Random Thought on New Orleans Rap Music....

While at Yankee Stadium, I heard the song "This is the way I Live" by Baby Boy being played over the loudspeaker.

I being the country fan that I am, have never really been one to enjoy rap music. Seeing as how I went to a high school full of people that thoroughly enjoy the genre, I was quite exposed to it from about sixth grade on up. I mostly associate it with football season, because for some reason, it seems like that was the time of year I heard it the most.

I think it had something to do with the cheerleading bus.

This song in particular was a big hit on the local scene my senior year of high school. When I hear it, I am immediately drawn back to Friday nights, lights, after-parties, and Taco Bell.

So here I am, sitting in Yankee Stadium, enjoying a memorable experience, and along comes a song from another memorable part of my life. I turn to Ashely and I say, "This guy's from the Westbank, like me. He grew up about ten minutes from where I grew up." I just thought it was interesting.

Today again, Ema and I were driving to New Jersey and we were looking for a radio station, and somehow we got on the topic of New Orleans rap, and I brought up that song again. It was one of those few rap songs I ever actually liked. I don't know why, but something about it was catchy.

Then, tonight, I heard the song on a myspace profile, so I listend to the words. This was the national hit version, which is different from the local one (he also had a version about The Saints this past season- from what I can tell he doens't write new songs, he just keeps recycling the old one). In listening to the words, I realize that most of the song is about "reppin' the Westbank." He talks of working out at French Riviera Spa, and mentions Marrerro at least three times. I typically never listen to lyrics of rap songs, so I'd never noticed any of this before.

So it hits me, here I was, two weeks ago, in Yankee Stadium, and over the loudspeaker was playing a song about my little corner of the world.

Hows that for a small world?