Flip flops & Hip- Hop

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Spring has sprung, which means summer is not too far away. Almost time to shed those winter boots, wool tams (shout out to my grandma who can rock a tam like no body's biz) and heated seats for open windows, wash & wear locks and my all time favorite summer accessory-FLIP FLOPS! I absolutely LOVE flip flops and IMHO- the cheaper the better! So, with the advent of weather conducive to rocking a flop righteously - it is time to start surfing the net for all the juicy flip flop friendly activities that start to bloom around this time of year.

One of my favorite summer activities is heading over one of the bridges, Big Shug in tow, to one of the many FREE outdoor festivities being held in NYC. One of the most popular venues for this type of entertainment is, of course, Central Park and it's infamous Central Park Summer Stage events. The City Parks foundation http://www.cityparksfoundation.org/, hosts countless events of this type throughout the city all summer long. I have attended similar freebie events in Phili, DC & Baltimore as well. Here are some of my past freebie highlights: Chaka Khan, Blakk Star (mos def, Talib Kweli), Meshelle Ndegeocello (whom I have paid cash $ to see), Sue Jorge, Ronald K. Brown's Dance Troupe Evidence (whom I have also paid to see) Nadia Davenport (of Brand New Heavies fame) & Musiq soul child (looking for your Bedazzler-Musiq has it!) to name a few. I only highlight the fact that I have actually paid to see some of these folks to denote the caliber, IMHO, of said artists.

Along with the freebies going on in NYC/PHILI/DC (oh yeah, I will travel for good food, folks & fun), my friends and I enjoy swaping information about all the other concerts and good stuff going on as well.

Enter- The Roots. You need to know, right up front, that you are dealing with a hip-hop junkie. From Lauryn Hill to Little Kim - from Common to Snoop-I love it-in all it's forms, complexities and contradictions. I know, I know- Snoop is responsible for global warming, but what can I say. I understand that he and Al Gore are in negotiations. Anyway, one of my favorite M.C's (beware of he who exchanges the term"rapper" for "MC" and thinks it's okay) is Black Thought from the legendary Roots Crew. Black Thought is definitely on my top ten list of all time greatest M.C's.

One moment please, YES, I am a 36 y.o. mother and YES, I have a top ten list of M.C's and NO, I am not ashamed. If you are between the ages of 16-46, hail from any part of NYC/NJ/PHILI and don't have at least a top five list of favorite M.C.'s (again, not to be confused with rappers)- it is YOU who should be ashamed :)

Anyway, one of my BSF's forwarded the news of this tasty little treat my way the other day. it seems as if the Roots & friends (one of which is the group Sharon Jones and the Daptones,YIPEE!!!!!) are going to be having a picnic.....and guess who's planning to be there, God willing, flips in full flop- you guessed it- yours truly! Yes, yes ya'll to the beat ya'll......

Comments

Unknown said…
U need to cope that Ghostface killah. Big Doe Rehab album the track with OX is crazy. Kid Capri we celebrate, etc.
April 13, 2008 at 9:14 PM
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