The rapper, not the candy . . .

One thing the Dr. and I have in common is that we both love music. We have some shared musical tastes for sure, and are both children of the 80s. He, however, stopped listening to current music somewhere before Ronald Reagan left office. Maybe that explains his politics. That doesn't stop us from enjoying a good debate about the relative attributes of various songs, artists, or types of music.

Tonight, like many nights, I engaged him in some musical discussion. Over sushi, I commented that I had been listening to the radio today and heard a song that I found quite lyrically intriguing and clever. He managed to ask "what was it?" right before he shoved an eel roll in his mouth.

"Lose Yourself. Eminem. The rapper, not the candy."

He gave me puzzled, skeptical look. The rest of the restaurant probably assumed he had some bad sushi. I knew his innate distaste of rap of any kind was inhibiting his ability to see the creative side of it.

I tried to explain, and did so poorly. I had heard the song many times before, but its not something I listen to frequently. However, today, it struck me how cleverly he balances his story-telling and the rhyme. In fact, he rhymes on the beat, and the off-beat. And he doesn't do it at the end of the sentence. I found myself completely engaged in waiting for the next surprise. He really has the cleverness of Shakespeare, just with a little more bass, and maybe slightly more violence (well, maybe not).

DrChako's eyebrows were knitted together as if I had grown an extra head and had just told him I was joining a convent and going to give up my heels in favor of a pair of sensible black Hush Puppies. He wasn't buying it. I begged him to come home and listen to the video on YouTube.

We all watched - his face looked pained. But by the end, he acknowledged the various stories inside the story, and conceded that his rhyming had some skill.

The best part was my son, though . . . he caught it right away, and his eyes lit up . . .

"Now I hear it . . . .
Snap back to reality,
Oh there goes gravity
Oh, there goes Rabbit, he
choked He's so mad, but he
won't give up that easy,
no He won't have it, He . . . "

Its nice to have one more person in my family turned on to the music, listening for something more. The fact that he likes some of the same stuff I do, well, that's just icing on the cupcakes. But catching it that quickly makes me feel proud . . . like we've trained his brain to observe more than the ordinary . . .

Of course, after the video finished, DrChako felt like punching someone. I'm thinking it would be a good workout song . . . although I think I'd have to work hard to resist not doing the hand things . . . .

Enjoy the video . . .



Respectfully submitted,

The Wife