no words…. needed.

we have to go back—-to 1995 at the very least.

My freshman year of college.I barely made it out of highschool. Its the truth I had stars in my eyes and music in ears. So busy being a disgruntled youth that math and science fell to the wayside and 2 summers in summerschool were the only recourse to graduating on time with the diploma (advanced academic) mom and dad had picked out for me.

My saving grace for 2 years was soccer. I wasn’t very good to begin with but Coach Mary Roach saw something in me.So she  started to  groom and between my on field skills and a high SAT score college bound was still an option. Even better the notion of going sans money out of mom and dads checking account. Let the church say AMEN! So it was my first time in 3 years playing with girls I didnt know.Even worse I was a walk on try out… there were about 50 girls vying for 8 spots. It was a tumultous 2 weeks as I went thru the whole unnerving process of tryouts. But I made it.

I was on the team but i was having a hard time settling in. Enter Duane Banks. Of all the people I would most like to find on facebook Duane is in slots 1-3. He’s truely a nice guy. He went to Lakeside High( MY ALMA MATERS ARCH RIVAL) and has a wicked soccer game. We were sitting in practice and Coach Armstead was on me about my lack of aggression. I wasn’t mean enough. I wasn’t intimidating in my approach. I will admit my run is pretty funny I run like a beauty queen. Duane took me aside in a much nicer tone told me that he and Coach saw the potential for me to be an amazing defensive player and Coach was trying to get me riled up. I told him I didn’t have a lot to be angry about except riding MARTA.

Duane said not to worry we would figure it out. The next day I was listening to a Meeks tape. The Meeks tape was how I passed Advanced English my senior year. Mr Jim Meeks made us learn about a hundred different passages of prose from great works. I have a hard time retaining things so i read the passages over music and listened to the tapes day in and day out even in my sleep.

Anyway Duane felt like that tape was one of my problems and he handed me his GOODIE MOB tape. I was like whats this. He asked me if i liked Outkast. I was like yeah. I love outkast I couldn’t always relate to the things theY rapped about but it evoked a feeling in me so when he told me Goodie Mob was their kin I was immediately geeked.

Its serious that I tell you this in this way. SOUL FOOD changed my life.The flow, the wordspeak, the beats. I instantly was in love. I listened to that tape everyday hundreds of times. Soul Food  would become my anthem, Cell therapy put me into *kill* mode before a game.  Every song although I had not lived it meant something to me. For me it was the begining of a beautiful thing.  Music became more prevalent in my life. I would go on to be one of the best junior college soccer players named and recognized on the books. Soul Food HELPED me find my voice, my strength. It was the basis of many a *turn that noise down* from my dad. It would spark debates about samples. It would give the parents an avenue to remind me the things I was “rapping” about i had never in my suburban life experienced. It was a life changing piece of magnetic tape.  Dungeon Family would woo me time and again. Society of Soul would be the album where  both my father and I would find a common ground thanks to Sleepy Brown & his father. Jamal Ahmad would play Migratenation on WCLK, while Mike Swift would play  ”Changes” on WREK. Old school to New school.

For me my music had finally met with my father- a record and I do mean record we bought it from Ear Wax (r.i.p)  we both could enjoy “Right Tonight”. The cuts were infectious and consious from there my dad would often ask me if there was anything new from Organized Noise he began to appreciate my music. He still felt that sampling music did not give *my artists* the right to call themselves musicians but he was open to  change

To stand at Masquerade tonight running into people I knew closely( Slyvester,Margaret, Shannon, Dominick) and some I only knew via word of mouth(Tara, Brandi ATLien).  Standing there in the rain,hoodie pulled tight to protect my camera. Listening to DJ Jelly weave a musical tapestry of my teen and young adulthood years. Hearing first hand the thunder and the swell of Georgia Me’s poetry. Throwing bows up for Pastor Troy … thinking about my heartbeat when YoungBloodz did 85( thats our song) and then to finally revel in Goodie Mob on stage. Hearing my song live with a band the growl of Khujo– the tease of  Ceelo  blessing us with a Frankie Beverly cover way better than the original. To hear the crowd all lifted in song trying to reach those notes in “before i let go”. So many beautiful people dancing, singing, smoking swaying in unity over and under the groove of Dungeon FAMILY. FAMILY. Tomorrow  they may go the way the roads take them but tonight. tonight. tonight.

