Just in case you forgot...

Just in case you forgot who I am and what is really going on right now. I'm posting this friendly reminder to all my friends and especially for the fans. I do this for the fans, they need me and I love me and I love them back.

Ok, you may now talk amongst yourselves.

The Bougie One.

It's complicated...

Apparently "It's complicated" has become such a popular saying in recent days. I've heard that phrase alot the past week and noticed how inadquate that phrase is as when used to answer or respond a question.

"It's complicated" is small, simple phrase but it's probably the strongest thing I can say to describe my life right now. Like its so hard to explain that so someone without giving too much information yet satisfying their understanding of what you actually wished you could say. All the while expressing your sincere desire to give more of yourself but secretly masking the fact that you have not built the trust in them you need to give away that part of yourself again.

"It's complicated." What I found interesting this week is that "It's complicated" is not a good enough excuse any more. As I prepare to move to DC I start to wonder what I will say to my son when he questions, "why he only sees daddy sometimes now?" I wonder will "It's complicated" be a good enough answer for him? (I doubt it.) I wonder how I will find the nerve to respond "It's complicated." When the real asnwer is "Mommy and Daddy still love you and your sister very much. But, we didn't do what we needed to do to love each other. Instead we just did what was easy to do." (That's the real answer but in reality what ever answer I give to him will not be good enough to make up for the times I haven't been there becuase "It's complicated" got in the way.)

I wonder how many times I'm going to let "It's complicated" get in the way of what I know I should be doing, yet never seem to actually try to do until my back is against the wall. I really wonder. If I don't make the right moves and quit fuckin' around, "It's complicated" is going to get me killed.

Real talk.

That Bougie One.

Poor Poor Negros: A comment on ghetto-ism

So I wasn't going to write this particular blog-post, but I have to kill an hour of time at work until I start my next project. So if this sounds like I'm ranting or pissed off at ghetto-ass-shit then assume that is what I'm doing.

The setup:
So I'm at my favorite wine bar last week in Harlem enjoying my time as I usually do there, when an old friend (or should I say "Bar-friend") walks in and sits down with his crew of folks. After a few minutes I walk over and give the brotha some dap and sit down and chit-chat with him for a while.

The Let down:
So we chit-chat for a few and catch up on the summer happenings. We talk about the fun and not so fun times blah blah blah. So then the brotha pulls me aside and says:

Brotha at the Wine Bar: Dude, you know that Mintons has closed down right?

The Bougie Negro: Man, you gotta be lying It's historic. That's like a Harlem Landmark.

Brotha at the Wine Bar: No dude, I'm not joking. What happen is they lost their liquor license.

The Bougie Negro: Wait, how does BAR lose it's LIQUOR LICENSE? So what is it now just a big room that has landmark status on the national registry of land marks?

Brotha at the Wine Bar: Yeah. Basically.

The Bougie Negro: Dude, we spent at least 2 to 3 nights a week in there chilling with the jazz folks. Their only responsibility at BAR is the maintain a LIQUOR LICENSE. The reason the call it a BAR is because of the LIQUOR.

Brothat at the Wine Bar: I know man. Ain't that some shit?

The Bougie Negro: That some ghetto shit to be honest with you. I mean don't they have lawyers who do this as their full time job? Ain't that what your attorney is for?

So that was the main part of the conversation, well that's the part that pissed me off. I'm tired of some half-ass-ghetto-shit all the time. This is one of the true remaining Jazz spots in Harlem that actually has REAL JAZZ. Not that watered down smooth jazz that is easy to listen to by people who don't know Jazz. They were playing some real stuff and had real people playing it. The spot is still open, but now they have a COVER CHARGE and the have an uncorking and wine glass fee if you deciced to go there and BYOB.

If I had the cash I'd buy that place in a minute. It's a real piece of Harlem. I got the oook up about the spot from Grandma she used to go there when Harlem was ev-vouge. How much more authenctic can you get?

The Good News:
The night wasn't a total loss. I found out that SEVENTEEN-BELOW (new Club./Lounge Frederick Douglass BLVD & 116th Street) was having a soft-opening, so I snuck in there for a few minutes. It looks like its going to be a cool spot. (Think APT, Bungalo 8 & MARQUEE meets Harlem Ghetto Fabulous) I'm going to suggest you bring your BLACK-AMEX-CARD or get really friendly with the Bartenders cause they are gonna hit you in the pokect like a mutha fucka when come times to get your drink on, same as they do at the exclusive downtown spots. I did meet the owners and they both seem to be 100% focused on making the club a success. The club is definetly upscale, so you can say they thought about it before they started working on the spot. It will be two floors, and i'm told they will be getting A-list entertainers to feature on the live stage planned for the basement lounge. (They did mention ONE particular musician they have scheduled...I won't give his name, but he likes to wear purple and high heels...nuff said).

PS...I hope this lounge is a success so someone can finally put MOCA out of Business. Yeah I said it!!!

Peace

The Bougie Negro

Eight years later...You Haven't Done Nothin.

As we approach election day, I think my main-man Stevie sums up the last 8 years under George Bush Wonderfully. This is live footage from the 1975 Grammys. And a little side note for those of you who don't know your soul music, The Jackson 5 sang back up on the studio version of this joint.