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I was down in Miami playing the role of “Mr. Wolf” (Pulp Fiction) to “solve problems” but mostly to give the Musical Director baton to fellow illadelphonic and A Black Girl Named Becky keys maestro Omar Edwards. The band also consists of Tony Royster Jr. (whom most people round here still thought was 12 years old) and legendary percussionist “Jerz E” formerly with Jill Scott. This goes to show you how deep the seed of Black Lily/The Roots were planted. Beween Mary’s band and jay’s band there were 5 six degrees to separation musicians from the Philly/Jersey Tri-State area. The format of the show was similar to what Jay and I talked about last year in Vegas (I told him to do a ramped up okayplayer tour style review with him, Rell, Ush, T.I., Kanye and Mary—and just make it one big ass mixtape on tour). I guess this is baby steps towards that direction. Night one (which the first night is never the best night of a new tour) was not bad at all—for starters there were multiple dress rehearsals done at the University of Miami. How this massive ass production managed to sneak on campus under the radar without one hottie gone wild knowing is beyond me. We did 2 weeks of rehearsals—one week in LA then in true Jay style he gets rid of his band… with under a week to go…. and its up to all the kings horses and kings men to put humpty back together again. So the call was made to use the og “American Gangster” band who Puff uses when he is touring and former illadelphonic Omar Edwards as the musical director. Really all they needed was some coaching being as though the average young black musician is part of the gospel chop generation.

Although she will murder me–my creative director at def jam (the former) Grace Harry–was secretly the muse to a former native tonguer gushing crush (no not this one but this one) and that very song was named after her. A good time was had by all. Imma miss not touring with those cats. I’ll periodically show up from city to city and give more updates.

It’s kinda hard bringing the adrenalized playing post Arsenio Hall band world to a screeching stop but they managed to find their inner breakbeat later on I’ll share photos and treats for I got closer than any photographer and filmmaker allowed on this set. This photo was taken right after the show with his special guests Young Jeezy and Kanye West. Kanye was especially impressed with my new cannon g9 camera with its neat fillers and whatnot.

-?uesto