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TL Cross

@thisistlcross

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📖 Cultural Historian
🎹Platinum Producer/Songwriter
🎤Minister of Music
👨🏽‍🏫Lecturer
🏠Husband & Father
📺 TV host
🎶 Founder/Cross Academy Performing Arts

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#QGTM
Whenever you listen to Rock Box, pay close attention to the echoed adlibs from @revwon and @kingdmc …..stay with it….because encoded in those words is a history that most don’t know. It’s a thread where if you move or thing, it touches 10 other historic things. Enjoy and may our history continue to be preserved.
-TL Cross

#holliscrew
RIP JMJ
Fat Fludd
RIP Runny Ray

@kingdmc
@revwon
@elai_tubo
@butterluvhollis by @thisistlcross

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7 months ago

EXHIBIT C.
(See previous post for a breakdown)

DISCLAIMER: This post is not about the “Mandela effect”. This is a comparison of an episode of a sitcom where one is shorter due to edits. They are not two different sets of dialogue. Thank you.

This clip shows how original versions of TV shows have been shortened via syndication and streaming. But the bigger takeaway is that most people don’t realize it. It’s been awhile since we’ve seen the original broadcast.

In an era where books are being banned and original materials are becoming harder to find. This is just a small/fun example of that concept.

Entertainment aside, if we don’t hold on to original copies of books, newspapers, magazines, vinyl, commercial VHS tapes, television recorded VHS tapes, cassette tapes, DVDs, original news broadcasts etc, we will watch history be edited with holes in it where things are missing and presented as though it is the complete picture. Here’s a light example of that concept.

This post is less about The Cosby Show and more about the preservation of primary sources.
Most people stream TV shows and films without knowing that some of them have entire scenes missing.

The danger is when this happens as it pertains to historic events.

RIP to the legendary @malcolmjamalwar as well is the great Michelle Thomas.
Respect to the incomparable @tichinaarnold

-TL Cross by @thisistlcross

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7 months ago

#CROSSCOLLECTABLES

This is a tapestry of how aspects of black life was presented on BET in the late 80’s, early 90’s.
There were quite a few journalists that I truly admired including @edlgordon @therealtavissmiley and many others.
The way our story was covered by those journalists was very important to a budding black media at the time.
Sports figures, comedians and musicians were given the opportunity to talk about life, family and aspirations. The mighty @donniesimpsonsr and a host of other personalities were so important to that movement.
It was a true beacon for what “telling your own story” means.
From Our Voices to Rap City to Teen Summit.

I also must acknowledge the two revolutionary minds of @videomusicbox and @aka_thevidkid for actually introducing me (and most of the community) to what it looks like when we represent us. I have to start with them. Their contribution cannot be matched!

We didn’t know how good we had it! by @thisistlcross

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a year ago

On today’s episode of The Brilliant History Corner….
(Fixed and reposted)

….we focus on two of our very important sitcoms along with two of their legendary stars.
You will never believe who was almost on one of these classic shows before ultimately landing# on a different one..
Truly a fun story of destiny.
Enjoy!

-TL Cross by @thisistlcross

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4 days ago

Re-loaded. My first post of this cut off. Here it is in its entirety.

In this Primary Source we look into a hard copy of the legendary Right On! magazine. Enjoy the history

-TL Cross by @thisistlcross

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7 days ago

Today on The Brilliant History Corner….

…we look at one of my all time favorite films, The Five Heartbeats.
I’ve watched this movie too many times to count and have quoted various parts as much or more than any other film (outside of Coming to America).
Robert Townsend (@iamroberttownsend @drbyer_ ) is absolutely brilliant.
And this film is just ONE of the reasons why.

There is a deeper connection that I have to this film that includes my mother but that’s a story for another day.

I was able to hone in on one of my favorite storylines in this film….that needs further examination.
I was able to sit down with THEE legendary actress-writer-director-turned-psychologist to zoom in on this part of the story. Watch to find out who.
Hint: It’s a woman that if you know me, you’d know how profound my respect for her runs.
Enjoy.

-TL Cross

Shirt cred: @iamchrislat by @thisistlcross

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10 days ago

One of my hobbies is collecting magazines and newspapers from yesteryear.
Here I am bringing an authentic issue of Ebony to my folks here.

So often, we hear people say “back in the 50s (or whatever period) black people felt this way or that way”. Meanwhile, very seldom are people allowing the folks from that era to have their own voices heard.
This is tragic!
I have learned over time that the original voices often times differ from the modern understanding and interpretation of the folks of the past.
They deserve to be heard in their own truth as opposed to framed by today’s slant.

Ok folks, here is a December issue of Ebony magazine. Enjoy!

-TL Cross
(Cultural historian) by @thisistlcross

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12 days ago

Today on The Brilliant History Corner….

We look into what is among the most recognizable classic Hip Hop influenced outfits worldwide….if not the most.
We look into the origins of that particular clothing combination and it lands us smack dab in the middle of Hollis, Queens.
Ride with us on this one and learn who uncle Charles is while you’re at it.
Enjoy.

-TL Cross by @thisistlcross

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13 days ago

On this episode of The Brilliant History Corner we look into a chant from a hit song in the early 80s….

The chant stems from a common phrase at the time but the question is what was the meaning behind the chant and more importantly the song itself!
But one thing we do know…..the chant started with The Disco 3 aka Gat Boys…..and cultivated partially by fellow legend Kurtis Blow as it became a groundbreaking hit song!

Enjoy!

@djhurricane1 @kingdmc @koolrockski @legendarykoolrockski @legendaryfatboykoolrockski by @thisistlcross

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24 days ago

On today’s The Brilliant History Corner episode….

One of the mysteries of the early 90s is connected to a song called The Power.
Many listeners first heard the song with one artist’s vocals on it only to seemingly be replaced with a different set of rap verses, same music sans some added harmonies and adlibs by the awesome voice of Penny Ford.
There are so many moving parts to this puzzle.
Watch as we work to get some clarity on this mystery.

-TL Cross by @thisistlcross

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a month ago

Hip Hop history.
If you are from Queens NYC (especially the greater Jamaica area) you either know something about this, have heard about it or perhaps you went to Andrew Jackson High School…..one of Hip Hop’s most impactful High Schools.
But the question is…..
How can a Hip Hop legend both change the game on television while simultaneously guide, protect and guard the well being of the young folks in Queens?
You’ve heard about it….but now you can say beyond the shadow of a doubt that it actually happened AND you can now put a time stamp on it!

-TL Cross by @thisistlcross

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a month ago

From the moment I saw this brilliant film House Party (directed by the brilliant @reggiehudlin and @warringtonhudlin) and I heard the name Belal something told me there was a story behind that name.
And once I paired it with a certain DJ, I just had to know if the connection I’d been thinking all these years was real and how it all came about. Was this character named after who I think it was?
Well, I finally was able to find out if it was.

Check out the story by the character’s namesake.

House Party is by far the definition film that has preserved the cultural institution which is the house party in our communities.
The variance of how the Hudlins were able to put this brilliant film together is a national treasure.
One of my favorites and a very important film in its own right.

Be sure to check out Reginald Hudlin’s Harvard thesis (short film) House Party from 1983 which served as the earliest iteration of this epic film’s inception.

Special thanks to the homie @beezo875 for looping that Toussaint beat up! Appreciate you, my brother.

Enjoy!

A sincere prayer of peace and rest for the legendary Gene “Groove” Allen

-TL Cross

@djbelal by @thisistlcross

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a month ago