Thursday, September 28, 2006

OUT-92







What’s up STLians! This is Ma’atology here one more time for ya…. It has been a week for the STL (especially finding out that the STL is one the ten cities in America where you can’t get any sleep!) and beyond the MO. But before I get to the local bitz, on a national scene, there have been some things going on:

The Superdome in H-town reopened for biz with the Saints v. Falcons game post-Hurricane Katrina (I wonder if any of the proceeds from that game will go to plane tix for Nawlins folk who wanna come back home?). Also, the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan has been very ill leaving his duties to his right hand men as he deals with his undisclosed illness (reports say he has lost 35 pounds!). President Dubya Bush signed into law a bill introduced by Illinois Senator Barak Obama that would publicly disclose all recipients of federal funding and financial assistance with Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (S. 2590) will allow taxpayers to go online and see how their money is being spent. (O’Bama is looking presidential by the minute., eh? ). And what’s up with
Dallas Cowboys receiver Terrell “TO” Owens? Did he try and kill himself? Did PR people try to cover it up and have him deny the allegations? This dilemma is definitely a pill too hard to swallow (no pun intended. )

On somber musical note, the STL area has lost yet another blues legend to the other side. A couple of weeks ago, the STL lost blues legend Bennie Smith. Now another father of the blues has left this physical world, Henry Townshend. According to stltoday.com, Henry "Mule" Townsend, patriarch of St. Louis blues music, was the last remaining link to St. Louis blues' earliest days. Townsend, who was 96, was the only blues artist to record in every decade of blues recordings, and possibly the only artist in general to record from the 1920s to the current decade. The renowned singer, guitarist and pianist died last Sunday of pulmonary edema in Grafton, Wis., where he was being honored at a blues festival. For more on Mr. Townshend and his works, go to www.stltoday.com.

This week, my heart has been weary on the developments that occurred in my hometown of East St. Louis with the now national covered story about Tiffany Hall (SEEN ABOVE IN BLACK HAIR) who has been charged in the killing of her best friend Jimella Tunstall (SEEN ABOVE IN BROWN HAIR) and her unborn baby and the killing of Tunstall’s three young children (SEEN IN PIC ABOVE) who were found in the late mother’s apartment in the John Deshields Apartment Complex in East St. Louis. The oldest, 7-year-old DeMond Tunstall, was found in the dryer and the younger two children — 2-year-old Ivan Tunstall-Collins and 1-year-old Jinela Tunstall — in the washer. Hall, 24, appeared before a judge Monday via a video monitor from the St. Clair County Jail. She was arraigned on a charge of first-degree murder and intentional homicide of an unborn child. She pleaded not guilty.

This is beyond words of this situation and my heart goes out to the Tunstall family. And to bring it more closer to home, my mother said that her friend knew of Hall inasmuch as she brought her young daughter (who she got custody back in 2001 according to reports) to the Hazel Bland Promise Center where my mother’s friend works) located in the 2900 block of East ST. Louis (it also was discovered that the daughter did not report to school in a few weeks before Hall went on a killing spree.) The city of East St. Louis is in mourning. America is in morning. The world is morning. Let us all pray for our recovery as well. The funeral for 23-year-old Jimella Tunstall and her three children is scheduled for noon this Friday at Mount Pisgah Missionary Baptist Church, 1111 Pennsylvania Avenue, in East St. Louis.


To help the Tunstall family, the East St. Louis police and fire departments have established a fund to help pay the funeral and burial expenses of the Tunstall family. Police officers and firefighters will collect money from 5 to 7 p.m. through Thursday at these locations in East St. Louis on the Corner of Martin Luther King Drive and Bond Avenue: 15th and Bond Avenue.; 25th and State Street; 59th and State Street. And Donations also can be made at any Regions Bank. As of this writing over $30,000 dollars has been raised with $15,000 donated by an anonymous celebrity who lives in the ST. Louis area.


For updates on this Tunsatll/hall case, go to www.myfoxstl.com or

www.stltoday.com. (I will have more uplifting East St. Louis news to report later on in this post.)

OK, onto my week:

Last Saturday, I went to fashion show rehearsal at YMCA at Emerson and it turned out OK. It was a two hour rehearsal (as opposed to the original five hour rehearsal). We rehearsed all six scenes that will be featured in the show. Their have been some scaling down of the cast albeit it is a PRO BONO service (and it is on a Saturday morning wherr most people do their usual Saturday things) . Me and this brotha named Avery are the original guys from day one (I believe model Malik Ali has fired himself). The females are touch and go as far as regular attendance. It’s really turning into a reality show for real. It should be called FASHION SHOW SHOWDOWN where the models go to rehearsal and see which ones will make it to the runway base don their own interest in being a part of the show.

The behind the scenes actions are what is expected. Getting dressed for clothes have been an experience (The guys are getting their clothes at K &G on West Florissant) and the producers of the show communicating with the designers and stores and making sure they are on the same page as far as when we should go and get measured for our clothes. . There is also a lot of buddy-buddy stuff going on as far as people forming alliances on how they are going to dress or coordinate their fashion steps on the runway (Me included. LOL). Also interesting last week was one of the guy models asked me if I was the husband to one of the co-founder’s of DIVA cause he was interested in her and didn’t want to disrespect me if she was . I found that to be interesting cause the times that she has been there, we’ve shared hugs and talked and at eh last rehearsal, I was flirtatious with her as I was practicing my walk. I find it interesting how assumptions and allegations turn into rumor in a bat of an eye. But overall, the rehearsal was a good one.

Other than doing the rehearsal, I didn’t do much. I was lagged from this past week from the Chingy and Kevin Johnson parties and working the late shift at the Water Geyser/Metro park project. So, I spent my weekend chilled at the crib (I got a couple of calls form Kameron and X-Jam wondering if I was going out but I didn’t answer due to my hibernation). While chillin at the crib, I looked at a few movies like “Misery” on TNT (Actress Kathy Bates looked like Rosie O’Donell in this flick. LOL) and this interesting flick called “Trick” on LOGO (Tori Spelling is surprisingly good in this flick).

I also saw an episode of the new season of Mad TV and they had a funny parody of the swagger of hip-hop rappers when they perform on stage. In the sketchm two black actors play hip-hop rappers called Overhand Left (FUNNY ALREADY) and they kept repeating “Ok, 1-2, 1-2, here we go” bouncing back and forth on stage, but the catch was they never actually rapped. (FUNNY). On the DIRECTV menu, the episode showed that Chingy was a guest star on there. I didn’t know what he was going to do on there, until this scene (which was the last scene BTW). Chingy walked on stage with OL (wearing shades and a The Root of All Evil short-tee on) and was about to spit on the mike and just said, “I-2-3” and walked off. CLASSIC.

On Sunday, I tried to stay up to listen to the Freeman Bosley Junior Show on 100.3 The Beat, but I fell asleep during Nicci Roach’s Nic at Nine so I don’t know what she talked about on there. (I wondered if Nicci “read” her colleagues for talking about her while she was on vacation. LOL) Later on that day, I taped the season premiere episode of Desperate Housewives (this show aint the same after Alfre Woodard’s and Mechad Brooks’ characters were jailed and killed off respectively and were not returning this season), The Wire, and Def Comedy Jam. All three episodes were on the money (especially The Wire. The this episode of the new season came off bangin with homo-gangsta thug character Omar—one of the most intriguing characters on TV ever--waking up from bed next to his male Chino lover at the crack of morning, putting on his satin blue PJs and robe, going to the convenient store in the PJ’s to get some Cheerios and complaining that the store didn’t have Honey Nut Cheerios. (CLASSIC)

MA’AT-TIDBITZ. Well, folks, I did not win Best Blog in the Riverfront Times Best of 2006 Poll. The winner was controversial blogger Byron Crawford (He was featured in a cover story with RFT, so he definitely had exposure). I wanna thank those who voted for my blog. I knew it would be a longshot, but hey, there’s nothin wrong with a try (as Janet sang on her All For You, “Trust a try”) I was grateful when the RFT picked my blog to be picked as Blog-of the Week in its Unreal section earlier this year, so I know that my blogsite, along with the people who email and talk to me that my site is making a difference.

I would like to congratulate those who were recipients of the RFT POLL Awards:


Cory Spinks—Best Local Boxer (No brainer)

Cordell Whitlock- Best reporter TV/radio (Did you know he was the godson to 60 Minutes’ Ed Bradley?)

Staci Static-Best FM Radio Personality

Carl Phillips-Best Local Poet

Rucka Puff-Best Local Single “Like A Pro”

Deandrae Perryman-Best R&B Artist (East Boogie connection. Are you strippin now? LOL)

Club Dreams-Best Hip-Hop Club (It wasn’t too many to choose from now that most of them are closing these days. )

Praiz-Best Gospel Artist (another no-brainer)

Bennie Smith-Best Blues Artist (R.I.P.)

Hamiet Bluett-Best Jazz Artist

Best Local Music Event—Black Artist Group Wash U Feb. 2006

My46-WBRU-Best TV Station

The shocker to me was Nelly and DJ Needles lost out in the Best Local Boy Done Good and hip-hop DJ categories. Can you say travesty? Anyway, to check out more winners go to the RFT website at

www.theriverfronttimes.com .............................................

