The Morpheus Soul Show! Day 6 [Part 11]

London Day 6

So this was the plan. Get up, pull all our stuff together for the whole day, go hang with Jeff’s friend Kelli, hit Camden and then on to Brixton to do the Morpheus Soul show and then on to the Music Bar to play the Heart & Soul charity fundraiser. Another long day ahead.

Well, in usual London fashion for Jeff and I we left the house late on the first leg to Kelli’s place. I thought that this would be a quick ride at least in the sense that we only had to take one train and it was the line we were closest too and then we would have to take a bus once we got of the train, but I was surely mistaken. So we got on the Overground at Anerley and I think we went all the way to Haggerston. I could be wrong, but I think that was it. Then we got off and had to catch a bus outside of the train station. Once that came I didn’t think we had far to go, but we actually had to take the bus to the last stop before it looped around. Well this might not be a problem if you are in a city that has straight roads, but London is not that city. So we rode on the bus for a while until we arrived at Kelli’s place. At least we got to ride in the front seat on the top level of the double decker. Ah…it’s the little things.

Kelli lives in a cool area of East London close to where the Olympic stadium will be in 2012. She also has very cute apartment. We all sat a chatted for a while and I was noticing that the time was passing by, but I was glad to just sit for a while especially because I was carrying my bass and Jeff his guitar. We told Kelli that we wanted to go to Camden that day but I was convinced that we would not make it due to the time crunch we were in, but we gave it a shot.

So we headed back to the Overground that was a little closer to her place. I think it was either Hackney Wick or Hackeny Central. Either way we took that train to Camden Road. Now folks it’s Saturday in Camden, which means the area was packed and I really don’t like people, I mean, crowds. We are also carrying gear and I have to admit I’m a little cranky. I would soon know why, but we’ll get there in a minute.

We made our way slowly though the massive crowd to find some food. We all got some small plates and headed to look for somewhere to sit. By that time Jeff and I were starving. I don’t know if we had eaten at all that day and it was late afternoon by the time we got to Camden. Not a smart move on our part. So there was reason number 1 I was cranky. I was damned hungry!

After eating I was a lot more perky. I felt a little bad for showing my crank because I didn’t want to seem like I wasn’t grateful for Kelli brining us out there. I was just too hungry to think straight. We didn’t really get to see much of Camden because we were pressed for time, another thing that was kind of a bummer. The last time I was in London we got to Camden late in the day when everything was closing. So that’s two times and no real Camden hang. Well, I will return.

After eating we realized it was time to make our way to Brixton for the radio show. So went to the Camden Town station on the Northern Line and the escalator wasn’t working. So we had to go down, down, down this winding staircase to get to the train platform. That was making me cranky too. LOL!

We said farewell to Kelli as she had something else to do and said she would try and make it out to the show that night. We took the Tube to from Camden Town to Euston where were switched for the Victoria Line toward Brixton and the end of that line.

I was concerned about us being late to the show, but we actually made it to Brixton and the radio station in good time. This was our first foray to Brixton since getting into town. It was where I ended my trip last time, which is a great memory.

When we got off the Tube we came out, turned left, walked by the Roxy and down the road until we came to the building where Playvybz and the Morpheus Soul show are housed. At first we couldn’t get in, but then someone came to the door to let us in. We were still a bit confused about how to get to the actual station because it was a building with a lot of businesses in it. The guy who opened the door for us pointed us in a direction, but it wasn’t too clear. We walked down a hall and made a left to another hall with an elevator. We pressed the button for the elevator and nothing happened so I was a bit frustrated when someone opened the door to the outside near the elevator and it was LyricL and the rest of the Morpheus Soul crew! Thank God because the cranky was creeping up on me hard. LOL! So instead of taking the elevator we just took the steps downstairs to the studio.

