WORDS BY KHALID STRICKLAND a.k.a. BLACK PACINO
PHOTOS BY BLACK PACINO & SUNDIATA ACREE
Let’s recap for a moment. As the final curtain closed on The Wire, Michael became a stick-up artist, Dukie became a fiend, Randy ended up in a foster home and Namond became… a rapper?
The other night I met Julito McCullum, the young actor who portrayed Wee-Bay’s son Namond Brice and he informed me that he’s also an up-and-coming emcee who goes by the handle J. Brice. He gave me a copy of his new mix CD, The First Take, hosted by Da Midas Touch DJ Nu. Judging from the few joints I skimmed through so far, J. Brice spends plenty bars letting you know that he’s nothing like that square Namond.
“One shot, two shots, three shots, four/they mad ’cause when it’s beef I come knock at ni**as doors/mad ’cause I ain’t pu**y like my character on T.V./and they mad ’cause it’s me them lil’ ni**s wanna be.”
Wee-Bay would be proud.
I ran into Julito at a party for Flawless, the Brooklyn mixtape phenom signed to Stackhouse Music (no relation to Jerry). Flawless was at Club Corio celebrating the release of his lovey-dovey single, “That’s My Baby.” He’s a hardcore street rapper with a heavy buzz, but even the coldest thug needs that syrupy-sweet, auto-tuned radio ditty; the industry requires it.
Since hitting the scene, Flawless has collaborated with Jim Jones, Trey Songz, Chingy and Busta Rhymes; but I’m more impressed that he had the juice to get alumni from The Wire to attend his shindig.
Jamie Hector, who so capably portrayed Marlo Stanfield, was actually the host of the evening’s festivities. With his trademarked cool, Jamie strolled into Corio followed by the towering Anwan Glover a.k.a. Slim Charles. The sight of them chillin’ together was surreal. I expected Michael K. Williams (Omar) to pop up with a sawed-off and rob everybody, but he didn’t show.
DJ Self of both Sirius Radio and Power 105FM held down the turntables. Self is actually one of my homies from Fort Greene BK since back in the day, so we shot the breeze for a minute. Also present were Jaz-O and the ever-hustlin’ Donny Goines (does dude sleep?) The First Lady of Skull Gang, R&B singer Star, also rolled through with a crew of luscious, scantily-clad dimes. Throughout the evening, joints by Flawless were sprinkled in with DJ Self’s playlist. They dropped a heat-rock that featured Curly’s partner-in-beef, Rick Ross; I didn’t catch the title, but the shit was dope. Flawless later performed songs from his upcoming album and the bass-heavy beats had Jamie Hector’s head nodding. Aside from the moment when he heard that Omar was dead, it was the only time I saw Jamie crack a smile.
I had a blast at the party and it was cool to see major players from my all-time favorite TV series mingling with the crowd. Shout outs to Soulgee, RA Management and Stackhouse for strategizing this tight event.
Peep some more pics of the action…
For more work by Khalid Strickland a.k.a. Black Pacino visit THE SPIZZY, www.myspace.com/blackpacino and www.supremearsenal.com.
