News Flash: Hip-Hop Is Everywhere

(First and foremost I’d like to wish a happy 35th birthday to Christopher Wallace. I just had a moment of silence, aka not typing for a second and staring at this flashing Word cursor.)

Now onto the big news: hip-hop is officially the most universal thing that’s ever happened. And I know this because of a hilarious slash bizarre slash incredible encounter I had last week on the drive from LA to Seattle (if you ever do that drive make sure that you are in the passenger seat through all of Oregon, that shit is more boring than watching C-Span while eating plain tofu).

In a town called Clear Lake, California (population 13,142), in the parking lot of a humble mom and pop store called Wal-Mart, a gentleman by the name of Destro approached me and Big A. “Yo, you guys like hip-hop?!”

I looked around thinking that this must be an ambush, that some hick was lurking out of sight just waiting to take me out if I said yes. But I gave Destro, an Oakland native, the nod, and he proceeded to give me the pitch on his record. As he spoke I had to hold back laughter—I still couldn’t get over the fact that he was actually in a Wal-Mart parking lot of a hicked out mountain town selling a hip-hop record out of his car.

I declined on the album, but bought the single for two bucks, which actually turned out to be a pretty dope song. Then I popped the question—“you find a lot of rap heads out here?” He said, “man, I sell the most records out in these towns.” I was, and still am, pretty damn shocked. He and his partner Slowe Burna apparently drive around the greater Gay Area (sorry Hooks, just had to) and slang records to suburbia, even though they are COMING from Oakland, one of the more concentrated cities for hip-hop in the region.

So, in conclusion, I think it is pretty damn safe to say that hip-hop is everywhere. And there’s no. escaping. it.

Check out their myspace page. And here’s their single "Dip Dippin" on mp3. I’m sure they don’t mind me spreading the word.

Other updates:
1. In related news, I found an article about an allegedly emerging genre called hick-hop. I didn’t read it but maybe you should.
2. I hate Wal-Mart and everything to do with it, but if you happen to wander into it one day check out their shoe section. I got a pretty sick pair of Athletic Works sneakers--couldn't find a picture but believe me they're the shiznit--for $9.95, and don't tell me you can beat that with a whiffle-ball bat because I know you can't.