This week, I emailed off my bio and pic to be featured in the National Black Who’s Who Book. The Publisher Keith Antone Willis sent me the info last week and decide dto go ahead and submit. They are going to have an official unveiling reception of all who are feature din the book on Nov. 6 at the Ritz Carlton in Clayton. I will keep you posted on the outcome of this…………

Thanks to INKOSI Designs’ Kevin Bryant for emailing me last week saying lst weeks ‘s blog wa steh bomb. Thank you and I will continue on givin it to ya. I also got an email from local movie screener and local TV programmer james Thomas who would like for me to write for Urban magazine. I emailed him back and asked how much the gig pays. I will keep you posted on this….

The hits have now waned on the movie I did on YOUTUBE of my brief appearance on Last Comic Standing in care of Kathi Griffin reality show, “My Life on the D-List” this past summer. It only had 4 hits and the new total is 420. I think after this week, I think everyone and their mamma have seen it and will probably retitre it after this post. If you still wanna check it out, go to
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvmwSn9glKE

CHART-IDBITZ.. The Billboard charts is still treating our STL artists very kindly. There is much action going on the charts for them that even I couldn’t predict what could happen. .
On the Hot 100, Jibbs is still leading the way , but not for long so it seems. Jibbs track, “Chain Hang Low,” spends a second week at No. 8 in its 8th week on the chart.

Closely behind Jibbs is Chingy as his song, “Pulling Me Back” with Tyrese rebounds and moves up 6 spaces from 15 to 9 in its 15th week on the chart! (Man, talk about a song with legs! ). I thought for sure this song was going to rn its course when it peaked at No. 13 two weeks ago, but as I said last week, “It’s hard to say what will happen now that Chingy’s song on this chart is starting to wane. Will it reach the Top 10. I predicted last week that if it does reach the Top 10, it will peak at No. 10.” Well, the song beat my prediction by one space as it reached No. 9 (his fourth Top 10 hit BTW). Will it go higher than No. 9? Maybe. Will it do better chart wise than Jibbs? I doubt it. Jibbs song is still new on the charts and it made a strong showing when it entered the Top 10 last week. ( As far as Chingy’s new CD, “Hoodstar” the album debuted at No. 8 on the Hot 200 Albums and No. 3 on the R&B Albums chart selling close to 70,000 copies in its first week.)

In regards to Nelly’s duet with Janet, “Call On Me.” This song is the yo-yo of the year as it goes up and down the chart by the week. Last week, it moved down 13 spaces down the chart 13 from 37 to 50. Now, the song has yo-yo’d up the chart as it moves up 14 spaces from No. 50 to No, 36 in its 14th week on the chart! I tell ya, it’s hard to predict whether this song will go higher than its peak of No. 25, but it’s safe to say that the song has a possibility to do that. As far as its reaching the Top 10, well, I’d day , it has a strong chance of reaching the Top 20, if it regains more momentum up the chart in the next two weeks.


On the R&B/Hip-Hop chart, Chingy and Nelly switch places yet again at the top. This week, Nelly and Janet returns to the No. 1 spot and Chingy’s former No. 1 hit moves down to No. 3. this is too crazy for real. Who would have thought that STL rappers would be taking turns at No. 1 on this chart. As far as newbie Jibbs, well, the song lost its bullet and fell five spaces from 16 (at its peak) to No. 21 in its 11th week on the chart. If Billboard’s conventional wisdom is any indication, the song can regain its bullet and meet Chingy and Nelly in the Top 10. Can it do it? I’m sure it can. Will it hit No. 1 on this chart like Nelly and Chingy? That’s doubtful because this song is doing a much slower chart gain than on the Hot 100.


In unrelated Nelly news, according to www.panachereport.com, Rapper Nelly got the name Moses tattooed on his right arm because he so closely identifies with the Biblical leader. Nelly has a collection of tattoos, including, the word "lunatic" above his navel, a heart on his chest and five playing cards and dice on his right arm. Nelly explains, "I got the name Moses on my inner right arm. I can related to this story as far as helping people out. "That's how my boys (The St. Lunatics) and I felt about the St. Louis music scene. "When we hit it big we felt like we were leading some of the top musical talent out of there, on to broader horizons." Okay, is it me or does Nelly stating to become the Messiah of St. Louis hip-hop?

STL-TIDBITZ. Where is STL lawyer Kwame Thompson? I hear he’s in Atlanta and got his own law firm going on. Does anyone know what’s up?.... .............Speaking of M.I.A. Wherr’s 100.3The Beat’s Dwight Hypeman Stone? I haven’t been hearing him hosting his own Crunk for Christ radio show for past two Sundays (gospel star Praiz has been filling in with Stone’s other Crunk co-host)…. ..................Congrats to local STL artists American Idol finalist Nikko Smith and gospel star Praiz (who is dubbed the Nelly of Gospel) will be the opening acts at the Joe concert at the Orpheum Theatre Sept. 30 (See Events section below for more details AND OUT 91 FOR A SPECIAL EVENTZ PREVEIW OF THIS EVENT) . I also heard that local singer/actress and CafĂ© Soul co-craetor Rochelle “Coco Soul” did her thang as the understudy for Denise Thimes in the long running hit musical Menopause the Musical at the Playhouse at Westport last Saturday. I know she did her thing and for her to be understudying for Ms Thimes, I’m sure was a feat . Congrats Coco…..........................comedian/writer Charlie Murphy, who was in town Thursday to promote his comedy show at the Pageant, was on Fox 2 Morning Show talking about what happened last year t when he was booed off the satge at the Fox stage (Check out OUT 16, Oct 2005 POST FOR MY REVIEW OF IT). He said that he didn’t bomb, but a heckler ruined his show for him when he talked about the uys; gold tooth. He said that Nelly told him that a lot of people in the STl wear gold teeth and that he insulted the heckler as well as the STL audience. Yeah, okay. I was there atteh show and even before the heckler shouted out that he wasn’t funny, his routine was lame. So, don’t blame it on the gold tooth brother…..............................Also on the Morning show was Martial arts/cage fight camp Jermaine “Bam” Andre talking about his cage fight bout on Oct.4 (SEE EVENTZ for more info). He was all shirtless exposing his muscles (his arms are bigger than his head!) and it seemed as though Fox anchor Randi Naughton was “amored” by him after the interview with him via satteltke and commented to anchor Jon Pertzborn that Jermaine was “veeeeeeeeeery handsome.” Hmmm. What’s really going on?................


On the East Side, there is a lot of buzz going on for the Malcolm Martin Memorial park (where I supervise security officers on the East Riverfront area near the Casino Queen) )platform that is set for construction this month and the committee for a bronze statue for the 1st black mayor in the ESL. Fiorst off, there are reports that the Southern Illinois Contractor’s Association (SICA) spearheaded by prez Guy Gettis is urging the Mayor Carol Officer and the board to name the platform in honor of SICA and former ESL Mayor Gordon Bush, who, in SICA’s opinion helped put the plan together for the park and the Geyser that is there (Which is the tallest geyser in the world BTW) and helped blacks get construction during the time of the geyser’s construction.


As far as the bronze statue, the SICA is spearheading a campaign for a bronze statue for the late James Williams, who was the first black mayor in ESL (1971-75). SICA wants the statue placed at city hall parking lot. To help raise funds, SICA has classes that people can take on Williams’ history every Friday at the Emerson Center (headed by Gary Pearson) at 1405 State Street and a picnic next month (SEE EVENTZ BELOW FOR MORE DETAILS ON THIS). I will keep you posted on both of these “boogie” projects.

EVENT-IDBITZ. Southwestern Illinois college will present a fall fair Wed, Sept. 27 at 11 a.am. on the campus’ front lawn. Free music and lunch. For more info go to www. swic.edu.......................

Taste of St. Louis at the Gateway Mall and Kiener Plaza. Taste of St. Louis will include free concerts, the best of St. Louis dining, artists, children's play area and more. There will be food, fun and entertainment for the entire family beginning at 4 p.m. Friday with Nelly's Derrty ENT kickoff concerts. The festivities continue from 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30 and from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 1. Festivities include more than 30 premiere St. Louis restaurants serving "tastes" from their menus, national and local music acts, local artists, a Taste of St. Louis Culinary competition, a beer garden, an artist village and a family and sports zone. Price: Free Phone: 314-752-0100 or 314-306-1162 or 314-436-6500, ext. 240 Address: 9th and Market streets, St. Louis

ATTENTION 80's Cartoon and Anime Fans! The classic and St. Louis born Voltron: Defender of the Universe will be having a FREE screening THIS FRIDAY 9/29 in the parking lot across from the SHELDON CONCERT HALL near 3648 Washington Blvd as part of the Grand Art Center Grand Opening 2006! The brave space explorers you remember, Keith, Lance, Pidge, Princess and Hunk will be showcased outdoors as segments from the newly released DVD collection from Media Blasters available in stores Tuesday!Prizes and Voltron gear will be given away so don't miss out!For more information form blazing website at:

http://www.voltron.com/Movie/MoviePromo.html

Rhodes and Coleman Entertainment presents Joe , September 30, 8pm at the Roberts Orpheum Theatre. The concert will also feature, Praiz, and Nikko Smith Tickets are $40.00, $50.00 and $60.00 each. The show is presented by. For more information: Contact Anthony Coleman at 314-580-9424 (GO TO OUT -91 EVENT SPOTLIGHTZ for a special feature on this concert)

COCA (Center Of Contemporary Arts) presents the Show Me Showdown. If you wanna audition your song or be a part of the studio audience, the event will take place after the Gateway Classic, Sat. Sept. 30. Doors open @7pm. Showtime @ 8pm. COCA is located at 524 Trinity, University, MO 63130 in the Delmar Loop area. All Ages welcome. Cost $5.00 Come see St. Louis Artists perform their original works live for television.. Seating is limited. Advance tickets can be purchased by calling 314-754-5625 but tickets will be available at the door.
Hipster Magazine presents FLY BY NIGHT, Saturday, September 30th@ 360 N. Boyle (at Lindell in Central West End), Doors @ 9 pm Party Til 2 am, Free Drinks $10 Ladies $15 Fellas SPECIAL: $5 discount for everyone before 10:30. For more information, visit us at myspace.com/flybynightonline................................................................................


