I love Michael A. Gonzales's memoirs. They will make a terrific book. Not only are they extremely well-written, they also document important moments in American history and culture.
Michael, this is SO compellingly written, as one might expect from a prolific writer like you. You had me on the edge of my seat. I love the way you contextualize 1977 right off the bat, in exquisite detail: "I was turned out after hearing Sugar Hill record-spinner DJ Hollywood and rapper Lovebug Starski at the annual 151th Street block party. Although that was also the year of the intense heat waves, Son of Sam, a blackout, and the Yankees winning the World Series, it was those hours observing DJ Hollywood that stand out the most for me from that summer." I see you as a fourteen-year-old but I was right there with you in 1977 (just a tad older). So funny how the news swirls around us, whatever murky, predator-infested sea we happen to be swimming in during any given year. And yet, as kids, we have our eyes on other prizes. Wish I could go back there. Thanks for a great story. https://www.margaretsmandell.com
Amen ❤️🙏🏾 Thank you for the mosaic of memories. Reading The Source and watching the awards show was an important part of my childhood. As an institution, y’all provided pivotal moments in hip-hop and in Blackness. Still smiling from Andre 3000’s declaration that “The South got something to say.” We felt that deeply throughout the South--I definitely felt it in the South Carolina Lowcountry. Y’all made all of hip hop, not just it’s origin, visible.
Thank you so much. And yes--I too was a huge Outkast fan. I wrote one of the first articles on them in Vibe. Those guys held it down and just kept getting better.
Michael really did his thing with this and I’m so glad someone like him is in the Substack space. “Hip hop writing” or “jazz writing” or whatever we generate from the sources, the roots, the streets will need its purveyors and truth-tellers as media evolves. He is a worthy voice who deserves his flowers.
I have a dear friend here who grew up in the Bronx when hip-hop was just emerging and the borough was on fire. Like, literally, on fire. It's been fascinating over the years to listen to him talk about what it was like to grow up in that cultural space, not as a famous person, not even as an artist, but just as a neighborhood fan. I also, weirdly, came to know folks when I was in Cuba who'd been friends with Afeni Shakur back in the day. Tupac was a superstar, but he was also, for these folks, just Afeni's son.
Stories of all the people who lived and loved around the edges of hip-hop, who witnessed how it spoke for and transformed communities (and still does, though not always in the U.S. anymore), are, for me, much more interesting than profiles of the big stars.
Fantastic piece! Thanks for bringing back so many memories. Five mic designation was definitely cause for debate and it was cool to argue the merits of the artist in a real way. Lyricism, swagger, and if you were lucky, a Hype Williams music video, really set folks apart. I wish I still had some of the covers and spreads I put on my childhood bedroom wall.
“I be dissin magazines but then buy The Source...”
Reading this amazing memoir and listening to Fresh Air today (Melli Mel, Debbie Harry's Rapture, Grand Master Flash) I am in a throw-back state to the late 70s. As a white Jewish girl growing up in Baltimore I was certainly on the outside of things, but when we were able to sneak into the disco (Girard's) I felt cooler than cool dancing to this music. Thanks for the background story here.
I went to high school in Baltimore (Northwestern) and Girard's and Odell's were the first clubs I ever went too. I interviewed a local singer named Tony Sciuto at Girard's in 1980.
Sure is. I was class of 1981 as well. Pikesville was right up the block. I used to go to a cool record shop up there. It was like a punk rock/new wave shop.
Oh my I just realized you wrote coffee shop days. I cannot tell you how much I loved that piece. You are just an amazing story teller. Let me know if you have any Baltimore stories, Michael!
Thank you Susan, that's very kind of you. I have a few Baltimore related essays scattered about--here is one I wrote for CrimeReads about my first two years in Baltimore. I moved there from NYC in 1978. https://crimereads.com/city-of-poe-baltimore-1979/
I love Michael A. Gonzales's memoirs. They will make a terrific book. Not only are they extremely well-written, they also document important moments in American history and culture.
Agree 100%!
Thank you so much Richard.
