If there’s one thing SS loves, it’s her grade school days. Ah, the sweet smell of rejection in the schoolyard. Will anyone ask me to dance to November Rain? Will the Catholic school teachers turn a blind eye to inappropriate 12-year-old grinding? Sigh, those were the days! Without further adieu, here are my top six elementary school* mid-nineties hip-hop jams.





6. Jump – Kris Kross and Jump Around – House of Pain (both 1992)

What 12-year-old doesn’t like songs about jumping? First of all, the song gives one carte blanche to do just that, jump around! Second of all, hip-hop was cutting-edge at the time and fellow young people were singing a song we could all relate to: it was wiggity wiggity wack! I even wore my sweater backwards to school one day. I was immediately made fun of, but still fun. And House of Pain, I wonder if they knew that Jump Around would become the hip-hop anthem of Irishmen everywhere? So much cooler than Snow. Ooh, I made a pun!



5. Whatta Man – Salt-n-Pepa (1993)

There are few female hip hop groups today (in fact, can you think of any? Really?). And one thing I really respected about Salt n’ Pepa was their undying devotion to objectifying men. But this song was an ode to males, the good ones, anyway. In grade eight religion class, we had to play a song that reminded us of Jesus and one of my classmates played this song and got in trouble. William probably didn’t understand the point of the assignment, but I appreciated his resolve to give S&P the respect they deserved. I chose Livin’ on the Edge by Aerosmith.



4. Back and Forth – Aaliyah (1994)

I wanted to use Age Ain’t Nuthin’ But a Number so I could make an R. Kelly joke, but this song is obviously superior and it introduced the legendary Aaliyah at the tender age of 15. Being 13 at the time, I could relate, though I admit I was slightly jealous. Wikipedia lists Aaliyah as “singer, actress, model and teen idol.” Indeed!



3. Wu-Tang Clan Ain’t Nuthing ta Fuck Wit – Wu-Tang Clan (1993)

One thing that reminds me of my youth is memories of my fellow eighth graders doodling the W logo of the Wu-Tang on their notebooks. I didn’t really understand what the W was for, but it was cute as a boot. They also doodled C.R.E.A.M., which I knew the meaning of. It’s definitely a universal truth. Cash does rule everything around me! Go Wu-Tang!



2. Big Poppa – Notorious B.I.G. (1995)

Okay, this song technically didn’t come out while I was in elementary school, but Ready to Die was released in 94, so that’s good enough for me. I had very little understanding of how important this track was when it came out, but it sure was catchy, wasn’t it? It’s hard to believe one of the best MCs of all time was 21 when he wrote this.



1. Who Am I? (What’s My Name?) – Snoop Doggy Dogg (1993)

I’m not much of a hip-hopstorian, but it doesn’t take a genius to understand that Doggy Style is one of the most important albums in West Coast history. And we, as 13-year-olds, were on the cutting edge of hip-hop recognition. I learned a lot of dirty words from this album, which my mother would still not approve of. Not to mention, the song is mighty catchy! It’s my number one because it’s definitely the song that reminds me most of elementary school hip-hop.

I leave you with this: Top Five Sellers of 1994: 1 - The Sign - Ace Of Base, 2 - Music Box - Mariah Carey, 3 - Doggy Style - Snoop Doggy Dogg , 4 - The Lion King – soundtrack, 5 - August And Everything After - Counting Crows

*My elementary school went up to grade eight