IN MY TRAVELS….
(VH1 HIP-HOP HONORS PRE-PARTY @ THE VOLSTEAD, NYC)
By Khalid Strickland a.k.a. Black Pacino
Photos by Eric Russ
AZ and me at The Volstead
The 5th Annual VH-1 Hip Hop Honors hit NYC last week and on the eve of the massive event, there were parties jumpin’ off all over The Apple. A bunch of heavy-hitters were in town for the ceremony and excitement was in the air alongside the smog. I was lucky enough to receive an invite to one of the pre-HHH shindigs and it was tighter than J-Hood’s du-rag. GoodGirl PR and the TLAPR Agency, in association with VH-1, held a “Back to the 90’s” gala at The Volstead, a classy joint that wouldn’t let a hooligan like me enter on a regular night. The party’s other sponsors included Sony BMG, V2 Vodka, XXL magazine and GlobalGrind.com. DJ Nickiee (a.k.a. the Princess of the Techniques) and DJ Shogun (four-time Justo Mixtape Award nominee) spun timeless rap records that kept the packed house live.
The evening was monumental not just because of the Hip-Hop legends in attendance at The Volstead, but also because I finally showed up somewhere on time. I picked a great night to ditch my beloved C.P.T. because an hour after I arrived, the bouncers were corralling a horde of people heaped up at the door. But we weren’t in Brooklyn, so folks were orderly and not a shot was fired. It was around this time that my wingman/photographer, E-Boogie, showed up and squeezed his way through the constricting mob to join me in the club. Fortunately for E, the crowd was padded with voluptuous honeys. This was a proverbial “red carpet” affair, so when celebs entered the spot, they’d stop in a designated area and bathe in the photographers’ flashbulbs. DJ Premier was there rocking a t-shirt emblazoned with memorable lyrics from “Time’s Up” by O.C. (“I’d rather be broke and have a whole lotta respect…”). Well, Primo’s definitely respected, and though he never flaunts a piece of jewelry, I seriously doubt he’s hurting for cash.
Another legendary producer, Easy Mo Bee, made it to the party. Like Primo, Easy Mo Bee contributed beats to Notorious B.I.G.’s Ready to Die and it was an honor to chop it up with the greats. AZ the Visualiza was there rockin’ a frozen gold Jesus piece and videotaping interviews for the local TV shows. Longtime friends Teddy Ted and Special K, the revered DJ duo known as The Awesome Two, were also in the house. The WBO Light-Heavyweight Champion, Kendall Holt, made it to the party with his actual championship belt in tow. I spotted ex-Roots member Rahzel, the beat-boxer also known as “The Godfather of Noyze,” posing for pictures with fans.
Me & DJ Premier
Alize was one of the party’s sponsors, and pretty ladies holding trays of free Gold Passion liqueur sashayed around The Volstead. I didn’t get as smashed as usual, though. I’d like to believe that this was due to my iron-willed discipline; I had to interview Scarface the next morning and didn’t want to be hung over. The real reason was that whenever the Alize girls came my way, folks would swoop in like vultures and leave me with an empty tray. I thought I had the freeloadin’ game all sewn up but I must be getting slow with age.
The party was dope and I have to thank Tafia from TLAPR for hooking me up and being very efficient. Not only was “Back to the 90’s” nostalgic, fun-filled and loaded with beautiful women to creep with, I also networked with plenty of movers and shakers. And anytime I can drink, politic and hear rap music other than the five records that loop endlessly on FM radio, it’s a good night.
For more pictures of the “Back to the 90’s” party at The Volstead, visit the FLICKR PHOTO SET.
Special K & Teddy Ted a.k.a. The Awesome Two, with their homie.
Kendall Holt, WBO Light-Heavyweight Boxing Champion
Best shot of the night ;-]
see more pics of the party at THE FLICKR PHOTO SET
For more work, stories by Black Pacino visit www.myspace.com/blackpacino and www.supremearsenal.com.
