Urban Thought Collective

Right off the bat, I know some of you aren’t gonna like this week’s offering. But you know what? I have to stay true to my roots. I’m a 70’s baby, raised in the 80’s; and representing is a must. If you’ve never put on a pair of too-short shorts, pulled up some knee-high socks with the triple colored bands, and slipped on some Kangaroos, all while rocking an “authentic” mesh hat, then you just can’t tell me nothing. At any rate, this is the first of several posts on the 80’s. This week we take a look at some lovely ladies from that era. Holla.

LISA LISA | “IF I TAKE YOU HOME”
Oh man. Lisa Velez, as my boy K-Dawg might say, “was a beast, yo.” Imagine being a 10 year old boy, teetering on the precipice of puberty, watching this video. Oh man. I think Lisa Lisa was my first celebrity crush. J-Lo who? But yeah, this track definitely gets the party jumping. I dare you to not bob your head to this joint. I triple dog dare you!

p.s. Paul Anthony and Bowlegged Lou’s curls are so crucial, I almost went to Wal Mart to get a 3-pack of shower caps. Almost.

SHEILA E | “GLAMOROUS LIFE”
Making the drums a sexy instrument is not an easy task, nevertheless, Sheila Escovedo managed to pull it off. Dave Grohl, eat your heart out. Anyway, this jam will always hold a special place in my heart because the melody is the first thing I ever learned to play on a keyboard. Twenty something years later, and it still rocks. Although to be fair, drums aren’t nearly as sexy since Sheila put the sticks down.

JANET JACKSON | “NASTY”
“I’m not a fool. I just want some respect.” Hey kids, look. It’s a then-unknown not yet batsh*t insane Paula Abdul. Everyone wave! Anyways, I think this was the moment that Janet really stepped into her own light. She rocked the Hell out of that outfit and showed everyone she was no longer Michael’s little sister. Finally, she could stand on her own as Janet-er I mean Miss Jackson

MARY JANE GIRL | “ALL NIGHT LONG”
“Hurry up and come. Cause I can’t wait to get it on.” Double entendre much? Lol Rick definitely hit us off with one of his patented basslines, and my head hasn’t stopped nodding in five minutes. Now we know the ladies weren’t the greatest singers to ever grab a mic, but with Rick James behind the boards, they didn’t have to be. All they had to do was ride that beat, and the rest would take care of itself.

SADE | “THE SWEETEST TABOO”
“Showing me her tan line and her tattoo. Playing Sade’s Sweetest Taboo.” Yeah, I don’t know how much I can add to this one. Her voice is Angelic. Her beauty is Heavenly. Her groove is unmistakable. It’s Sade.

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 week on UTC.