Today’s Rant No. 49: TQ Edition
Previously on “Today’s Rant”
- As a kid growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, my knowledge about Los Angeles and its neighboring cities came from three sources. The film “Die Hard.” The television show “24.” And TQ’s signature song, “Westside.”
- Hard to believe 2023 marks the 25th anniversary of the release of “Westside.” Most fans of R&B music around my age should remember it. In the song, TQ reminisces about his childhood in Compton while also paying tribute to musical artists who had influenced his life, such as Ice Cube, Ice-T, and Too Short. TQ also includes a dedication to rappers Tupac Shakur and Eric “Eazy-E” Wright, who had died in 1996 and 1995, respectively.
- Tupac’s murder was the first celebrity death to have an emotional impact on my life. The 25-year-old rapper was in the passenger seat of a car in Las Vegas when someone opened fire at him with a gun. Four bullets struck him, and he died in the hospital six days later. I was at a junior high school dance when news of his passing was released by the media. Reactions from my classmates varied from nostalgia to shock to utter grief.
- I am generally not a fan of remakes or reboots of any kind. Films. Television shows. Especially songs. But, TQ has an excellent remake of the Eagles’ 1976 hit song, “Hotel California.” While TQ maintains its integrity, he adds a 30-second rapped introduction that makes his version unique.
- I have actually chatted with TQ a few times on Instagram. Friendly guy. He runs a media company in Vegas nowadays, where he covers their local sport teams, including the Las Vegas Raiders (my favorite NFL team). Who knows? Perhaps he and I can collaborate on an article one day.
- Even 25 years later, “Westside” is still one of my favorite R&B songs. I love its heartfelt sincerity. One has to appreciate the way TQ talks about his youth in a nostalgic but also realistic way in it. He mentions hearing random gunshots in his neighborhood, criminal activity, and even the incarceration and death of loved ones. Yet, he still manages to find peace in his life: “One day, everything’s gonna be fine. But, until that day, my only reply is westside ’til I die.”
- I was a 14-year-old high school freshman when “Westside” was released. My childhood was very different than the one TQ had experienced. I lived in a safe neighborhood. Attended private schools. Never witnessed acts of physical violence. Yet, I remember listening to the song on the radio at the time and falling in love with it immediately. While its mellow tone and rhythm tugged at my heartstrings, it was the lyrics about his love for California that were most relatable.
- As a kid, I loved California, too. I still do. Trust me, the state is far from perfect. But, as they say, home is where the heart is — and my heart is undoubtedly in California.