<p> </p><p>I am sick and tired of hearing Empire State of Mind, but parts of HOV’s verses on it are shockingly prophetic and most definitely get at the essence of this great City. Last night, Clutch, Shoms, Muneki, Dan, the girls Jewels, Kellis, Mistry and I had the distinct pleasure of catching Afrika Bambaataa spin at Le Poison Rouge (on Bleecker street between Thompson and Sullivan). If you love hip hop but don’t know Afrika Bambaataa, then do yourself a quick favor and read this, then watch this. Our night included no sleep (not even a wink!), triple deckers, chicken noodle soup and muffins, a real-life game of Cash Cab, sweat-soaked faces, rubber legs, wide eyes, and the nastiest and most explosive succession of DJ sets, culminating in Bambaataa’s 2-hour-long party.</p><p>“Welcome to the melting pot/Corners where we selling rocks/Afrika bambaataa sh-t/Home of the hip hop/Yellow cab, gypsy cab, dollar cab, holla back”</p><p>Bambaataa was instrumental from the very beginning. He founded the Zulu Nation in the 70’s, a group whose purpose was/is to provide alternate life paths for potential and active gang members, paths that included- at that time- burgeoning hip hop music, dance and culture; he is one of three DJs typically credited with establishing break-beats; and he hails from the Boogie Down, where he turned out community centers, dance halls, and streets all throughout the 80’s. In short, Afrika Bambaataa pioneered hip hop.</p><p>Dude is 52, and he can still turn out a packed house of 20-30 year olds. Le Poisson Rouge is a tight spot. At first glance, one might recall the club scene from Knocked Up where Seth Rogan drunkenly ‘rolls the dice’ over and over again on his date because he possesses no other dance moves.</p>
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