1999: Y2Shady and A Wedding - Spcl Gsts Ashley and Terrence
Topics: Y2K Bug, Eminem, The Best Man, 90's TV (Bonus Artist: Rocky Mtn. Rhyme Posse)
Topics: Y2K Bug, Eminem, The Best Man, 90's TV (Bonus Artist: Rocky Mtn. Rhyme Posse)
Topics: Monica Lewinsky Scandal, Jay Z, Beloved (Film), 90's Tech (Bonus Artist: hidingtobefound and Luck Pacheco)
Topics: Biggie death, Erykah Badu, Eve's Bayou, Miss Evers' Boys (Bonus Artist: Luck Pacheco)
Topics: Tupac death, Fugees, Set It Off, Moesha (Bonus Artist: hidingtobefound)
1996 Snapshots
1. President: Bill Clinton
2. Jan - Whitewater scandal: U.S. First Lady Hillary Clinton testifies before a grand jury.
3. Feb - Daniel Green is convicted of the murder of James Jordan, the father of basketball star Michael Jordan.
4. Mar - Lyle and Erik Menendez are found guilty of first-degree murder for the shotgun killing of their parents.
5. Apr - Chicago Bulls set a new NBA record for the most wins in a season, 70.
6. May -?
7. Jun - The Colorado Avalanche wins their first Stanley Cup in their first season based out of Denver and The Chicago Bulls win their fourth NBA Championship by defeating the Seattle Supersonics.
8. July - The Centennial Olympic Park bombing at the 1996 Summer Olympics kills 2 and injures 111.
9. Aug - Tiger Woods makes his professional PGA Tour debut.
10. Sep - Tupac Shakur dies.
11. Oct - The Fox News Channel is launched.
12. Nov - Bill Clinton defeats Republican challenger Bob Dole to win his second term.
13. Dec - Death of JonBenét Ramsey: A six-year-old beauty queen is beaten and strangled in the basement of her family's home in Boulder, Colorado; her body is found the following day.
14. Open Comments:
15. Music Snapshots
16. #1 Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix), Los del Río
17. #2 One Sweet Day, Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men
18. #3 Because You Loved Me, Celine Dion
19. Record of the Year: Change the World – Eric Clapton
20. Album of the Year: Falling Into You – Celine Dion
21. Song of the Year: Change the World
22. Best New Artist: LeAnn Rimes
23. Best Female R&B Vocal Performance: You're Makin' Me High – Toni Braxton
24. Best Male R&B Vocal Performance: Your Secret Love – Luther Vandross
25. Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal: Killing Me Softly – Fugees
26. Best R&B Song: Exhale (Shoop Shoop), Babyface, songwriter (Whitney Houston)
27. Best R&B Album: Words – The Tony Rich Project
28. Best Rap Solo Performance: Hey Lover – LL Cool J
29. Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group: Tha Crossroads – Bone Thugs-N-Harmony
30. Best Rap Album: The Score – Fugees
31. Movie Snapshots
32. #1 Independence Day
33. #2 Twister
34. #3 Mission: Impossible
35. Notables: Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood, The Birdcage, Fargo, A Thin Line Between Love and Hate, The Nutty Professor, Kazaam, Set It Off, Space Jam, Jerry Maguire.
36. TV Snapshots
37. #1 - ER
38. #2 - Seinfeld
39. #3 - Suddenly Susan
40. Debuts: Moesha, The Daily Show, Kenan & Kel, The Steve Harvey Show, In The House, Malcolm & Eddie, Homeboys in Outer Space, The Jamie Foxx Show
41. Economic Snapshots
42. Income = 36.3k (Previously 36K)
43. House = 118.2K (113)
44. Car = 16.3k (15.5)
45. Rent = 554(550)
46. Harvard = 27.5k (26k)
47. Movie = 4.42 (4.35)
48. Gas = 1.22 (1.12)
49. Stamp = .32 (-)
50. Social Scene: Tupac Killed
51. Childhood: Tupac Shakur, born Parish Crooks, was born on June 16, 1971, to Black Panther activist parents in New York City. Thirteen days later, his mother, Alice Faye Walker (Afeni Shakur), changed his name. The parents wanted to avoid him being targeted by Black Panther-affiliated enemies. His mother was imprisoned while she was pregnant with him. Tupac's father, Billy Garland, was also a Panther but lost contact with Afeni when Tupac was five years old. The rapper would not see his father again until he was 23 - I thought my father was dead all my life.
52. Early Life: He had a difficult childhood, as he grew up in the company of criminals, militant activist, violence, and a drugged addicted mother with a transient lifestyle. Art became a constructive and safe escape. His first acting stint was in 1983 (@12 yrs. old) with the Harlem’s 127th StreetRepertory Ensemble when he performed in a play ‘A Raisin in the Sun’ at the Apollo Theater. In 1984, Tupac's family moved from New York City to Baltimore, Maryland.There he studied poetry, jazz, acting, and ballet at the Baltimore School for the Arts and befriended Jada Pinkett. The family later moved to Marin City, California, across the bay from Oakland, in 1988 (@17 yrs. old). They went to the home of a woman Afeni had been close to during her Black Panther days and lived in a poor housing complex, referred to as ‘the Jungle.’
53. Early Career: While attending high school he participated in a poetry workshop known as The Microphone Sessions, organized by Leila Steinberg, who would eventually become his first manager. She introduced 19-year-old Tupac to Atron Gregory, a manager for the World Class Wrekin Cru’ and tour manager for NWA, who had just returned to the Bay Area, started TNT Records, and quickly gained attention by signing Digital Underground. Gregory matched Tupac with Digital Underground as a roadie and backup dancer. Tupac’s talent was soon recognized by the group, and he began rapping in some of their songs. He debuted on ‘Same Song,’ which was featured in the 1991 film Nothing But Trouble. (@20 yrs. old)
54. Solo Career: He released his debut solo album ‘2Pacalypse Now’ in 1991. (Big hit - 'Brenda's Got a Baby') Also in 1991, Shakur filed a $10-million lawsuit against the Oakland Police Department for allegedly brutalizing him over jaywalking. The case was settled for about $43,000. (1992 - Juice, first starring role) His second album, ‘Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z’ came out in 1993. It was more successful than its predecessor and contained the hits ‘Keep Ya Head Up’ and ‘I Get Around’. (1993 - Poetic Justice, co-starred with Janet Jackson) In 1994, he formed a group Thug Life and they released one album ‘Thug Life: Volume 1. (1994 - Above the Rim, Co-starred with Duane Martin) During this period he had several brushes with the law (he was associated with the shooting of a 6 yr. old Qa'id Walker-Teal in Marin City / shooting two policemen / various physical assaults) and was shot in an armed robbery case. After recovering from the shooting, he was sent to prison on a sexual assault charge. He released the album ‘Me Against the World’ in 1995 (@24) while serving his prison term. The album was an immediate hit and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200.
55. Final Album: During 1995, while imprisoned, impoverished, and with his mother about to lose her house, Tupac had his wife get word to Marion Suge Knight, in Los Angeles, boss of the Death Row Records, at the time a verry successful company, and asked for a meeting. Tupac's mother received $15k, Suge paid Tupac's $1.4m bail, signed the rapper, and went to work on the album ‘All Eyez on Me’. The album was recorded in two weeks! In a matter of two weeks, Tupac recorded and completed the double-disc album, completing two out of three albums he owed Death Row. (The third release would end up being the posthumously released The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory) Released in February of 1996, the album featured five singles and went multi-Platinum in just a few months after its release.
56. Death: Seven months later, in September 1996, Tupac was killed in a drive-by shooting. He was 25 years old.
57. Open Comments:
58. Question: Confused young man or someone to be taken seriously? (What did he represent?)
59. Music Scene:
60. Black Songs in the Top 40
61. #1 Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix), Los del Río
62. #2 One Sweet Day, Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men
63. #4 Nobody Knows, The Tony Rich Project
64. #5 Always Be My Baby, Mariah Carey
65. #6 Give Me One Reason, Tracy Chapman
66. #7 Tha Crossroads, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony
67. #9 You're Makin' Me High / Let It Flow, Toni Braxton
68. #10 Twisted, Keith Sweat
69. #11 C'mon N' Ride It (The Train), Quad City DJ's
70. #14 Exhale (Shoop Shoop), Whitney Houston
71. #16 Sittin' Up in My Room, Brandy
72. #17 How Do U Want It / California Love, 2Pac featuring K-Ci and JoJo
73. #20 Hey Lover, LL Cool J
74. #21 Loungin, LL Cool J
75. #23 Be My Lover, La Bouche
76. #27 I Can't Sleep Baby (If I), R. Kelly
77. #32 Not Gon' Cry, Mary J. Blige
78. #33 Gangsta's Paradise, Coolio featuring L.V.
79. #34 Only You, 112 featuring The Notorious B.I.G. and Mase
80. #35 Down Low (Nobody Has to Know), R. Kelly featuring The Isley Brothers
81. #36 You're the One, SWV
82. #37 Sweet Dreams, La Bouche
83. #38 Before You Walk Out of My Life / Like This and Like That, Monica
84. #40 1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New), Coolio
85. #42 No Diggity, Blackstreet featuring Dr. Dre
86. Vote:
87. Top RnB Albums
88. Jan - Waiting to Exhale, Soundtrack / Various artists
89. Feb - Str8 off tha Streetz of Muthaphukkin Compton, Eazy-E
90. Mar - All Eyez on Me, 2Pac
91. Mar - The Score, Fugees
92. Apr - The Coming, Busta Rhymes
93. Apr - The Resurrection, Geto Boys
94. Jun - Gettin' It (Album Number Ten), Too Short
95. Jun - Legal Drug Money, Lost Boyz
96. Jun - The Nutty Professor, Soundtrack / Various artists
97. Jul - Secrets, Toni Braxton
98. Jul - Keith Sweat, Keith Sweat
99. Jul - It Was Written, Nas
100. Aug - Beats, Rhymes and Life, A Tribe Called Quest
101. Sep - ATLiens, Outkast
102. Sep - Home Again, New Edition
103. Oct - Another Level, Blackstreet
104. Nov - Bow Down, Westside Connection
105. Nov - Ironman, Ghostface Killah
106. Nov - The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory, Makaveli
107. Nov - Tha Doggfather, Snoop Dogg
108. Dec - Hell on Earth, Mobb Deep
109. Dec - Muddy Waters, Redman
110. Vote:
111. Featured Artist: The Fugees
112. Lauryn Hill (@21 yrs. old in 1996) was born in 1975 to a high school teacher and computer expert in New Jersey. Her mother played piano and her father sang in nightclubs. Young Lauryn sang in church choirs, gospel groups and showed a strong voice. She loved '60s and '70s soul and by age thirteen, she was playing the amateur night showtime at the Apollo, doing a cover of Smokey Robinson's "Who's Loving You". Hill nabbed minor roles on television's As the World Turns and in the film Sister Act II: Back in the Habit. Her work with the Fugees began in 1987 in high school with friend Prakazrel Samuel Michel.
113. "Pras" (@23 in 1996) was born in Brooklyn in 1972 and raised in New Jersey. He showed an early interest in music and attended Rutgers University and Yale University, pursuing a double major in Philosophy and Psychology.
114. Wyclef Jean (@27 yrs. old) was born in 1969 in Haiti, the son of a minister. When he was nine, he moved to the projects of Brooklyn, and later New Jersey, where he took up guitar and the study of music.
115. The trio formed in the late '80s, named themselves the Tranzlator Crew and used Hill's soap opera acting proceeds to pay for equipment. They toured the tri-state area and were signed to major label Ruffhouse/Columbia in 1993. Hill was still a minor. Shortly thereafter, they renamed themselves Fugees, a derisive slang term for refugees, and released a debut 12-inch Fugees (Tranzlator Crew) "Boof Baf" to no notable sales.
