Birthday celebrations at Safari Steakhouse
Safari Steakhouse, 9430 Annapolis Road Lanham MD 20706

I celebrated my 32nd birthday (7th), as did Ytee his 34th (6th), Crankindrumma his 22nd (8th), Peanut (8th), and Dwayne Lee, "the wrong side of fifty" (8th). It was raining heavily. Pooh and Packy were talking in front of the door. I asked Packy about his band, Unity Band, playing last Saturday. I said, "It's been a while, hasn't it?" He said that hadn't played in two months. He said on Saturday they played with UCB and Critical Condition Band. He said it mostly youngsters, like playing with his kids. I said, "You're not that old Packy". Packy wished me a happy birthday. Pooh said, "Really?"

Kato & KO stood by one of the tables, talking. Kato said, "You're early, I thought birthday boys were supposed to be late". I said, "Not in this weather".

Safari had been remodeled - they had re-painted a number of things, they had bolted the bench by the stage. The chairs in the lounge are all different from the old ones and there are shelves on the right side. The couches are gone as well.

Peanut was there. He said it was his birthday at midnight. I told him it was my birthday now. He said, "That's why we get along so well." Peanut said he's here because his leg is fine now.

Donnell wore his black riding cap. Halima wore an Angela Davis shirt.

Halima sang Beyonce's Wishing on a Star during the sound check. Halima played congas during the warm up, as did Peanut.

Googie assisted in the set up, then left to do the sound for Chuck's show. Junior worked the sound for the night.

Godfather gave me a disposable camera to take pictures for him.

I asked Dwayne if he was going to get a lap dance at midnight. He put his finger to his lips "sh..." because he doesn't want to get in trouble with his girl (even though he wasn't doing anything wrong). I said, "It doesn't have to be from a woman, Godfather can give you one." Godfather said, "That's f*cked up, Jordan!"

Familiar Faces
First Set
Pooh played drums for the first set
Donnell said, "We're running a little late, there's a major accident on I-95. All set Junior and Telando (he pronounced the second syllable "land"), Telando (he pronounced the second syllable correctly "lond")." DP made fun of Donnell's pronunciation.
Donnell said, "It's the birthday for Jordan and our Malcolm X (Dwayne), let him solo tonight"
1) Mother's Day - Donnell led on sax
2) Mike-led The Stylistics' People Make the World (Go Round) - Mike used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures, Donnell said, "We're getting warmed up, where you at Kato?"
3) Mike-led Stevie Wonder's Golden Lady - Mike used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures, Donnell said, "Happy birthday Stacy", Mike did more birthday announcements, "Sweet Tracy and Bobbie", Mike said of whom I don't know, "He's the doc, Dr. Jekyll"
Shadonna was there.
Donnell said, "We want to do something special for Bobbie, she's done a lot at Bud's and TMOTT. She's given so much for so long. She did a lot to organize the Locking Down the City hurricane relief. This song goes out to her"
4) Halima-led Rodgers & Hart's My Funny Valentine - Halima's singing was excellent, she put a lot into it, She showed a lot of facial gestures and nonverbal arm & hand gestures, Donnell or Halima (not sure which) said, "Dwayne Lee on electric guitar, celebrating his birthday", Stomp smacked on one of the bongos, Packy played the triangle, Stomp mimicked Halima, Stomp played air guitar
Stomp said, "Whoo! Damn girl!"
Donnell said, "That's mean!" (I have heard that some have misinterpreted Stomp & Donnell's statements - they were complimenting Halima's singing).
They went to break, Donnell said, "A quick break".
Donnell said, "Where you at Flava? Flava is AWOL. Vanilla Ice, where you at? Someone play something. DJ Jauhar, press the buttons. I think Mr. Cheeks might be here ladies. Did your man (Flava?) run out on you? We're celebrating Malcolm X, Dwayne's birthday tonight."

I talked with Doc, KO and Junior. KO asked me I knew who he was. I said yes, I couldn't make it out to that show. He said Petworth's having a reunion on October 22nd. Doc said he'd be there. Junior asked me for a copy of a Redds' PA. KO said they're having a reunion too. I said how can you do that without Redds? Doc said they could put a picture of him. KO said it would be a tribute to Redds. He told me he is KO because Dwayne's brother is also named Kevin. I told him about the guy doing a Redds compilation in Italy. He said they appreciate artists in Europe. I said they don't have the same racist dynamic as the US either. I told Doc about how James Brown's sidemen make their living in Germany. He joked, "Maybe we should go there." I told them about Akira and his even having an autographed DVD from Chuck.

Shawn and Mike Smith were there.

