I was in fifth grade when rap music made its way to Oklahoma. Seemingly overnight I became less interested in Huey Lewis and Boy George and quickly obtained the soundtracks to Breakin’ and Beat Street, both on vinyl. I spent the greater part of that summer wrecking my knees and back in an attempt to learn how to spin my body around on sheets of cardboard while wearing parachute pants covered in zippers. By the time seventh grade rolled around I was listening to the Fat Boys, Run DMC, and the 2 Live Crew. I never switched over to exclusively… (read more)