NY CONCLUSION
On a personal note, I had a really good time. I did a wide range of activities. Bumped into celebrities, almost every time I went out. On the Saturday, the gay guy from America’s Next Super Model. The following day, an actor from the Wire, Floyd Mayweather Snr, Nathan McCall; And in Nu Yoricans, Malike Yussef who’s been on Def Poetry jam, Common’s and Kanye’s album, was there. It all felt surreal. But the only reason it did, was that these cats do exactly what we do in the UK. The only difference is that they get bigger recognition for it. Nathan McCall is an actor, we have author, we have actors and singers we see all the time, but because they ain’t publicized, seeing them is not considered as big as seeing any Americans.
On a professional note, it was extremely disappointing. To be honest I was flabbagatsted at the low sales I got. The love and fascination definitely does not swing both ways. It could’ve been different if I bombed in all my performances, forgot words or just got a luke warm appreciation, spat too fast and people not hear what I was saying. But I didn’t, which baffled me, so this is how I rationed it.
In the UK as world wide, there is a fascination with the states, so they come over and capitalize on this world wide fascination. We on the other hand are just different. Our accents are weird. So although my performance went well, I got the sense that “yeah it was good, but wouldn’t wanna listen to that all day.”
During the open mic, I left during Malik yusseff’s set. Yeah I thought about staying, my editor would kill me for not making a connection, but I felt fuck it. You know, we’ve given NY so much love over the years, well Americans in general. And I realize, in everything, from arts to politics. Its one sided. From all the artists and talent that could’ve really been good to capitalize on the love across the pond, only really John Legend has tried with Estelle. Those who have succeeded are those who’ve to parlayed as Americans. And you have to be indistinguishable to do that, not like Don Cheadle in his in consistent cockney accent in the Ocean’s films. You have to be like Idris Elba, Billy Ocean and Chitiwel Ijifor. Estelle will have to sing, cause they ain’t accepting her as a British Rapper, regardless of how nice she flows. Well not in NY anyway.
Generally with New Yorkans, if they can’t see how you can help them, then why are they making you their competition by giving you a hand up? I mean I’ve personally hooked up poets in the states with stuff from residence, to shows, radio interviews, press, workshops. But I have met few London poets that can boast the same hospitality in NY. In fact it’s just the opposite. I mean one poet came to NY phoned his contact to get into some shows and he told him to check time out magazine. This behaviour was all starting to make sense to me.
When you look to the hip-hop rivalry of East Coast vs West Coast. When you look deeper into it, it was really New York verses West Coast. Cause the West Coast beef was born out of a frustration of New York refusing to recognize them. Artistis’ were getting love throughout the states but New York didn’t want to give them no props or airplay. If they don’t send love to the rest of the states, what chance have we got as UK poets. The percentages are never none, but it is very slim.
But, check it, the trend is even bigger than just poetry. Generally, before I came to NY I really respected these artists, their art their music, their words. People would ask me to burn a CD of NY’s finest, and I would be like no, you go ahead and support them. Because in my head, lyrical, conscious artists’ were really our natural allies, but now I say fuck that. I’ll burn and download as I please.
American Hip hop artists could’ve really helped British artists, especially those from New York whose style more so compliments the British one. I thought before hand it was a case of them maybe not being aware. But that doesn’t wash today. Cause they know we exist, they are just generally not interested. How good would Jamelia be if she was invited to go on tour with Beyonce. Not just as an unknown quantity, but UK’s finest. Or if Nas told Klashnekoff, come let me try and put you on in the states. Or Lauryn Hill told Lyric L to represent your art on these sides. Its not that they don’t know they don’t exist. They just have no interest in black artists outside their locale. You could be lukewarm and white and you’d get a video with Common. The current conscious flag bearer. Does that make any sense? Jay Z and cold play? That’s a slap in a face to all the black artists that’ve gone in our time. Yes its true, Omar has done songs with Erykah, Angie Stone and Common. But generally they have been on Omar’s album, where’s the invite the other way. (Although Common did invite Omar on his experimental album, Electric Circus, which is considered his weakest to date.)
I thought Nas did well when he invited a British rapper to be on his Street’s Disciple album. But then I thought, why is it only for the UK release. So we can’t take advantage or gain access to the U.S market. This is a blockade. Even our political astute rappers represent a similar mindset. Krs One was over in the summer and talked about some hip hop album with only the artists in the room. “Put your email down and we’ll holla.” He said. But that project hasn’t even passed a follow up email. I remember in the 90s chuck d would be on Tim Westwood radio show saying he was gonna sign a British artist. Till today no one has got a phone call. Imagine how good a collabo with MCD back in da day would’ve been.
I said from the first day New Yorkers are fantastic talkers and are really convincing. And we confuse this charm for real love. In truth like all New Yorkers, they see the rest of the world as a place to market their shit, and benefit from that. But if it’s the other way round as Flavour Flav said “I can’t do nothing for you man, flavour flav’s got problems of their own” another native New Yorker. You see, in their world. No where else exists. Again Method Man and Bigge “Fuck the World, Don’t ask me for Shit!” All of this is really starting to make sense.
And this goes beyond music, its part of their culture. My Canadian friend made a point that the World Trade Centre itself is the centre for world capitalism. Which is focused on taking everything from the world and using it for their own advantage, this mentality has spilt over to the lifestyle of most New Yorkers.
And as controversial as this maybe, but its no different in the political sphere. Activists in the UK really have developed in Britain over the last 20 years. We don’t need to look across the pond to have other people represent the black view. We have fantastic speakers, acclaimed scholars. But where is their campaign to get them across the pond. Where’s all the paid package deals to share the black British experience with the states. They have more resources than us. But every October the yanks are here, Ever February British activists are still here. As hard as it is to believe its not that they don’t know we exist. They do. Reality is they don’t care. Cause in their world, the most important people to them is them.
I came over with a belly full of love. I was warned before I came. I didn’t understand till I left. We may love New York, but them cats only love themselves … “NEW YORK, NEW YORK BIG CITY OF KINGS,
BUT EVERYTHING IN NEW YORK AIN’T ALWAYS WHAT IT SEEMS
YOU MIGHT GET FOOLED IF YOU COME FROM OUTTA TOWN…….” Yes indeed it ALL makes sense now.