116. Their 1994 debut LP Blunted on Reality, stylized in a fashion like A Tribe Called Quest, Poor Righteous Teachers, and Digable Planets, did better. However, it was the remixed versions of "Nappy Head (Mona Lisa)" and "Vocab" that earned the group another budget for a follow-up album. (Also, notable, in later interviews Pras would say that a married Wyclef and the underage Hill were having a clandestine relationship at the time)
117. Combining a mix of conscious hip hp, soul, and reggae, with a homemade basement studio, sampled melodies, live guitars, bass, keys, "The Score" arrived in 1996, filling the void between gangsta and glitter. It became an instant classic, ultimately selling over 18 million copies.
118. Open Comments:
119. Internal "Affairs": In the summer of 1996, on the Smoking Grooves Tour, Hill met Rohan Marley, (one of Bob Marley's kids) and even though the former University of Miami football player was initially rebuffed, because Hill was still seeing Jean, , no one knew who the child really belonged to.
120. In the summer of 1996 Hill had met Rohan Marley, a son of Bob Marley and a former University of Miami football player. Hill subsequently began a relationship with him, while still also involved with the married Wyclef. She soon became visibly pregnant. Marley and Hill's first child was born the following summer.
121. Soon after Zion was born, she learned that Marley already had a wife and two children from another marriage.
122. Amid newfound international fame and baby Daddy drama, Wyclef did not support Hill's solo desires (she had made appearances on Wyclef's solo project), thus leading to the group splitting up.
123. Hill started work on The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill; blocking out Wyclef Jean from any type of production help after he had snubbed her. Her old-school takes on "Doo Wop (That Thing)" helped it rule the charts in 1998 and win five Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year, Best New Artist, Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, Best R&B Song, and Best R&B Album -- the most ever for a woman.
124. Meanwhile, Hill was having more of Marley's children and becoming close with Brother Anthony, a spiritual adviser who studied the Bible with her several times per week. In 2001, she recorded an MTV Unplugged session where she broke down in tears and admitted to being deranged and emotionally unstable. Rolling Stone called the session "a public breakdown", though it debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 and went platinum.
125. She has been a sporadic and reluctant public figure ever since.
126. Question: Have you ever had an affair with a co-worker? How did it turn out?
127. Movie Scene: Set It Off. [Directed by F. Gary Gray Action, Crime, Drama, Romance, Thriller. Starring Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett, and Vivica A. Fox]
128. Rotten Tomatoes, Critics Consensus: It may not boast an original plot, but Set It Off is a satisfying, socially conscious heist film thanks largely to fine performances from its leads.
129. Emanuel Levy, Variety 11-1996: Influenced by "Thelma & Louise" and "Waiting to Exhale," F. Gary Gray's "Set It Off" is a well-crafted girls-n-the-hood actioner, with an acute social conscience and plenty of soul. A tale of female bonding and empowerment, this relevant film boasts a terrific cast, headed by Jada Pinkett and Queen Latifah in career-making performances.
130. Stephen Holden, New York Times 11-1996: Just Trying to Get Even While They Get Rich. On the long list of Hollywood heist movies that make you root for its criminals to steal a million dollars and live happily ever after, F. Gary Gray's film ''Set It Off'' is one of the most poignantly impassioned. If this messy roller coaster of a film often seems to be going in several directions at once, it never for a second loses empathy for its quartet of black female bank robbers who grew up together in a Los Angeles housing project and earn meager wages working for a janitorial service... A pop psychologist might translate the story into a fable called ''Women Who Rob Banks and the Society That Hates Them.'
131. Roger Ebert 11-1996: “Set It Off” is advertised as a thriller about four black women who rob banks. But it's a lot more than that. It creates a portrait of the lives of these women that's so observant and informed; it's like “Waiting to Exhale” with a strong jolt of reality. The movie surprised and moved me: I expected a routine action picture and was amazed how much I started to care about the characters.
132. Kent, Entertainment Weekly 09-2019: Why Set It Off is an era-defining film that shouldn't be remade. We are clearly in the age of reboots and remakes, but the '90s heist film is irreplaceable.
133. Question 1: Remake or Sequel?
134. Question 2: Do we really want more black female action heroines/stories? (i.e., women of Black Panther, "Breaking In" movie, Berry, Valkyrie, Guardians...etc.)
135. TV Scene: Moesha
136. Screen Rant: No show lasts for six seasons without making a cultural impact; Moesha was nominated for 32 awards and won three: two NAACP Image Awards and one SHINE Award. The series was syndicated, and still airs around the world. Netflix picked up streaming rights to the series in 2020, which became available to US subscribers on August 1, 2020. As new viewers will discover, however, despite how influential the show was, it ends abruptly after a significant cliffhanger for the main character in the season 6 finale. Despite the recognition, the show steadily declined in ratings, leading to its cancelation.
137. Moesha Mitchell went through quite the journey on Moesha. At the beginning of the series, Moesha was still dealing with her mother's death a few years prior and learning to come to terms with her new stepmother, Deirdre "Dee" Mitchel (Sheryl Lee Ralph) — who just happened to be the vice principal at Moesha's school. The final season sees Brandy experiencing the trials and tribulations of being a young adult, complete with an engagement to long-time on-again, off-again boyfriend Quinton "Q" Brooks (Fredro Starr) and attending college. The final episode ends with the reveal of a positive pregnancy test in Moesha's dorm — who it belongs to, however, is a mystery. Since the show never got another season, the storyline was never resolved.
138. According to EW, at the time, UPN's plan was to address the pregnancy cliffhanger in the spin-off series The Parkers, which premiered on the network in 1999. The Parkers followed Moesha's "boy-crazy" friend Kimberly Ann "Kim" Parker as she navigated attending college with her mother, who has decided to enlist at the same time as her daughter. For unknown reasons, however, the planned resolution never took place, despite The Parkers running until 2005. With there being reports of a possible reboot series in the works, perhaps this Moesha storyline — as well as the question of what happened to Moesha's brother Myles, who disappeared in the finale — can finally be laid to rest."
139. Question: Is it reboot worthy? / Is any classic black TV show reboot worthy?
140. Vote: Best/most important/favorite pop culture item from 1996?
Topics: Million Man March, TLC, Friday, UPN (Bonus Artist: Luck Pacheco)
Topics: OJ Simpson, R. Kelly & Aaliyah, Samuel Jackson, Black TV Cancellation (Bonus Artist: hidingtobefound)
Topics: OJ Simpson, R. Kelly & Aaliyah, Samuel Jackson, Black TV Cancellation (Bonus Artist: hidingtobefound)
Topics: WTC Bombing, Urban Fashion, Dr. Dre, Menace II Society, Living Single (Bonus Artist: Luck)
https://www.vibe.com/2016/01/1993-the-year-hip-hop-and-rb-conquered-the-world
"1993: The Year Hip-Hop And R&B Conquered The World"
1993 was a historically transformative period for hip-hop and rhythm and blues. When VIBE Magazine dropped its iconic black and white debut issue in September of 1993—featuring a ridiculously fresh faced Snoop Doggy Dogg gracing the landmark cover—it was yet another reminder how ubiquitous urban culture had become.
1993: Hip Hop Artist that released albums
A Tribe Called Quest / Bone Thugs-n-Harmony / Cypress Hill / De La Soul / Digable Planets / Digital Underground / DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince / Eazy-E / Fat Joe / Geto Boys / Heavy D & the Boyz / Ice Cube / Ice-T / Insane Clown Posse / Jodeci / Jungle Brothers / Kid Rock / Kris Kross / KRS-One / LL Cool J / Luke / MC Lyte / Naughty by Nature / Onyx / Queen Latifah / Run-D.M.C. / Salt-n-Pepa / Shaquille O'Neal / Snoop Dogg / Tag Team / The Roots / Too Short / Tupac / Wu-Tang Clan / Yo-Yo
Topics: L.A. Riots, Mary J. Blige, White Men Can't Jump, Def Comdey Jam (Bonus Artist: hidingtobefound)
1992 Snapshots
1. President: George H. W. Bush
2. Feb - In Indianapolis, Indiana, boxer Mike Tyson is convicted of raping Desiree Washington.
3. Mar - H. Ross Perot announces that he will run for U.S. President.
4. Apr - Mafia boss John Gotti is convicted of the murder of mob boss Paul Castellano and of racketeering, and is later sentenced to life in prison.
5. Apr - Former tennis player Arthur Ashe, 48, announces that he is suffering from the AIDS virus, which he is believed to have contracted from a blood transfusion during heart surgery in 1983.
6. Apr - In Simi Valley, California, a jury acquits four LAPD police officers accused of excessive force in the videotaped beating of black motorist Rodney King, causing the 1992 Los Angeles riots and leading to 53 deaths and $1 billion in damage.
7. May - After 30 years, Johnny Carson retires as host of NBC's The Tonight Show.
8. Jun - During a spelling bee at a Trenton, New Jersey elementary school, U.S. Vice President Dan Quayle erroneously corrects a student's spelling of the word potato, indicating it should have an e at the end.
9. Jul - 1992 Summer Olympics held in Barcelona, Spain
10. Oct - The video game Mortal Kombat is released.
11. Nov - Governor Bill Clinton of Arkansas defeats incumbent President George H. W. Bush and businessman H. Ross Perot in the US presidential election. ["It's the economy, stupid"/ "I didn't inhale."]
12. Dec - Hip hop producer and rapper Dr. Dre releases his solo debut studio album The Chronic.
13. Top 3 Pop Songs
14. #1 - End of the Road", Boyz II Men
15. #2 - "Baby Got Back", Sir Mix-a-Lot
16. #3 - ‘Jump", Kris Kross
17. Record of the Year - Eric Clapton for "Tears in Heaven"
18. Album of the Year - Eric Clapton for Unplugged
19. Song of the Year - Eric Clapton "Tears in Heaven"
20. Best New Artist - Arrested Development
21. Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female - Chaka Khan for The Woman I Am
22. Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male - Al Jarreau for Heaven and Earth
23. Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal - Boyz II Men for "End of the
24. Road"
25. Best Rap Solo Performance - Sir Mix-a-Lot for Baby Got Back
26. Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group - Arrested Development for Tennessee
27. #1 - Aladdin
28. #2 - The Bodyguard
29. #3 - Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
30. Notables: Juice, American Me, Basic Instinct, Deep Cover, Sister Act, A league of Their Own, Mo' Money, Glengarry Glen Ross, The Mighty Ducks, Reservoir Dogs, Malcolm X, The Bodyguard, A Few Good Men, Toys, White Men Can't Jump
31. Top 3Tv Shows
32. #1 60 Minutes
33. #2 - Roseanne
34. #3 - Home Improvement
35. Debuts: Hanging with Mr. Cooper and Def Comedy Jam
36. Economic Snapshots
37. Avg. Income: 30k (29.9k - previously)
38. New Home: 122.5 (120k)
39. Avg Rent: 519 (495)
40. New Car: 16.9k (16.8k)
41. Harvard: 15.4 (14.5k)
42. Movie Ticket: 4.25 (4.25)
43. Gas: 1.05 (1.12)
44. Stamp: .29 (.25)
45. Social Scene: LA Riots
46. Audio Clip
47. Open Comments
48. Question: Do riots actually serve a meaningful purpose? What would you tell your kids if
49. they were in a riot? (On either side)
