So much to catch you all up on. It's been crazy since Thursday evening.
I participated on a panel discussion with 98.7KISS FM and The Mind, Body, and Soul on Thursday evening. It was held at The Bronx Museum of Art. The purpose of the event was to help inform, educate, and empower residents in The Bronx with information to heal The Mind, Body, and Soul. It's very impactful. There were several screening stations to test for high blood pressure, diabetes, and HIV. And can I tell you that the place was PACKED! People came out to get tested, and to be informed. It was a beautiful sight. And, please remember people to get tested to know your HIV status. Tell your friends, family, and co-workers to get tested. New York has the highest infectious rates of HIV/AIDS cases. Come on People, we've got to do better!
The man I'm in the picture with is JL King. He is the author of, On The Down Low, On The Up and Up, Colored People Time, and his newest fiction work, Love On A Two-Way Street.
JL is a really nice and cool guy. JL and I were part of the panel discussion which included health experts, a psychologist, and a woman whose husband is living with AIDS. I heard a lot of things about JL when his first book, On The Down Low, hit the scene. I won't repeat what I heard, but nothing was positive. So, I had a preconceived idea of who he was based on what a lot of people told me what they thought of him.
My experience with him was much love. I was totally surprised and shocked! He's warm, funny, and very down to earth. We had a great time talking before and after the panel discussion. He's a very smart man and definitely a business man. It was truly a pleasure meeting him and participating with him on the panel discussion. Everything I heard about him I threw it all out. I let it go. JL King is definitely cool people.
Also, as a special treat, singer and Broadway actress, Elisabeth Withers performed and participated on the panel discussion as well. She was in The Color Purple on Broadway where she played Celie. Elisabeth got some pipes on her. This was my third time being with Elisabeth. A very good R&B singer friend of mines introduced me to her originally. Then, while I was in Cancun in May I ran into her again. Yeah, Elisabeth is a beautiful woman and she is very down to earth as well.
Well, on Friday I hit the road to continue my book tour. The first stop is my hometown, Detroit. Man, I love Detroit. I grew up in the hood and I appreciate everything it taught me. If you don't know anything about Detroit here a few things you should be familar with: We love some Coney Island. These are restaurants located on nearly every damn block which serve up some of the best hot dogs with chilli, mustard, and raw onions. And, chilli fries with ketchup. This sh*t is addictive. I get 'em everytime I come home.
Then there's the cities greeting, What up Doe! When you are in Detroit that's the greeting you give some one.
We love to dance and got our dances. And trust me when we leave the state of Michigan and go anyplace in the world, we can always spot another Detroit person by the way they dance. Here are a list of our dances that only Detroit people know: Hustle, Ballroom Hustle, Pop, Snake, Git, and The Errol Flynn. LOL!! There are others, but these dances are our signature staples.
Well, Friday evening I had a booksigning at Borders on Woodward Ave. in downtown. I had a great time and my fellow Detroiters have shown a lot of love everytime I have come home. After my signing my frat brother invites me to a concert, Return Of The Legends. It was being held downtown at Chene Park in conjunction with the local radio station WJLB FM 98. He works as an executive with Chene Park. Whenever I am in town he gives me an All-Access pass to attend. So this time I was game. On the roster was Scarface, Foxy Brown, and Nas. I knew this was going to be off the chain. Besides, before I came to Detroit I spoke with one of my boys who I have been friends with since high school. He was also going. He was hyped about the concert as well.
Well, this is the state of Hip Hop in Detroit. I purposely climbed to the top of the arena so I could take this picture. The concert was scheduled to start at 8pm. It didn't start until 8:45pm. I guess they were hoping more people were going to come, but unfortunately they didn't. I keep hearing that Hip Hop is suffering. The music is garbage. And of couse the recession, but this was crazy!
Scarface took the stage first. In his huge over-sized blue t-shirt with a big H on it, and his signature fitted hat, Scarface strolled on the stage with his drink in hand and ripped it. The crowd, the few of us there, went crazy. Especially when he went into "I Never Seen A Man Cry" and "My Block" and "Mind Playing Tricks" It was BANANAS!!!
After he left the stage it was Foxy's turn. I knew she was going to bring the house down. Who hasn't awaited for Foxy's return, but wait, she doesn't have a new album. She doesn't have any new material. Well, that shouldn't matter because she has a catalogue of music, right?
Well, she came out in a green spaghetti strap dress, and her signature Inga hair, but everyone around me kept saying how chunky she looked. Is she pregnant? People were asking. I wasn't sure, but I was waiting for her to spit fire and remind the crowd why she was Foxy Brown. Well, she started rhyming only doing snippets of her songs, well other people's songs she has been featured on - Jay Z, Ja Rule, Dru Hill, Sisqo, and Nas. Hmmmm, I thought. She will do one of her own signature songs like "BK Anthem" or "Hot Spot" and maybe even "Ill Na Na" But, before she could get to any of her own songs, the audience grew restless and started to boo her. Yes, they booed Foxy.
The last act, Nas, saved the night. Hands down Nas kills 'em. He was a showstopper and I'm glad he was the redeeming act of the night.
Well, I'm off...enjoy the rest of your Labor Day Weekend.
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