Happy birthday to us

Today I turn 28. For the first time since my 21st birthday, I'm OK with being a year older. I'm either getting more confident with age, or more apathetic. Same thing kinda.

Anyway, I mention this not only in hopes of a comments section brimming with LOL-/OMG/HB!!!-filled sentiments, but because I think it's cool that I share a birthday with two of my all-time favorite contributors to pop music: Roxanne Shanté and Steve "Silk" Hurley (at least I do, according to their Wikipedia entries). Part of me hates to be so queer and all like, "Birthday twins!!!" But another part of me really is that queer. The latter part wins today: below is a sampling of some of their music.

Roxanne Shanté was responsible for one of the first big hip-hop novelty records, 1984's "Roxanne's Revenge," an unprovoked answer to U.T.F.O.'s "Roxanne, Roxanne." She was 14 when she cut it, and her barely pubescent voice makes for most of the novelty. The video's below -- it's a shame about the quality, but her cuteness shines through. Do I even need to add that I love how cheap this shit is? I'm swooning at the shots that catch her from the chest and up.

(Download the track)

Wouldn't it be awesome if, instead of singing "Happy Birthday," people rapped "Roxanne's Revenge?" That's what I want, anyway. Not even the whole thing. Just a couplet! Just a, "Every time you sayin' somethin' just-a like-a this-a / It ain't nothin' that I don't wanna miss-a."

Anyway, fast forward to 1992. Shanté had made a career of calling out bitches (JJ Fad, Salt-N-Pepa, Sparky D, the Real Roxanne in a counterattack), but nothing predicted just how acidic a turn she'd take. Inspired by an appearance on a talk show (I think Phil Donahue) with other female rappers, in which Shanté felt disrespected (or not respected enough or...something), "Big Mama" called out the major female rappers of the early '90s (Queen Latifah, MC Lyte, Monie Love, Yo-Yo) who, by that point, were much more visible than she was. This was sort of an articulate precursor to Flavor of Love's begin-every-sentence-with-"Bitch..." approach to communication. I love this track a lot. It's garbage-dump nasty in its funkiness (it, like most of Rox's output including "Roxanne's Revenge," was produced by Marley Marl). At this point in her career, Shanté had been rapping for so long that picking up the mic was like breathing to her. She just sounds so natural. Also, I love how far she goes with her shit talking -- this track is equally uncalled for and unabashed. She totally succeeds in her aim to agitate. (The only really regrettable bit is the homophobia directed at Lyte. "To me a butch don't deserve a mic in hand"? That's just stupid, as it eliminates about 75 percent of her competition, which she doesn't even seem to realize. Too easy, too easy.) Anyway, this kind of self-righteous indignation only works when diving off such a nimble tongue. And looking back on everything, I kinda think she was right.

I won't say too much about Chicago house producer Steve "Silk" Hurley. I already (over-) wrote about him (seriously: shut up, me!). Even though I listen to much less soulful house than I did a year ago, he's still my favorite house producer -- his balance of light and dark, masculinity and femininity, sweetness and grit, really appeal to me on principle. I've said a few times that his remix of Jomanda's "Got a Love for You" (1991) is my favorite track ever, and I think that stands -- again and again, even when I haven't heard it in months, I'm reminded of how much I love it, how catchy every single element of this track is. His remix of Ten City's "That's the Way Love Is" is almost as great. The quick cut in and out at the 2:08 point never fails to thrill me.

So yay. Girl rap and house music, two of my favorite things in the world. Happy birthday to us.

Comments

[Abe Froman]

Happy Birthday, Rich! Tonight, I drink in your honor.

[Gayest Neil]

LOL-/OMG/HB!!!

[meee]

happy birthday beautiful!

[Vanessa]

I am excited to be at or near the top of the comments for once so I can tell you that I SAW Roxanne perform with Run DMC in Lexington, KY in the early 80's. No one knew who Run DMC were at the time. It was a cheap affair put on by a local AM Hip Hop station and the sound system died shortly into the event. Roxanne shrugged and continued to bellow out her song "for tha ladies." I lost track of her career almost immediately after that but I still admire her moxie.

