S.H. Fernando Jr.

S.H. Fernando Jr. is a Brooklyn—based music producer and the author of Exploring the Music: Culture and Attitudes of Hip Hop. He has contributed articles to the New York Times, Rolling Stone, VIBE, and Source. Here, Fernando fondly recalls the summer of his eleventh year, when the pathbreaking artists of rap and hip hop first exploded in clubs, at block parties on city streets, and on urban radio stations.

IN THE SUMMER OF '79, I WAS JUST ANOTHER 11— year—old on an endless quest for fun. Between watching reruns of Speed Racer and The Munsters, playing ball, and riding my bike, life was idyllic. These were indeed the "Good Times" immortalized by Chic in their hit that was all over the radio those...