The Black Rep announced plans to shift slots for the 30th anniversary season. Titled The Black Pearl, the season will feature a six-show line-up designed to entertain, educate and enrich audiences of all types. Continuing their partnerships with Washington University and Mary Institute Country Day School (MICDS), the 30th season will kick-off in September with a two week run of MAHALIA a gospel musical at the Edison Theatre followed by a one weekend run of the production at the Orthwein Theatre at MICDS. The mainstage series at the Grandel Theatre will feature three hit musicals, August Wilson’s play exploring the first decade in his ten-play series and the return of a popular comedy by Samm-Art Williams. The season will begin with MAHALIA By Tom Stolz on the life of legendary gospel great Mahalia Jackson September 29-October 1, 2006 at the Orthwein Theatre at MICDS. Friday and Saturday at 8:00 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday matinee performances at 3:00 p.m. Season subscriptions for all six shows of the 30th Anniversary range from $120 to $200 and are on sale now. To reserve your seat please call (314) 534-3810 or visit

www.theblackrep.org..................................

Local socialite Sharee Galvin gave sent me these event-tidbitz for those who wanna check out:

TUESDAY NIGHTS- THE FILTER BAR WITH Sharee Galvin AND BIG TAH. Two for one drinks all night long- 5 dollar cover after 8pm( 5-11) ; CLUB DREAMS HAS 2$ TUESDAY FOR THE NIGHT OWLS FREE TIL MIDNIGHT

WEDNESDAY NIGHTS- STARTING NEXT WEEK "LYRICS OF THE LOU" AT THE FILTER BAR 309-13
BELT@PERSHING

THURSDAY NIGHT (SEPT 28) -3 OPTIONS OR GO TO All VENUES-
Kappa Party-at the KAPPA HOUSE, 500 Vandeventer., 6 p.m. –until; Cost 10 bones. For more info , call Kevin trigs at 314./652-3360; 609 WITH NEEDLES ; MO SPOON'S EYE CANDY CONTEST/PARTY AT THE LOFT ( "GUESS WHO'S B-DAY IS THAT NIGHT?") Doors at 9 p.m. Ladies fee til 10 (Zo and Sham of the Track Starz are celeb judges)

FRIDAY NIGHT (SEPT 29) - 3 OPTIONS-
STRESS FREE FRIDAYS HAPPY HOUR- go to the website; CLUB FORMULA -- ARCH RYVALS VIDEO VIXEN PARTY; CLUB DREAMS- MURPHY LEE PARTY-- THE AFTER TASTE PARTY after the concert for the Taste of St Louis. Ladies free til 11 p.m.

SATURDAY (SEPT 30) - FLY BY NIGHT W/ NEEDLES spinning on the 1&2's

SUNDAY NIGHT (OCT 1) - THE SUNDAY SIP FINALE AT THE MORRISON ROOM- 4p.m. to -9p.m. and AMERICAN PLACE hosted by NELLY ATMOSPHERE AFFAIR 5, located at 822 Washington Ave. Dinner, dancing and networking. Food prepared by renowned chef Larry Forgione. Open bar by Budweiser Select and hosted by Nelly. PURCHASE TICKETS AT METRO TIX

For any info on these events email sharee at sgalvin26@yahoo.com


The Real Fight league presents Unfinished Business, the first mixed martial arts event, featuring champ Bam in the STL, Wed. Oct. 4 at the Gateway Convention Center , 1 Gateway Dr. in Collinsville, Illinois. For tickets or more info call, 877-RFL-MMA1 or go to
www.ticketannex.com THE PILLOWMAN by Martin McDonagh will be staged Sept 20-Oct 8 @ Grandel Theatre and OF MICE AND MEN by John Steinbeck Oct 11-Nov 5 @ The Loretta-Hilton Center in Webster Groves. For more info, call 314.968.4925. ................................................................


Drunken Fish presents the Yin Yang event with The River Front Times and Cheresse Ink to celebrate the opening of their 3rd and newest location in St. Louis Downtown/The Landing: Cutlery Building, 612 N. Second St, Friday, October 6, 2006 at 8p.m. For further information please contact Cheresse Pentella at 314.374.1055 or

Cheresse.ink@sbcglobal.net. To view more information on any of the Drunken Fish locations please visit their website at www.drunken-fish.com. ...............................................................................


14th Annual Historic Shaw Art Fair, Oct 7 and 8 feat. the work of 130 artists from 23 different states w/demonstrations, art activities, food, drink and live music, located at the 4100 and 4200 blocks of Flora Place in Tower Grove Ave. just east of Missouri Botanical Garden. For more info go to www.shawartfair.com ......................................................................


The Marshall Faulk 2nd Annual Benefit fashion Show, has a new date, Saturday., OCT 14. Tickets are 45 dollars (for dinner and after p[arty) , at 7p.m. at the Airport Marriott. And businesses and services can still sponsor ads in the event’s program booklet. $25 for a business card, $40 for a quarter page, $60 for a half page and $100 for a full page . VENDORS CAN ALSO EXHIBIT THEIR GOIODS AND SERVICES AT THE EVENT for $50 dollars. For more info, contact tracy@divaeventplanning.com for more information and tell them that Ma’at referred you!.......................................................................


On the East Boogie side, the Emerson Park and James E Williams Statue Fundraising Committee presents its annual picnic for the reckoning of a statue for East St. Louis’ first black mayor, James E Williams. The picnic will take place at Emerson Park in East St. Louis, Saturday, Oct. 21 starting at 7:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. $10 Donation. For more information call 618/874-8451 or 618/920-8344 and tell them that you saw it here at this website............................................................



EVENT SPOTLIGHTZ:

THE MAN OF HER DREAMS AT THE FOX THEATRE
OCTOBER 19 - 22

GNHPAC presents The Man of Her Dreams live at the Fox Theatre starring Clifton Powell (from the movie Ray), Ralph Tresvant (from New Edition), Jackee (from “Sister Sister” & “227”), the soulful Shirley Murdock, Keshia Knight Pulliam (from “The Cosby Show”) and comedian Buddy Lewis. The show runs Thursday, October 19–Sunday, October 22 for 6 performances. Prices range from $26.50 - $39.00 depending on performance date and time (PROMO PIC ABOVE).


Women hope, wish, and even pray for him: an ideal man, one that will love her unconditionally…The Man of Her Dreams. Margaret has everything she could possibly ask for in a man: a devoted husband, dedicated father and a good provider. But could The Man of Her Dreams also be her worst nightmare? Erica has found herself a good-hearted, honest man that treasures and loves her with all his heart. He even wants to make her his wife. But as good as it sounds, is he really The Man of Her Dreams? Chania is a Christian woman who has decided to wait on the Lord and allow Him to send her The Man of Her Dreams. Have her prayers finally been answered? This play is sure to take you on a roller coaster ride of twists, turns and unexpected curves as the search is on!

Tickets for The Man of Her Dreams are on sale now at the Fox Theatre Box Office and MetroTix outlets. To charge by phone call MetroTix at 314/534-1111 or online at

www.metrotix.com. Special prices for groups of 15 or more, call 314/535-2900.



ONGOING-BITZ. My boy Kameron Holbert has a new monthly column on sports messages on local magazine Uptown. Check it out or more info go to www.uptownstl.com. He is also a professional masseuse. For an appt. call 314/477-3427 or email him at mrholbert@yahoo.com

For all of your STL club event plans, AD SPACE and pics, go to www.stlouis-online.com.

Collective Catering (collectivecatering@yahoo.com located at 4958 Cote Brilliante, their digits are 314-575-3333)

KDHX Radio’s Chuck Lavazzi has a hot new podcast called STAGE LEFT which he talks about CD reviews, news and interviews from theworld of stage, screen, cabaret and related places. The latest episode is now on line. Go to it directly at http://tinyurl.com/zrqd7,via the Stage Left blog at http://stageleft-stlouis.blogspot.com,via the Stage Left web site at http://www.stageleft.org,or via iTunes Music Store; just go to the Podcast area and search for Stage Left.

Former 100.3 The Beat personalities Big Sexy Kool DJ Kaos and Sylli Asz is doin it up on You Tube these days hosting their hilarious STL reality Internet series, the Janky Show. To check it out, go to www.youtube.com and type in “The Janky Show."

