What Cincinnati roots means to me
Dear Blog Diary,
Cincinnati roots.
I was 13 and I learned of the existence of “break dancing.” Breaking.
Think I was 15 when my parents let me go to Scribble Jam, the Hiphop Mecca of the Midwest. At least it was to me. I used to save literally every coin I had all year in a basketball piggy bank to go.
Began primarily as a graffiti jam. First time I saw Dalek’s work. I was too young at the time but this is the jam that Eminem entered the rap battle, and lost. Besides Circle Kingz thrown by the big bro Amjad, Scribble Jam is the only jam I never won but I truly wanted to.
Over the years one of my crews MZK had wars with Brickheadz from Chicago. And it’s always been true but I say it now…as a kid I was in awe of Waka. The year he wore a black shirt with a yellow hat.
I ran into Slug from Atmosphere. Literally I ran into him. He turned, saw that I was a child, and softened. He asked me my name. Squirt. He asked if I knew his name. I didn’t.
“Slug. Sean Loves Ugly Girls.”
I guess his name was Sean.
My boy from my first ever crew, DJ Spare Change. He battled Skratch Bastid one year in the DJ battle. I thought he won.
Recently got into it with this fuckboy DJ from Nashville who claimed to be official in the area. I’ll save you the details but he was talking shit about Skeme. It didn’t get out of hand but I shut that shit down real quick. Got heated.
After a bit of talk I asked him, “have you been to scribble jam?” He hadn’t.
Now I’m not saying better or worse, but I am saying there’s a difference. Scribble Jam is Ohio roots. The venue was Annie’s down by the river. August, baking in the sun. Its creator Mr. Dibbs. Stopped when Dibbs had health issues.
I wear it as a badge of honor in this Hiphop game. Like in Ocean’s 13, “there’s a code amongst guys who shook Sinatra’s hand.”
I say all this to say, when speaking with a fool, it’s better to remain silent as opposed to the fool who removes all doubt that he is one.”
Sidebar: My DJ is better than your DJ.
Best,
E
#ARTiculate