New York City: #015 (One Yr Later - Part 2)

...ok, so back. Where was I...oh yea, so fast forward.  Summer of last year a great friend of mine Qiana Conley (she would kill if I didn't say her full name) knew Mr. Davis well (that's his name Mr. Eli Davis).  She said "I want you to meet Eli."  I knew who Eli was because I had researched him on this lovely thing we call internet long before (do your research people). She setup a meeting earlier this year when I was in LA to meet with him.  But as fate would have it, no go.  He was too busy.  Since then I've tried to reach out to him monthly - emails, phone calls, the whole nine.  Nothing.  Most probably would've gave up.  Why would I do that (wink).

Fast forward more...past this summer (alot is going on meanwhile - tours, new music, new campaigns, short label deal, etc.) - I went out to LA a month ago for a SESAC show that never happened.  But good things still came out, one being another good friend from high school who's now a major actor (check ER credits), knew Eli's wife!  Bam!  There's another in. So..movin' forward..after numerous calls, emails, people putting bugs in his ear, and stalker type actions (how you gotta be in this game), Eli finally called me back while I'm here in New York.

"May I speak with Darnell."
"This is he."
"This is Eli."
"Hey Eli man, how's it going?"
"Good.  I'll be downtown tonight for an event with 9th Wonder.  Can you meet me down there?"
"Yea absolutely."

I put away my piano and computer, hope in the shower, and headed to what I've been waiting for for a good minute...so I went down to meet him but wait.  I'm not on the list.  Standing outside for short (or long) amounts of time when no one knows who you are is pretty much protocol in my position.  I take it all in stride, apart of the process.  The spot was in Manhattan, EA Sports Complex at Sixth ave and 39th St I think.  Get in after 15 minutes, walk in, immediately see 9th Wonder in the center of the floor which has been covered in hardwood with white lines and team logos mimicking an NBA court.

...I snapped a quick photo.

People everywhere playing video games and drinking wine throughout the spot on about 100 flat screens that stretch the length & width of the room.  Quite cool I gotta say.  But I immediately notice one small detail missing, how do you find somebody when you don't know what they look like? (deep, I know).  And he sure doesn't know what I look like.  I ease over into a corner, pull out my phone and rely on the most constant of information gathering: Google.  But matching a photo with a real person at easy!  This could be his pic from high school with a jerry curl and stone wash jeans.  5 minutes later, I spot him.  And it was worth the wait, conversation was great.  Talked about music, life, Kelvin Wooten who he also manages (and I've been dying to work with ever since Raphael Saadiq's Vintage Soul album), Anthony, 9th, and you guys remember the sweetheart Sunshine Anderson.  Well, she's back - he handed me a copy of the new album yet-to-be-released and said give this a listen and tell me what you think.  Overall a good man and the new SA album is dope, consistent with her earlier stuff, good sound.  Go get that when it comes out real soon.  Request the single too (radio means alot).

So, a year for 2 hours of conversation.  Are you really ready for this business?  Walk light, stay positive, have fun.

(#NP Robin Thicke)