50. Music Scene
51. Top Black Songs from the top 40
52. #1. "End of the Road". Boyz II Men
53. #2. "Baby Got Back". Sir Mix-a-Lot
54. #3. "Jump". Kris Kross
55. #4. "Save the Best for Last". Vanessa Williams
56. #5. "Baby-Baby-Baby". TLC
57. #7. "My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It)". En Vogue
58. #9. "All 4 Love". Color Me Badd
59. #10. "Just Another Day". Jon Secada
60. #11. "I Love Your Smile". Shanice
61. #14. "Black or White". Michael Jackson
62. #16. "I'll Be There". Mariah Carey
63. #19. "Remember the Time". Michael Jackson
64. #20. "Finally". CeCe Peniston
65. #23. "Can't Let Go". Mariah Carey
66. #24. "Jump Around". House of Pain
67. #25. "Diamonds and Pearls". Prince and The New Power Generation
68. #27. "Masterpiece". Atlantic Starr
69. #29. "Giving Him Something He Can Feel". En Vogue
70. #31. "Come and Talk to Me". Jodeci
71. #33. "Humpin' Around". Bobby Brown
72. #35. "Tell Me What You Want Me to Do". Tevin Campbell
73. #36. "Ain't 2 Proud 2 Beg". TLC
74. #37. "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday". Boyz II Men
75. #38. "Move This". Technotronic featuring Ya Kid K
76. #40. "Tennessee". Arrested Development
77. #41. "The Best Things in Life Are Free". Luther Vandross and Janet Jackson
78. #42. "Make It Happen". Mariah Carey
79. #44. "Set Adrift on Memory Bliss". P.M. Dawn
80. #46. "2 Legit 2 Quit". Hammer
81. #47. "Please Don't Go". KWS
82. #48. "Breakin' My Heart (Pretty Brown Eyes)". Mint Condition
83. Vote:
84. Top RnB Albums
85. Jan - Dangerous, Michael Jackson
86. Feb - Keep It Comin', Keith Sweat
87. Apr - Private Line, Gerald Levert
88. May - The Comfort Zone, Vanessa Williams
89. May - Funky Divas, En Vogue
90. May - Totally Krossed Out, Kris Kross
91. Jun - Dead Serious, Das EFX
92. Oct - What's the 411?, Mary J. Blige
93. Nov - Bobby, Bobby Brown
94. Dec - The Predator, Ice Cube
95. Vote:
96. Featured Artist: Mary J. Blige
97. Audio:
98. Open Comments
99. Movie Scene: White Men Can't Jump
100. Audio Clip
101. Open Comments
102. Question: Why do Black people LOVE basketball?
103. TV Scene: Def Comedy Jam
104. According to Russel Simmions, In his book "Life and Def: Sex, Drugs, Money + God" The inspiration for Def COmedey Jam was a club on Crenshaw Blvd in L.A. called the Comedy Act Theater. Robin Harris hosted performances there, and he already had a serious underground buzz, from House PArty and Do the Right Thing. At the same time, everywhere Russell traveled, the "Black Comedy" nights were hot, and Russel was always looking for stuff that was "hot" with his hip-hop customer base.
105. In 1989, he eventually hooked up with Hollywood power player Stan Lathan (Sanford & Son, Hill Street Blues, Miami Vice, Remington Steele ,Cagney & Lacey, Frank's Place, Roc and the 1984 classic feature film Beat Street) and they began creating Def Comedy Jam.
106. The original run of Def Comedy Jam ran from July 1, 1992 to January 1, 1997. In the fall of 2006 it returned to HBO. Many comedians had their careers launched by the huge success of this series!
107. Robin Harris was going to be the original host, but he died in 1990. Eddie Murphy was a big supporter of Martin Lawrence to replace Harris.
108. The show caught major criticism for using excessive foul language and a “supposed” negative representation of African Americans. Bill Cosby and Sidney Potier were major critics.
109. Def Comedy Jam, went on to become the longest running HBO series ever, launched the careers of several A-List comedians today.
110. 1992 Alumni:
111. Chris Tucker, Martin Lawrence, Steve Harvey, Bernie Mac, Bill Bellamy, DL Hughley, Adele Givens, Cedric the Entertainer, Dave Chapelle, Eddie Griffin, Joe Torry, Michael Colyar, and Ricky Harris Jr.
112. Open Comments
113. Question: Favorite bit/comedian?
114. Vote: Best/most important/favorite pop culture item from 1992?
Topics: L.A. Riots, Mary J. Blige, White Men Can't Jump, Def Comdey Jam (Bonus Artist: hidingtobefound)
1992 Snapshots
1. President: George H. W. Bush
2. Feb - In Indianapolis, Indiana, boxer Mike Tyson is convicted of raping Desiree Washington.
3. Mar - H. Ross Perot announces that he will run for U.S. President.
4. Apr - Mafia boss John Gotti is convicted of the murder of mob boss Paul Castellano and of racketeering, and is later sentenced to life in prison.
5. Apr - Former tennis player Arthur Ashe, 48, announces that he is suffering from the AIDS virus, which he is believed to have contracted from a blood transfusion during heart surgery in 1983.
6. Apr - In Simi Valley, California, a jury acquits four LAPD police officers accused of excessive force in the videotaped beating of black motorist Rodney King, causing the 1992 Los Angeles riots and leading to 53 deaths and $1 billion in damage.
7. May - After 30 years, Johnny Carson retires as host of NBC's The Tonight Show.
8. Jun - During a spelling bee at a Trenton, New Jersey elementary school, U.S. Vice President Dan Quayle erroneously corrects a student's spelling of the word potato, indicating it should have an e at the end.
9. Jul - 1992 Summer Olympics held in Barcelona, Spain
10. Oct - The video game Mortal Kombat is released.
11. Nov - Governor Bill Clinton of Arkansas defeats incumbent President George H. W. Bush and businessman H. Ross Perot in the US presidential election. ["It's the economy, stupid"/ "I didn't inhale."]
12. Dec - Hip hop producer and rapper Dr. Dre releases his solo debut studio album The Chronic.
13. Top 3 Pop Songs
14. #1 - End of the Road", Boyz II Men
15. #2 - "Baby Got Back", Sir Mix-a-Lot
16. #3 - ‘Jump", Kris Kross
17. Record of the Year - Eric Clapton for "Tears in Heaven"
18. Album of the Year - Eric Clapton for Unplugged
19. Song of the Year - Eric Clapton "Tears in Heaven"
20. Best New Artist - Arrested Development
21. Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female - Chaka Khan for The Woman I Am
22. Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male - Al Jarreau for Heaven and Earth
23. Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal - Boyz II Men for "End of the
24. Road"
25. Best Rap Solo Performance - Sir Mix-a-Lot for Baby Got Back
26. Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group - Arrested Development for Tennessee
27. #1 - Aladdin
28. #2 - The Bodyguard
29. #3 - Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
30. Notables: Juice, American Me, Basic Instinct, Deep Cover, Sister Act, A league of Their Own, Mo' Money, Glengarry Glen Ross, The Mighty Ducks, Reservoir Dogs, Malcolm X, The Bodyguard, A Few Good Men, Toys, White Men Can't Jump
31. Top 3Tv Shows
32. #1 60 Minutes
33. #2 - Roseanne
34. #3 - Home Improvement
35. Debuts: Hanging with Mr. Cooper and Def Comedy Jam
36. Economic Snapshots
37. Avg. Income: 30k (29.9k - previously)
38. New Home: 122.5 (120k)
39. Avg Rent: 519 (495)
40. New Car: 16.9k (16.8k)
41. Harvard: 15.4 (14.5k)
42. Movie Ticket: 4.25 (4.25)
43. Gas: 1.05 (1.12)
44. Stamp: .29 (.25)
45. Social Scene: LA Riots
46. Audio Clip
47. Open Comments
48. Question: Do riots actually serve a meaningful purpose? What would you tell your kids if
49. they were in a riot? (On either side)
50. Music Scene
51. Top Black Songs from the top 40
52. #1. "End of the Road". Boyz II Men
53. #2. "Baby Got Back". Sir Mix-a-Lot
54. #3. "Jump". Kris Kross
55. #4. "Save the Best for Last". Vanessa Williams
56. #5. "Baby-Baby-Baby". TLC
57. #7. "My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It)". En Vogue
58. #9. "All 4 Love". Color Me Badd
59. #10. "Just Another Day". Jon Secada
60. #11. "I Love Your Smile". Shanice
61. #14. "Black or White". Michael Jackson
62. #16. "I'll Be There". Mariah Carey
63. #19. "Remember the Time". Michael Jackson
64. #20. "Finally". CeCe Peniston
65. #23. "Can't Let Go". Mariah Carey
66. #24. "Jump Around". House of Pain
67. #25. "Diamonds and Pearls". Prince and The New Power Generation
68. #27. "Masterpiece". Atlantic Starr
69. #29. "Giving Him Something He Can Feel". En Vogue
70. #31. "Come and Talk to Me". Jodeci
71. #33. "Humpin' Around". Bobby Brown
72. #35. "Tell Me What You Want Me to Do". Tevin Campbell
73. #36. "Ain't 2 Proud 2 Beg". TLC
74. #37. "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday". Boyz II Men
75. #38. "Move This". Technotronic featuring Ya Kid K
76. #40. "Tennessee". Arrested Development
77. #41. "The Best Things in Life Are Free". Luther Vandross and Janet Jackson
78. #42. "Make It Happen". Mariah Carey
79. #44. "Set Adrift on Memory Bliss". P.M. Dawn
80. #46. "2 Legit 2 Quit". Hammer
81. #47. "Please Don't Go". KWS
82. #48. "Breakin' My Heart (Pretty Brown Eyes)". Mint Condition
83. Vote:
84. Top RnB Albums
85. Jan - Dangerous, Michael Jackson
86. Feb - Keep It Comin', Keith Sweat
87. Apr - Private Line, Gerald Levert
88. May - The Comfort Zone, Vanessa Williams
89. May - Funky Divas, En Vogue
90. May - Totally Krossed Out, Kris Kross
91. Jun - Dead Serious, Das EFX
92. Oct - What's the 411?, Mary J. Blige
93. Nov - Bobby, Bobby Brown
94. Dec - The Predator, Ice Cube
95. Vote:
96. Featured Artist: Mary J. Blige
97. Audio:
98. Open Comments
99. Movie Scene: White Men Can't Jump
100. Audio Clip
101. Open Comments
102. Question: Why do Black people LOVE basketball?
103. TV Scene: Def Comedy Jam
104. According to Russel Simmions, In his book "Life and Def: Sex, Drugs, Money + God" The inspiration for Def COmedey Jam was a club on Crenshaw Blvd in L.A. called the Comedy Act Theater. Robin Harris hosted performances there, and he already had a serious underground buzz, from House PArty and Do the Right Thing. At the same time, everywhere Russell traveled, the "Black Comedy" nights were hot, and Russel was always looking for stuff that was "hot" with his hip-hop customer base.
105. In 1989, he eventually hooked up with Hollywood power player Stan Lathan (Sanford & Son, Hill Street Blues, Miami Vice, Remington Steele ,Cagney & Lacey, Frank's Place, Roc and the 1984 classic feature film Beat Street) and they began creating Def Comedy Jam.
106. The original run of Def Comedy Jam ran from July 1, 1992 to January 1, 1997. In the fall of 2006 it returned to HBO. Many comedians had their careers launched by the huge success of this series!
107. Robin Harris was going to be the original host, but he died in 1990. Eddie Murphy was a big supporter of Martin Lawrence to replace Harris.
108. The show caught major criticism for using excessive foul language and a “supposed” negative representation of African Americans. Bill Cosby and Sidney Potier were major critics.
109. Def Comedy Jam, went on to become the longest running HBO series ever, launched the careers of several A-List comedians today.
110. 1992 Alumni:
111. Chris Tucker, Martin Lawrence, Steve Harvey, Bernie Mac, Bill Bellamy, DL Hughley, Adele Givens, Cedric the Entertainer, Dave Chapelle, Eddie Griffin, Joe Torry, Michael Colyar, and Ricky Harris Jr.
112. Open Comments
113. Question: Favorite bit/comedian?
114. Vote: Best/most important/favorite pop culture item from 1992?
Questions:
1. Scared yet: CV19 what we know
2. Health: How you be? personally, family, and friends
3. Quarantine life: stir crazy yet? How is technology helping? What’s up with Work/Exercise/Entertainment/Education?
4. Government response: local state federal
5. Future behavior: keep social distancing, hand washing, gloves masks wipes
(Bonus Artist: hidingtobefound)
Topics: Rodney King, Boyz II Men / Jodeci, Boyz In the Hood, Roc - Sitcom (Bonus Artist: Luck Pacheco)
1991 General Snapshots
1. President: George H. W. Bush
2. January - Gulf War: The Congress of the United States passes a resolution authorizing the use of military force to liberate Kuwait. 5 days later, Operation Desert Storm begins with airstrikes against Iraq.
