Sound File Of & Comments About The Classic 1992 Deep House Record "Follow Me"

Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest revision: May 17, 2019 1:39 AM

This pancocojams series showcases the YouTube sound file of the 1992 House record entitled "Follow Me" by Aly-Us.

Selected comments from this sound file's discussion thread are also included in this post.

The content of this post is presented for historical, cultural, linguistics, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Aly-Us for their musical legacy. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publisher of this sound file on YouTube.

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PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE
This post is part of an ongoing pancocojams series on House music. Click the House music tag for other pancocojams posts on this music genre.

I wasn't acquainted with House music until very recently - or more accurately, I didn't know that certain music that I knew and liked were examples of House music. I'm learning about House music as I listen online to the music that I showcase on this blog and other records and as I read their YouTube discussion threads.

The posts in this series aren't given in any chronological order. The posts and their order of publication in this blog simply reflect what subjects and/or what records and/or which types of House music I chose to experience, learn about, and share in this blog at that time.

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INFORMATION ABOUT "FOLLOW ME" (HOUSE MUSIC RECORD)
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aly-Us
"Aly-Us is a house-music band from early 1990s New Jersey. Originally a trio composed of vocalist “Supa” aka Eddie L. Lewis, DJ Kyle “Small” Smith and vocalist William Brian Jennings, the band’s biggest hit was “Follow Me” released on the famous Strictly Rhythm house music label.[1]

Lewis, a native of Elizabeth, New Jersey who grew up in Linden, New Jersey and Rahway, New Jersey, continues to perform as Aly-Us.[2][3]

The deep house track, which was released in 1992, was produced and mixed by Kyle Smith, and executive produced by DJ Pierre and George Morel.

Remixes and features
In 2002, a remix to Follow Me peaked at #8 on Billboard's Dance Club Songs chart.[4]

In 2012, the English electronic band Hot Chip named the song one of its essential summer cookout songs.[5][6]

In 2016, the track was included on NPR’s playlist commemorating the Pulse nightclub terrorist attack in Orlando, Florida. Moby included the track on an accompanying double-CD to his recent memoir.[7]

Parisian-born DJ and producer Erik Hagleton remixed the song in 2017.[8][9][10][11]"...

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SHOWCASE SOUND FILE:  Follow Me - Aly us



oODJFriendlyOo, Published on Sep 3, 2010

Anthem from '92

I'm hoping to see the day
When my people
Can all relate
We must stop fighting
To achieve the peace
That was taught in our country
We shall all be free

Follow me
Why don't you follow me
To a place
Where we can be free
Come with me
Over there
Let's put an end to racial hatred

And there's love to share
Can you feel it
It's in the air
Know its time for changes
Time for us to care

Follow me
Why don't you follow me
To a place
Where we can be free

Where we'll all be free
-snip-
Statistics as of May 12, 2019 at 6:05 PM
total # of views - 8,893,433 views

total likes - 67,000

total dislikes - 3,100

total comments - 3,179

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PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE
Like many posts in this blog, this pancocojams post includes selected comments from the discussion thread of the showcased YouTube example.

I include selected comments from YouTube discussion threads in many pancocojams posts because I consider those comments to be folkloric material that is as worthy of preservation, documentation, sharing, and studying as the videos that I showcase. These comment threads document the opinions, remembrances, perspectives, and attitudes of some of the people participating in those discussion threads.

In addition to the information and opinions about House music, I'm interested in documenting the way that people communicate with each other in YouTube discussion threads. I'm also interested in commenters' use of African American Vernacular English. In these House music discussion threads I'm particularly interested in the use of terms such as "house nation", "in the house" ("in da house" / "in the building"), "househeads", "I'll house you", and "house your body".

