The birth of rap/hip hop was an ugly thing. Can you believe some of these lyrics?
If you’re not a square
from Delaware
And you’ve got on clean underwear
And your Momma ain’t on welfare….
Oops…. I just threw up in my mouth a little.
Nevertheless, there was never a shortage of shaking asses on the dance floor when the DJ played this song. This song was the first commercial recording with the phrase “The Roof! The Roof! The Roof is on fire!”, which has since entered popular culture. This song actually peaked at #5 on the charts in early 1985.
A story that rotated around campus (veracity unproven) was that a warehouse close to campus caught fire. A group of onlookers - including college students - assembled to watch the fire department battle the blaze. Someone had brought a boom-box and played this song. The police and firemen were not amused.
The Roof is on Fire, by Rock Master Scott & the Dynamic Three
What memories does this song make you think of?
