Sunday, April 5, was the first time that Richmond Group and my employer, The Chicago Defender, came together to organize and collaborate promoting an event, and my hat goes off to all those involved. I had a surprising amount of fun. I didn't expect it to suck or anything, but it was snowing hard as hell outside. I had to check my calendar a couple of times to make sure it wasn't December. I assumed that it might be quiet, the event might be canceled, the turnout might not be the same, and one of the celebs (Biz Markie or Slick Rick) wouldn't show up. That couldn't be further from the truth.
I walked in and got my VIP tag, went to the back, and the first person I saw was Biz Markie snapping photos with a fan. The Chicago Defender photographer, Worsom Robinson (check out his work in the galleries http://www.chicagodefender.com/imagesGalleries.php) was busy working. I circled the room, but I'm not really the VIP type. I can't sit in the back chilling and drinking while all the fun is on the main floor so me and my buddy Jessica (so glad to finally hang out with her--she drove 10 hours to be at this event and a Lupe Fiasco concert we went to the day before) went to the front. Of course there were some cuties we checked out and Jessica got some flirting action (I'm not mad at her! Dust your shoulders off, girl!). I had one drink but considering I was the designated driver, I spent more time supporting our other sponsor, Sprite, with their new drink.
There's nothing better than going to a club with a great turnout (and the snow was ridiculous and it was cold with puddles everywhere), cute guys, and good music. Let me repeat that last part...EXCELLENT music. All of the music I grew up listening to. That real hip hop. Biz Markie got onstage and clowned, playing everything from Chicago stepping music to house music (yes, he played "The Perculator" and I surely did the dance) to original hip hop to the more popular, mainstream cuts on the radio now, and it was great. But when Slick Rick came from the VIP room (I'd asked him was he going to perform "La Di Da Di" earlier) and hit the stage rapping all his classic hits, it hit me hard like "Whoa, I'm watching hip hop history." As a hardcore hip hop lover, that was exceptional for me.
And then I went to the back to see what Defender people were there, stopped to greet President Michael House, CEO Hiram Jackson, VP of Integrated Marketing Gary Gunter, Account Executive Jasmine Allgood, and although a couple more employees were in attendance, I couldn't find them. But who I wasn't prepared to see was Slick Rick chilling on a VIP couch laid back and smiling with bright silver on and the usual eye patch. Jessica and I took photos with him, and I introduced myself as the Web Editor. Now, I know I'm going to sound like a groupie here, but I thought it was cute that Slick Rick tried to get my name. He ended up settling for "Shamont," but hell, he tried. I didn't get to talk to Biz Markie, but Jessica said he was really friendly and Slick Rick was definitely a friendly cat, so that was nice.
More music. More dancing. More chilling by the bar. More flirting (moreso Jessica than me because she had a lil' bit of a fan herself, ha, ha, ha), and we had to leave slightly early because I had to be at work this morning. We stayed until about 1:30 am. I'd give this event a 10 out of 10, and I look forward to more of these events. *thumbs up*<Photo 1>