I was so happy to be there and even happier to just sit down. LOL! But seriously I was looking forward to the show. DJ Johnny Rebel of the Morpheus Soul show is the person I had been corresponding with before I got to London. He sent me links to a few of the shows so I was clear about the format when he has guests on the show. Basically it’s like a jam session with whoever is in the room and they have a resident vocalist/emcee in the crew who happens to be named Lyrical not to be confused with LyricL. LOL! Basically, Lyrical will freestyle and vocally jam with whoever the musical guest is; over whatever beat Johnny decides to drop. What??!! Okay so I had to get my skills up. HA! I knew it was going to be a lot of fun so that’s why I also invited LyricL to come with us. I am all about connecting people, and Johnny said they had been trying to get LyricL on the show for a while so this was perfect.

The Morpheus Soul Show crew is DJ Johnny Rebel, The Soulful Solly Brown, Ten Mill and when called upon Lyrical. [Angels 10, 11, 12 & 13] Let me first say that they have that show down to a science. Second let me say that Solly and Ten Mill have two of the best voices in radio and I really listen to things like that. Three DJ Johnny Rebel’s choice of songs for the show and tunes that go under the voice over are impeccable. These brothas made me remember why I love hip-hop for real. They put me on to Homeboy Sandman, Big K.R.I.T. and Nottz. Oh yes I love hip-hop. I really do. Exhale. Hip-hop is alive. It’s been pushed under like so many of us, but we still make the music. Blessings. Okay I’m getting off my hip-hop soapbox and back to or regularly scheduled program.

The back of Ten Mill, Soulful Solly Brown & LyricL

DJ Johnny Rebel

Lyrical not to be confused with LyricL

The show started out with Johnny playing music. Great music and I’m not just saying that because he was playing my music (Ha!). It was so nice to ask, “who’s that?” time and time again. Soon we jumped into the interactive portion of the show. That would be me, LyricL and Jeff. Ten Mill and Soulful Solly Brown interviewed me, then they had LyricL announce the #1 song on the Morpheus Soul Top 5 Countdown and then another brief talk and then we jumped into the jam. But before I go there I have to say this. This next portion might be a TMI moment, but you know this stuff just happens and the ladies know what I’m talking about. 

As I’m sitting there waiting my turn I said to myself that I should go to the ladies room before all of this jumps off. So I go and what happens, my “little friend” shows up! Now it was all clear about why the cranky had shown up that day. Damn! Now I have to figure this “situation” out. So I roll back to the studio and whisper in LyricL’s ear about the situation. Luckily she was able to help me out, and said, “welcome to being on tour out of the country.” LOL. Indeed, indeed.

Lyrical wasn’t in studio for the whole show because he was at work, but that brotha came right in from the job and didn’t even miss a beat. He just stepped right on the mic, the beat dropped and he was flowing! I was not ready! HA! But I managed to jump in. It was like vocal double-dutch. LOL! We had such a great time. LyricL jumped in, Jeff played guitar and it was amazing. They learned why I call Jeff the “Haitian Sensation” because he can play anything! This went on for about 10-15 minutes. It was fire! Good times. Good times.

The Morpheus Soul show guests of the week!

[Listen to the Show on the Player Below! Also my bad that I disputed Ma Rainey being written by August Wilson. Bad Shelley! Enjoy!]

The Morpheus Soul show Feat. Shelley Nicole, Jeff Jeudy & LyricL [Feb. 12th]

“It’s the radio show that plays good music”

I have to shout out Georgia who came through and took some beautiful photos us is in the studio. She is amazing. I love when photographers disappear into the room and capture moments without you even realizing that you are being shot. That was a huge feat to do in that studio because it wasn’t very big. I also can’t forget Louisa, Lyrical’s manager, who shot the video for that day. Hey Louisa, where is that video? LOL.

After the show was over it was past time to eat. We were starving. LOL! We could have gone to the Music Bar where we were playing next to eat, but I needed to make a pit stop in the other direction. Johnny took my bass and Jeff’s guitar to the spot so we wouldn’t have to carry them while we were at dinner, which was really sweet. After a start stop on the dinner front with us trying to go to Satay, but they door guy being an ass, we eased on down the road to a Japanese spot that was really great. The dinner crew was LyricL, Jeff, Lyrical, Ten Mill and I. Coming along shortly were Chippy and Kadija Karma. Johnny had played one of Kadija’s songs on the show and it was killin’. So it was really great to meet her.

