This week flew by in a hurry. I couldn’t believe how fast it went by. I started the week off at work, of course, and on Wednesday while I was snackin’ on some popcorn a daggone kernel went and scratched my throat up, injury to the larynx. Poor me. Well the weekend rolls up on us, and my throat is worse than ever. The right side of my throat got all kinds of swollen…huge…giant size…supa sized even. So I got tested for strep. Nada. Nothin’.
Saturday morning, my throat was killing me, but I had to go to Rock The Bells. Headed to Fiddlers Green with the masses and eased past them as I collected my passes. RULES FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS: You can only shoot during the first three songs of each set. You must meet at the side of the stage between five and ten minutes prior to each set. Sign this release that says you won’t sell any images. You may not reach out and touch any of the artists. (Pissed cuz I really was going to try and grab Method Man’s hand.)
Missed out on shooting Wale, who according to my boyfriend, is gonna be the next big thang, but I’m not trippin. I’ll catch him in Seattle… Had a good time shooting Jay Electronica, another up and coming mega star, what’s up with the staff though Jay? I’ll never forget you Jay Electronica. Jay came on the stage and really big-upped Supernatural. “Ya’ll are seeing some amazing emcees today!!! But nobody has been doing it as long as Supernatural! He’s so talented, he don’t even need to write his rhymes, he does everything off the top!! Supernatural and Scratch come out in between every act on Rock The Bells, they kill it every time!! Except today.” Thanks.
Wale - W.A.L.E.D.A.N.C.E. (Rock The Bells, Denver) courtesy of 2dopeboyz.com
Jay Electronica “My World (Nas Salute)“
Big up to Emcee Zin who took my assistant Elizabeth and I back stage to meet Dead Prez. Once we got backstage I started looking for Tha Pharcyde’s manager Greg C., so I could present the guys with an issue of The Flavor with Tha Pharcyde on the cover. So I’m MINDING my business talking to ELIZABETH when this strange woman interrupts me and takes away my Flavor saying SHE will give it to Tha Pharcyde. She totally gangked me! I’ve lost my touch….I am…a sucker.
I found Tha Pharcyde though, and they liked the magazine, and I took a photo with them with the magazine, and nah nah nah nah lady.
Meth and Red came on stage after Immortal Technique who I didn’t photograph cuz I was sitting in Nas’s dressing room with Dead Prez, “What are all these people doing in Nas’s dressing room??? Did Green Lantern let them in?” I had to leave the Backstage area to shoot Meth and Red, and after that, it was no mas backstage. Then it started to rain….and we hid in the Frank 151 tent with DJ Low Key and Sounds Supreme, and wished we were fancy enough to have backstage access.
Redman & Method Man “How High”
Tha Pharcyde killed it though. Played allll the classics. It was great seeing them back together. Imani looked like he was so happy!!! Big smile the whole time.
By the time Nas came on though the rain was gone, and it was a beautiful night. I’ve been up close and personal with Nas before, if you haven’t heard the head story, let me know…so it was no big deal being that close to him again. Right…..it was super impressive to see how far he’s come, the last time I saw him perform was 1994 at The Flavor Party. He was dope.
Nas feat. Eban Thomas “You Can’t Stop Us Now”
Mos Def came on and rocked some Reggae tunes….while we waited for Black Star to perform….because A Tribe Called Quest didn’t (get well soon Phife)……and Talib took his sweet time coming on stage…. so I took my sore throat and went home.
Sunday I was in the ER.
Thought I was dying. ER doctor diagnosed me with NOTHING and sent me home with some Predsinone - steroids. There go my dreams of being a professional athlete.
Monday tried to get into the Dr, they said they could see me til the following week. Tuesday I called crying and begging to be seen, and they got me in. Turns out I did indeed have….a throat infection. One shot of penicillin in the rear, and a shot of steroids in the arm, and I headed to work. Yes. To work. Long story.
DNC was in full affect all around me, friends in from out of town, fabulous parties that I wasn’t invited to. BIG up to Jeff Chang, James Bernard, and B+ for letting me roll with them to the Iraqi Veterans Against War concert. We caught The Coup, Denver’s own Flobots, and Rage Against The Machine!!!!
Rage Against the Machine “Wake Up”
I was in the crowd mingling with the masses and my 70- 200 giant sized lens during The Coup and Flobots, but decided not to risk my life in the mosh pit from hell during Rage. But it sure was fun to watch them. Last time I saw Rage it was to a crowd that fit in a New York bar. This time they rocked the Denver Coliseum. Incredible.
Tried to catch up with the protest that followed, but lacking DNC credentials, I was denied. Check out B+’s shots on vibe.com though…dopeness…and follow Jeff’s blog, also on vibe.com as well as on his own site cantstopwontstop.com as he continues his political tour at the RNC in Minneapolis.
Topped the week off with photoshoots with M1 from Dead Prez and Rosa Clemente, Vice Presidential Candidate for the Green Party. The last few years in Rosa’s life have been incredible. Watch for her to hit your town on the election trail, and get to know more about her and The Green Party.
Next week I’m off to Seattle to shoot Rock The Bells at the Gorge in George, and to have a little art show at Spin’s Barbershop. Excellent opportunity to see my work up close and personal if you have not been able to, as well as to meet my fabulous boyfriend Craig who will be visiting the Pacific NW for the first time. And of course, see me and the kid. If you’re in Seattle, come on down.