Miseducation dropped at the end of August 1998, Hard Knock Life at the end of September the same year. But both albums were in heavy rotation all through the summer and it was a highlight of hip hop.
When people say I am too hard on either of these icons, one who disappeared and one who won’t go away, I point to the summer of 1998 when they ruled my world the way Titus and Black Eyed Peas do right now.
Nothing else was close.
At the Yankee game Sunday afternoon they played “Empire State Of Mind” on the sound system. It is hard to argue with success but it isn’t my fault everybody got it wrong.
Lauryn, after the ferocious MTV Unplugged, essentially disappeared into married life though she is playing the Rock The Bells fest August 28th and though I HATE FESTS, I’ll be there even if for no other reason.
Rumor is she will be doing an acoustic set but I think she will nail it down more than that. Plus? I would flip out if she does her Aretha Franklin duet “A Rose Is Still A Rose”.
Anyway, I am sick of Jay-Z because HE SUCKS.
Lauryn? Silence begat a legend.