The Song of the Day is:
Eazy-E – “Boyz-n-the-Hood”
From the album Eazy Duz It (1987)
Cause the boys in the hood are always hard
You come talkin’ the trash, we’ll pull your card
Knowin’ nothin’ in life, but to be legit
Don’t quote me, boy, ’cause I ain’t said shitO’Shea Jackson
There are a lot of versions of this song around, many edits and remixes. Suffice to say, I played the radio (clean) edit for the kids today. I’m playing this song in recognition of director John Singleton, who passed away yesterday of a stroke that he suffered last week. He was only 51. He directed a number of great films including Poetic Justice, Higher Learning, Baby Boy and Four Brothers, however it was his first film that he will forever be remembered for. His Boyz n the Hood sparked a gritty, urban film trend that was rooted in social issues and difficulties surrounding inner-city youths. The film garnered widespread acclaim and earned Singleton a few Oscar nomination records. He was the first African American to be nominated for Best Director, as well as the youngest nominee for that category. Sadly, he did not win, and his untimely death is a great loss. “Boyz-n-the-Hood” was a song written by Ice Cube (both O’Shea Jackson), who also starred in the movie of the same name. The film was not a literal retelling of the song, but it did share a setting and attitude. The song predates the work of the groundbreaking west coast gangsta rap group NWA (comprised of Ice Cube, Eazy-E, DJ Yella, Arabian Prince, MC Ren and Dr. Dre). “Boyz” was the first song recorded by Eazy-E, and it took a bit of coaching to mold his distinctive voice into a natural sounding cadence. It was produced by Dr. Dre and DJ Yella, which means it was truly a collaborative effort prior to NWA’s existence. The song was an instant classic, and kickstarted the gangsta rap genre. NWA would soon go on to become considered America’s most dangerous group, but they have since been celebrated with a very popular biopic (Straight Outta Compton) and a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction. Eazy-E was also a young casualty, dying of AIDS in 1995 at age 30. “Boyz-n-the-Hood” was later given a popular acoustic frat-boy rock cover by Dynamite Hack. RIP John Singleton, who was a great friend to musicians, casting them in career-expanding starring roles (Ice Cube, Janet Jackson, Tupac Shakur, Mark Wahlburg, Snoop Dogg, Busta Rhymes, Andre Benjamin, Vanessa Williams, Tyrese Gibson, LL Cool J, Foxy Brown and Ludacris). May your movies continue to inspire.
Hear Today, Grown Tomorrow 