So, according to Triumphs & Tribulations XII, on this particular date in 2012, I was home in Birmingham taking a break before I finished the end of my assignment at Joint Base Andrews. Much like I do whenever I make my rare appearances back in the 205, I link up with my co-best friend and best man. It was a Monday night and there wasn’t much to do so we decided to go to The Furnace, a gentleman’s club in the lost part of Downtown Birmingham. Honestly, we went in there for the wings and just to talk. The “human scenery” was just there but it wasn’t like we were intently focused on it. There was this one dancer who came over and made conversation. She said she was from the Mississippi Delta and seemed surprised when I actually knew a little something about her hometown of Greenwood. She offered a dance but I declined…remember, I was just there for the wings and the conversation with my homie. Anyway, seeing her work on the pole reminded me of a specific music track from my childhood. That brings me to this week’s moment in the Flashback Friday series: Montell Jordan’s “Let’s Ride”.
How I first came across this moment? I first came across the track in 1998. Like I wrote a couple of months back, I was a big No Limit Records and Silkk the Shocker fan back then. I heard the track on the radio with Master P’s well-known “uhhhh” intro.
What it meant to me then? At that particular point in time, the 13-year-old version of myself had no idea that track was about strippers. All I know is that I was digging the Silkk verse on it. Of course, as I grew slightly older into my high school years, it all crystallized…the whole “5’5”, 146 wearing nothing but a G-string” part and the whole “Sexy thighs/Sittin’ properly up on top of me/She’s riding, ain’t no stopping me” part. Still, it wasn’t a big deal to me since I wasn’t even old enough to get into strip clubs back then. And honestly, the only ones I knew about were Al’s Crossroads in my old neighborhood and Sammy’s over on the Southside. Both spots had the occasional dancer as a customer at Domino’s and I wasn’t really impressed with them…nor were my colleagues who delivered to them. Something about them being extremely cheap tippers.
What it means to me now? Looking back on this more than 20 years later, I can’t believe my parents allowed me to listen to that track. It doesn’t really mean much to me now except that it represents a nostalgic moment in my childhood. Well, I take that back. That whole 5’5”, 146 line that Montell dropped has long been the standard for me when women inserted that whole “I’m thick in all the right places” s*** into conversations. Like, that was the limit for me at one point when I was deep into the slim and petite women.
