When I was in elementary school I received a Discman as a gift and couldn’t wait to make the trek out to Best Buy and make a best buy. I chose Snoop Dogg’s first album, Doggy Style.
For three days I memorized the raps and bobbed my head with every syncopated beat that flowed through earphones too large for my head.
I dreamt of meeting DJ Easy Dick on W-Ballz. I nicknamed myself Snoop Sicky Ro. I approached the local chapter of The Crips and tried to become the first A-plus member. For realsies, I was almost in a gang. Esham and Matt Robles lived in my hood, and while Matt was a poser, Esham was the hardest mother effer ever. And E told me that to get in they would have to beat me up, and then I changed my mind.
All this was as a result of Snoop.
And then it happened. I lost my beats. The foster home I was staying at, at the time was pretty conservative and the CD’s content came to light and I lost it, because they lost it.
They took it away and I cried, like a bitch. They must have felt bad for me because they exchanged the CD for another hot album – Janet Jackson’s- Janet.
I wasn’t happy about it but I needed to put my CD player to good use until I became adult enough to buy my own music. So I memorized all the words to her songs and I bobbed my head to her poppy beats.
Now that I’m a tad bit older I feel that that CD exchange may have changed my life.
If I had continued listening to Snoop instead of Janet I may have become a rap battle superstar.
If I had continued listening to Snoop instead of Janet I may not be afraid of getting into a fight now.
If I had continued listening to Snoop instead of Janet I may be able to do one armed push-ups instead of girl push-ups.
If I had continued listening to Snoop instead of Janet I may not dress in flat front chinos and wear Dickies instead.
If I had continued listening to Snoop instead of Janet I may wear Chuck Taylor’s to work in lieu of the Kenneth Cole’s that now adorn my feet.
Who knows what would have become of me. This debate may shape the rest of my days, Snoop vs Janet.
Well I have to go get a manicure… I am sure I would not be doing this if I had continued with Snoop.
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