Check out STLdee-jay Enoch online with his own radio playlist. The Flow; Music Lounge. Peep it out at http://www.flowink.com/player-popup.htmor go to his myspace page enochisreal.Show Me Entertainment presents Industry Nights, a networking party for artists, http://www.hotmail.com/entertainers, models, actors, painters, dancers, entertainment lawyers, managers, etc. every Wednesday night at the Lindbergh Bistro located inside the Airport Plaza inn at I-70 and Lindbergh. 18 Y.O. to enter. 21 Y.O. and up to Drink. Admission FREE. For more info, contact Terrence Smith at 314/713-3793, or tsmith@showme1.com orwww.showme1.com

Local movie screener and TV programmer James Thomas has two hot shows on the new CW Channel 11 with his shows “First Look” about upcoming movies in theaters, Thursday morning at 2:30 am and Hot Videos, Friday mornings at 3 a.m. For more info, email him attdjoo7@sbcglobal.net

Theatre advisor L.A. Barge has a new book on CD that he is selling called, “Choosing the Right Mate Before the First Date.” For more info call 314/5331639 or email him atdreamscope921@hotmail.com

For all your STL hip-hop info needs, go to http://www.stlhiphop.com!

STL videographer Dana Christian has a hot new website where people can send their professional music videos films to get exposed. It is www.spitflix.com.

Peep it out!KYO (pronounced KEE-O) continues "Redefining the Art of Dining & Nightlife" with a fresh weekly lineup that promises to quench your thirst for drink and dance. So "Be Fashionably Elite" with a smile and let KYO claim your evening from 5pm till 3am in the morning. For more info go to http://www.kyostl.com/newsletter.htm

Well, that be it, folks. If ya got anything for me to pub, hit me up e-mail style at maatspear@yahoo.com!


OUT-91 EVENTZ SPOTLIGHT






TWO STL ARTISTS WILL OPEN FOR R&B SINGER JOE SEPT. 30

As part of this year’s St. Louis Gateway Classic post-events two St. Louis-based artists will be featured as opening acts in a national musical concert .They are American Idol finalist Nikko Smith and gospel star Praiz. They will open for national R&B recording artist, Joe at The Roberts Orpheum Theatre.

Presented by Rhodes and Coleman Entertainment, this concert will take Saturday, September 30, at 8pm at the Roberts Orpheum Theatre located at 416 North 9th street in downtown St. Louis (See ticket info below) .

Born Osbourne Earl Smith in San Diego (and raised in Town and Country, Mo.), Nikko Smith is a singer/songwriter who was the ninth-place finalist on American Idol. Smith, who is the son of baseball Hall of Famer/St. Louis Cardinals short stop Ozzie Smith, auditioned for American Idol in 2004 (at the Edwards Jones Dome in St. Louis) with the song "All I Do" by Stevie Wonder.

The following is an interview Smith had done in 2005 for The American Idol website :

AI: Do you have any formal singing training?
NS: No.
AI: What other talents do you have?
NS: I was involved in martial arts.
AI: What are your personal goals in life?
NS: To be individually and independently successful in music.
AI: What album would your friends be surprised you own?
NS: The Eagles greatest hits.
AI: Who is your AMERICAN IDOL?
NS: Prince.
AI: : Do you have any rituals or things you do each time before you perform?
NS: Pray.
AI: Favorite male pop artist?
NS: Mario.
AI: Favorite female pop artist?
NS: JoJo.
AI: Most embarrassing moment?
NS: I was performing and my shoe came off and I accidentally kicked it across the room.
AI: What has been your proudest moment in life so far?
NS: Making the top 24.
AI: If you couldn't sing, which talent would you most like to have?
NS: I would love to be a painter.
AI: What is your definition of an AMERICAN IDOL?
NS: Someone who has the drive, talent and star quality to show America real music.
AI: What would people be surprised to learn about you?
NS: I'm a homebody.
AI: How has this changed your life?
NS: I'm a lot more focused now.
AI: Do you have any lucky charms?
NS: Yes, my dad gave me a coin that always brought him luck.
AI: Who are your heroes in life?
NS: My parents.
AI: What's been your toughest obstacle in life?
NS: Staying focused.

As we all know, Smith did not win. Smith was the first AI contestant to be voted off and then return (sans the wild card). He made it to the third round of the semi-finals, but was voted off on March 9, 2005 along with Travis Tucker. Days later, Smith got a phone call from the producers asking him to come back in place of Mario Vazquez. American Idol later reported Vazquez left due to a personal dilemma. After returning, Nikko was dubbed "The Comeback Kid" by judge Paula Abdul after a great vocal performance of "One Hand, One Heart". Although Paula liked it, it wasn't enough for America because that same week, Nikko was voted off the show for his 2nd and final time.

Smith, who attended Parkway West High School, started singing at age 7 in church. In 1996, he joined the singing group Team 11, which performed cover tunes at promotional events. In 2003, Nikko moved to L.A. with Team 11 to pursue music, but moved back the same year, after the group disbanded. He has performed at several St. Louis jazz and blues clubs and is currently working on an album entitled "The Revolution" with the N Music Group which is due to be released sometime this year.

Like Smith, STL gospel artist Praiz has a lot to be thankful. After a near death experience in 1997, Praiz changed his life around through God and song and hasn’t turned back since.
Born Vance Watt, Praiz was determined to make a name for himself not only in St. Louis but on the national scene. Praiz prefers up close-and-personal interactions with his fans. It's no surprise because those familiar with his music feel they truly know him. His lyrics are a mirror into his tortured past, but they also portray a man who's found peace.

Consider the song, "Praiz," borne out of a horrific car crash in 1997 after what the gospel star calls “a hard night of partying.” The accident left him with a concussion and broke parts of his vertebrae and neck. Years later, Praiz transformed that ordeal into a catchy refrain for "Praiz":
“If I can't clap my hands/I'm just gonna wave my hands/If I can't move my feet/ I'm gonna rock in my seat/ If I can't leap for joy/ I'm gonna just sing for joy/ That's why they call me 'Praiz.'”

In addition to promoting his music, which has also been featured on MTV, BET, and TBN (Trinity Broadcasting Network). At a recent CD release concert for his CD The Take Over(which garnered the heavy radio airplay hit, “Deliver Me”) in University City, St. Louis' eclectic cultural hotspot that helped propel the careers of Nelly and other artists. Praiz has been called the "Nelly of Gospel," a comparison he doesn't mind.

"It's better than being compared to someone not as successful. If they see the same level of success coming from me, as a Christian artist, it's fine with me." It's also the St. Louis connection, he says, "Being from St. Louis, like Nelly, or Chingy, or J-Kwon, we have a certain style, a certain sound, that comes through with our music; just like Detroit's Motown sound, New York has a sound, L.A. has a sound."

Music and his faith play a dominant role offstage. He plays the piano for Grace Bible Church in St. Louis, where his family attends Sunday services. He and his wife of 4 years, Candace, are in marriage class and Bible Study. The Watts also form small groups with other church members to visit each other's homes and spend time with their children. Watt also plans to go to Bible college, and maybe, sing in the choir. Problem is, he'll now have to balance his personal time with the demands of being an artist.

To learn more about Vance Watt (aka Praiz) and his music, visit his website, www.plpb.net.

The headliner, Grammy Award nominated R&B crooner Joe has a lot in common with Smith and Praiz. Joe (Thomas) had gone through auditions to “demo” his talent and his heavy upbringing in the church. As the most distinctive voice in R&B, Joe is a major force to be reckoned with in the R&B and Hip-Hop genres. He gets ultimate respect from Hip-Hop’s most notable stars and he is one of the remaining few R&B male singers, songwriters, musicians, producers that is not relegated to the old-school stigmas often given to his counterparts.

The son of two preachers, music played an important role in Joe’s life early on. As a musician and singer of his parents’ church, the Georgia native’s early musical influences include gospel greats such as The Winans, Commissioned and Vanessa Bell Armstrong (with whom he’d later also work with). He eventually discovered secular acts like Bobby Brown and Keith Sweat and after playing in local bands, set his sites on a career in music. After graduating high school, Joe bought a one-way ticket to New York to pursue his dream. His melodic and instrument-playing skills would serve him well - it enabled him to produce his own three-song demo, which eventually lead to a label deal and the 1993 release of Everything (and his debut Top 10 R&B single, “I’m in Love”) .

Joe also appeared on the soundtrack to Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood (featuring the Top 10 single, “All the Things Your Man Won’t Do” ) and moved to Jive/RCA for his second album, 1997's All That I Am. The single "Don't Wanna Be a Player" hit the Top 40, thanks to its exposure on the soundtrack of Booty Call. While “All That I Am” went platinum, Joe remixed a duet by Tina Turner and Barry White, "Never in Your Dreams"; he also produced and wrote for debut albums by Ideal and Deja Groove.

In 1999, Joe appeared on Mariah Carey's (No. 1 Hot 100) "Thank God I Found You" single (from Rainbow), and caught yet another break from a soundtrack appearance, this time with "I Wanna Know" from The Wood. Released as a single in the fall, "I Wanna Know" languished in the lower reaches of the charts until suddenly catching fire in early 2000; the single reached the R& B (and Hot 100) Top Five in March, setting the stage for Joe's next album, My Name Is Joe. (which featured the No. 1 Hot 100 and R&B single, “Stutter” with rapper Mystikal). He went on to produce the lesser successful albums, 2001’s Better Days and 2003’s, And Then.

Fast forward to 2006, Joe is ready to release his 6th album, “Joe…Who?” “Who? “is Joe’s 6th album (and featuring the single, “Where You At” with rapper Papoose) and this release will be the one where Joe’s celebrity and personality shine brighter than ever before.

As long as Joe has been making music, the journey continues to be exciting for him.

“Music has always been a part of my life. But it’s growing. It’s becoming more in tune with me as an artist and where I stand and what I’m trying to do. The understanding is becoming so clear, so [is] the enjoyment in what I do,” he says.

