Just in case you read this.

We don't need to have just one favorite. Our favorite things are those that speak most directly to us in that particular stage in our lives. Our favorite books, music, movies they are ever changing and we are always adding to the list. However, some favorites are more lasting. 

For example, I will never outgrow Star Wars and Fast and Furious (yeah, I'm a weird girl), they will always be favorites of mine. Another lasting favorite for me resides in music. The best feeling is when you hear a song that takes you back to a vivid memory. Nas, Big L, Biggie, A Tribe Called Quest-- so many of their songs are soundtracks to my life and will forever be favorites. 

For a long time I never thought my favorites would change in regard to hip hop though. I mean yeah, I loved Food & Liquor, but come on guys-- Soulja Boy, really? BUT, I was wrong. In 2009 I was surfing the internet in the middle of the night looking for music as per usual and this kid who was just barely older than me popped up on YouTube. He just so happened to be in about the same life stage as me in regard to his family drama, the lack of money, and the ability to find some inner drive. 

In fact, I recently wrote a post about how "hip hop just gets me" and mentioned him in it. You can find that post here. And over two years ago I wrote a post about creating positive change and in just a couple of sentences summed up why he is my favorite and it still applies today. Click here to read that one.

Logic is one of those lasting favorites for me. Maybe it is because we are the same age or maybe it is because I can relate to his complicated childhood, but whatever the reason I am grateful. Through his music I have met some of my favorite people and some major doors to future opportunities have opened up for me. So thank you. Thank you for understanding me even though we have never met. Thank you for adding to the soundtrack of my life.   

Yeah, I'm a BobbySoxer.

People always ask me why I love hip hop. When I ask why it is so surprising it always comes down to how I look. Because my skin is white & my eyes are blue I’m supposed to be listening to country or pop music. It’s so funny to me how society tries to tell us who we are “supposed” to be. So the other night I finally thought of my answer to that question.

I love hip hop because I can relate to it. Now, I don’t mean that I relate to ALL of it. I have never done drugs, I’m not big into drinking, & I’m not a racist. BUT I have had a gun held at me, witnessed cops break into my house, watched my dad get arrested… all before I was even eleven years old.

I get that some rap is pure negativity—but there are also country songs about suicide, pop songs promoting Molly, & rock songs preaching violence.  In any type of music you have to search for the stuff that truly sings to your soul. When I first heard Monsters In My Head by The Game my first instinct was to make my dad listen to it. The song literally describes his childhood. There were only a handful of differences—his brothers all had the same mom, he was younger than The Game when he was first on the streets, etc. My dad literally got tears in his eyes when he listened.

When I was a freshman at the College of Southern Idaho I stumbled upon Logic’s music and once again felt like somebody understood. His songs talked about all of the negative stuff that he went through, but had positive twists to them. Not only was this amazing rapper about the same age as me (90’s kids shoutout) but we both witnessed some crazy stuff when we were young and never gave up. His music literally gave me hope. 

I witnessed more as a kid than most people will in their whole lives, but I made something of myself. Hip hop just gets me.