She had the moves — and the look — and she knew all the words.
On a day in which 54-year-old Mikie Sherrill lived out a dream by becoming the 57th governor of the state of New Jersey, her twenty-something-self was able to check off a different bucket list item: Performing on stage at her own gala with former members of Naughty by Nature.
Sherrill joined the group, which is famously from East Orange, and helped rap portions of two of its biggest hits: ‘O.P.P.’, and, of course, ‘Hip Hop Hooray.’
It was a remarkable end to a day in which Sherrill not only became governor — but she also looked remarkably comfortable while doing so.
During her speech at N.J. Performing Arts Center during the day, Sherrill cracked jokes with ease. She said Philly was in the Greater Camden area and that George Washington crossed the Delaware to reach ‘The Promise Land,’ among other one-liners.
Her delivery, which had been robotic at times on many campaign stops, was smooth. She controlled the room with her cadence.
But that was nothing compared to her curtain call at night.
To be clear: Performing on stage was Sherrill’s idea.
Inaugural insiders said Naughty by Nature — one of the biggest rap groups of the early 90s — was one of Sherrill’s favorite groups during her college years in that same era.
When the inaugural committee was planning the entertainment, Sherrill said she thought it would be great if she could perform on stage with them.
The committee wasn’t sure about the idea — or if the group would come.
As it turned out, the members of the group were so honored that she was such a fan that they not only agreed to come but said they would perform for free.
And Sherrill had the crowd behind her.
The salute to hip hop wasn’t just about Naughty by Nature. The group also did a bit of ‘Rapper’s Delight’ — perhaps the first crossover rap song — by The Sugarhill Gang of Englewood.
Yes, Jersey has no shortage of trailblazing stars in its long history.
In fact, that was part of a line that got Sherrill big laughs during her speech.
After rattling off the state’s contributions during colonial times and the Industrial Revolution — and the state’s contributions to science and entertainment in the past 100 years — Sherrill noted that New Jersey never gets enough appreciation.
“So, as the newest leader of our great state, for all these artists, battles and innovations, I wanted to take a moment to say, ‘You’re welcome, America,’” she said to a burst of applause.
Everything’s Gonna Be Alright indeed.
