Musical Interlude

[.]

On her current playlist #TheEx. Sthandwa Sam means "My beloved" Uthando meaning love

These gels, these gels, these gels I tells ya.

She threw something special away that we had together when I was a broke and struggling Freshman in colle.
I remember getting lost with her in the French Quarter in New Orleans in the soft pattering rain. Sitting on a small street-side bench getting our pictures sketched on Royale St by this very talented artist. By the way I wonder where those portraits went. Her in my cozy arms as Bourbon st Jazz wafted from Preservation Hall nearby
That new year's midnight kiss we shared under the stars and exploding French Quarter fireworks was unforgettable

Amazing times.

Spring break road trips with mutual friends who are now scattered all over the world. Some now dead. Echoes of the laughter of our youth during those trips still with me. Perfect match we were.

I remember the day we went to the Levert Father and Son tour concert. Danced away the night together. How can anyone forget such? But believe it or not,

She threw it all away, blo, yes she did Oooo yess she did!!.

I wasn't perfect but neither was she.
When she went back to her crumbling Cincinnati comedy of a town we were still good.

Until the shocking cold, curt breakup over the phone came.

No reason, no explanation, nada!

The worst breakups are those where no reason whatsoever is given. Leaving you hanging in the wind!

Kumbe she had met a sorry Akataa of a man. Perhaps thinking she could get makaratasis through him. In no time I heard she had a baby by him.

Yet shortly after he dumped her like used TP.

Huyoooo. Back to Mzansi she went after graduation with her illegitimate child that he wanted no parts of. With her F-1 visa expired. All her nascent USA dreams shattered. Meanwhile I leveled up. By grad school graduation I was on my way. Half a decade later I was beyond where I wanted to be. Pretty as the ex was, the sizzling hot wifey I picked up along the way made her look like a dishrag. And came with no bizarre, fickle msukosukos --one day going West, the other day East with no msimamo -- to boot! Another decade later there she was .."adding" me on social media after ages bila any contact whatsoever

Quiet as a church mouse, no profile pic, but occasionally "liking" a post or two. Mostly about the pics of my smiling, happy family.
The family her and I could have made together. Regrets galore for her.

Isapite!!

Now she's posting songs like these.
Knowing I know that she's talking about me in her usual cryptic style -- which is her nous -- because I know her inside out!!
Too bad for her! Cry me a river! Live with your life choices!! Lia machozi mpaka ijaze ndoo!!

But I thank her for opening me up to a whole new world of a country I had little to know knowledge about beyond the basics- SA.

These ngels these ngels these ngels I tells ya.
The day you find a good, rational, loyal, stable one to wife... Be thankful to God!! They are as rare as hen's teeth!

Hao wengine single mamas who wasted their youth and choices chasing the wind wameze wembe!!

Ni hayo tuu

Yet another one on her playlist

Isapite!!!

[.]

96/97 memories. Mike Tyson fights, Pac, Biggie, Suge and all that jazz. Biggie was a beast on this one!!

[Nefertiti]

Diddy under siege now, but back then this joint ruled!

This still rules. Classics by definition are GOAT — never grow old.

[.]

Diddy under siege now, but back then this joint ruled!

This still rules. Classics by definition are GOAT — never grow old.

Facts!

[.]

Reminds me of Friday nights at the dancehall club we used to go to back in those days. With the crazy moves from the Jamyeeakan gels. Shaking it twingli twangla with no compunction. It's funny when I look at some of them now they're all professors at U of Illinois - Urbana Champaign,  corporate big shots etc. Now married with tall teenagers!! I wonder whether their hubbies know how these gels these gels these gels used to shake it good in the clubs back then!

[.]

Reminds me of RCB's Asali and how we used to  motivate each other about travel and what our plans to see more of the world were back then!! Life is something else, man. Memories are always in sepia. You look back and see how far you've come. Remembering only the good times.  But you can never go back!!

[.]

