Soul Sessions Vol. 11

IT’S TIME FOR A NEW PARTY 

There are pros and cons to living in any generation.  For example, the Baby Boomers (1946-’64) proudly watched the passage of the Civil Rights Movement. Then, shortly after the new freedom rang, they were softly tapping their hearts when the face of the Movement was assassinated in a bloody act of the Master’s plan.  The Generation Xer’s (1965-’80) rode the explosive wave of the personal computer, then [nearly] burned down an entire city after witnessing the brutal beating of Rodney King.  The Millennials' (1981-'96) PR department worked overtime capturing some of their pendulum-shifting events like: gay marriage, Hurricane Katrina and the debut of MTV’s Real World—which arguably launched the game-changing reality television epidemic.  No one alive on October 3, 1995, will ever forget the O.J. Simpson Trial.  All eyes in the western hemisphere were glued to that contentious courtroom circus, which by all accounts turned the idiot box into Pandora’s.   

When the Simpson verdict tore the racial fabric of America further apart, it was hard to image that things could’ve gotten much worse—yet, here we are.  The infamous railroad tracks that historically separated black and white neighbors finally landed a hall of fame face to stir the racial tension that is now thicker than a Serena Williams seat cushion.  This intense divide blazed for a decade and a half, then in January 2009, the unthinkable happened.  On one seasonably brisk winter afternoon in D.C., the collective climate warmed when the United States of America welcomed the very first Black President, Barack Obama.  

There aren’t many pre-Millennials that would have ever thought they’d live long enough to see that day—even though there are many feeling a tinge of survivor’s remorse.   

Despite all of those extraordinary moments, something was still notably absent in the fabric of the close-knitted black community.  I believe what every post-Baby Boomer's generation is missing is far more subtle.  

The energy, emotion and the ethical make up that is missing from what every black community household should have is a partner to dance with.  

Let's turn the clock back a few decades for a moment.  I remember experiencing this really low-key vibe at this 1984 blue-lit basement party.  The mundane event got a jolt when the DJ dropped the needle on Cheryl Lynn’s 12-inch smash single, “Got To Be Real."  It felt as though everyone at the party did a black quarterback scramble looking for a partner to waltz with.  Many of the shaggy-haired, pinky-fingered ringed, notepad carrying dudes at the party, threw in a breath mint, checked their gold time piece, then poked the top of their bic pen…, were ready to capture the soon-to-be dance partner’s 7-digit (landline) number.  

The blue light party playbook repeated when a rapping New Jersey trio, called the Sugar Hill Gang, dropped “A Rapper’s Delight.” That song's 11-year radio run watched everyone from 18 to 80, take turns butchering their favorite lines, while rapping in the dancing eyes of their smiling partner.  And who alive during that time will ever forget when this obscure U.K. band, Soul II Soul ignited the States with their classic, summertime anthem, “Back to Life?” There wasn’t a person in the room that checked their beepers, because the only person in the world that mattered at that moment was dancing right in front of them. 

In the summer of 1979, the Nile Rogers foundered band, Chic, captured all of those amazing “Good Times” with their 8-minute, culturally-changing R&B single, that became the soundtrack to this fairly new phenomenon called Hip Hop.  All of this joyful music led to the explosive night club scene in America.  Many of those night spots were a safe house to asking a young lady & (a few cougars) to dance.  If someone would have written a manual, it would look like this: 

Step 1: The not-so-impromptu strategy session unfolded between songs.  Believe it or not, most men pegged their dance partner from the time she enter the room— sometimes in the parking lot.  Unbeknownst to her, he made sure she checked off all of his predetermined boxes.  a) No wedding ring (check);  b) Sexy, subtle, stroll (check); c) Real hair (ehhh…);  d) Black back-to-the-Motherland curvatures (check, check, check); e) Semi-interested facial expression when her favorite song played (check).    

Step 2: Waiting for the DJ to spin his signature, sure-fire party starter..., and every DJ had one.  For some disc-jockeys, Frankie Beverly’s “Before I Let Go” was the secret weapon.  Other DJ’s flooded the floor with a Kool & the Gang crowd favorite.  For decades it was Michael Jackson that kept the sweat-pouring bodies off the wall. 

Step 3: At this point the only thing left to execute was “The Perfect Positioning.” Every man had to make sure that he was in the right striking distance, anticipating the exact time the DJ’s hypnotic fingers would drop the magical single.  After all, there is nothing worse than having to walk back across an entire dance floor after a failed attempt to secure your Brown Sugar’s permission to show off the newest moves.  If the guy wasn’t careful his plan would implode, and he'd be left watching his would-be dance partner smiling with some Howard Hewiett-lookin’cat who rehearsed the same playbook.  If you were a step slow and missed the DJ’s que, your plan had to have a contingency.  This aborted mission involved “an exit strategy” that mapped a clear pathway to maneuver and avoid the walk of shame back to the dimly-lit bathroom area.

Every Friday and Saturday for decades was filled with this fun-loving adaption of love.  Some people saved their bi-weekly paychecks in hopes of finding the perfect outfit.  Many women slept standing up on Thursday night, just to keep their hair fresh for that Gap Band single that will drop a bomb in the club and ignite a flame that will burn in their lives forever.  Meanwhile, their male counterparts got the game-plan together by fine-tuning their Thursday nights at the local car wash.  The brothers seeking love would spit-shine their rides, then conclude the plan by cracking the plastic seal on the new pine car fragrance that was shaped like a Christmas tree.  The only motivation behind these silly roleplaying rituals was to hope that the weekend parties would change their romantic lives forever.  Watching this cultural phenomenon play out every weekend is what led to the watercooler huddles on Mondays. 

