Tuesday at Rehearsal
Private Location

Familiar Faces
I got there at the usual time, about 8:45 PM. I didn't see Donnell's car, but decided to check the outside door anyway. It was unlocked, as was the inside door.

I looked in the main room and Halima was inside, listening to a CD on headphones with a camera around her neck. She was copying down the lyrics to Mariah Carey's It's Like That. DP and later Duane Face walked in. I told Duane I would give him a copy of In the Pocket. He asked if I had a DVD burner. I said yes. He said he wanted a copy of all of my GoGo DVDs. I asked, "Are you old enough to watch the Rare Essence pool party?" He said that he watched it in eighth grade. We told Halima about it. DP said it was negative publicity, that every talk show wanted them on, but they rejected it. Halima was surprised that they rejected it. He said we're not Luke, we don't want to sell records that way. I told them that according to TMOTT, the main girl in the video is now saved. I said there was a Northeast Groovers pool party as well. DP said that was different because in that case they intentionally had women stripping, the RE one was unplanned. Dwayne walked in and asked if there was going to be an actual rehearsal. Halima said, "Yes, they are waiting for you in the back."

Duane and I went back with him. Donnell, his son Donte, Derek Paige Jr., and Stomp were already in the room. I gave Stomp copies of the Bike Week DVDs. I perspired and Donnell asked me if alright. I told him I had started working out the week before, I had just worked out and showered before driving over. He asked if my girlfriend had got on my case. I told him I don't have a girlfriend. Halima later suggested I do dance aerobics. I told her I'm not very coordinated. Over time, Doc, Mike, Nephew, an undentified woman, and Smoke arrived.

Donnell asked Derek Jr. to get Halima. She sat on a couch cushion on the floor. Donnell asked her if she had the Mariah Carey song and the Minnie Riperton. She said she had the Minnie, but not with her. Doc called Halima Angela Davis (because she wore a full length magenta robe and has an afro). They discussed more possible covers. Donnell told Halima not to work about whether other bands are covering the same songs, they only play together with other bands maybe about once a month. Mike complained about the different recording/mixing levels for his vocals being lower than Halima's. He said that was definitely the case with the PA that was played in Miami. I said that was from July 9th - I recognized it because Donnell had told Halima to dance during Cleva. She agreed that's rare and smiled. Mike played Tony Terry's Freaky Little Game, they discussed whether the remix was better. They discussed Common's The Corner - they said everyone need to dance, not just some of the band members. They went over It's Like That - going over different strategies for how to perform it. Donnell said he would stop playing the horns on Free Yourself, that he acknowledged it didn't work. Dwayne did the usual teasing, saying, "we all knew that already." Halima took some pictures. Stomp at one point said I'm fat and hot, I need a fan. Halima went and got him one. Donnell said to Mike and Halima - you're responsible for your song including getting the other band members to learn the background vocals. Donnell also said you can't abandon the hook. Halima said that men can't sing female background and sound like a woman, they have different timbres. Doc said Mike is close. Halima said, "Creativity is a musician's right and liberty".

Donnell said, "I started sockets" with Rare Essence. Donnell and Stomp argued. Donnell said, "I realize when I'm wrong, can you say that?" Halima sang Twist & Shout. I told her that was the Isley Brothers. She said, "Are you a music historian?" I said, "You shouldn't even have to ask that." At one point, Halima asked me not to put something in the blog. I told her, "You should know I don't put that sh*t in the blog." She was surprised that I cursed.

Donnell went over future performances with the band members. He said they would be playing for free in Union Temple's parking lot for a WKYS 93.9 promotion. He asked who couldn't be there for the show, which would be from 6 to 8 PM. Doc said free. "That's why I hate N*ggas in the band," and directly to me, "write this down, only Blacks can call each other N*ggas." Donnell said that Bobby Smoot was going to be at the next two rehearsals.

Stomp called Donnell, "the bald headed wonder". Lorenzo walked in as Halima and I walked out. She asked him if she could meet with him on a Monday to go over material. She asked why he arrived so late. He said he has another gig on Tuesdays. I asked her what the name of the Mariah Carey song. She said she didn't know. Lorenzo asked if it was the fast song or the slow song, she said fast.

Halima asked Mike about his daughter. He said he is having her record her demo soon. He wasn't sure who he was going to ask to produce it.

Halima and I talked about Betty Davis.