DJ Flava (aka GoGo Rudy) and Big Mike's birthday celebration
Safari Steakhouse, 9430 Annapolis Road Lanham MD 20706

The younger Britney and Shelly, and China were there.

Junior worked the sound.

Familiar Faces
First Set

James, Doc, Mike, Dwayne, Donnell, and DP
1) Donnell acapella Rare Essence's I'm Getting Ready (tease) - sound check
2) Alternating Blueprint - instrumental / Parliament's P. Funk (Wants to Get Funked Up) (tease) - instrumental
Donnell said, "Omar that sh*t was dry and long like the Titanic."
Mike said, "Elvis is in the building" and girls yelled.
3) Mike-led The Stylistics' People Make the World (Go Round) - Mike said, "Yeah!" at the end
Donnell said, "My two new friends are here, Shelly and Britney."
Lashonda, a regular, was there.
Mike said, "Sonya in the family".
4) Mike-led Glenn Lewis' Don't You Forget It - James joined in
5) Halima-led Jill Scott's Whatever
6) Mike-led Eric Benet's I Wanna Be Loved - Mike sang on the floor
Tracy and MeChele were there.

Benjiy, Tia, Mona, Ebony, and "original" Nikki were there.

Tia said she saw people there tonight she hadn't seen since high school.

Second Set
Donnell said, "Hey Britney, I heard your Mom is yeah!" (definitely true).
Mike said, "Tell your Mama I said thank you."
Donnell said, "If you don't go to Zanzibar... all the beautiful women."
Donnell said, "Don't buy MeChelle and Tracy nothing to drink; leave them at zero."
1) Alternating Donnell-led Rare Essences' What Would You Do for the Money? - Halima made faces, Donnell said, "It's alright." / Donnell & Halima-led O'Jays' For the Love of Money (tease) - lyrics only
Shawn, Boo, Bobby (Bojack's older brother), and June were there.
Donnell said, "Don't be a victim of a hate crime."
Slick Rick was there.
2) Alternating Mike-led Toto's Georgy Porgy - intro / Bobby Valentino's Slow Down - crank started / Percussion solo / Donnell chanted, "Sweet ___ (female name) is yes" / Donnell-led "Hey ay, Ho oh" - the crowd responded / Donnell-led "___ Is in the house" - Guitar riffs
3) Donnell-led NORE's I'm A G - Halima and James were on backup vocals, Mike sang something I couldn't hear / Percussion solo
4) Donnell & Halima-led Lil Kim's Lighters Up - Donnell chanted, "Eya eya" and the crowd responded, "Ho", I danced with a woman, Donnell chanted, "Killamazoo?"
5) Donnell-led Brown & White - Slick Rick danced onstage / Ride Out - the band and fans did the Ride Out dance

Stomp, Slick Rick, Donnell, DP, and Jacques
I talked for a bit about my thesis with a woman named Daun. She was very interested in the specifics. I may have missed a song while we were talking.
Stacey was there.
6) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Marinda
Danielle (Wellfhed) was there. She introduced me to Stallion.
7) Alternating Donnell-led Miss Keta Will You Dance for Me - Donnell got Halima to dance very reluctantly / Percussion solo / 50 Cent's In Da Club (tease)
Mike said, "Sexual chocolate!"
Donnell said, "Stomp, we playing, we don't do it, Mike."
Mike said, "Don't get me started... I'll do the robot."
Donnell announced the bus trip to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland with Chuck Brown on February 17th.

Mia, the bartender at Cranberries, Tim (LJ), and Blue from Y2K were there.

Third Set
Tia and Ronald


Birthday boys: Big Mike and DJ Flava (aka GoGo Rudy)


Tracy and MeCelle
Donnell announced that for at least the next two Fridays, they will be at the CFE (Safari is undergoing renovations).
1) Halima-led Faith Evans' Mesmerized
2) Mike-led Prince's Take Me With You - ladies sang it
3) Alternating Donnell-led Hold the Note / Sade's No Ordinary Love (tease) - altered lyrics
4) Alternating Donnell-led "Unh, unh unh" / Donnell chanted, "Party, party, everybody" / "___ Is in the House" / Donnell chanted, "Seen a hate crime, happen all the time." / Mike, James, and Halima sang but I couldn't hear what
Sixx and Peg Leg were there.
Donnell said, "Let's go back. Old school."
5) Donnell-led Rare Essence's Body Snatchers (tease) / Percussion solo / Donnell chanted, "Is it like that? Is it really like that?"
6) Alternating Donnell-led Trina Was Great - interrupted by a fight, Mike said, "We could play some Billy Ocean, we could hit you with Captain & Tennile.", Donnell said, "Grown & sexy. We don't do what happened. Must have let some youngsters in.... Turn it back up?" / Dem Franchise Boyz’ I Think They Like Me (tease) "I think she likes me"
7) Halima-led Mariah Carey's It's Like That - Donnell shouted, "Yeah!"
8) Donnell-led Rare Essence's What N*gga What?
9) Donnell-led Rare Essence's All Da Time
10) Polo (of TCB)-led TCB's Ass Clap - Sixx was onstage, Jacques played timbales, I never thought I'd hear Familiar Faces play a TCB song

Donnell, Polo, DP, Packy, Jacques, Sixx, and Tony
Donnell said, "That's my man Polo from TCB, y'all."
The house lights came on.
11) Donnell-led "25,25,25" / They performed the music to Rare Essence's Work the Walls, but Sixx rapped, "I'm fresh, I'm new, I'm a man. He’s a wimp, If you want to get ahead, get a pimp" / Sixx chanted, "Southeast, South, Southeast", Sixx said, "I bet y'all know... #1"

Donnell, Stomp, Sixx, DP, and Packy
12) Roe-led Rare Essence's Lock It

Donnell, Stomp, and Roe
There was another fight.
13) Halima-led Mary Blige's Be Without You
Donnell said, "No children allowed. We not babysitting."
There was another fight.
Donnell said, "I think I've seen a hate crime and it happens all the time."


Packy and Maya, the bartender from Zanzibar.
All pictures taken by and Copyright - Jordan Rich