The Roots Pre Grammy Jam @ the Key Club

It was Grammy Weekend in Los Angeles, and the anticipation in the air was palpable. We'd been kicking it for the previous few days, checking out the comings and goings of the jet set. But, according to our schedule, the Roots party on Saturday was the place to be. I knew I had to elevate the game, so I threw on a fly lil blazer and crisp pair of jeans. We rolled to the spot 5 deep: Goapele, Namane (her brother/our manager), Theo, Amplive and myself. As we pulled up, a thick throng of fly individuals milled around. Even with an rsvp, this would be an exercise in patience.
We waited in the car, marvelling at the assembling all-star cast, while Namane shuffled thru the well dressed mass in search of a way in. He emerged 30 minutes later and ushered us thru the chaos to a small table where we received our passes. As we turned to walk in, Namane whispered something to what looked like a hostess. Suddenly I heard her voice echo out over a loud speaker, "this is the hip hop group..Zion I". Wow. We moved semi-sheepishly into the din of snapping lights and cameras as we took our first steps on the red carpet. It was unexpected, but pretty cool. After that, the rest of the night would be a breeze.
The Key Club was a dim hovel encircling a medium sized stage which stood one floor below the balcony we were on. As soon as we walked in I saw King Tech of Wake Up Show fame. We chopped it up for a minute, before he invited us to come to his show the next day. Dope. We moved further into the mix, and settled into the casual mix of celebrities and industry insiders. Several actors, actresses, producers, rappers, singers, and reality tv folks hobnobbed the night away in true LA bliss. I sat back and peeped the scene enjoying the subtle spectacle.
The next thing I knew, Questlove was onstage bouncing into an edgy drum solo. Let the show begin. Without warning, Travis Barker appeared on the traps next to him and began shedding. It was fresh to see two masters inspire each other into rhythmic unison. Questlove with his daddy cool, and Travis Barker with his frenzied maniac. This immaculate pairing was only the beginning. Soon, the rest of the Roots crew sauntered to the stage and dipped and dabbed into jams from Game Theory to Phrenology. Yet in classic jam session style, they were joined by the lead singer of Fall Out Boy, Seal, Wale, and Alice Smith amongst others. There were even whispers that Prince would join the constantly morphing ensemble, but he didn't. I would have loved to see that!
As the night moved on, my feet began to cry out for mercy. The long hours on my feet posted near the bar began to take its toll. I guess partying 3 days straight eventually adds up. It caught me sideways, as I felt the firm grip of fatigue grab me midway through the performance. It was all good, I had seen enough to last me for awhile. In that short time, I had stocked up enough inspiration to last me for a least a couple albums. A toast to hip hop...a toast to the Roots!