Friday Night Hustle

After getting a good night’s sleep we got ready and hit the streets of our local area HARLEM. We’re staying about 10mins walk away from the Apollo Theatre (about 2 blocks) so we went to check it out and see what times they done tours, but they don’t start ‘till Saturday. It’s really nice inside the Apollo. We didn’t go in the hall but the reception area had a lot of pictures of legends that performed there and the staff were pleasant and helpful.

We left there then headed to Brooklyn to meet Shelly who is an established poet/singer/ song writer and plays the bass guitar. When we arrived in Brooklyn it looked very American, meaning the area and the people looked exactly how I imagined and have seen in films. I loved it! We met Shelly in a soul food restaurant called Red Bamboo. It was a vegetarian restaurant which was a bit of a down fall as I love meat!!! The layout and the atmosphere were welcoming and the music they played was good to. Shelly was lovely she had a lot of experience about the New York music scene. She has also travelled around America and performed at a lot of venues and for different audiences. I explained how nervous I was about performing as I am an artist from a grime background. Her response was to be confident and show people you’re confident in bringing what you’ve got to offer. She also told me to perform for my audience whoever they are and whether their showing they feel it or not. After having lunch with Shelly I felt egar to write some more lyrics and was looking forward to perform in Philly.

We left Brooklyn and went to Greenwich Village to have a look around and see what New York quirky fashion is like. We couldn’t find a lot so we then headed to time square which was AMAZING. It was dark so the whole street was lit up it looking like something you wouldn’t even think of. There were lights up and down the buildings and some looked like there was a TV on the side it blew me away!!! We then jumped on a train and went home. We chilled for a little bit then got washed and ready as we were going out to Q-tip and Rich Medina’s night held at Santos club.

Cynthia’s got friends in the area and they invited us to their school’s (Columbia University) black history month fashion show. So we met with them then went to the fashion show at Columbia!! They really nice and friendly and I felt really comfortable. Although we missed a lot of the fashion show what we saw was good, sitting in the hall with the students made me want to enrol. They all looked cool and all had their own styles and groups. I just liked every body’s vibe.  It was weird because a girl came up to me and said “Hi I seen you yesterday on the train. I sat in front of you I like your style”. That felt nice that she remembered me and took the time out to let me know and say hi.

Then we all went to Santos. The crew was really long but thanks to Cynthia and her ENGLISH SWAGGER we got in almost straight away. When you walk in the first room plays funky and soulful house music which I like but it was really empty. Then we went up stairs where Q-tip was playing old school hip hop and it was packed! Couldn’t really dance, never had enough space but I really enjoyed myself and was just really taking it all in. Again Cynthia used her ENGLISH SWAGGER and got us into V.I.P area which was poppin’. Then we started talking to a guy who was Busta Rhymes tour manager. We explained that I was here doing my thing and exchanged details then he said follow me. We followed him then ended up standing right in front of Busta Rhymes. I was star struck for a few minutes then said hi introduced myself. I told him a bit about me then asked for advice and he said work hard and be the best. After I stopped talking and kinda realised what just happened and who I met. I then turned around and Q-tip waved at me!!! I waved back and later went to give him one of my cards but security was tight. He noticed and called me up to the DJ booth. I went up and it was just me and him jamming and vibzing. It was mind blowing definitely – the highlight of my night. I introduced myself and explained everything. He said he was going to check me out and “holla”! We left soon after and all the way home I couldn’t stop thinking about the night I had.
New York seems to be getting better and better I can’t wait for tomorrow were going to a hip hop seminar in the Bronx!!!

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