In the beginning pt 2

We’re in America!

Coming through customs was really intimidating. I felt like I was a criminal! They took our finger and thumb prints of both hands and then they took a scan of my eye. The customs officers dealing with me asked a lot of questions, whilst he had on a radio (on low) in the background. It was playing Lil’ Wayne’s A Mille. That’s when it hit that we were here!! In England it’s rare for security to have a radio let alone playing Hip Hop. It must have been a sign getting that custom officer.

We then got the bus to Grand Central station then got the subway, which was an experience I was looking forward to. I thought the sibway was similar to London but instead of colour lines, there were numbers and letters. Everyone we asked for directions was helpful. I think we stood out as tourist as we got a few random people offering to take/show us where to go.

We then got to where we were staying in Harlem. Our apartment’s big and spacious. The owner’s really nice and was really helpful. He told us about what’s in the area, where we can go and recommended a few people we should meet up with. After settling in we hit the road again. Across the road from where we’re staying is a huge wall with graffiti art work which I thought was really coo and quite deep as it incorporated words like FREE, SPIRIT, ME, LIFE etc. We then headed to Broadway to find a records store called “Fat Beats” that Ammo recommended to us. On our way we went to Starbucks and I tried my first caramel macchiato coffee. It was amazing. I think I’m going to have one everyday! Perhaps I really am turning into a New Yorker.

This time travelling I was really looking around at fashion and at what statements people were making but no one really stood out. Everyone just looking plain and casual like they were at home. I imagine city girls would be really done up and very feminine and the boys to be in baggy jeans, Averex jackets or clothes we can’t get in England. We were stopped in the street by a guy asking us to come to a comedy club. We ended up talking about music and he played us some of his stuff. Being in America I thought that everyone that rapped would be really good – that’s why I was nervous. After listening to him I felt a lot better! He was good but he sounded like someone doing their thing in England but with an American accent.

Anyway, we got to Fat Beats and there were a few guys outside selling their CDs. They were really friendly and talkative. I spoke to a few of them about their music, we exchange cards and CDs and hopefully going to collaborate in the near future.

When I walked into Fat Beats my first impression was “WOW”, it wasn’t’ that big but was full of CDs, records and the ceiling was covered in posters. Again the assistant was friendly and helpful. I wanted a few CDs of the best underground female rappers around and got Jean Grae, Invincible, Elomina as well as some instrumentals. I gave my details to the assistant so that he could email me information on new stuff, keep me in the know and remember me. Hopefully my CD will be in there soon : ) .

We headed for Macy’s and whilst walking around and travelling I warmed to New York more and more and can see myself living here or staying for a couple of month doing music and working with people. We got outside Macy and went straight in and done the typical female thing and went straight to the make up station. The pound isn’t strong at the moment so the prices were very similar. At this point the time difference really hit us, it was 9pm in NYC and 1 am in England, so we grabbed some food and went home. When I got in I listened to my CDs (mostly Jean Grae) and copied them onto my phone, wrote a little and went to bed!

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