Complex Back in the Day: The Best of 1989

COMPLEX'S 1989 POP CULTURE AWARDS

THE SPORTS ICON: BO JACKSON
Bo Jackson's 1989 resumé: MLB All-Star Game MVP with the Royals; 950 yards rushing, including a 92-yard touchdown run against the Bengals with the Raiders. But he still don't know jack, 'cause Bo can't rap.

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THE DRINK: SNAPPLE
This is the year Snapple introduced favorite flavors like Fruit Punch, Mango Madness, and Kiwi Strawberry, which prevented us from vomiting numerous times when mixed with the ass end of a 40-oz. of malt refreshment. Cheers!

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THE LIQUOR: ABSOLUT VODKA
The first, but not the last time, an ad convinced you to drink something. Gulp.

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THE SKATE VIDEO: (TIE) HOKUS POKUS AND BAN THIS
Before you could Google ollie, you had to watch these to learn how to turn tricks. And all this was achieved with tiny cameras that rested daintily on your shoulder like a bazooka.

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THE VIDEO GAME SYSTEM: NINTENDO GAMEBOY
When the 8-bit, grey scale handheld console hit the U.S. shelves, its original one million-unit shipment sold out in weeks. We haven't seen a grey-scale banger this hot since. Sorry, Helen Mirren.

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THE GADGET: MOTOROLA MICROTAC
At $3,000, the smallest and lightest cell phone of the '80s was the ultimate status symbol. Plus it made it a lot easier for cops to tell who was dealing drugs. Doh!

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THE CAR: MAZDA MPV
The minivan may have been the automotive trend of the Reagan era, but only one made it onto the Car and Drivers' 10 Best List and into a Wu-Tang video. Tical!

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THE MEDIA MISHAP OF THE YEAR: THE GRAMMYS SNUB RAP
It was bad enough that the Academy chose to give the first ever rap Grammy to the Fresh fuckin' Prince (and DJ Jazzy Jeff, for "Parents Just Don't Understand"), but they didn't even air their acceptance speech. Will is still working out his aggression, forcing Seven Pounds on us. Ayo!

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THE BOOK: LONDON FIELDS, BY MARTIN AMIS
Rape, murder, infidelity, identity theft, and wealthy wives looking to get hit off—now brought to you on a bi-monthly basis by Complex, and daily on complex.com!!!

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THE SNACK: DUNK-A-ROOS
Everybody dipped the cinnamon, honey graham, and chocolate chip flavored cookies in the little vat of creamy frosting. You decided the pace with which you gave yourself diabetes.

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THE COMIC BOOK: THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN, WITH TODD MCFARLANE
McFarlane worked on 28 issues from 1988-'90, helped create the alien villain Venom, and generally became a superstar artist while blasting the public in the face with Spidey's sticky web-shooter.

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THE FOOD INNOVATION: WENDY'S
The fast food chain launched the first Super Value Meal menu, which included a plain hamburger, a junior bacon cheeseburger, and fries, all for only $.99. A year later, the "couch cushion change scramble" was officially added as an event at the Drunk/High Olympics.

CHECK OUT THE REST OF OUR 1989 LISTS: