INFO:

Safire “Let Me Be The One” (1988) safire arrived on the music scene in 1986 with her debut and seminal latin hip-hop (as it was called before the genre was termed “freestyle”) song “don’t break my heart.” the song became a club hit and softened the ground for the latin freestyle explosion that would happen just a year later. by 1987, latin hip-hopu002Ffreestyle music was topping playlists in several cities throughout the country including miami, chicago, los angeles and new york. and safire’s second single “let me be the one” was among those songs. the club and sales success of the independently released single helped safire become one of the first solo freestyle artists to sign with a major label. safire would go on to great success that included a top 20 hit with the 1989 power ballad “thinking of you.” the spanish version of the song was used in one of the first HIVu002FAIDS PSAs to air in latin american countries. miss mama even graced the cover of spin magazine, becoming the first latina to do so. in early 2020, my best friend and i purchased tickets to a freestyle concert that was to take place in mid-march. we were so excited to see both cynthia and safire live. but then the pandemonium happened. a few months later, i dreamt (or is It dreamed?) that @brevetto and i were having drinks at a bar in north philly. as we sat, i noticed a poster promoting a freestyle concert with the word “canceled” written across it. i said “ooh look.” just then, i made eye contact with freestyle music pioneer and icon safire. she came over to say hi and had drinks with us. I remember telling her, “wow! you are even more beautiful in person.” armonté and i were finally able to attend that concert in 2021. and baybee, miss safire set that stage on fire!