Before there was Drake, there was Jimmy. Wheelchair Jimmy. I learned about life's toughest challenges, including eating disorders, rape, pregnancy, and not getting chosen for the cheerleading squad from a group of Canadian teenagers that composed one of the greatest TV shows of the millennial decade. Drake recently teamed up with his old squad to give us the Degrassi reunion we didn't know we needed.
His recently released video, "I'm Upset" included cameos from the cast that we all grew to know and love, and featured more than a few moments that will take you down memory lane.
Here were a few of the best moments from the video that gave us some serious nostalgia:
All In The Family
We get to see almost all of the characters, minus J.T. (played by Ryan Cooley), who acted their way into our hearts more than 10 years ago right where we left them. The video begins with Drake waking up in bed with a bodacious beauty to an alarm for his highschool reunion. He later meets up with his former bad-boy bestie who we all know as Spinner Mason (played by Shane Kippel) to crash their ten-year reunion in true 6 God fashion. We get a glimpse at the school where it all went down before they enter the wild party that later ends in flames, as to be expected.
How Jimmy Became Wheelchair Jimmy
One of the most iconic scenes on Degrassi is when Jimmy gets shot by a former classmate dealing with mental issues in a school shooting that leaves Jimmy paralyzed, and his shooter, Rick (played by Ephraim Ellis) dead. In the video, we see Rick in a similar scene, but instead of the aforementioned outcome, Rick is met by a clique of Drake's goons.
Before Heartbreak Drake, There Was Hazel
Degrassi had a predominately white cast, but there was always some melanin poppin' on the screen, and that's partially what made the show so relatable. Drake's first girlfriend on the show, Hazel Aden (played by Andrea Lewis), made a cameo in the video and proved that black don't crack. On the show, Hazel was a voice for us all and defied the 'black girl sidekick' stereotype but still dealt with discrimination and bullying based on her Muslim heritage with grace. Not to mention, she also had Jimmy's back after he got shot. She's a real one and it was great to see her looking as good as ever.
Emma & Manny 4 Life
One of my favorite relationships on the series was the friendship between Emma and Manny. Early in the series, Manny became aware of her sexuality and it got her into a whole lot of trouble, meanwhile her best friend Emma, tried her hardest to reel her in. In the video, we see an ageless Emma and Manny, with their same dynamic. Manny is pulling down her top, while Emma pulls it back up. It was a small moment, but it reminded me of how watching their relationship develop molded my views on sexuality.
The Credits
At the end of the video, we hear the familiar theme song and get a chance to see 'then and now' photos of all of the Degrassi cast members. I was already going to go look up old pictures, but this just made the process that much easier.
The visual was directed by 22-year-old rising star Karena Evans, who also directed "God's Plan", "Nice for What", and SZA's latest video featuring Donald Glover as the Adam to her Eve, "Garden (Say it Like Dat", and was a treat for Drake and Degrassi stans alike. If you're feeling nostalgic like I am and now feel the need to binge watch the entire series, you can check out every episode of Degrassi: The Next Generation ever on YouTube.
Drake also announced the release of his new album, Scorpion, which is set to release Friday, June 29 but until then you can check out the video below:
RELATED
Now as far as how “common” it is, I’m not exactly sure. However, what I will say is that whenever I happen to share this concept with other individuals (clients included), 8 times outta 10, I basically get the same type of response. First, they look at me like I’m crazy, then they pause and reflect and then their mouth opens wide as if in shock that my sex-ex just may be onto something…BIG.
Now before we get into all of this, I’ll let you know, off the rip, that I can’t find an exact science to back his theory up specifically.
At the same time, though, there is other types of data surrounding the topic of sex and what it does to our minds that could cause you to believe that he’s not totally off base in thinking that a “sex clock” just might be an actual thing; that it’s something that hell, he should at do a Ted Talk — or YouTube video or Instagram Live — about so that more folks won’t think that they are going low-key insane should it happen to them.
Ah, sex clocks. Let me explain further.
This Is How Sex Affects Your Memory
GiphyIn order to lay some foundation here, let’s first talk about how sex affects your memory, in general. For starters, did you know that vagina-penis intercourse has actually been proven to improve both your learning capabilities as well as your memory (it also decreases anxiety and depression)? Probably the easiest way to explain how and why is when you engage in this type of sexual intimacy, it strengthens your hippocampus which is the part of your brain that is not only responsible for learning and memory but how you process emotions too. Okay, so intercourse between a man and a woman boosts memory power and also taps into one’s emotions. Bookmark that.
HuffPost published an article several years back entitled, “Sex And The Memory of Sexual Experience.” Two things that the article said was “Researchers are seeing that certain areas of the brain light up depending on the thoughts, actions and experiences of a person” and “The rush of 'love' chemicals; dopamine, oxytocin, endorphins, opiates and other neurotransmitters, fill our body and brain quickly to produce the incredible feelings of love and attachment…” to the point where, if the action (in this case sex) happens several times, it can actually “codify” (makes plans or arrangements) your brain — and stays there.
