If you’re a major hip hop head, like I am, you can probably remember where you were when you first heard that joint that made you go “yeah, I can get down with this”. Music has always been a big part of my life. It’s been there during the good times and bad. It’s been there when I was doing good things..and bad. I can remember, almost every time, where I was when I heard a song for the first time. It’s amazing to me how music shapes you and your experiences.

My song was back in 1986. I was 9 years old. Strange how I can remember it like it was yesterday. It was a dark and stormy night…just kidding. Every day after school, I would head over to a public park where I would hang out with friends from school until someone came home. I grew up in Hialeah, FL (Miami for those that aren’t sure where Hialeah might be) and remember vividly leaving out the back of my elementary school and crossing over this huge grassy field until I reached the pavilion in the center of the park. It was attached to a community pool, where I would go during summer camp. There were always lots of kids ranging in age from elementary school to high school. This was a very popular place to kill time. You could usually find me on the basketball court balling with the older crowd (11 and 12, of course).

You’re probably reading this going “yeah, great life. Get to the point”. So what’s my song? Paul Revere by the Beastie Boys. This is back in the cassette days (its 1986, of course it’s a cassette). There was a guy who was in a wheelchair that I was friends with. Everyday, he would come up to the park with a MASSIVE boom box that he would rest his legs on and would just cruise around the park playing music. Really cool cat. I remember him taking the cassette out of the case, popping it in and pressing play. I can still hear that bassline. Like most people, the music is what grabbed me. I had heard lots of hip hop prior to this though, for some reason, this particular song peaked my interest. From that moment forward started my journey through hip hop and has lead me to where I am today. I will be forever grateful to the Beastie Boys and an old time friend, that introduced me to the music that has shaped my life. Who was the artist that shaped your life?