I left early and people were lined at will call and hour plus into the show still getting tickets wanting to be apart of the experience. RAIN, MUDD AND MUSIC.  As  I drove to work  I considered the weight of what I’d  just witnessed. The leveity of it all. This was my WOODSTOCK people will ask if you were there. Not only can I say I was there in the trenches doing what I love.  Realization dawned on me I’m a Ga Girl born and raised. My mom went to Archer but graduated from Washington High. My cousins went to Mays, Banneker, Doug. I remember when Alonzo Crim wasn’t Crim highschool. Many things came rushing to the forefront of my mind. Pride that  GM could bring such a diverse crowd together unintimadated by the elements…. Ok my love letter is headed towards gushing and so I tie it off. If you were too cheap to pay for the $40 ticket. Shame.  Tonight Janet herself could have called me for a photoshoot and I would said  NO!

Heston leaves the stage and the lights dim.  A few adjustments and several guys walk onto stage carrying brass and woodwind instruments.  A stocky guy slides behind the key board and begins to tap the melody to  Funky Good Time by the Godfather himself James Brown. A progression of  instruments follow, trumpet, saxophone, electric bass, and so on and so on. The crowd inches closer the stage but its not unbearable. I like when I  can shoot and not feel elbows in my back!

 The crowd is moving in time. The piano man asks us if we’re ready.  Yes We are! It felt like the Godfather himself was going to grace us. Two ladies in black dresses with matching gladiator heels and red leather belts walked on to stage a with a sprinkle of chimes there she was. Leighan and I had lamented on whether her  hair would be pressed or au natural.  The Lord definitely smiled us on with the rain today and there she was. Leela James with a crown of natural curls that were to be envied and revered. Her hair could definitley break a comb. And I was proud to be rockin my afro!!!!

I remember commenting that there was no set list. You know i like to get a photo of the set list. Although i can remember most of what she sang. I can’t really tell you more than she opened with James and closed with “A change is gonna come”. In between The rolling stones were nestled next to Phyllis Hyman and snuggled up with  Bootsy Collins. Something about women singing “I’d rather be with you”. When Joi aka Tennessee Slim does it hairs prickle. When Leela growls it. I am transported to that somewhat bittersweet place in relationships when you just cant sync up due to timeconstraints. She pulled you in . And she pulled you up at one point the stage was full of people as LJ Chicago stepped to Phyllis Hyman and Salsa’d to “Music” from her previous effort. 

so its finally here. I feel like a kid at Christmas.

A senior on the cusp of graduation.

Complete.

in 12 hours my first gallery show.

But before i can get there i need to say some words.

THANK YOU

Jesus for putting me on the path

Dad for putting me on that side of the camera

Mom for listening to me all these weeks.

Micheal and Leatrice for finding me

Sara Werner for the opportunity.

Justice LEAGUE: Rodney, Mike, Jarret, Cassie,Carey, Dixie seriously I have beautiful friends where it counts in their hearts. 

style team: Corrine, Dwight, Brandon

(www.corleypretty.com, cod fashions llc, lotus hair artisans)

Cory for agreeing to take some of the pressure and present as well

John for also being a one man cheering section and documenting the occasion.

and the public for caring enough to come.

I’m saying thank you now because i know its going to be a momentous occasion.

gudrun

I know its gonna be a great day

Venice by Sunset

WHO LIKES TO SHOP. HA 

No seriously people have been asking so i tentatively have gotten on etsy.com  you can find me here.

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5303373 If there is a photo you are interested in buying  let me know and we can make it happen. Be it a photo from here or my flickr www.flickr.com/photos/shift_into_manic

Thanks for all your love and support!!!

CRYSTALLINE

My first gallery show! I am so excited. I can’t begin to express. Ok so thats all I have for right now!

Ps. VAN HUNT’S album is available  for listen. and download @ www.vanhunt.com