Hip-Hop Love On The Big Stage – It’s a D.A.I.S.Y. Age

Dateline – Jan. 6, 2014

It was the night of the National College Football Championship game and with the help of two, 70-plus television personalities, I was about to embark upon a short journey into the world of De La Soul and Hip-Hop.

It began about two hours before the big game when I found enough time to swing an ep of my favorite game show – Jeopardy.

Alex Trebek was on his game, as usual, and as the three geniuses lined-up to answer the normal collection of highbrow and damn near impossible questions, something special happened – Hip-Hop happened.

As the 73-year-old Trebek unveiled the set of categories, the most American of game shows turned into the 21^st Century version of that imaginary De La Soul game show from the 80’s: “Three Feet High and Rising!”

 

“Your categories,” said Alex. “Books and Authors,” “It’s a Rap,” “Sleeping With the NME,” European History,” “Eat, Drink” and “& Be Mary.”

The contestants rolled through all of the categories with ease, including what turned out to be the Rap category.

First up was Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five and a line from The Message for $800.

Then came a rhyme from, The Notorious B.I.G. and Juicy for $400.

The Beastie Boys followed for $1,200 and a rhyme from No Sleep ‘Til Brooklyn.

Dr, Dre continued the cypher with bars from Nuttin’ But a G Thang for $1,600 and Public Enemy and the opening line from Timebomb rounded out the category for $2000.

Moments later I’m not sure if I was more surprised by the appearance of the category on the mainstream stalwart of Jeopardy, Trebek’s ease in delivering the rhymes or at how easily the panel of contestants rolled through the category.

Nonetheless, faster than I could consult or wish for an appearance by my cousin Nag – he knows these things – the game show. However my De La evening was getting ready to kick into high gear.

I tuned to the National Championship game which pitted the Florida State Seminoles against the Auburn Tigers in the Vizio Bowl Championship Series (BCS) game. Held at the historic Rose Bowl, this, the biggest game of the year would be the last played in the BCS format and specifically would crown the best team in college football for 2013.

What was to follow was another exhibition transmitted live from Mars.

3 Is a Magic Number

Somewhere in this Hip-Hop soul community…one plus one plus one still equals three – no more, no less.

Tre Mason #21 – (um, see 2 plus 1 is three) dominated the Tiger’s ground game with an offensive performance that bordered on legendary. Mason, who’s Dad just happens to be De La DJ Maseo, amassed a stout 34 carries for 195 yards and a touchdown.

 

While mama may have given birth to the soul children, young Tre Mase gave a monster performance but almost walked away with and the BCS trophy after a 37-year-old dash for a touchdown with a little over a minute left in the game.

Brent Musberger pointed out the family ties for Mason by referencing “Me, Myself and I.”

“You know, everyone remembers that one,” the 74-year-old Musberger joked shortly after the dash.

Unfortunately, Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston drove his team 80 yards in four plays to win the National Championship and Most Valuable Player.

The next day Masey announced that he was going to forgo his senior year and enter the NFL draft. You know them stakes is high!

For us old heads, the probability of hearing any reference to Hip-Hop in a positive light is not only refreshing, but invokes a bit of a moral victory.

In a society where we’ve survived “Hip-Hop Police,” “Stop and Frisk,” and the illusion of an East Coast v. West Coast war, it’s rewarding to know that today Hip-Hop can happen and it doesn’t have to be a bad thing.

Maybe “The Daisy Age” isn’t that far away afterall.