Michael, this is SO compellingly written, as one might expect from a prolific writer like you. You had me on the edge of my seat. I love the way you contextualize 1977 right off the bat, in exquisite detail: "I was turned out after hearing Sugar Hill record-spinner DJ Hollywood and rapper Lovebug Starski at the annual 151th Street block party. Although that was also the year of the intense heat waves, Son of Sam, a blackout, and the Yankees winning the World Series, it was those hours observing DJ Hollywood that stand out the most for me from that summer." I see you as a fourteen-year-old but I was right there with you in 1977 (just a tad older). So funny how the news swirls around us, whatever murky, predator-infested sea we happen to be swimming in during any given year. And yet, as kids, we have our eyes on other prizes. Wish I could go back there. Thanks for a great story. https://www.margaretsmandell.com
Thank you too Peggy. I appreciate the feedback.
Amen ❤️🙏🏾 Thank you for the mosaic of memories. Reading The Source and watching the awards show was an important part of my childhood. As an institution, y’all provided pivotal moments in hip-hop and in Blackness. Still smiling from Andre 3000’s declaration that “The South got something to say.” We felt that deeply throughout the South--I definitely felt it in the South Carolina Lowcountry. Y’all made all of hip hop, not just it’s origin, visible.
Thank you so much. And yes--I too was a huge Outkast fan. I wrote one of the first articles on them in Vibe. Those guys held it down and just kept getting better.
Michael really did his thing with this and I’m so glad someone like him is in the Substack space. “Hip hop writing” or “jazz writing” or whatever we generate from the sources, the roots, the streets will need its purveyors and truth-tellers as media evolves. He is a worthy voice who deserves his flowers.
I have a dear friend here who grew up in the Bronx when hip-hop was just emerging and the borough was on fire. Like, literally, on fire. It's been fascinating over the years to listen to him talk about what it was like to grow up in that cultural space, not as a famous person, not even as an artist, but just as a neighborhood fan. I also, weirdly, came to know folks when I was in Cuba who'd been friends with Afeni Shakur back in the day. Tupac was a superstar, but he was also, for these folks, just Afeni's son.
Stories of all the people who lived and loved around the edges of hip-hop, who witnessed how it spoke for and transformed communities (and still does, though not always in the U.S. anymore), are, for me, much more interesting than profiles of the big stars.
This was a delight. Thank you, Michael. And Sari!
Glad you enjoyed this, Asha. Thanks for the additional background on Shakur, and your perspective.
Fantastic piece! Thanks for bringing back so many memories. Five mic designation was definitely cause for debate and it was cool to argue the merits of the artist in a real way. Lyricism, swagger, and if you were lucky, a Hype Williams music video, really set folks apart. I wish I still had some of the covers and spreads I put on my childhood bedroom wall.
“I be dissin magazines but then buy The Source...”
- “Coldblooded” by Common
Thank you for this piece on hip hop and hip hop journalism. Compelling. I especially appreciated you sticking to your mic rating for Big Poppa... _()_
Reading this amazing memoir and listening to Fresh Air today (Melli Mel, Debbie Harry's Rapture, Grand Master Flash) I am in a throw-back state to the late 70s. As a white Jewish girl growing up in Baltimore I was certainly on the outside of things, but when we were able to sneak into the disco (Girard's) I felt cooler than cool dancing to this music. Thanks for the background story here.
I went to high school in Baltimore (Northwestern) and Girard's and Odell's were the first clubs I ever went too. I interviewed a local singer named Tony Sciuto at Girard's in 1980.
Wow that is amazing! I went to Pikesville class of 81. Grew up in Mt. Washington not far from North Western. Small world!
Sure is. I was class of 1981 as well. Pikesville was right up the block. I used to go to a cool record shop up there. It was like a punk rock/new wave shop.
Oh my I just realized you wrote coffee shop days. I cannot tell you how much I loved that piece. You are just an amazing story teller. Let me know if you have any Baltimore stories, Michael!
Thank you Susan, that's very kind of you. I have a few Baltimore related essays scattered about--here is one I wrote for CrimeReads about my first two years in Baltimore. I moved there from NYC in 1978. https://crimereads.com/city-of-poe-baltimore-1979/
Salute og 🫡