Category: "Listening Session"
Is Anyone Listening?
Tags: Angel Lola, Bun B, Chicken Wings, Jigsaw, Spotlight Lounge
Food and Drinks will be Served. That's all I had to read on the e-vite when I decided, "Whatever it is, I'm there." Arriving to the March 4 Bun B listening session, it seemed as if most came out for the same thing - grub and dranks.
As the industry's "semi-elite" chatted, ate, and networked - they seemed to have forgotton why they were actually at NYC's Spotlight Lounge. When Bun B made his arrival, in his dark blue jeans, black T-shirt and fitted cap, everyone stopped smacking on thier mini burgers for a moment to remember, "O yea, he is what this is about tonight." Mr. B worked the room with a cologate smile (maybe veneers), forcing some in the crowd to take a second to wipe thier greasy fingers on a napkin quick enough to give Bun some dap and hugs. Working on CP time (a hour late) Bun made his way to the stage to introduce his newest project - II Trill to the tipsy and stuffed crowd.
Once the music started the crowd bobbed their heads to the first track, "II Trill," ft. Z-Ro and J. Prince, produced by Clinton Sparks. Soon after that track ended, everyone's must of came down with the n-itis because the focus no longer was on the music. I have to admit, I got caught up in the "network" and pineapple margaritas. Label workers, magazine writers, bloggers, and the hoochies were all there getting in. I couldn't spot one hard core Bun B fan in the place. You know the type of fan - every track they are rocking and swaying like they in the studio creating the song instead of just listening...
With at least five songs out the way, I began to see that this was a meeting of all those "who got next" in the industry. There were no Editor-In-Chiefs, Label Execs, not even the "Popular" Video Ho's Vixens (What up Lola) in the building. Everyone knew it wasn't the time to really dig deep into the album, but PR did a great job of putting everyone together to create "planned awareness."
The biggest surprise of the night was speaking to Bun B himself. I had the chance to ask him a couple questions, and I was in awe of his responses. Educated and well spoken, his answers reminded me of that Lil Jon sketch from the Chapelle's Show. While his music is gangsta, grimy, and southern-when he finally spoke you just didn't expect him to speak with such clarity and refinement. He got political on me showing he was very informed on the presidential election, and when asked who this album was for, he responded in his most proper voice: "This album is for the people in the streets who aren't heard or the people who can't speak." Ohhhhhh so great. The album wasn't for most of us at the session, no wonder no one was listening. That made me feel much better about my motivation- Food and Drinks Will Be Served. Pass the wings please...
With six or seven business cards in my purse and a full stomach, I made my exit.
BIG UPS: CHUCK CREEKMUR, Co-Founder, AllHipHop.com (JERZEE!!); BIG CED, Founder, The Industry Cosign; GRITZ, Staff Writer, Ballerstatus.com; ANTOINE KING, Ceo, Spate Magazine; RONDELL MADDOX, Editorial Manager, Spate Magazine; and JON CARAMANICA, Music Editor, Vibe Magazine.
Lesson: When you are trying to network, go to events solo - the lack of company drives you to meet people.