Yet again, I’ve creeped over to my friend’s site and snatched up one of her good O.S.A.Ms (Old School Atlanta Memories). This week it’s the Youngbloodz. Remember them? You never really miss something until it’s gone and I realize I really miss these two together. The duo behind today’s “A” Pod classic jams “Damn” and “U-Way” have gone their separate ways, but are still quite active in the industry.? And in honor of Flashback Friday, take a moment to reflect with my friend as she shares what she learned while working on the set with Youngbloodz and the attic crew:
It may not be headlines like when Jay Z split with Irv or Snoop with Dre but one of my favorite groups in Atlanta has always been the Youngbloodz and to know that they are not a duo anymore puts me in a melancholy state of mind. Now the fan in me is MAD AS HELL, I love their swag as a rap group, I knew they were having their difficulties but damn if Dre and Big Boi can do it then why not the Youngbloodz. The picture taken above was from one of their last videos Chop Chop, I was the assistant director and it was a long cold day but somehow, I just didn?t mind because I love these guys.
Finally one day I decieded to stop being selfish for one minute and was able to realize the SECRET TO THIS?ENTRY, ITS VERY SIMPLE ? FOR EVERYTHING THERE IS A SEASON.
Now I?m gonna take you back to a night?I can recall at Club 112 a few years back; it was an album release party for Ludacris, and all of Atlanta?s royalty came out to support. The VIP was an Atlien who?s who list. I was sitting down near Michael Vick and my friends were asking me if was I going to follow them back to his house.
I declined and really I was barely listening to them because I was witnessing a dramatic moment that no one was even paying attention to. See, at that time Bigg Gipp had released ?Stepping Out? and the Goodie Mob had just come out with an album titled ?One Monkey Don?t Stop No Show? which of course was a diss to Ceelo; and here in the back of the VIP Bigg Gipp and Ceelo saw each other for what you could clearly tell was the first time in a very long time. I watched them at a comfortable distance from the first hug, to the awkward first dialog to the heart to heart that must have lasted 30min. These niggas were not fighting, there were no girls involved but the drama of that moment and the intensity I felt from them was soooo powerful. These were two black men having an ?amicable coming to Jesus? right before my eyes. It was obvious their paths were supposed to cross that night. You see, it was TIME for that conversation to take place. Life DOES have it?s seasons.
I was there on the set of Ceelo?s teletubbie video in 2002 for the song ?Getting Grown? as well as his collaboration with Timbaland in 2004 on ?I?ll Be Around? and even his moment with Jazze Pha in 2006 for the ?Happy Hour?. But who really knew that he was going to keep having his moments in TIME until he collaborated on one of the biggest songs OF ALL TIME, ?Crazy?. Now, If he had stayed with the Goodie Mob, we might not have ever had that song.
So, I say as fans and as people, let us love our artists, family and friends no matter what TIME it is in their lives, because it is all a part of life?s necessary changing seasons. Right now, I feel?Spring right around the corner!!!! And as for the Youngbloodz, I will always have my ?U-Way? and Damn? and look forward to their?bright?future ahead! (Source)
Lisa and Youngbloodz on the set:
Be sure to check out I Have The Secret for more flashbacks from the Atlanta music scene.
Related Posts:
The “A” Pod Flashback ~ Youngbloodz Remixes