Will Grind with Me Terrace come to Miami-Dade? Proposal puts rap lyrics on the map

The longest and most heated debate for Miami-Dade County commissioners on Tuesday came down to the question of creating Grind with Me Terrace, Peace in Da Hood Street and Big Money Baller Street.

Those were some of the names proposed by a commissioner who wants to bring buzz to a downtrodden area north of Miami with a cluster of street signs bearing lyrics of rap and hip-hop songs made famous by local artists who made it big.

“If you’re from Miami, you know these famous songs and these sayings,” Commissioner Keon Hardemon, the sponsor, told board members. “For those of you who may be a little uncomfortable, I ask you to support me and my community.”

Hardemon’s pitch failed, with a divided board falling short of the votes needed to create the two dozen street names in the Liberty City neighborhood where Martin Luther King Boulevard meets Northwest 18th Avenue.

Under Hardemon’s proposal, a part of Northwest 66th Street would have become Chase Dis Money Street after the the title track from the 2017 album by Miami’s Mike Smiff and a part of Northwest 69th Terrace would have become Trick Love the Kids Street after a rap song by Miami’s Trick Daddy.

The lead opponent, Commissioner Danielle Cohen Higgins, objected to the fact that Hardemon had filed the legislation last minute, robbing property owners of the chance to protest the county renaming their streets after songs with lines some may find inappropriate.

“How do you get to my house? Oh, go up 18th Avenue and make a right on Poor Little Girl Street and make a left on Big Money Baller Street and right in front of Chase This Money Street you can find the corner store where we can meet,” Cohen Higgins said. “It kind of opens the door to us naming streets in ways I don’t feel comfortable about. I don’t want Back That Azz Up Boulevard anywhere in Miami-Dade County, for example, even though it’s a very popular term and phrase that’s utilized in music.”

Despite being branded the Broadway Arts District after one of the top land owners there, Broadway Cuthbert Harewood Jr., the area has suffered from illegal dumping, broken street lights and general lack of commerce beyond corner stores and other neighborhood staples, Hardemon said. He wanted the crop of new street signs celebrating rap lyrics with local origins to be the finishing touch of a revival project he said is almost finished that includes traffic circles, new planters, landscaping and improved street lighting.

The hourlong debate didn’t divide neatly by race or party. Hardemon is Black and a Democrat, as is Cohen Higgins. Joining Cohen Higgins on the no side was Micky Steinberg, a white Democrat, and three Hispanic Republicans: Juan Carlos Bermudez, Rene Garcia and Anthony Rodriguez.

Joining Hardemon for yes votes were fellow Black Democrats Marleine Bastien and Kionne McGhee, plus two Hispanic Republicans: Raquel Regalado and Roberto Gonzalez, a lawyer in his mid-30s with young children who was once an aspiring rapper himself. He praised Hardemon for coming up with a government action that’s likely to catch the attention of young people.

“There’s negative connotations with a lot of things,” he said. “But I appreciate you’re trying to take something and make it a positive.”

The vote came the same day the commission endorsed Miami renaming a part of Northwest 11th Avenue after 2 Live Crew founder Luther Campbell, one of the most famous rappers to come out of Miami. Hardemon also agreed to amend his legislation to honor “Uncle Luke” with a street, opting to switch out Lum Lum Street for You Go Girl Street at Regalado’s request.

Hardemon will have another shot at his street-renaming plan on March 18, when commissioners meet again. After his legislation failed on a 5-to-5 vote, the board voted to allow a second vote at the next meeting. That could give Hardemon the chance to pull in three of the commissioners who missed Tuesday’s vote: Kevin Cabrera, Oliver Gilbert and Eileen Higgins.

Hardemon pointed out he voted for legislation from Cabrera in December to ratify Hialeah renaming a street after President Donald Trump.

“I struggle to find why we would be against this,” Hardemon said. “You would think I’m asking you all to do something nefarious by trying to project life onto 18th Avenue.”

This story was originally published March 4, 2025 at 6:29 PM.