November 13th - MJQ Concourse

While I am a staunch believer in party exploration, I do also believe that every partier should have a fallback location which guarantees happy times and nice surprises. For me, since moving to Atlanta, that place is MJQ. I've been there on about four different occasions and have always left smiling, perspiring, and hungry. Those things are always the mark of a bangin' club experience. Last night's experience delivered the same, identical results.

What is it about MJQ that pleases so thoroughly while other clubs are hit or miss? First and foremost, there is no pretense. There is no dress code, no need to floss, no need to impress and no need to be anyone other than yourself. The whole point is to dance. You put on your comfortable shoes, clothes you don't mind getting funky and you go. Of course both men and women will seek out dating opportunities. Let's not forget that it's a nightclub. However, at MJQ you come as you are. While listening to Kenna, Gnarls Barkley and Talib Kweli, I threw on some jeans, some boots and my favorite tee. I was comfy and I possessed the ability to stomp around the dance floor without pain or discomfort for a minimum of three hours.

Second, MJQ opens at 11:00pm. The party gets started at 11:00pm. The DJ doesn't start out spinning garbage. He rocks it nonstop. Last night was Face Off Friday featuring DJ Rasta Root & Jah Prince with the Face Off Crew. Now there are some folks that spin records and create obvious relationships between tracks. Then there are DJs that truly mix. These folks represented the latter. As the doors opened and people gathered at the bar, all heads were nodding, and all bodies were swaying. This kind of phenomenon is precisely why DJs save lives. A good DJ doesn't delay getting you in a mindset where you can dance off any crap keeping you from enjoying the gifts of life. A good DJ reminds you that your body has the ability to heal itself through movement. A good DJ inspires you to perform even if only for an audience of one. (This blog is dedicated to Mike Olds, by the way. Dude, can't wait for your next mixtape.)

Finally, the crowd at MJQ always, always appreciates those dancers who come to really work themselves out on the dance floor. Enough space is provided for these people to dance, contort, bend, dip, dive, curve, crawl, wiggle and groove. There is no judgement. There is only respect and encouragement. Hell, we all wish we could do that sort of thing with our own bodies! Needless, to say my constant partner and I moved around that dance floor something fierce for the better part of two and half hours. My baby fro was soaked and my boots were kicking! We took a break so I could visit MJQ's one weakness....the ladies' bathroom. Never once have I visited that bathroom without finding some disaster in one of the stalls. When are they going to fix that light? Why aren't there ever any paper towels? And then, if it wasn't for the line of girls standing outside of the restroom, there is no way any first-time visitor would be able to differentiate between it and the male facility.

Nevertheless, I waited my turn to relieve myself. While in line, some guy walks up to me and asks me "What was your name again?" I looked at him and replied, "I didn't tell you my name in the first place. What's this 'again' business?" His ego bruised, he backed away with a sheepish grin. I laughed and shook my head. Young men, let's work on creating solid pick-up lines, okay? Don't be afraid to consult with an older gentlemen and ask their advice on approaching women without looking or sounding like a damn fool. Each one teach one.

June 16th - Apache Cafe Hip Hop Jam Session III

...continued from II.

As is probably customary around these here Eastern and Southern parts, a big dude from the Caribbean took the stage. Please do not ask me what he was saying or why he was saying it. I do not know. I just kept thinking he was going to say something about his "champion sound" or "skiddly whoa -oh-oh." I believe he was more than a little drunk and/or high.

This next cat's name was either S.O.S or Secret Agent Orange. I wasn't quite clear on that. I'm also not sure why he was wearing a backpack, nor did I know what the backpack contained. I'm hoping that he was peddling CDs but who knows. These rap guys are an odd lot. Crazy, cool, artistic, tortured. What I was clear on was the fact that the guy had flows. Few and far between can just freestyle like that.

At the end, all of the various performers were invited back on stage to bust another on-the-spot flow. It was cool to compare and contrast all of the different styles. I couldn't help but think that this is where Hip-Hop really lives. Not on the radio with thoughtless rhymes and beats formulated to appeal to a mass audience, but instead in the minds and hearts of youth who are just trying so painstakingly to be heard. It's their way to say something beautiful or profound or funny or real. It's their way to reach out to an otherwise cold and unfriendly world and say "I'm here." I wish like hell that I could rap. I guess I do in a way.... except my rap comes in the form of electronic paragraphs bouncing across broadbands, flashing on screens and hopefully being read by you.

Go back to Apache Cafe Hip Hop Jam Session I here.

Go back to Apache Cafe Hip Hop Jam Session II here.

June 16th - Apache Cafe Hip Hop Jam Session II

.....continued from I.

Next, my man Orphan got on the mic and put it down. He had the crowd singing his hook "ANIMAL" as he finessed his way back and forth across the stage. I especially liked the way he was prepared to market himself. When I approached him about posting his video on my blog, he had his business card ready to go. Orphan is a member of The Tripod 3xperience. They even have a tagline: "Rugged, musical genius with a touch of class." Orphan, much love to you! Do your thing!

The next guy had me dying laughing. Before this guy took the stage or uttered a single syllable, My Sweetheart said he was the incarnation of Bizzy Bone. Sweetheart called it right. He looked and sounded every bit like Bone Thugs n Harmony. Homeboy came to put on a show. After he finished stating that he was a Gemini and brought a close to his song about freaky girls, he put the mic down on the stage and began doing some of the weakest poplocking I've ever seen. He then ripped his shirt off like something akin to Michael Jackson and proudly flexed for the audience. I just about fell on the floor crying. I'm glad I got it on video.

