It’s worth noting that in 1999 when this album was released, when you were 25 years younger than you are now, cell phones weren’t really a thing. Like, when Beyoncé and ’nem sing about their boos not paying their telephone bills, they’re talking about landlines. And gas prices in 1999? Their dudes won’t put gas in their cars? I remember gas prices in Atlanta being around 99 cents — yes, less than a dollar — for 87 unleaded gas. You could fill up a car for under $20. What a time to be alive. Hell, in the song “Bug-A-Boo” they mention pagers. I had a pager, even though I didn’t need one. They also mention MCI, and shout out to those of us in Atlanta who drove to Alpharetta, Georgia, multiple days a week to call you and attempt to sell you long-distance phone service for 10 cents a minute (25 cents a minute to Canada and Mexico). I was absolutely terrible at that job.
There are a few things worthy of note about “The Writings on the Wall.” For starters, this album is chock full of bangers. The non-singles were as good as the singles. For instance, “So Good,” “Temptation,” “Hey Ladies,” “Stay” and “Sweet Sixteen” are amazing records. That’s six records ON TOP OF the singles “Say My Name,” “Bills, Bills, Bills,” “Bug-A-Boo,” and “Jumpin’, Jumpin’.” That is 10 great records on one album. When I think about this album, I tend to think about producers Kevin “She’kspere” Briggs and Rodney Jerkins, but there were a bunch of folks involved in making this album the jam-heavy album it is, including Kandi Burrus and Missy Elliott, among others. Point is, this album is great. It even made Rolling Stone’s list as one of the 500 greatest albums of all time.
As it gets closer to the actual anniversary of this album, I’m sure there will be retrospectives and discussions and maybe even a panel or two. Who knows, maybe Destiny’s Child will reunite with this album’s lineup for a show or two to commemorate the occasion. I have no idea, but for now, I just want you to know and realize that Destiny’s Child, a group that featured one of the world’s best and most famous musical acts released their seminal album … 25 years ago this year, and if you were around when it came out and actively purchased it, jammed to it and discussed it, you are, like me, old.
You’re welcome. I’m here all 2024 (inshallah).
Panama Jackson is a columnist at theGrio. He writes very Black things, drinks very brown liquors, and is pretty fly for a light guy. His biggest accomplishment to date coincides with his Blackest accomplishment to date in that he received a phone call from Oprah Winfrey after she read one of his pieces (biggest), but he didn’t answer the phone because the caller ID said: “Unknown” (Blackest).
Make sure you check out the Dear Culture podcast every Thursday on theGrio’s Black Podcast Network, where I’ll be hosting some of the Blackest conversations known to humankind. You might not leave the convo with an afro, but you’ll definitely be looking for your Afro Sheen! Listen to Dear Culture on TheGrio’s app; download it here.