3. January - Whitney Houstondelivers her now legendary rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner"
4. February - Gulf War: U.S. President George H. W. Bush announces that "Kuwait is liberated".
5. February - Tim Meadows and Adam Sandler join the cast of NBC's Saturday Night Live.
6. March - An amateur video captures the beating of Rodney King by Los Angeles, California police officers.
7. July - Boxer Mike Tyson is arrested and charged with raping Miss Black America contestant Desiree Washington in Indianapolis, Indiana.
8. July - Serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer is arrested after the remains of eleven men and boys are found in his Milwaukee, Wisconsin apartment. Police soon find out that he is involved in six more murders.
9. August - Nickelodeon introduces its series of Nicktoons, with Doug, Rugrats and The Ren & Stimpy Show the first three to air.
10. August - The Super Nintendo Entertainment System is first released in the United States.
11. October - The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee interviews both Supreme Court candidate Clarence Thomas and former aide Anita Hill, who alleges that Thomas sexually harassed her while she worked for him.
12. October - Jennifer Lopez joins the cast as one of the Fly Girls on the Fox sketch comedy series In Living Color (she would leave the show after the next season). Other cast additions include future Academy Award winner Jamie Foxx.
13. November - Los Angeles Lakers point guard Magic Johnson announces that he has HIV, effectively ending his NBA career.
14. November - Queen lead singer Freddie Mercury dies from AIDS at 45 years old, one day after making his diagnosis public.
15. December - The Cold War ends as President of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev resigns and the Soviet Union dissolves.
16. Open Comments
17. Top 3 Pop Songs
18. #1 - "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You", Bryan Adams
19. #2 - "I Wanna Sex You Up", Color Me Badd
20. #3 - "Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)", C+C Music Factory
21. Record of the Year: "Unforgettable" performed by Natalie Cole with Nat King Cole
22. Album of the Year: Unforgettable... with Love performed by Natalie Cole
23. Song of the Year: "Unforgettable" performed by Natalie Cole with Nat King Cole
24. Best New Artist: Marc Cohn
25. Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female: Lisa Fischer for "How Can I Ease the Pain" & Patti LaBelle for "Burnin'"
26. Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male: Luther Vandross for Power of Love
27. Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal: Boyz II Men for "Cooleyhighharmony"
28. Best Rhythm & Blues Song: "Power of Love/Love Power" performed by Luther Vandross
29. Best Rap Solo Performance: LL Cool J for "Mama Said Knock You Out"
30. Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group: DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince for "Summertime"
31. Top 3 Movies
32. #1. Terminator 2: Judgment Day
33. #2. Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
34. #3. Beauty and the Beast
35. Notables: The Silence of the Lambs, New Jack City, The Five Heartbeats, A Rage in Harlem, Thelma & Louise, Jungle Fever, Point Break, and House Party 2
36. Top 3 TV Shows
37. #1 60 Minutes
38. #2 Roseanne
39. #3 Murphy Brown
40. Mea Culpa: Family Matters originated 9/22/1989 on ABC
41. Notables: The Party Machine with Nia Peeples, The Jerry Springer Show, The Montel Williams Show, Hammerman, & Roc.
42. Economic Snapshots
43. Avg. Income: 29.9k (29K)
44. New Home: 120k (previously 123K)
45. Avg Rent: 495 (465)
46. New Car: 16.8k (16K)
47. Harvard: 14.5k (13.5k)
48. Movie Ticket: 4.25 (3.50)
49. Gas: 1.12 (1.34)
50. Stamp: .25 (.25)
51. Social Scene: Police Beating of Rodney King
52. Early Life: Rodney King (@ 26 yrs. old), born in Sacramento, CA, was an American taxi driver who is best known for the 1991 police beatings and the 1992 riots as a result of the officers’ trial.
53. Prior Record: In 1987, he pleaded no contest to a charge of battery. In 1989, King was imprisoned for robbery after robbing a store; he served one year of a two-year sentence.
54. 1991 Arrest: Rodney King attempted to outrun a police patrol car in March 1991. King had been drinking and feared he would be over the limit, driving under the influence charge would have seen King return to jail. King refused to pull over for the police and a high-speed chase ensued. Eventually, King was cornered, and he and the other occupants of the car were ordered to leave the vehicle and lie face down on the ground. King refused and was forcibly removed from the car. While on the ground the police beat and abused the three men. The Los Angeles Police Department then arrived on the scene; the original officers on the scene had been highway patrol. Rodney King resisted arrest and was tasered. King was then viciously beaten repeatedly while on the ground by police wielding batons. King continually attempted to stand up only to be met with a further hail of baton blows from the four police officers. King suffered from thirty-three baton blows and six kicks before having his arms and legs cuffed. Eight officers were involved in his arrest. George Halliday, a man who lived near the sight of the arrest, had filmed the arrest from the time that King was tasered. Halliday contacted the LAPD about his videotape, but the police department showed no interest in the footage. Halliday next presented the footage to a local TV station which aired the footage. It caused a sensation across the media. The footage made Rodney King’s arrest a lightning rod for a more comprehensive discussion about police brutality against minorities.
55. Legal Proceedings: Rodney King had suffered facial fractures, lacerations and a broken ankle from his arrest. The city awarded King damages amounting to 3.8 million dollars as well as covering his legal costs which totaled to close to two million dollars. He was also not charged with drink driving or evading arrest due to the time between the incident and the start of legal proceedings. Four LAPD officers were charged with using excessive force. The legal case against the officers was mired in controversy from the start as the initial judge, Bernard Kamins was removed, and the trial received a change of venue. Warren Christopher also began a commission to investigate accusations of police discrimination. Three of the officers charged were acquitted, and the fourth faced a no verdict. The court’s decision shocked the nation. The mayor of Los Angeles, Tom Bradley, and the President of the United States of America, George Bush, both declared they could not understand the verdict and condemned the officers involved. Many African Americans considered the trial a whitewash and were incensed. Following the 1992 Riots, the officers were tried in a federal court, and two were found guilty and sentenced to thirty months in prison.
56. Rodney King Riots: Following the court's verdict and the release of the officers, widespread civil unrest erupted in North America. The worst of the rioting was confined to LA, but Las Vegas, San Francisco, Atlanta and even Toronto in Canada experienced violence. The 1992 LA Riots became known as the Rodney King Riots due to their link to the court case. King appeared on TV during the riots to appeal for calm. Before the verdict was announced the police, force had been expecting trouble, money for overtime and a delay in the reading of the verdict were granted to give police time to prepare. Rioting started at a liquor store in Normandie. LAPD officers attempted to make an arrest a hostile crowd surrounded them and forced them to retreat. TV coverage of the violence encouraged more people to take to the streets, and the police communications proved wholly inadequate to deal with the spread of the violence. The rioters began destroying property and attacking people going about their business. Over a thousand firearms were looted, and some fires were started as night set in. The riots spread throughout the city and emergency workers came under gunfire as they attempted to tackle the fires and help the wounded. A curfew was declared, and the National Guard began deploying. Despite this the second day of looting and arson took place. Rioting spread to Hollywood, Inglewood, Long Beach and Compton. Police was criticized for focusing their attention on defending the wealthier areas of LA such as Beverley Hills. Other minority neighborhoods were forced to form militias to protect their property. Korean shopkeepers were involved in a shoot-out with rioters in Koreatown. On the third day of rioting, the Federal government took direct control of all military in the area and began overseeing the response to the riots. Troops and police officers from other regions of California started pouring into the city. On the fourth day, over thirteen thousand soldiers were deployed on the streets of LA, and the rioting was slowly quelled. The riot was spread over six days, but troops remained in the area for weeks afterward. Fifty-five people died during the riots and over two thousand hospitalized. A billion dollars’ worth of damage had been done; the worst affected were the Korean community. Eleven thousand people were arrested during the rioting, but because of the sheer volume of prisoners, police were unable to prosecute the majority.
57. King After the Riots: Rodney King continued to have run-ins with the law and was sometimes arrested after the 1992 Riots. In 2007, King was shot in an attempted robbery. King appeared in a reality TV show, Sober House, which covered celebrities in rehab. 2012 saw King publish his memoirs, The Riot Within: My Journey from Rebellion to Redemption. Rodney King fathered a daughter with Carmen Simpson when they were both teenagers. In 1985, he married Daneta Lyles, and they had a daughter together. The pair divorced in 1988. King then married Crystal Waters, with whom he also had a daughter. They divorced in 1996. King had been arrested for assaulting both his wives. In 2010, King began living with Cynthia Kelly, and it was she who found him in the swimming pool on 17 June 2012. King was pronounced dead by medical staff, and plenty of drugs and alcohol were found in his system.
58. The King beating began a wave of reforms for the Los Angeles Police Department, including tighter rules on when officers can use force, more minority officers, and stricter term limits for police chiefs.
59. Question: What is the lesson to be learned?
60. Question: What do we teach the children about dealing with cops?
61. Top Black Songs from the top 40
62. #2 - "I Wanna Sex You Up", Color Me Badd
63. #3 - "Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)", C+C Music Factory
64. #4 - "Rush Rush", Paula Abdul
65. #8 - "I Like the Way (The Kissing Game)", Hi-Five
66. #9 - "The First Time", Surface
67. #11 - "Motownphilly", Boyz II Men
68. #12 - "Because I Love You (The Postman Song)", Stevie B
69. #13 - "Someday", Mariah Carey
70. #16 - "All the Man That I Need", Whitney Houston
71. #18 - "I Adore Mi Amor" , Color Me Badd
72. #19 - "Love Will Never Do (Without You)", Janet Jackson
73. #20 - "Good Vibrations", Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch
74. #21 - "Justify My Love", Madonna
75. #22 - "Emotions", Mariah Carey
76. #24 - "Romantic", Karyn White
77. #25 - "Hold You Tight", Tara Kemp
78. #26 - "I Don't Wanna Cry", Mariah Carey
79. #28 - "Every Heartbeat", Amy Grant
80. #29 - "Sensitivity", Ralph Tresvant
81. #30 - "Touch Me (All Night Long)", Cathy Dennis
82. #31 - "I've Been Thinking About You", Londonbeat
83. #32 - "Do Anything", Natural Selection
84. #34 - "Coming Out of the Dark", Gloria Estefan
85. #35 - "It Ain't Over 'til It's Over", Lenny Kravitz
86. #36 - "Here We Go", C+C Music Factory
87. #38 - "Summertime", DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince
88. #40 - "P.A.S.S.I.O.N.", Rythm Syndicate
89. Vote:
90. Top R&B Albums
91. Jan - I'm Your Baby Tonight - Whitney Houston
92. Feb - The Future - Guy
93. Feb - Do Me Again - Freddie Jackson
94. Mar - Business as Usual - EPMD
95. Apr - Ralph Tresvant - Ralph Tresvant
96. Apr - Hi-Five - Hi-Five
97. Apr - New Jack City - Soundtrack / Various artists
98. Jun - Power of Love - Luther Vandross
99. Jul - Make Time for Love - Keith Washington
100. Aug - Jungle Fever - Soundtrack / Stevie Wonder
101. Aug - Cooleyhighharmony - Boyz II Men
102. Sep - Boyz n the Hood - Soundtrack / Various artists
103. Oct - Can You Stop the Rain - Peabo Bryson
104. Oct - Good Woman - Gladys Knight
105. Oct - Different Lifestyles - BeBe & CeCe Winans
106. Nov - As Raw As Ever - Shabba Ranks
107. Nov - Forever My Lady - Jodeci
108. Nov - Apocalypse 91... The Enemy Strikes Black - Public Enemy
109. Dec - Diamonds and Pearls - Prince and The New Power Generation
110. Dec - Death Certificate - Ice Cube
111. Vote:
112. Featured Artists #1: Boyz II Men is the most commercially successful R&B group of all time. They've sold millions of records and produced three of the longest-running No. 1 pop singles in music history. The pioneering R&B group is known for their flawless blend of four-part harmonies, and their influence is still felt to this day.
