Confessions of a Middle Aged Rap Fanatic

At least of the stuff I listen to and likely always will.

I remember where I was, who I was with and how enamored I was the first time I ever heard the late great Tupac Shakur’s scathing but iconic classic diss track ‘Hit Em Up’.

I was barely 8 years old and an older cousin played it,not necessarily for me, but in front of me.

I was speechless. Hooked from the opening line before the beat even drops, however, out of respect for the deceased but legendary rapper Biggie Smalls, I won’t repeat what that line is in this dedication of sorts.

Let’s just say he calls him overweight and tells him he had sexual relations with his spouse. That’s putting it diplomatically.

I’ve loved hip hop, its culture, aura and all it stands for from that day on. I practically studied the lyrics and personal histories and backgrounds of my all time favorite artists such as 2pac and Eminem.

At age 38, thirty years after first hearing the song that pulled me in as a fan for life, I still listen to music I did when I was an unruly teenager who thought he knew everything.

Rap influenced me, sometimes negatively and sometimes in a dare, I say, positive manner. It made me want to write, and here I am.