AJ Dance Legacy

The Five Essentials to Throw a Successful Event

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“One water and one vodka cranberry,” you tell the bartender who closes the tab.  Grab the libations early.  Hydrate. Hydrate. Hydrate. Cause when Louie Vega featuring Unlimited Touch’s “Music Is My Life” welcomes you into the expansion, you already know, it is going to be one of those nights.… Continue

Prologue 

“How long does it take to get a damn bottled water?” The bartenders dressed in shoulder less black halters are wearing black masks. By 2 pm, people are tripping over, slightly inebriated, or buzzed from Moscow Mules or whatever trendy libations are du jour. You’ve waited so long at the bar that you start a conversation with a lady wearing micro braids.… Continue

David Morales

Helluva Surprises and WTFs!

At 4:05 am, stepping onto Florida Avenue, seen are flashing lights and heard are sirens slashing the chilly air. Police cars, first responders, and emergency vehicles barricade the road. Bystanders stare from street corners.  Finger-pointers stand down 7th Avenue.  Whatever happened doesn’t look good at all.

Gimmick Music

Kai Alcé

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Walking into the club when the Kerri Chandler Dark Mix of Lea Lisa’s “Something for the Dancers” is playing means this is money well spent.  In the era of inflation, when the DJ drops your favorite from KemiticJust featuring Terrance Down’s “I’m Here For It” you totally agree, you came here just for this moment.… Continue

Black Coffee
The Entertainer

“That shit was as brutal as watching “Black Adam.” You tweet walking to your vehicle from the club. Feeling the chill in the air. Disappointed. Thinking.

Whereas, having recently witnessed Derrick Carter and Osunlade play heart and soul music, with conviction. Black Coffee plays music that entertains. He is an entertainer. Who now plays Hollywood house. Music with no authenticity.… Continue

OVEOUS

So what does an OVEOUS playlist sound like?  The music that Osunlade plays.  Percolating percussions.  Meditative melodies.  Ancestreal chants.  A major difference being OVEOUS spits verses, live.  Holding in hand a microphone he raps, “Find your friends on the dance floor. Or make new friends on the dance floor.”  Osunlade and OVEOUS are arguably interchangeable.  The latter having been mentored by the Yoruba priest, is a member of the Yoruba Recordings family.… Continue

DERRICK CARTER

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What is Chicago’s obsession with Mary J. Blige?  Chi-town’s Emmaculate, Terry Hunter, and now Derrick Carter have remixed her latest chart-topper.  Carter’s version jumpstarts the party with kick drums, hi-hats and the Queen of Hip Hop cooing “Good Morning Gorgeous.”

And gorgeous, they are.  The femmes and doms are out!  For Atlanta’s 51st Pride Celebration.  The must-attend Queen Butch’s “The Last Ball” closes the weekender.… Continue

Collective Minds

“We don’t care about y’all.

If you over dance, we don’t have insurance to cover you.”

Perhaps, Baltimore’s DJ Oji should use a more suitable palette of words. After all, the festival’s attendees feel a certain way.  After their saga began hours earlier.

The Karizma Effect

When darkness is fully realized and the moon is only left to guide you.  The humidity registering at 65% sticks to your shirt.  Ewww.  A truck is parked the wrong way on a one-way alley street.  The driver, a woman is passed out at the steering wheel.  Across the street is a lanky man perched  on the sidewalk.… Continue