And with his latest project, Joe hopes music fans can hear that growth as well.

“The album is for my fans and to give them quality music every time. That’s my goal,” he says.
With more than ten years in the business under his belt and still going strong. JOE…Who? Will no longer be the question but JOE Thomas will be the answer.

Ticket prices to the Joe/Nikko Smith/Praiz show at the Roberts Orpheum are $40.00, $50.00 and $60.00 each. Tickets are on sale now through Tickets Master. For more information: Contact Anthony Coleman at 314-580-9424

Interviews, bios and discographies courtesy of winnipeka.org. American Idol, bustedhalo.com, Rhodes and Coleman Entertainment, John Bush, All Music Guide, and music.yahoo.com.

Thursday, September 21, 2006

OUT 90






SUP! This is Ma’atology one more time for y’all. Hopefully your week was just as productive as mine—and I didn’t have to eat spinach to get energized. Speaking of spinach (How’s that for a segue way?) what’s going on with this e-coli scare with spinach? A couple of people died I think in the country (one in Southern Illinois). But I guess for those who ain’t touched the stuff or familiarize themselves with spinach only with the Popeye cartoons, then y’all ain’t got nothing to worry about. (LOL) .

It has been an interesting week in the news as well as the AMBER ALERT on STL Newborn Abigail “Baby Abby” Lynn Woods went nationwide (It’s almost as infamous as the Baby Jessica falling in the well in the 80s!) and found alive at the house of the lady who kidnapped the baby lived 5 miles from the parents! Then the saga of the Floyd Irons v. School Board is heating up again as Irons and Demetrius Johnson filed a civil lawsuit against St. Louis Public Schools Prez Veronica O’Brien (who is using tax payers money for security for her and her family at her crib) for spearheading the firing of Irons of teaching and coaching b-ball in the public schools. It has gotten gangsta for real. And what’s up with Venezuelian Prez Hugo Chavez calling Pres. Bush in a speech The Devil! Its enough that evangelist Pat Robertson wanted to see him killed (remember that statement), now he has up the ante with this statement,. I must say, Chavez is trying to tell us something. What you think? And whats goin on with this Tickle Me Elmo—the remix selling like hotcakes (I say go on brotha who created Elmo, more like “Elbro,” Do your thang. LOL)

And on a serious note, the STL lost a great blues musician who was a pillar in the music game—Bennie Smith who died Sept 10 from heart complications after his battle with lung cancer this year. He was dubbed the dean of St. Louis electric guitarists. In the 1950s, he played with the likes of Jimmy Clark, Ike Turner, and played on “sides” (45 records for those born before 1980.LOL) on the STL based label Teek, that was owned by (soon to be alderman) Freeman Bosley, Sr! (How bout that for STL history) . He was 72.

All right onto my week:


It has been a busy one for me. I started by attending the premiere of the Black Rep’s Mahalia: A Gospel Musical at the Edison Theatre last Friday (PIC OF THE STAGEPALY SEEN ABOVE). Here is my review of it:

‘Mahalia’ stirs up joyful noise in Black Rep season opener
By Ma’at Atkins

The St. Louis Black repertory Company premiered opened its 30th season with Tom Stolz’ s “Mahalia: A Gospel Musical,” this past Friday at the Edison Theatre at Washnigton University. Directed by Black Rep Producing Director and Founder Ron Himes, “Mahalia” tells the story of the life and times of late great gospel singer Mahalia Jackson from her humble beginnings in New Orleans to her success singing for presidents and sold out concerts around the world.

What makes this two hour plus production so outstanding is the three-member cast especially Roz White Gonsalves who plays Mahalia Jackson (and has an uncanny resemblance of the signer!) . Her deep throaty vocals is very reminiscent to the late great singer . Although it could have been close to mimicry of her unique vocal style, Gonsalves infuses her own sassy alto voice into the role making it seem as though she is more the daughter of Jackson than a parody of the singer.

The quaint, modest set is also worth noting. The vintage looking furniture and the organ on the stage looks like it was plucked straight from the Old South giving the feel of nostalgia and hard times for “black folk.” For those who are fans of Jackson, they will not be disappointed with the selection of music that is used to tell the story of Jackson. The songs are timeless classics including “Elijah Rock,’” Walk in Jerusalem” and Jackson’s signature song, “Move on Up a Little Higher” that is used as a reference to Jackson passing away from this life in a Heaven scene.

What is also interesting is the play is threefold: It helped to tell the story, not only of Jackson, but it was an education lesson (done cleverly by Gonsalves’ role by her monologues and breaking the fourth wall using the audience as a character in some scenes) of how gospel music was developed, how secular record labels tried to sway Jackson into singing “devil music’ and how African Americans in this country evolved from enslaved citizens to Civil Rights revolutionaries.

One of the outstanding scenes is when Gonsalves’ character and actress Pamela Mallory’s character (as Jackson’s pianist/assistant) and Minister Malcolm L. Speed’s character as her hilarious blind organist Francis, traveled to Jerusalem during one of her European-leg tours to witness the land of Jesus. Gonsalves’ character really grips the inner joy of Jackson finally seeing the land she so passionately sang about.

The only drawback of “Mahalia” is, and this is with any musical that depicts a larger than life personality (e.g. Evita), that most of the human qualities of Jackson is left out. What is left is a stoic, romanticized version of Jackson. It would have been nice if the musical spoke more about her personal life (e.g. her two marriages, one ending in divorce) and her battle with diabetes and heart ailments during the latter part of her life (It was hinted slightly when Gonsalves’ character took some pills for her heart).

But overall, “Mahalia” has great creative dialogue, some surprising comedic moments and of course, it is a foot stomping, handclapping good time that takes you immediately to a time where gospel music was the soundtrack to the plight of black people’s struggle for freedom in America.


-30-

After the show, me and my date, Jewelanda Hodges mixed it up with those who were there including Black Rep’s Ron Himes, Strasky Wilson, Karla Goldstein and Rudy Nickens (who hoped they had a crowd due to the premiere was on the same night as St. Louis American’s very popular awards banquet Salute to Excellence In Education at the America’s Center) . Also in the house was local TV personality Laurna Goodwin and STL laywer/poet Cheryl D.S. Walker. Hodges and I had a chance to talk with and get our programs signed by the cast.

Afterwards, I roll’d over to the Formula to take some pics of the Ne-Yo/Chris Brown Concert After Party (I hear that Chris Brown could not attend the party that he supposedly was to throw for Ne-Yo but the Formula managers were not having it cause he is underage and he did not attend). I got there about 10:30ish and checked out the spot. It was a lil’ sparse but I the concert at the USB Bank Pavillion was just letting out so it was just a matter of time for the party people were coming through. Meanwhile, I did my usual walk around and saw Formula co-owner Sonia Brascomb who shared with me her karaoke moment at some club a few weeks ago where she sang “Don’t Cha” by the Pussycat Dolls and , well, let’s just say, she was letting it ALL HANG OUT, if you get my drift. LOL.

Anyway, I checked out that they had some CD samples from STL-based label Cuzzo’s artsist Chop Shop’s single, “La La la’ on the bar table tops. The VIP area was ghetto cool with a pool table and TV set on VH-1. Static Static from 104.1 FM was the On-air personality with the mike in her hand walking around in the club getting people to come through (She tripped me out when she said on airre about Ne-Yo and said “Did ya’ll see those pictures of Ne-yo on the Internet? CLASSIC. (I also found classic was when as the party people danced on the two dance floors and all and when the DJ Stan the Man started playing the song, “Dyck in your Mouth,” the party people still danced—men too! I thought that was quite interesting to say the least. LOL).



So, it was around 12:30 in the AM when the security guys swarmed the entrance which meant that Ne-Yo was comin through. He walked into VIP w/his boyz and he had on a white hoodie and jeans (with his ball cap on of course). I don’t think the females in there realized he was there until he got all in VIP and then the shrikes of high voices started to erupt. They ran to Ne-Yo like a bee to flower nectar (THATS NE-YO SEEN IN PIC ABOVE WITH STACI STATIC) . They had napkins, CDs, their “breasteses” and err thing else for him to sign as they looked up at him by the railing of VIP as he looked over the crowd as though he was the second coming. (I also heard that Ne-Yo and his people were requesting bottles of everything from Gray Goose to Moet as though they werre in Hollywood. Well, I heard the establishment wasn’t having that!) In the house were Herbert Hoover Boys’ and Girls’ Club’s Indigo Sams, fashion designer Nicci Bonds, and 104.1 personality Tony J.

I stayed til about 1 ish and thought I’d try and swing through the America’s Center to try and catch the Salute to Excellence After Party where hip-hop veteran Dougie Fresh was spinnin on the 1s and 2s. before I got therre, I took a pic of the white Hummer Stretch Limo that wa sparked outside of Formula. I drove up Washington AVE up to the America’s Center, parked and tried to catch the tail end of the Salute After Party, well, all I saw was the streamers on the red carpet cause I missed it, but before I left, I saw one of the coordinators of the event itself, Platinum Group’s Jacque Land who was spiffed out in a tux. I told him, “Let me take your picm befre you turn into a pumpkin.”LOL

FOR PARTY PICS OF THE ABOVE, GO TO OUT 87


On Saturday, I had to be part Major Atkins and part Zoolander model. Earlier that day, my father’s security company had to help secure the ground breaking of the $4 million 40-foot tower on the East Riverfront area near the Casino Queen where local dignitaries attended (Sen Baraka Obama was supposed to show up but he was no show) including Rep. Jerry Costello, East ST. Louis Mayor Carl Officer and Rep. Wyvetter Younge among others and the general public were invited to witness. I had to man the 40 foot crane that was taking people up and down it to get a view of how high the tower will be. (the project will begin this month and be completed in the summer of 2007). I had to leave early to get to fashion show practice at the YMCA Emerson Center. I phoned Tracy Givens whose over the fashion show and told her I was going to be a little late but she told me to take my time cause there was a screw up in the rehearsal space. When I got therre, our rehearsal was moved from the dance hall space downstairs to one of the racquetball courts upstairs . Half the cast was there, but we managed to get a few turns playing runway. I don’t wanna give anything away, but the finale scene I hear is going to be something that the STL has yet to witness as far as out-of0the-box-fashion. Good news is, the show has been set to Oct 14 (check out EVENTZ-BITZ for more details).

