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It was 1983. I was discovering hip-hop artists like Grandmaster Flash and Kurtis Blow. My older brother (who had previously been responsible for my musical tastes) continued to soak up outlaw country and rock. I remember when John Cougar Mellencamp's album Uh-Huh came out. It was huge. Not only because we were in Indiana (where Mellencamp hails from) - he had hits. This was not one of them but it was always my favorite cut on the record. Years before I actually decided to play guitar, Johnny told me to "Forget all about that macho shit and learn how to play a guitar". Done and done, Johnny.

In an effort to commit to posting more often and to give you what you want (which in this case is guilty pleasure nostalgia) I'm launching a new weekly series called Throwback Thursdays.  

In 1985, at the age of twelve, I attended a youth convention in Indianapolis, Indiana.  While browsing my way through the expo hall I stopped to comb over the various music on display.  One booth in particular had a giant promotion for a song that claimed to be "The 1st Ever Gospel Rap".  That song was "The Bible Break" by Stephen Wiley.  It came as a cassette single - the tune on one side, the instrumental version on the other.  I paid my $5 and opened it immediately.  Inside the sleeve was a card that claimed if I memorized the entire song I was eligible for a FREE Stephen Wiley poster.  There was no accountability as all you had to do was mail in the postcard and claim your prize - but I memorized it anyway.  Still know 90% of it.  It was the sole reason that I won every Sunday School contest involving the books of the bible.  Two weeks later I proudly hung the poster (same as the cover art) on my wall.  

But you can't discuss Stephen Wiley without mentioning his biggest claim to fame, which is that he wrote the 1984 song "Basketball" for Kurtis Blow, who was at that time a seminal figure in hip-hop.  Enjoy.

Merry Christmas to each and every one of you.  Here's Kurtis Blow with the gift that keeps on giving.