DEFINITIONS:
Here are the meanings of these terms/sayings. Additions & corrections are welcome:

"House nation" - a statement used to indicate your affiliation with House music. According to a commenter in the YouTube discussion thread for Housemaster Boyz's 1987 record "House Nation", "househeads" ould call this out to let other people know that they were a member of House [music] nation rather than a member of a particular gang's nation. Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2019/05/housemaster-boyz-house-nation-with.html for a pancocojams post about that now classic record.

**
"in the house"
There are two meanings for the African American Vernacular phrase "in the house":
1. "in the house" is a phrase that is used to boastfully announce a person's arrival (or a group of people's arrival) on a scene- whether that "scene" is at a (night) club, at a party, in the recording music industry, or anywhere the real "hip" action is

This appears to be the earliest use for the vernacular meaning of "in the house" (1987- Heavy D & The Boyz - "The Overweight Lovers In The House" [Hip Hop record] and 1989 - THE BEATMASTERS with MERLIN. "Who's in the House" (House record).

2. "___ [is] in the house" ("in the building") is an African American originated phrase that is a "hip" way of responding to the question "Who's here from ____?" or responding to a command for people to "rep" ("represent"; "stand up for") where they are from or what group they are affiliated with.

The standard English meanings for the vernacular phrase "in the house" are the roll call responses “Here” or “Present”.

I believe that the second way that "in the house" is used is the one that is most often found in discussion threads for certain YouTube music videos.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2019/05/in-house-vernacular-phrase-meaning.html for more information about the vernacular meaning of "in the house".

**
"Househead" is an ardent follower of House music and/or a performer of House music/dance.

**
"I'll house you" - I'll have a romantic relationship with you and we'll live together (in the same house).
Or, "I'll house you" means the same thing as "house your body" = have sex with someone.

These sayings were coined or popularized by the 1988 now classic House record "I'll House You" by the Jungle Brothers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFGhQSiGHWM.

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I read A Lot of the comments in this discussion thread for this video. I believe that the comments that I chose for these pancocojams compilations are representative of those entire discussion threads.

I realize that other people may not have chosen the same comments for inclusion in these compilations that I have.

Because pancocojams is a family friendly blog, comments that include profanity are given with amended spelling.

These comments are given in relative chronological order with the oldest comments given first, except for replies. Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.

I've added a few brief explanatory notes after some of these comments. I chose not to include most of the comments about where House music began (in Chicago or in New York or elsewhere). I also didn't include any comments about Disco or any other music genres as a source or sources for House music.

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SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THIS VIDEO'S DISCUSSION THREAD
1. Hattori, 2013
"This track use to fill the dancefloor @ about 1 AM on a Saturday Night at the Ritz in Downtown Philly back in the day!!"
-snip-
"Philly"= Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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REPLY
2. Sassy Brown, 2013
"Yes indeed!!!! Philly stand up!!!"

**
REPLY
3. Hattori, 2013
"That's Right! The club scene in Philly was off the chains!! Couldn't go wrong with the Ritz, Bahama Bay, Vegas, or Gotham. Even some spots in North Philly and West Oak Lane was hittin back then too! Great times---miss those days!"

**
REPLY
4. Chef Norrawit J., 2014
"@tyroniusmaximus I was just at the Walnut Room in Written house Square and they were rocking this!"

**
5. Adam B. Smith, 2014
"This song reminds me of being a kid going Downtown Newark, NJ. All the music stores and shoe stores used to play this out in the streets back in 1993 and '94. Lol"

**
REPLY
6. toya adams, 2014
"Boy do I remember those days...Broad & Market had the corners locked with this song...and we all stopped and started dancing everytime we heard it...or at least I did."

**
REPLY
7. TRU BEAUTY, 2014
"Brick city baby"
-snip-
"Brick City" is a nickname for Newark, New Jersey.

**
REPLY
8. Trini4th, 2015
"@Adam Smith They used to play this when I went to Club Sensations #Newark # back in 1989...and at The Pep Rally's....long sigh..Shout Out to my #Shabazz # People....LOL"
-snip-
The bold font was given in this original comment. Contrary to this commenter's memory, the record "Follow Me" wasn't released until 1992.