On Tuesday, I checked out the CD release party for Chingy’s third CD, “Hood Star’ at Club Xes inside the Drunken Fish in the Laclede’s Landing area on 2nd and Washington . I got there about 8:45 p.m. and parked my car at an hour meter 1st Street. For those who care what I wore, I had on a light brown suit coat with orange stripes, a small sunflower in the lapel, a yellow butterfly collar shirt, jeans, a belt with a gold buckle and big fly brown shades (A PIC OF ME IS ON OUT 88) . As I was walking, I ran to old ESL schoolmate Tim Lampley (Y’all remember him? He was the brotha who used to do the late night updates on KSDK in the late 1990s). We walk’d up to the party together up front to the restaurant area and we were directed to go to the back to enter (come to find out, the back was for the general public and the front was for the VIPs and Chingy ). Therre were two policemen in their cars prepared for security in case anything got out of hand. Before we left, one of the hostesses said that she liked my shirt, that it was cute. I said thank you and gave her that Hollywood smile.

When we got there it was about three people in line (One sista in a Bob Marley short skirt ensem was the first in line). The big bouncer near the back entrance said that they haven’t open’d the doors yet and that they weren’t expecting media to get therre around 10:30 or so. So that meant we were going to be waiting outside at least 10 p.m., which meant we had one-hour to kill.

So, Tim and I began talking about everything that was business related from former St. Louis American journalist/BET employee Thomas Gibson in town to tape Chingy for his reality show (I don’t think Gibson ever showed up!), to Lampley’s stint with BET, the politics at BET, ESL native and filmmaker Reginald Hudlin’s job as Prez of BET, to Ron Isley, to the closing of Club Rio on the East side, to the type of people that may show up at the Chingy event and to Dennis Edwards. What was interesting was the big bouncer up front was ‘ear hustling’ and he said that he hate to interrupt us talking, but when we were talking about Isley’s 3 year stint in prison for tax evasion, the bouncer guy aid that he wouldn’t get 3 years and that he lives next to Isley in Town and Country! (How crazy is that???) He also said that Isley is in remission from kidney cancer and that he loves to live in the STL away from the Hollywood life. The bouncer also chimed in on the Dennis Edwards conversation when he said that Edwards goes to his church! Man, this was too weird to be true, but then again, it is St. Louis. Omai models photographer Chantell also came through to get some snaps and waited in line to get in.



I looked down where the line was and it was barely one. I was surprised (If it was Nelly’s party, the line would have wrapped Drunken Fish four times!). They started to let people in around 10:15 and Tim and I were able to get in through media credentials. When we got to the club area, it was barely packed (But that was going to change within the hour!) When I saw St. Louis American freelance photographer Carlston Edwards, we dapped and began jibbin on this little man who had on this dapper blue suit and hat. We joked and said that it was Jermaine Dupri’s father in the building (I got a pic of him so don’t fret.LOL). I walked around in the club (It reminded me of a bigger version of Club 609) for a bit and took some snaps of some females who were eager to take pics (including the 104.1 hostesses who were Omai Models—one who is in the fashion show I am in.)

I saw Carlston take the elevator and wondered where he was going, so I followed going upstairs and saw that it was a red carpet area for the media to take pictures and do interviews. SO, I was in the right space. Up there was the video crew for Video Vault, the Post’s Kevin Johnson, Chantell, Edwards, and STL American’s Bill Beene. I stayed therre for a minute as the local VIPs started coming through on the carpet like Hot 104.1’s Staci Static, Young Dip (When dat CD comin? LOL) Wendi Brown and Craig Blac, Chingy’s protoege’ Spiffy (who I joked with and said, “I’m glad I got on shades with all that bling.” ), Chocolate Tai (who was glad that we mad eher feel special) , FOXXY’s Garth Adams, Mo Witherspoon, NBA star Jahidi White, martial arts fighter champ Bam, Basement Beats, and rapper Ebony Eyez. Singer Lil Mo also came through looking ghetto chic. Then the man of the hour, Chingy came through (SEEN ABOVE IN PIC LOOKING VERY USHERISH) who was looking surprisingly very dapper-hip-hop style who took pics and talked with the media. He was very nice and humbled and didn’t want people to blame him for coming late and the dress code was no longer dress to impress. Oh, err, okay.

After about an hour or so of this, I took the elevator back to the lower level to go to the club. I was warned that it was packed as a sardine can up in there but I wasn’t expecting it to be up close and personal like that! It was definitely over the capacity when you can smell heat before you reach the heat? I tried to walk up to the dance floor area where the VIp area was. I got up close, but imagine hundreds of people trying to get to an area where only 50 people can be seated comfortably. It was too much playing. Chingy who got on the mike (and also tried to sing Ne-Yo’s Sexy Lov’;and I do mean TRIED said to the anxious crowd, “Hey ya;ll, get a drink. Lets; have some fun. Too many people are trying to get to VIP.” And speaking of the crowd, well, let’s just say a lot of them look like they just came from around the way. I guess if they were paying 25 bones, they were comin in however fashion they were comin in. But getting back to the VIP, it was more like P, cause the wristbands were not acknowledged the Chingy groupies who were trying to get snuggy with him, and balers were tryin to flex. And the weed smoke up in there could make Cheech and Chong go cold turkey. Man, as I walked away from VIP, I felt the floor lift up from my feet (Oh Oh—CONTACT). I walked back to the elevator to get back up to the press room to get some air.


Meanwhile, it was around 12:45 and the man who was hosting this party Jermaine Dupri was starting to become a no show (sounds familiar ?), but he finally showed up and his people rushed him on the red carpet for about a minute. He screamed out, “Man it’s cold here in ST. Louis.” We laughed out of being cordial, but I was like, to myself, OK, what else is new? Anyway, we also ha da chance to take one shot when his bodyguards whisked him off. We tried to get him to take a pic with Chingy but his people pushed him away. It was too FOUL. After that, Chantall (thanks for getting the spittle from my lip corner BTW, LOL) and I went back to the elevator to try and get a shot of Jermaine . She probably was successful, but I got caught up with people who I saw up in there (like model Carlos McClaurin who now works at the Drunken Fish who was in his DF uniform earlier and was then partying in one of the roped off sections near the bar). I saw Kevin Johnson and said that I was going to do another walk around and I was out like parachute pants. And that’s I what did. Then I took the elevator back up to the media room, said my goodbyes (Thanks Carlston for voting for my blog, man and telling people to call me Brother Ma’at . LOL).

I also found out that rapper J-Kwon was one hour away from coming to the party and, according to St. Louis American’s Delores Shante, Remy Ma was aleady up in there (I didn’t see her , maybe she jipped the red carpet) and Tyrese was a no show ( He probably was still in L.A. where he announce earlier that day at a press conference in Beverly Hills the nominations for the American Music Awards with Carmen Electra) Well, there was no way I was waiting for J-Kwon so I walked off and to my car hoping I didn’t get a ticket parking in an one-hour meter. I didn’t. Pshew.

In the house were Dj Sno (who was on the 1s and 2s), FOXXY’s Maurice Hamilton (You didn’t tell me I was pretty, too. LOL) and Gina Covington (you know you need to be on the cover of Maxim. LOL) rapper Penelope Jones (I didn’t see her go down the red carpet either) , Synergy, local rapper Rucka Puff, STL music producer James Glasco, JAKADA fashions’ Demond Tucker, local singer Aaron Foster (I’m so fukkin glad you holla’d at Penelope! LOL) , KSDK personality Jeff Small, Majic 104.9’s BJ the DJ, Derrty ENT’s Blu Bolden, STL photographer Japhus, and Club Plush co-owner John Daniels.




FOR PARTY PICS OF THE CHINGY EVENT, GO TO OUT 88.


On Wednesday, I checked out Coco Soul’s monthly CafĂ© Soul at Club Dreams, where singers get a chance to sing open mike style. It also was a special occasion where St. Lousi Post Dispatch’s Kevin CYPRION Johnson was celebrating his 53rd b-day (just kidding on the age KJ. LOL) I also was playing Clark Kent two times on that day as well. After I left the gym at Bally in Clayton, I changed into my Ma’at style attire in my car. I had on ripped jeans, an overside white shirt with long sleeve collers, a blue blazer and a blusih brown vest, with a blue Kangol. I got to Dreams about 9 ish and the first person I see as I was walking up to the club was local singer Samuel. He wa sin his car with his buddy and he was turning up a jam of his own. I started doing the Monestery just to be ackin. He said he was going to sing tonight and I told him my bad about missing his listening party. Then he said, oh that’s; okay, I knew you went comin anyway. Then he said, Just kiddin. Dyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaam.