After dinner Lyrical, Jeff and I walked down to the Music Bar. LyricL was with us for a bit, but then she went back to the restaurant to chill with Chippy and Kadija because they got to dinner a bit later than us.

The Music Bar is really cute. I wish it had been warmer because they have a place for folks to hang outside and I believe they were jerking chicken out there. Inside there is a bar/lounge with couches, TV and a pool table. If you keep going back and down a couple of steps you come to the music room. Johnny was already spinning when we arrived. I got my things out of my bag and changed my clothes and put my face on. I then walked around a bit and I was so excited because Kat and Rob were there! Yeah! Jeff’s friend Ryan who had lent us his guitar was there with his girlfriend and another friend. Chippy, Kadija and LyricL showed up a bit later. I also met Sharoné who working the event for Heart & Soul. Really cool people.

DJ Johnny Rebel on deck

Rob & Kat! My people!

Me & Kat!

Ryan & Jeff

The evening also featured Fae Simone and Lyrical. The evening opened with Fae doing her thing with another emcee/producer who she is working with and then Jeff and I hit the stage. We did three songs and it was a little tough to hear the guitar because it didn’t have a direct input, but we pushed it through. On that night we did blaK Girls, Box and Give It to Me. So it was short and sweet. I had to reel in a few unruly folks who thought they could talk loud through my set. I wasn’t really having it. So I sang “Give it to Me” straight to the loudest dude with so much intensity I probably scared him more then excited him, but either way he shut up. LOL! After I was done Lyrical hit the stage and he was on fire. I think he could have gone all night if they had let him. Jeff played a few tunes with him and he did a few things to tracks. All in all it was really fun.

Fae Simon

Jeff  & Lyrical

I was glad to do the charity event, but I was also glad that the show was over because I was so tired. I think the realization that it was the end of the week, and I didn’t have anymore shows was starting to sink in so I was winding down mentally and physically.

I had hatched a plan of how Jeff and I were going to get home from Brixton that night but it required us to get on the rail kind of early. Well not too early, but I wanted to make sure we made it. Well that plan went out the window somewhere in the evening and we were trying to figure out what bus(es) to take when Kevin showed up! Remember we were staying with Kevin and Michelle. So that was a huge blessing. Now we didn’t have to worry about how we were going to get home. Yes!

After the show was over we hung out for a little bit. I sold my last CD that I had brought with me, which was also a blessing and I gave part of that money to the charity. It wasn’t much, but I wanted to give. Then Jeff and I packed up our things and started to head out. I thought I might be sad to say goodbye because it was the last show, but we had planned to meet most of the crew at the Vibe Bar the next night for LyricL’s show.

DJ Johnny Rebel, Me & Lyrical

LyricL & Jeff

Jeff and I headed out with Kevin and back to the house. It was the end of another long day. When we got to the house we stayed up chatting with Kevin a bit, but soon realized we needed to go to bed because Sunday was the only day that we had to go sightseeing and Paula (my girl in New York) told me I could not fail her. So we had to do London in a day. LOL! It was going to be tough, but I was up for the challenge!

So we head to sleep and just as I was falling asleep I hear this sound. The sound is something like a dying animal or a something hurt. It was scary. I thought it sounded like some mythical animal. I’m like, “What the hell is that?” Jeff gets up to see what it is and low and behold it’s another damn fox! It’s making such an awful noise like it’s a crazy three-headed dog. I didn’t even want to look out the window. This thing just barked or whatever it was doing for about 10 minutes. It was crazy. Finally I heard someone outside yell, “Get!” And it stopped and went away. Did I say it was hella crazy. The foxes need to be stopped! It’s like a bad horror movie. LOL! Goodnight London.

Note: There as so many wonderful photos that came from this day. I'm going to post more of them later on my FB page, but in you are on FB you check out Georgia's page (the photographer) for all her photos from that day.

Also: The Morpheus Soul show happens Every Saturday 5-7pm GMT. That's 2-4pm EST.  Check them out LIVE on Playvybz.com or check the postcast on the Morpheus Soul website. It's always poppin.'!

LyricL, Jeff, Me, Kadija Karma, Johnny & Chippy!