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This has been a recurring theme as of late. NYC pisses me off when they make all the awesome shit on one night. There was an obama* at the Chelsea hotel that my homey was going to (after we both agreed to connect.politic.ditto @ this other spot). There was the official issue album release party spaceship thrown for Kid Cudi’s debut disk. Lastly there was the Roots Jam Session @ The Highline Ballroom which can be an obama x buffet if I get the golden ticket (Thx G).

*Are we all still clear that when I say “obama” I am referring to an event with an open bar?

So I was making my way to the first obama in SoHo. I cut through Grand Street from the D train stop to the westside by walking in Little Italy. The San Gennaro feast is just getting underway. That is the technical last rites of summer jumpoff. I’m getting ready for the new year. I want to do something new next year. I want to do the good things all over again. Tonight was going to be fun like opnly New York City can be. The first stop was the Etnies showroom.

Etnies exists in my mind as a streetwear brand that never really had any hardbody edge. I’ve seen the brand everywhere and I still couldn’t tell you where to copp their shit. T.J.Maxx maybe. I love that place. Anyhoo, etnies makes sk8boarder kicks with the best of them. Definitely on par with DC. The just stepped their gear game up to 100 with a New Era collabo and some graphic tees that were dope. A bunch of folks at etnies get it now so we need to keep an eye on their 2010 grind. Right now the etnies showroom is acting as an art gallery for this shit my peoples at Mountain Dew put together. Graphic artists have designed six(6) slick aluminum cans for the Green Label Art project.

Internets, link up with me this Friday @ etnies showroom for the STEPHEN BLISS live exhibit where we will paint with the dude who created the artwork for Rockstar games Grand Theft Auto series. Plus we will drink as much MTN DEW as we want and possible enjoy more free prosecco or at least beer. You wanna go on Friday too to come up on a set of the limited edition cans. After I finish the MTN DEW inside I will have an awesome can to use tio hold my dreams or my nightmares. Speaking of dreams and nightmares…

The Kid Cudi listening party was effin’ bananabread soaked in Grey Goose with cranberry x pineapple juice. Bad behavior, music industry mogulatry, and dancing while standing on couches were all included. This joint was off the meatrack and that is saying something too since the hotel was in the meatpacking district [ll]. I was actually saved by pre-gaming at the etnies showroom. If I had been drinking vodka for four straight hours I would have been a wild manimal. I see you Peso.

But how could it stop there? It couldn’t stop, because this is New York City and it doesn’t stop. I walked past the old site for Mars which was the home of the legendary Trip parties from the early 1990s. There is a vacant lot there now which will soon be some high rent hotel fuckery. God bless the Liberty Inn across the street and their hourly rates. The Liberty is the classic spot to take your Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend jumpoff to, or anything you are lucky to come up on for that ‘hit it and quit it’ maneuver.

That ain’t the move tonight for me though. I am making a beeline to the Highline. I’m like a moth and Roots crew has the light. Put ya’ lighters up party people. Dice Raw, DJ Marley Marl, Craig G, Lords Of The Underground and Jay Electronica all touched the microphone. Black Thought did the usual move where he gets in the pocket and shreds the speakers with his speaking. Raheem DeVaughn came through and blew a little beautiful into the mic speakers too. The Roots Jam Session is my mental state health insurance plan. The $10 is the co-pay.

Roots @ Highline Ballroom: if you haven’t already.