N.E.R.D. & Nas NYC show: changing the world, one party at a time
- Oct 20, 2008
Several hundred lucky hip-hop and entertainment elite in NYC put politics asides recently, skipped the presidential debates and went to go see Nas perform with N.E.R.D, Spankrock, Dizzee Rascal, and DJs Devlin and Darko at a private party downtown, sponsored by Smirnoff and Cornerstone Promotion.
Most people stampeded past the red ropes into the ornate "Capitale" building with excitement around 9:30; there was still a line well around the block when the security announced the venue was "at capacity." Needless to say, inside everyone nudged and edged to various bars to gulp down free, 'experimental' Smirnoff cocktails. (NOTE about Experimental cocktails? There was one nasty, pepper and tomato-based concoction while weird smoke waft from a stand with scented 'sensual smelling' cocktails....not for tame palates.) Needless to say, weird concoctions or not, the alcohol did the trick- and the crowd got frisky fast.....by 10:30 people were bouncing like maniacs to Devlin and Darko's complex DJ set...
Then came the minor problem. N.E.R.D. was slated to go on at 11 pm but the stage was still empty by 12 am. Disorganized ethos turned into disgruntled chaos. The drunk got drunker. The drunk spilled on the sober. The sober bitched about the drunk. The drunk got angry. The crowd got vicious. Remember, this was the spoiled music industry scene- where concerts and drinks often come without a price tag and everyone who is anyone thinks they are "V.I.P." So, circa 1 am, the crowd actually started booing at the DJs! Circa 12:30 am when Spankrock and female rapper Amanda Blank came on, the crowd was still rather peeved. Regardless, the energetic Spankrock and Ms. Blank still put up a solid front, despite Amanda's waning voice.
But it was only really when N.E.R.D. came on that the crowd really woke up. Especially as Pharrell reprimanded their attitude ("I know this is a corporate party but this is ridiculous; who are you here for !! US! ) and began to sing songs like "Lapdance," and "She Wants To Move." If Pharrell tells you to party, you better party!
Mid-way through the set, Dizzee Rascal joined the stage and later? the legendary Grandmaster Flash. The crowd went wild. In the early morning hours, Nas. closed out the show, provoking a group sing-along to "If I Ruled the World." An emotional moment came while singing "Black President;" Nas gave a shout out to Barack Obama while singing "yes we can change the world." Per those rumors of his wife Kelis and her $150,000 sex tape? Nas showed what side he's on, shouting: "Give it up for my wife, Kelis!" Meanwhile, hip hop friends and family, including Shay, Buckshot, Sway, Kid Sister, Miss Info, and Roxy/Oxy Cottontail all looked on and grooved way past everyone's bedtime. Bottom line: despite initial grumpy attitudes, the main players of hip hop showed the corporate kids what a hip-hop party is all about.
Most people stampeded past the red ropes into the ornate "Capitale" building with excitement around 9:30; there was still a line well around the block when the security announced the venue was "at capacity." Needless to say, inside everyone nudged and edged to various bars to gulp down free, 'experimental' Smirnoff cocktails. (NOTE about Experimental cocktails? There was one nasty, pepper and tomato-based concoction while weird smoke waft from a stand with scented 'sensual smelling' cocktails....not for tame palates.) Needless to say, weird concoctions or not, the alcohol did the trick- and the crowd got frisky fast.....by 10:30 people were bouncing like maniacs to Devlin and Darko's complex DJ set...
Then came the minor problem. N.E.R.D. was slated to go on at 11 pm but the stage was still empty by 12 am. Disorganized ethos turned into disgruntled chaos. The drunk got drunker. The drunk spilled on the sober. The sober bitched about the drunk. The drunk got angry. The crowd got vicious. Remember, this was the spoiled music industry scene- where concerts and drinks often come without a price tag and everyone who is anyone thinks they are "V.I.P." So, circa 1 am, the crowd actually started booing at the DJs! Circa 12:30 am when Spankrock and female rapper Amanda Blank came on, the crowd was still rather peeved. Regardless, the energetic Spankrock and Ms. Blank still put up a solid front, despite Amanda's waning voice.
But it was only really when N.E.R.D. came on that the crowd really woke up. Especially as Pharrell reprimanded their attitude ("I know this is a corporate party but this is ridiculous; who are you here for !! US! ) and began to sing songs like "Lapdance," and "She Wants To Move." If Pharrell tells you to party, you better party!
Mid-way through the set, Dizzee Rascal joined the stage and later? the legendary Grandmaster Flash. The crowd went wild. In the early morning hours, Nas. closed out the show, provoking a group sing-along to "If I Ruled the World." An emotional moment came while singing "Black President;" Nas gave a shout out to Barack Obama while singing "yes we can change the world." Per those rumors of his wife Kelis and her $150,000 sex tape? Nas showed what side he's on, shouting: "Give it up for my wife, Kelis!" Meanwhile, hip hop friends and family, including Shay, Buckshot, Sway, Kid Sister, Miss Info, and Roxy/Oxy Cottontail all looked on and grooved way past everyone's bedtime. Bottom line: despite initial grumpy attitudes, the main players of hip hop showed the corporate kids what a hip-hop party is all about.