As I was walkin up , I saw Sarah Thomspon, who works at Charter Communications as a freelancer (she also goes to the same gym as I do) . We hugged and all and as she was about to pay, CafĂ© Soul co-creator Nicol Stevenson asked for her money and Sarah gave Nichol as 20, she asked her if she was paying for two (meaning she and I) and we laughed. Sarah then said, “No, No, actually, he should be payin for me.) CLASSIC.

Anyway, as I got in, it was like a family reunion up in there (with those who I wanted to see, and those well, you know you are. LOL) with all eth local VIPs and mixing and mingling.


The show itself was hosted by Coco Soul and Queen Isis Jones The singers who performed were Miss Scarlet (who sang Erykah Badu’s “On and On “), ESL-based group One Sound (who did Anthony Hamilton’s “Can’t Let Go” doo-wop style), American Idol finalist Taynka (who was the only performer to sing two songs , “Tell Me Something Good” and Jill Scott’s “The Way”), Ronnie (“Lady Marmalade”), trio Mo Tre (who sang, “BBD’s “When Will I See You Smile”), Alicia Renee (who sang Whitney’s “I Believe in You and Me’), Malik (who was the showtopper with his rendition of Luther’s’ “A House is Not a Home”), Buddy (“Donnel Jones’ Where I Wanna Be”) and my boy Deveaon (who sang “Anthony Hamilton’s “Comin From Where I’m From”). Co-host Isis Jones did an ac ca pella version of Billie Holliday’s; “Good Morning Heartache”) and Coco and Isis did an impromptu version of Jill Scott’s “Surely.” The event went kind of long (It was still going on close to midnite). D. St. Lou was one of the singers who unfortunately had the audience start leaving not because he wasn’t good, but it was getting late.

They had some giveaways and the trivia questions were about KJ and the questions were What’s Kevin’s middle name (CYPRION---Its; Catholic) and how many CD’s he owns (Over 5,000!!!!!!!). The B-day boy 9who had mo’ money pinned on his suit coat on him than probably all of us in there put together. LOL) led by Coco Soul with Happy B-Day (You tricked me about your singing up on stage NEGRO.LOL) and a cake was brought out for the celebration. I could’ve shot more pics, but my camera was getting flatlined with battery low syndrome.


I must say, I was impressed with the turnout and KJ , you should be proud to have many friends who love you! (NOT. LOL)

In the house was a potpourri of local VIPS: FoFeet, Majic 104’s Deneen Busby, Vanita Applebum, Freeman Bosley Junior Show’s Nicci Roach (DONT CRY FOR ME ARGENTINA. LOL), Sandra Roberts (Thanks for the vitamin advice) , Erika (Hope you got home safely.), Gina Covington, Black reps’ Ron Himes, Professor Laurencin Dunbar (You sho you wasn’t tipsy?LOL), Christiaan Coffield, Tony Ford, model Malik Ali (I saw you with that model ), Jacque and Leata Land, Denise Thimes, Lady Mae Wheeler, Joe Edwards, Jeff McGhee, David A.N. Jackson, Monica Robinson, Dr. Pan Jackson, Pete Foggy, Joel King, brian, Afua Bromley, Renegade, Randall beans (love the pink shirt and velvet suit coat!), Dana Christian, Black Rep’s Rudy Nickens, gospel singer Praiz, Jamie Spencer (SHOCKED you were there), Rebeccah Bennett, Steve Lacy, and Charles Brown.

I got some cake, wished KJ well, got into my car, changed outfits again to go to the water Geyser to do the late shift….
FOR PICS OF THIS EVENT GO TO OUT 89


MA’AT-TIDBITZ. I got some snail mail from the National Black Who’s Who (the same people who I write the features on local who’s who people Vantage Credit Union’s Hubert Hoosman and Express Scripts’ Michael Holmes and they would like to feature me in the Whops’ Who Book as well! The book I gues swill be available at the time of the event on Nov. 8. I will keep you posted……
104.1 Morning show’s Craig Blac emailed me this week about my website and wrote:

Hey Matt! It's nice to see you're out it doing your thing!...Also keep me
informed and updated on what you have going on! Keep in touch!”

St. Louis Idol winner Whitney Cook was on Fox 2 (with a new do with the Shirley Temple curls) last Friday talking about her trip to Seattle to compete there for the American Idol competition on Sept. 19. TBA on her results.


The movie I did on YOUTUBE a few weeks back of my brief appearance on Last Comic Standing in care of Kathi Griffin reality show, “My Life on the D-List” is still getting hits, slowly but surely. It has gone from 401 to 416.Thank you for your hits! If you haven’t checked it out, go to

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvmwSn9glKE(FYI, You gotta pause the video at 2 second in to see me!)......................

CHART-IDBITZ.. The Billboard charts is still hopping with STL representation . Chingy, who released his third CD, “Hood star” this past Tuesday, is still reigning supreme on svereal charts, whiel Nelly is still struggling on the charts and newcomer Jibbs is making string strides up the charst with his “Chain Hang Low’ ditty.


On the Hot 100, it seems like Jibbs is the first of the three STL rappers to hit the Top Ten as his hit, “Chain Hang Low” has moved up three spaces from 11 to 8 in its 7th week on the chart. Chingy, on the other hand has, as of this week, peaked at No. 13 as his song, “Pulling Me Back” with Tyrese moves down two spaces from 13 to 15 in its 14th week on the chart. Nelly’s duet with Janet, “Call on Me” is showing signs of exhaustion as it moves down big spaces down 13 spots from 37 to 50 (peaking at No. 25). This song has had its share of ups and downs (literally). At first it was in the doldrums of the 40s, then it left the Top 50 then last week, it shot up 15 spaces from 52 to 37. Now, it has plummeted to No. 50.

It’s hard to say what will happen now that Chingy;s song on this chart is starting to wane. Will it reach the Top 10. I predicted last week that if it does reach the Top 10, it will peak at No. 10. This song spent most of its time at No. 16 (three staright weeks so that wa sindictaion right therr (pun intended that this song was aboutto peak. As far as the Nelly/Janet duet, I think it’s safe to say that this song will not reach the Top 10 on the Hot 100.


As far as the R&B/Hip-Hop chart, Chingy has changed places with Nelly as “Pulling Me Back” regains the No. 1 spot from Nelly as Nelly moves down one space to No. 2. This is exteremely wild anc crazy as the boyz from the STl battle at the top. Jibbs is holding his own on this chart, but at a slower pace as the song moves up two spaces from 18 to 16 in its 10th week on the chart. Will Jibbs join fellow STlers Chingy and Nelly in the Top 10. It’s likely. Like I said last week. In a coupel of weeks, all three should be in the Top 10 together.

On the Hot Rap Chart, Chingy hiolds the No. 1 spot for a 5th week and Jibbs moves up two spaces from 9 to 7 in its 8th week on the chart. Can Jibbs hit No. 1 on this chart. He has a good chance too. The song is catchy and it’s a hot ditty. In three weeks, Jibbs should have a chance to hit No. 1 on this chart.


STL-TIDBITZ. I saw a small blurb in the Riverfront Times last week on STLhip-hop rapper (and closeted sex symbol LOL) Space (aka Wiley “Chip “ Price) who is a part of the Bits N Pieces—the Committee Underground Movement here in the STL. He is about to release his own solo CD in October (Hopefully I will get that copy from ya Space. ) He has been talking about this CD for a couple of years now, and always said that he wanted to venture out on his own and do more “pop” stuff. Well, I guess he is about to be the NEXT cause he is very talented wordsmith and definitely has eye candy looks for the ladies. . Congrats to ya!.


Have y’all heard about this new wine that is called Chuck Berry Wine? (I hear you drink it and you start walking like a duck. I couldn’t resist the joke there.) They are having a release party for it Sept 30 and Oct 1 at the Crown valley Winery. For more info call 866-207-9467. .................


STLHIpHOp.com’s B-Gyrl sent me a funny YOUTUBE when she talked with Fox 2 eprsonlaity Bonita Conrnute fduirng this years; Missouri Black Expo.
Check it out at

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Vg5toz80A1g ...........................

ST. Louis actress Erica Sutherlin is leaving the STL for Cali and to do her acting thing at USC. For her closest friends she is having a going away partySunday Sept. 24 at her crib, 6006 Enright Ave in the STL at 7:30 pm. She is currently accepting relocation gifts, prizes and presents, if affordable. Oh and BYOB. For more info, contact her at ecsutherlin@yahoo.com. And speaking of Miss Sutherlin, her last theatre production is the “The Last Days of Judas Isacriot” which runs until Sept 23 at the Art Loft Theatre, 1529 Washington. For ticket more info call 314/289-4063 or go to
http://www.hotcitytheatre.org/

BLIND-BITZ. Which club sista recently dropped burning ashes on the carpet at this particular nightclub all up in VIP?........ What sista was dancing in the bar table at this same nightclub the following night? …Which radio personality had on the same outfit at two separate events on different nights of this week?...Which sista from the local media almost had an orgasm when she saw Chingy’s buffed out bodyguards at Chingy’s CD Release party? And on a national scope, which “Dreamgirls” star came on the set unprepared and read their lines while the movie was being filmed?