113. Formation: Boyz II Men formed in 1988 at the Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts. Nathan Morris and Marc Nelson founded the group, originally known as Unique Attraction. Other members came and went due to graduation, but Morris and Nelson eventually met Wanya Morris, Shawn Stockmanand Michael McCary, and the group stabilized. They took inspiration from the popular R&B group New Edition and renamed themselves Boyz II Men after their song "Boys to Men." They got their big break in 1989 when they snuck backstage at a concert to sing for New Edition and Bell Biv DeVoemember Michael Bivins. They sang an a cappella rendition of the New Edition song "Can You Stand the Rain." Bivins was impressed and agreed to help them get signed. Marc Nelson left the group not long before they started working on their debut album, allegedly due to personality differences. Boyz II Men became a quartet—with Michael McCary, Nathan Morris, Wanya Morris and Shawn Stockman—that would soon find international fame.
114. Early Career: Bivins helped produce Boyz II Men's first album, Cooleyhighharmony, on Motown Records in 1991. The new jack swing style was characteristic of Bell Biv DeVoe's music, but Boyz II Men's classic, soulful vocals offered something different that was eventually dubbed "hip hop doo wop." Since the very beginning, Boyz II Men has featured all members equally as lead vocalists, going against the typical R&B group set up of one lead singer/front man and a handful of nameless backups. Their arrangement became a sort of trademark for the group. Cooleyhighharmony was a major success, peaking at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and winning them a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. The singles "Motownphilly" and "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday" both became No. 1 R&B hits.
115. Commercial Breakthrough: After their debut, they abandoned the new jack swing style to focus on creating a more mature, pop-infused sound. They released the wildly successful single "End of the Road" in 1992. The song spent a record-breaking 13 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became the year's most popular song. Just like that, Boyz II Men has transformed from R&B up-and-comers to mainstream superstars.
116. Legacy: Boyz II Men was instrumental in bringing R&B back to the mainstream, where it had not appeared since the '70s. With a staggering 60 million albums sold worldwide; they hold the distinction of being the best-selling R&B group of all time. For more than 20 years they have created a catalog of massively successful songs known for rich, smooth harmonies and timeless subject matter.
117. Open Comments:
118. Featured Artists #2: Jodeci, one of the premier '90s R&B acts, were a quartet notable for successfully marrying gospel-esque harmonization’s with a sexier-than-thou style. Also, they were the first act that future hip-hop superstars Timbaland and Missy Elliott were involved with.
119. Biography: Jodeci was an R&B group formed from two sets of two brothers, the Haileys and the DeGrates. All four of them were brought up in the Pentecostal church in North Carolina, the DeGrates' father was a minister. As young boys, they sang in gospel choirs which recorded albums and had their songs played on the radio, but they weren't destined to meet until they were teenagers. Their girlfriends introduced them. However, when they did meet, K-Ci was with a girl Dalvin had been dating, and a fight nearly broke out. The Hailey brothers and DeVante started hanging out together, partying and talking about making R&B records together, coming up with the name Jodeci at this time. At age 16, DeVante ran away to Minneapolis to get a job in Prince's organization but was refused. He returned to Charlotte, where he wrote a song and recorded JoJo singing it. The two planned on going to New York to shop the demo around by themselves, but both K-Ci and Dalvin decided to tag along at the last minute. By the time they got to New York, they had demo recordings of 29 songs, which they brought to the offices of Uptown Entertainment. They were almost rejected, but rapper Heavy D overheard the tape and talked Uptown president Andre Harrell into hearing the group. Harrell was impressed, and just like that, Jodeci signed a recording contract. In 1991, they recorded Forever My Lady, which featured the gold single "Come and Talk to Me" and went on to sell over three million copies.
120. Jodeci Albums: 1991: Forever My Lady (3x platinum) / 1993: Diary of a Mad Band (2x platinum) / 1995: The Show, The After Party, The Hotel (platinum)
121. Open Comments:
122. Track vs Track Album Battle: Cooleyhighharmony vs Forever My Lady
123. Movie Scene: John Singleton / Boyz In the Hood
124. John Singleton’s 1991 feature film debut, Boyz n the Hood, garnered an Academy Award nomination for Best Director. Singleton followed-up with Poetic Justice in 1993 and Higher Learning in 1995. Subsequent works include 1997's Rosewood, 2000's Shaft remake and 2001's Baby Boy. In 2005, he produced Hustle & Flow and directed Four Brothers. The filmmaker died on April 29, 2019, after suffering a stroke.
125. Profile: He grew up in South Central Los Angeles and studied screenwriting at the University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts. During his four-year studies there, he won three writing awards.
126. These achievements in writing earned Singleton a contract with the powerful Creative Artists Agency during his sophomore year at USC, and in May of 1990, his agent sent the script for Boyz N the Hood to Columbia pictures. The response was immediate: “I thought John’s script had a distinctive voice and great insight,” Frank Price, chairman of Columbia Pictures, said in an interview excerpted in the New York Times. “He’s not just a good writer, but he has enormous self-confidence and assurance. In fact, the last time I’d met someone that young with so much self-assurance was Steven Spielberg.” Columbia wanted to make the picture, but at first wanted someone else to direct it. Singleton believed only he could do it. “They asked me if I would consider anybody else directing it,” he recalled to Interview’s Steven Daly. “And I said, Hell, no, I’m not gonna let somebody from Idaho or Encino direct a movie about living in South Central Los Angeles. They can’t come in here and cast it and go through the rewrites and know exactly what aesthetics are unique to this film.” In 1991, Columbia Pictures bought his script for Boyz n the Hood and budgeted it at $7 million. The film portrayed life in crime-ridden South-Central L.A. and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Director in 1991, making Singleton the first African American and the youngest person ever nominated for the award. The film also garnered a nomination for Best Original Screenplay.
127. Legacy: Regina King, Cuba Gooding Jr., Ice Cube, Nia Long, Angela Bassett, Morris Chestnut, Tyra Banks, Tyrese Gibson, Taraji P Henson
128. Open Comments:
129. Boyz In the Hood Summary: Follows the lives of three young males living in the Crenshaw ghetto of Los Angeles, dissecting questions of race, relationships, violence and prospects.
130. Major Themes: (1) the power of family and black culture in the ghettos, (2) effects of capitalism to American citizens especially the Negros living in harsh environments, (3) the power of temptation and (4) more so juvenile and gang associated delinquencies that are usually influenced by peer and social pressure (5) gentrification, (6) living in a bad neighborhood, and (7) gangs.
131. Question: What themes stood out for you?
132. Television Scene: Roc (3 Seasons) Comedy, Sitcom
133. Summary: Garbageman Roc Emerson and his wife shared their Baltimore home with his outspoken father and apathetic brother. In an unusual move, the sitcom's entire second season was performed live. Series star Charles S. Dutton won a 1993 NAACP Image Award for his portrayal of Roc. The show deals with real life issues such as gang violence, local politics, drugs, teens and sexually transmitted diseases. Roc reminded you of a typical family with normal problems such as parenting and dealing with live in relatives. The series gaining momentum in the last season could not make its presence felt on Tuesdays, the networks worst night for ratings. The struggle eventually led up to the series cancellation.
134. Awards: 1992: GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Comedy Episode, 1994: NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, Charles S. Dutton
135. Question: Has anyone ever watched this?
136. Vote: Most impactful item/event from 1991?
Topics: Rodney King, Boyz II Men / Jodeci, Boyz In the Hood, Roc - Sitcom (Bonus Artist: Luck Pacheco)
1991 General Snapshots
1. President: George H. W. Bush
2. January - Gulf War: The Congress of the United States passes a resolution authorizing the use of military force to liberate Kuwait. 5 days later, Operation Desert Storm begins with airstrikes against Iraq.
3. January - Whitney Houstondelivers her now legendary rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner"
4. February - Gulf War: U.S. President George H. W. Bush announces that "Kuwait is liberated".
5. February - Tim Meadows and Adam Sandler join the cast of NBC's Saturday Night Live.
6. March - An amateur video captures the beating of Rodney King by Los Angeles, California police officers.
7. July - Boxer Mike Tyson is arrested and charged with raping Miss Black America contestant Desiree Washington in Indianapolis, Indiana.
8. July - Serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer is arrested after the remains of eleven men and boys are found in his Milwaukee, Wisconsin apartment. Police soon find out that he is involved in six more murders.
9. August - Nickelodeon introduces its series of Nicktoons, with Doug, Rugrats and The Ren & Stimpy Show the first three to air.
10. August - The Super Nintendo Entertainment System is first released in the United States.
11. October - The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee interviews both Supreme Court candidate Clarence Thomas and former aide Anita Hill, who alleges that Thomas sexually harassed her while she worked for him.
12. October - Jennifer Lopez joins the cast as one of the Fly Girls on the Fox sketch comedy series In Living Color (she would leave the show after the next season). Other cast additions include future Academy Award winner Jamie Foxx.
13. November - Los Angeles Lakers point guard Magic Johnson announces that he has HIV, effectively ending his NBA career.
14. November - Queen lead singer Freddie Mercury dies from AIDS at 45 years old, one day after making his diagnosis public.
15. December - The Cold War ends as President of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev resigns and the Soviet Union dissolves.
16. Open Comments
17. Top 3 Pop Songs
18. #1 - "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You", Bryan Adams
19. #2 - "I Wanna Sex You Up", Color Me Badd
20. #3 - "Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)", C+C Music Factory
21. Record of the Year: "Unforgettable" performed by Natalie Cole with Nat King Cole
22. Album of the Year: Unforgettable... with Love performed by Natalie Cole
23. Song of the Year: "Unforgettable" performed by Natalie Cole with Nat King Cole
24. Best New Artist: Marc Cohn
25. Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female: Lisa Fischer for "How Can I Ease the Pain" & Patti LaBelle for "Burnin'"
26. Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male: Luther Vandross for Power of Love
27. Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal: Boyz II Men for "Cooleyhighharmony"
28. Best Rhythm & Blues Song: "Power of Love/Love Power" performed by Luther Vandross
29. Best Rap Solo Performance: LL Cool J for "Mama Said Knock You Out"
30. Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group: DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince for "Summertime"
31. Top 3 Movies
32. #1. Terminator 2: Judgment Day
33. #2. Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
34. #3. Beauty and the Beast
35. Notables: The Silence of the Lambs, New Jack City, The Five Heartbeats, A Rage in Harlem, Thelma & Louise, Jungle Fever, Point Break, and House Party 2
36. Top 3 TV Shows
37. #1 60 Minutes
38. #2 Roseanne
39. #3 Murphy Brown
40. Mea Culpa: Family Matters originated 9/22/1989 on ABC
41. Notables: The Party Machine with Nia Peeples, The Jerry Springer Show, The Montel Williams Show, Hammerman, & Roc.
42. Economic Snapshots
43. Avg. Income: 29.9k (29K)
44. New Home: 120k (previously 123K)
45. Avg Rent: 495 (465)
46. New Car: 16.8k (16K)
47. Harvard: 14.5k (13.5k)
48. Movie Ticket: 4.25 (3.50)
49. Gas: 1.12 (1.34)
50. Stamp: .25 (.25)
51. Social Scene: Police Beating of Rodney King
52. Early Life: Rodney King (@ 26 yrs. old), born in Sacramento, CA, was an American taxi driver who is best known for the 1991 police beatings and the 1992 riots as a result of the officers’ trial.
53. Prior Record: In 1987, he pleaded no contest to a charge of battery. In 1989, King was imprisoned for robbery after robbing a store; he served one year of a two-year sentence.