Second Set
Stomp was on drums
Donnell said, "Let's roll". He told DJ Flava (aka GoGo Rudy) to call the band: "They can't hear me"
DJ Flava picked on Stomp.
Donnell said, "My man Dwayne."
Mike said, "Happy birthday Peanut"
1) Alternating Mike-led "The beat goes on" - nice crank, Donnell said, "Right there, Smoke" / Donnell chanted, "Brandywine, Friends of mine", Donnell said, "Cindy was scared, Sweet Tamika is dancing a jig, Where you at, JoJo?" Stomp played something on his drum machine
2) Toto's Georgy Porgy - instrumental prelude / Mike-led Bobby Valentino's Slow Down - Donnell said, "Make sure you got the moves", Donnell said, "Make sure you turn up the horns, Junior", Mike said, "Good to see Cindy, y'all", Mike used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures, Donnell said, "Let's go Cindy, Sweet Nikki"
Crankindrumma, Donnell Jr., and Peg Leg were there.
3) Halima-led Jill Scott's Whatever - Halima used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures, Donnell said, "Where you at Kay Kay? Tina Turner", Halima moved around, her singing was excellent, Donnell said, "Hey Doc", Donnell said, "Right there, Smoke", Donnell said, "Do your thing, Halima", Donnell said, "we got up in here, Dwayne Lee is celebrating his birthday, We got all the stars up in here, I don't know why (meaning why for Dwayne)"
Mr. Cheeks was there. He and his manager wore green camouflage shirts.
4) Halima-led Alicia Keys' Unbreakable, Donnell said, "Simone is it like that? Is it really like that?" Donnell said, "Come on with it, sing it ladies", Halima moved around and used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures, Halima bounced, Donnell said, "We're trying to get Mike focused", Mike pointed at Donnell, it went dark and alternated dim and dark
June was there
5) Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh"
6) Mike-led Prince's Take Me With You - Halima danced and clapped, Donnell said, "One more time, Michael Muse", the strobe light came on, Donnell called out names, Donnell said, "Sing it ladies", Donnell said, "We got Mr. Cheeks. Look here; we went down to Miami two months ago, was it two months? And shot a video"
Mr. Cheeks went on stage and sat in for
7) Donnell, Mr. Cheeks & Mike-led Lap Dance (video remix) - Donnell used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures and sang really hard changing, Donnell clapped, / Mr. Cheeks-led The Lost Boyz' Jeeps, Lex Coups, Bimaz and Benz
Mr. Cheeks said, "Rastafari"
Donnell said, "We're not going to have him do much tonight."
Mr. Cheeks played on the congas.

Dey, Ytee, and Slim Goodie were there. Mike said, "Ytee looks like he just came from a Black Panther meeting". I told Donnell Jr. that Monique said he was her boyfriend. He gave a sheepish grin and rolled his eyes and said no. Kato also that Ytee looks like Kid Capri. Mike said Ytee looks like a vampire. Ytee went over to a girl (Kiki) and started to do something to her before retreating. Kato said, "He thought she was Adia". I asked Kato where Danielle (Wellfhed) was. He said she had said she might not come if it rained. I asked about a rain check. Dey asked which Danielle. I asked Dwayne if he got his lap dance, he said, "Do you want to get shot?" Kato asked if Dwayne was 41. Dwayne said, "21".