Nostalgia galore. Some tracks just keep rubbing us very, very well especially as they age.

[.]

Who remembers Club Vegas Nights in Nakuru East (Atlanta)  ?
Hotlanta in the Late 90s and early 00's was kurazy
Marietta was full of Kwiinyans tupu. Most of them not in school! It was a nice place to hang out in once a year but definitely not a place to live in permanently.
Those Kenyans were just living for the day, pimping their cars and RENTED apartments with the latest stuff and partying all night after job shifts!
I wonder what ever happened to all of them that lived that lifestyle. I must admit I admired that lifestyle as a young naive colle student but when I grew up I realised those peeps were going nowhere fast. 90% of them were already illegals. Many were busy marrying each other and hence scuttling any hopes of legalizing themselves. Watching time pass by while mark timing in the same spot, washing away their miseries with oodles of fombe, but such is life for many!
I remember when Buckhead was THE party district back then. Lots of Bohemian clubs, bars and whatnot. It's surreal remembering all that
Cobb Parkway, Club 112, Vegas Nights...those were the days.
These songs reminds me thereof!

[.]

And of course there's no place like the L.A.area , which was my home base for over 20 years!! It's the small things I miss. Like that ocean smell and watching buskers on Venice boardwalk. The Santa Monica pier. Cruising down the Pacific HWY shwuuuuuu from Malibu to Santa Barbara. Saturday nights on the Sunset strip.The fake L.A people with their Hollywood vibes who always smile at you but mean you no good. Greasy In-n-Out burgers and more.

[.]

2009 was a beautiful year!! RIP the D.R.E.A.M.

[.]

And so was 2007! As I said, songs are crazy things. They take you places and evoke so many memories, some of which you had forgotten about until you hear the song and it all comes rushing back!

[Nefertiti]

Elon Musk the mad scientist is probably dancing to this somewhere

[.]

Elon Musk the mad scientist is probably dancing to this somewhere

Kali sana. Nice thundering bassline. You seem very partial to reggaeton and allied music. This one brings me much memories. Italian girl in my hostel would always play it over and over again at high decibel and shout "Rakata" with violence at the appropriate moment, arms outstretched, before bursting out in laughter every single time! Our Puerto Rican blathees are the forgotten Americans. A terrible place they live in. At least our peeps in the US Virgin Islands have it better. They're also US citizens but in a super beautiful environment with no mainland ndrama.

[.]

Kleptomaniax - Psycho

Feel-good memories galore. 2007-2009 manenos. Come to think of it that decade (2000-2010) was a very very nice one. At least for me. Transitions and life changes that became more or less permanent thereafter. Whatever happened to Ulopa? He dropped several scorching bangers with various artists towards the end of that decade then disappeared never to be heard from again! Been looking for another song - "So nice " by Kleptomaniax ft Ulopa - also from that era (2008/2009) and can't seem to find it anywhere!

[.]

Who remembers this smash hit remix?
It was an RCB fave on Friday nights!!

[.]

2004!! Video shot in Debehn (Durban) S.A.
This one somehow showed up on my playlist juzi and  brought so many things rushing back.
Wet Willie's on South Beach
Caribana!
Howard homecoming. HBCUs definitely do homecomings right! Jungu schools don't even come close
Jazz Fest and Mardi Gras in the Big Easy!
And more!

[.]

Termie, remember this smash by Bhar. That bassline is terrorism, man. One can't help but move to it when it plays!

"Ngathanda (I love) ekasi (my township/hood)
Ngathanda Big Nuz
Ngathanda Abafazi (Hot women)
... Ngathanda emali (moolah) ...."
🔥🔥🔥

[.]

Kwiinyans think they know how to party? Waapi?  Eish, Noooooooooo, man .

Abridged version of a 72 HOURS NONSTOP party in S.A.!!

[.]

I dig this lesser known Camp Mulla joint. The ending part especially.
"I'm going to Diani..."
Miss Karun's voice🔥