CP NEWS: The Next Outkast? Maybe.

[ddm-news]

-Navani Otero

What do you get when you mix down south home cooking with posh New York City style? Cultural fusion. No, not the kind us New Yorkers are used to ordering – snazzy plates of plantains decorated with Asian delicacies.

I'm referring to the mix tape release party for the Grammy nominated hip-hop duo Grits which took place in midtown’s QT hotel. Now I know what you are thinking, well at least what my first thought was – what are two country dudes from Tennessee doing in this Sex in the City-esque joint? I was a lil confused at first, but once I walked in I realized it was not as scary as I imagined.

The venue itself was cozy enough to give you the Southern hospitality feel. The party was in the lounge/ pool area. Yup, a pool party, except this is one where no one swims. LA-style, it's simply there for décor. Amazingly it works, it does not feel (or smell) like you are in the YMCA when you walk in, instead the padded benches accompanied by huge throw pillows make it feel like a really cool house party. Complete with fruit as décor, after a few drinks I wondered if the bowl of oranges were part of the appetizer menu. (Am I the only person that took one to go?)

Only a few steps, like 3, separate the lush pool room with the lounge, where the DJ was spinning the latest songs from the Grits album entitled 7. The lounge is in normal lounge attire, with velvet booths and really bad carpet, but alas I see the bar. As a friend taps me on the shoulder and reminds me that the open bar countdown is on – T-minus 15 minutes till shutdown. I immediately run to the bar and start double fisting.

Two drinks later, I finally feel like mingling. The crowd is nice mix of neo-soul professionals and the Tennessee entourage Grits flew in from home. Being the down-to-earth people that they are, Grits are completely approachable and take time out to converse with me before bombarded by more industry people they should “meet.” Sigh. I feel sorry for them at that moment because I realize they can’t even drink or really let loose at this point. Occupational hazard I guess. I shrugged it off and continued to move around the room; however I am not much a smoozer, so that ended my mingling session.

I am just about to go back to the pool area and plan out my future birthday party which I just decided will be held here, when we are called back to the lounge for a speech. Not so much a speech, but really a heart felt thank you from the group. Well, Bonafide did all the talking, as I learned Coffee is the shy one of the two. I was completely impressed, here is the next Outkast, a group with songs on the soundtracks of numerous movies, being appreciative! What a great move for hip-hop. In the end, humble hip-hoppers made the evening, even if, sadly, there weren't any drunken pool accidents.

For more info on the Grits, check out their page on (where else) MySpace.

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