I never wanted to host a podcast. I also never wanted to host a podcast with my nemesis Danielle Young—aka Young Work Release, aka Ms. Patti Patti, aka The Root’s social-content producer—but God doesn't care about my wants. As such, I have been blessed, but not with Ms. Patti Patti. She is my penance.
I have been blessed to meet some of my heroes, men who have shaped me into the man I am today. I was raised on hip-hop. I damn near killed myself trying to do Kid ’n Play's signature dance move, a story I was able to share with Kid on episode 16. And the first time I heard Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick's "The Show" (below), I was 9.
I was hooked. Needless to say, I was a total fanboy during the interview and kept interrupting Ms. Patti LaDanielle because she doesn't understand the cultural relevance of what was happening with Doug E. Maybe she does; who knows. I hope that one day she, too, gets to meet some of her musical favorites, like Soulja Boy, who inspired her liturgical dance performance of “Crank Dat Onward Christian Soldier.” (From Danielle: “You guys, don't believe anything Stephen says about me.”)
Doug E. and Ms. Patti Patti bonded over sharing the same birthday, and it was super annoying. In fact, Danielle is the one who broke the news to me and the rest of the hip-hop world that Doug E. is the first person to ever beatbox professionally. (Stop acting like you knew that, because you didn't. You know you were thinking the Fat Boys.)
Because God loves me a little more than he does Ms. LaDanielle (Danielle: “He doesn't”), all was redeemed. She tried to play Mr. Fresh's (which Danielle asked if she could call him) title of greatest entertainer in the world by asking him if he’d ever heard of Beyoncé, and his comeback was priceless. And let me just say, there's no one fresher than Mr. Fresh, which is probably why Febreze tapped him to partner up for their holiday collection.
Doug E. not only walks us through a bit of hip-hop history but also gives us his well-informed and almost historical top five, dead or alive, and explains how he and Prince became good friends. Bonus: Doug E. also hangs out with Jay and Bey.
I know that we say this all the time about all of our interviews, but this interview was really special.
Take a listen below and then send it to your friend in a chain email like the ones you hate on Facebook.
We love you all and hate each other.
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Stephen A. Crockett Jr. is a senior editor at The Root. Follow him on Twitter.