Such was the case one spring day in 1987: I was 14 and, although it wasn’t the weekend, there was no school that day. I woke up, showered, dressed, threw on my Miami Dolphins Starter and headed to Orange Park. Orange Park in Orange, New Jersey was the flyest parks in the world. Well, it was the flyest park in the world at a time when my whole world revolved around Essex County, New Jersey (Newark, The Oranges, Bloomfield, Irvington and Montclair) and my friends had nicknames like Blinky, Slinky, D-Ski, Chill and J Scratch.

      In the 80’s and throughout the early 90’s, Orange Park was a spot where cats washed and profiled in their cars with 5-star rims, tinted windows and “systems” that would later precipitate the passage of local noise ordinances governing amplified music emanating from car stereos. Honeys wore biker shorts. Hood legends played ball and posted up--think G Money in New Jack City. I still remember Tennessee Wiggins (that was really his name) used to play a mean game of ball until he got locked up for robbing the liquor store on Central Avenue with a butcher knife.

      On this particular 60 degree day, three or four older cats were on the courts playing ball, when I decided to join in. At 14, playing pickup with cats in their twenties was the ultimate honor, but I was nice with the rock, so you know how we do!! As was customary, these cats had placed a boom box against the fence. The song of choice was Paid in Full by Eric B. and Rakim: “You go to your girls house and I’ll go to mine, cause my girl is definitely mad cause it took us too long to do this album.”

      After the game one of the cats asked me where I was from. When I responded East Orange, he immediately asked if I knew his nephew, Taheem. Growing up in East Orange, one’s one’s creative (deejaying, dancing, graffiti) or athletic/physical (basketball, football, fighting) abilities was directly related to his popularity. Although he was a year older, I had hung out with Taheem a few times along with some mutual friends. We were known as the “Ill Town Clan.” He was cool, but what was even crazier about Taheem was that, although he was only 15, when you gave him a pound it was like shaking your great uncle’s hands. Son’s hands were huge! “Tah” had a mean knuckle game and was someone that I was glad was on our side. He had my respect, and by affiliation, so did his uncle with whom I had just played basketball.

      I was taken aback by a question Tah’s uncle then asked me: “Do you work?” he wanted to know. Certain that news of our meeting would make it back to East Orange, I was eager to validate myself. I explained how my cousins and I cut grass near my grandmother’s house in D.C.; then there was the $130 that I made during the winter shoveling snow. Tah’s uncle told me that I should get a job when I turned 16. “I’m 22,” he continued, “and a lot of guys my age have never worked and have no idea of how to get or keep a job.” 

      At 14, I witnessed the birth of the Crack Era, and quickly became aware of my peers and older cats that went from walking, to pushing cars with custom interiors.  The guy talking to me looked the part. On the contrary, Taheem’s uncle explained to me that work instilled discipline. He then said the words that even a 14-year old male could identify with: “Women don’t want to be bothered with a man without a job or money!”

      The power and influence of music is amazing. I clearly recalled that theme being declared a year earlier by Gwen Guthrie when she proclaimed, “Ain’t Nothin’ Goin’ On But the Rent”.

      The truth is that Tah’s uncle’s message was not radical or foreign to me. I was blessed to grow up with two professional parents who stressed character and integrity over materialism. By the age of 10, I knew the importance of education and work just as well as I knew the lyrics to “Sucker MCs.” And clad in sneakers, jeans and a t-shirt, with Eric B. & Rakim blasting in the background, Tah’s uncle presented the same message in an even more identifiable way. I often wonder what would have resulted had he suggested that I hustle, boost or do something negative.

      While most of us are raised by at least one, if not two, parents, we are all faced with a world of temptation and counterinfluence. Whether in Cleveland, Providence, Houston, Oakland, Maryland or D.C. there is always an “Orange Park.” All of us who came of age in these communities know that despite good parenting and good intentions, few of us will “make it out” and become functioning citizens.

      Like Tah’s uncle, we all have the ability to motivate and influence the people around us. This is especially true when it comes to our impact on young people. Looking at some of today’s 20-somethings, it is apparent that their commitment to their communities and themselves has been grossly affected by the post-crack explosion and the 106^th & Park dream, and they are, likewise, are influencing many of today’s teens.

      Now more than ever I realize that there is more to making music than selling records; there is more to work than making money and, on that spring day; there was more to playing ball than scoring and winning. By sharing positive ideas and values, and working to positively influence our younger generations………………………..“TOGETHER, WE CAN GET PAID IN FULL!!”

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:

PAID IN FULL by Eric B & Rakim � Has it really been 20 years?

Dr. Josiah T. Haig, Dr. Aaron L. Parker, Nia Phillips, Kevin Booker, Kevin Mason, Mtima Fuller, Anika Spratley, Kim Hardy, Khaleek Kirkland, Sanford Irwin, Floyd McRae, Kelly Page and all of my elders and peers who have answered the call of molding minds by becoming educators. We thank you.

Pastor David Rocker, Jr. (Big Cousin) and Pastor Deforest Soaries, Jr.

Derrick “Call Me D-Nice” Jones � The progenitor of the Hip Hop Blog

Taheem’s uncle � If you’re out there, good lookin’ on dropping a jewel.