Remember the 90’s? Can you recall when Mariah Carey wasn’t strange at all and neither was wearing purple pants? Remember Bill Clinton and Tupac? Darkwing Duck and Ninja Turtles? Super Soakers and Tomagotchis? The Charlotte Hornets and the Seattle Supersonics? Do you remember Left Eye and Aaliyah?
Whether you are laughing because the Hornets obviously play in New Orleans or you’re still adding things to the list I started above, please, do yourself a favor and read on. If you’re already reminiscing on the days when we snuck off to watch music videos before and after school and hoped our parents didn’t catch us lusting over the likes of TLC or NKOTB, then trust me, I have something for you… and no, it’s not a Starter jacket.
People that know me know I like to party. People that know me well know that I’m not big on themed parties. I’m the guy that shows up at an all-white party wearing all-black everything. Halloween party? I’m wearing a fresh fit and I might throw on a masquerade mask. 70s party? I’ll stay home and avoid the embarrassment of watching white guys wear fake afros. To the contrary, when my Airplane Mode affiliates Sonny and Jayron started the idea of a 90s party, I must admit I got pretty stoked. In very un-Mac-like fashion, I even started putting together an outfit.
So for the last two weeks or so, I’ve been doing my research. Between Netflix and my DVD collection, I’ve watched about a dozen movies from that lost decade. From Boomerang to Menace to Society to Poetic Justice to Clueless. Music videos by Tupac, PM Dawn, Naughty By Nature, Boyz II Men and even Garth Brooks stay streaming on my crappy laptop. I even went back and watched the YouTube clip of Clinton denying the Lewinski allegations, just so I could zero in on the essence of greatest swagmaster of the 20th century.
During my tireless research, I realized that there were so many different styles that stood out during that decade. I’m talking Cross Colors, single-strapped overalls, condoms as accessories, baggy and brightly colored “Nino Brown” suits, all-white sneakers, bucket caps, Timberlands, Coogi sweaters, high top fades, mushroom cuts, box braids, gold jewelry, cargo sweats, JNCO jeans… the options are limitless! It took some time for me to narrow the field, but I finally put together an outfit that I’m proud of. I really want to tell you all about it, but you’re going to have to wait and see. All I can tell you for now is, I‘m bringing back the Air Max 95’s. Yeeeeeeeah buddy.
So if you want to have a good time, dress like you’re a kid again and hear DJ Jayron spin cuts like Candy Rain, No Diggity, I Wish, This Is How We Do It and Hit Em Up, throw together a fit and join us at Society this Saturday night. As my man Sonny put it, “With this joint, we’re trying to remind people what a party is and why they started listening to music in the first place.” How radical is that? The official event page can be found here, and I hear there’s no cover for folks with September birthdays.
Cowabunga, dudes (and dudettes)!
#APM