Being disabled in the music business... part 1
...As he stood next to me. I could sense his excitement. He was laughing, talking with everyone and just a very outgoing person. He had come to New York from Cali to perform with his group, at a taping for Showtime at the Apollo. All of the different acts were hanging out in the green room. Waiting for their turn to go onstage. The atmosphere backstage was like a big family reunion. We were hugging each other, exchanging phone numbers and sharing stories. Earlier that evening, I had went to see his debut movie. A movie that opened to rave reviews. A movie that would later gross over twenty millions dollars. I remember leaving the movie theater with DJ K-ROCK, Master Tee and Vaughn in a daze. His performance was incredible! When I got back to the Apollo. I talked to him about the movie and how he did a great job. Everyone was showing him love that evening. I believe that night he knew he would be a superstar. He knew what his destiny was.
His name was Tupac
She was in Atlanta to perform and her publicist had set up a phone interview for me. I was a freelance writer with an entertainment column for a local magazine. The young R&B singer was in town to promote her second album. When I called her hotel room. Her mother picked up the phone and put me on hold . A few minutes later, she came to the phone and said hello. I introduced myself and the interview began. The interview never really happened. We talked like old friends. We laughed and we shared stories. We talked for almost an hour before she had to get ready for her performance. When the interview was over. I realized I couldn't use any of the information. I had stopped taking notes.
She was a very cool person. Very down to earth. The last thing she said to me was
"come and hang out with me tonight at the show." I decided at the last minute to go home. I was tired and feeling lazy. At the time I was new to Atlanta and I didn't want to get on the bus to go across town. I didn't have a car. I have few regrets in my life, but I will always regret not going to the show that night and having the chance to become better friends with this rising star. But I will always remember our conversation and the laughs we had.
Her name was Aaliyah
When I walked into the hospital. I could feel the grief in the air. As I walked into the hospital lobby, I recognized the faces of some of the biggest rap stars. A rap legend was here fighting for his life. As I stood by his bedside in intensive care, trying to offer words of encouragement. I remember thinking "does he know what has happened to him?" A few days earlier he had been shot in the neck. A few weeks before, he was on the way to becoming a rap star along with his partner, KRS One. He was the founding member of Boogie Down Productions. Now he was fighting to live. He was on life support. I never had the chance to meet him personally. But I did have a chance to see him perform. I later became very good friends with his partner, KRS one. Not meeting him one on one didn't matter. Because he was part of the New York rap movement. He was family. We had all became family/friends as we chased our dreams. Latifah, Lyte, MC Serch, Naughty by Nature, Public Enemy, Heavy D., D-Nice, Kid N Play, etc. We had supported each other. When I arrived at the hospital with MC Serch. We were going to see a family member. Unfortunately, he never reached his full potential in Hip Hop. He died a few days later.
His name was DJ Scott La Rock.
This blog is dedicated to the people who were part of my music journey but are no longer with us. I've am truly blessed to have met you.
Big Reggie Moorer (MC Lyte's bodyguard)
MC Trouble (first female rapper signed to Motown records)
Trouble T-Roy (Heavy D and the Boyz)
Ted Demme (Creator of YO! MTV Raps)
Tupac
Aaliyah
DJ Scott LaRock
Big Mike (Audio Two bodyguard)
Professor X (XCLAN)
Hugs are free. Give them out every day.
profile: Terry Moorer is The Hottest Disabled Speaker in America. He inspires HBCU students everywhere on overcoming obstacles and becoming a world class student leader!
Visit his website www.themaxxcorp.com
His name was Tupac
She was in Atlanta to perform and her publicist had set up a phone interview for me. I was a freelance writer with an entertainment column for a local magazine. The young R&B singer was in town to promote her second album. When I called her hotel room. Her mother picked up the phone and put me on hold . A few minutes later, she came to the phone and said hello. I introduced myself and the interview began. The interview never really happened. We talked like old friends. We laughed and we shared stories. We talked for almost an hour before she had to get ready for her performance. When the interview was over. I realized I couldn't use any of the information. I had stopped taking notes.
She was a very cool person. Very down to earth. The last thing she said to me was
"come and hang out with me tonight at the show." I decided at the last minute to go home. I was tired and feeling lazy. At the time I was new to Atlanta and I didn't want to get on the bus to go across town. I didn't have a car. I have few regrets in my life, but I will always regret not going to the show that night and having the chance to become better friends with this rising star. But I will always remember our conversation and the laughs we had.
Her name was Aaliyah
When I walked into the hospital. I could feel the grief in the air. As I walked into the hospital lobby, I recognized the faces of some of the biggest rap stars. A rap legend was here fighting for his life. As I stood by his bedside in intensive care, trying to offer words of encouragement. I remember thinking "does he know what has happened to him?" A few days earlier he had been shot in the neck. A few weeks before, he was on the way to becoming a rap star along with his partner, KRS One. He was the founding member of Boogie Down Productions. Now he was fighting to live. He was on life support. I never had the chance to meet him personally. But I did have a chance to see him perform. I later became very good friends with his partner, KRS one. Not meeting him one on one didn't matter. Because he was part of the New York rap movement. He was family. We had all became family/friends as we chased our dreams. Latifah, Lyte, MC Serch, Naughty by Nature, Public Enemy, Heavy D., D-Nice, Kid N Play, etc. We had supported each other. When I arrived at the hospital with MC Serch. We were going to see a family member. Unfortunately, he never reached his full potential in Hip Hop. He died a few days later.
His name was DJ Scott La Rock.
This blog is dedicated to the people who were part of my music journey but are no longer with us. I've am truly blessed to have met you.
Big Reggie Moorer (MC Lyte's bodyguard)
MC Trouble (first female rapper signed to Motown records)
Trouble T-Roy (Heavy D and the Boyz)
Ted Demme (Creator of YO! MTV Raps)
Tupac
Aaliyah
DJ Scott LaRock
Big Mike (Audio Two bodyguard)
Professor X (XCLAN)
Hugs are free. Give them out every day.
profile: Terry Moorer is The Hottest Disabled Speaker in America. He inspires HBCU students everywhere on overcoming obstacles and becoming a world class student leader!
Visit his website www.themaxxcorp.com
Beautiful.....Thanks for sharing