Tuesday, February 03, 2004
This is why I love New York City
My wife and I are in the entertainment business. Now, don't get any champagne and caviar delusions; we are both near the bottom rung of the biz, but we are professionals and are almost paid like it. However, there are a few perks that we do enjoy. And one of them happened last night.
The wife, working in the casting industry (just save your headshots people, we don't want them), is often invited to various performances and whatnot by intelligent performers who want to be known by casting offices around town. Well, last night, the missus was invited to a taping of Russell Simmons' HBO Def Poetry.
And I'll be honest, at first I didn't want to go.
It started at 9pm on a Monday, and damn, yo, I need my sleep. But I have learned in this city that sometimes sleep must be sacrificed for the adventure. So off we went.
And there we were: young(ish), hip (sort of) and ready to slam.
It started off great. We got seated in the 3rd row, which means camera time, baby! Mos Def held court, just hosting on the fly. Then the poets began. One after another, they came out, blasted their missives, and left. They were all powerful, clearly the cream of the crop. Black, white, asian, old and young, they gave us powerful words, colorful metaphors and insightful vision into unfamiliar worlds.
"Music is the new cotton!" proclaimed one orator, as the audience quickly understood and gasped collectively.
"I write books like others write hooks," said the elder statesman of the group, instigating instant applause.
One large poet described an eat-off with the Grim Reaper to save his soul, won by hiding a Rice Krispy treat until the contest had been ended.
Even Tracy Morgan came out and read a classic. Now, when Tracy came out, I was pumped. I love Tracy Morgan. He's obtuse and original and funny as shit. When he walked out, I grabbed the missus in an "Oh, my god!" sort of way. I was thinking, "this is so worth it."
But little did I know who waited in the wings...
I have few living heroes in life. Some are leaders, like Mandela. Some are providers like Dr. Catherine Hamlin (google her). Some are entertainers like Chuck D.
And some are legends.
When Mos Def introduced KRS-One, I shit my pants. OK, not really, but if you watch the episode, I'm the big white guy who jumps about ten feet into the air when he walks out. KRS rocked us with his rhythm and words, and took us on a tour of the most powerful vocabulary around. He demonstrated what he calls "edutainment", education and entertainment in one phat package. He talked about how rap is what you do, but hip-hop was a way of life. It was like watching Picasso sketch.
And then someone started to be-box. Or was it a sample, because it sounded incredible- perfect, even. But it was no sample because Doug-E-Fresh walked out on stage, mike to lips. Classic, iconic, inventive, Doug-E is the be-box originator. And slowly but surely my mind began to comprehend that two of the originators of the hip-hop form were just ten feet in front of me.
And they began to freestyle.
My mind exploded instantly and I don't remember anything after that.
My wife and I are in the entertainment business. Now, don't get any champagne and caviar delusions; we are both near the bottom rung of the biz, but we are professionals and are almost paid like it. However, there are a few perks that we do enjoy. And one of them happened last night.
The wife, working in the casting industry (just save your headshots people, we don't want them), is often invited to various performances and whatnot by intelligent performers who want to be known by casting offices around town. Well, last night, the missus was invited to a taping of Russell Simmons' HBO Def Poetry.
And I'll be honest, at first I didn't want to go.
It started at 9pm on a Monday, and damn, yo, I need my sleep. But I have learned in this city that sometimes sleep must be sacrificed for the adventure. So off we went.
And there we were: young(ish), hip (sort of) and ready to slam.
It started off great. We got seated in the 3rd row, which means camera time, baby! Mos Def held court, just hosting on the fly. Then the poets began. One after another, they came out, blasted their missives, and left. They were all powerful, clearly the cream of the crop. Black, white, asian, old and young, they gave us powerful words, colorful metaphors and insightful vision into unfamiliar worlds.
"Music is the new cotton!" proclaimed one orator, as the audience quickly understood and gasped collectively.
"I write books like others write hooks," said the elder statesman of the group, instigating instant applause.
One large poet described an eat-off with the Grim Reaper to save his soul, won by hiding a Rice Krispy treat until the contest had been ended.
Even Tracy Morgan came out and read a classic. Now, when Tracy came out, I was pumped. I love Tracy Morgan. He's obtuse and original and funny as shit. When he walked out, I grabbed the missus in an "Oh, my god!" sort of way. I was thinking, "this is so worth it."
But little did I know who waited in the wings...
I have few living heroes in life. Some are leaders, like Mandela. Some are providers like Dr. Catherine Hamlin (google her). Some are entertainers like Chuck D.
And some are legends.
When Mos Def introduced KRS-One, I shit my pants. OK, not really, but if you watch the episode, I'm the big white guy who jumps about ten feet into the air when he walks out. KRS rocked us with his rhythm and words, and took us on a tour of the most powerful vocabulary around. He demonstrated what he calls "edutainment", education and entertainment in one phat package. He talked about how rap is what you do, but hip-hop was a way of life. It was like watching Picasso sketch.
And then someone started to be-box. Or was it a sample, because it sounded incredible- perfect, even. But it was no sample because Doug-E-Fresh walked out on stage, mike to lips. Classic, iconic, inventive, Doug-E is the be-box originator. And slowly but surely my mind began to comprehend that two of the originators of the hip-hop form were just ten feet in front of me.
And they began to freestyle.
My mind exploded instantly and I don't remember anything after that.
Monday, February 02, 2004
Predictions for Today
The word 'boob' will appear in over 4,000,000 blogs across the globe (including this one).
Janet Jackson will take back the headlines from brother Michael.
Everyone will proclaim it as the 'best Superbowl ever!!'
Someone will notice that they forgot to cut to Britany for a reaction shot as Justin molested Janet (sorry, 'Miss Jackson').
Lil' Kim will realize she now has the second most exposed single breast.
Someone will point out that while toughtfull political ads are not welcomed by CBS, erectile dysfunction and one-at-a-time booby shows are just fine. ("Daddy, what is Mike Ditka talking about?)
Phil Simms will receive a fourth grade grammar book in the mail, from an anonymous friend.
I will realize that football, is really, really, truly, and finally...
...over.
The word 'boob' will appear in over 4,000,000 blogs across the globe (including this one).
Janet Jackson will take back the headlines from brother Michael.
Everyone will proclaim it as the 'best Superbowl ever!!'
Someone will notice that they forgot to cut to Britany for a reaction shot as Justin molested Janet (sorry, 'Miss Jackson').
Lil' Kim will realize she now has the second most exposed single breast.
Someone will point out that while toughtfull political ads are not welcomed by CBS, erectile dysfunction and one-at-a-time booby shows are just fine. ("Daddy, what is Mike Ditka talking about?)
Phil Simms will receive a fourth grade grammar book in the mail, from an anonymous friend.
I will realize that football, is really, really, truly, and finally...
...over.
