Jesi Concepcion

roses of rhyme:
hip-hop has always been in full bloom

Dear Hip Hop,

Do you remember when it used to be all so simple then? We’re rollin’ into year 3 of a pandemic, everyone is weary, our bones are heavy. How do we move forward when every day is held captive in uncertainty’s arms? Did ya hear this year’s Superbowl Halftime Show actually had hip-hop? Have you seen the Wu-Tang Clan and Biggie t-shirts they sell at Target now? You can pick them up on the way to kitchen appliances for a shiny new coffee maker–over on Aisle 15.

Do you think the customers know what Wu-Tang even stands for? Do you think the button-up and stiff tie-wearing folks recognized Dr. Dre’s tribute to Tupac when he played those notes from “I Ain’t Mad At Cha” on the piano? Do you remember when my dad used to bump “Regulate” by Warren G and Nate Dogg in the car? It was the year he became a single parent. Whenever I hear that jam, it reminds me of him hustling at work during the day and studying for the part-time college courses he took at night, and his home-cooked adobo and rice.

Do you remember when Jonny and I used to pass notes in-between History and Home Economics class? We’d always end our letters with hip-hop verses and we would take turns guessing the names of the songs. Do you remember when Jay-Z headlined the Glastonbury Festival? And that disgruntled dude from Oasis said he wasn’t having hip-hop there ‘cause “it’s wrong.” I know you remember that one because J-Hova clapped back by opening his Glastonbury perfomance with a guitar and sang “Wonderwall.”

Do you think folks know you’re a rose growing out of the concrete? And you deserve all the flowers. I mean, you are the flowers. You are clever bars delivered during lunchtime over beats created by fists knockin’ on cafeteria tables. You are Kendrick reassuring that we will be alright. You are Cardi and Megan flippin’ the script on a world that tries to keep women down. You are Erykah Badu singing you better call Tyrone.

(Call him.)

You are the soundtrack to a single father who rebuilt his life from scratch. You are two best friends, scribbling lyrics on paper, asking each other “Hey, I love this. Do you love it, too?”

Do you remember when it used to be all so simple then? We’re rollin’ into year 3 of a pandemic, everyone wants change and forward movement. Folks have all the tools to communicate at their fingertips, but don’t seem to know what to say. I think we’re all just trying to rebuild from scratch and learn how to give our loved ones their flowers while they can still enjoy them.

JESI CONCEPCION was born and raised in Okinawa, Japan. She lives in sunny Southern California, where you can probably find her writing, listening to Mariah Carey, or eating ice cream.” She can be found on Instagram @jestoofresh