NORTH SEA JAZZ FESTIVAL OFFICIAL - DAY 1

What can I say about Essence?  Yawl saw the reviews.  Fuck Essence.  I don't feel like digging up that dead old ass horse.

But tonight....we are in our element.  We have the PRIVILEGE to have Janelle Monae as our warm up music....we are getting HYPED in this dressing room!!!! I'm telling you...it's finna be a show!

But let's just talk about the stress of movement....for one moment.  No one is happy with a flight to Europe.  I usually write, or catch up on movies...I generally cry on every movie, but thankfully I turned those ones off before I got started.  It was harder than usual to leave this time.

I remember when the reigns got handed to me by the Roots former tour manager.  I came in as a happy-go-lucky assistant...we were on our way to Nancy, France...opening for Femi Kuti.  I was thrilled to be able to show off my French for my favorite group.  FINALLY...I was using all that I knew - psychology, music, french....what could be better?  I had Hubs bass on my back, Kamals guitar in hand, I was ready.

Then Toya showed up in flip flops and a gift bag.  This was pre 9/11 so she walked to the gate.  Gave Black Thought a gift.  Said her good byes and looked at me and said "I'm not going.  you got this."

Huh?  Mind you...I hadn't been on tour with the Roots solo ever.  I was a groupie...a "Band Aide" even.  I was a young girl with a Delta Buddy Pass.  I met them everywhere  - Elysee Montmarte in Paris, Grosse Freiheit in Hamburg, Ancienne Belgiqie in Brussels....I took trains, snuck on the back of buses, but nothing prepared me for actual tour management but my own instincts and my big mouth.

Amazingly enough, I'm a natural.  The power of a psych degree, the ability to speak with people, and enough berating to get anyone in shape...got me to where I am.  Some of the people I train say I'm super mean....I agree.  I got a lot of it from my now family who put a foot in my ass and straightened out the sculiosis in my spine....so it's true.  I give it out.  Like a scarred animal who knows the consequences of his actions.  My dog does it every time she sees my eyes and my lips pursed.  It's that type of consequential action needed to get on this tour management horse.  Logic goes out the window because you're dealing with people.  If we were selling cups this would be no problem.  We'd pick the color, the size and the material.  Would anyone talk back?  hell no....but PEOPLE?  Artists???

And I'd like to say that when they aren't that good, they're even better.  Geniuses got problems.  Why?  Cuz they spend all their days being geniuses.  This other stuff is just for shits and giggles.  Like...oh, time...eating, remembering birthdays, costs of any fucking thing....and the ones who are successful?  Well let's just say they have a better balance and a different motivation.

I don't know what's best....but I know I'm drawn to the crazy muthafuckas.

Tells ya  little bit more about me , huh?  Like you didn't know.