My Life's Soundtrack Pt. 1: The Firsts

To really understand me, you have to understand the role that music has played in my life. Every song below is related to a specific instance, and each of those instances have shaped me in one way or another.

Jon B. - They Don't Know: It came out 19 years ago, so I've heard it my whole life. This is first song that made me mistake a white man for a black man. It helped me understand that you can't judge a book by its cover, or in this case, a song by its performer. 

RUN-DMC - Walk This Way: I heard this for the first time at 11 years old, and at the time, I'm pretty sure I was going through an identity crisis (the only black kid in class, you know how it goes). This song made me realize that I can like rap and rock at the same time; there's no need to choose.

Michael Jackson - Human Nature: The first song I ever cried to, and probably the reason for my love of all things MJ today.

Coolio - Gangsta's Paradise: The first rap song I knew all of the words to, which is featured in one of my favorite movies, Dangerous Minds.

De La Soul - Me, Myself and I: I heard this song for the first time when I was about 14; it planted the seeds of my beautifully blossoming Carefree Black Girl-ness.