(and how fabulous you mentioned "You can't play with my YoYo." I thought I was the only one who remembered her.)

You must have been a wee toddler when that was happening. And altho I am 10 years older than you, female and live in Ohio I still can dream that you will one day be my fabulous gay husband. But until then, Happy Birthday. Your pop culture genius makes my life as blissful as a bathtub of Chanel #5.

[Lindsay]

zomg Happy Birthday!

[Hateraid]

Happy Birthday Rich although the video of Roxanne Shante was actually a gift for us. So generous. Enjoy the day!!!!!

[Miss Kitty]

Happy birthday, Rich, from a fellow Scorpio (whose b-day was yesterday)! May this one be happy, and may there be many more happy ones to follow.

I thought I was the only person on earth who remembered "Roxanne's Revenge" and "Roxanne, Roxanne." THANK YOU!!!!!

[Luke]

Happy birthday Rich! And OMG, I was just talking about Roxanne Shante and that talk show appearance where MC Lyte called her "sore". I think that was the short-lived Jane talk show, maybe? Anyway, I absolutely LOVE your color commentary. Hope you have a good one!

[Bobbie]

omg Rich, happy beautiful birthday!!!!! out here in the wilds of Canada, you make our lives just a bit brighter. I hope you have an amazing year full of even more queer moments, Winston and Rudy freak outs and most of all, finding out Monique is on Flavor of Love 3!!!! much love!

[BrnEyedGirl676]

We'll see what you say when the big three-oh rolls around... you're either going to be all, "No biggie", or you'll fly into a weepy downward spiral of, "What happened to my youth?" or last, but not least, you'll try to recapture your youth by being that sad & pathetic "old guy" in the club...
Promise me you won't be "that guy"?

[Jen1]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, RICH! So excited to sort of share this day with one of my favorite blog writers.

[Carla Bradley]

"Every time that he sees me, he says a rhyme
But, see, compared to me it's weak compared to mine A-every time I know that I am sayin' somethin' fresher In any category I'm considered the best"

Happy Birthday!

P.S. Growing old is a bitch, but it beats the alternative.

[acolyte]

I'm sending you best wishes for big chunky-hunky love on your bday!
It only gets better from here on.

[brandy]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! Go eat cake and have fun!

[mighty_isis]

Happy birthday! Look at it this way, youre not getting older youre getting better!

[Jill]

I'd just like to join in on the Happy Birthday chorus - 28 is a great year! Hope you have a great day!

[tia]

1. happy birthday!

2. luke is right: roxanne shante, mc lyte, yoyo, etc were on that jane talk show.

(sidebar 1: who remembers sassy magazine the precursor to jane? sidebar 2: my 5 secs of fame - i was an audience member on an episode of jane that featured makeovers and i said this one girl looked like she should be on 42nd street while i was wearing a velvet tam with a big bow on the front and a blk/white checked blazer. i had some nerve! but yeah i don't think i made it to air.)

3. i was *just* listening to "that's the way love is" last night. and it's stuck in my head.

[Joe]

Please, you so mentioned your birthday to fill your comments section with HAPPY BIRTHDAYS! We all do it; it's why I e-mail all my friends a month before dropping hints that mine is coming up. Birthdays are the one day you are allowed to unabashedly shill for shout-outs and presents. Lasso the spotlight onto yourself without shame, baby! It's your turn to shine.

P.S. Happy Birthday! :)

[Janie]

LOL-/OMG/HB!!!LOL-/OMG/HB!!!LOL-/OMG/HB!!!LOL-/OMG/HB!!!LOL-/OMG/HB!!!

[Chris]

OMG!!! We're birthday twins!! Nice to know that someone cool other than Carl Sagan was also a Nov-9-er. But the fact that we're also bday twins with Sisqo is a total ugh.

[Carly]

Happy Birthday! I hope your gift is a much deserved day off from recapping! ;)

[Niecy]

Happy b-day my fellow Scorpio. mine is next week. and to top off this wonderful month, i found out im pregnant yesterday! yay for november!

[Rich]

Congrats!

[ekar]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! fellow scorpio. If you were straight I'd be soo into you! Have a great day!

[Shakespeare's Sister]

Happy Birthday!!!