EVENT-IDBITZ. A Musical Tribute, "Ella's Radio" The Music of Ella Fitzgerald at Finale 8025 Bonhomme, Second Floor, Clayton, MO 63105, Sept 21, 2006 @ 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Tickets are 20 dollars through ticketmaster.com or by calling 314/421-4400


Southwestern Illinois college will present a fall fair Wed, Sept. 27 at 11 a.am. on the campus’ front lawn. Free music and lunch. For more info go to swic.edu

Artists of the Historic Shaw Art Fair @ Portfolio Gallery 3514 Delmar, St. Louis, MO, opening Fri. Sept 29, 2006, 6-8pm.

14th Annual Historic Shaw Art Fair, Oct 7 and 8 feat. The work of 130 artists from 23 different states w/demonstrations, art activities, food, drink and live music, located at the 4100 and 4200 blocks of Flora Place in Tower Grove Ave. just east of Missouri Botanical Garden. Admission % dollars, Children under 14 is FREE with an adult. For more info go to www.shawartfair.com

The Real Fight league presents Unfinished Business, the first mixed martial arts event, featuring champ Bam in the STL, wed. Oct. 4 at the Gateway Convention Center , 1 Gateway Dr. in Collinsville, Illinois. For tickets or more info call, 877-RFL-MMA1 or go to
http://www.ticketannex.com/

The Marshall Faulk 2nd Annual Benefit fashion Show, has a new date, Saturday., OCT 14. Tickets are 45 dollars (for dinner and after party) , at 7p.m. at the Airport Marriott. And businesses and services can still sponsor ads in the event’s program booklet. $25 for a business card, $40 for a quarter page, $60 for a half page and $100 for a full page . For more info, contact tracy@divaeventplanning.com for more information and tell them that Ma’at referred you!........................................................

The Black Rep announced plans to shift slots for the 30th anniversary season. Titled The Black Pearl, the season will feature a six-show line-up designed to entertain, educate and enrich audiences of all types. Continuing their partnerships with Washington University and Mary Institute Country Day School (MICDS), the 30th season will kick-off in September with a two week run of MAHALIA a gospel musical at the Edison Theatre followed by a one weekend run of the production at the Orthwein Theatre at MICDS. The mainstage series at the Grandel Theatre will feature three hit musicals, August Wilson’s play exploring the first decade in his ten-play series and the return of a popular comedy by Samm-Art Williams.

The season will begin with MAHALIA By Tom Stolz on the life of legendary gospel great Mahalia Jackson until Sept 24 at the Edison Theatre at Washington University and September 29-October 1, 2006 and the Orthwein Theatre at MICDS 2007 Performance Schedule:Wednesday and Thursday Previews at 7:00 p.m.Thursday at 7:00 p.m.; Friday and Saturday at 8:00 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday matinee performances at 3:00 p.m. Season subscriptions for all six shows of the 30th Anniversary range from $120 to $200 and are on sale now. To reserve your seat please call (314) 534-3810 or visit http://www.theblackrep.org/..................................

AUDITION-BITZ. The St. Louis Black Repertory Company will hold auditions for its 2006/2007 mainstage season on Saturday, October 21, 2006, 1PM.– 7PM Equity actors will be seen between 1p.m. and 2p.m. by appointment only at the Black Rep’s offices, 1717 Olive Street, 4th Floor. Appointments will be taken beginning Monday, September 11, 2006. Call (314) 534 – 3807 to schedule. Actors should prepare 2 contemporary contrasting monologues, or 1 contemporary monologue and an acappella song. Please bring two (2) 8.5” X 11” updated professional black and white headshots with resumes attached securely on the back. Available Roles include: Ain’t Misbehavin’, Crossin’ Over, Gem of the Ocean, The Dance on Widow’s Row, Guys and Dolls

ONGOING-BITZ. My boy Kameron Holbert has a new monthly column on sports messages on local magazine Uptown. Check it out or more info go to http://www.uptownstl.com/. He is also a professional masseuse. For an appt. call 314/477-3427 or email him at mrholbert@yahoo.com

For all of your STL club event plans, AD SPACE and pics, go to http://www.stlouis-online.com/.

Collective Catering (collectivecatering@yahoo.com located at 4958 Cote Brilliante, their digits are 314-575-3333)

KDHX Radio’s Chuck Lavazzi has a hot new podcast called STAGE LEFT which he talks about CD reviews, news and interviews from theworld of stage, screen, cabaret and related places. The latest episode is now on line. Go to it directly at http://tinyurl.com/zrqd7,via the Stage Left blog at http://stageleft-stlouis.blogspot.com/,via the Stage Left web site at http://www.stageleft.org/,or via iTunes Music Store; just go to the Podcast area and search for Stage Left.Former 100.3 The Beat personalities Big Sexy Kool DJ Kaos and Sylli Asz is doin it up on You Tube these days hosting their hilarious STL reality Internet series, the Janky Show. To check it out, go to www.youtube.com and type in “The Janky Show”!..................................................................................

Check out STLdee-jay Enoch online with his own radio playlist. The Flow; Music Lounge. Peep it out at http://www.flowink.com/player-popup.htmor go to his myspace page enochisreal.

Show Me Entertainment presents Industry Nights, a networking party for artists, http://www.hotmail.com/entertainers, models, actors, painters, dancers, entertainment lawyers, managers, etc. every Wednesday night at the Lindbergh Bistro located inside the Airport Plaza inn at I-70 and Lindbergh. 18 Y.O. to enter. 21 Y.O. and up to Drink. Admission FREE. For more info, contact Terrence Smith at 314/713-3793, or tsmith@showme1.com orhttp://www.showme1.com/

Local movie screener and TV programmer James Thomas has two hot shows on the new CW Channel 11 with his shows “First Look” about upcoming movies in theaters, Thursday morning at 2:30 am and Hot Videos, Friday mornings at 3 a.m. For more info, email him attdjoo7@sbcglobal.net

Theatre advisor L.A. Barge has a new book on CD that he is selling called, “Choosing the Right Mate Before the First Date.” For more info call 314/5331639 or email him atdreamscope921@hotmail.com

For all your STL hip-hop info needs, go to http://www.stlhiphop.com/!

Super producer Reg T continues to bring you the hottestUnsigned/Independent Artist Show on the net featuring some of the hottest unsigned/independent talent in the world. If you want your music played on The Unsigned Artist Podcast Show, please submit all mp3 files to Reg T at regt@unsignedartistshow.com f you have any questions, ideas and or concerns, please send them to Fred Short at fshort@unsignedartistshow.com or call the TUAS messageline at 206-350-2667. Be sure to check out the website, it's hot!http://www.unsignedartistshow.com/. They got a 10 dollar off deal for new customers and 5 dollar off deal for existing customers . Deal offer expires Oct. 31 Tell ‘em you heard about them from Ma’at!

STL videographer Dana Christian has a hot new website where people can send their professional music videos films to get exposed. It is http://www.spitflix.com/. Peep it out!

KYO (pronounced KEE-O) continues "Redefining the Art of Dining & Nightlife" with a fresh weekly lineup that promises to quench your thirst for drink and dance. So "Be Fashionably Elite" with a smile and let KYO claim your evening from 5pm till 3am in the morning. For more info go to http://www.kyostl.com/newsletter.htm

Well, that be it, folks. If ya got anything for me to pub, hit me up e-mail style at maatspear@yahoo.com!


OUT-89-WED 9/20















Herre are pics from Kevin Johnson's B-Day BAsh at Cafe Soul Event at Club Dreams. On top is the cake (which was deeeeeeeeeeelish)...Kevin Johnson (with the money on his suit coat) with KSDK personality Jeff Small and Vision Group' s Miss Terri... Jazz diva Denise Thimes (standing) talking to Lady Jazz Mae Wheeler...Kevin with Miss Sheryl and (left)and freind... Cafe Soul co-hosts Queen Isis Jones and Coco Soul (keep up the duo--I like it chemistry!)...My boy Deveaon doin his thing on stage...Vanita Applebum (in glasses) with Freeman Bosley Junior Show personality Nicci Roach... Samuel in the shades...American Idol finalist Taynka rockin it in the skin tight jeans)...Isis Jones doin up Good Mornin Heartache...Brian, actor/director Joel King and model Christian Coffield with some admiring sistahs...Coco Soul on the mike layin the law on stage....Charter Communications' Pete Foggy (in orange sweater) and Sarah Thompson (Are y'all an item? Hmmmm). and Fox Theatre rep Monica Robnson with singer Alica Renee and her mom.

OUT 88
























Herre are some pics from the Chingy event. That's Chingy gettin interviwed by the media...Latecomer Jermaine Durpi lookin like he's sayin, "Where's Janet?'...some crowd shots (You see Craig Blac tryin his mow his way through to get to VIP. LOL)...check out the sista with the blue jacket vest and bikini top gettin her tipsy on....theres' Lil Mo in her curly fry do... YOURS TRULY in the shades...FOXXY 95's Garth Adams in the brown suede ensem (I lIkes!), Martial arts champ Bam...104.1's Young Dip with the Omai Models... Hot 104 Morning Show's Wendi Brown and Craig Blac... sexy Chocolate tai in a purple hoodie... FOXXY exec Gina Covington with the Post's Kevin Johnson... 104.1 personality Staci Static... Chingy's protege Spiffy (in cornrolls and bling)... white chicks gettin their pose on... the LITTLES gettin their mack on...D SNo on the 1s and 2s...the Omai Models in a height pose...the sista with the Bob Marley ensem (thumbs up for creativity!)...some sistas modeling their purses...and soem ice sculptures from the party.