Tuesday at Rehearsal
Private location

Familiar Faces
When I arrived, Donnell, Godfather, Stomp and Charlie were there. Donnell bragged about getting four or five birthday cakes and that his house was "full of balloons." Over time, Mike, Halima, DP, DP's sons Derek Jr. and Darrell, Dwayne, BJ, Jacques, Duane Face, Nephew and Lorenzo (with a Roland XP-30) were there. Stomp and Charlie ate subs from Jerry's - I think it is the first time I've seen someone eating at rehearsal. They discussed the Sunday show, with a female background vocalist Tyrell sitting in with them. This show, which I was unable to attend since I was helping my sister move, was at the Fur and was filmed for a documentary. Donnell talked about reading the Tmott posting on the show:

all I can say is Donnell ..........Donnell .............Donnell

First off we was chilling in VIP poping moe and remy Lissen came in there and they told them to get out ( I was not going to put them out there like that ,cuz my man who I grew up wit play wit them, But FF set them dudes up.....see bottom

First my man chi and dem got there late so they did not play so suttle open they did ok pratt was a lil nerves cuz everybody in go-go was there exept Rah (Donnel was up front parting nervertheless) Dae Dae aright he got tighter since the last time i seen him Kimese

Dem came dem DOGS FF is no joke all star line up from G saying a lil speech right befor to stink a dink rapping, Stomp and smoke rocking then THE MAIN EVENTER "D. FLOid" the real most creative and talented lead mic took the party and left with the party soo much energy he brings

There girl singer (Halima - my note) tighter than all in the circuit at this piont everybody was parting until...............................

they step off the stage

Lissen did not come through they could came out a lil better although Peanny was the best congo player of THAT night and of course yanni was nice but that was not even fair to make them play after FF

who in the world had LIssen close that beautiful event?
Evil or Very Mad Twisted Evil Mad Crying or Very sad
_________________
Di De
www.diallodejaun.com

He did complain to Stomp. He talked about how in baseball, the two biggest things are the no hitter and the perfect game. He said he had a perfect game until Stomp ruined it. He said that after they do Lap Dance, they always pause and do it again and he messed up. Dwayne said he (Donnell) said, "Do something", so it was his problem, all he had to do was stop playing and it would have been fine. They talked about the great job that Halima had done (she was not at rehearsal yet at that point). They discussed her camouflage outfit she wore on Friday - Donnell said the women "Eat up her fashions." Mike said, "Watch out, with all the rubies and emeralds on her fingers, she may be a witch". Donnell talked about how he was so glad he didn't listen to Jauhar and Nephew who said she couldn't properly replace Adia.

Still referring to Sunday, Donnell said that if he had Yannie, he'd have her singing until her voice gave out - that she was that good. He said that Halima has learned from Yannie's physical showmanship. He said that E had begrudgedly given respect to Halima and FF. Donnell also said that Grady, L!ssen's manager, had invited out Chucky Thompson (who is working with Chuck Brown right now) to see L!ssen, but he ended up just watching FF instead.

Godfather asked me how Saturday's show went - he questioned why they had Spur of the Moment performing, and if so, they should have been in the back where the food was. It said they were tight, but I didn't like their song selection - which was lite jazz. The tunes were familiar, but the only one I directly recognized was George Benson's Masquerade. However, when Sugar Bear and JuJu (first on Congas, the drums) took over Spur of the Moment: that was the best part of the night. It was interesting seeing Sugar Bear cover Rare Essence - they covered Body Moves and One on One (Footz version). The all-star Trouble Funk part was nice too. But when Soundproof backed Little Benny for Rare Essence covers, it was terrible. They peformed with no heart, they totally slummed.

They went over three Stylistics tracks to possibly perform: Children of the Night, You're as Right as Rain, and a third song I can't remember. Mike talked about choosing songs by vocalists within his comfort zone. He joked that the lead vocalist for the Stylistics was his father. Mike talked about the limited number of male vocalists within his comfort zone - Bobby Valentino, Donell Jones, John Legend, and Glenn Lewis. When Stomp criticized him for not going beyond his comfort zone, Mike talked about having sung high on boat, coke, having a cold, etc. Donnell said not to do Right as Rain because the Pointer Sisters version was more familiar and they have a female singer. Donnell said Halima sounds like Erykah Badu, someone who is 21 will know Erykah Badu, how old does someone have to be to know these (Stylistics) songs? They worked on the Bobby Valentino song Slow Down that everyone is covering right now (I recognized it as a song that EU has performed the last two Thursdays). Donnell said to go ahead, that everyone was covering John Legend's Ordinary People and that they did it too. Halima was there to work on the background vocals for this. Jacques suggested that they not do this in the pocket, Dwayne said, "Welcome to our side" (Donnell likes virtually everything to be in the pocket). At one point, Mike joked to Donnell that "If you go to hell, it will be Dwayne taking over your band."

One of DP's sons fell asleep in his chair and Stomp yelled, "Wake up!" Then he played the drum right next to him. Stomp talked about playing on Thursday with only one tom, playing as if there were three.

They talked about travel arrangements for the trip to Myrtle Beach. There was a discussion questioning various people's driving skills. They are planning to leave at 5:30 AM, because check-in time isn't until 3 PM. Stomp said, "I'm fat, we can eat as soon as we get there." Halima talked with Donnell about a song she sang for him - apparently over the phone. Stomp said, "Why don't you sing for me over the phone?" There was a great deal of woofing between Stomp, Donnell and Charlie over how many women they would have sex with at Myrtle Beach. Stomp said he would knock on Donnell's door to tell him when the show (him having sex) would start. Charlie said he was "The number one stunna", and Donnell said, "You mean the number one fronter." Donnell told a story about holding off on a girl 'cause Charlie said she was his girl, and then he asked her and she said she didn't even know Charlie.

I introduced myself to Lorenzo; he said he thought I was a musician, a percussionist. I said I play the same instrument as Nephew (who sat next to me) - in other words, nothing. Donnell said, "But he plays it better." I said, "If you got me a mic, I could say, 'What about the Fat Chicks' just as well." That line is Nephew's sole musical contribution to Rare Essence.