**
REPLY
9. HBK HARLEY, 2015
"this reminds me of the block parties we had back in the days in Jersey City"

**
REPLY
10. Ballet Dancer NJ, 2017
"Adam B. Smith Jersey stand up and dance 💃🏾🕺🏿"

**
REPLY
11. Live Girl, 2018
"Newark IN The House For 40 years I can remember just hanging out downtown me and my friends At the Arcade . Those Where The DAYS"

**
REPLY
12. Larry Amons, 2018
"Adam B. Smith I feel you!! I'm from Newark, NJ myself!!!"

**
13. mrw324, 2015
"kanye west sample love lockdown"

**
14. Damy Street, 2015
"From Naples, Italy, with Love ♡♡♡"

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15. citrus hall, 2015
"house me lol"

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16. beefe30, 2015
"this song was big down here in Baltimore to.. them damn 90s son!"

**
17. Justin De Senso, 2015
"My jawn right here. Run miles to this jam."
-snip-
https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Jawn "Philly slang for a person, place, or thing (Jawn)."

**
18. Maskmanien Devyl, 2015
"as pitchy and of key the vocals are this is still a dope classic"
"Of" here is probably a typo for "off".

**
19. Ezequiel Vergara, 2015
"This cut would always clear the walls at the club and time to get your grove on... Don't make it like this anymore!!"

**
20. Nicholas Moutia, 2015
"One of the best, peace. from London."

**
21. IAMWAVEY KAHUNA, 2015
"Jersey in the building"

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REPLY
22. 2kool4ThiS-_-, 2015
"ayeeeeee!!! jersey in the house!!"

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23. Mr E, 2015
"This came on in the club when the night was at its peak. Nobody sat back down after this cause it was about to be lit until the let out."

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REPLY
24. paul thorne, 2015
"+Mr E i remember those days,bouncing around at half three,memories eh !"

**
REPLY
25. airrion smith, 2016
"WAREHOUSE....Thats all i gotta say"

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26. Elaine Anderson, 2016
"I don't know why but this song always reminded me of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr."

**
REPLY
27. T Patterson, 2016
"Elaine Anderson cause they added his speech in a mix"

**
REPLY
28. Mike Camerino, 2018
"this message is for all..not just one race all races"

**
29. megaman exe, 2015
"Every black cookout in America."

**
REPLY
30. Thomasina Williams, 2015
"lol....and every basement party!!!!"

**
REPLY
31. stephanie arostegui, 2016
"and every househead in Chicago"

**
REPLY
32. D'z jammz, 2016
"+stephanie arostegui I know that's right lmao"

**
REPLY
33. james hayden, 2016
"And Birthday Parties Too............And Soho Hot Music Gets Played Til' The Groove Is Gone"

**
REPLY
34. Lisa Frazier, 2016
"Oh yeah!..Im a playlist for a Labor Day cookout and this one is in the top 10."

**
REPLY
35. Anthony Hyatt, 2016
"Wait, people outside the NY, NJ, Bmore, and Chicago areas listen to house?"

**
REPLY
36. 1algwade, 2016
"Columbus, Ohio. Love house, well traveled as a youth and partied all over. If there was a good party within a 7hr drive radius, I was there!"

**
REPLY
37. Luis Morrow, 2016
"house is world wideeeeeee UK standupppp"

**
REPLY
38. SACTICAL BAG, 2017
"Wishful thinking . most bc play funk , soul or rap not house"
-snip-
"bc" is probably a typo for "bk" (black) people

**
REPLY
39. Jeff Z, 2017
"Every underground party in San Francisco too in the 90s!"

**
REPLY
40. Visual-M Media Films, 2017
"I always call this song the BBQ Song"

**
REPLY
41. Nina Dickson, 2017
"megaman exe alongside Electric slide"

**
REPLY
42. Bryan Calhoun, 2017
"megaman exe shoooot... Every cookout in Los Angeles from the mid nineties Latino black and Cool Caucasian folks too.. It was on in them nineties like the song say"no interracial hatred" "

