"Ever thought you'd see the day Hip-Hop grew up?" -Sidney Shaw; fictitious character Brown Sugar (Movie)
What's so funny is this felt like "Russell's party" to me. If you have watched the movie Brown Sugar as much as I have you know what I mean. For those of you who haven't, I'm referencing the part in the movie when Sidney and Dre met up at the Def Jam party when she first got back in town. Although, there was no "Sidney Shaw" there for me and I'm not a record label executive, the whole entirely dope experience of the #HRDCVR release party felt like that moment to me.
Let me start from the beginning!!
On or around May 8, 2014 I witnessed genius! Two of my idols in my secret dream career of being a hip-hop journalist, that's another story for another blog, Elliott Wilson & Danyel Smith (Wilson) announced a project that would change everything in my opinion! For those that are "Stevie Wonder to the culture", these two powerhouses are actually married Hip-Hop royalty! But that project was #HRDCVR. A manifestation of the once supremely important print culture that was XXL, The Source, and Vibe magazine that both of these two had separately quarterbacked during the golden era, #HRDCVR was bringing those magazines back as a book. Not just some paper with a hardback exterior with the same blueprint though, this was something else. This was something special. This was something unique. This was something beautiful. Perhaps it's most beautiful element, no diss to any of the physical designers, is that it was for the people. All the people. By the people!!! #HRDCVR's mission was to break the mold, break the parameters, break the limits on what print had become and to give this culture it's "Mona Lisa" in a sense. A big part of getting this spaceship to the moon was that it would be crowd funded via Kickstarter by the fans of the culture, and it's premier gatekeepers. Instantly after viewing the 2:31 demo tape via YouTube I was sold! This was immediately important to me. For so many reasons. I've always had a extremely intimate relationship with the culture. I'm a student of it. I'm a product of it. I'm a beneficiary of it! Also, I've always been more than a casual fan of "The Wilsons". I was the 12 year old that cared about the editorial in XXL as much as the pictures. I really cared when Kanye West's "Graduation" only got an XL rating. I bought 2 copies of the 15th anniversary Vibe Juice double Jay-z cover issue. I logged on www.rapradar.com the first day it was live. So I've always followed these two as much as I could.
Enough backstory. Needless to say I contributed to the kickstarter and in turn stamped my invitation to the release party. I patiently waited (I kind of harassed them sporadically on twitter lol) for it to be announced and when it was time to show up, I was there. Met two great ladies outside as we were the first 3 in line and we rocked out with the rest of the people all night. The event was held at Subrosa NYC lounge. Very dope, cozy setup lounge that was very fitting for the night. Sponsored by Hennessy, it started and ended with that! (insert Elliott's laugh here). From the kickoff Dj Austin Millz provided a great soundtrack for the night. With a great mixture of the 90's to the present he kept it rocking! (My two party mates wouldn't forgive me if I didn't mention that He didn't play any Hov all night! Our only gripe). Early on everybody was being "too cool" or just trying to feel out the vibe but that was quickly interrupted when, true to beautiful form, Queen Danyel sent word that we were here to dance. This is hip-hop! So after that the vibe grew. The people who knew other people were a little less cliqued up and everybody just started partying and bullshitting (The only Christopher we acknowledge is Wallace). Time passed unconsciously as joy and hope and ambition filled the air. Jadakiss and Styles P came through and took pictures and just vibe'd with everybody like the real ones that they are. International Nigel (@Nigel_D) was there capturing the moments. B-Dot came thru Du Rag-less. YN slid out of the autograph signing briefly to bounce and vibe as Drake's "Star67" rang out. And the gracious, God sent to the culture, beautiful Ms. Sylvia Rhone was amongst the people and came on stage to accompany the #HRDCVR brain trust during their victory lap speeches (No laughing! No Crying!! was the rule). It was a great night
All in all, the most important thing I left this family gathering with, other than the #HRDCVR book itself of course, was that we did it... again! Danyel and Elliott, Darian (I'm using first names like I know them because that's how it felt) and the rest of the staff treated us to a masterpiece of a project and a masterpiece of a night. They really made me, if not everybody, feel like we all were apart of this equally. This was our love child. Our #passionatlas. "No laughing! No Crying" was the rule (If you're in the know, you know why lol) but this was a night about breaking the rules. About doing what we wanted. About making something you love and chasing a dream. About defying the odds. About unity. About being creative. About, Hip-Hop. I'm just a kid from Albany, Ga that grew up in a trailer park and project buildings most of my life (#HoodsDeepWorldwide) and now my name is on the same page of contributors with Jay-z. I got to hear Biggie Smalls "One More Chance" in a New York City club under the lights. It was all a dream.
So like I simply and genuinely told Ms. Sylvia Rhone as she hugged me and shook my hand... Half & Danamo, #HRDCVR staff, fellow #HRDCVR family of believers... "Thank You!"
Peace & Love