By this time, I was quite pleased that I'd come. We'd reached that point in the night where there is a sense of intimacy among the attendees and participants. Folks were feeling good about the show, the performers, the venue, and their cocktails. There was no negativity and certainly no disrespect toward anyone brave enough to get up on that stage and speak their minds. For some first-timers to the stage, the night proved to be a learning experience.

Continue to Apache Cafe Hip Hop Jam Session III here.

Go back to Apache Cafe Hip Hop Jam Session I here.

June 16th - Apache Cafe Hip Hop Jam Session I

Awww Man! People, last night was so packed full of activity that I'm going to have to break this particular venue up into three smaller bite-sized pieces. In all humility, I ask that you hang with me and give me some love by clicking through to II and III.

Riding out, listening to Mos Def's latest project, The Ecstatic , which we just happened to score at Moods Music, we decided to check out the Hip Hop Jam Session at a little spot in downtown Atlanta called Apache Cafe. (Go Apaches! Go, Go Apaches!) Downtown Atlanta, admittedly, is a little sketchy after dark as all downtown areas tend to be. I still can't get over the shock of seeing obvious prostitutes just decorating the corners of the street. Even more shocking is the fact that they are men dressed as women seeking compensation for whatever "gifts" they are offering. When the police roll by, they scatter like roaches. Crazy, absolutely crazy, but I digress.

We arrived at about midnight to a stage full of white t-shirted young men milling around, passing a blunt, chanting a chorus about their N-words. I didn't have high hopes for the rest of the night. I sighed, shook my head and sipped my signature vodka martini with extra olives. The bartendress, Lakisha, saw my disappointment and we held a conversation about the displaced animosity towards women amidst the ridiculous amount of affection for fellow men. This social phenomenon which tends to rear its ugly head in Hip-Hop over and over again always begs the question of sexuality in my mind. Kind of reminds me of of The Boondock's "Gangstalicious" episodes or that time in L.A. where I accidentally found myself in a bar filled with homosexual gangsters. I don't have a problem with any one's choice in a sexual partner, but don't hate on women just because men are your preference, okay?

After the N-words left the stage, I noticed that there were actual musicians on stage instead of just a DJ. That was a plus. The host for the evening began to invite people to showcase their talents on the open mic. A couple of different cats went up followed by a Lil Wayne wannabe who didn't do a bad job, plus the martini was kicking in. I found myself swaying to the impromptu beat and then I reminded myself that I should probably be capturing this stuff on video. I have no idea what this cat's name was but the video below speaks to his talent.

Go to Apache Cafe Hip Hop Jam Session II here.

Go to Apache Cafe Hip Hop Jam Session III here.

June 5th - Modern Jazz Quartet (MJQ)

So, when you are an adult who has experienced an unusual amount of stress such as packing up all of your worldly possessions and driving for three days across the southern states of America with two highly attitudinal felines, you inevitably reach a point where you either require a nervous breakdown or you must dance really, really hard for a long time. Having recently relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, this marketer by day and reveller by night thankfully chose the latter. I decided to get loose at an ATL favorite by the name of MJQ (Modern Jazz Quartet). MJQ is the kind of place one goes to dance. There's no need for flashy outfits with matching accessories or six hours at the salon. If you feel like dancing and not leaving the dance floor for hours despite the wet heat, a random elbow in the face and the unmistakable aroma of burning illegal substances then MJQ is your place. In the daylight hours one would never tell that this random garage on Ponce De Leon is an absolute crackin' music emporium once night falls.

After centering myself to the tunes of Paulo Nutini , donning a boy-beater, jeans and stilettos, and grabbing a bite to eat, we hightailed it over to MJQ at the stroke of midnight and walked into the literally underground spot to the sound of the late Biggie Smalls. We ordered a couple of beers and then hit the floor, happy, smiling, excited and all. From the DJ's table was a steady stream of hip hop classics including A Tribe Called Quest, KRS One, Naughty By Nature, E-40 and on and on and on. Then at one magical point made specifically for lovers, the music switched to reggae and we grooved to hits like Action
and Murder She Wrote.

In a word, it was AWESOME. You see, MJQ always attracts a crowd who will give you plenty of space to express yourself on the dance floor. There is no person randomly standing in the middle of the floor or shouldering their way through to the other side. Even the folks standing outside of the center are moving to the beat. The DJ knows how to hype the crowd. The music is stopped for sing alongs. Exhibitioners have dance-offs and the crowd makes a circle to accomodate.

OutPast30 Lady danced for just two hours that night. Why? My goodness...because of the humidity. It's been about six years since I've sweated a freshly permed head of hair out on the dance floor. I guess it's something with which I'll just have to reaquaint myself. Upon exiting the club, ears ringing, sticky, heads still bobbing to the bass we checked out the ice cream truck parked outside. Sweet Asha sold everything from Otter Pops to bottled water to Lifestyle condoms. Now, that's good marketing. MJQ, I will be back....soon.

To my West Coast readers, please stay tuned and keep reading. If you've never been to Atlanta, there is so much to do. In the tradition of Las Vegas, it is a 24 hour city but it's got a certain je ne sais quoi that makes it reminiscent of the Bay Area and New York and New Orleans all wrapped into one. I hope that I can convince you to visit. To my new Atlantean friends....oh the fun we're going to have.