**
REPLY
43. beautiful1forme, 2017
"megaman exe YESSSSS every cook out in the 90's in the bronx"

**
REPLY
44. 16647, 2017
"Every Warehouse,Backyard,House Party,Bedroom,Garage With Turntables in L.A"
-snip-
A "house party" is a party that is held in someone's home. A "basement party" is a house party that is held in the basement of someone's home. "House music" isn't necessarily played at house parties (including basement parties).

**
REPLY
45. Adore Ivette, 2018
"SACTICAL BAG many black bbqs especially with old heads"

**
REPLY
46. Emil Losoya, 2018
"and white ppl too love this song"

**
REPLY
47. Hallway NL, 2018
"megaman exe no not true I’m Hispanic my aunts and uncles listen to this"
-snip-
I think this commenter meant "It's not true that only Black people like the song "Follow Me"."

**
48. James Jones, 2015
"i was in the 9th grade when this came out back in 92 every car evry club every house party went crazy when this came out man so many memories"

**
REPLY
49. Davidverette Mboob, 2016
"I got ya by a good 10 years, when this song came out, I had 3 of my 6 children. I was a young mom at the time. today my oldest son is 28. Hurray for Old School."

**
REPLY
50. Albert Esparza, 2016
"+Black Sun It was quite the party starter. Everyone got up when this song hit the tables."
-snip-
"Black Sun" appears to be the screen name that was used by James Jones. He may have changed his commenting name when the YouTube policy around 2016 urged commenters to drop screen names for first and last names.

**
51. Thomas Lucas, 2016
"VA stand up"
-snip-
"VA" = the state of Virginia (USA).

**
52. Andrea Forbes, 2016
"TUUUUUUUUUNE!!"

**
53. Steve, 2016
"Skate 22 NJ stand up"

**
REPLY
54. HASP 432, 2019
"Mark"

**
55. Alisa Gumm, 2016
"3 Words.......Rainbow Roller Rink"

**
56. Lisa Fiel, 2016
"Totally love YouTube for keeping this music alive.. The fact that you list these songs with the others of the genre helps us find these great classics!! Love YouTube those other ones spotify and pandora are a joke YouTube has the list like no other..Found things here that I needed to remember and could never find otherwise..Thank you YouTube I will follow you"

**
57. MX79, 2016
"BALTIMORE STAND UP!!!"

**
58. Israel Valentin, 2017
"this style of music brings all races and cultures together to dance, ask the Puerto Ricans down in North Newark"

**
59. Krystle Krys, 2017
"Soul clap time..."
-snip-
From https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=soul%20clap
The "soul clap" is a particular rhythm: it means clapping on the eighth notes of a beat.

**
60. chefthomas812, 2017
"Classic house music. Always played towards the end of the night at the house parties, raves, etc. Early 90's deep house"

**
61. tokyo hipster, 2016
"Jerseyyy!!! summer time music"

**
REPLY
62. Sasha Thomas, 2018
"JERSEY BABY!!!"

**
REPLY
63. Dena Miller, 2016
"Powerful message 💯❤️✅🤛🏾"

**
64. John Moore, 2016
"A REAL THROW BACK OLD BUT I STILL LIKE IT IN 2017 313"

**
65. IceveinsProductions, 2016
"Wish I could go back to my 90s club hopping in New Jersey and New York and re-live the amazing vibe the crowd felt when this track dropped."

**
66. John currie, 2016
"Never gets old! True House music!"

**
REPLY
67. Davidverette Mboob, 2016
"your'e correct. this music also is a clean music. no cursing, sex, insults, no boasting, just truth and clean."

