Live @ urban grind...

The sleeping giant awoke last night. Or should I say yesterday evening. Urban Grind, a local coffee shop/lounge celebrated its Grand Opening. Yours truly, dj'd a set for Happy Hour. An eclectic mix of Funky Jazz break beats and Soul, mixed perfectly with the essence of arabica beans. While spinning in the club I recalled the days of climbing the 4 flights of stairs with my crates of records and cds, at the Student Radio Station in MSU's auditorium. I remembered the journeys to Flint, Detroit, Cleveland and Grand Rapids to MC Rap Concerts. I searched the memoirs of my mind and recalled the KRS-one interview, the interview with "The Minister", Chuck D, Russell, Eazy, The Roots, The Fugees, Ice Cube and others. When I raised my head, I noticed the coffee shop full of excitement. Instead of grabbing coffee and dashing, they were chilling on the couches, bobbing their heads to the melodies while engaging in casual and animated conversations. The perfect avenue for a DJ/voyuer. I engaged each individual with a smile and a rhythmic nod. "Sup" I would say or throw-em a peace sign. While searching for the next track. No, this wasn't pre-produced. It was all spontaneous as it should be. I slipped my headphones on and recalled the days of my youth once more...My younger brothers, secretly plotting while I slept the morning away. Craig & Carl both received thier music gifts early...Hey, when you get promotional items 247...why not break some off for the family. My dogs! My boys. my two best friends. These cats both have an eclectic ear, 1/2 oliver and 1/2 sams. Their dad (my dad) was a muisc collector. Fridays, afterwork he would jam out in the basement, doing who knows what, and just shake the house with vibrant and soulful melodies...and now I was following in his footsteps...1/2 sams and 1/2 oliver. Dropping beats like a fly-fisherman on a hot streak. I looked up, and the room was full, brothers would step up and ask..."Excuse me...who is this that you are playing?" or "What's the name of this track?". Boy-o-Boy was I blessed with an ear. 1/4 sams and 1/4 Wilhite. Somehow the right ear, the headphone free ear can find a break or a drop at the right time. But at some points my left ear can just find the right song to play no matter what!.

So, To Claude, To Craig and Carl, To My Uncle Thomas, To Bobby and Deb Sams...I salute you for bringing music into my life...Oh and I can't forget my moms...who took the TV away during the week, but never had the heart to take away my radio.

What...who is this cat? Oh-no...a Dj's worst nightmare...a conversationalist, while in the mix. Christ almighty. Go and sit down. I am at peace, bruh...I fill the small corner with idle chit-chat. While desperately searching for my next track. I check my time. Man this bruh is still asking questions. What the hell, people don't understand the zone..."Hold on for a minute bruh!" I had to break face. I went from casual and complacent to, urgency and denial. Naw dog, you aint going to break my flow, yeah I can multi-task, but I remember how to DJ and talk...ignore that mutherfucka. and do yo thang. Can't sacrifice the room for an idiots request. I remember doing gigs back in College. "Do you have the electric slide", I would give them the ever popular DJ reply: "I'll try to get it on!" but in the back of our minds, we look at the floor, we look at our crate and say..."shiiiiiiiitttttt" (like the black officer in 25th hour). Take a sip of the yak and keep it moving.

To Crazy Caz, Steve Carrington - Prime minister X factor, Dj Head, Lady Kapone, Grand incredible, Dj Energy, The Cultural Vibe crew past and present, To Kurt Reed and the Playlist staff, To Radio One, WJLB and WHFR for giving me the opportunities to do my thing.

Aw damn, dog, can you just leave me the fuck alone...what the hell, are you one of them down low niggas? Why are you now flipping through my shit? Fuckin bastard now I got to go to church on Sunday for all of this cursing that I am doing under my breath. And I just missed my break. Dude, didn't you see the group of fine sistahs that just walked in the door? And, you are watching me? Talking to me while I am workin? AWWWWWWW helll naw, no you didn't just drop my shit on the floor. What an idiot. :My fault!" bet your ass and your gay ass lover that its your fault. Step to the rear...I was finally free. Free to slip back into what was left of a zone. Shit where's my Badu? I know that cat didn't take my....oh, nope there it is...Thank God I know how to stack records and keep the rotation hot...

To Rick Wilhite, my fam my ace, my personal music guru. Bless you and your gift. No better cousin to have than an international DJ. To The Three Chairs, Thanks for raising the bar so fuckin high. But now that I think about it...Thanks for raising the bar. To the Detroit Dj's keepin it hot. To Mr. and Mrs. Crawford for giving me my first opportunity to DJ, at the age of 12.

I look up, and the room starts to empty. I look down, the cd has reached the 79:57 mark. I'm done. I extend the mix for an additional 34 mins. Watching as the Happy Hour turns into a Dinner Dash...preparation for the Friday festivities...time to pack up.

To Land Rover, Sony, Technics, Mackie, Kenwood, Phillips and God.

Thanks for making music sound and travel so well.

en peace.