Parole Pou Ayiti (Words for Haiti) @Circle of Hope/1st official show in Philly, new bounds

Wow.....

...is one of many things I can say about my first trip back to PA in years. Specifically, Philadelphia. First off, I'd definitely like to thank my brother in "Werds" & knowledge, Werdsman (poet) for the opportunity and honor; of feat. for a good cause. Circle of Hope was a very welcoming venue. Though the ride to Philly(abt. 3hrs.) was cool too. The jokes...the shit we talked...bananas!! Lol. Took a extra couple mins to locate the place when arriving. But good folks behind the event, April and the two other sisters (forgot their names, but were fun to hang w/after leaving the spot); we nice and attentive to me, SoSoon and Werdsman upon arrival.

I ended up starting the show off with a bang! With 4 pieces I introduce myself to Philly with. My cam mem. card only had enough to rec. 3 1/2 of them though. :( Did some of my classics, "Ode to the Poet (Will you spit or swallow..?), "This Woman" (one of my newer ones), "Beat the Beast" and a brand new one I finished my set of with called, "Unfinished". I dug how much they were captivated by my work and got an experience out of it. :) The young youth poet, Jamillah ripped the stage as well. I'm feeling her work. And she on the Philly youth slam team. Only 18 yrs/old! Banger!! One o the next banger artists, was another one of my brothers in Words & knowledge, MC SoSoon. All of his tracks were gr8! Shout out to him, and my sister in words & Knowledge, NASSUNNI da Poet!! Good peoples!! :) Kilt it herself on the mic. Much love for her, and those eyes...whooo...she lucky she spoken for. Thats all I'm saying. smh.

Open mikers where good too. Good to hear some new styles from a brother by the name of Christopher. And a familiar poem used by another open mic artist via poet laureate/teacher Taylor Moli. Who also used to teach. (With much encouragement, performed that piece with the right amount of potency required)

Also, at the end of the show I gained some new friends and supporters. Not to mention, a new lil fan. lol. One of the features(Claudia Streets) son came up behind me an gave my legs a biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiig hug. smh. Handsome lil devil. Seems my words are reaching multiple generations!! Yay!! :o) After the show, me and my bandit brothers 3, from...new york, and two sisters behind the show as well as two of the open micers....went out to dinner. We ain't good. Definitely had nuff hearty laughs to go with an equally hearty meal. And for all my fam and friends that keep suggesting and requested....yes I got a official Philly Cheese steak before leaving town. I got pics to prove it too!! Lmao!!

Anyway, lastly but not least, I swear, I almost went into Philly single and came out...spoken for. Some banger looking sisters where every place we went. Lawd have mercy! And there was this one chick, that when we finally found a parking spot, a few blks from the restaurant; was at her car across the street from us....barefoot. And I was thinking, when she got out the car, has she been driving that way too...? (by the way, a cute ass milk chocolate queen) even when she got back in her ride and, drove off bare feet mind you, couldn't stop thinking bout her....for the next 5-10 min. All was on my mind was her and Usher's "Lil freak" playing in my head. 4real! Lol!!

I now made a discovery....that fine ass women, especially from Philly, that walk and drive around bare feet....is mad sexy to me. B-)

Ok, now, lastly, before leaving the restaurant(which was called Philly Reef), we all got together for a photo opt. So then, our party of 7 became a party of 5 when the two brothas from open mic part of the show called it a night. Afterward, the two ladies, which we walked back to their car, did the same. Our last destination b4 Trip out of Philly, Fat Tuesdays. SoSoon had him a drink. And I got a $1 shot to wake me up some. Since I was getting hit hard by the "ITIS" from the meal early on. It was well past midnight by then. But as soon as it hit around 2am, the club shut down for the night. Now I'm sure there were still spots in NY bumping around this time for sure. :)Culminating the night, we headed back on the road to NY. PHILLY....YOU ARE NOW MY 3RD UNOFFICIAL HOME!! As far as performing goes and cause your breathtaking women thats flooded you in your streets. :-D I look forward to coming back with product on hand in the future!

Thank you and good night!!...or morning I guess. Smh.

-Abe

Thinking its about that time.....Philly Bound

Peace. just giving a final heads up that I'll will be feat. in South Philly, PA this evening at Circle of hope, 1125 S. Broad st. for an event called, "Parole Pou Ayiti (Words for Haiti) from 5pm-9pm.

