Mtv VMA's: The Documentary

Out of the gate, I must express how relieved I am sitting in one place after a week of partying, elbow rubbing, red carpeting, networking and open bar(ing) for the past 5 days. For some, the VMA’s may have lasted only 3 to 4 hours, but for myself, the VMA’s started on Monday night on the rooftop of Club Bed at 27th Street.

With the anticipation of Beyonce’s new album, “B-Day” to be released a week away, the invite fell in our laps to join Sony/BMG for what was to be a sneak preview of the album. The atmosphere was electric, the weather was perfect, the bar was endless, the ladies were exquisite and if I must say so myself, “I was fresh to death.” We got to hear a few, and I do mean a few new tracks from Bee’s new album. But like Sunshine Anderson once sung, “I’ve heard it all before.” The event was extra live, but I had to leave early; 1:30am to be exact. But the party looked to be just getting started with Bad Boy artist, Yung Joc coming out of the very same elevator I was walking into. I can’t help but say this, but just like my elevator, “It’s going down!”

I chose to make Tuesday my day to regroup. I have an hour and a half commute by train to NYC, and with Wednesday and Thursday locking down my schedule, Tuesday became very helpful. I made a long list of phone calls to make and sent out emails to keep my momentum at its maximum.

On Wednesday afternoon, I was back in NYC with a visible swagger and a take no prisoner’s mindset. I was on my way to check out The Style Villa. It was held at the Bryant Park Hotel, just a few blocks away from where the VMA’s took place (Radio City Music Hall). I know that you’ve heard about those amazing gift bags that celebrities receive when they go to award shows. Well, The Style Villa was 5 floors of relaxation and, “I’ll have that entire rack of clothing right there.”

Each celebrity that walked through the door from 50 Cent to Gabrielle Union was escorted through 3 full floors of sponsors from all over the city: New Era Fits, Apple Bottoms, Marc Ecko, Herbal Essence, DJ Big Rich of Sophist Productions was on the one’s and two’s blending videos, Hanes, Beauty Addicts, Vespa, Haspro and so many more. Clothing, specialty sneakers, Smart Water and smiling representatives were everywhere allowing for the celebrities to fill up his/her bag with goodies.

Now this is where it gets crazy. You know that your boy (yes, me), was fly as fuck in my Money green/Camel striped Adidas warm-up, topped off with the wheat colored Phillies fitted and bottomed by the tan/black “spider-webbed” Timberlands. So this is where racial profiling takes a turn for the better. Even though they had different colored wristbands in place so that the representatives could tell the Press apart from the Celebrities, why was a representative from the new project that Trump is having built in Miami trying to sell me a 13 million dollar condo? Representatives were giving me bags and I almost walked out of there with some serious blingage, but I walked out of that room quickly. You’re damn right I kept the bags I already had in my hand. The fitteds were seriously exclusive.

Well after I left The Style Villa, bags in hand, I headed over to the Grammy winning, 3x platinum artist, John Legend’s Pre-VMA party. Up until his 9:30pm performance, which was on time, I was hanging out with a colleague of mine, sipping on some sips and eating some mini-cupcakes that must was baked in Red Bull sauce because that high shouldn’t have been legal in 48 states. Southern Kool-Aid had nothing on these cupcakes sugary intake. On the other side of the planet, Pharrell Williams was having his Pre-VMA party which I’ve heard was the best party of the entire week’s festivities. Since I couldn’t be in two places at once, here is the lowdown on John Legend’s performance that took place in the Bowery Ballroom on Delancy.

If you close your eyes and envision how John Legend would look taking the stage, you’d probably be on-point. One of the best dressed men in the world was par for the course and the ladies loved every bit of it. This was John’s first opportunity to perform new music from his new album, “Once Again” for his fans as well his peers within the industry. Here is a rundown of his performance:

1. Save Room
2. Heaven Only Knows
3. She Don’t Have to Know (from his debut album, Get Lifted)
4. Each Day Is Better
5. Where Did She Go? (I think that was the title)
6. PDA
7. I used to Love you (from his debut album, Get Lifted)
8. Show Me
9. Ordinary People (from his debut album, Get Lifted)

John Legend has been quoted that his music has matured since he first hit the scene. I believe that his diehard fans will be the true judge of that. They’ll have that chance on October 24th.

After that party, I shot over to the Nick Lachey Pre-VMA party back at the Bryant Hotel. Yes, I said, “Jessica’s ex-husbands party.” It was an eye opener; people were having a splendid time and the drinks were once again, endless. The Nick party wasn’t the official Jump-off but it had a little kick to it.

The day has finally arrived. Mtv’s Video Music Awards is less than 6 hours away, yet I just can’t keep myself away from The Style Villa. I ran into Charlie Murphy for a brief moment. It’s a shame that I couldn’t say his name without thinking about his Dave Chappelle, “Rick James skit.” Tyrese and I almost had the Battle of the Chocolate Brotha’s, as he was coming off the elevator and I was getting on it. Black Ty would have won that battle, because I’m just a smidge lighter than he is and he’s bald-headed. So after I grabbed a few more bags, I headed over the Radio City Music Hall to stand in line for a good 2 and a half to 3 hours because I decided that I wanted to be seated with the audience for a different perspective.

From opening to closing, I thought that this VMA’s was one of the better overall “shows” in years. The opening was epic; but what else would you expect from the CEO of Hip Hop himself, Jay-Z? I’m just wondering if Diddy had a probably with not being called to open the show in such a way. I’m sure that if he does, he’ll YouTube it.

Justin Timberlake killed his performance in a good way with his seemingly boneless dance moves that will have you practicing until you pull something. Timbaland got Pop music on smash right now. If you don’t want to place Timbalands production skill on the same plateau as a Dr. Dre, I’m sure that with Top 10 hits like “SexyBack” and “Promiscuous” by longtime friend Nelly Furtado, Tim isn’t going to lose any sleep over it.

Beyonce rang the alarm in a very sleek way. Bee knows that she can perform at the highest level on any given night and even when she’s catching her breath at the end of her number, that’s a powerful show within itself. And if an artist can speak through her performance, you should check out the beige trench coat dance breakdown. Didn’t it look and feel a little Rhythm Nation(ish) to you? It can be mere coincidence or a sheer show of respect to her supposed rival, Janet Jackson. Whatever the case, Beyonce was an inferno on stage.

And every time I get a chance to watch T. I. perform, it’s almost as if he is assuring me that he is the #1 emcee in the game right now. Maybe it’s just his hit single, “What You Know” that has me convinced that he is beyond the truth. He is a lion on stage and he is working the “King” angle to a T. What do you think? Should he stop at just wanting to be known as the King of the South, and want to be King of the entire genre? Give us your opinion.

Overall, I had a great time at the VMA’s. And now that Radio City Music Hall is behind me, it’s now a little more than 350 days in my near future if MTV decides to bring it back to NYC for another year. I want to thank Tiffany Vinas, Matt Heien, Victoria Harvie and Pamely Lipshitz for their gracious hospitality leading up to the VMA’s. I’d also like to thank Adidas for making me look fly enough that people wanted to take pictures with me outside of the hotel because they thought I had an album coming out. I love what I do.

JohnLegend, John Legend, MTV, Beyonce, Nick Lachey, Adidas, B-Day, Sony, Sony/BMG