Slip-N-Slide's 15th Anniversary Party at Hotel Victor in Miami Beach was definitely the best party of 2008. Baby tigers, porn stars, open bars, and lots of millionaire thugs showing off their jewelry. Trina was posing for photos as Keith Sweat performed. I got to sit and talk to Slip-N-Slide's founder and CEO Ted Lucas for a few minutes. We talked about my first interview with him about a year ago, where he saved me. We also talked about our team, the Miami Dolphins (Ted predicts that they will "make the playoffs this year without a doubt"). Thanks Slip N Slide, for representing Miami for 15 years, and putting out some great music.
It was really cool talking to Henry Rollins over the phone. The man has the gift of gab, and he spoke non-stop for almost twenty minutes. In this episode of PrunkTV, we talk about last week’s guest, HR of the Bad Brains, and pumping iron. He also told me about his travels in the Middle East, why he is voting for Obama, why he thinks McCain will win, what music he is currently listening to, and the books that he is currently reading. If you are interested, well, go check out his spoken word performances this weekend at Revolution.
I walked into the historical landmark known as Churchill’s Pub at 1:30 p.m. on a recent Saturday afternoon. Bad Brains front man HR was sitting on the stage and waiting for me. I introduced myself, as he pulled me close. “Lets go to the backyard,” he whispered into my ear. I was jarred, as I followed him through the dark empty club, and outside to the porch.
The heat blazed down, as I sat dumbfounded. HR was wearing a khaki blazer, dark sunglasses, brown leather shoes, and slacks. His dreadlocks have never changed. I asked him if he would like something to drink. “Yes sir,” he said in a high-pitched but very soft voice, “I would like some pineapple juice.” He bent down and pulled a Gideon’s Bible from his guitar case, and then took out his shiny blue acoustic guitar. He continued to strum the guitar as I walked towards the bar and ordered pineapple juice on the rocks.
I arrived at Uncle Luke’s house at 2 p.m. on a recent Friday afternoon. He started talking as we sat down, and began the interview. At around 4 p.m., my digital audio recorder beeped, notifying me that it was full. The interview was not over, however. I asked Uncle Luke if I could video record him for this episode of PrunkTV. He is obviously exhausted and ready for me to leave.
Against Me! will be in town this weekend for the Vans Warped Tour. I interviewed their lead singer and founder Tom Gabel last year while the band was in Europe and as you can hear, I am an “obnoxious reporter."
Last year’s Rock the Bells was headlined by Wu-Tang Clan, with all nine living members onstage (until Meth jumped into the audience). Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s son, “Young DB” was up there, carrying on his father’s legacy.
This past January, I spoke with Raekwon and Ghostface about the future of the Wu.
Listen to the first few minutes of that conversation here:
At this year’s Rock The Bells, Wu-Tang Clan will be broken up into two different performances. Raekwon and Ghostface will be performing together, and Method Man will be performing with Redman.
Meanwhile, RZA is busy setting up his own chess website.
Alicia Keys listened as I nervously explained why her song, “Like You’ll Never See Me Again ” makes me cry.
From Alicia’s reaction, it sounds like she really cares about me. So my next question for Alicia is, will you marry me?
P.S.: The day before I was to call Alicia Keys, I received the following statement from her via email:
I feel it is necessary to clarify the comments that were made during my recent Blender magazine interview since they have been misrepresented. Anyone who knows me and my character, knows that I am not a conspiracy theorist or, by implication, a racist. My comments about 'gangsta rap' were in no way trying to suggest that the government is responsible for creating this genre of rap music. The point that I was trying to make was that the term was over-sloganized by some of the media causing reactions that were not always positive. Many of the 'gangsta rap' lyrics articulate the problems of the artists' experiences and I think all of us, including our leaders, could be doing more to address these problems including drugs, gang violence, crime, and other related social issues.
Additionally, regarding the AK-47 reference, AK-47 is a nickname given to me by some of my friends in jest, as an acronym for Alicia Keys and a metaphor for wowing people with my music and performances, "killing 'em dead" on stage. The reference was in no way meant to have a literal, political or negative connotation.
The recent implications about me are too radical and too dramatic a departure from whom I have continually demonstrated myself to be. I work so hard and give so much of myself to bring about positive change to this world, and I only wish those efforts received as much press and attention as the misinterpretations of the Blender article.
This was no interview, it was my dream date.
The Diamond Princess sparkled like my logo right there. Read the whole story here, and listen to a few minutes of Miami royalty here below.
