June 22, 2009

I can’t understand what these lil jokers are saying

So my boy remarked to me that he’s reached the point where he couldn’t understand what that young boys are saying on the radio these days.  Now, he’s one of those New York people, so I was afraid he was just trying to diss my people, and you know I don’t go for that.  After he told me that he couldn’t understand Pimp C, who spoke as clearly as any human ever has, I had to check up on him when he said he couldn’t understand dudes.

Then he pulled up some song called “Bird Walk” by that Soulja Boy cat.

I know it’s called “Bird Walk” because that’s what it said on the screen.  I sure as hell wouldn’t know what he was saying were I left with nothing to form an opinion but my ears.  I couldn’t understand a damn word he said.  Not a damn one. I mean on the hook. I couldn’t hear enough to figure out the name on the song.

Like, if I heard that on the radio, I wouldn’t be able to come and find it.  I’d have no idea where to begin on Google.  That’s just shameful.  

Just because I work on AM radio doesn’t mean I want to listen to it all the time.  But I have officially reached the point where, much like my parents said back in the day, I don’t understand what these dudes are saying.  No, it’s not that I can’t translate the slang.  I. Can. Not. Hear. The. Words.

Hi, I’m Bomani, and I’m the oldest 28 you’ve ever met.  I swear, I still loved rap music like two years ago.  Definitely did three years ago.  Now I live and die by the iPod and don’t even bother to peep what’s coming out when.  My only hope is that nobody drops this stuff in the time capsule.

Does that make me that guy?  Yeah, I thought so.

10 Comments »

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1. ouch.

   although not as bad as the ’stanky leg’- which was absurd enough to be featured on NPR last week.

   Comment by hollin — June 22, 2009 #

2. Why does he object to the last syllable of words? He leaves every word half spoken. To quote Riley, “Is this what’s hot in the streets”?

   Comment by AJ — June 22, 2009 #

3. If you’re ‘that guy,’ then I’d like to welcome you to our club (I’m 32).

   Comment by kenan14 — June 22, 2009 #

4. I’m only 24 but I’m on the border of being that guy. Souljaboy and others like him that make music that’s not only moronic but unintelligible. I’m not strictly on the ipod yet but it seems I gotta go out of my way to try and find stuff. There’s still good stuff to be found, but it seems more accidental when I hear something that makes my nod my head without spending half of my time wondering what cat is currently cooning out.

   Comment by Jamaal — June 23, 2009 #

5. Amen. I stopped listening to the radio some time ago. My Zune is all I will ever need, until it dies and I gotta get a new one.

   Comment by Carla — June 23, 2009 #

6. It’s good to know that young black kids listen to shitty music, too. I thought we had the market cornered with all that boy band and emo bullshit.

   Comment by Ben — June 23, 2009 #

7. Bo…I’m 27 and I’m that guy. I actually do listen to AM radio all day here in Austin, TX unless listening to country music my gf (Hip Hop station is sorry here and there is no R&B or smooth jazz stations). I’m seriously considering satellite radio where I can get that good music while riding in the car and not have to subject myself to stuff I can’t understand that gets played over and over and over on the radio all day.

   Comment by Darren — June 24, 2009 #

8. There has not been any good rap in a long time IMO. I think rap started to go downhill sometime in the 90’s. It appears that record execs only want rap groups to talk about bitches, ho’s, benjamins, etc. Whenever a rap act that would be political, topical, clean, and/or positive trying to get a major deal, they would be turned away. Just my take. Even though I do like 2 Live Crew and N.W.A., I also like Run-DMC, Public Enemy, and Kool Moe Dee among others.

   Comment by Steve — June 27, 2009 #

9. Just means you have crossed over……..not into the twilight zone …..into OLD WORLD! bwahahahaha(smile)

   Comment by rickysyfee — July 4, 2009 #

10. I’m 32, and I’m “that girl.” Until earlier this year I worked at a Urban AC/ contemporary R&B station, that’s sister station is an Urban Hip Hop & rap station. I had already stopped listening to what passes as popular rap music. These days I am strictly IPOD in my car. Welcome to the world of old folks.

    Comment by Queen City E — July 9, 2009 #

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