Dawson's Ink

What. A. Weekend. So much went on this past Grammy weekend, when a group of us from all over the States converged upon the Southland for what turned out to be an unforgettable weekend. From crashing the artist’s VIP section at KissNGrind, to giving Mos Def and his driver the ultimate side-eye, to late night cheese plates and fries, it was definitely one for the books. The entire experience has left me drained, so instead of a lengthy recap, I’ve decided to list some of the things that will stick with me for a long time.

Here, in random order, are TEN THINGS I’LL REMEMBER ABOUT 2010 GRAMMY WEEKEND:

10. ‘Al’ Good Now. Alfre Woodard is stunning in person. No, seriously. At the pre-Grammy telecast, or pre-tel, when Ms. Woodard walked into the room, my heart danced. Sure, she didn’t win the Grammy she was nominated for (Best Spoken Word Album), but it didn’t matter. Her star power is still at maximum wattage. And it’s deep, too.

9. Retire Fire? Yep, I was exposed to two of my fears at the post-Grammy party on Sunday night. Grown people in white makeup with big, red noses…and fire. Well, maybe not two, since technically I’m afraid of dancing mimes, not clowns. But fire is huge. Sitting first row, I was in the *ahem* line of fire as the clowns put on an incredible (and inevitably) hot show. I didn’t flinch more than five times once. Yes, there were a few times I had to make sure my eyebrows were still there, but still…I’m just about over that fear. Good times.

8. The ‘W’ Is For Wow. The newly opened W Hotel on Hollywood & Vine (and when I say newly opened, I mean last Thursday was opening day!) is incredible. There for the pre-Grammy brunch on Saturday, the amenities–all that I saw–are very impressive. From the slick, stylized bathrooms to the gorgeous fountain in the outdoor sitting area, I was truly in awe. Throw in exceptional customer service–both the concierge and valets were extremely attentive and helpful–and I’m sold. I’ll be back.

7. Sound Off. It might as well have been at Friday night’s Kiss N Grind event at Club 740. I promise, if you weren’t standing directly near the stage, chances are you had to guess what the artists were singing, as the cavernous venue had the worst sound system in the history of cavernous venues.

6. Bacon & Legs. That’s what I dubbed the pre-Grammy brunch, as both Yahzarah and Alice Smith had their gams on display as they performed for the indie-loving crowd. Just a great event, put together under the direction of KCRW on-air personality (and my homie…heh) Garth Trinidad. In addition to looking fabulous, both soul sistas were in full voice for the event (with Yahzarah a part of the Foreign Exchange collective nominated for a Grammy over the weekend), and both have projects set for release this spring. Get those. You’ve been warned.

5. Part-y Time. Man, listen. One of the highlights of my weekend was seeing Eric Roberson. Yes, I do see him often at SOBs as he hosts the monthly Sol Village event. But never before had I seen him like this. With a part in his head. A Red Sea-inspired part. I’m sayin’. When I asked him why he decided to rock it, he smiled and said: “It’s for the tux.” Well, there ya go.

4. Beverly Hills Stop. That was us Saturday, dropping by a gorgeous house in the Hills visiting our friends from BAAS as they hosted a casual gathering to celebrate Ledisi’s Grammy nomination. Both Ann Nesby (Sounds of Blackness) and Calvin Richardson were also in attendance (both with two nominations each), as well as the homies Russell Taylor and Abby Dobson. Just great times. And then, of course, there was the pasta salad incident…

3. Son-Shine. I learned this weekend that there’s nothing like a love between a father and son. I had the privilege of hanging with my man Fave on this trip, and early Saturday morning, I dropped him off to surprise his son, who resides in LA. The look on his face when he saw his dad was, in a word, priceless. Made me smile as I drove off to another appointment. Made me think about father-son bonds, like the one between Fave and his son, and my boy Tee and his sons. Love. That.

2. Cuss I Said So. Hang out with Phonte Coleman for five minutes, and you will laugh. That’s a given. His take on life is simple, yet candid. On point. Hang out with him for anything over five minutes, and you’ll begin to think that cuss words are as natural as spring water. Or push-up bras. And it’s not that he curses a lot. It’s strategic. But when he does, it’s lyrical. Poetic. Shakespearian, even. That, among other reasons, is why he’s one of my favorite artists. And just a overall cool dude.

1. Heaven ‘Hath’ No Voice Like Hers. I think the above photo says it all. Another weekend, another big event, another photo with Lalah Hathaway. She performed her Grammy-nominated track “That Was Then” at Kiss N Grind. Incredible, as always. And although she didn’t win her category (she, Melanie Fiona and Ledisi lost out to Beyonce), it was great seeing her and all the other indie artists in LA this weekend get their shine. It’s only a matter of time. And we’ll be there to see it happen. Music makes me high.

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