So, I randomly came across an interview clip of John Cena talking about Ice Cube and the NWA’s impact on his life. That made me think about how Alternative music resonated with me in the early 2000s. There’s an expectation that you should favor music you grew up listening too. I’m talking about the music that you don’t get to control. So that’s music played on the radio in your area. Cassets or CDs that your parent(s) are listening too. Cookout music is another one. Then you reach a point where you’re interacting with your peers and possibly hearing music that isn’t played in your home.
Let’s say you get or buy a cassette player, radio, or cd player that you decide what’s played on it. There’s an opportunity to now choose what you hear. This pivotal point usually happens around the teen years, because your less likely to carelessly break expensive gifts. Whether it’s odd jobs or birthday money, you’ve got your own spending money. Even if you personally don’t have access to these things, your friends become new access points to your global experience.
That might sound like I am reaching with this, but some kids arent as restricted as others. So friends can provide a world view that contradicts or challenges your home life. Why does this matter for music?
Music by its very nature is supposed to be transcendent. We try to box in who can enjoy it. Now, not all songs have a deep narrative and some of it is just sound. For whatever reason the mind and body react to what they’re hearing. So to kinda of bring this back to me. I have an eclectic taste in music. If I honesty had to choose what I enjoy the most, it would be alternative artist like Kid Cudi, N.E.R.D., Linkin Park, Paramore, Lupe Fiasco, Jaden Smith. In my opinion, they are alternative artist. I listen to them when I’m in my feelings. There are layers to this.
Like what John Cena said, the music impacted how he dressed. That’s not something that I got to express in my household as a teen. In my heart of hearts, I would have gone for an alternative asthetic. Instead, I spent most of my time in a sporty pop kind of lane with r&b sprinkled in. I definitely wanted clothes from Spencer’s and Hot Topic. Those were the kind of clothes I was seeing on Fuse and MTV and those stores were access points in my area. Keep in mind, online shopping was just getting started and it’s not like there was mail order access points. Plus, these things required debit/credit cards to purchase. So, I admired from afar.
Even without the clothes, these artists resonated with me. In someway, I could relate to the lyrics and there sounds were transcendent. They got me through times when things felt out of my control. They put words to feelings I couldn’t understand or label at the time. Like they could see me. In the teen years, there’s a daunting feeling that adulthood is around the corner. Its like Inside Out 2, new emotions seem to move in. While they’re trying to find there groove with the others, you’re experiencing emotional whiplash.
In short, I appreciate John Cena explaining where his love for rap comes from and how important music makes you feel. I didn’t go as far as he did growing up, but I understand the desire too. To this day, my mood impacts what I listen too. My wave of emotions determine what feels right from my eclectic taste. I appreciate you making it to the end of the post. I hope you can reflect on your taste and emotionally process what v your teen self was going through. See you next week for Motivational Mondays with Trisha.
Magnify Your Style 
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