VINDICATION BY KHALID STRICKLAND a.k.a. BLACK PACINO
During my interview with R&B legend Jody Watley, I stated that she and Rakim birthed the now-standard R&B/Rap collabo with their song, “Friends,” in 1989. Soon after, a viewer named Cypher Sounds took to the comment box and disputed that notion:
“Jody is beautiful and was a gem not only solo but also in Shalamar. to pacino, Everything is great about this article except how you think she can claim to be the first r&b singer to include a hip hop artist. I (had) to correct you on that statement. props to Jody but she was not the first r&b singer to include a hip hop artist. Definitely Melle Mel performance on Chaka Khan’s “FEEL FOR YOU” easily came out before “Friends”. There may be another early classic that could of came before Chaka but I don’t think so. Remember to get your facts right. Unless you like making people think things.”
Oooooooooo! I got served! Staggering backwards, I fired off a round:
“Is this THE Cipher Sounds from Hot-97 FM? If so, please ask your employer to expand its playlist beyond 5 songs? I did the research & you’re correct, my friend. Chaka Khan & Melle Mel did collab on “Feel For You” 1st. Guess I owe them both an apology. You know your music, I respect that. But I do like making people think things. If I can’t spread a lil’ propoganda, what’s the point of being in the media?”
But it doesn’t end there, folks. Jody Watley read Cypher’s comment at The Spizzy and she got in touch with me. I had no idea that Jody Watley was a Spizzy fan. Peep how she sets the record straight after the jump.
The bootleg Cypher Sounds is right, I shouldn’t “make people think things.” So I’ll remove my fingers from the keys and let JW explain in her own words. Take it away, Ms. Watley…
“I’ve been meaning to email you. I was going to comment some time ago when you posted the article. I noticed someone had challenged the statement about “Friends” being the first to feature a Pop/R&B artist with a rapper doing a full verse/bridge. The 16 bar verse/bridge collabo became a mainstay in music after us. Rakim didn’t provide an intro, as with Melle Mel and Chaka Khan. My request was that he write complete verses to fit the song. So you have it, here’s one of the numerous books, including one from Billboard books where it can be found, in the event the subject comes up again.
Another is To The Break of Dawn: A Freestyle on the Hip-Hop Aesthetic.
Hope you’re well!
JW”
Jody Watley has spoken. And to punctuate her message, she attached the following link…
Icons of Hip Hop: An Encyclopedia of the Movement, Music and Culture
It’s great that Ms. Watley handles such matters with class. Had she been a sensitive gangsta rapper one little comment may have sparked a powder-keg of beef. Instead, we get well-articulated ether.
Previously posted:
Good for JW. Hahaha
that’s right, cypher sounds… you got SERVED.
BURNT!
What up SPIZZY!!!…..iI like the way Jody handled this…..She is Def one of my favorites of all time and this collabo is one of my favs!!!!!!!!!!!!! good job K. keep up the excellent work man!!!
thanks for the luv, fam-o.
your spizzy V.I.P. pass is in the mail.
wow.
thats major.
i believe TSS holds the copyright for the word “major.”
WOW!!!
THE Jody Watley(a Goddess for sure)
Nice…
That was an awesome tune though…i remember the shorty in the VId with the Eric B and Rakim jacket and Dope Rope on…HAHA
And of course Ra’s first verse…
“You used to kiss me and tell me you miss me
But now you try to glaze me, play me, and diss me
I’m wide awake, ready to break so we’d argue
What happened to the kisses and the Ra, how are you?
Forgot about the times when I rhymed when I bathed you
Dreams was the only little things that I gave you
Still ain’t thankful, you still complaining
Used to be a quiet storm, but now it’s raining
Harder than ever I’m thinking whether
If we should be friends, let it end
Is it better to forget or remember your body’s tender?
The vibe that I send her makes her surrender
The feelings of capture caught in a rapture
No woman can match you, so when I’m looking at you
Paint a perfect picture so you can remember me
But you’ll get fried in the end if you pretend to be”
That bought me back!!!!
PEACE
that verse reads like poetry.
you mean to tell me that once upon a time, people used to actually put thought & care into their verses? where was i when this happened?
Pardon self…after watching the video and hearing the song for the first time in many moons i see i had it twisted…2nd verse i meant…still yeah…Poetry for sure…
MAJESTIC
This chick has such a chip on her shoulder …. goddamn we get it – you’re a trend setter who does not get her due. Let it go.
is this chaka khan?
i used to love jody back in the day