54. 1991 Arrest: Rodney King attempted to outrun a police patrol car in March 1991. King had been drinking and feared he would be over the limit, driving under the influence charge would have seen King return to jail. King refused to pull over for the police and a high-speed chase ensued. Eventually, King was cornered, and he and the other occupants of the car were ordered to leave the vehicle and lie face down on the ground. King refused and was forcibly removed from the car. While on the ground the police beat and abused the three men. The Los Angeles Police Department then arrived on the scene; the original officers on the scene had been highway patrol. Rodney King resisted arrest and was tasered. King was then viciously beaten repeatedly while on the ground by police wielding batons. King continually attempted to stand up only to be met with a further hail of baton blows from the four police officers. King suffered from thirty-three baton blows and six kicks before having his arms and legs cuffed. Eight officers were involved in his arrest. George Halliday, a man who lived near the sight of the arrest, had filmed the arrest from the time that King was tasered. Halliday contacted the LAPD about his videotape, but the police department showed no interest in the footage. Halliday next presented the footage to a local TV station which aired the footage. It caused a sensation across the media. The footage made Rodney King’s arrest a lightning rod for a more comprehensive discussion about police brutality against minorities.
55. Legal Proceedings: Rodney King had suffered facial fractures, lacerations and a broken ankle from his arrest. The city awarded King damages amounting to 3.8 million dollars as well as covering his legal costs which totaled to close to two million dollars. He was also not charged with drink driving or evading arrest due to the time between the incident and the start of legal proceedings. Four LAPD officers were charged with using excessive force. The legal case against the officers was mired in controversy from the start as the initial judge, Bernard Kamins was removed, and the trial received a change of venue. Warren Christopher also began a commission to investigate accusations of police discrimination. Three of the officers charged were acquitted, and the fourth faced a no verdict. The court’s decision shocked the nation. The mayor of Los Angeles, Tom Bradley, and the President of the United States of America, George Bush, both declared they could not understand the verdict and condemned the officers involved. Many African Americans considered the trial a whitewash and were incensed. Following the 1992 Riots, the officers were tried in a federal court, and two were found guilty and sentenced to thirty months in prison.
56. Rodney King Riots: Following the court's verdict and the release of the officers, widespread civil unrest erupted in North America. The worst of the rioting was confined to LA, but Las Vegas, San Francisco, Atlanta and even Toronto in Canada experienced violence. The 1992 LA Riots became known as the Rodney King Riots due to their link to the court case. King appeared on TV during the riots to appeal for calm. Before the verdict was announced the police, force had been expecting trouble, money for overtime and a delay in the reading of the verdict were granted to give police time to prepare. Rioting started at a liquor store in Normandie. LAPD officers attempted to make an arrest a hostile crowd surrounded them and forced them to retreat. TV coverage of the violence encouraged more people to take to the streets, and the police communications proved wholly inadequate to deal with the spread of the violence. The rioters began destroying property and attacking people going about their business. Over a thousand firearms were looted, and some fires were started as night set in. The riots spread throughout the city and emergency workers came under gunfire as they attempted to tackle the fires and help the wounded. A curfew was declared, and the National Guard began deploying. Despite this the second day of looting and arson took place. Rioting spread to Hollywood, Inglewood, Long Beach and Compton. Police was criticized for focusing their attention on defending the wealthier areas of LA such as Beverley Hills. Other minority neighborhoods were forced to form militias to protect their property. Korean shopkeepers were involved in a shoot-out with rioters in Koreatown. On the third day of rioting, the Federal government took direct control of all military in the area and began overseeing the response to the riots. Troops and police officers from other regions of California started pouring into the city. On the fourth day, over thirteen thousand soldiers were deployed on the streets of LA, and the rioting was slowly quelled. The riot was spread over six days, but troops remained in the area for weeks afterward. Fifty-five people died during the riots and over two thousand hospitalized. A billion dollars’ worth of damage had been done; the worst affected were the Korean community. Eleven thousand people were arrested during the rioting, but because of the sheer volume of prisoners, police were unable to prosecute the majority.
57. King After the Riots: Rodney King continued to have run-ins with the law and was sometimes arrested after the 1992 Riots. In 2007, King was shot in an attempted robbery. King appeared in a reality TV show, Sober House, which covered celebrities in rehab. 2012 saw King publish his memoirs, The Riot Within: My Journey from Rebellion to Redemption. Rodney King fathered a daughter with Carmen Simpson when they were both teenagers. In 1985, he married Daneta Lyles, and they had a daughter together. The pair divorced in 1988. King then married Crystal Waters, with whom he also had a daughter. They divorced in 1996. King had been arrested for assaulting both his wives. In 2010, King began living with Cynthia Kelly, and it was she who found him in the swimming pool on 17 June 2012. King was pronounced dead by medical staff, and plenty of drugs and alcohol were found in his system.
58. The King beating began a wave of reforms for the Los Angeles Police Department, including tighter rules on when officers can use force, more minority officers, and stricter term limits for police chiefs.
59. Question: What is the lesson to be learned?
60. Question: What do we teach the children about dealing with cops?
61. Top Black Songs from the top 40
62. #2 - "I Wanna Sex You Up", Color Me Badd
63. #3 - "Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)", C+C Music Factory
64. #4 - "Rush Rush", Paula Abdul
65. #8 - "I Like the Way (The Kissing Game)", Hi-Five
66. #9 - "The First Time", Surface
67. #11 - "Motownphilly", Boyz II Men
68. #12 - "Because I Love You (The Postman Song)", Stevie B
69. #13 - "Someday", Mariah Carey
70. #16 - "All the Man That I Need", Whitney Houston
71. #18 - "I Adore Mi Amor" , Color Me Badd
72. #19 - "Love Will Never Do (Without You)", Janet Jackson
73. #20 - "Good Vibrations", Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch
74. #21 - "Justify My Love", Madonna
75. #22 - "Emotions", Mariah Carey
76. #24 - "Romantic", Karyn White
77. #25 - "Hold You Tight", Tara Kemp
78. #26 - "I Don't Wanna Cry", Mariah Carey
79. #28 - "Every Heartbeat", Amy Grant
80. #29 - "Sensitivity", Ralph Tresvant
81. #30 - "Touch Me (All Night Long)", Cathy Dennis
82. #31 - "I've Been Thinking About You", Londonbeat
83. #32 - "Do Anything", Natural Selection
84. #34 - "Coming Out of the Dark", Gloria Estefan
85. #35 - "It Ain't Over 'til It's Over", Lenny Kravitz
86. #36 - "Here We Go", C+C Music Factory
87. #38 - "Summertime", DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince
88. #40 - "P.A.S.S.I.O.N.", Rythm Syndicate
89. Vote:
90. Top R&B Albums
91. Jan - I'm Your Baby Tonight - Whitney Houston
92. Feb - The Future - Guy
93. Feb - Do Me Again - Freddie Jackson
94. Mar - Business as Usual - EPMD
95. Apr - Ralph Tresvant - Ralph Tresvant
96. Apr - Hi-Five - Hi-Five
97. Apr - New Jack City - Soundtrack / Various artists
98. Jun - Power of Love - Luther Vandross
99. Jul - Make Time for Love - Keith Washington
100. Aug - Jungle Fever - Soundtrack / Stevie Wonder
101. Aug - Cooleyhighharmony - Boyz II Men
102. Sep - Boyz n the Hood - Soundtrack / Various artists
103. Oct - Can You Stop the Rain - Peabo Bryson
104. Oct - Good Woman - Gladys Knight
105. Oct - Different Lifestyles - BeBe & CeCe Winans
106. Nov - As Raw As Ever - Shabba Ranks
107. Nov - Forever My Lady - Jodeci
108. Nov - Apocalypse 91... The Enemy Strikes Black - Public Enemy
109. Dec - Diamonds and Pearls - Prince and The New Power Generation
110. Dec - Death Certificate - Ice Cube
111. Vote:
112. Featured Artists #1: Boyz II Men is the most commercially successful R&B group of all time. They've sold millions of records and produced three of the longest-running No. 1 pop singles in music history. The pioneering R&B group is known for their flawless blend of four-part harmonies, and their influence is still felt to this day.
113. Formation: Boyz II Men formed in 1988 at the Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts. Nathan Morris and Marc Nelson founded the group, originally known as Unique Attraction. Other members came and went due to graduation, but Morris and Nelson eventually met Wanya Morris, Shawn Stockmanand Michael McCary, and the group stabilized. They took inspiration from the popular R&B group New Edition and renamed themselves Boyz II Men after their song "Boys to Men." They got their big break in 1989 when they snuck backstage at a concert to sing for New Edition and Bell Biv DeVoemember Michael Bivins. They sang an a cappella rendition of the New Edition song "Can You Stand the Rain." Bivins was impressed and agreed to help them get signed. Marc Nelson left the group not long before they started working on their debut album, allegedly due to personality differences. Boyz II Men became a quartet—with Michael McCary, Nathan Morris, Wanya Morris and Shawn Stockman—that would soon find international fame.
114. Early Career: Bivins helped produce Boyz II Men's first album, Cooleyhighharmony, on Motown Records in 1991. The new jack swing style was characteristic of Bell Biv DeVoe's music, but Boyz II Men's classic, soulful vocals offered something different that was eventually dubbed "hip hop doo wop." Since the very beginning, Boyz II Men has featured all members equally as lead vocalists, going against the typical R&B group set up of one lead singer/front man and a handful of nameless backups. Their arrangement became a sort of trademark for the group. Cooleyhighharmony was a major success, peaking at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and winning them a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. The singles "Motownphilly" and "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday" both became No. 1 R&B hits.
115. Commercial Breakthrough: After their debut, they abandoned the new jack swing style to focus on creating a more mature, pop-infused sound. They released the wildly successful single "End of the Road" in 1992. The song spent a record-breaking 13 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became the year's most popular song. Just like that, Boyz II Men has transformed from R&B up-and-comers to mainstream superstars.
116. Legacy: Boyz II Men was instrumental in bringing R&B back to the mainstream, where it had not appeared since the '70s. With a staggering 60 million albums sold worldwide; they hold the distinction of being the best-selling R&B group of all time. For more than 20 years they have created a catalog of massively successful songs known for rich, smooth harmonies and timeless subject matter.
117. Open Comments:
118. Featured Artists #2: Jodeci, one of the premier '90s R&B acts, were a quartet notable for successfully marrying gospel-esque harmonization’s with a sexier-than-thou style. Also, they were the first act that future hip-hop superstars Timbaland and Missy Elliott were involved with.
119. Biography: Jodeci was an R&B group formed from two sets of two brothers, the Haileys and the DeGrates. All four of them were brought up in the Pentecostal church in North Carolina, the DeGrates' father was a minister. As young boys, they sang in gospel choirs which recorded albums and had their songs played on the radio, but they weren't destined to meet until they were teenagers. Their girlfriends introduced them. However, when they did meet, K-Ci was with a girl Dalvin had been dating, and a fight nearly broke out. The Hailey brothers and DeVante started hanging out together, partying and talking about making R&B records together, coming up with the name Jodeci at this time. At age 16, DeVante ran away to Minneapolis to get a job in Prince's organization but was refused. He returned to Charlotte, where he wrote a song and recorded JoJo singing it. The two planned on going to New York to shop the demo around by themselves, but both K-Ci and Dalvin decided to tag along at the last minute. By the time they got to New York, they had demo recordings of 29 songs, which they brought to the offices of Uptown Entertainment. They were almost rejected, but rapper Heavy D overheard the tape and talked Uptown president Andre Harrell into hearing the group. Harrell was impressed, and just like that, Jodeci signed a recording contract. In 1991, they recorded Forever My Lady, which featured the gold single "Come and Talk to Me" and went on to sell over three million copies.
120. Jodeci Albums: 1991: Forever My Lady (3x platinum) / 1993: Diary of a Mad Band (2x platinum) / 1995: The Show, The After Party, The Hotel (platinum)
121. Open Comments:
122. Track vs Track Album Battle: Cooleyhighharmony vs Forever My Lady
123. Movie Scene: John Singleton / Boyz In the Hood
124. John Singleton’s 1991 feature film debut, Boyz n the Hood, garnered an Academy Award nomination for Best Director. Singleton followed-up with Poetic Justice in 1993 and Higher Learning in 1995. Subsequent works include 1997's Rosewood, 2000's Shaft remake and 2001's Baby Boy. In 2005, he produced Hustle & Flow and directed Four Brothers. The filmmaker died on April 29, 2019, after suffering a stroke.
