Faces In The Crowd

It's April 1st, 2009; approaching 10p.m. I'm standing in the Knitting Factory in Hollywood. Comodity stands beside me. We bow our heads in prayer before embracing the stage. Neither of us ever really needs more than 30 seconds of “me time” before performing. So we’re ready. The guy setting up my music is kind of bugging me right now because he keeps playing the beginning of my set before it's time to go. But he's not trying to, so I don't hold it against him.

Introduction is done. It's time.

We walk on the stage and Comodity hands me my mic. He takes the one that he thinks might have lower quality and hands me what he thinks is the better mic. He doesn’t know that I realize this. I acknowledge with nothing more than a slight smile to myself. This is friendship and professionalism at its finest.

With the microphones in our hands, it’s transformation time. Jeff and Bryan metamorphose into J-Dub and Comodity.
I usually start every show looking slightly nervous. But I think I do this so that I can explode as soon as the beat drops.

“Let’s go!”
The beat drops.

I look down from the stage onto this potpourri of faces. Some young, some older. Some new, some familiar. The expressions on the faces say everything from “Go get em guys!” to “So what are they gonna do?”. My favorite is the latter of the two. I love to watch them turn from doubt to appreciation as the show progresses.

“If you’re with me then ride along!”

But I do find comfort in the familiar faces. I can see members of all of my families. My real fam, Royal Fam, “New Fam”, and my work fam. Just knowing that these people would come out to support me is so motivating. They’ve seen me perform before. They didn’t have to come out again. But they did. And they seem to be enjoying themselves. My fondest dreams are filled with these exact moments.

“Time’s up!”

Man, Comodity and I are in rare form! I’ve never felt so comfortable on stage. Every minute of rehearsals paid off.

“I’m a monster!”

As I look into the pockets of familiar faces, a part of me does long for those that are not present. Some couldn’t make it because of conflicting schedules. I don’t hold that against anyone of course. Some people said from the beginning that they weren’t going to show. No hard feelings.

“Back up on me!”

But then there are some, some that don’t have a real reason not to be here. Well, the reasons may be real to them. But it would be nice if they were here. I miss some of my friends. Some of those people were some of my favorite people to be around. I would love to be looking at their faces in the crowd right now as well. Who knows, maybe even bring one up on stage. Ha.

All of these thoughts flash in my mind throughout the performance. Never lasting long enough to throw me off track. Just long enough to recognize them.

“Holla back!”
Show’s over.

Time to hug & thank those who did come.

Thank you! You all are my heart.

And for those not here, you’re my heart too. Even if you don’t know it.

Wow, what a night!

Live, love & learn!
-The King