https://www.instagram.com/p/BuOLvZ_Ao6B/?utm_source=ig_twitter_share&igshid=1gdh0cduu56xu

From ?uestlove's Instagram:

questlove
I assume that I’ll get tagged by many on this day Feb 23rd 2019 in honor of #ThingsFallApart’s 20th Anniversary however today also marks another milestone: Although we cheated w a soft launch date in late dec 98 the official launch date of @OkayPlayer is Feb 23 1999. The ripple effect of this website & its influence is the real crowning achievement. I spent a good portion of 1997 on my new toy called #WebTV (stop laughing @angelanissel) marveling at @courtneylove debate w #REM fans over the merits of #RoxyMusic. I wasn’t a complete tech head but I sensed Love was up to something: besides the #BeastieBoys site (which gave daily updates on the group) this was the fastest real-time interaction i ever saw. But I knew there had to be a faster way to communicate with fans & their friends their friends & turn them into fans too. Idea seemed insane at the time. I don’t think I’m far fetched in saying before @twitter, #Okayplayer WAS the start of social media. Yeah sure @TheRoots brought us all together but then something started to happen a year later—this place had a life of its own OUTSIDE the band. Matter of fact I’m certain we gotta be the only place that values our critics (hello @fwmj) more than our actual supporters (peace @thisisjohnbook) lol (that may not be out of line at all) Okayplayer wound up being the music nerd’s playground. All of us trading ideas & lists & playlists & taking ideas & catching up and being wiser than ever. I love this idea of me being all knowing but truth be told I follow 10 of the brightest smartest music lovers & collectors of all time so their knowledge becomes YOUR knowledge by default.

For all of you headscratching when you see the use of the term #thatsite —-that’s how popular we’ve gotten: journalists and bloggers would routinely eat up the content on our boards and build entire careers off what they saw. Most prolly won’t give us credit deserved. But there is no denying. I’m raising a toast to the greatest ant farm of all time. Raising a toast to all my OKAYPLAYERS 🥂 happy 20th! Love! You! All!

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Gone: My Discogs collection for The Roots:
http://www.discogs.com/user/tomhayes-roots/collection