125. Profile: He grew up in South Central Los Angeles and studied screenwriting at the University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts. During his four-year studies there, he won three writing awards.
126. These achievements in writing earned Singleton a contract with the powerful Creative Artists Agency during his sophomore year at USC, and in May of 1990, his agent sent the script for Boyz N the Hood to Columbia pictures. The response was immediate: “I thought John’s script had a distinctive voice and great insight,” Frank Price, chairman of Columbia Pictures, said in an interview excerpted in the New York Times. “He’s not just a good writer, but he has enormous self-confidence and assurance. In fact, the last time I’d met someone that young with so much self-assurance was Steven Spielberg.” Columbia wanted to make the picture, but at first wanted someone else to direct it. Singleton believed only he could do it. “They asked me if I would consider anybody else directing it,” he recalled to Interview’s Steven Daly. “And I said, Hell, no, I’m not gonna let somebody from Idaho or Encino direct a movie about living in South Central Los Angeles. They can’t come in here and cast it and go through the rewrites and know exactly what aesthetics are unique to this film.” In 1991, Columbia Pictures bought his script for Boyz n the Hood and budgeted it at $7 million. The film portrayed life in crime-ridden South-Central L.A. and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Director in 1991, making Singleton the first African American and the youngest person ever nominated for the award. The film also garnered a nomination for Best Original Screenplay.
127. Legacy: Regina King, Cuba Gooding Jr., Ice Cube, Nia Long, Angela Bassett, Morris Chestnut, Tyra Banks, Tyrese Gibson, Taraji P Henson
128. Open Comments:
129. Boyz In the Hood Summary: Follows the lives of three young males living in the Crenshaw ghetto of Los Angeles, dissecting questions of race, relationships, violence and prospects.
130. Major Themes: (1) the power of family and black culture in the ghettos, (2) effects of capitalism to American citizens especially the Negros living in harsh environments, (3) the power of temptation and (4) more so juvenile and gang associated delinquencies that are usually influenced by peer and social pressure (5) gentrification, (6) living in a bad neighborhood, and (7) gangs.
131. Question: What themes stood out for you?
132. Television Scene: Roc (3 Seasons) Comedy, Sitcom
133. Summary: Garbageman Roc Emerson and his wife shared their Baltimore home with his outspoken father and apathetic brother. In an unusual move, the sitcom's entire second season was performed live. Series star Charles S. Dutton won a 1993 NAACP Image Award for his portrayal of Roc. The show deals with real life issues such as gang violence, local politics, drugs, teens and sexually transmitted diseases. Roc reminded you of a typical family with normal problems such as parenting and dealing with live in relatives. The series gaining momentum in the last season could not make its presence felt on Tuesdays, the networks worst night for ratings. The struggle eventually led up to the series cancellation.
134. Awards: 1992: GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Comedy Episode, 1994: NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, Charles S. Dutton
135. Question: Has anyone ever watched this?
136. Vote: Most impactful item/event from 1991?
Topics: 80's Tech, MC Hammer, Do The Right Thing, The Arsenio Hall Show (Bonus Artist: Luck Pacheco)
1989 Notes
1. General Snapshots
2. George Bush Sr. President
3. Feb - Barbara Harris is the first woman (and first black woman) consecrated as a bishop of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America.
4. Mar - Exxon Valdez oil spill: In Alaska's Prince William Sound the Exxon Valdez spills 240,000 barrels (38,000 m3) of oil after running aground.
5. Apr - Bill White becomes president of baseball's National League, becoming the first African American to head a major sports league.
6. Apr - Trisha Meili is attacked while jogging in New York City's Central Park; as her identity remains secret for years, she becomes known as the "Central Park Jogger."
7. May - President Bush vetoes a minimum-wage bill passed by Congress on May 17 that would have increased the minimum wage to $4.55 an hour.
8. Jun - In Texas v. Johnson, the United States Supreme Court ruled that burning the Flag of the United States was protected speech under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.
9. Jun - In Penry v. Lynaugh, the Supreme Court rules that states can execute murderers as young as 16 or who are mentally retarded.
10. Jul - In Webster v. Reproductive Health Services, the Supreme Court gives the state’s new authority to restrict abortions.
11. Aug - President Bush nominates United States Army Gen. Colin Powell as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, making him the first African American to hold that position.
12. Aug - Hughey P. Newton was murdered in Oakland, California by Tyrone Robinson, a member of the Black Guerrilla Family.
13. Aug - Yusef Hawkins is shot in the Bensonhurst section of Brooklyn, New York, sparking racial tensions between African Americans and Italian Americans.
14. Nov - Douglas Wilder wins the Virginia governor's race, becoming the first elected African American governor in the United States.
15. Nov - David Dinkins becomes the first African American mayor of New York City.
16. Nov - Congress passes legislation to raise the minimum wage from $3.35 to $4.25 an hour by April 1991. Bush signs this bill on November 17.
17. Nov - Clarence Page 1989 Pulitzer Prize for Commentary
18. Nov - Denzel Washington: First African American actor to receive two Best Supporting Actor nominations. Cry Freedom / Glory (Won)
19. Misc.: Ron Brown is elected chairman of the Democratic National Committee, becoming the first African American to lead a major United States political party.
20. Misc.: The first of 24 Global Positioning System satellites is placed into orbit.
21. Open Comments:
22. Top 3 Pop Songs
23. #1 "Look Away" Chicago
24. #2 "My Prerogative" Bobby Brown
25. #3 "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" Poison
26. Record of the Year: Bette Midler for "Wind Beneath My Wings"
27. Album of the Year: Bonnie Raitt for Nick of Time
28. Song of the Year: "Wind Beneath My Wings" performed by Bette Midler
29. Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female: Anita Baker for "Giving You the Best That I Got"
30. Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male: Bobby Brown for "Every Little Step"
31. Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal: Soul II Soul & Caron Wheeler for "Back to Life"
32. Best Rhythm & Blues Song: "If You Don't Know Me By Now" performed by Simply Red
33. Best Rap Performance: Young MC for "Bust a Move"
34. Open Comments
35. Top Movies
36. #1 - Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
37. #2 Batman
38. #3 Back to the Future Part II
39. Other Notables: Look Who's Talking, Dead Poets Society, Lethal Weapon 2, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Disney, Ghostbusters II, The Little Mermaid Disney, Born on the Fourth of July, Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, Lean on Me, Field of Dreams, Weekend at Bernie's, When Harry Met Sally..., Sex, Lies, and Videotape, Harlem Nights, The War of the Roses, Steel Magnolias, Glory, and Driving Miss Daisy*.
40. Top 3 TV Shows
41. #1 - The Cosby Show
42. #2 - Roseanne
43. #3 - Cheers
44. Debuts: Saved by the Bell, American Gladiators, Doogie Howser, M.D., Baywatch, America's Funniest Home Videos, COPS, Seinfeld, and The Simpsons
45. Economic Snapshot:
46. New Home: 120K - previously 91,777
47. Avg Rent: 425 - p. 420
48. Avg. Income: 37K - p. 24k
49. New Car: 15K - p. 10,432
50. Harvard: 12,700 - p. 12,015
51. Movie Ticket: 3.50 - same
52. Gas: .97 - p. .91
53. Stamp: .25 - same
54. Social Scene: Top Tech of The 80’s
55. Mobile Tech
56. Sony Walkman: Before the iPod effectively killed off an entire industry, the Sony Walkman was the original, must-have portable cassette player. Unlike portable radio players, the Japan-made Walkman allowed people to choose what to listen to via portable headphones, and make playlists on tape, alongside FM and AM radio frequencies. Like with Texas Instrument’s Speak and Spell, the first model hit shelves in the late 1970s, but it rose to prominence during the two decades that followed. So ubiquitous it became that the word Walkman even entered the English dictionary in 1986. The model pictured is the WM-F77.
57. Nokia-Mobira Cityman 900: These days, the mobile phone is so far advanced we barely even call it a mobile phone any more, but back in the '80s the sheer thought of carrying a phone any further than the length of a coiled plastic chord seemed fantasy at best. Then along came a handful of firms, including a certain Finnish outfit by the name of Nokia-Mobira and made portable phone calls an actual reality. Looking back the sheer size of it is almost laughable (18cm high and 760g in weight to be precise), but it was practically lightweight compared to the colossal Talkman, which weighed in at shocking 5.5kg! Still, it put Nokia on the map and set the stage for the firm's dominance to come in the late '90 and early '00s.
58. The Boombox: Much like the VHS player, the humble Boombox was more of a collective movement than the work of one particular model, but it still became one of the most iconic devices of the late '80s. Again, to keep things on message with this feature, the classic Boombox wasn't just a powerful all-in-one music player (with AM/FM radio and multiple cassette decks) it was also a portable music player (if you were willing to lug it around). While its size and battery-powered portability eventually saw it go the way of the dodo in and around the mid '90s, the 'ghetto blaster' became intertwined with the rise of hip hop in the States and secured itself a place in the annals of gadget lore.
59. Sharp pocket computer: The 1980s was the decade of the microprocessor, led by the likes of Sharp and its range of pocket computers. These gadgets resembled calculators but worked in a similar way to how we use keyboards on modern-day PCs and laptops. Below a 24-digit dot matrix LCD display sat a full QWERTY-style keyboard you could use to program BASIC code. The computer’s battery was said to last 200 hours and it even came with a connector that let you attach a printer or tape drive.
60. Epson ET-10 Pocket TV: If you haven't already twigged, there's a bit of a pattern forming with this feature - good ol' portability. From music on the move to phone calls away from home, handheld technology helped define the decade and every single one that's followed. And so, it was the turn of the humble TV, already shrinking as a regular set, to get the micro treatment. The ET-10 from Epson was one of the first, and the most popular, with its two-inch liquid crystal display offering proper TV viewing while out and about (and in a decent spot to catch the analogue signal). With a five-hour battery, the ET-10 was a proper little dynamo and foreshadowed the portable TV experience we take for granted now with tablets and smartphones.
61. Casio Databank: It’s a testament to just how cool and iconic the Casio Databank watches became - they’re still sold in various models and designs today. One of the original models of this calculator watch, the gold version of the DBC 610 (pictured), was first released in 1985 and later re-released due to popular demand. The designs of these modern versions have barely deviated from the original and still feature a membrane keyboard, with Mode and Adjust physical buttons on the side.
62. Gaming Tech
63. Nintendo Entertainment System: Another iconic Japanese import of the 1980s was the Nintendo Entertainment System, or NES. A remodeled version of the company’s Family Computer, or Famicom, the 8-bit NES was originally designed to be a joint venture between Nintendo and Atari until a dispute over licensing meant Nintendo decided to go it alone. It helped lift the gaming industry out of the slump of 1983 by offering easier-to-use controllers, standardized graphics and a wider variety of game genres. It brought hugely popular arcade games, including Donkey Kong, to home TVs.
64. Nintendo Game Boy: Fresh off the success of its Nintendo Entertainment System, the Japanese giant launched a handheld version of is 8-bit console called the Nintendo Game Boy in 1989. It effectively used the same A and B controls and D pad seen on the NES, positioned below a 4.7cm x 4.3xm “pea soup” green LCD display. Using ROM cartridges also similar in design to those used on the NES, these games could be inserted and removed on the back of the device. The Game Boy ran on four AA batteries and was an incredibly robust console, making it a popular choice among kids. The Game Boy and its successor the Game Boy Color have sold in excess of 118 million units and spawned several later models, namely the Game Boy Lite and Game Boy Advance.