**
68. Bey Bey, 2016
"Newark New Jersey in the house yassss"

**
REPLY
69. Coutanyer Lawhorne, 2017
"Bey Bey Yes indeed!!!!!👍 Plainfield, NJ not to far from Newark"

**
REPLY
70. hunny drip, 2019
"Camden here!"
-snip-
"Camden" is a city in the state of New Jersey (USA).

**
71. Essi Wynn, 2016
"Child hood favorite and still till this day! Back yard gatherings with the family. Representing house music from Newark and East Orange, NJ. If you don't know about it you are missing out.....this is just a taste our love for music😝"

**
72. Arlasa Davis, 2016
"CLUB ZANZIBAR is where I first heard this song.....MEMORIES"

**
REPLY
73. Regina Cofield, 2018
"Yep me to NYC in the house

**
74. Todd Kennedy, 2016
"This is house music. Which used to unify solidify and dignify generations of young black lesbians and gays era 80-1995. It was a positive physical/emotional release to dance to our music. It was a culture!"

**
REPLY
75. Melissa Lane, 2016
"yes!"

**
REPLY
76. Meredith Holmes, 2016
"Amen."

**
REPLY
77. Nehes ba re, 2016
"Todd Kennedy not just LGBTQ, but all sexual preferences TrueChicagoHouseHeadz"

**
REPLY
78. GABRIELA DAWSON, 2016
"Lesbian 4 Lyfe Baby"

**
REPLY
79. akindele13, 2017
"Todd Kennedy House did/still does the same for us Straight Blacks too."

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80. R Parker, 2016
"A classic groove with a timeless message"

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81. DJMadVibes1, 2016
"This tune is going into the House Music Hall of Fame!"

**
82. Fifthcell, 2016
"Probably one of the best House anthems ever to this day"

**
REPLY
83. Misunderstood_Beauty, 2016
"i second that"

**
REPLY
84. Karim Salhi, 2018
"I just discover this powerful track and i agree with you.......i am from France"

**
REPLY
85. Mo Hodge, 2019
"Still a Hit"

**
REPLY
86. Russ Homan, 2019
"It most definitely is the hottest house anthem"

**
REPLY
87. Ms Erica, 2019
"Yesssss!!!!House music all night long!!!"

**
88. malik hill, 2016
"This is a Newark bricks anthem. Hoodaville stand-up."

**
89. 2882denise, 2016
"This song still gets the party/cookout started!"

**
90. Resa Prince, 2016
"If you hears this in 5he club you had to get up and do the soul clap 👏👏👏👏"

**
91. sskizzyy 990, 2016
"calling out from northern jersey.

this song puts me in a great mood. anytime anywhere I'll start dancing.

why can't music still be this great these days."

**
REPLY
89. Foxy Cotton, 2016
"Bergen County :}"

**
REPLY
90. Joy Hodde, 2016
"sskizzyy 990 Newark/Brick City"

**
REPLY
91. Kam 73, 2018
"Newark! Jc!!! Hoboken!!!"
-snip-
JC= Jersey City (New Jersey)

**
REPLY
92. Steve Murray, 2018
"Paterson"

**
REPLY
93. Prpl Rayn, 2O18
"HOO-DA-VILLE! Vailsburg, South Orange Ave, Coopers Sandwiches, YaERP, Sensations, Zanzibar, Blackbox, Club Eleganza, Club 88, Stolen Car Dance and just for for you deep Newark heads A SALAAM ALAIKUM!
I remember the pure joy at every event this song was played at, this will go down as one of the best house songs of all time."
-snip-
"Hoodaville" is a section of Newark, New Jersey. This commenter lists other places and things that he or she remembers about Newark, New Jersey and/or other places near Newark.

**
REPLY
94. Sasha Thomas, 2018
"JERSEY!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌❤❤❤❤❤❤❤!!!"

**
REPLY
95. Louis Payan, 2019
"Elizabeth (EASTWICK) NJ REPRESENT!!!!!"

Newark and other cities/county that are mentioned in this sub-thread are in northern New Jersey (near New York City).

