That joint was interesting. Rolled through to the event late, due to sleepiness, fatigue, and not having the address to the joint. Just remembered it was off of 5th street somewhere in North East, DC. Lynn called Drew, and he told us where to head…after that, we got there relatively quickly. Find a parking spot relatively easily, which gives me the impression, “…either a lot of folks walked, took the train, or ain’t nobody here!” After getting heckled by King Cipher before I could even make it up the steps to the establishment and seeing Droopy as soon as I entered the joint, I could see with my own two eyes the joint was on ‘e’. That’s cool, now I have absolutely no guilt about being late; some guilt may have reared its ugly head after the event started r something.
Not a lot of folks present, but it’s whatever. Dapped Krayola, who helped organize the project and the event, and got myself and more importantly Lynn past the door woman (Abena Disroe). Saw the lovely Tonya “Ja Hipster” Mathews in the joint, which of course brought an instant smile to my face seeing as tho’ Sir Reigns and I are the official charter members and founders of her fan club. Take that for a run on sentence!. Also saw Taj, who always brings a cool peace demeanor with him. I rapped with Tonya for a bit, exchanging product with her and what not. Knew from the moment I walked in the door that I would be there longer than I wanted to be. Liked some of the setup of the establishment, tho’. They had some posters of Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley, etc. The Jimi joint was very reminiscent of a Prince cd cover, you know the one where it’s black and white and he has his jacket open? Found that interesting…
Oh, ran into this dude Donnell that I knew from when I was a freshman in high school. Haha, I see that dude once every 4- 5 years.
The night consisted of me walking back and forth between rappin’ with King Cipher and Drew in the back, and chillin’ with Lynn and Taj towards the front. That and reading the lips of the characters of Rush Hour which was playing on mute on the big screen in the back of the establishment. The joint started off with Krayola and Hoo Krazy doing their thing, followed by King Cipher doing a ten hour show. This cat was doing requests, encores, telling his life story, taking his shirt off while he’s singing to shorties in the front…:o). While King was rockin', I told Krayola I didn't want to be there until 12:00 (which is when the event was scheduled to end).
Ja Hipster did her thing, along with a sick Shin Q whom I couldn’t really hear over some loud dudes in the back. Drew was already a bit blown because he was told he was up next, and Ja Hipster and Shin Q went before him…and Tamar’s cool ass. Oh, and Abena Disroe…
Finally, Drew went up and did his medley of poems before he crushed "Why Do I Like You?” yet again. There was a rowdy bunch of jokers who only quieted down for their man from the Souf Side who spat a verse…a verse, ya’ll, then rolled off stage. Wow, disrupt other folks all night, to spit a verse about selling crack and what not…interesting. That Drew, man…can I have screaming fans like you do, man? Can I just say that he had some extra chick supportin’ him last night? Shorty was like the madd rapper rapped up in estrogen…it’s all good tho’, I just say that cause I’m jealous and I don’t have your incredible fan base:o) Eventually, midway through Drew’s set, it actually got quiet because said jokers left. That left Drew to captivate the audience and his extra manic fan. She was yelling some shit I couldn’t quite discern, but, hey…I’d probably be a Drew groupie too if I were in her shoes….which is a hell of an if that of course would never happen, but…anyways… Drew ended the joint off with the sing along joint, “Teachin’”, which always gets love too.
I went last...of course. Almost 11:30 before I rocked...By that time, I was ji’ uninspired, and only really wanted to plug the websites…and my book. I did five pieces, but don’t know whether or not I came off. Don’t care…I told Krayola I didn’t want to be there all times of the night, and look what happened.
After the joint ended, we actually wound up hittin off a freestyle cipher with the likes of King, Taj, Drew, and myself…Lynn would’ve jumped in, but she wasn’t too adept at jumping into ciphers I don’t think. After the dj or whoever that was cut the music twice in haterous fashion, we rolled outside to catch a sample of Taj’s CD project. Dunn sounds good on wax, or, err, cd…I can’t wait for his release because I think he’ll actually put some quality work into the project.
Took Drew to the ATM and Wendy’s before takling him home. That, was my night…
PS- I'm still grateful for the opportunity to be on the project, and for last night. Good lookin' out Kom, Gadget, and Krayola (and Donnell).
PPS- You can probably get a free copy of the Earthworm Project cd if you contact Krayola at www.theparagonsound.com or 202 381 1127. The joint features, myself, the 5th L (Droopy, SIr Reigns, Native Son, The DriFish, and Komplex), Tonya Mathews, Chuck Maddox, Krayola, and many more...!
“Well whooptie doo, but what does it all mean Basil?” ~Austin Powers