65. Simon: Another classic from the 1980s that is still sold today is the Simon game. Named after the Simon Says game, the toy’s premise is simple – the colored panels light up and you must repeat the pattern and tones it creates. Yet despite this simple gameplay, it was a great feat of engineering at the time of release in 1978 and became a pop culture icon during the 1980s.
66. Speak and Spell: One of the world’s first handheld PCs and gaming consoles, the educational Speak and Spell from Texas Instruments was unveiled during the 1978 Consumer Electronic Shows. Its visual display was among the first of its kind and it used interchangeable cartridges to let children play different games, aimed at helping to improve their spelling and vocabulary. It became one of the iconic toys of the 1980s until its final model was released in 1992, and its use of the first single-chip microcontroller and speech synthesizer paved the way for many of the gadgets we use today.
67. Social Media Tech
68. Polaroid Sun AF 660: Polaroid cameras have seen a resurgence of late, thanks in part to the release of a classic-looking digital model called One Step Plus. Yet the original designs, such as the Polaroid Autofocus Lightmixer 660 pictured, can still be found on auction sites selling for decent sums. Part of the Polaroid 600 series, the Autofocus 660 (also known as the AF 660) had an 116mm lens and was the first in the range to use Polaroid's patented Sonar Autofocus technology. This system used sensors to establish how far away a subject was, using sonar pulses, to achieve an accurate autofocus shot.
69. Computing Tech
70. Apple Macintosh 128K: Long before Steve Jobs debuted the iPhone on stage in Cupertino in 2007, his company specialized in personal computers. The first of which was known as the Apple Macintosh. It was later renamed the Macintosh 128K to differentiate it from its successor, the Macintosh 512K. Released to great fanfare in 1984, Alien director Ridley Scott created the now-infamous advert for the computer, broadcast during that year’s Superbowl. The Macintosh 128K got its name by the fact it ran on 128K of RAM. It had a 9in CRT monitor, single-sided floppy disk drive and featured a handle on the top that meant it could be moved from place to place.
71. Smart Home Tech
72. The Clapper: Sadly not every gadget that came out of the '80s set the precedent for a bloodline of tech to come, but hey, there's something pretty satisfying about clapping your hands (or whichever body parts you preferred using) to turn off a lamp. Plugging into a power socket in your wall, the Clapper was basically a sound activated on/off switch that could link up to devices for hours of clap-controlled hilarity. It didn't work that great and was prone to being set off by anything from coughs to dog barks. Still, it looked good in the movies, right?
73. VHS player/VCR recorder: Okay, with so many different players that helped make VHS the preferred video format in the '80s (sorry BetaMax), it's hard to nail down particular model that made all the difference, but it just goes to prove how influential those chunky video cassettes became in the '80s and '90s. From Panasonic to JVC, all the big and aspiring electronics giants had their own player and future fortunes were made as the home video entertainment market boomed. Now you could buy films and watch them in the comfort of your home own home. More importantly, you could eventually record TV content as well. Grainy compilations of Red Dwarf and Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles? Yes please!
74. Only thing missing was the internet
75. Open Comments:
76. Music Scene:
77. Top Black songs from Billboard Top 40 Chart
78. #2 "My Prerogative" Bobby Brown
79. #4 "Straight Up" Paula Abdul
80. #5 "Miss You Much" Janet Jackson
81. #6 "Cold Hearted" Paula Abdul
82. #8 "Girl You Know It's True" Milli Vanilli
83. #10 "Giving You the Best That I Got" Anita Baker
84. #14 "Don't Wanna Lose You" Gloria Estefan
85. #16 "Girl I'm Gonna Miss You" Milli Vanilli
86. #19 "On Our Own" Bobby Brown
87. #21 "Blame It on the Rain" Milli Vanilli
88. #25 "Like a Prayer" Madonna
89. #28 "Baby Don't Forget My Number" Milli Vanilli
90. #30 "Forever Your Girl" Paula Abdul
91. #33 "Wild Thing" Tone Lōc
92. #36 "Buffalo Stance" Neneh Cherry
93. #46 "Real Love" Jody Watley
94. Vote:
95. Top RnB Albums
96. Jan - Giving You the Best That I Got, Anita Baker
97. Jan - Karyn White, Karyn White
98. Mar - Don't Be Cruel, Bobby Brown
99. Apr - Let's Get It Started, MC Hammer
100. Apr – Guy, Guy
101. May - The Great Adventures of Slick Rick, Slick Rick
102. May - Feet High and Rising, De La Soul
103. Jul - Walking with a Panther, LL Cool J
104. Aug - Big Tyme, Heavy D and the Boyz
105. Sep - 2 Keep On Movin', Soul II Soul
106. Sep - Unfinished Business, EPMD
107. Sep - No One Can Do It Better, The D.O.C.
108. Oct - Tender Lover, Babyface
109. Nov - Silky Soul, Frankie Beverly and Maze
110. Nov - Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814, Janet Jackson
111. Dec - Stay with Me Regina Belle
112. Vote:
113. Featured Artist: MC Hammer, Stanley Kirk Burrell (@27 Yrs. old)
114. Childhood & Early Life: Born and raised in Oakland, California. He was the youngest of his 6 siblings and lived in a government housing project apartment in East Oakland. His father, Lewis Burrell, worked as warehouse supervisor while his mother was a secretary. Interested in baseball from his early boyhood, he spent time around the ‘Oakland Coliseum’ and entertained by dancing during the breaks. ‘Oakland Athletics’ owner, Charles Finley, watched him perform in the Coliseum’s parking lot and hired the 11-year Burrell as ‘batboy.’ Burrell’s resemblance to the baseball player ‘Hammerin’ Hank Aaron earned him the nick-name ‘Hammer.’ The ‘MC’ part came from ‘Master of Ceremonies’ as he performed at various clubs while on the road with A’s. He played baseball (second base) during high school years and wished to be a professional player but was not selected. After high school, he enlisted for US Navy and served as aviation storekeeper for 3 years.
115. Career: After being honorably discharged from the US Navy, Hammer began playing in clubs and formed ‘Holy Ghost Boys,’ a Christian rap music group with Jon Gibson. One of their songs, ‘The Wall,’ became a hit. Two former A’s player, Mike Davis and Dwayne Murphy, helped him financially to start his own record label, ‘Bust It Records.’ Hammer released his debut album, ‘Feel My Power,’ through his own label, ‘Oakland Records,’ in 1987, and the album sold over 60,000 copies. He released a single, ‘Ring ‘Em,’ and marketed it on his own. Hammer formed a troupe with dancers, musicians and vocalist, and presented stage shows and live shows at clubs. Through his album and one of his live acts, he earned a multi-album deal with the ‘Capitol Records’ in 1988. His first album through ‘Capitol,’ was the 1989 album, ‘Let’s Get It Started,’ a revised version of ‘Feel My Power.’ With its charted numbers, ‘Turn This Mutha Out,’ ‘Let’s Get it Started,’ ‘They Put Me in the Mix’ among others, the album sold more than 2 million copies and was certified double platinum.
116. Hammer toured around with his live show promoting the album and installed a recording studio at the back of this tour bus, where he recorded songs. His next album, ‘Please, Hammer, Don’t Hurt ‘Em,’ was brought out on February 12, 1990. The single, ‘U Can’t Touch This,’ from this album proved most successful and is considered as his signature song.
117. He was a part of many TV shows and films, including cartoon-show, ‘Hammerman,’ ‘Saturday Night Live,’ ‘The Right Connections,’ ‘Deadly Rhapsody,’ ‘The Surreal Life,’ among many others. He appeared as a dance judge on the show, ‘Dance Fever’ (2003). ‘Hammertime’ (2009) was his reality TV series on ‘A&E Network,’ which dealt with his daily life. Hammer established ‘Oakland Stable’ in 1991 for thoroughbred horses. He was also involved with various business ventures from clothing lines, to tech start-up and product endorsements. Hammer sported a lavish lifestyle with a huge mansion at Fremont, California, sprawling estate and luxury cars. He also spent a large amount of money on his stage shows, staff, and relatives. With $13 million in debt, he filed for bankruptcy in 1996. In 1997, he turned to faith and became a preacher with a Christian Ministry TV show.
118. Open Comments:
119. Question: Would you rather flame out spectacularly like Hammer or low-key longevity?
120. Movie Scene: Do The Right Thing, Spike Lee
121. Breakdown: by Walker Valdez - “The film…focuses on a single day of the lives of racially diverse people who live and work in a lower-class neighborhood in Brooklyn New York. However, this ordinary day takes place on one of the hottest days of the summer. The film centers on how social class, race and the moral decisions that the characters make have a direct effect on the way people interact with each other. It starts with the film’s characters waking up to start their day and climaxes with a neighborhood riot after police officers excessively restrain and kill a young black man named Radio Raheem for fighting an older Italian American restaurant owner named Sal in his pizzeria, and then outside on the street. The film, although released in 1989, with its social commentary on the effect that race has on police brutality is just as relevant today as when it was released 26 years ago.
122. Cast was bananas!
123. Negative Review - David Denby, then writing for New York, also predicted a dire outcome…He accused Lee of creating "the dramatic structure that primes black people to cheer the explosion as an act of revenge," and concluded, “The end of this movie is shambles, and if some audiences go wild, he's partly responsible."
124. The same notion crept into Joe Klein's editorial in the same issue of New York, in which he surmised as to the film's possible political effect on David Dinkins's mayoral campaign. He wrote: "Dinkins will also have to pay the price for Spike Lee's reckless new movie about a summer race riot in Brooklyn"
125. Speaking about the reviews more than 10 years later, Lee was still livid: "What the fuck is that?... What he's saying is, 'Pray to God that this film doesn't open in your theater, (because) niggers are gonna go crazy.'" Lee points out that white audiences aren't presumed to "go crazy" over far more violent action films, "but we're such mental midgets that we can't tell the difference between what's on screen and what's in real life?"
126. Positive Review - Roger Ebert: “I have been given only a few filmgoing experiences in my life to equal the first time I saw “Do the Right Thing.” Most movies remain up there on the screen. Only a few penetrate your soul. In May of 1989 I walked out of the screening at the Cannes Film Festival with tears in my eyes. Spike Lee had done an almost impossible thing. He'd made a movie about race in America that empathized with all the participants. He didn't draw lines or take sides but simply looked with sadness at one racial flashpoint that stood for many others.”
127. Question: What is the right thing to do in the face of systemic social injustice?
128. TV Scene: The Arsenio Hall Show
129. Arsenio Hall (@ 33 yrs. old) is a famous American comedian, actor and talk show host who gained his fame from the show ‘The Arsenio Hall Show’ that aired from the year 1989 to 1994 and 2013 to 2014. Born and raised in Cleveland, as a child, Arsenio used to perform magic tricks. He joined and graduated from Warrensville Heights High School and later pursued his higher education from Kent State University.
130. Early Profession and Career: “Arsenio was a passionate and determined child from childhood and wanted to pursue a career in the entertainment industry. During his early career days, he went to Los Angeles to pursue a career in comedy. He has appeared on Thicke of the Night as an announcer, besides, Alan Thicke. Arsenio appeared on numerous talk shows which made him popular among the audiences. However, he reached in a prominent place in the talk show genre when he got an opportunity to host his own show ‘The Arsenio Hall Show.’ The late-night show was a hit.
131. Where did he come from?
132. Open Comments:
133. Question: Where do you go nowadays to tap into black culture?
134. Vote: Best/most important/favorite pop culture item from 1989?
Topics: Gangs, Keith Sweat, Al. B. Sure!, Bobby Brown, Coming to America, A Different World (Bonus Artist: hidingtobefound)
Topics: Chicago Bears, Janet Jackson, Anita Baker, She's Gotta Have It, 227-(TV Sitcom)(Bonus Artist: hidingtobefound)
Topics: Air Jordans, Whitney Houston, Sade, The Color Purple, Whoopi Goldberg, Oprah Winfrey, Phylicia Rashad (Bonus Artist: Luck Pacheco)
Stay up to date
For any inquiries, please email us at hello@podcastworld.io