Third Set
1) Halima-led Faith Evans' Mesmerized - Halima used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures, Mr. Cheeks went on stage, Donnell said, "One more time for Mr. Cheeks, Sing Halima for Mr. Cheeks", Halima moved around, Donnell said, "Look here, we're going to get it going for Mr. Cheeks"
2) Donnell-led Lil Kim's Lighters Up - Donnell held up his lit cell phone, Mr. Cheeks held up his lit lighter, Donnell said, "Goddamn y'all", Lorenzo played some new keyboard sounds, Mr. Cheeks used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures, Halima clapped, Donnell called out names, Lorenzo played more new keyboard riffs, Donnell gave shout outs to the Brandywine crew
Mama Michelle was there
3) Alternating Donnell-led Trillville's Some Cut - the strobe light came on, Donnell moved around and used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures, Halima was behind Doc, Mr. Cheeks chanted "Everybody Down", Mike pulled a woman onstage and danced with her / Notorious BIG's Warning / Keith Murray's Call My Name (tease) / "Wait a minute" echoes, Mr. Cheeks shouted, "Hey y'all" / Donnell chanted, "My man Ytee got a birthday, my man Ytee got a birthday", Donnell said, "Sweet Tracy celebrating her birthday" / Mr. Cheeks said, "Make some goddamn noise, We get down", Donnell chanted, "Wait a minute" / Mr. Cheeks rapped
4) Halima-led Mariah Carey's It's Like That - Halima initially stood behind Doc, but Donnell moved, Her singing was very energetic, Ytee kneeled on the monitor directly in front of her, Donnell said, "My man Ytee slow down, are you alright, Ytee? Let's go Ytee?", Halima resumed singing
Tiffany F. was a faker, she wouldn't dance with me.
5) Donnell-led Trina Was Great - Halima clapped, Donnell used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures, Halima smiled at my freaking a woman, the woman kept moving my hands from her waist to her breasts, Halima moved around, Mike said, "Jordan's got some new moves; I don't know what he did"
6) Donnell-led "25, 25, 25" / Mike-led Rare Essence's Work the Walls - Halima was behind Jacques, he played congas, Donnell chanted "Wait a minute" hand held up his left fist with his elbow perpendicular, when he moved his head, his red bandana was in front of his face, Halima played and mimed playing congas
7) Donnell-led 911 - not full lyrics, Jacques and Smoke switched places (Jacques went to the timbales, Smoke the congas), Halima went back to her usual spot, Mike said something to Dey, the frontline, Packy, Doc, and Dwayne danced, Packy went to Doc's mic and chanted "Whoop" repeatedly, Donnell used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures
8) Donnell-led "___ Is in the house" - the frontline danced turning around, not a synchronized dance
9) Donnell-led Brown & White - Halima did a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures to the lyrics, Donnell called out "Hey Godfather" twice, the frontline, Doc, and Dwayne danced, Donnell chanted "Wait a minute" twice / Ride Out - the frontline, Doc and Dwayne danced, with the frontline doing the Ride Out dance (obviously Doc and Dwayne needed to use their hands for their playing), Donnell chanted "Wait a minute" twice / Donnell-led Northeast Groovers' The Water "Hey Smoke, Hey Stomp, Get in the water" / Mike-led Parliament's Aqua Boogie (A Psychoalphadiscobetabioaquadoloop) (tease), Donnell chanted "Wait a minute" twice
10) Alternating Donnell & Halima-led Djayz's It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp - initially Dwayne's playing drowned out Halima's vocals, on the second go round, you could hear her / Donnell-led Kanye West's Gold Digger - Doc on backup vocals, Donnell used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures, Halima used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures to the lyrics / Donnell-led Dem Franchise Boyz' I Think They Like Me - "I think she like me"
11) Doc-led Slim Thug's I Ain't Heard Of That (Remix)
12) Donnell-led "Eya eya" twice
13) Alternating Halima-led Gwen Stefani's Hollaback Girl - Girls shouted as soon as the music started, Halima moved around and smiled, Donnell said, "Come on with it Halima", Halima used a lot of nonverbal arm & hand gestures / Donnell-led 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease) - Dwayne and Doc smiled, Mike danced, Dwayne had his girl come up and dance with him, I danced with a girl, Mike said, "I think Jordan needs a towel", Halima did arm gestures she wanted me to do and I did as I danced with the girl, Donnell said, "We're getting ready to get on out of here. We got a PA tape coming out in a few weeks", Slim Goodie looked at my notes and said, "Can you read that?" I said, "Yes, most of the time"
14) Mike-led Bobby Valentino's Tell Me (debut) - Donnell said, "I don't want to wake anybody up back there. Sanson, thanks for coming, you're kinda chill. Mr. Cheeks will be at Tradewinds tomorrow" Mike said, "I love to tell her ___"
15) Stomp played his drum machine
Kelvin Robertson of Y2K came by. I told him it was my birthday, he said, "The same as Dwayne?" I said mine is the 7th, Dwayne's the 8th.
Donnell said, "Happy birthday Dwayne, I got the picture. Thanks seeing Dwayne kissed onstage, priceless". Dwayne said, "Priceless".
Donnell said, "That was perfect."
Donnell said, "Mr. Cheeks is running away, interception. About to intercept something. If it's yours, you better go get it. Champ Bailey and Fred Smoot over there."
Doc said to Donnell, "It may be yours."
Donnell said, "Nephew, I'm sending this to the website. The most unlikely characters. You're (Dwayne) so lucky (apparently the picture didn't go through)".
Donnell said to Dwayne's girl, "Come out tomorrow night. I guarantee to have a Polaroid camera."
Dey talked with Jauhar. Donnell said, "What are you doing back there Dey. Showing all the chitlins (her pants were revealing), scrambled eggs & cheese, chess is twenty-five cents extra. Jauhar might want to buy a gut-be-gone if you're chasing that"
Mr. Cheeks played the congas which were now on the dance floor by the fireplace.
Donnell said, "219, 211 that's what it was. That makes two of us (to Nephew, meaning they both are interested in Dey)"
Donnell said to Slim Goodie, "She's ready, she's waiting on you" Slim Goodie said, "She always got a ride."