AJ Dance Legacy

All Hail, the King.

1650

Interlude

The music comes to a silence. There is an interlude of talking into a microphone from the founder of Indigenous House and the master of ceremonies. Yasss chyle! Most people are aware that Indigenous House is LGBTQIA affiliated, sadly most people are unaware the event is not called house music in the park.  More words are spoken about acceptance and monetary donations.… Continue

The GREEN VELVET Show

2330

Located in Amour Yards across from a commercial brewery, there stands an insipid warehouse. A long winding ramp leads to the front door where bodies are patted head-to-toe, ID’s are checked, before smartphones are scanned for admittance. Entering the nearly 12,000 square-foot premises and finding an all black male security staff proves Black Employment Matters. A walk into the oval shaped interior of copper columns and wood grain floors with highlights of turquoise, emerald and amber promises this experience might be money well spent.… Continue

ADULT SKATE-MLK EDITION

Starring: KAI ALCE, RON PULLMAN & CULLEN COLE

19.01

No roller skates are rented.

No roller skates are permitted.

No in-line skates are rented.

No roller blades are permitted.

Adult Skate is not a roller rink.

Adult Skate is an annual event where various tribes gather to dance to the hottest disco and house music south of the Mason-Dixon in the wee morning hours of the Dr.… Continue

Ameer Brooks & Themba 

22:00-23:30

Twenty dollars to park? Suck it up. The lot is spacious. Monitored. And clean.   As the outdoor temperature plunges, security pats down the body, checking for the prohibited. Flash your ID, and a scintillating smile. Enter the long corridor, the black-velvet rope queue, is empty of souls waiting to pay the door fee. Two blondes, mid-conversation, scanning your electronic ticket, point you upstairs where a man, dressed in all black, stands.… Continue

BLACK COFFEE

01:00-03:00

The horror unfolds.  They are everywhere. A sea of them is seen. Held in the air. All various sizes. The soft glow of screens. Their displays all read the same. Blackness and flashes of purple pixels. Is this a venue tradition? The gathered mass, standing erect, pulled out smartphones to film onstage the musical shaman playing.  

LEM  of MOOD II SWING

22.06

Pride Closer

“Geeoooogia.” The emphasis pronounced in drawl. “You’ve traveled here? For this?” A heavyweight doorkeeper asks as he returns a peach-stamped driver’s ID.

“Of course. I would not have missed tonight,” an enthusiastic voice replies as the license is obtained.

The bouncer beams with confused pride. “Welcome.”

THE BLACK MADONNA and the Heretics

A gold-wrapped condom is iconic on an urban billboard.  To the left, two law-enforcement vehicles anxiously wait at a gas station and to the right, across the street at a bank, waits an APD SUV that immediately, vrooms down the derelict street. Meanwhile, a junkie, crowned with dreads, quivers while crossing a car-lined intersection.                                                  

DJ: Nameless

Date: Dateless

THIS IS AGGRESSIVE MUSIC.

“That DJ never appears happy. Have you ever seen him happy?”

“Nope.”

“It was as if he was playing mad. A friend casually stated after observing a DJ play.

Wakanda Remix

When he said that.  I wanted to cry.”  She gripped her right hand in her bosom and sighed. Seconds paused.  Seconds passed.  Onze-onze-onze thumped underneath staccato tappings in the background.  In the foreground, the chatter of voices spoke lines from a recently released blackbuster superhero release. At the bar, surrounded by friends and acquaintances the party was off to a liquid start.… Continue

FRANÇOIS K

Staying Woke

“Everybody it’s January 28, 2017.”

“Yayyyyy!” A sea of voices yells.

“If you think I’m going to play music that puts you to sleep. I’m not! There is some $hit that is happening out THERE and I want you to WAKE UP!!!,” shouts an accented baritone, drowned by more “whewwwws” and “yaaayyyys.” His voice shakes with concern and rightfully so.… Continue