Once that transpires, “our memories dictate how we will feel about a similar situation because our brain and body is coded from past experience.”
Now, if your brain can “code” the experience, don’t you think that it can also “code” the time when you were first introduced to the experience? Let’s keep going.
The Impact That Nostalgia Has on Your Sex Life
GiphyAh, nostalgia. If there’s one thing that is underestimated, far more than it ever should be when it comes to relationships, it’s that. In fact, I was recently in a counseling session with an engaged couple who happen to be each other’s first love.
What they are working through right now is if the potency of being each other’s first love is enough to get them through just how much they’ve changed since they first dated one another (chile, I totally get it; check out “What Happens When 'The One Who Got Away'...Comes Back?”). A part of the reason why it’s hard for them to process all of this clearly is because of the power of what nostalgia can actually do to a person.
Case in point. Although nostalgia — you know, reflecting on the past — can create warm fuzzies (if what happened in the past is good), it’s also the ultimate “editor” in the sense that, if you’re not careful, it can put you intoa state of denial about the entire experience. Not only that butnostalgia can get you to idealize situations too.
I totally get this because the guy who introduced me to the whole sex clock idea, although sex with him was pretty good (at least most of the time) and he actually was my first as far as certain types of sexual…umm…things…LOL, overall, he kind of was an ass yet because my memories of him would go to how he made me feel sexually first, whenever those texts would come, that would be the initial thing that I would think about — and if I did indulge him, it wasn’t until after a couple of weeks (or months) of copulation, with him, AGAIN, that I’d realize…”Ohhh, this is why I stopped sleeping with your ass…because you are an ass.” (Not mean or anything like that, just…selfish AF.)
Anyway, if you can relate on any level to what I’m saying here, just like the nostalgic memories of Thanksgiving or Christmas can do a real number on you every time the holiday season rolls around, why couldn’t the same thing happen if you recall the time of year when you had some amazing sex with someone and that month or season creeps back around too?
Yep. Bookmark all of this as well as we keep on going.Yes, Other Factors Play a Role in Your Peak Desires for Sex
GiphyIf you add to all of what I’ve already stated, the power of sexual chemistry — whew, chile. Definitely a part of the reason why some people tend to have a bigger sexual impact on us than others typically starts with sexual chemistry because that is all about the immediate physical attraction that you feel towards someone else — and that can’t be faked nor does it happen with just anyone.
Shoot, even when I reflect on my sexual past now, although I had pretty satisfying sex with about 75 percent of my partners, there are some who, to this day, are able to bring a certain smile to my face that others do not — and it’s because of the magnetic connection we shared and yes, having a deep mutual attraction definitely played a huge role in that.
If you then factor in the hormone levels/sex drive that you had at the time of engaging someone who you had a strong sexual connection with (for instance, if it’s someone from your 20s when most folks’ hormones are absolutely raging), the type of relationship that you had with that individual (for example, even if you weren’t officially together, they still made you laugh or feel safe or impacted you in a way that others didn’t or haven’t) and even if you take into account some of the other monumental things that may have been transpiring in your life at the time when you were being intimate with them.
Again, doesn’t it make sense that around the time when they first entered your world, sexually, your mind, body, and spirit may go back there and relive it all on some level, every time that time of year rolls around? Even if it’s just for a brief moment?
At Least Consider the Idea of a “Sex Clock” Before Taking Action
GiphyHmph. With all that has been covered, suddenly a “sex clock” makes sense, doesn’t it? I mean, even I will say that what’s truly wild about all of this is? Y’all, although the guy who brought it into my own psyche and I are pretty cool to this day, it’s been over two decades since we’ve messed around, and yet — a part of what caused me to even pitch this topic is because I thought about fall, how October is my favorite month of the year and yep, for a moment, he came to mind. Why? Because we started having sex in October. That damn sex clock.
So, when it comes to your own sex clock, just what should you do with this kind of information? I mean, you know how the saying goes: an ounce of prevention is certainly worth a pound of cure. Keeping that in mind, if you consider that memories, nostalgia, sexual chemistry, and your hormones are all science-based reasons to “crave” a blast from your past (pun intended and not intended), then when…whoever he is comes to your mind, now there is no need to overthink it or stress out about it. Maybe it’s just your sex clock alarm going off.
Acknowledge it. Woosah through it. And really ponder if replying to that text or DM is actually worth it.
Because sometimes alarms remind us to do something.
Other times? They warn us to wake up.
Especially when a (so-called) sex clock is involved, chile.
Feel me? Now, more than ever…I bet you do.
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Featured image by Giphy