Reality hits in mysterious ways. Almost to the point where I want to drive a No. 2 pencil directly in my eye sockets so I can get that rude awakening that I ever so need. I was scrolling the dial on my rental a few months back trying to get to Howard 100 on Sirius when I land on channel 46, BackSpin radio. I am thinking I am on some real old man Herbie Hancock and Grandmaster DXT music but found myself comfortably in that “my car got that knock cause I installed a bazooka tube in my 1994 Toyota Tercel” era that I was all too familiar with. Then it hit me. My first slow dance was to Diamonds & Pearls, Boys 2 Men surpassed Elvis in consecutive weeks as the #1 single with End Of The Road when I was in 5th grade, and 2Pac died when I was a freshman in high school. I am friggin’ old man.

There was a gaze in GZA‘s eyes as he seemed strained tonight. Perhaps it was a late night lecture that he has been doing or his wife/girlfriend couldn’t quite fit shaft and balls in her mouth at the same time. I don’t know what it was but he seemed unfocused and energy more so surged from the crowd rather from him.

Let’s talk Wu-Tang. 20 years ago they gifted the world with Enter The 36 and there really hasn’t been an album nor a group quite like it ever since. As a dull witted West-Coastian, this album has taught me the following: W) What’s in a name? Apparently the more you have, the more successful you are. Method Man would just not be as cool if he stuck to his real name Clifford. U) Unbeknownst to me, some black people do actually like to play chess and watch kung-fu flicks. T) The borough of Staten Island is referenced as Shoalin and top contrary belief, is not located in China. A) Apparently Jacques Cousteau can’t get as low as Ol’ Dirty bastard. N) Never ever lose Raekwon’s killa tape. G) GZA is the head if the group formed like Voltron. God bless the Clan.