Living with Loren

I just turned 34 this past Saturday. Thirty-four. And as I sat with my slice of Oreo cheesecake and a heart full of gratitude, the reflections started to pour in like reruns of my favorite shows.

I come from an era where Friday taught us family wasn’t just blood, and The Wood showed us the magic of growing up. Where Poetic Justice gave us poetry in motion, and Brown Sugar reminded us that love, culture, and music are all intertwined.

I was shaped by Family Matters, Rugrats, Hey Arnold, That’s So Raven, and on Sundays, The Andy Griffith Show, Matlock, Murder She Wrote, and In the Heat of the Night played like background music to our after-church dinners.

Martin made us laugh. Living Single gave us style. Girlfriends taught us sisterhood. I watched Major Payne give order and humor in one breath. I witnessed Atlanta rise into the Mecca of Hip Hop. I lived through the Crunk Era.

I remember Ciara dancing like nobody else, Beyoncé evolving into Queen Bey, and Usher… well, Confessions is still a cultural moment.

I come from the era that saw Jimmy Brooks become one of the greatest rappers alive. I was there for Kobe’s reign, LeBron’s rise, the Williams sisters dominating courts, and Tiger Woods making history.

I sang heartbreak with Monica and Brandy, got my daily fix from 106 & Park, and watched Atlanta bloom into the heartbeat of Black excellence.

J. Cole gave us quiet brilliance—proof that substance never goes out of style.
Nipsey taught us the power of the marathon—that legacy is built in the long run, not the sprint. Their words? Still running laps in my spirit. That’s the era I’m from—platinum albums, Black icons, and cultural shifts that moved the needle and our souls.

I love old school—like my mama and ‘nem. I’m rooted in my school. And I can still appreciate the new school. That’s what it’s all about, right? Keeping it going. Evolving without erasing.

My childhood taught me that through it all—joy, pain, loss, love—life is lived.

So shout out to all the people, places, and moments that shaped me. And to those still aspiring to shape.

At 34, I’m in what I call my Solomon Bag—seeking, listening, learning. I don’t know what I’ll find, but I do know this: I’ve found peace and wisdom in my roots.

And that? That’s enough.

Cheers to 34.

Made from soul. Raised on culture. Walking in wisdom.

Until Next Time,

Keep Living!

Love, Loren

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