What's up with N.E.R.D.

Talked with Shay and P last week. They were in Sacramento. New album "Seeing Sounds" on the way. It won't be on Virgin, P reveals. The single, "Everyone Nose" is exactly what you think it's about (as if there was any doubt.) The VA Beach homeboys are, of course, on tour with Kanye. P said -- as the reviews are confirming -- that Kanye's show is visually stunning -- one of the best he's ever seen.

It was great talking with Shay and Pharrell about music and Virginia Beach but it was when our conversation turned away from music I was really blown away. Remember maybe a year or so ago Pharrell was saying he was working to open a resource center for local kids? I asked him what was going on with that and he told me he'd been in talks with Al Gore to make it happen. (To get specifics you'll have to read the full story in the Pilot in the coming weeks.) I could tell this project was something he was really passionate about, and how much he loves his hometown and how he really wanted to give back.

What a great guy. Never mind all the Grammys and millions of albums and such. The guy's working with the country's former Vice President! Certainly this will make him a shoo-in for one of those little stars on the Legends of Music Walk of Fame honoring musicians from Hampton Roads, huh? A street sign or something in Va Beach right? Some sort of recognition of the amazing, super successful talent to come from this area? 

Hmm. Join me, ladies and gents, in holding your breath...

Speaking of Pharrell and N.E.R.D., shot up to D.C. this weekend. Went to the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery to see Recognize!, their exhibit on hip hop. Go if you have a chance. There are some mega turbo large paintings by my current favorite artist, Kehinde Wiley. There are some photographs of artists including Erykah Badu, Public Enemy, and N.E.R.D. But my highlight was this poem by Nikki Giovanni, which was etched onto a wall, accompanied by a recording of her reading it. Something about this poem struck me to my core and I got a little misty eyed for a minute. Check it....

It’s Not a Just Situation: Though We Just Can’t Keep Crying About It (For the Hip Hop Nation That Brings Us Such Exciting Art)

By Nikki Giovanni

         You don’t

Just wake up and brush your teeth and make up your bed

and put on your favorite pair of blue jeans

           You don’t

on other evenings

Just sneak away from your sleeping lover

Just to grab a bite of Quik Stop

Just to hop a train

           You don’t

Just visit the 24 hour superstore

Just to get a few cans

of spray paint

And

Just happen to have a case to put them in

           You are not

Just out of yellow

So you’ll

Just shadow with grey this time

And

Just shy of metallic blue you will

Just fill in with electric orange

           You are not

Just bored

Or hungry or silly or

Just crying for attention

           You are

Just, if there is a

Just

Trying to be an artist

            You are

Just

If there is any

Justice

Trying to find a way of not

Just surviving but living

You are just            

trying to show the beautiful soul of your people

You are just            

trying to say “I’m alive”

You are just          

  determined to be more           

 than what the powers who

Just hate the idea of you want you to be

You are just            

trying to discover the route            

of the neo underground railroad           

 so that your kids can

Just be free

You are just           

 being a man

You are just realizing           

 your womanhood

You are just singing and smiling          

  because you

Just don’t want to cry anymore

You are just            

falling in love            

because hatred is too hard to bear

You are just            

determined           

 to be the very best you and

You just guess           

  you better not let anyone take that away

You are just           

 a person            

with a big heart and wonderful talent

That you just           

 think should be shared

           

Put a button on it           

              people

            ‘cause suspenders

Just           

 won’t            

do

 

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