B.U.S.H. Magazine

Les Nubians

So last night was something else ya'll. It was raining rats and chickens, luckily I dressed in layers because my outer layer was drenched. I lost my umbrella on Bart and then I had to stand outside of the venue in the pouring rain because they weren't ready to let people in yet. I was gonna get mad but my feet hurt so bad from the new boots I was wearing..Stay Focused I kept saying to myself. This was a big night on so many levels. First of all I was gonna be hanging out with one of my dear friends. Since both of us are mommies we hardly ever get to hang like we use to. Professionally this was a big night because I was interviewing Les Nubians after the show. Getting this interview was crucial because the first issue is all about Black Bohemia and who is more BoHo than Les Nu anyway I had to stay sober, stay peaceful and focused because it was a chaotic scene the whole night. So many heads were in the joint. My home girl Femi who I've known since high school was performing and Jennifer Johns another Oakland girl was there to put it down. I chatted with them back stage for a bit and then took my position at the front of the stage so that I could get great footage and close up photos of my girls. By this time I have made peace with all the people I bumrushed in order to get to the front, I took them damn boots off and got my camera ready. While we all waited for the show to begin I took some snap shots of the lovelies that were around me. Luckily for me  they were nice enough to let me stick my camera in their faces.

First up to bat was Femi she gave the mixed crowd a taste of some Oakland funk. She didn't disappoint-her full band rocked it out. He tiny little frame hopped and bounced around on stage effortlessly. I can honestly say miss than has paid her dues and its definitely time that she start to get some more globalized attention. Treat yourself and check her out the next time you see her name on a flyer...I guarantee that u will have a good time.

2nd up to bat was Jennifer Johns. Man have you ever saw a whirlwind on stage? Go see Jennifer. Miss lady gave you a piece of a song and then she slug her pretty high heal shoes off to the side of the stage. Not soon after that Miss thing switched from the melodic sing songy song to a Booyaka reggae ghetto dancehall drum n base anthem. She had heads wavin their hands and bouncin and groovin then rockin it out. Before it was all over Jennifer was glistening with sweat from her work out on stage, she gave a few slow thought provoking song just to get the crown hype all over again with a cut that is sure to blow muthas out the box. Ghetto International was the song and it was testament to her audience that hip hop is everywhere right now and this music is bringing us together. She was joined on stage with some of her lyrical friends and a few songs were accompanied by dancer Tracy Bartello. Her performance was a definite crowd pleaser.

Third up to bat was Les Nubians. I never saw them live before so I was shocked to see that they were so litlle. No tiny is a better word. They were dressed in full AfroBohemian Regalia. Celia had a dress on with leggings underneath adorned with photo printed leg warmers. Helen wore an extra tight full length form fitting black  tank gown that matched the pattern on her sisters dress. This dress allowed us all to see how beautifully African she is.

They began the show with some acoustic melodies and then followed up with crowd pleasers like Demain and Makeda. There was a french/english version of "I Love Music" that the Ojays would have been proud of. It made me think of Gerald Lavert passing but I wasn't sad I was happy to have loved his music. The girls took turns showing off and switching sides on stage...it was enjoyable to watch them break out with african dance moves and head boggles then slow winding hip movements that flowed with the slower songs. There was a special surprise towards the end of the show...Oaklands own Nazela the mama of the Oakland Poetry scene was invited on stage to share her words about a delicious kind of love. Her contribution is also an excerpt from Les Nubians newest project Echos. This was a special project where they dedicated an entire CD and book to spoken word.

The entire show was a feast for the eyes and spirit. Helen made references to current affairs in America, in African and the plight of the black man in France right now. She was particularly upset about the Iraq war and the wars going on in Africa. Even though her voice was sweet you could still feel the anger and disappointment behind the words "I'm so pissed right now". Both sisters reminded us that we should live for right now, not for tomorrow, not for yesterday but now.  Its was wonderful to hear that from them, so many artist say that but how true is it in their real lives. I could feel that they like I, live completely in their truth.  I was honored to be the chosen one to interview them after the show. It was such a scene back stage and I'd love to give you all the dish but you must wait and read it all in the print version. Send in your request for the Black Bohemian Issue coming out early next year.

Meshell N'degeocello

The last time I saw Meshell N'degeocello play I was at Bimbo's during a two day promotion for Prince.

It was the Gold Ball and my friends and I went bananas for Meshell.

We all had her first album and new it backwards and forwards.

I'm so glad that I had that experience because she never plays that stuff anymore. I had a feeling that this show was ment to leak out new stuff

so I went open to recieve whatever she had planned and pushed

all the songs I wanted to hear out of my head for the night.

I got there at 8:30 and there was a line around the corner.

That only could only mean on thing.....no parking.

I had to drive around and around until I got strategic and

followed a woman walking to her car so I could take her space.

