Invite Only

Who Hotter Than Me?

Posted 11/25/2008 at 6:19 PM  |  4 comment/s

THE SPOT: 74 Leonard Street between Broadway and Church, Nov 24, 2008. It's raining but we must press on because this is, in fact, is a VIBE event and to not go or support, despite my personal-training induced body aches, wouldn't be right. So Danyel and I hopped into a black car service (finding a taxi at our new location on Wall St. is MISSION IMPOSSIBLE) headed to the Knitting Factory to witness Plies' first ever performance in New York in honor of his December cover.

We arrive early, like five-people-in-the-room-plus-the-food-staff early. But you all know if the food staff was set up and good to go, I felt right on time. Slowly VIP began to make their way into the stuffy, or like the industry calls it "intimate," VIP area. I'm tearing into my shrimp wrap, and everyone is looking at me crazy for eating, but isn't that what the food is for, damn? (What up E.W.!) The crowd made up of press, label crews, old and current interns, photographers and VIBE staffers are all rubbing elbows, and knees, booties, arms for that matter--because the spot is tight. The music volume is lowered, the crowd silences, and the announcement is made that Plies has arrived! Wait a minute is this a surprise party??? Why do we have to turn down the music for fifeteen minutes before he actually makes his way to the indoor red carpet? Plus now that the music is off, you pay more attention to the temperature, and Nelly said it best..."It's Getting Hot in Hurr."

Finally Plies enters, photographers go buck for a shot of Danyel and Plies as the crowd gets shifted, pushed, and pulled in every direction. I was glad I was one of the few sitting in a seat, chilling...but it was funny to watch. With the Red Rug (small scale) photo session was over, Danyel was good to go, and we made our way upstairs. Alright here's where everything gets hot--literally. Our trek up the steps changes the temperature from an uncomfortable 70 degrees, to the heat-gotsa-be-on-hell, 98 degrees.

Mind over matter, "whoosa," I came to enjoy the show and that's what I intend to do. Every female with hair past their shoulders tied their locks up in a ponytail, while I was thinking: if I pull out my scissors and just cut my hair off will I have time to buy another pack tonight and put it in by the morning??

Funkmaster Flex is on his reggae set trying to trick us into thinking this was a basement party, and the temperature was supposed all part of the look...right. With twelve people on a 6ft x 6ft stage, I did feel worse for the people on the platform than in the audience. BET's 106 and Park Terrance J, the host for the night, comes out jumping on the stage like he just ate 39 Pixie Stixs and I'm like please stop with that bubble coat and all the hoping he is wearing me out. Plies, please where are you?

Just before I had a heat stroke, Plies in all his miniature swaggerliscious self comes out to the song, "Who's Hotter Than Me?" Really Plies? The answer is us...this whole damn Knitting Factory crowd is hotter than you. In a white jacket, thermal, and fitted flipped to the back, Plies raps his hit "Busta Baby," gangsta sex rapping at its best. Seductively touching a girl on her lips he says, "When you say you love me, I love you to. And when I say the pleasure is all mines, the pleasure is all mine." Whew am I getting hot for another reason?

By the smells of it people are now smoking whatever they want, and Plies is performing his first mega-hit "Shawty" ft. T-Pain. He goes acapella, and for a moment I forgot how X-rated his lyrics were, "Look how that pussy sit in them shorts, you got to want her..." Ummmm?

Plies spits his verses on Shawty Lo's, "Hello," and DJ Khaled's tracks "Im Out Here Grinding," "I'm So Hood," and removes his thermal to give a shout out to all his Atlantic label family. Before he raps over the Pattie LaBelle sampled "Somebody Loves You Baby," he vocalizes his appreciation to Vibe for allowing him to do something so major, and sends a special thanks to Danyel. "I know she's here, I gave her about three kisses tonight," he admits. Awwwwww how sweet. It's time to go...I make my exit almost falling to the ground when I finally get outside... air.

Lesson: Stay humble, stay prepared, there is not such thing as luck. Success is preparation meeting opportunity.

BIG UPS: Michael Kyser (Atlantic Records), Sydney Margetson (Atlantic Records), Gena Gatewood (Project 2050), Jenessa Jacobson, Tiffany Reeves, Taj Chrisp (Former Vibe Intern), Johnnie Nunez, Deanna Lopez Torres (Project 2050)

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