Hosted by: David "The Werdsman" Lewis

Where: Circle of Hope, 1125 S Broad St Philadelphia, PA 19147

Cost: $5 Donation ( All Proceeds goes towards the Haiti Medical Mission Efforts)

Refreshments will also be served

Poets, singers, and musicians from the Tri-state area will be performing (NY,NJ, PA)

http://www.haitimedmission2010.com/, http://www.explorersSF.org/

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/event.php?eid=116962115007290

-Abe

Honest Thoughts (special edition spotlight Album post)

HONEST THOUGHTS ALBUM REVIEW



RL THA GIFTED 1: THE AMBASSADOR


What can I say about this carefully craft poetic work...?


Ambassador: 1: an official envoy; especially: a diplomatic agent of the highest rank accredited to a foreign government or sovereign as the resident representative of his or her own government or sovereign or appointed for a special and often temporary diplomatic assignment.
2 a: an authorized representative or messenger b: an unofficial representative (Merriam Webster definition)

Now, I've had the pleasure and opportunity to meet, see him live, (on more than one occasion) and listen to his previous albums. And I have to say, in comparison, this is one of RL's best projects yet. He hasn’t disappointed with the previous works. Especially with guest appearances, such as: ItsReaLight, "The Oracle" Autumn Ashante, Kassim Allah…among others. This time around, along the ride are the likes of: Zulema Cheek (Soul/R&B singer w/a sound that puts a good feeling in ya soul); Conquest the Torchbearer; Salvation; and also Young Timothy & Mr John Duncan.



I think that over all, it was an exceptional banger project. I liked the two tracks w/Zulema Cheek ("U Got Me” & “Destiny” {A piece he dedicated to wife}) This Soulful queens vocals/classic voice; helps moves your spirit with every note she belts out. Which is a pleasant mesh with RL's declaration in his lyrical liquor he spits...which is God driven.

The poetic Scriptures for your ears, gets into a spiritual/air out type of cleansing with "Ya Dig" Calling out, not all by names, on how he continues his unstoppable journey. Which in my opinion is one take charge track helps define title of this well needed EP.


Then there is piece called, "Piece of me. This one maybe stands out the most to me. Due to the fact on how real RL keeps it bout the state of Poetry and the many that have misused, "her". Whether in slams and open mics and what not. Reminiscence of the ol' school hip hop MC's such as KRS-One to Big Daddy Kane and Kool G-Rap; that call ducks, what they were, ducks. False Prophets, that spit nothing mentally prophet able and quarreled over pettiness in the game; given the art a bad name.

When’s the last time you could count on more than one hand, an artists,(in this case spoken word) that had joints on their CD that made you say,: "Tell me about it!!" "I'm feeling this right here son!!" or even, "Say word!". These are phases I found myself saying while hearing RL's Ambassador CD.RL does represent by living up to the title he claims as an appointed/anointed as diplomatic messenger, of spoken word, with the last track, "After All".
It speaks on the historical social/political, slipping/ills of the world, and art world from hip hop to poetry. To quote part of the chorus, "After all, after all; we dropped the ball, we dropped the ball. We take the fall. We take the fall..."

It’s very relevant, that by anyone not copping this album...they missing a blessing. He also, mentions in the liner notes, one of the people this album was dedicated to the memory of his Mother. And for the record, I'm not being bias because he originally from my home back yawed of BK and I know him. lol. I just happen to recognize good piece of work by a talented artist when I listen to it. But see the other tracks didn't feel, or should I say didn't stick out to me as much as the ones I mentioned above. This doesn't mean that if you listen to them you'll feel the same. "Different strokes, for different folks". Lyrically, RL doesn't slack when getting his point across in every rhyme. After following this brother for the past 3 projects now, I believe his growth as a writer, artist and man...is in a sky’s the limit destination from here.

If you don't believe me, that RL tha Gifted 1, lives up to his name...go listen to his new CD, "Ambassador" and his past projects. Or go see him live. Like I said, I got to see RL in action again a month ago in the Bx. You’re missing an experience by not connecting with my fellow brother in words, and knowledge. Check his work and link up with RL at the sites/links below.

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/lyriclounge
Facebook Profile: http://www.facebook.com/ronald.lavenderjr.1


-“Honest Abe” Abraham Benjamin [© 2010]