I was happy with my success at finding a parking space but put

off by the abrupt dampness from the cold-as-hell-fog

hanging over my head. Now I have to wait in l

ine...did I say I had flip flops on...anyway all

I wanted to do was get inside and solidify a good spot to see the stage.

Being a short person means you have to get close or you wont see a thing.

While saying hello to ramdom folks I know I scope a spot right next

to a group of equally short girls. We do and excited meet and greet and unanimusly agree to not let tall people over take our excellent

view of the stage. It wasn't even ten minutes

later when a group of tall white chicks

(laugh) held hands and proceeded to post up d

irectly in front of us (a group of short black queer women)

this was an example of white privalage in effect. T

hey couldn't understand why we had a problem with

them standing in front of us. Well I don't care if the understand as long as they walked their happy asses somewhere else.

We contiunued to get to know each other as we passed the

time waiting for MeShell to come out. We sipped on cocktails

danced with each other annoyed a straight couple so much

that they left out area.We found solidarity with our new

compressing group that included some of my old friends and

some very new sexy friends. We all clapped hard when the

Dj set was over (it was after 10pm)..sorry Dj Funklor you

have a fabulous assortment of music but you have to learn

the art of transition. We cringed everytime a song changed

because the transition had no flow.  All was forgiven once

MeShell hit the stage. She let us know that we were in for a night of new stuff....(my intution rings true) . She is the type of artist that shares her emotions through music. I had to fight back tears when she

sang of two souls not being right for each other or when she

sang that she had hit the point of no return. I couldn't help but

think of the last love I lost...Meshell said every thing I've been wanting to say...."forgive me....Lets make love."  Her Jimi Hendriks cover

had the young ones in the audience stuck but us musically mature folks headbangin'. I had a great time.  She funked it up, rocked it out

and set my soul on fire.

Rahsaan Patterson

Yes Bushy and friends made sure not to miss the fabulous and amazing Rahsaan Patterson at Kimballs East this past Saturday April 23 at the 10:00 show. I felt weird going because I was not dressed up like the rest of the patrons at this show. It was extra grown and sexy up in there. I saw tye dyed leather with locs and glitter and glam with weaves and braids. Men were suited and booted and smellin all good too. Anyway I took my tired, jeans and hat wearing self on in there and made my self at home in my booth I ordered spinach salad that was hella good and hella late (it should've been free) and my chocolate cake topped with strawberry syrup that I had to share with others at my table. We waited almost a minute to long when low and behold he came on the stage and took us all by storm. This man and his pipes,this man and his voice, this man and his songs. At first glance I felt like I was at a SMAAC Youth Center Ball with the first performer lipsinching to a Rahsaan song. He was dressed like someone from the House of Omini with expensive pre-worn lookin jeans and a blazer with bright pink and blue letters that said scandal on it. His head was shaved bald and he had on some equally expensive glasses on. His jeans were tucked into some cute brown flat boots, and his wrist was danglin with bangles and on hand one huge ring that gave him and instant admission into the House of Bohemia. Needless to say he was cute and ready for the show. He started the show right off with the first hit he ever had which was a good choice. It brings the audience right there with you when you sing the song you are best known for first even if you sing it in a different arrangement(Stop By). The airas the octaves raged from the highest high to a deep and sultry low. Rahsaan was clappin his hand like we were in church and he kept flinging that jacket to an fro to annunciate and reinerate that we were there to see him and him alone (Fierce). Baby is family all day long and we love him even more because the masses of straight people in the venue cannot deny that this man is pure talent. The straight women in the room was gaspin and swoonin on every note and I'm sure he helped Mr. Brooks Brother Suit get some without having to beg because almost every song was about Good Love, Good Loving, or Loving You. Whoever he's gettin his lovin from must be beeming with pride because all of songs gave us all the dirt about how goooooooood it is. His play list had songs on it from all three albums but that still wasn't enough, he could've sang to me forever. I broke a glass banging on the table trying to get him to come back for an encore. Sorry Kimballs...anywho it worked because he came back and gave it up. He took request from some people in the audience and he gave the band that usually backs Laylah Hathaway a moment to wow us before he left the stage  long after his alotted time. I didn't get home until 1:30 a.m. now you know he put in overtime and still let us come back stage to tell him how much we loved him. I made him promise me not to wait five more years before he comes back here. Now go get the new album(After Hours) and snuggle up with someone you love and make out and If its time to break up he's got the best break up song(Sometimes) I've ever heard so check it out and when you do tell'em Bushmama sent you. He told me to tell you to call you radio stations and request his latest single(Forever Yours). If you love him like I do you know that its not too much to ask. Wanna know more about him go to www.rahsaan.com, www.soulwalking.com.uk and http://www.saveoursoul.nl/aommay2004/ where you can see and hear music from his whole discography. Where ever you are and he's coming make sure you don't miss it you will not be made you paid to do so. He had definately come a long way from Kids Incorporated.