Sadly, because todays generation doesn’t dance anymore, many young men and women will never experience how to court.  Many of the above-mentioned antics may have seemed silly, but they led to so much more, in-person “getting-to-know you” events.  Those treasured moments led to everything from men opening the car doors or covering women from the late-night rain.  Today's generation will never know what it’s like to feel the heartbeat of a stranger, twirling on the dance floor, being tightly hugged to a Luther Vandross or Tina Marie or James Ingram single.  These real life soundtracks are treasured moments that started families—possibly your family that is reading this now. 

There is one Generation X-er that dedicates his life to keeping this starry-eyed party alive.  Eric Roberson, born September 27, 1976, is one of life’s most prolific, romantic, rendezvous-writing poets ever.  The Rahway, New Jersey rhymester has a catalog of treats that is reminiscent of the golden era of courting.  

The Howard University grad is the ghost-writing, vocal virtuoso behind some of the more noted artists like: Jill Scott, Carl Thomas, Dwele, and Musiq Soulchild just to name a few. Some of E-Ro’s signature songs are just bursting with amorousness.  It would be impossible for me to pick my favorite Eric Roberson LP – although Music Fan First or The Vault Vol. 1 are mainstays and the perfect antidote to mending the torn fabric of this society.  Instead of dissecting one of those treasured treats, I’m going to (instead) build a streaming playlist for Generation Z and beyond.  My only request is to please find yourself a special someone to listen to the playlist with.  Who knows, you might even move some furniture around….  

1. “Can I Borrow You” (Music Fan First August, 2009): This song is the epitome of flirtation.  Right from the start E-Ro ignites a flame between a guy in the club and a woman that checks all his boxes.  The caveat is the impossible-to-ignore dangling carrot on her ring finger -- the night unfolds from there. 

2. “Shake Her Hand” (Mister Nice Guy November, 2011): On this single the feverish flirtation is reversed.  This time the man has a beautiful woman at home, but meets Mrs. Right Now in the club. The young lady senses his apprehension, despite the obvious mutual attraction.  On this song in particular, if Eric wasn’t such a brilliant song writer, he could have clearly wrote the treatments for the “hit” TV show Cheaters. 

3. “Couldn’t Hear Me” (The Vault Vol. 1 July, 2003): This is hands-down my favorite Eric Roberson LP & this single jumps starts an 11-track project of pure flames.  E-Ro’s signature love triangle takes a back seat to a man who is more in love with his craft than his woman—who tries everything in her power to remain supportive.  Her true feelings couldn’t be masked, nor can the incredible groove from this single.

4. “Rain on my Parade” (The Vault Vo. 1):  Anytime I am quizzed on my preference (or lack thereof) for gospel music (which happens often), this is the first song that pops into my head.  The 1970-like, melodic pace and deliberate lyrics will simply curl your soul.  The beach front feeling has a bridge that will have you searching for a sea of escapism.  If you ever get the chance to see Eric in concert and he does not perform this song, you need to ask for a refund.      

5. “Too Soon” (Left March 2007): Eric’s early production days are magnified on this analog-sounding masterpiece. “Too Soon” is the textbook definition of open communication.  I don’t know many people that will be THIS forthright, this early in their relationship, but it certainly worked well for the headphones.

6. “Picture Perfect” (Miser Nice Guy November, 2011):  A woman’s heart will melt at the poetic portrayal from this heavenly description.  Oddly, one of the most prolific and vastly underrated emcees, Phonte Coleman (Little Brother) wasn’t necessary on this single.  And you probably won’t live long enough to ever hear me say that about Phonte again. 

7. “Dealing” feat. Lalah Hathaway (Music Fan First August 2009):  One of the fair criticisms that I've heard detractors say about Eric Roberson is that they aren’t a fan of his voice. While I vehemently disagree, I do understand that music can be a lot like food and every taste bud differs. Well, Eric more than addressed that when he tapped the heavenly Lalah Hathaway for this one.  It’s unimanageable to love R&B music and not add this single to the rotation.., but hey, there are black people that love Chinese food & hate Jamaican food.      

8. "I'm Not Trying To Keep Score No More" (The Box July 2014): In addition to E-Ro’s implausible songwriting ability, one cannot underscore the videos that underline his dry-witted sense of humor.  I think this playful ingredient is the spice to most successful relationships and this video will underscore that fact.  

9. “God In You” (Wind 2017):  It’s impossible to miss the overt appeal of this rather simple selection.  I will say this…, you can spend your entire life searching for someone to sleep with, but real joy begins when you find the person you cannot sleep without.

10. “Summertime Anthem” feat. Chubb Rock (Mister Nice Guy November 2011): There is something electrifying about the summertime in urban cities.  The schools are out, as are the shoulders and hips of the (mostly) female teachers building the minds that shape our future.  The vacations are plentiful and the weekends seem more meaningful.  Eric Roberson has dedicated his life to harvesting the relationships between men and women and nowhere is this more evident than on this Will Smith remix & the Spike Lee iconic summertime movie classic, Do The Right Thing. 

In less than 72 hours the election scoreboard will sadly reveal the “winner” of one of the most quarrelsome, combative and hopeless political races any generation has ever seen.  And for the first time in my life, I will probably go to bed early, because the only thing I’ve learned over the years is…, "when the elephants and donkeys fight, it’s always the grass that suffers." 

If we are ever going to change the trajectory of life in the black community (specifically) and mankind (generally)…, we are going to have to find the perfect partner, wrap that person tightly in our arms and find a better party to attend. 

1❤

Ray Lewis