Heroes and Legends – Day 3

Saturday morning I got up a bit tired but still buzzing about meeting Busta Rhymes and Q-tip. We walked to the Apollo for the tour as it’s only a few blocks away but unfortunately the tour was full and the next wasn’t till 4pm and we had to be in the Bronx for 3pm. So we left and headed to the subway. On the way to the subway we passed a shop called Radio Shack and went in. Since we’ve been here, both Cynthia and have been looking for a camcorder the size of an iPod which can film clips and easily connect to a computer for transfer. Finally we found a place that had it in stock and at a good price. We both brought one and I immediately started recording so watch our for RoxSTAR TV

Then we reached our destination – a place called The Point which was hosting a hip hop seminar discussing the West Indian origins of Hip Hop.   Various experts were on the panel such as Kool DJ Herc, Kool DJ Red Alert, Just Ice, Ralph McDaniels, Patricia Chin, Dr. Natasha Lightfoot, Brother Vincent, Carter Van Pelt & more and there I found out that  Hip Hop pioneers DJ Kool Herc, Afrika Bambaataa, and Grandmaster Flash have roots in the West Indies.

The entire day was very interesting and inspirational. There was an older woman also on the panel who was Jamaican and actually was apart of introducing America to reggae music. She and her husband opened a record shop in Jamaica (Queens, not Jamaica!) and sold both commercial and underground reggae and dancehall. Back then a lot of people told her it wouldn’t catch on but she didn’t listen and her husband actually built a studio so Jamaican artist could start recording more music. I found her speech very powerful and inspiring, and it made me want to start a) recording more and b) start pushing my music out more. After the discussion was over Kool Herc played some music and everyone started to mingle. Pop Master Fabel was there and remembered me from when he came to the UK in 2007 for Punch’s BBoys for Life, which was nice and actually introduced me to people as a MC who was ‘dope’!! I spoke to a lot of people and swooped details, CDs and cards -  everyone from comedians to rappers to models to producers and photographers.
We also met Christie Pabon, who is Fabel’s wife and is well connected in the Hip Hop arena. We didn’t talk for too long as she was busy but were meeting with her for lunch on Tuesday before we go which is exciting. We then left and headed back to Harlem.

Later that night we hit the town again to check out what the local scene is like. I’m not sure of the name of place we went in Harlem to but it was packed. I found it very strange because I’m not the biggest dancehall fan but I know most of the songs that were played but looking around we were the only people dancing then as soon as the hip hop came on the whole place was jumping and acting crazy.  The rest of the night was Hip Hop and no other types of music were played. Interesting to think that in the one of the most diverse cities in the world there’s actually a lot of segration. The music scene in the UK that I’m involved in, is very much influenced by other genres (house, dub step, grime, ragga, garage) so things evolve quickly it brings together a good mix of people.

I had a good time but after a while all the songs and beats sounded the same. I like how back home they play rnb then a bit oh hip hop then bit of funky and switch it up a bit where as here was just hardcore hip hop.  We didn’t stay too late as we had to travel to phili the next morning.  More soon!

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