Front Lines Tour Day 1

Whoooo!!!

    Bed-stuy, Brooklyn stood up and represented in full last night 7/11/08. After a loooong day of technical difficulties with the bus and picking up tour members (Decora, Latin, DJ H20,) we finally made into the Bed-Stuy Block Party (Event put on by 123 Community space) and held it down the way we do.
    The original departure from New Paltz was set for noon. During our Wednesday night conference call Latin mentioned that one of his tooth fillings had fallen out and he would have to see the dentist in the morning. There were others that had last minute arrangements to be made so we all decided to postpone the Front Lines Tour departure to 1PM. Latin wasn't able to have his tooth fixed but we still departed late due to last minute packing and bus needs. Decora was dropped off in New Paltz by J where the bus was just waiting to get on the rode. Latin said he heard the bus crying all night because it wanted to stretch it's wheels ASAP. He walked over to soothe it's woes (Latin lives on the property where the bus was parked) but the bus kept telling him to not walk over unless he was ready to roll. When Decora got there he opened the bus up and started to pack it up with J. Cuttz began to bring his things over as well while Latin cleared out all of the garbage and swept up the saw dust that was left over from the retrofitting.
    This bus....actually... this temporary home of ours looks real cool now. Decora and his uncle retrofitted it with boxes for equipment, beds, storage areas, and electrical outlets. Soon after our good friend Corey Pane came by and blessed the bus with some of his airbrushing skills. The tour logo and other info is now spread throughout outside of the bus. We are now driving with some oC the faces of our mentors (Malcolm X, Young Lords, Brown Berets, Kathleen Cleaver, and Freedom fighting Native Americans) leading the way and handing us the baton.
    After getting Latin's, Cutt'zs and J's stuff on the bus Decora and Latin got on the road and stopped by the 21st Century Office in New Paltz(an organization that "Creates Safe Schools...Building By Building" with after school programing and more) to see Dr. Felicia Watson. She grabbed everyone she could in the office and they all came out to the bus to check it out and give their blessings. After a brief prayer led by Dr. Felica Decora and Latin got back on the road to stop over by Antilogy. There they picked up the tour shirts designed by Ryan  and chatted about the tour with Jim. (if you are looking to have shirts or some type of printmaking work done these are the people to talk to) On the way to Antilogy we had to stop because the brakes were smoking and smelling up the bus. After giving them a quick look at and talking to a lunch bus owner we decided that the brakes might have been jammed. We gave a pound to Jim and talked to a man that said our bus needed commercial plates (DMV just gave us residential) drove to Newburgh and picked up DJ H2O. There DJ H2O hooked us up with some iced teas and packed up his equipment. The time was now 5:30pm and we were supposed to be in Brooklyn at 3:00pm.
    We joked about how behind schedule we were and put the bus on route to Brooklyn. Cuttz took the FDR and Decora put the bus onto the Cross Bronx Expressway. Both were stuck in traffic for a few hours. The time was then 7:15. The group was supposed to be on stage at 7:30. Freeflowin was at the event calling and checking the rest of the group's location. Latin told her she might have to hold it down on stage by herself. Ol Soul (an amazing Nuyorican poet who performed at the event as well) called Latin to let him know that the performances were running behind schedule. Cuttz got to the event first and soon after Decora pulled up with the Thomas Built/ReadNex redesigned bus. DJ H20 and Latin began to haul out equipment at 8:30 and the event was supposed to end at 8. Latin pulled Decora, Free and Cuttz aside to figure out a lineup and they all agreed that it should be Decora (poem) Free and Decora (Youth) Cuttz (C.O.C.A.) Free (Mis-Ed) and Decora and Latin (Wade). The 200+ crowd roared when Decora yelled; BROOKLYN MAKE SOME NOOOIIIIIISSSSEEE! While the crowd went wild Latin let DJ H2O know what was going down. A few inebriated fans kept getting on stage with us while they unsuccessfully tried to translate some of Cuttz's Spanish lyrics. We just kept going and the crowd came closer with each piece we rocked for them. Pounds were given while heads bopped and DJ H20 kept the crowd bouncin. Brooklyn came out for an event and no one was hurt, robbed or involved in an altercation. Yet another stereotype broken. One of the inhibriated brothers grabbed the microphone at the end and asked everyone to notice that peace was kept and respect was given without violence or weapons.
    Even in his intoxicated state he saw what many fail to see. That we as a people regardless of color can come together and enjoy ourselves with music, dance and food. This all without the need to hurt each other out of the desperation we may feel due to the times we live in. Chuck Brown was there (an M.C. and one of Latin's college buddies) holding it down while rockin his "Stop the Violence"  shirt and repping with his crew. Maybe everyone saw the shirt and got the message.
    When the ReadNex got off stage Cesar and Federico (two amazing graffiti artists) asked to tag up the bus with some more visual love. They did so indeed by tagging the faces of Big Pun, Nas, Bob Marley, Hector Lavoe, Biggie visuals of the Brooklyn Bridge, Manhathan and more. We thanked them, went to get some food and Latin, Free, DJ H20 and Decora spent the night at Free's apt. in Brooklyn. Cuttz had to head back up state and handle some important matters. He'll meet us in Philly. D
    Day 1 down! 45 TO GO!