Thursday, December 16, 2004

ODB-RIP

I always thought it to be a terrible coincidence that my parents' wedding anniversary (April 20) happened to also be Hitler's birthday and the day of the Columbine massacre. In addition, I recently learned that a friend had given birth to her son on September 11, 2001. But just when I thought my recent wedding had escaped unscathed by such unfortunate timing, I learn today from the Washington Post that it will also be remembered as the day rapper legend Ol' Dirty Bastard passed away. (You can thank him for popularizing the urban phrase, "N---a please!") Making things worse, the toxicology report now states he had cocaine in his system. Who knew?

And so, with every wedding anniversary to come, I'll be pouring a glass of champagne for me, my wife, and ODB.

3 comments:

Bizarro Jack said...

This goes to show how relative popularity is, but I remember seeing "NIGGA PLEASE!" printed on T-shirts when I was in high school in P.G. County MD, between 91-95. It was years before I heard anyone use the phrase in context. I couldn't imagine, without hearing it, what it was supposed to mean. "Send a gangster to me, please?" "I wish to be referred to as 'Nigga,' please?" "Make it your aim to please a nigga". All so dreadfully and obviously wrong that I was too embarrassed to ask anyone, let alone that I would not allow myself to be put in a position where I might be expected to repeat the word. Some time during that period I finally heard a classmate say it to someone else in a meaningful context, and it was quite a relief that this gap in my education was finally filled.

ODB's album was apparently released in 99, and I'm sure that made it much more well recognized.

Anonymous said...

And so, with every wedding anniversary to come, I'll be pouring a glass of champagne for me, my wife, and ODB.I can just see Vic now, standing on the corner, pouring out a Magnum for his fallen homey...

--Bill

TRACK 9 said...

While not a tregedy or worldy event (but just as disturbing) you also share your lovely wedding date with that of a certain Star Jones. She had her C-list wedding a couple hours after yours!

Some of us were stuck deciding between the two...