Urban Thought Collective

1993 baby! Remember when gas cost $.92/gallon? Remember when “Rap City” was still relevant? Remember when you could pig out at Taco Bell for less than $5? Remember Cross Colours? Yeah, like I’m the only one who had orange, red, green, and purple jeans. Don’t front on me! Lol, anyway, here are a few tracks from my 12th grade year. Those were cool times. Holla.

GANGSTARR | “MASS APPEAL”
These cats are representing the east coast to the FULLEST! Take that Kamal. Yeah, I’m a jerk. I have good intentions though Anyhoo, not trying to start anything, just having fun.

ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT | “EASE MY MIND”
“When the sista’s say it, you know it’s gotta be real.” I liked this track back in the day, but “Zingalamaduni” sunk like a sack of bricks wrapped in plaster of paris. Too bad, because this was a nice jam to cruise to on a Saturday. Plus, the hook is so on the money. I’ll be damned if I don’t need some time to ease my mind nowadays.

JANET JACKSON | “ANY TIME, ANY PLACE”
“I don’t care who’s around.” This song was the joint in high school. Wait, it’s still the joint. Janet just took it to another level. The beat? Dope. How does Janet look? Dope. As a matter of fact, I’m gonna stop writing now. My words can’t do this video justice. Just enjoy.

LORDS OF THE UNDERGROUND | “HERE COME THE LORDS”
As a senior in high school, I was like “Dope! Is that what college life is really like?!?” Then I got to Morehouse, and was like “Oh. I guess not.” Lol, anyway, I thought this was an underrated album. My boy bumped it one night when we went to kick it. I borrowed the cassette, and he hasn’t seen it in 14 years

And now…for something all the way live…

SNOOP DOGG | “LADI DADI”
I don’t really need to say much about this joint. When I saw this live, I was in complete awe. You just didn’t see hip hop acts backed by live bands that often, if at all, in the early 90’s. Snoop and crew totally wrecked it.

Diallo Tyson is a filmmaker, comedian and old school music junkie. When he’s not busy, he is a rapper with the group “Two Pimps and a Dream.” Step into a groovin’ time machine every Friday on UTC.