Sunday, July 12, 2009

NYC & Rock The Bells


Whats really good? I just got home from spending the day in the pit at the Rock the Bells concert in Maryland!! This was my second time to Rock the Bells, my first being last year. The artists I saw perform today included Nas, AZ, Styles P, Busta Rhymes, KRS-One, Supernatural, Pharoahe Monch, MOP, The Roots, The RZA, Raekwon, Royce Da 5'9", Joe Budden, Crooked I, Joell Ortiz, Slum Village, Big Boi, Common, & Tech N9ne. Damian Marley was also on the bill, but he was unable to attend due to family illness. My best wishes to him and his family. Even so, the show was spectacular, with especially great performances by Busta Rhymes, Tech N9ne, Big Boi, and The Roots. After a spirited freestyle lead-in from KRS-One & Supernat, Nas brought the house down by bringing out special guests AZ, Styles P, and Pharoah Monch, then came back to finish his set, mixing in some new material from him and Jr. Gong. When the smoke cleared and the lights came up, it felt like we had been hit by a Mack truck with HIP-HOP emblazoned on the grill. It was certainly inspiring and I eagerly look forward to the day I will hit the stage and rock the mic at Rock the Bells myself.

Speaking of hitting the stage, last weekend Sabrey and I went up to New York City and performed at the Pyramid Club near Thompkins Square on Ave. A in Manhattan. The showcase is called End of The Weak and has been running weekly for over seven years now. They have had such special guests as Rakim and KRS-One in the building and claim to be the longest running hip-hop showcase in the city. Special shout out to Sabrey's cousins for coming out and showing love. Thanks also for the BBQ chicken and Johnny Walker in Brooklyn on the 4th of July! Overall, the show went real well. We'll definitely have to get up there again and do some more NYC gigs.

Besides that, we kicked it with our recently married homie, Drae, and the Jamaican crew up in the Bronx, kicked it with Ill Trotter and my cousin Rolfe, visited the infamous Sue's Rendezvous (RIP Sean Bell), ate some dope Carribean food, visited Central Park, Wall St., Ground Zero, and Battery Park, and feasted at BLT Prime. After our show Sunday night, we rode the subway over to Port Authority and took an overnight bus back to DC. We got in to Union Station at 6 AM, just in time for me to get home, shower, and head back downtown to work a double behind the bar... Its all in the life....