**
96. Lee Doug, 2017
"Another magical blast from the past. I play this and loads of old Frankie Knuckles and Kerri Chandler tracks every day. Love it"

**
97. Jean Dessources, 2017
"Jersey stand up club Zanzabar in Downtown Newark"

**
98. Slick Rick, 2017
"My Nupes stepped to this back in the day 👌🏾"

**
99. ASAF YUSEF, 2017
"YEAH BABY CENTRAL PARK NYC AT THE ROLLER SKATE RING 2017 THE ANTHEM"

**
100. OhItsBrandon, 2017
"When I heard this in the morning my mom was ready to get our asses up to clean 😁👋🏽"

**
REPLY
101. 4th dimension, 2019
"I still clean and organize to house."

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102. realivetruplaya, 2017
"This is classic house. Get played on the radio every friday in bmore dc and va"
-snip-
"bmore dc and va" = Baltimore (Maryland), Washington D.C. and Virginia

**
103. Tommy Gozzi,2017
"old heads rejoice! this song is the epitome of what house music was is and always should be"

**
104. Khadijah Givens, 2017
"This song never gets old I love it once the dj drops this everybody hits the dance floor then it's time for the perculator plays!!!!"

**
105. anylah Smith, 2017
"I never understood why Djs played this song after Percolator what's the reason?"

**
106. Jamesy22, 2018
"One of the tunes that blew up the London dance scene..... such great times!"

**
107. DaBears FoeLifeBishh, 2018
"I'm from Chicago and this song brings back so many memories of the house parties and complete fun!! No bs!!"

**
108. Mgtow Elite, 2018
"This is truly classic deep house music 🎶. I hear this in my teens at a underground deep house club. Amazing 😉"

**
109. Pinky G, 2018
"when all you heard in the club was feet stomping in sweet rhythm, NYC"

**
110. Latonya Cook, 2018
"Chicago we be jamming house music"

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REPLY
111. Felicia Begay, 2019
"CHI-TOWN OLE SKOOL PICNIC 2019 CANT WAIT!!!!!!!!"

**
112. Bruce Banks, 2018
"Spc. Glascoe at Ft. Smith Arkansas on a mix tape. He brought it with for down time in the barracks. i thought, surely If I get up from my bunk nobody would have to Ask or Tell a damn thing! I just cried and got the same feeling inside that I get when we go to Peyton Colony, TX 78606 for Holidays, Juneteenth, Homecoming, Weddings, Funerals, etc. It was my introduction to House Music. Now this year, I'm building my Tiny House there. Free At Last! For real, Follow Me!"
-snip-
This comment is in response to a question that was posed early on in this discussion thread: "When did you first hear this song?"


**
113. GeneralBloodShed, 2018
"Once you go house you always house!!"

**
114. DouglasParkdondada4sho$hotta, 2019
"I remember my first taste of the club scene as a teen, bogus ID and all and I was a strictly hardcore hiphop fan but I loved this song. This frequency in music is sooooooo needed right now in the world!"

**
115. William Robinson, 2019
"Was in Germany when this dropped. This was the beginning of each house session."

**
116. Pedro Negron, 2019
"The greatest house track ever stand up my people"

**
117. Kai Wei, 2019
"Anybody remember the Remix of MLK's I have a dream speech over this beat??? Maybe they just did that in Baltimore"

**
118. Jibrell Davis, 2019
"This definitely rocked in North Carolina in the early 90s! Got played at all the high school dances"

**
118. rioabajo69, 2019
"in college strolling with my black frat!"

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119. Ryan Field, 2019
"Classic and the best forever house, hey from Canada Ya'll."

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120. wncroma, 2019
"In Brazil, this song was very successful in the 1990s. I love this music."

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121. Lorensa Yanez, 2019
"Song never gets old chicago all the way"

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122. hunny drip, 2019
"East side in the house rep"

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